Benefits of Digital Wireless Technology for Persons with Hearing Aids

Abstract

Wireless technology for persons with hearing loss began with cumbersome body-worn systems that nevertheless provided speechrecognition benefits in noisy environments. The first ear-level wireless systems were welcomed despite the awkward antenna that extended from the behind-the-ear case. The next-generation, removable, multichannel receiver provided a cost-effective means for school districts to maintain a stock of equipment to be used across students and classrooms. More recently, the advances have been less focused on physical size reductions and more focused on improvements to the signal quality in increasingly noisier environments. Two studies were designed to evaluate the new technological features by Phonak (Phonak, Warrenville, IL) known as adaptive FM and later adaptive digital processing. Each advance in technology resulted in greater gains in speech recognition in noise such that with the adaptive digital system, persons were able to achieve 48% correct in 80-decibels A weighted (dBA) noise levels. Persons with hearing loss using this technology are likely to hear more than persons with normal hearing in high-noise environments.Learning Outcomes: As a result of this activity, the participant will be able to (1) describe three types of remote microphone wireless processing: analogue fixed frequency-modulated (FM) advantage, analogue dynamic FM advantage, and digital adaptive FM advantage and (2) describe three advantages of the digital adaptive FM advantage wireless technology over previous wireless technology.

Examining the Use and Benefits of Low-/Mild-Gain Hearing Aids in Service Members with Normal Hearing Thresholds and Self-Reported Hearing Difficulties

“…Published studies have suggested several possible interventions for patients with abnormal auditory abilities, including compensatory strategies, counseling, and auditory training [ 13 ]. Several studies suggest that technologies that increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), such as low- (or mild-) gain hearing aids (LGHAs), with or without the use of remote microphones, can provide significant benefits to those with SHDs and NHTs [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. Anecdotal results from military audiologists have reported positive results from the use of LGHAs (i.e., self-reported satisfaction and use through data logging), and many military clinics have started routinely prescribing LGHAs to patients who present with SHDs and NHTs.…”