Silent Sound System demonstrates multi-channel headphones, donates equipment funded by Geisinger grant

Brad Wells, founder and managing director of Silent Sound System, demonstrated the company’s multi-channel headphone and transmitter systems for the Wyoming Valley West board on June 3 and described classroom and extracurricular use cases ranging from differentiated instruction to silent disco and guided tours. Wells said the district received a $30,000 donation facilitated by Geisinger that enabled the district to provide equipment across every elementary grade level.

Wells explained the headphones support multiple audio channels (the set before the board had three channels; the company also offers 10-, 20- and 45-channel systems), allow Bluetooth or wired connections and pair with a bass pack device for tactile vibration demonstrations useful in STEM lessons and sensory applications. He said the equipment is cross-compatible across product lines and is already used in schools, camps and senior-care settings. Wells and district staff said the keyboards/headphones will be managed by building principals with sign-in/sign-out procedures and that Silent Sound System plans to provide teacher training and curricular resources.

Board members asked how many sets were provided and how they would be deployed; Wells said the donation and grant support allowed distribution so “every elementary school at every grade level will have access to these.” He also noted the system can provide language-specific channels (with third-party translation apps) and can be configured into breakout groups for small-group instruction.