Performance of directional microphone hearing aids in everyday life.
This study explored the use patterns and benefits of directional microphone technology in real-world situations experienced by patients who had been fitted with switchable omnidirectional/directional hearing aids. Telephone interviews and paper-and-pencil questionnaires were used to assess perceived performance with each microphone type in a variety of listening situations. Patients who used their hearing aids regularly and switched between the two microphone configurations reported using the directional mode, on average, about one-quarter of the time. From brief descriptions, patients could identify listening situations in which each microphone mode should provide superior performance. Further, they reported encountering listening situations in which an omnidirectional microphone should provide better performance more frequently than listening situations in which the directional microphones should be superior. Despite using the omnidirectional mode more often and encountering situations in which an omnidirectional microphone should provide superior performance more frequently, participants reported the same level of satisfaction with each microphone type.
Army Audiology and Speech Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307-5001, USA.
Mary T
MT
Cord
Rauna K
RK
Surr
Brian E
BE
Walden
Laurel
L
Olson
D000162:Acoustics; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires