ABSTRACT
The remote microphone system (RMS) must be appropriately working when fitting it in a person with hearing loss. For this verification process, the concept of transparency is adopted. If it is not transparent, the hearing aid (HA) may not capture the user's voice and his peers appropriately, or the RMS may not have the advantage in gain needed to emphasize the speaker's voice. This study investigates the influence of the receiver's gain setting on the transparency of different brands and models of RMS and HAs. It is a retrospective chart review with 277 RMS from three distinct brands (RMA, RMB, and RMC) and HAs. There was an association of the receiver's gain setting with the variables: brand of the transmitter/receiver (p = 0.005), neck loop's receiver vs. universal and dedicated receivers (p = 0.022), and between brands of HA and transmitter/receiver (p < 0.001). RMS transmitter (odds ratio [OR = 7.9]) and the type of receiver (neckloop [OR = 3.4]; universal [OR = 0.78]) presented a higher risk of not achieving transparency in default gain, confirming and extolling the need to include electroacoustic verification in the protocol of fitting, verification, and validation of RMS and HA.
Subject(s)
Deafness , Hearing Loss , Self-Help Devices , Speech Perception , Humans , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Introduction A protocol has not yet been developed to perform electroacoustic measurements and behavioral tests to fit the frequency modulation (FM) system in bone conduction hearing aid (BCHA) users. Electroacoustic verification, with "FM transparency" achieved, ensures user audibility of FM transmitter and hearing aid signals. Objective To propose and validate a protocol for electroacoustic verification of the FM system coupled to the BCHA. Method Twenty-four sets of FM system and BCHA were submitted to electroacoustic verification, using a receiver and a plastic adapter to connect the BCHA to a 2cc coupler in the hearing instrument analyzer. The measurements were performed in the acoustic box, at 65 dB sound pressure level (SPL), with International Speech Test Signal (ISTS), first to the BCHA microphone and then to the FM system microphone, to determine the transparency, in which equivalent inputs for both microphones result in equivalent outputs. The FM gain or volume has been adjusted to try to gain transparency for the outputs of the two input devices. Results Transparency was achieved for all sets evaluated, but in some combinations, adjustments to the FM receiver gain over the manufacturer's default setting were required. Conclusion The proposed protocol proved to be effective for the electroacoustic verification of the FM system coupled to the BCHA.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate, using the PINT Brasil, the influence of the interstimulus interval on the performance of children with moderate and severe hearing loss fitted with hearing aids. METHODS: Ten children with normal hearing (CG) and 20 children with hearing loss (SG) participated in the study. Both groups were assessed using the speech perception test called PINT Brasil in PAUSE and NO PAUSE situations. RESULTS: When comparing the PAUSE and NO PAUSE situations, only the SG presented a statistically significant difference, indicating that the NO PAUSE situation had the best performance. In this situation, the noise oscillations were smaller, and the noise reduction algorithm, which may cause the loss of message information, was not repeatedly activated. CONCLUSION: The interstimulus interval in the PINT Brasil influenced the performance of children with moderate and severe hearing loss fitted with hearing aids. The NO PAUSE situation presented the best results.
OBJETIVO: Investigar a influência do intervalo interestímulos no desempenho de crianças com deficiência auditiva de grau moderado e severo, adaptadas com aparelhos de amplificação sonora individuais (AASI), no teste PINT Brasil. MÉTODO: Participaram do estudo 10 crianças com audição normal (GC) e 20 crianças com deficiência auditiva (GE). O teste PINT Brasil foi aplicado nas situações SEM pausa e COM pausa para os dois grupos. RESULTADOS: Na comparação entre as situações SEM pausa e COM pausa, houve diferença significativa apenas para o GE, indicando a SEM pausa com melhor desempenho. Nesta última condição, as oscilações ruidosas foram menores e não houve o acionamento repetido do redutor de ruído, o que possibilita a perda de informações da mensagem. CONCLUSÃO: Conclui-se que o intervalo interestímulos no teste de percepção da fala PINT Brasil influenciou o desempenho das crianças com deficiência auditiva de grau moderado e severo, adaptadas com AASI. O melhor resultado foi encontrado na situação SEM PAUSA.
