ATTENTUATION OF THE OUTPUT SIGNAL BY PROTECTIVE AND FIXING TOOLS FOR HEARING AIDS AND COCHLEAR IMPLANTS

Akustika ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 163-167
Author(s):  
Sergei Levin ◽  
Gaziz Tufatulin ◽  
Inna Koroleva ◽  
Viktoriia Vasilyeva ◽  
Elena Levina
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Input Signal ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Acoustic Measurements ◽  
Signal Attenuation ◽  
High Frequencies ◽  
Significant Attenuation ◽  
Speech Spectrum ◽  
Sound Processor

The aim was to study amount of attenuation of input signal at the hearing aid (HA) or cochlear implant sound processor (SP) microphone by different protective tools or clothes. Materials and methods. The acoustic measurements were conducted in the soundproof cabin using artificial head with HA/SP and different protective tools, which can influence on microphone function. Probe microphone was integrated in the microphone input of SP and connected with HA verification system. Results. The biggest amount of signal attenuation was observed using water-resistant cases for SP. Changes affect the speech spectrum, therefore using such protective tools can lead to decrease of speech intelligibility. Maximum attenuation was 9.36±0.33 dB at 4000 Hz. Non-hermetic membrane protective cases gave maximum attenuation 7.67±0.18 dB (5000 Hz). Clothes which cover head lead to significant change of signal at microphone up to 9.24±0.16 dB mostly at high-frequencies, which less influences on speech intelligibility. The results confirm that clothes and protective tools for HA of SP show significant attenuation of sounds.

scholarly journals Integrated Bimodal Fitting for Unilateral CI Users with Residual Contralateral Hearing

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-206
Author(s):  
Gennaro Auletta ◽  
Annamaria Franzè ◽  
Carla Laria ◽  
Carmine Piccolo ◽  
Carmine Papa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Performance Difference ◽  
Test Conditions ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Noisy Conditions ◽  
New Formula ◽  
Better Than

Background: The aim of this study was to compare, in users of bimodal cochlear implants, the performance obtained using their own hearing aids (adjusted with the standard NAL-NL1 fitting formula) with the performance using the Phonak Naìda Link Ultra Power hearing aid adjusted with both NAL-NL1 and a new bimodal system (Adaptive Phonak Digital Bimodal (APDB)) developed by Advanced Bionics and Phonak Corporations. Methods: Eleven bimodal users (Naìda CI Q70 + contralateral hearing aid) were enrolled in our study. The users’ own hearing aids were replaced with the Phonak Naìda Link Ultra Power and fitted following the new formula. Speech intelligibility was assessed in quiet and noisy conditions, and comparisons were made with the results obtained with the users’ previous hearing aids and with the Naída Link hearing aids fitted with the NAL-NL1 generic prescription formula. Results: Using Phonak Naìda Link Ultra Power hearing aids with the Adaptive Phonak Digital Bimodal fitting formula, performance was significantly better than that with the users’ own rehabilitation systems, especially in challenging hearing situations for all analyzed subjects. Conclusions: Speech intelligibility tests in quiet settings did not reveal a significant difference in performance between the new fitting formula and NAL-NL1 fittings (using the Naída Link hearing aids), whereas the performance difference between the two fittings was very significant in noisy test conditions.

Peaks in the Frequency Response of Hearing Aids: Evaluation of the Effects on Speech Intelligibility and Sound Quality

1996 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald A. van Buuren ◽  
Joost M. Festen ◽  
Tammo Houtgast
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Response ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Sound Quality ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Reference Frequency ◽  
Impaired Hearing ◽  
Speech Spectrum ◽  
Series Of Experiments

In a series of experiments, we introduced peaks of 10, 20, and 30 dB, in various combinations, onto a smooth reference frequency response. For each of the conditions, we evaluated speech intelligibility in noise, using a test as developed by Plomp and Mimpen (1979), and sound quality (for both speech and music), using a rating-scale procedure. We performed the experiments with 26 listeners with sensorineurally impaired hearing and 10 listeners with normal hearing. Signal processing was accomplished digitally; for each listener, the stimuli were filtered and subsequently amplified so that the average speech spectrum was well above the threshold of hearing at all frequencies. The results show that, as a result of the introduction of peaks onto the frequency response, speech intelligibility is affected more for the listeners with impaired hearing than for those with normal hearing. Sound-quality judgments tend to be less different between the listener groups. Conditions with 30-dB peaks especially show serious effects on both speech intelligibility and sound quality.

