Angeline Seeto1, Grant D Searchfield1. 1. Eisdell Moore Centre, Section of Audiology, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Advances in digital signal processing have made it possible to provide a wide-band frequency response with smooth, precise spectral shaping. Several manufacturers have introduced hearing aids that are claimed to provide gain for frequencies up to 10-12 kHz. However, there is currently limited evidence and very few independent studies evaluating the performance of the extended bandwidth hearing aids that have recently become available. PURPOSE: This study investigated an extended bandwidth hearing aid using measures of speech intelligibility and sound quality to find out whether there was a significant benefit of extended bandwidth amplification over standard amplification. RESEARCH DESIGN: Repeated measures study designed to examine the efficacy of extended bandwidth amplification compared to standard bandwidth amplification. STUDY SAMPLE: Sixteen adult participants with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss. INTERVENTION: Participants were bilaterally fit with a pair of Widex Mind 440 behind-the-ear hearing aids programmed with a standard bandwidth fitting and an extended bandwidth fitting; the latter provided gain up to 10 kHz. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: For each fitting, and an unaided condition, participants completed two speech measures of aided benefit, the Quick Speech-in-Noise test (QuickSIN™) and the Phonak Phoneme Perception Test (PPT; high-frequency perception in quiet), and a measure of sound quality rating. RESULTS: There were no significant differences found between unaided and aided conditions for QuickSIN™ scores. For the PPT, there were statistically significantly lower (improved) detection thresholds at high frequencies (6 and 9 kHz) with the extended bandwidth fitting. Although not statistically significant, participants were able to distinguish between 6 and 9 kHz 50% better with extended bandwidth. No significant difference was found in ability to recognize phonemes in quiet between the unaided and aided conditions when phonemes only contained frequency content <6 kHz. However significant benefit was found with the extended bandwidth fitting for recognition of 9-kHz phonemes. No significant difference in sound quality preference was found between the standard bandwidth and extended bandwidth fittings. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that a pair of currently available extended bandwidth hearing aids was technically capable of delivering high-frequency amplification that was both audible and useable to listeners with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. This amplification was of acceptable sound quality. Further research, particularly field trials, is required to ascertain the real-world benefit of high-frequency amplification. American Academy of Audiology
BACKGROUND: Advances in digital signal processing have made it possible to provide a wide-band frequency response with smooth, precise spectral shaping. Several manufacturers have introduced hearing aids that are claimed to provide gain for frequencies up to 10-12 kHz. However, there is currently limited evidence and very few independent studies evaluating the performance of the extended bandwidth hearing aids that have recently become available. PURPOSE: This study investigated an extended bandwidth hearing aid using measures of speech intelligibility and sound quality to find out whether there was a significant benefit of extended bandwidth amplification over standard amplification. RESEARCH DESIGN: Repeated measures study designed to examine the efficacy of extended bandwidth amplification compared to standard bandwidth amplification. STUDY SAMPLE: Sixteen adult participants with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss. INTERVENTION: Participants were bilaterally fit with a pair of Widex Mind 440 behind-the-ear hearing aids programmed with a standard bandwidth fitting and an extended bandwidth fitting; the latter provided gain up to 10 kHz. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: For each fitting, and an unaided condition, participants completed two speech measures of aided benefit, the Quick Speech-in-Noise test (QuickSIN™) and the Phonak Phoneme Perception Test (PPT; high-frequency perception in quiet), and a measure of sound quality rating. RESULTS: There were no significant differences found between unaided and aided conditions for QuickSIN™ scores. For the PPT, there were statistically significantly lower (improved) detection thresholds at high frequencies (6 and 9 kHz) with the extended bandwidth fitting. Although not statistically significant, participants were able to distinguish between 6 and 9 kHz 50% better with extended bandwidth. No significant difference was found in ability to recognize phonemes in quiet between the unaided and aided conditions when phonemes only contained frequency content <6 kHz. However significant benefit was found with the extended bandwidth fitting for recognition of 9-kHz phonemes. No significant difference in sound quality preference was found between the standard bandwidth and extended bandwidth fittings. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that a pair of currently available extended bandwidth hearing aids was technically capable of delivering high-frequency amplification that was both audible and useable to listeners with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. This amplification was of acceptable sound quality. Further research, particularly field trials, is required to ascertain the real-world benefit of high-frequency amplification. American Academy of Audiology
Authors: Chelsea M Blankenship; Lisa L Hunter; M Patrick Feeney; Madison Cox; Lindsey Bittinger; Angela C Garinis; Li Lin; Gary McPhail; John P Clancy Journal: Am J Audiol Date: 2021-01-19 Impact factor: 1.636
Authors: Lisa L Hunter; Brian B Monson; David R Moore; Sumitrajit Dhar; Beverly A Wright; Kevin J Munro; Lina Motlagh Zadeh; Chelsea M Blankenship; Samantha M Stiepan; Jonathan H Siegel Journal: Hear Res Date: 2020-02-18 Impact factor: 3.208