Linear frequency transposition improved fricative identification over time. Proper candidate selection with appropriate training is necessary to fully realize the potential benefit of this type of processing.

These results suggest that the directional microphone and the SII-based noise reduction algorithm may improve the SNR of the listening environments, and both the HINT and the ANL may be used to study their benefits.

The current study reexamined the effect of vent diameters on objective and subjective occlusion effect (OE) while minimizing two possible sources of variability. Nine hearing-impaired participants with primarily a high-frequency hearing loss were evaluated. Laser shell-making technology was used to make ear inserts of completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids for the study. This was to minimize any potential slit leakage from the inserts. The vent dimensions were systematically altered during the study. Participants sustained /i/ for 5 sec, and the real-ear occluded response was measured with a custommade program that performed frequency averaging to reduce response variability. Participants also repeated the phrase "Baby Jeannie is teeny tiny" and rated their own voice. The results showed a systematic change in the objective OE and subjective ratings of OE as the vent diameter was modified. Furthermore, a significant correlation was seen between subjective rating and objective occlusion effect.Key Words: Laser shell-making, occlusion effect, reverse horn vent, subjective occlusion ratings, vent Abbreviations: AE = ampclusion effect; CIC = completely in the canal; OE = occlusion effect; REOR voc = real-ear occluded response during vocalization; REUR voc = real-ear unoccluded response during vocalization; RMS = root mean square SumarioEl actual estudio re-examinó el efecto de los diferentes diámetros en el orificio de ventilación sobre el efecto de oclusión (OE), objetiva y subjetivamente, minimizando dos posibles fuentes de variabilidad. Se evaluó a nueve participantes hipoacúsicos con pérdidas auditivas primariamente en las altas frecuencias. Se utilizó una tecnología laser de fabricación de conchas para producir, para el estudio, dispositivos de inserción de auxiliares auditivos completamente en el canal (CIC). Esto se hizo para minimizar cualquier fuga de hendidura de los insertos. Las dimensiones de orificio de ventilación fueron sistemáticamente alteradas durante el estudio. Los participantes produjeron una /i/ sostenida por 5 segundos, y se midieron las respuestas ocluidas de oído real con un programa hecho a la medida que realizaba promediaciones de la frecuencia para reducir la variabilidad en la respuesta. Los participantes también repitieron la frase "Baby Jeannie is teeny tiny" y calificaron su propia voz. Los resultados mostraron un cambio sistemático en las apreciaciones objetivas y subjetivas del OE conforme se modificó el tamaño del orificio de ventilación. Más aún, se vio una correlación significativa entre la apreciación subjetiva y el efecto objetivo de oclusión.

The current study demonstrated that hearing aid wearers can be trained on their front/back localization skills using either laboratory-based or home-based training program. The effectiveness of the training was generalized to other acoustic stimuli and the unaided conditions when the stimulus levels were fixed.

The current nonsense syllable test provided a reliable and efficient means for phoneme identification testing.