Fitting Noise Management Signal Processing Applying the American Academy of Audiology Pediatric Amplification Guideline: Verification Protocols

Scollie, Susan; Levy, Charla; Pourmand, Nazanin; Abbasalipour, Parvaneh; Bagatto, Marlene; Richert, Frances; Moodie, Shane; Crukley, Jeff; Parsa, Vijay

doi:10.3766/jaaa.15060

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Other participants suggested that background noise could be lowered relative to the signal of interest. This suggestion is consistent with current technologies as ANR systems are capable of lowering the background noise level without noticeable speech sound quality degradations (Bentler et al, 2008;Scollie et al, 2016). It is worth investigating the effect of ANR systems on music stimuli.…”

Section: Participants' Impressions Of Hearing Aidssupporting

confidence: 82%

A Qualitative Study of the Effects of Hearing Loss and Hearing Aid Use on Music Perception in Performing Musicians

et al. 2019

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Hearing aids (HAs) are important for the rehabilitation of individuals with hearing loss. Although the rehabilitation of speech communication is well understood, less attention has been devoted to understanding hearing-impaired instrumentalists’ needs to actively participate in music. Despite efforts to adjust HA settings for music acoustics, there lacks an understanding of instrumentalists’ needs and if those HA adjustments satisfy their needs.The purpose of the current study was to explore the challenges that adult HA-wearing instrumentalists face, which prevent them from listening, responding to, and performing music.A qualitative methodology was employed with the use of semistructured interviews conducted with adult amateur instrumentalists.Twelve HA users who were amateur ensemble instrumentalists (playing instruments from the percussion, wind, reed, brass, and string families) and between the ages of 55 and 83 years (seven men and five women) provided data for analysis in this study. Amateur in this context was defined as one who engaged mindfully in pursuit of an activity.Semistructured interviews were conducted using an open-ended interview guide. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analyzed using conventional qualitative content analysis.Three categories emerged from the data: (1) participatory needs, (2) effects of HA use, and (3) effects of hearing loss. Participants primarily used HAs to hear the conductor’s instructions to meaningfully participate in music rehearsals. Effects of HA use fell within two subcategories: HA music sound quality and use of an HA music program. The effects of hearing loss fell within three subcategories: inability to identify missing information, affected music components, and nonauditory music perception strategies.Not surprisingly, hearing-impaired instrumentalists face challenges participating in their music activities. However, although participants articulated ways in which HAs and hearing loss affect music perception, which in turn revealed perspectives toward listening using the auditory system and other sensory systems, the primary motivation for their HA use was the need to hear the conductor’s directions. These findings suggest that providing hearing-impaired instrumentalists access to musical experience via participation should be prioritized above restoring the perception of musical descriptors. Future research is needed with instrumentalists who no longer listen to or perform music because of hearing loss, so that the relationship between musical auditory deficiencies and participation can be better explored.

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Section: Participants' Impressions Of Hearing Aidssupporting

confidence: 82%

A Qualitative Study of the Effects of Hearing Loss and Hearing Aid Use on Music Perception in Performing Musicians

et al. 2019

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“…The results of the current study indicate that the use of ANR and frequency-gain shaping do not improve or degrade speech recognition in noise. 2 9 11 12 20 It should be noted, however, that probe microphone verification confirmed that the ANR signal processing of the hearing aids used in this study did not attenuate gain in channels containing a positive speech-to-noise ratio. Also, probe microphone measurements confirmed that average-level (i.e., 65 dB SPL) and loud-level (i.e., 75 dB SPL) speech remained audible when frequency-gain shaping was provided for the purposes of noise management, so once again, a lack of a decrease in speech recognition in noise is not surprising.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

