ISSN:0196-0202    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1981

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Research findings are reviewed and clinical issues and options regarding binaural hearing aid fitting are discussed. The most defensible options are: (1) fit all cases binaurally unless specifically contraindicated, or (2) fit cases that demonstrate binaural advantage on one or more selected tests. Some common beliefs about binaural fitting (e.g., that it is especially helpful for hearing in noise) are questioned. It is also argued that some of the methods suggested for speech discrimination testing of binaural fitting candidacy may be unreliable, invalid, or uninformative.

ISSN:0196-0202    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1981

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Binaural advantage was measured for 12 normally hearing subjects in a typical rectangular audiometric test room with a loudspeaker located in each corner. Four different loudspeaker configurations for presentation of signal and competition were evaluated. The results indicated that a configuration in which uncorrelated competition was delivered from both sides of the subject while the signal was presented from a 0 azimuth was the most resistant to interaural asymmetries resulting from the room geometry and produced the most consistent binaural advantages. Binaural advantage was then measured using this loudspeaker configuration for 15 hearing-impaired individuals wearing hearing aids. Although the group results indicated a mean unaided binaural advantage only slightly smaller than seen in the normal hearers, when hearing aids were worn an interaural asymmetry in a signal-to-competition ratio developed that reduced the clinical usefulness of the data for individuals. This outcome emphasizes that a valid clinical demonstration of binaural advantage is critically dependent on interauFal symmetry in signal-to-competition ratios for both aided and unaided tests. Such symmetry may be difficult to achieve in a typical audiometric test room.

ISSN:0196-0202    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1981

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Hearing-impaired elderly subjects with mild to moderate, bilaterally symmetrical, sensorineural hearing losses received speech stimuli mixed with cafeteria and speech-babble noises in a variety of listening conditions. Open and closed set Rhyme test words and Speech Perception in Noise test sentences were presented at individually determined signal-to-noise ratios. The listening conditions included: (1) monotic against which all other conditions were compared; (2) low frequency attenuation of 5, 10, and 15 dB relative to the high frequencies; (3) dichotic, with the frequency band above 1000 Hz presented to the preferred ear and the band below 1000 Hz to the other ear; and (4) diotic, with identical speech-in-noise signals presented simultaneously to both ears.Results indicated: (11 regardless of type of stimulus, open or closed set presentation, or type of noise, most of the dichotic and/or diotic presentations were superior to monotic at 0.05 or 0.01 significance levels; (2) under most conditions, dichotic/diotic conditions were superior to the low frequency attenuated presentations; (3) subjects with abnormal Synthetic Sentence Inventory functions seemed to use dichotic/diotic input as well as those with normal Synthetic Sentence Inventory performance; (4) subjects with borderline hearing losses showed greater amounts of dichotic/diotic superiority than those with mild-to-moderate losses. Further research with wearable hearing aids is indicated.

ISSN:0196-0202    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1981

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The present study compared monaural versus binaural amplification for prelinguistically hearing-impaired children using an experimental test paradigm designed to include the major recommendations for clinical assessment of binaural amplification. Twenty-four children were tested using synthetic sentences in multitalker noise in three aided conditions: right, left, and binaural, at two signal-to-noise ratios. Mean group data revealed equivalence between binaural and monaural conditions. Analysis of individual test scores using a binomial variable model revealed that 100 and 92% of subjects showed the higher monaural score not significantly different than the binaural score at +10 and 0 dB signal-to-noise ratios, respectively.

ISSN:0196-0202    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1981

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

It has been suggested that a generalized central auditory deficit which is often present in the aged population might be a contraindication for successful hearing aid use. The present study examined the relationship between measured central auditory deficit and binaural versus monaural aided performance. Subjects were adults, aged 65 or older, with bilateral sensorineural hearing impairments. Unaided phonetically balanced monosyllabic word (PB) and Synthetic Sentence Identification (SSI) performance-intensity functions were obtained followed by aided monaural and binaural speech recognition measurements. A direct relationship between measured central deficit (PBmax-SSlmax) and binaural versus monaural superiority was not found because most subjects showed no significant differences for the PB/ SSI or binaural/monaural measurements. The best predictor for binaural superiority was found to be the slope of the performance-intensity function, with significant correlations obtained for both the PB and SSI materials.

ISSN:0196-0202    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1981

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

This paper discusses the use of binaural hearing aids with infants and young children. The positive aspects of such a fitting are emphasized and discussed in light of a specific clinical program. Five areas of controversy are covered: overamplification, difficulty in assessing infants, difficulty in generalizing from adult studies to children, difficulty in providing binaural advantages with body-worn hearing aids, and parental objection to binaural hearing aids. By describing a pediatric assessment and management program, the feasibility and appropriateness of binaural fitting for children is demonstrated.

ISSN:0196-0202    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1981

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Two hundred four subjects supplied with binaural hearing aids through the British National Health Service were surveyed by means of a postal questionnaire regarding their use of, attitudes to, and satisfaction with the two aids. The majority were using both aids regularly and extensively, and with high levels of satisfaction. Background noise was identified as the acoustic environment creating the greatest difficulty. Wind noise especially was a problem, although a few subjects had devised ways of coping. Significantly better attitudes within the family were reported by the good users, but it was not possible to establish which was cause and which effect. Binaural aids were reported as being significantly better than monaural aids in reducing the problems associated with tinnitus, which was present in almost half the subjects surveyed. Undoubtedly the majority of the patients reviewed believed that their auditory performance, social competence, and personal enjoyment of life were enhanced since changing to binaural aids.

ISSN:0196-0202    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1981

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Patient preference for monaural versus binaural hearing aids was studied to evaluate the subjective differences noted between these two types of fittings. Subjects were 30 patients with bilateral hearing impairment who were being fit with amplification for the first time. Subjects wore both monaural and binaural hearing aids for controlled periods of 1 hr each and 2 days each. This was followed by an additional 3 days during which the fittings were alternated at the subjects' own discretion. Subjects reported preferences and subjective differences after each experimental phase. Interviews were conducted 3 months after participation in the study to determine actual hearing aid use. Binaural amplification was preferred by 90% of the subjects for consistently similar reasons. Results also suggest that consistency of preferences throughout an initial trial period may be predictive of successful adjustment to and use of amplification. Findings indicate that the routine practice of fitting monaural hearing aids may not provide optimum fittings for many patients.

ISSN:0196-0202    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1981

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Auditory thresholds were obtained for subjects with profound, congenital, binaural sensorineural hearing losses under two conditions: (1) wearing binaural hearing aids with extended low-frequency response in both ears (broadband); and (2) wearing binaural hearing aids, with a high-frequency emphasis in one aid and a low-frequency emphasis in the other aid (HI/LO). There was an improvement in aided thresholds of 12 to 18 dB for the HI/LO fitting as compared to a binaural broad-band response fitting. HI/LO fittings are only available at the present time in a body aid configuration, but it is hoped that the hearing aid industry will promote wider use of HI/LO hearing aid fittings by developing high- and low-frequency emphasis over-the-ear hearing aids.

ISSN:0196-0202    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1981

数据来源: OVID