Earmold Influence on Aided Speech Identification Tasks

1970 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 162-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerry L. Northern ◽  
Karl W. Hattler
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Speech Discrimination ◽  
Ear Canal ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Discrimination Ability ◽  
Comfortable Loudness ◽  
Modified Rhyme Test ◽  
Speech Identification

The physical characteristics of hearing aids are modified when the instrument is coupled with an earmold and fitted to an ear canal. This study compares the electroacoustic characteristics of four specific earmold variations with behavioral speech audiometric tasks in five normal-hearing and seven sensorineural-hearing-loss subjects. Speech-Bekesy thresholds were obtained under each earmold condition with continuous discourse for detectability, intelligibility, most comfortable loudness, and tolerance. Speech discrimination ability was evaluated with the Modified Rhyme Test in three signal-to-noise ratio conditions. Significant differences in test scores attributable to earmold modification were difficult to demonstrate, in spite of the fact that substantial variations in the ear inserts were readily apparent in both structural and electroacoustics analysis.

Speech Reception in the Presence of Classroom Noise

1979 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 221-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Smyth
Keyword(s):  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Learning Processes ◽  
Speech Discrimination ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Speech Reception ◽  
Monosyllabic Words ◽  
Noise Ratio

Three hundred children from five to 12 years of age were required to discriminate simple, familiar, monosyllabic words under two conditions: 1) quiet, and 2) in the presence of background classroom noise. Of the sample, 45.3% made errors in speech discrimination in the presence of background classroom noise. The effect was most marked in children younger than seven years six months. The results are discussed considering the signal-to-noise ratio and the possible effects of unwanted classroom noise on learning processes.

scholarly journals Consistency of Hearing Aid Setting Preference in Simulated Real-World Environments: Implications for Trainable Hearing Aids

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 233121652093339
Author(s):  
Els Walravens ◽  
Gitte Keidser ◽  
Louise Hickson
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Real World ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Traffic Noise ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Acoustic Environment ◽  
Change Environment ◽  
Noise Ratio

Trainable hearing aids let users fine-tune their hearing aid settings in their own listening environment: Based on consistent user-adjustments and information about the acoustic environment, the trainable aids will change environment-specific settings to the user’s preference. A requirement for effective fine-tuning is consistency of preference for similar settings in similar environments. The aim of this study was to evaluate consistency of preference for settings differing in intensity, gain-frequency slope, and directionality when listening in simulated real-world environments and to determine if participants with more consistent preferences could be identified based on profile measures. A total of 52 adults (63–88 years) with hearing varying from normal to a moderate sensorineural hearing loss selected their preferred setting from pairs differing in intensity (3 or 6 dB), gain-frequency slope (±1.3 or ± 2.7 dB/octave), or directionality (omnidirectional vs. cardioid) in four simulated real-world environments: traffic noise, a monologue in traffic noise at 5 dB signal-to-noise ratio, and a dialogue in café noise at 5 and at 0 dB signal-to-noise ratio. Forced-choice comparisons were made 10 times for each combination of pairs of settings and environment. Participants also completed nine psychoacoustic, cognitive, and personality measures. Consistency of preference, defined by a setting preferred at least 9 out of 10 times, varied across participants. More participants obtained consistent preferences for larger differences between settings and less difficult environments. The profile measures did not predict consistency of preference. Trainable aid users could benefit from counselling to ensure realistic expectations for particular adjustments and listening situations.

Effects of Adaptive Hearing Aid Directionality and Noise Reduction on Masked Speech Recognition for Children Who Are Hard of Hearing

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenna M. Browning ◽  
Emily Buss ◽  
Mary Flaherty ◽  
Tim Vallier ◽  
Lori J. Leibold
Keyword(s):  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hard Of Hearing ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Open Set ◽  
Fully Adaptive ◽  
Noise Ratio

