Effect of Hearing aid Fitting Based on Real Ear Measurement on Speech Recognition in Hearing Impaired Adults

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 MSc in Audiology, Lecturer, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Student research Committee. MSc in Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Associate Professor of Biostatistics, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background and Aim: Real Ear Measurement is a well-known method to evaluate hearing aid output by which all of a person's personal characteristics of ear in hearing aid fitting can be calculated to reach the prescriptive target. The purpose of hearing aid fitting and prescriptive target matching is improvement of speech intelligibility in routine communication. The current project was carried out to assess the effect of fitting based on real ear measurement on word recognition score.
Materials and Methods: A clinical trial study was designed in which monosyllabic word recognition test was performed before and after real ear measurement. The test was performed on 21 participants with moderate to severe hearing loss, aged between 20-65. The results were analyzed using paired t-test and a significance level of p Results: Verifying with Real ear measurement increased monosyllabic word recognition score and this increase was statistically significant (p < /em> value‌‌=0.012).
Conclusion: Considering the impact of real ear measurement on improvement of speech intelligibility, which is the ultimate goal of the prescribed hearing aid, the implementation of real ear measurement in hearing aid fitting is recommended.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

 
1)       Kochkin S. Hearing loss population top 31 million people. The Hearing Review. 2005;12 (7):16-29.##
2)       Mathers C, Smith A, Concha M. Global burden of hearing loss in the year 2000.2000. www.who.int. available at URL:http://www.who.int/healthinfo/statistics/bod_hearingloss.pdf. Accessed Jul 13 2013.##
3)       Fry k, Martin R. Real Ear Measurements. In: Valente M, Roeser R, Hosford-Dunn H, editors. Audiology Treatment. secound ed. New York: Thieme; 2007. p. 72-93.##
4)       Kirkwood D. Survey: Dispensers fitted more hearing aids in 2005 at higher prices. The Hearing Journal. 2006; 59 (4):46-47.##
5)       British Scociety of Audiology. Guidance on the use of real ear measurement to verify the fitting of digital signal processing hearing aids .2007.www.thebsa.org.uk .available at URL:http://www.thebsa.org.uk/resources/guidance-use-real-ear-measurement-verify-fitting-digital-signal-processing-hearing-aids/.Accessed May 20 2013.##
6)       Campos PD, Mondelli MFCG, Ferrari DV. Comparison: real and simulated ear insertion gain. Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology. 2011;77:555-558.##
7)       Aarts NL, Caffee CS. Manufacturer predicted and measured REAR values in adult hearing aid fitting: Accuracy and clinical usefulness. International Journal of Audiology. 2005;44:293-301.##
8)       Aazh H, Moore BCJ, Prashera D. The Accuracy of Matching Target Insertion Gains With Open-Fit Hearing Aids. American Journal of Audiology. 2012;21:175–180.##
9)       Abrams HB, Chisolm TH, McManus M, McArdle R. Initial-Fit Approach Versus Verified Prescription: Comparing Self-Perceived Hearing Aid Benefit. Journal of American Academy of Audiology. 2012;23:768–778.##
10)   Hawkins DB, Cook JA. Hearing aid software predictive gain values: How accurate are they? The HearingJournal. 2003;56:26-34.##
11)   Dillon H, Keidser G. Is probe-mic measurement of HA gain-frequency response best practice? Hearing Journal 2003;56:28-30.##
12)   Digiovanni J, Davlin E, Nagaraja N. Effects of Transient Noise Reduction Algorithms on Speech Intelligibility and Ratings of Hearing Aid Users. American Journal of Audiology. 2011;20:140–50.##
13)   Jenstad LM, Seewald RC, Cornelisse LE, Shantz J. Comparison of Linear Gain and Wide Dynamic Range Compression Hearing Aid Circuits: Aided Speech Perception Measures. Ear & Hearing. 1999;20(2):117-126.##
14)   Boymans M, Dreschler WA. Audiologist-driven versus patient-driven fine tuning of hearing instruments. Trends Amplificatin . 2012;16(1):49-58.##
15)   Mosleh M. Development and Evaluation of a Speech Recognition Test for Adults with Persian language. Audiology. 2000;9(1-2):72-76 [in persian].##
16)   Jarolahi F, Delphi M. Selection of preeminent list in word recognition score test for adult with normal hearing. Research in Rehabilitation Sciences. 2012;8(2):212-218.##
17)   Nittrouer S, Boothroyd A. Context effects in phoneme and word recognition by young children and older adults. Journal of Acoustical Society of America. 1990;87(6):2705-2715.##
18)   Bretz K. A comparison of three hearing aid manufacturers’ recommended first fit to two generic prescriptive targets with the pediatric population. Washington: School Medicin of Washington University; 2006.##
19)   Hornsby BWY, Mueller HG. User Preference and Reliability of Bilateral Hearing Aid Gain Adjustments. Ameracan Academy of Audiology. 2008;19(15):70-78.##
The Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
Volume 5, Issue 1
March and April 2016
Pages 168-173

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 11 August 2015
  • Revise Date: 30 October 2015
  • Accept Date: 31 October 2015
  • First Publish Date: 20 March 2016

Share

How to cite

Statistics