The Relationship Between Acceptable Noise Level and Speech Perception in Noise with Extended Bandwidth Hearing Aids in Listeners with Mild to Moderate Hearing Loss
Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Advisor
Maryrose Mclnerney
Access Type
Event
Start Date
26-4-2024 9:45 AM
End Date
26-4-2024 10:44 AM
Description
Objectives: Modern hearing aid technology includes frequencies of up to 12 kHz through extended bandwidth (EBW) which has been shown to improve speech intelligibility in noise compared to traditional amplification (LBW). “Increasing bandwidth improves recognition of speech cues necessary for speech recognition in noise” (Plyler & Fleck, 2006, p. 624). While there is a benefit in noise, users of these hearing aids typically do not accept the sound quality and show poor ANLs (Johnson et al., 2009). Methods: Ten subjects with bilateral, sloping, mild-to-moderately-severe sensorineural hearing loss completed the Weinstein Noise Sensitivity Scale (WNSS-21) to evaluate subjective annoyance of noise. They were each fit with binaural Signia Pure Charge & Go 7AX hearing aids; and under three distinct bandwidth conditions, they were each administered the Acceptable Noise Level (ANL) test and the BKB-SIN. They were also administered the Adapted NASA Task Load Index to assess their subjective difficulty of the tasks under each aided condition. Results: While there was a significant effect of bandwidth on speech performance in noise on the BKB-SIN, no relationship was observed between ANL and BKB-SIN scores. A significant negative correlation was found between subjects’ ANL and their noise annoyance on the WNSS- 21, meaning a high subjective noise tolerance yielded poorer results on their speech noise tolerance on the ANL. There was no significant effect of bandwidth on Adapted TLX ratings, which means subjects denied any subjective difference in difficulty between aided conditions. Conclusions: The results of this study support the well-documented fact that EBW has a positive effect on speech understanding in noise. Conversely, the results do not reveal a significant effect of bandwidth on ANL.
The Relationship Between Acceptable Noise Level and Speech Perception in Noise with Extended Bandwidth Hearing Aids in Listeners with Mild to Moderate Hearing Loss
Objectives: Modern hearing aid technology includes frequencies of up to 12 kHz through extended bandwidth (EBW) which has been shown to improve speech intelligibility in noise compared to traditional amplification (LBW). “Increasing bandwidth improves recognition of speech cues necessary for speech recognition in noise” (Plyler & Fleck, 2006, p. 624). While there is a benefit in noise, users of these hearing aids typically do not accept the sound quality and show poor ANLs (Johnson et al., 2009). Methods: Ten subjects with bilateral, sloping, mild-to-moderately-severe sensorineural hearing loss completed the Weinstein Noise Sensitivity Scale (WNSS-21) to evaluate subjective annoyance of noise. They were each fit with binaural Signia Pure Charge & Go 7AX hearing aids; and under three distinct bandwidth conditions, they were each administered the Acceptable Noise Level (ANL) test and the BKB-SIN. They were also administered the Adapted NASA Task Load Index to assess their subjective difficulty of the tasks under each aided condition. Results: While there was a significant effect of bandwidth on speech performance in noise on the BKB-SIN, no relationship was observed between ANL and BKB-SIN scores. A significant negative correlation was found between subjects’ ANL and their noise annoyance on the WNSS- 21, meaning a high subjective noise tolerance yielded poorer results on their speech noise tolerance on the ANL. There was no significant effect of bandwidth on Adapted TLX ratings, which means subjects denied any subjective difference in difficulty between aided conditions. Conclusions: The results of this study support the well-documented fact that EBW has a positive effect on speech understanding in noise. Conversely, the results do not reveal a significant effect of bandwidth on ANL.