Speech perception in noise using directional microphones in open-canal hearing aids.
BACKGROUND
Individuals with impaired hearing find it difficult to understand speech in the presence of background noise--a problem addressed effectively by directional microphones. As open-canal fittings have become increasingly popular in the recent past, so has the debate about the effective directional benefit available from these devices.


OBJECTIVE
This study investigates the benefit of directional microphones in two commercially available open-canal behind-the-ear hearing aids using the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT).


METHODS
Sixteen individuals, between 50 and 85 year of age, with high-frequency bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and no previous hearing aid experience participated in this study.


METHODS
Data Collection and Analysis: Individuals were asked to repeat sentences (presented at 0 degrees azimuth) in the presence of a diffuse-field uncorrelated broadband speech-shaped noise. HINT performance was compared across hearing instruments and conditions using a linear model with repeated measures.


RESULTS
There was a directional advantage of 2.6 dB as compared to the unaided condition. Average performance was worse in the omnidirectional mode as compared to the unaided condition.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that directional signal processing should not be precluded in open-canal instruments for listening in noisy environments.
Klemp
Emily J
EJ
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
Dhar
Sumitrajit
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006316:Hearing Loss, High-Frequency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D011304:Presbycusis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012984:Software; D013017:Sound Localization; D013069:Speech Reception Threshold Test