Feasibility of Personal Sound Amplification Products in Patients With Moderate Hearing Loss: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Objectives: To confirm the feasibility of personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), the study was conducted for three purposes: 1) to investigate electroacoustic characteristics of PSAPs, 2) to identify whether PSAPs provide adequate gain and output for three common hearing loss configurations, and 3) to compare the benefit of one representative PSAP (RPSAP) to a conventional hearing aid (HA) based on clinical hearing outcomes as a pilot study.Methods: The study consisted of three phases: electroacoustic analysis, simulated real-ear measurements (REMs), and clinical hearing experiments. Electroacoustic analysis and simulated REMs were performed in three basic (BeethoSOL, EarJJang, and Geniesori2) and three high-end PSAPs (Hearing Able, Olive Smart Ear, and SoriIn) using the Aurical Hearing Instrument Test box with a 2cc coupler. With regards to electroacoustic analysis, four electroacoustic characteristics (maximum output sound pressure level at 90 dB SPL, frequency range, equivalent input noise, and total harmonic distortion) were investigated. By simulated REMs, the appropriate level of the six PSAPs for three common hearing loss configurations (mild-to-moderate high-frequency hearing loss, moderate to moderately severe sloping hearing loss, and moderate flat hearing loss) was determined. Clinical experiments were carried out for the purpose of comparing the performance of RPSAP to HA. Before conducting clinical experiments, both RPSAP and HA were fitted by audiologists using REMs. Clinical experiments were administered using functional gain, a word recognition test, and the Korean version of the Hearing in Noise Test in six participants with bilateral moderate sensorineural hearing loss. Results: With regards to electroacoustic analysis, two high-end devices met all tolerances. In the case of simulated REMs, one basic and two high-end PSAPs showed appropriate level for three common hearing loss configurations. As for the clinical experiments, the RPSAP showed better performances than unaided, but slightly worse than HA under all test conditions.Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that certain PSAPs met all specified tolerances for electroacoustic analysis and had ability to approximate prescriptive targets in a well-controlled laboratory condition. The pilot clinical experiments explored the possibility that RPSAP could be served as a hearing assistive device for patients with moderate hearing loss.

Hearing and Speech Perception for People With Hearing Loss Using Personal Sound Amplification Products

“…Electroacoustic analysis was carried out using the Aurical Hearing Instrument Test (HIT) box and OTOsuite software (GN Otometrics A/S, Ballerup, Denmark) based on ANSI S3.22 standards to determine the quality of the devices. Tests were established according to previous research 13 14 15 16 including maximum output sound pressure level at 90 dB SPL (OSPL 90), frequency range, equivalent input noise (EIN), and total harmonic distortion (THD). The procedures and tolerances for each test are described below.…”

Factors Influencing Hearing Aid Adoption in Patients With Hearing Loss in Korea

“…In this case, other types of hearing devices, such as personal sound amplification products, may be options for patients with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. 16 17 …”

The Effectiveness of Personal Sound Amplification Products in Adults With Mild to Moderate Hearing Loss: Is Their Use Inevitable?

“…In that study, electroacoustic analysis and simulated real-ear measurements (REMs) were performed, and some PSAPs showed an adequate level of performance in these tests. In addition, in clinical experiments conducted later, PSAPs showed better results than the unaided conditions and similar results to hearing aids in the word recognition test and Korean version of the Hearing in Noise Test [ 6 ].…”

“…Choi et al [ 5 ] compared a PSAP and a basic hearing aid in 19 participants with mild to moderate hearing loss and stated that both devices provided considerable benefits for speech intelligibility in quiet situations. Kim et al [ 6 ] conducted a pilot study comparing three basic PSAPs, three high-end PSAPs, and hearing aids in patients with moderate hearing loss. In that study, electroacoustic analysis and simulated real-ear measurements (REMs) were performed, and some PSAPs showed an adequate level of performance in these tests.…”

“…Choi et al [ 5 ] did not show improvement in speech intelligibility when a PSAP was used in a noisy environment, but wearing a hearing aid improved speech intelligibility with a noisy background. Kim et al [ 6 ] showed that only two high-end PSAPs met all tolerances in terms of electroacoustic analysis. In the simulated REMs, one basic and two high-end PSAPs showed appropriate levels for three common hearing loss configurations.…”