title: Effects of prolonged lack of amplification on speech-recognition performance: preliminary findings.
abstract: The purposes of this investigation were two-fold: 1) to prospectively investigate the effect of prolonged lack of binaural amplification in the unaided ears of adults with bilaterally symmetrical sensorineural hearing impairment (BSSHI) fitted monaurally; and, 2) to prospectively investigate the effects of amplification on speech-recognition performance in the aided ears of monaurally and binaurally fitted subjects. Subjects consisted of 19 monaurally aided adults, 28 binaurally aided adults, and 19 control adults. Both ears of the experimental subjects (binaurally and monaurally aided adults) had BSSHI. The speech measures included the W-22 CID suprathreshold speech-recognition test, nonsense syllable test, and speech-perception-in-noise test. Initial testing was done between 6 and 12 weeks following hearing-aid fitting. Retests were performed approximately 1 year following the initial test. The results revealed that the mean aided minus unaided ear score for the nonsense syllable and W-22 tests increased significantly from the initial test to retest, reflecting a slight improvement in speech performance in the aided ear and a slightly greater decrement in the unaided ear. The findings were interpreted with respect to the theories of auditory deprivation and acclimatization.
authors.affiliation: Brooklyn College, City University of New York (CUNY) 11210.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silman
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Emmer
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Gelfand
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000669:Amplifiers, Electronic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006309:Hearing; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012683:Sensory Deprivation; D013063:Speech Discrimination Tests; D013067:Speech Perception; D013069:Speech Reception Threshold Test