Adherence to Remote Microphone System use at school in children and adolescents with hearing loss.

PURPOSE: To identify relationships between Remote Microphone System (RMS) use in the classroom and the schools' and teachers' characteristics.

METHODS

We analyzed 120 subjects aged 5 to 17 years with hearing loss who had received an RMS from a health service accredited by the Unified Health System (SUS). The teachers of RMS users were the other subjects in the study. We analyzed the patients' medical records and interviewed their parents/guardians at the follow-up visit to verify issues related to the RMS and its use at school. We contacted the schools over the phone and visited some of them.

RESULTS

Of the students, 54% used the device at school; 22% involuntarily did not use it; and 24% voluntarily did not use it. The Speech Intelligibility Index pattern of those who used the RMS was similar to those who involuntarily did not use it. There was a significant difference between the type of school and educational level - 86% of regular school students and elementary school students tend to use the device more often (62%).

CONCLUSION

Most subjects use the RMS at school. The students' educational level also interfered with the adherence to RMS use, as elementary school students had a higher adherence. The data suggest that the coordination between health services and schools favors RMS use. However, when the parents mediate this relationship, other factors interfere with the systematic RMS use in the school routine.