Benefits of adaptive FM systems on speech recognition in noise for listeners who use hearing aids.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the benefits of adaptive FM and fixed FM systems through measurement of speech recognition in noise with adults and students in clinical and real-world settings.


METHODS
Five adults and 5 students with moderate-to-severe hearing loss completed objective and subjective speech recognition in noise measures with the 2 types of FM processing. Sentence recognition was evaluated in a classroom for 5 competing noise levels ranging from 54 to 80 dBA while the FM microphone was positioned 6 in. from the signal loudspeaker to receive input at 84 dB SPL. The subjective measures included 2 classroom activities and 6 auditory lessons in a noisy, public aquarium.


RESULTS
On the objective measures, adaptive FM processing resulted in significantly better speech recognition in noise than fixed FM processing for 68- and 73-dBA noise levels. On the subjective measures, all individuals preferred adaptive over fixed processing for half of the activities. Adaptive processing was also preferred by most (8-9) individuals for the remaining 4 activities.


CONCLUSIONS
The adaptive FM processing resulted in significant improvements at the higher noise levels and was preferred by the majority of participants in most of the conditions.
Thibodeau
Linda
L
University of Texas at Dallas, Callier Center for Communication Disorders, USA. thib@utdallas.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D012931:Social Environment; D013069:Speech Reception Threshold Test; D055815:Young Adult