Discrimination of Gain Increments in Speech-Shaped Noises.
Trends Hear
; 23: 2331216518820220, 2019.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30803400
Frequency-dependent gain adjustments are routine in hearing-aid fittings, whether in matching to real-ear targets or fine-tuning to patient feedback. Patient feedback may be unreliable and fittings inefficient if adjustments are not discriminable. To examine what gain adjustments are discriminable, we measured the just-noticeable differences (JNDs) for level increments in speech-shaped noises processed with prescription gains. JNDs were measured in the better ears of 38 participants with hearing impairment using a fixed-level, same-different task. JNDs were measured for increments at six individual frequency-bands: a 0.25-kHz low-pass band; octave-wide bands at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz; and a 6-kHz high-pass band. JNDs for broadband increments were also measured. JNDs were estimated at d' of 1 for a minimally discriminable increment in optimal laboratory conditions. The JND for frequency-band increments was 2.8 dB excluding the 0.25-kHz low-pass band, for which the JND was 4.5 dB. The JND for broadband increments was 1.5 dB. Participants' median frequency-band and broadband JNDs were positively correlated. JNDs were mostly independent of age, pure-tone thresholds, and cognitive score. In consideration of self-fitting adjustments in noisier conditions, JNDs were additionally estimated at a more sensitive d' of 2. These JNDs were 6 dB for bands below 1 kHz, and 5 dB for bands at and above 1 kHz. Overall, the results suggest noticeable fine-tuning adjustments of 3 dB and self-fitting adjustments of 5 dB.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Percepción del Habla
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Audífonos
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Pérdida Auditiva
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Trends Hear
Año:
2019
Tipo del documento:
Article
Pais de publicación:
Estados Unidos