A new multi-channel loudness compensation method based on high frequency compression and shift for digital hearing aids

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xulai Cao ◽  
Linghua Zhang ◽  
Wanzhen Gao
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aids ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Compensation Method ◽  
Frequency Compression ◽  
Digital Hearing Aids

Evaluation of Nonlinear Frequency Compression for School-Age Children with Moderate to Moderately Severe Hearing Loss

2010 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 618-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jace Wolfe ◽  
Andrew John ◽  
Erin Schafer ◽  
Myriel Nyffeler ◽  
Michael Boretzki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Nonlinear Frequency ◽  
Speech Sounds ◽  
Severe Hearing Loss ◽  
Frequency Compression ◽  
Digital Hearing Aids ◽  
Significant Difference

Background: Previous research has indicated that children with moderate hearing loss experience difficulty with recognition of high-frequency speech sounds, such as fricatives and affricates. Conventional behind-the-ear (BTE) amplification typically does not provide ample output in the high frequencies (4000 Hz and beyond) to ensure optimal audibility for these sounds. Purpose: To evaluate nonlinear frequency compression (NLFC) as a means to improve speech recognition for children with moderate to moderately severe hearing loss. Research Design: Within subject, crossover design with repeated measures across test conditions. Study Sample: Fifteen children, aged 5–13 yr, with moderate to moderately severe high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss were fitted with Phonak Nios, microsized, BTE hearing aids. These children were previous users of digital hearing aids and communicated via spoken language. Their speech and language abilities were age-appropriate. Data Collection and Analysis: Aided thresholds and speech recognition in quiet and in noise were assessed after 6 wk of use with NLFC and 6 wk of use without NLFC. Participants were randomly assigned to counter-balanced groups so that eight participants began the first 6 wk trial with NLFC enabled and the other seven participants started with NLFC disabled. Then, the provision of NLFC was switched for the second 6 wk trial. Speech recognition in quiet was assessed via word recognition assessments with the University of Western Ontario (UWO) Plural Test and recognition of vowel-consonant-vowel nonsense syllables with the Phonak Logatome test. Speech recognition in noise was assessed by evaluating the signal-to-noise ratio in dB for 50% correct performance on the Bamford-Kowal-Bench Speech-in-Noise (BKB-SIN) test, an adaptive test of speech perception in a multitalker babble background. Results: Aided thresholds for high-frequency stimuli were significantly better when NLFC was enabled, and use of NLFC resulted in significantly better speech recognition in quiet for the UWO Plural Test and for the phonemes /d/ and /s/ on the Phonak Logatome test. There was not a statistically significant difference in performance on the BKB-SIN test between the NLFC enabled and disabled conditions. Conclusions: These results indicate that NLFC improves audibility for and recognition of high-frequency speech sounds for children with moderate to moderately severe hearing loss in quiet listening situations.

Digital hearing aids for high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss: Preliminary experience with the RetroX® device

2005 ◽  
Vol 125 (7) ◽  
pp. 693-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurizio Barbara ◽  
Giorgio Bandiera ◽  
Bruno Serra ◽  
Vania Marrone ◽  
Silvia Tarentini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing ◽  
Digital Hearing Aids

scholarly journals Critical-band based frequency compression for digital hearing aids

2004 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keiichi Yasu ◽  
Masato Hishitani ◽  
Takayuki Arai ◽  
Yuji Murahara
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Critical Band ◽  
Frequency Compression ◽  
Digital Hearing Aids

scholarly journals Comparison of Frequency Transposition and Frequency Compression for People With Extensive Dead Regions in the Cochlea

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 233121651882220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Salorio-Corbetto ◽  
Thomas Baer ◽  
Brian C. J. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Test Sentence ◽  
High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽  
Frequency Compression ◽  
Perceived Benefit ◽  
Consistent Error ◽  
And Control

The objective was to determine the effects of two frequency-lowering algorithms (frequency transposition, FT, and frequency compression, FC) on audibility, speech identification, and subjective benefit, for people with high-frequency hearing loss and extensive dead regions (DRs) in the cochlea. A single-blind randomized crossover design was used. FT and FC were compared with each other and with a control condition (denoted ‘Control’) without frequency lowering, using hearing aids that were otherwise identical. Data were collected after at least 6 weeks of experience with a condition. Outcome measures were audibility, scores for consonant identification, scores for word-final /s, z/ detection ( S test), sentence-in-noise intelligibility, and a questionnaire assessing self-perceived benefit (Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale). Ten adults with steeply sloping high-frequency hearing loss and extensive DRs were tested. FT and FC improved the audibility of some high-frequency sounds for 7 and 9 participants out of 10, respectively. At the group level, performance for FT and FC did not differ significantly from that for Control for any of the outcome measures. However, the pattern of consonant confusions varied across conditions. Bayesian analysis of the confusion matrices revealed a trend for FT to lead to more consistent error patterns than FC and Control. Thus, FT may have the potential to give greater benefit than Control or FC following extended experience or training.