Connected Speech Intelligibility of Children With Cochlear Implants and Children With Normal Hearing

2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 440-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven B. Chin ◽  
Patrick L. Tsai ◽  
Sujuan Gao
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Chronological Age ◽  
Connected Speech ◽  
Hearing Results ◽  
Educational Environments ◽  
Auditory Experience ◽  
Similar Peak

The objective of this study was to compare the connected speech intelligibility of children who use cochlear implants with that of children who have normal hearing. Previous research has shown that speech intelligibility improves from before cochlear implantation to after implantation and that the speech intelligibility of children who use cochlear implants compares favorably with that of children who use conventional hearing aids. However, no research has yet addressed the question of how the speech intelligibility of children who use cochlear implants compares to that of children with normal hearing. In the current study, archival data on connected speech intelligibility from 51 children with cochlear implants were compared with newly collected data from 47 children with normal hearing. Results showed that for children with cochlear implants, greater intelligibility was associated with both increased chronological age and increased duration of cochlear implant use. Consistent with previous studies, children with normal hearing achieved adult-like or near-adult-like intelligibility around the age of 4 years, but a similar peak in intelligibility was not observed for the children who used cochlear implants. On the whole, children with cochlear implants were significantly less intelligible than children with normal hearing, when controlling both for chronological age and for length of auditory experience. These results have implications for the socialization and education of children with cochlear implants, particularly with respect to on-time placement in mainstream educational environments with age peers.

Verification of a Proposed Clinical Electroacoustic Test Protocol for Personal Digital Modulation Receivers Coupled to Cochlear Implant Sound Processors

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (07) ◽  
pp. 625-635
Author(s):  
Erika L. Nair ◽  
Rhonda Sousa ◽  
Shannon Wannagot
Keyword(s):  
American Academy ◽  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Clinical Setting ◽  
Cochlear Nucleus ◽  
Behavioral Testing ◽  
Test Protocol ◽  
Digital Modulation ◽  
Sound Processor

AbstractGuidelines established by the AAA currently recommend behavioral testing when fitting frequency modulated (FM) systems to individuals with cochlear implants (CIs). A protocol for completing electroacoustic measures has not yet been validated for personal FM systems or digital modulation (DM) systems coupled to CI sound processors. In response, some professionals have used or altered the AAA electroacoustic verification steps for fitting FM systems to hearing aids when fitting FM systems to CI sound processors. More recently steps were outlined in a proposed protocol.The purpose of this research is to review and compare the electroacoustic test measures outlined in a 2013 article by Schafer and colleagues in the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology titled “A Proposed Electroacoustic Test Protocol for Personal FM Receivers Coupled to Cochlear Implant Sound Processors” to the AAA electroacoustic verification steps for fitting FM systems to hearing aids when fitting DM systems to CI users.Electroacoustic measures were conducted on 71 CI sound processors and Phonak Roger DM systems using a proposed protocol and an adapted AAA protocol. Phonak’s recommended default receiver gain setting was used for each CI sound processor manufacturer and adjusted if necessary to achieve transparency.Electroacoustic measures were conducted on Cochlear and Advanced Bionics (AB) sound processors. In this study, 28 Cochlear Nucleus 5/CP810 sound processors, 26 Cochlear Nucleus 6/CP910 sound processors, and 17 AB Naida CI Q70 sound processors were coupled in various combinations to Phonak Roger DM dedicated receivers (25 Phonak Roger 14 receivers—Cochlear dedicated receiver—and 9 Phonak Roger 17 receivers—AB dedicated receiver) and 20 Phonak Roger Inspiro transmitters.Employing both the AAA and the Schafer et al protocols, electroacoustic measurements were conducted with the Audioscan Verifit in a clinical setting on 71 CI sound processors and Phonak Roger DM systems to determine transparency and verify FM advantage, comparing speech inputs (65 dB SPL) in an effort to achieve equal outputs. If transparency was not achieved at Phonak’s recommended default receiver gain, adjustments were made to the receiver gain. The integrity of the signal was monitored with the appropriate manufacturer’s monitor earphones.Using the AAA hearing aid protocol, 50 of the 71 CI sound processors achieved transparency, and 59 of the 71 CI sound processors achieved transparency when using the proposed protocol at Phonak’s recommended default receiver gain. After the receiver gain was adjusted, 3 of 21 CI sound processors still did not meet transparency using the AAA protocol, and 2 of 12 CI sound processors still did not meet transparency using the Schafer et al proposed protocol.Both protocols were shown to be effective in taking reliable electroacoustic measurements and demonstrate transparency. Both protocols are felt to be clinically feasible and to address the needs of populations that are unable to reliably report regarding the integrity of their personal DM systems.

Benefits of Syllabic Input Compression for Users of Cochlear Implants

2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (01) ◽  
pp. 014-024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugh J. McDermott ◽  
Katherine R. Henshall ◽  
Colette M. McKay
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Input Signal ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Average Level ◽  
Signal Compression ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Sentence Recognition ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Low Levels

Ten users of multielectrode cochlear implants participated in an evaluation of the perceptual effects of input-signal compression. A syllabic compressor was introduced into the microphone circuit of Spectra-22 or SPrint sound processors. The post-compression gain was adjusted to provide similar loudness for speech at an average level of 65 dBA with compression either enabled or disabled. Sentence recognition was measured at three levels. Averaged across all listeners, statistically significant score increases were obtained at each level with compression enabled (45 dBA: 19.6 percentage points, p < .0001; 55 dBA: 16.6 percentage points, p < .0001; 70 dBA: 3.1 percentage points, p = .031). A test of speech intelligibility in noise showed no significant effect of compression. Generally, participants in the trial reported improved perception of low-level sounds with compression, although a few disliked the increased loudness of some background noises. Some participants suggested that the ability to enable or disable compression with a manual switch would be helpful. Overall, the results show that input compression can improve the performance of these sound processors for users of cochlear implants, especially when listening to speech at low levels.

