TY - JOUR
T1 - Client-based adjustments of hearing aid gain: the effect of different control configurations
AU - Dreschler, Wouter A.
AU - Keidser, Gitte
AU - Convery, Elizabeth
AU - Dillon, Harvey
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - OBJECTIVES: Facilitating the fine-tuning of advanced hearing aids requires information about the acoustic environment. The concept of a "trainable" hearing aid may provide a more direct approach to hearing aid fine-tuning if the aid user is allowed to control the most important fitting parameters in his/her own acoustic environments. DESIGN: In a laboratory study, the concept of self-adjustment of the gain-frequency response was tested by 24 hearing aid users using four different controllers with a limited number of control functions. Research questions focused on the reproducibility of the fine-tuned responses, the efficiency of the control configurations, and the effects of the control configuration on the end results of the fine-tuning process. RESULTS: The subjects were able to provide systematic and reproducible feedback with respect to their preferences in different acoustic conditions presented audiovisually, achieving an average shortterm test/retest standard deviation value of 2.8 dB. Two of the control configurations, featuring volume/slope and volume/bass/treble keys, were found to be more time-efficient and reliable, and were also preferred by 86% of the subjects. Although the control configuration did not have a strong influence on the end result, the gain-frequency response from which the subjects started their adjustments was found to have a significant effect on their preferred settings. CONCLUSIONS: Client-based adjustments of hearing aid gain provide a reliable method of individual fine-tuning. The results also showed that a biased correction of amplification is reached via self-adjustment within one session, which reduces the effectiveness of fine-tuning in a traditional clinical setting
AB - OBJECTIVES: Facilitating the fine-tuning of advanced hearing aids requires information about the acoustic environment. The concept of a "trainable" hearing aid may provide a more direct approach to hearing aid fine-tuning if the aid user is allowed to control the most important fitting parameters in his/her own acoustic environments. DESIGN: In a laboratory study, the concept of self-adjustment of the gain-frequency response was tested by 24 hearing aid users using four different controllers with a limited number of control functions. Research questions focused on the reproducibility of the fine-tuned responses, the efficiency of the control configurations, and the effects of the control configuration on the end results of the fine-tuning process. RESULTS: The subjects were able to provide systematic and reproducible feedback with respect to their preferences in different acoustic conditions presented audiovisually, achieving an average shortterm test/retest standard deviation value of 2.8 dB. Two of the control configurations, featuring volume/slope and volume/bass/treble keys, were found to be more time-efficient and reliable, and were also preferred by 86% of the subjects. Although the control configuration did not have a strong influence on the end result, the gain-frequency response from which the subjects started their adjustments was found to have a significant effect on their preferred settings. CONCLUSIONS: Client-based adjustments of hearing aid gain provide a reliable method of individual fine-tuning. The results also showed that a biased correction of amplification is reached via self-adjustment within one session, which reduces the effectiveness of fine-tuning in a traditional clinical setting
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0b013e31816453a6
DO - https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0b013e31816453a6
M3 - Article
C2 - 18490863
SN - 0196-0202
VL - 29
SP - 214
EP - 227
JO - Ear and hearing
JF - Ear and hearing
IS - 2
ER -