Subject(s)
Hearing Aids , Hearing Loss , Speech Perception , Brazil , Child , Hearing Loss/diagnosis , Humans , NoiseABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: One of the main implications of hearing impairment is the difficulty in perceiving speech sounds, especially in noisy environments. Thus, the frequency-modulated system is considered an important educational tool for children with hearing impairment because it improves speech perception in acoustically-unfavorable environments, such as in the classroom. The assessment of speech perception in noise is included in the verification protocol of this device. OBJECTIVES: To verify the effectiveness of the phrases in noise test Brazil in children with hearing impairment using an frequency-modulated system. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional cohort study. The sample included 40 children, aged 4 years to 11 years and 11 months old, divided into 4 groups: (1) 10 normal hearing children; (2) 13 children with hearing aids and frequency-modulated system; (3) 12 children using cochlear implant and fitted with the frequency-modulated system; and (4) 5 children diagnosed with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder, fitted with hearing aids and/or cochlear implant and with the frequency-modulated system. The phrases in noise test Brazil was used to evaluate speech perception in noise under the conditions with and without the frequency-modulated system. For the statistical analysis of the data, a significance level of 5% (pâ¯<â¯0.05) was adopted. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the groups when they were evaluated with the frequency-modulated system. The test was also validated through concurrent and convergent validation measures. Phrases in noise test Brazil is a viable option for monitoring auditory performance in noise in different groups of children with hearing impairmen. CONCLUSION: Phrases in noise test Brazil was effective in assessing speech perception in noise and may contribute to the improvement of the indication, fitting and follow-up protocols for the frequency-modulated system use.
Subject(s)
Cochlear Implants , Deafness , Hearing Aids , Hearing Loss , Speech Perception , Brazil , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Hearing Loss/diagnosis , Humans , Infant , NoiseABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: Hearing loss is one of the most common clinical findings in subjects with malformations of the ear. Treatment consists of surgery and/or adapt a hearing aid amplification by bone (HA VO). Early intervention is critical to auditory stimulation and development of speech and language. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the audiological profile of subjects with congenital malformation of the external ear and/or middle and evaluate the benefit and satisfaction of using HA VO. METHOD: A descriptive study, subjects with bilateral congenital malformations of the external ear and/or middle, conductive or mixed hearing loss, moderate or severe and HA VO users. Evaluation of the benefit test using sentence recognition in noise and measures of functional gain and satisfaction assessment questionnaire using international IQ - HA. RESULTS: 13 subjects were evaluated, 61% were male and 80% with moderate conductive hearing loss or severe. There was better performance in the evaluation proposal, provided with HA when compared to the condition without HA. CONCLUSION: HA VO showed advantages for the population studied and should be considered as an option for intervention. Satisfaction was confirmed by elevated scores obtained in IQ - HA.
Subject(s)
Bone Conduction/physiology , Ear, External/abnormalities , Ear, Middle/abnormalities , Hearing Aids , Hearing Loss, Conductive/rehabilitation , Adolescent , Adult , Audiometry, Pure-Tone , Auditory Threshold , Child , Female , Hearing Loss, Conductive/etiology , Humans , Male , Patient Satisfaction , Severity of Illness Index , Young AdultABSTRACT
A deficiência auditiva é um dos achados clínicos mais comuns em sujeitos com malformações de orelha. O tratamento consiste em realizar a cirurgia e/ou adaptar o aparelho de amplificação sonora por via óssea (AASI VO). A intervenção precoce é fundamental para favorecer a estimulação auditiva e desenvolvimento da fala e linguagem. OBJETIVO: Caracterizar o perfil audiológico de sujeitos com malformação congênita de orelha externa e/ou média e avaliar o benefício e a satisfação destes com o uso de AASI VO. MÉTODO: Estudo descritivo, sujeitos com malformações congênitas bilaterais de orelha externa e/ou média, deficiência auditiva condutiva ou mista, moderada ou grave e usuários de AASI VO. Avaliação do benefício utilizando teste de reconhecimento de sentenças com ruído competitivo e medidas de ganho funcional e avaliação da satisfação utilizando questionário internacional QI - AASI. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 13 sujeitos, sendo 61% do sexo masculino e 80% com deficiência auditiva condutiva moderada ou grave. Houve melhor desempenho na avaliação proposta na condição com AASI, quando comparada à condição sem AASI. CONCLUSÃO: Os AASI VO retroauriculares apresentaram vantagens para a população estudada e devem ser considerados como uma opção para intervenção. A satisfação foi confirmada pelos escores elevados obtidos no QI - AASI.
Hearing loss is one of the most common clinical findings in subjects with malformations of the ear. Treatment consists of surgery and/or adapt a hearing aid amplification by bone (HA VO). Early intervention is critical to auditory stimulation and development of speech and language. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the audiological profile of subjects with congenital malformation of the external ear and/or middle and evaluate the benefit and satisfaction of using HA VO. METHOD: A descriptive study, subjects with bilateral congenital malformations of the external ear and/or middle, conductive or mixed hearing loss, moderate or severe and HA VO users. Evaluation of the benefit test using sentence recognition in noise and measures of functional gain and satisfaction assessment questionnaire using international IQ - HA. RESULTS: 13 subjects were evaluated, 61% were male and 80% with moderate conductive hearing loss or severe. There was better performance in the evaluation proposal, provided with HA when compared to the condition without HA. CONCLUSION: HA VO showed advantages for the population studied and should be considered as an option for intervention. Satisfaction was confirmed by elevated scores obtained in IQ - HA.