The Effect of Nonlinear Frequency Compression on Acoustic Change Complex Responses in High-Frequency Dead-Regioned Hearing Loss

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebru Kösemihal ◽  
Ferda Akdas
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Nonlinear Frequency ◽  
Frequency Compression ◽  
Frequency Information ◽  
Cortical Level ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Acoustic Change Complex

Abstract Purpose The study is concern with the distinguishing of the stimuli containing high frequency information with the frequency compression feature at the cortical level using the acoustic change complex (ACC) and the comparison of such with the ACC answers of individuals with normal hearing. Research Design This is a case–control study. Study Sample Thirty adults (21 males and nine females) with normal hearing, ranging in age between 16 and 63 years (mean: 36.7 ± 12.9 years) and 20 adults (16 males and four females) with hearing loss ranging in age between 16 and 70 years (mean:49.0 ± 19.8 years) have been included in this study. Data Collection and Analysis A total of 1,000 ms long stimulus containing 500 and 4,000 Hz tonal stimuli was used for ACC recording. The start frequency (SF) and compression ratio (CR) parameters of the hearing aids were programmed according to the default settings (SFd, CRd) in the device software, the optimal setting (SFo, CRo), and the extra compression (SFe, CRe) requirements and ACC has been recorded for each condition. Evaluation has been performed according to P1-N1-P2 wave complex and ACC complex wave latencies. Independent samples t-test was used to test the significance of the differences between the groups. Results In all individuals ACC has been observed. There was a significant difference between the wave latencies in normal hearing- and hearing-impaired groups. All wave latency averages of the individuals with hearing impairment were longer than the individuals with normal hearing. There were statistically significant differences between SFd-SFo, SFd-SFe, and SFo-SFe parameters. But there was no difference between CRd, CRo, and CRe in terms of CRs. Conclusion In order to discriminate high frequency information at the cortical level we should not rely on default settings of the SF and CR of the hearing aids. Optimal bandwidth must be adjusted without performing insufficient compression or over-compression. ACC can be used besides the real ear measurement for hearing aid fitting.

An Improved Frequency-Shift Compression Method Based on Auto Energy Gain Compensation for Digital Hearing Aids

2015 ◽  
Vol 719-720 ◽  
pp. 1068-1073
Author(s):  
Zhi Liang Zhao ◽  
Zhao Yang Guo ◽  
Xiang Xiang Luo ◽  
Feng Jie Xue ◽  
Xin An Wang
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aids ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Energy Gain ◽  
Compression Method ◽  
Subjective Test ◽  
Theoretical Simulation ◽  
Digital Hearing Aids ◽  
Gain Compensation ◽  
Speech Loudness

Sensorineural hearing impaired individuals have narrow hearing range, especially in high frequency. Due to acoustic diffusion masking, just amplifying speech can’t meet patients’ demands. Traditional methods restore the signal of high frequency in low frequency, which has two weaknesses. On the one hand high frequency covers low frequency, on the other hand the methods change the energy of speech. These two aspects severely decrease speech loudness, perception and recognition. To solve the above problems, we have proposed an improved frequency shifting compression method based on Auto Energy Gain Compensation (AEGC) which is used for hearing aids. Fully investigating the relationship of speech frequency with energy and recognition, the scheme selectively keeps the information of vital frequency band. Meanwhile, it compensates the speech loudness with AEGC module. With the proposed scheme, it has obviously improved the speech perception and recognition. Both the theoretical simulation result and subjective test in APP on android platform show the energy is compensated and the speech recognition ratios are enhanced 20%-30% in different environments, especially efficient in quiet, noisy and normal environment.

scholarly journals Study of the long-term effects of frequency compression by behavioral verbal tests in adults

CoDAS ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Clarizia Marchesin ◽  
Maria Cecília Martinelli Iório
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Frequency Compression ◽  
High Frequencies ◽  
Hearing Aid Benefit ◽  
Consonant Sounds

PURPOSE: To verify the effect of long-term use of hearing aids with frequency compression for verbal behavior tests and daily activities. METHODS: Thirty-two adults, aged between 30 and 60 years old, with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss at high frequencies with steeply sloping configuration were divided into two groups: 16 with hearing aids with frequency compression algorithm enabled and 16 not enabled. All participants underwent the detection tests of consonant sounds, monosyllable recognition in quiet environments, identification of fricative monosyllables, and Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) questionnaire in five times throughout a 12-month trial. RESULTS: Detection of consonant sounds, recognition of monosyllables in quiet environments and identification of fricative monosyllables improved significantly with frequency compression enabled. Participants had their APHAB scores improved whether they were adapted to the frequency compression or not. CONCLUSION: Frequency compression provides the anticipated improvement in audibility, detection of high-frequency consonant sounds, and recognition of monosyllables.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document