scholarly journals Speech Intelligibility in Persian Hearing Impaired Children with Cochlear Implants and Hearing Aids

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Rezaei ◽  
Maryam Emadi ◽  
Peyman Zamani ◽  
Farhad Farahani ◽  
Gohar Lotfi
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Impaired Children ◽  
Hearing Impaired Children

scholarly journals Cross-language comparison of long-term average speech spectrum and dynamic range for three Indian languages and British English

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-134
Author(s):  
Vijaya Kumar Narne ◽  
Nachiketa Tiwari
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Indian Languages ◽  
Indian English ◽  
Indian Language ◽  
British English ◽  
Speech Intelligibility Index ◽  
Speech Spectrum

Purpose: The Long-Term Average Speech Spectrum (LTASS) and Dynamic Range (DR) of speech strongly influence estimates of Speech Intelligibility Index (SII), gain and compression required for hearing aid fitting. It is also known that acoustic and linguistic characteristics of a language have a bearing on its LTASS and DR. Thus, there is a need to estimate LTASS and DR for Indian languages. The present work on three Indian languages fills this gap and contrasts LTASS and DR attributes of these languages against British English.Methods: For this purpose, LTASS and DR were measured for 21 one-third octave bands in the frequency range of 0.1 to 10 kHz for Hindi, Kannada, Indian English and British English.Results: Our work shows that the DR of Indian languages studied is 7-10 dB less relative to that of British English. We also report that LTASS levels for Indian languages are 7 dB lower relative to British English for frequencies above 1 kHz. Finally, we observed that LTASS and DR attributes across genders were more or less the same.Conclusions: Given the evidence presented in this work that LTASS and DR characteristics for Indian languages analyzed are markedly different than those for BE, there is a need to determine Indian language specific SII, as well as gain and compression parameters used in hearing aids.

A Family With Autosomal-Dominant Progressive Sensorineural Hearing Loss

1996 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Halpin ◽  
Barbara Herrmann ◽  
Margaret Whearty
Keyword(s):  
Speech Production ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
The Family ◽  
Patient Will ◽  
Language Pathology

The family described in this article provides an unusual opportunity to relate findings from genetic, histological, electrophysiological, psychophysical, and rehabilitative investigation. Although the total number evaluated is large (49), the known, living affected population is smaller (14), and these are spread from age 20 to age 59. As a result, the findings described above are those of a large-scale case study. Clearly, more data will be available through longitudinal study of the individuals documented in the course of this investigation but, given the slow nature of the progression in this disease, such studies will be undertaken after an interval of several years. The general picture presented to the audiologist who must rehabilitate these cases is that of a progressive cochlear degeneration that affects only thresholds at first, and then rapidly diminishes speech intelligibility. The expected result is that, after normal language development, the patient may accept hearing aids well, encouraged by the support of the family. Performance and satisfaction with the hearing aids is good, until the onset of the speech intelligibility loss, at which time the patient will encounter serious difficulties and may reject hearing aids as unhelpful. As the histological and electrophysiological results indicate, however, the eighth nerve remains viable, especially in the younger affected members, and success with cochlear implantation may be expected. Audiologic counseling efforts are aided by the presence of role models and support from the other affected members of the family. Speech-language pathology services were not considered important by the members of this family since their speech production developed normally and has remained very good. Self-correction of speech was supported by hearing aids and cochlear implants (Case 5’s speech production was documented in Perkell, Lane, Svirsky, & Webster, 1992). These patients received genetic counseling and, due to the high penetrance of the disease, exhibited serious concerns regarding future generations and the hope of a cure.

Comparison of In-the-Ear and Over-the-Ear Hearing Aid Fittings

1986 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 362-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna M. Risberg ◽  
Robyn M. Cox
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aids ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Comparative Evaluation ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Hearing Aid Fitting ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Functional Gain ◽  
The Relationship

A custom in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid fitting was compared to two over-the-ear (OTE) hearing aid fittings for each of 9 subjects with mild to moderately severe hearing losses. Speech intelligibility via the three instruments was compared using the Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) test. The relationship between functional gain and coupler gain was compared for the ITE and the higher rated OTE instruments. The difference in input received at the microphone locations of the two types of hearing aids was measured for 10 different subjects and compared to the functional gain data. It was concluded that (a) for persons with mild to moderately severe hearing losses, appropriately adjusted custom ITE fittings typically yield speech intelligibility that is equal to the better OTE fitting identified in a comparative evaluation; and (b) gain prescriptions for ITE hearing aids should be adjusted to account for the high-frequency emphasis associated with in-the-concha microphone placement.

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