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate speech-in-noise and speech-in-speech recognition associated with activation of a fully adaptive directional hearing aid algorithm in children with mild to severe bilateral sensory/neural hearing loss. Method Fourteen children (5–14 years old) who are hard of hearing participated in this study. Participants wore laboratory hearing aids. Open-set word recognition thresholds were measured adaptively for 2 hearing aid settings: (a) omnidirectional (OMNI) and (b) fully adaptive directionality. Each hearing aid setting was evaluated in 3 listening conditions. Fourteen children with normal hearing served as age-matched controls. Results Children who are hard of hearing required a more advantageous signal-to-noise ratio than children with normal hearing to achieve comparable performance in all 3 conditions. For children who are hard of hearing, the average improvement in signal-to-noise ratio when comparing fully adaptive directionality to OMNI was 4.0 dB in noise, regardless of target location. Children performed similarly with fully adaptive directionality and OMNI settings in the presence of the speech maskers. Conclusions Compared to OMNI, fully adaptive directionality improved speech recognition in steady noise for children who are hard of hearing, even when they were not facing the target source. This algorithm did not affect speech recognition when the background noise was speech. Although the use of hearing aids with fully adaptive directionality is not proposed as a substitute for remote microphone systems, it appears to offer several advantages over fixed directionality, because it does not depend on children facing the target talker and provides access to multiple talkers within the environment. Additional experiments are required to further evaluate children's performance under a variety of spatial configurations in the presence of both noise and speech maskers.

Prospective Evaluation of Cognitive Functions After Rehabilitation With Cochlear Implant or Hearing Aids: Preliminary Results of a Multicentric Study on Elderly Patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (3S) ◽  
pp. 762-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Anzivino ◽  
Guido Conti ◽  
Walter Di Nardo ◽  
Anna Rita Fetoni ◽  
Pasqualina Maria Picciotti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Speech In Noise

Objective Recent literature has shown a growing interest in the relationship between presbycusis and cognitive decline, but significant evidence about the long-term benefit of rehabilitation on cognitive functions has not been reported yet. The aim of the study was to analyze audiological and neuropsychological performances in patients with cochlear implant (CI) or hearing aids (HAs) over time. Materials and Method Forty-four bilaterally deaf patients aged more than 60 years (25 with CI candidacy and 19 with HA candidacy) were enrolled. Patients were subjected to audiological evaluation, to a battery of neuropsychological tests (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE], Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task [RAVLT], Rey–Osterreith Complex Figure Test, Digit/Corsi Span Forward and Backward, Multiple Features Target Cancellation, Trail-Making Test, Stroop Test, and Phonological and Semantic Word Fluency), and to a quality of life assessment (Short Form 36, Glasgow Benefit Inventory, Glasgow Health Status Inventory) at the baseline and after a long-term follow-up (6–12 months). Results Speech recognition scores in quiet and in noise were significantly improved even 6 months after auditory rehabilitation. Significant differences between pre- and post-rehabilitation scores were reported in physical and emotional impacts in life, general global health, vitality, and social activities. MMSE and RAVLT scores were significantly improved in both groups after 6 months of follow-up, suggesting a global involvement of memory domain. Mnesic performances remained unchanged between the first and second follow-up, but a further significant improvement in executive functions (Stroop Test) was detected in patients with CI reevaluated 12 months after implantation. A significant correlation of the RAVLT with signal-to-noise ratio at +10 dB speech-in-noise scores and the MMSE with signal-to-noise ratio at 0 dB speech-in-noise scores suggests the pivotal role of executive functions in recognition in noisy environment. Conclusions Our preliminary data confirm that hearing deprivation in aged patients represents a truly modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline, which can be positively faced by acoustic rehabilitation. The improvement of short- and long-term memory performances and the amelioration of executive and attentive functions suggest that hearing restoration with both HAs and CI may provide a recovery of superior cognitive domains probably through a reallocation of cortical resources altered by hearing deprivation.

scholarly journals The Effect of Hearing Protection Devices on Speech Intelligibility of Persian Employees

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina Karami ◽  
Mohsen Aliabadi ◽  
Rostam Golmohammadi ◽  
Morteza Hamidi Nahrani
Keyword(s):  
Noise Reduction ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Work Environments ◽  
Hearing Protection ◽  
Speech Discrimination ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Protection Devices ◽  
Male Subjects

Abstract Objective This study aimed to investigate the effect of hearing protection devices (HPDs) on speech intelligibility in Persian work environments. Three current earmuffs and three earplugs and one of the prototype of molded earplug were tested on 15 male subjects which were randomly selected. The noise reduction of HPDs was measured based on the Real Ear attenuation at Threshold (REAT) method. Speech intelligibilities during using HPDs were determined based on the speech discrimination score (SDS). Data were analyzed using SPSS, version 22. Results The actual to nominal noise reduction rating values were from 47–84% for HPDs. The earmuffs show higher ratios of actual to nominal noise reduction compared with the earplugs. At two signal to noise ratios, no significant differences were observed in in speech intelligibility using HPDs (p > 0.05). However, at S/N = 0, the speech intelligibility descriptively has been improved by using common earmuffs up to 9.07%. There was a significant difference up to 21.27% in speech intelligibility for proposed molded earplugs at S/N = 0(p < 0.05). It is concluded that, if the trend of signal to noise ratio is positive, the HPDs will reduce the ability to understand speech.

