Auditory Recognition of Digit-in-Noise Under Unaided and Aided Conditions in Moderate and Severe Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Overview

Journal J Audiol Otol

Specialty Otorhinolaryngology

Date 2020 Dec 17

PMID 33327708

Citations 1

Authors

Mina Aghasoleimani

Hamid Jalilvand

Mohammad Ebrahim Mahdavi

Roghayeh Ahmadi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background And Objectives: The speech-in-noise test is typically performed using an audiometer. The results of the digit-in-noise recognition (DIN) test may be influenced by the flat frequency response of free-field audiometry and frequency of the hearing aid fit based on fitting rationale. This study aims to investigate the DIN test in unaided and aided conditions.

Subjects And Methods: Thirty four adults with moderate and severe sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) participated in the study. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for 50% of the DIN test was obtained in the following two conditions: 1) the unaided condition, performed using an audiometer in a free field; and 2) aided condition, performed using a hearing aid with an unvented individual earmold that was fitted based on NAL-NL2.

Results: There was a statistically significant elevation in the mean SNR for the severe SNHL group in both test conditions when compared with that of the moderate SNHL group. In both groups, the SNR for the aided condition was significantly lower than that of the unaided condition.

Conclusions: Speech recognition in hearing-impaired patients can be realized by fitting hearing aids based on evidence-based fitting rationale rather than by measuring it using free-field audiometry measurement that is utilized in a routine clinic setup.

Citing Articles

Analysis of the Spanish Auditory Test of Speech in Noise (PAHRE) in a Population with Hearing Loss.

Rodriguez-Ferreiro M, Duran-Bouza M, Marrero-Aguiar V Audiol Res. 2024; 14(5):861-874.

PMID: 39452465 PMC: 11505354. DOI: 10.3390/audiolres14050073.

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