“…Also, probe microphone measurements confirmed that average-level (i.e., 65 dB SPL) and loud-level (i.e., 75 dB SPL) speech remained audible when frequency-gain shaping was provided for the purposes of noise management, so once again, a lack of a decrease in speech recognition in noise is not surprising. Of note, Scollie et al 20 found large differences in the magnitude of gain reduction across several different hearing aids, so the findings of this study should not be globally applied to all contemporary hearing aids.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Evaluation of Potential Benefits and Limitations of Noise-Management Technologies for Children with Hearing Aids

et al. 2022

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Background Children with hearing loss frequently experience difficulty understanding speech in the presence of noise. Although remote microphone systems are likely to be the most effective solution to improve speech recognition in noise, the focus of this study centers on the evaluation of hearing aid noise management technologies including directional microphones, adaptive noise reduction (ANR), and frequency-gain shaping. These technologies can improve children's speech recognition, listening comfort, and/or sound quality in noise. However, individual contributions of these technologies as well as the effect of hearing aid microphone mode on localization abilities in children is unknown. Purpose The objectives of this study were to (1) compare children's speech recognition and subjective perceptions across five hearing aid noise management technology conditions and (2) compare localization abilities across three hearing aid microphone modes. Research Design A single-group, repeated measures design was used to evaluate performance differences and subjective ratings. Study Sample Fourteen children with mild to moderately severe hearing loss. Data Collection and Analysis Children's sentence recognition, listening comfort, sound quality, and localization were assessed in a room with an eight-loudspeaker array. Results and Conclusion The use of adaptive directional microphone technology improves children's speech recognition in noise when the signal of interest arrives from the front and is spatially separated from the competing noise. In contrast, the use of adaptive directional microphone technology may result in a decrease in speech recognition in noise when the signal of interest arrives from behind. The use of a microphone mode that mimics the natural directivity of the unaided auricle provides a slight improvement in speech recognition in noise compared with omnidirectional use with limited decrement in speech recognition in noise when the signal of interest arrives from behind. The use of ANR and frequency-gain shaping provide no change in children's speech recognition in noise. The use of adaptive directional microphone technology, ANR, and frequency-gain shaping improve children's listening comfort, perceived ability to understand speech in noise, and overall listening experience. Children prefer to use each of these noise management technologies regardless of whether the signal of interest arrives from the front or from behind. The use of adaptive directional microphone technology does not result in a decrease in children's localization abilities when compared with the omnidirectional condition. The best localization performance occurred with use of the microphone mode that mimicked the directivity of the unaided auricle.

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“…An item analysis may provide further insight about the performance of children with different levels of hearing loss within the various listening situations included in the PEACH as well as the impact of noise, as seen in other studies (e.g., Quar et al, 2013). This further work may help support clinicians' decisions about when to apply technologies to combat noise in the listening environment, for example (Scollie et al, 2016b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Prescribing and Verifying Hearing Aids Applying the American Academy of Audiology Pediatric Amplification Guideline: Protocols and Outcomes from the Ontario Infant Hearing Program

Bagatto¹,

Moodie²,

Brown³

et al. 2016

J Am Acad Audiol

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Updates to Ontario's Amplification Protocol are necessary to support the evolution of EHDI programs and the evidence which sustains them. With advances in technology and additional research, pediatric hearing aid fitting will continue to progress and support systematic measurement of outcomes for children who wear hearing aids. The application of state-of-the-art hearing aid fitting practices to the pediatric population within EHDI programs supports good outcomes for infants and children with hearing loss.

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Fitting Noise Management Signal Processing Applying the American Academy of Audiology Pediatric Amplification Guideline: Verification Protocols

Cited by 12 publications

References 33 publications

A Qualitative Study of the Effects of Hearing Loss and Hearing Aid Use on Music Perception in Performing Musicians

A Qualitative Study of the Effects of Hearing Loss and Hearing Aid Use on Music Perception in Performing Musicians

Evaluation of Potential Benefits and Limitations of Noise-Management Technologies for Children with Hearing Aids

Prescribing and Verifying Hearing Aids Applying the American Academy of Audiology Pediatric Amplification Guideline: Protocols and Outcomes from the Ontario Infant Hearing Program

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