An assessment of two amplitude-compression hearing aid systems, especially in high ambient noise.
A critical test of the suitability of amplitude compression in hearing aid design must look at the performance of such devices with high levels of background noise. A series of tests was carried out, using both normal and hearing-impaired subjects and word-list test material. The results favour some forms of amplitude compression, even under these critical conditions. However, nonlinear compression ('Carrier Clipping') can reduce the signal-to-noise ratio to unity under adverse conditions. Under these circumstances, such compression impairs performance, though in most situations, it is beneficial.
D000669:Amplifiers, Electronic; D003638:Deafness / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010469:Perceptual Distortion; D010898:Pitch Perception; D013067:Speech Perception