Real-Life Efficacy and Reliability of Training a Hearing Aid

Abstract

For those who wanted a change to the prescription, training was mostly effective. Limited data on reliability showed reasonable consistency in training outcomes and preferences. Findings, in particular on reliability, should be verified in larger populations. A guideline on how to clinically manage training with clients is presented.

Smartphone-Based System for Learning and Inferring Hearing Aid Settings

“…The finding that about half of the participants who provided valid data reported no preference for either response is in agreement with the Keidser and Alamudi (2013) study. Zakis et al (2007) reported that only about one-quarter of participants had nonsignificant preferences.…”

“…One possible reason for this discrepancy is that participants in the present study completed an average of 142 training-phase listening evaluations over four weeks, fewer than the 300 adjustments required by Zakis et al Although no overall significant correlation between number of training-phase listening evaluations and preference for trained settings existed, among participants who completed more than 150 training-phase listening evaluations, 80% (4/5) had a significant preference for trained settings. Zakis et al (2007) and Keidser and Alamudi (2013) also found that training was effective for 75–80% of those participants who had trained the devices sufficiently across several environments.…”

“…Another commercially available algorithm trained the comfort–clarity balance (Unitron, 2011). Keidser and Alamudi (2013) reported on a study investigating the efficacy and reliability of training commercially available learning hearing aids in everyday environments. The test devices included a modified SoundLearning algorithm with the capability to discriminate between six ESCs (Quiet [QUI], Noise [NOI], Music [MUS], Speech in Quiet [SiQ], Speech in Noise [SiN], and Car Noise) and learn gain-frequency response shape and compression parameters.…”

Perceptions Toward Internet-Based Delivery of Hearing Aids among Older Hearing-Impaired Adults

“…Trainable hearing aids are an emerging technology that can enable the patient to manipulate amplification characteristics via user controls while wearing the hearing aid in real life. Over time, the hearing aid wearer's amplification preferences in different acoustic environments are "learned" by the hearing aid, which automatically adjusts its amplification parameters as the acoustics of the environment alter (Zakis et al, 2007;Keidser and Alamudi, 2013). Although studies evaluating the effectiveness of trainable hearing aids have shown higher patient preference for settings resulting from trained hearing aids compared to those prescribed in a clinic, further research regarding its reliability and the overall benefit that can be achieved are required (Zakis et al, 2007;Keidser and Alamudi, 2013).…”

“…Over time, the hearing aid wearer's amplification preferences in different acoustic environments are "learned" by the hearing aid, which automatically adjusts its amplification parameters as the acoustics of the environment alter (Zakis et al, 2007;Keidser and Alamudi, 2013). Although studies evaluating the effectiveness of trainable hearing aids have shown higher patient preference for settings resulting from trained hearing aids compared to those prescribed in a clinic, further research regarding its reliability and the overall benefit that can be achieved are required (Zakis et al, 2007;Keidser and Alamudi, 2013). Smartphone applications that enable users to program their hearing aids are now also available, although research evaluating this technology has not been carried out (Clark and Swanepoel, 2014).…”