A Signal-to-Noise Ratio Model for the Speech-Reception Threshold of the Hearing Impaired

1986 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reinier Plomp
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Noise Level ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Threshold Elevation ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Speech Reception ◽  
Noise Ratio ◽  
Two Parameters

This paper reviews the results of a series of investigations inspired by a model of the speech-reception threshold (SRT) of hearing-impaired listeners. The model contains two parameters accounting for the SRT of normal-hearing listeners (SRT in quiet and signal-to-noise ratio corresponding to the threshold at high noise levels), two parameters describing the hearing loss (attenuation and threshold elevation in terms of signal-to-noise ratio), and three parameters describing the hearing aid (acoustic gain, threshold elevation expressed in signal-to-noise ratio, and equivalent internal noise level). Experimental data are reported for three different types of hearing impairment: presbycusis, hearing losses with a pathological origin, and noise-induced losses. The model gives an excellent description of the data. It demonstrates that for many hearing-impaired persons speech intelligibility at noise levels beyond 50 to 60 dB(A) is their main problem, whereas hearing aids are most effective below that noise level.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Channel-Free Hearing Aid and Noise Desensitisation Training in Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder - Single Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 162-168
Author(s):  
Sreebha Sreedhar ◽  
Nihala K P ◽  
Aleesha M H
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Auditory Neuropathy ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Single Case Study ◽  
Speech Discrimination ◽  
Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder

Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder is a rare condition wherein neural transmission through the VIIIth nerve and auditory brainstem is disrupted with intact peripheral hearing. Most frequently reported symptoms by individuals suffering from such conditions include impaired speech discrimination especially in presence of background noise. The aim of this single case study is to emphasize the effectiveness of channel-free technology as a rehabilitative option and to demonstrate the improvement in speech perception in noise with noise desensitisation training. A 24-year-old male patient reported to the National Institute of Speech and Hearing with the complaint of poor speech comprehension. The audiological profile revealed, bilateral moderate sensorineural hearing loss in pure tone audiometry with poor speech discrimination scores, bilateral ‘A’ type tympanogram with absent acoustic reflexes, good signal to noise ratio in otoacoustic emissions, and absent Auditory Brainstem Response at 95 dBnHL bilaterally suggestive of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder in both the ears. As a part of rehabilitation, hearing aids with multiple channels and channel-free technology were tried and better speech discrimination scores were obtained with channel-free technology. In order to address poor speech discrimination in presence of noise, noise desensitisation training was given at different Signal to Noise Ratio with channel-free hearing aids and was found to be effective in improving the speech discrimination scores especially in adverse listening conditions. Key words: Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder, Channel free hearing aid, Noise desensitisation.

Examining the Relationship Between Speech Recognition and a Spectral–Temporal Test With a Mixed Group of Hearing Aid and Cochlear Implant Users

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 1073-1080
Author(s):  
Justin M. Aronoff ◽  
Leah Duitsman ◽  
Deanna K. Matusik ◽  
Senad Hussain ◽  
Elise Lippmann
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Mixed Group ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Hearing Devices ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Audiology clinics have a need for a nonlinguistic test for assessing speech scores for patients using hearing aids or cochlear implants. One such test, the Spectral-Temporally Modulated Ripple Test Lite for computeRless Measurement (SLRM), has been developed for use in clinics, but it, as well as the related Spectral-Temporally Modulated Ripple Test, has primarily been assessed with cochlear implant users. The main goal of this study was to examine the relationship between SLRM and the Arizona Biomedical Institute Sentence Test (AzBio) for a mixed group of hearing aid and cochlear implant users. Method Adult hearing aid users and cochlear implant users were tested with SLRM, AzBio in quiet, and AzBio in multitalker babble with a +8 dB signal-to-noise ratio. Results SLRM scores correlated with both AzBio recognition scores in quiet and in noise. Conclusions The results indicated that there is a significant relationship between SLRM and AzBio scores when testing a mixed group of cochlear implant and hearing aid users. This suggests that SLRM may be a useful nonlinguistic test for use with individuals with a variety of hearing devices.

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