Fast and intuitive methods for characterizing hearing loss

Authors

  • Dirk Oetting Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology, Oldenburg, Germany; Medizinische Physik, Carl-von-Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Germany
  • Birger Kollmeier Medizinische Physik, Carl-von-Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Germany
  • Stephan D. Ewert Medizinische Physik, Carl-von-Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Germany

Abstract

The possibility of integrating hearing-aid technology like dynamic compression in current and future consumer audio devices raises the question how parameters of hearing supportive algorithms can be adjusted by the user to either compensate the individual hearing loss or to accommodate listening preferences. Here, three methods for measuring the auditory capacity based on loudness judgments and comparisons were evaluated. All methods used a simple interface and appear generally suited for integration in consumer audio electronics. Results of the suggested methods were compared to adaptive categorical loudness scaling [ACALOS, Brand and Hohmann, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 112, 1597-1604 (2002)]. Gain prescriptions were derived for narrow-band loudness compensation based on the suggested methods, the clinically applicable ACALOS, and for NAL-NL2 [Keidser and Dillon, Hearing Care for Adults, 133-142 (2006)]. All loudness based procedures led to similar gains.

References

ANSI (American National Standards Institute) (2004) “Specification for audiometers” (S3.6–2004), New York

Brand, T., and Hohmann, V. (2002). “An adaptive procedure for categorical loudness scaling” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 112, 1597-1604

Ewert, S.D., and Grimm, G. (2011). “Model-based hearing aid gain prescription rule” ISAAR 2011

Hougaard, S., and Ruf, S. (2011). “EuroTrak I: A Consumer Survey About Hearing Aids in Germany, France, and the UK” in The Hearing Review

Keidser, G., and Dillon, H. (2006). “What’s New in Prescriptive Fittings Down Under?” in Hearing Care for Adults, pp. 133-142

Kreikemeier S., Latzel, M. and Kießling J. (2011). “Loudness-based Hearing Aid Fitting with Instantaneous Insitu-Percentile Monitoring” Z. Audiol. 50, 62-72

Latzel, M., Margolf-Hackl, S., Denkert, J., and Kießling, J. (2004). “Präskriptive Hörgeräteanpassung auf Basis von NAL-NL1 im Vergleich mit einem lautheitsbasierten Verfahren” DGA.

Lecluyse, W., and Meddis, R. (2009). “A simple single-interval adaptive procedure for estimating thresholds in normal and impaired listeners” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 126, 2570-2579

Additional Files

Published

2011-12-15

How to Cite

Oetting, D., Kollmeier, B., & Ewert, S. D. (2011). Fast and intuitive methods for characterizing hearing loss. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research, 3, 473–480. Retrieved from https://proceedings.isaar.eu/index.php/isaarproc/article/view/2011-55

Issue

Vol. 3 (2011): Speech Perception and Auditory Disorders

Section

2011/4. Recent concepts in hearing-instrument processing and fitting

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