ABSTRACT
In three experiments, the predictability of the hearing aid gain actually used by clients was compared with that predicted by using data based upon hearing threshold level and data based upon most comfortable loudness level. At the frequencies tested, the mean difference between the predicted and obtained gain was smaller when based upon prediction from the hearing threshold level. It is concluded that from the standpoint of predicting user's gain, the hearing threshold level provides greater accuracy than does most comfortable loudness level.
Subject(s)
Auditory Threshold , Hearing Aids , Loudness Perception , Prescriptions , Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/rehabilitation , HumansABSTRACT
A one-half gain rule for hearing aid fitting based on the unaided average hearing threshold level was first proposed by S. F. Lybarger. From records on almost 500 clients with sensorineural loss for whom hearing aids were prescribed and fitted, the functional gain for speech reception threshold, 500 Hz, and the average of 1000 and 2000 Hz was examined. The one-half gain rule was found to be valid for speech reception threshold except with mild hearing losses where the gain obtained was a little less than one-half the unaided hearing threshold level. The one-half gain rule is easily computed and provides a good first-order approximation of operating gain needs.
Subject(s)
Hearing Aids/standards , Auditory Threshold , Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/psychology , Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/rehabilitation , Humans , Prescriptions , Speech Perception , Speech Reception Threshold TestABSTRACT
The effect of attention on auditory responses obtained with respiration audiometry was examined on twenty normal-hearing adults. Ten subjects were instructed to listen carefully for the auditory stimuli during testing, while the other ten were not instructed. The results revealed that the change in respiration resulting from sound stimuli for the instructed subjects was three times greater than for the uninstructed group during the first 11-tonal sequence. However, during the third sequence, more responses were obtained from the uninstructed subjects. There was little evidence to suggest that the respiratory changes to sound were greater in magnitude or in number as the intensity of the sound approached behavioral threshold. The results suggest that the level of attention affects the number and pattern of respiratory responses to sound.