A comparison of single-channel linear amplification and two-channel wide-dynamic-range-compression amplification by means of an independent-group design.
The present study used an independent-group design to compare the benefits provided by binaural, single-channel, linear, full-shell in-the-ear hearing aids and binaural, 2-channel, wide-dynamic-range-compression in-the-canal hearing aids in groups of older hearing aid wearers. Hearing aid outcome measures were obtained at both 1-month (n = 53) and 6-month (n = 34) postfit intervals with each device. Outcome measures included multiple measures of speech-recognition performance and self-report measures of hearing aid benefit, satisfaction, and usage. Aided sound-quality measurements were also obtained. Although both devices provided significant benefits to the wearers, there were no significant differences in the benefits provided by either device at the 1-month or 6-month postfit intervals.
Humes
Larry E
LE
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA. humes@indiana.edu
Humes
Lauren E
LE
Wilson
Dana L
DL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D018579:Patient Selection; D012107:Research Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome