Open Versus Closed Hearing-Aid Fittings: A Literature Review of Both Fitting Approaches

Winkler, Alexandra; Latzel, Matthias; Holube, Inga

doi:10.1177/2331216516631741

Cited by 48 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…In addition, the maximum pressure output was set in accordance with the NAL-NL2 targets for warble pure tone at an input 90 dB SPL. Given the effect(s) of vent or open fitting on the performance of the directional microphone [ 14 - 16 ], an unvented earmold was used for all participants. ANL measurements were randomly performed under three various conditions: unaided, omnidirectional-baseline, and directional conditions.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Acceptable Noise Level Benefit From Directionality for Listeners With Severe Hearing Loss

Aghsoleimani

Jalilvand

Mahdavi

et al. 2018

Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol

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Objectives Directional microphone technology can enhance the speech intelligibility and listening comfort of listeners with hearing impairment. The main aim of this study is to investigate and compare the benefit derived by listeners with severe hearing loss from directional microphone technology with that derived by listeners with moderate hearing loss.Methods The acceptable noise levels (ANLs) of two groups of listeners with moderate or severe hearing impairment (17 subjects in each group) were measured under unaided, omnidirectional-baseline-aided, and directional-aided conditions.Results Although the absolute ANL of the listeners in the severe hearing loss group was significantly higher than that of the listeners in the moderate hearing loss group, their derived benefit was equivalent to that derived by the listeners in the moderate hearing loss group. ANL and hearing loss degree were significantly related. Specifically, the ANL increased with the severity of hearing loss.Conclusion Directional microphone technology can provide the benefits of listening comfort to listeners with severe hearing loss.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Acceptable Noise Level Benefit From Directionality for Listeners With Severe Hearing Loss

Aghsoleimani

Jalilvand

Mahdavi

et al. 2018

Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol

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“…However, the issue of externalization has not been studied and warrants investigation. Somewhat surprisingly, a recent review of open versus closed fittings did not mention sound externalization ( Winkler et al., 2016 ).…”

Section: Externalization and Hearing Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sound Externalization: A Review of Recent Research

et al. 2020

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Sound externalization, or the perception that a sound source is outside of the head, is an intriguing phenomenon that has long interested psychoacousticians. While previous reviews are available, the past few decades have produced a substantial amount of new data.In this review, we aim to synthesize those data and to summarize advances in our understanding of the phenomenon. We also discuss issues related to the definition and measurement of sound externalization and describe quantitative approaches that have been taken to predict the outcomes of externalization experiments. Last, sound externalization is of practical importance for many kinds of hearing technologies. Here, we touch on two examples, discussing the role of sound externalization in augmented/virtual reality systems and bringing attention to the somewhat overlooked issue of sound externalization in wearers of hearing aids.

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“…In the real life condition, there are many noise sources from different directions in which a subject with hearing aid experience most challenging listening condition. On the other hand, the closed fitting was performed in the present study since the open fitting has a deteriorating effect on the DNR and DIR benefit [ 14 - 16 ]. Also, there are various strategies for activating the DNR or the DIR in various hearing aids.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the early phase of the study, the ear impression was provided for each participant to make an unvented hard canal earmold. Regarding the inevitable effects of the open fitting on SNR improvement provided by DIR as well as on DNR function [ 14 - 16 ], a closed fitting was completed for all subjects, regardless of near normal hearing in the low frequency range (10 participants had hearing thresholds less than 35 dB HL at 250 Hz and 500 Hz). The fitting software SiFit (v6.11; Siemens Audiology Solutions, Erlangen, Germany) and rationale National Acoustic Laboratories-Nonlinear 2 (NAL-NL2) was used to program the hearing aid.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Hearing Aid Digital Noise Reduction and Directionality on Acceptable Noise Level

Ahmadi

Jalilvand

Mahdavi

et al. 2018

Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol

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Objectives Two main digital signal processing technologies inside the modern hearing aid to provide the best conditions for hearing aid users are directionality (DIR) and digital noise reduction (DNR) algorithms. There are various possible settings for these algorithms. The present study evaluates the effects of various DIR and DNR conditions (both separately and in combination) on listening comfort among hearing aid users.Methods In 18 participants who received hearing aid fitting services from the Rehabilitation School of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences regularly, we applied acceptable noise level (ANL) as our subjective measure of listening comfort. We evaluated both of these under six different hearing aid conditions: omnidirectional-baseline, omnidirectional-broadband DNR, omnidirectional-multichannel DNR, directional, directional-broadband DNR, and directional-multichannel DNR.Results The ANL results ranged from −3 dB to 14 dB in all conditions. The results show, among all conditions, both the omnidirectional-baseline condition and the omnidirectional-broadband DNR condition are the worst conditions for listening in noise. The DIR always reduces the amount of noise that patients received during testing. The DNR algorithm does not improve listening in noise significantly when compared with the DIR algorithms. Although both DNR and DIR algorithms yielded a lower ANL, the DIR algorithm was more effective than the DNR.Conclusion The DIR and DNR technologies provide listening comfort in the presence of noise. Thus, user benefit depends on how the digital signal processing settings inside the hearing aid are adjusted.

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Open Versus Closed Hearing-Aid Fittings: A Literature Review of Both Fitting Approaches

Cited by 48 publications

References 57 publications

The Acceptable Noise Level Benefit From Directionality for Listeners With Severe Hearing Loss

The Acceptable Noise Level Benefit From Directionality for Listeners With Severe Hearing Loss

Sound Externalization: A Review of Recent Research

The Effects of Hearing Aid Digital Noise Reduction and Directionality on Acceptable Noise Level

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