Evaluation of wideband frequency responses and non-linear frequency compression for children with mild to moderate high-frequency hearing loss

ObjectiveThis study was aimed at examining the effects of an adaptive non-linear frequency compression algorithm implemented in hearing aids (i.e., SoundRecover2, or SR2) at different parameter settings and auditory acclimatization on speech and sound-quality perception in native Mandarin-speaking adult listeners with sensorineural hearing loss.DesignData consisted of participants’ unaided and aided hearing thresholds, Mandarin consonant and vowel recognition in quiet, and sentence recognition in noise, as well as sound-quality ratings through five sessions in a 12-week period with three SR2 settings (i.e., SR2 off, SR2 default, and SR2 strong).Study SampleTwenty-nine native Mandarin-speaking adults aged 37–76 years old with symmetric sloping moderate-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss were recruited. They were all fitted bilaterally with Phonak Naida V90-SP BTE hearing aids with hard ear-molds.ResultsThe participants demonstrated a significant improvement of aided hearing in detecting high frequency sounds at 8 kHz. For consonant recognition and overall sound-quality rating, the participants performed significantly better with the SR2 default setting than the other two settings. No significant differences were found in vowel and sentence recognition among the three SR2 settings. Test session was a significant factor that contributed to the participants’ performance in all speech and sound-quality perception tests. Specifically, the participants benefited from a longer duration of hearing aid use.ConclusionFindings from this study suggested possible perceptual benefit from the adaptive non-linear frequency compression algorithm for native Mandarin-speaking adults with moderate-to-profound hearing loss. Periods of acclimatization should be taken for better performance in novel technologies in hearing aids.

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

Trends in Hearing ◽

10.1177/2331216518822206 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 23 ◽

pp. 233121651882220 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

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.

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The influence of non-linear frequency compression on the perception of music by adults with a moderate to severe hearing loss: Subjective impressions

South African Journal of Communication Disorders ◽

10.4102/sajcd.v59i1.22 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 59 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marinda Uys ◽

Lidia Pottas ◽

Bart Vinck ◽

Catherine Van Dijk

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Hearing Loss ◽

Speech Perception ◽

Hearing Aid ◽

Severe Hearing Loss ◽

Frequency Compression ◽

Linear Frequency ◽

Musical Perception ◽

Non Linear

Objective: To date, the main direction in frequency-lowering hearing aid studies has been in relation to speech perception abilities. With improvements in hearing aid technology, interest in musical perception as a dimension that could improve hearing aid users’ quality of life has grown. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of non-linear frequency compression (NFC) on hearing aid users’ subjective impressions of listening to music. Design & sample: A survey research design was implemented to elicit participants’ (N=40) subjective impressions of musical stimuli with and without NFC. Results: The use of NFC significantly improved hearing aid users’ perception of the musical qualities of overall fidelity, tinniness and reverberance. Although participants preferred to listen to the loudness, fullness, crispness, naturalness and pleasantness of music with the use of NFC, these benefits were not significant. Conclusion: The use of NFC can increase hearing aid users’ enjoyment and appreciation of music. Given that a relatively large percentage of hearing aid users express a loss of enjoyment of music, audiologists should not ignore the possible benefits of NFC, especially if one takes into account that previous research indicates speech perception benefits with this technology.

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Long-term effects of non-linear frequency compression for children with moderate hearing loss

International Journal of Audiology ◽

10.3109/14992027.2010.551788 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 50 (6) ◽

pp. 396-404 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Jace Wolfe ◽

Andrew John ◽

Erin Schafer ◽

Myriel Nyffeler ◽

Michael Boretzki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Frequency Compression ◽

Linear Frequency ◽

Non Linear ◽

Moderate Hearing Loss

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Exploring the Limits of Frequency Lowering

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/1092-4388(2013/12-0151) ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 56 (5) ◽

pp. 1349-1363 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Pamela E. Souza ◽

Kathryn H. Arehart ◽

James M. Kates ◽

Naomi B. H. Croghan ◽

Namita Gehani

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

High Frequency ◽

Control Group ◽

High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽

Frequency Compression ◽

Cutoff Frequencies ◽

Quality Ratings ◽

Hearing Thresholds ◽

Sentence Intelligibility ◽

Moderate Hearing Loss

Purpose This study examined how frequency lowering affected sentence intelligibility and quality for adults with postlingually acquired, mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Method Listeners included adults aged 60–92 years with sloping sensorineural hearing loss and a control group of similarly aged adults with normal hearing. Sentences were presented in quiet and babble at a range of signal-to-noise ratios. Intelligibility and quality were measured with varying amounts of frequency lowering, implemented using a form of frequency compression. Results Moderate amounts of compression, particularly with high cutoff frequencies, had minimal effects on sentence intelligibility. Listeners with the greatest high-frequency hearing loss showed the greatest benefit. Sentence intelligibility decreased with more compression. Listeners were more affected by a given set of parameters in noise than in quiet. In quiet, any amount of compression resulted in lower speech quality for most listeners, with the greatest degradation for listeners with better high-frequency hearing. Quality ratings were lower with background noise, and in noise, the effect of changing compression parameters was small. Conclusions The benefits of frequency lowering in adults were affected by the compression parameters as well as individual hearing thresholds. The data are consistent with the idea that frequency lowering can be viewed in terms of improved audibility versus increased distortion trade-off.

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