Hearing aid fitting by prescription.

A procedure for the specification of hearing aid response characteristics is described. Thresholds of discomfort and most comfortable levels for narrow bands of noise centered at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4 kHz are determined. The thresholds of discomfort relate to the maximum power output of the hearing aid and the most comfortable levels determine the gain and frequency response that will be required. The data derived from these measurements are given to the hearing aid dispenser who provides a hearing aid that matches the prescribed response characteristics. This technique requires less time than the conventional hearing aid evaluation procedure, and it provides the audiologist with measures of auditory function that can be directly related to hearing aid parameters.