Factors Ensuring Consistent Audibility in Pediatric Hearing Aid Fitting

Kuk, Francis; Marcoux, André

doi:10.1055/s-0040-1716012

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 70 publications

(36 reference statements)

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“…The results obtained in this study were similar to the results obtained in previous studies that have shown that directional microphone technology improves children's speech recognition in noise when the speech arrives from the front. 2 3 4 5 6 7 Likewise, the detriment that occurred in directional microphone mode when the signal of interest arrives from behind was also similar to results of previous studies. 5 7 9 However, in this study, the improvement with speech from the front was larger than the decrement with speech from behind.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…5 7 9 However, in this study, the improvement with speech from the front was larger than the decrement with speech from behind. Kuk et al 4 suggested that the wide dynamic range compression processing in modern hearing aids may partially offset the attenuation of sounds arriving from the rear hemisphere. Lewis and Wannagot (2014) 19 also noted that children with hearing loss are likely to orient toward the signal of interest in real-world situations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Directional microphone systems aim to reduce the amplification of sounds arriving from behind and/or to the side of the listener resulting in significant improvements in children's speech recognition in noise. 2 3 4 5 6 7 However, the use of directional microphones may decrease speech recognition in noise when the signal is behind the child and may alter a child's ability to localize sounds. 5 6 7 8 9 There are no peer-reviewed publications that explore the effect of hearing aid microphone mode on the localization abilities of children, and only a few studies summarized in Table 1 that explore children's preferences for microphone modes.…”

Section: Tablementioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of Potential Benefits and Limitations of Noise-Management Technologies for Children with Hearing Aids

et al. 2022

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Background Children with hearing loss frequently experience difficulty understanding speech in the presence of noise. Although remote microphone systems are likely to be the most effective solution to improve speech recognition in noise, the focus of this study centers on the evaluation of hearing aid noise management technologies including directional microphones, adaptive noise reduction (ANR), and frequency-gain shaping. These technologies can improve children's speech recognition, listening comfort, and/or sound quality in noise. However, individual contributions of these technologies as well as the effect of hearing aid microphone mode on localization abilities in children is unknown. Purpose The objectives of this study were to (1) compare children's speech recognition and subjective perceptions across five hearing aid noise management technology conditions and (2) compare localization abilities across three hearing aid microphone modes. Research Design A single-group, repeated measures design was used to evaluate performance differences and subjective ratings. Study Sample Fourteen children with mild to moderately severe hearing loss. Data Collection and Analysis Children's sentence recognition, listening comfort, sound quality, and localization were assessed in a room with an eight-loudspeaker array. Results and Conclusion The use of adaptive directional microphone technology improves children's speech recognition in noise when the signal of interest arrives from the front and is spatially separated from the competing noise. In contrast, the use of adaptive directional microphone technology may result in a decrease in speech recognition in noise when the signal of interest arrives from behind. The use of a microphone mode that mimics the natural directivity of the unaided auricle provides a slight improvement in speech recognition in noise compared with omnidirectional use with limited decrement in speech recognition in noise when the signal of interest arrives from behind. The use of ANR and frequency-gain shaping provide no change in children's speech recognition in noise. The use of adaptive directional microphone technology, ANR, and frequency-gain shaping improve children's listening comfort, perceived ability to understand speech in noise, and overall listening experience. Children prefer to use each of these noise management technologies regardless of whether the signal of interest arrives from the front or from behind. The use of adaptive directional microphone technology does not result in a decrease in children's localization abilities when compared with the omnidirectional condition. The best localization performance occurred with use of the microphone mode that mimicked the directivity of the unaided auricle.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Tablementioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of Potential Benefits and Limitations of Noise-Management Technologies for Children with Hearing Aids

et al. 2022

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“…Evidence indicates that nonlinear amplification with digital signal processing (DSP) has potential in facilitating speech recognition in various listening environments (Stelmachowicz et al , 1993) and enhancing the development of expressive and receptive speech of children (Gou et al , 2002). Many features, such as compression with a low compression kneepoint, multichannel processing, and speech enhancement/noise reduction, have been implemented and endorsed for this purpose (For review refer to Kuk and Marcoux, 2002). The combination of these features facilitates the ease at which an accurate amplification of all levels of speech and of all speech elements, including the softer ones and those found in competing noise environments, is achieved.…”

Section: Variables Affecting the Quantification Of Hearing Thresholds And Hearing Aid Amplification In The Pediatric Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ensuring Accuracy of the Pediatric Hearing Aid Fitting

Marcoux

Hansen

2003

Trends in Amplification

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Considerable effort has recently been dedicated towards early detection of hearing loss in infants. The goal is to subsequently fit hearing aids to hearing-impaired infants so that they can develop speech and language as early and as well as possible. The responsibility of the audiologist is to provide the child with the optimal amplification from the hearing aid. This paper gives an overview of aspects involved in correctly assessing the hearing loss and optimally fitting and verifying the performance of the child's hearing aids. Special emphasis is directed towards differences that exist between children and adults, and how these differences can be considered during a pediatric fitting. We suggest a stringent terminology that can help avoid ambiguous terms and connotations in the child's domain which are derived from those that have become established in adult audiometry and hearing aid fittings. The quantification of hearing thresholds and their appropriate representation is reviewed. An appropriate threshold-based prescription of gain or output of the hearing aid is described. Issues of verification and the actual programming of the hearing aid are discussed.

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Early amplification options

Gabbard

Schryer

2003

Ment. Retard. Dev. Disabil. Res. Rev.

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Children with permanent hearing loss have been remediated with hearing amplification devices for decades. The influx of young infants identified with hearing loss through successful newborn hearing screening programs has established a need for amplification resources for infants within the first six months of life. For the approximately two of every 1000 infants born who are identified with bilateral hearing loss [Mehl and Thomson, 1998, Pediatrics 101, p. e4], the use of amplification is commonly the first step in treating the sequella of their loss. The use of hearing aids, combined with early intervention, has been shown to significantly improve the speech and language skills of young children with hearing loss [Yoshinaga-Itano, 2000, Seminars in Hearing 21, p. 309]. Speech and language delays have contributed to compromised academic performance of school aged children with hearing loss [Johnson et al., 1997, Educational Audiology Handbook, Singular Publishing, San Diego]. Most hard-of-hearing and deaf children use hearing aids and other assistive listening devices every day throughout their lifetime and the life expectancy of a hearing aid is only five to eight years. The current challenge for pediatric audiologists is selecting and evaluating the available amplification to provide the best options for children and their families. Amplification technology has seen an explosion in growth the past few years and the options continue to expand rapidly. This article examines currently available amplification technology and reviews the selection criteria that may be used for infants and young children. Issues such as style, type, amplification features, signal processing strategies, and verification and validation tools are also discussed.

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Factors Ensuring Consistent Audibility in Pediatric Hearing Aid Fitting

Cited by 7 publications

References 70 publications

Evaluation of Potential Benefits and Limitations of Noise-Management Technologies for Children with Hearing Aids

Evaluation of Potential Benefits and Limitations of Noise-Management Technologies for Children with Hearing Aids

Ensuring Accuracy of the Pediatric Hearing Aid Fitting

Early amplification options

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