Investigating Hearing Aid Frequency Response Curves

Pre-filtered sound samples (based on frequency response curves) will be presented via a paired comparison task in which participants will determine which sound sample they prefer (i.e. better sound quality). Sound samples will be presented via hearing aids that are programmed to the participant's hearing loss.

Participant's will be presented with two samples at a time and will choose which sample they prefer. For example, if Sample A was preferred over Sample B, then Sample A gets a score of 1. If Sample B was preferred over Sample A, then Sample B gets a score of 1. At the end of the task, scores will be tallied to determine which sample was preferred the most overall. There will be 5 different samples. The minimum value for the tallied score would be 0 (the sample was not preferred at all) and the maximum value would be 8 (implying that the sample was preferred in all trials). Higher scores mean that the sample was preferred more and lowers scores mean the sample was not preferred.

Participants will be asked to wear hearing aids and as they listen to speech in noise. They will be asked to toggle between two hearing aid programs and will be asked to make ratings in the lab and outdoors.

Similar to Outcome 1, scores will be tallied at the end to see which program of the two was preferred more in the different listening environments. Scores can range from 0 (the program was not preferred at all) to unlimited (dependent on the numbers of trials run and samples tested). Higher scores will indicate that the program was preferred more than the other program and lowers scores mean the program was not preferred when compared to the other program.

Participants will be asked to wear hearing aids and as they listen to speech in noise. They will be asked to toggle between two hearing aid programs and determine which program they prefer to listen to.

Similar to Outcome 1, scores will be tallied at the end to see which program of the two was preferred more in the different listening environments. Scores can range from 0 (the program was not preferred at all) to unlimited (dependent on the numbers of trials run and samples tested). Highers scores will indicate that the program was preferred more than the other program and lowers scores mean the program was not preferred when compared to the other program.

Oldenburg Sentence Test (OLSA) sentences were presented to participants while they were aided under the standard curve, aided under curve #4, and unaided. Participants are presented with sentences from a loudspeaker placed infront of them and asked to repeat what they heard. Correct repitition results in the next sentence to be presented at a lower sound level. Incorrect repetition results in an increase in presentation level for the next sentence. 20 sentences are presented for each conidition (i.e., unaided, aided with the standard curve, and aided under curve #4). Speech Recognition Threshold at 50% (SRT50) correctness scores were calculated and compared amongst the three conditions. SRT50 is measured in decibel (dB) which is a unit on scale. The scale has no upper or lower limits, however lower scores indicate better performance.