title: Amplification for listeners with a moderately severe high-frequency hearing loss.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some evidence exists to support the use of an extended bandwidth (EBW) for those with a relatively mild to moderate degree of hearing loss. The use of frequency lowering is suggested for those with a severe/profound degree of hearing loss. The amplification option for those with a moderately severe hearing loss in the high frequencies is less clear. This study compared three amplification options for listeners with a moderately severe hearing loss in the high frequencies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The efficacy of three amplification options-limited bandwidth to 4000 Hz, EBW, and frequency transposition-were evaluated for listeners with a moderately severe, high-frequency hearing loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experiment used a factorial repeated-measures design.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 13 adults with bilateral hearing loss of 50-70 dB HL at 4000 Hz served as test participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants rated the sound quality of birdsongs and music when aided with the amplification options. Speech perception in quiet was measured at 50 dB SPL and 68 dB SPL input levels. The participants also completed a questionnaire on the best amplification option to use in different real-life environments during a 2 wk, take-home trial. The data were analyzed with repeated-measures analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings showed that more listeners preferred the EBW for home use but that the frequency transposition was the least preferred. In addition, the performance of the EBW was better than that of the limited bandwidth in speech recognition but similar to that of the frequency transposition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results supported the fitting of an EBW as the better choice for this group of listeners.
authors.affiliation: Widex Office of Research in Clinical Amplification (ORCA), Widex Hearing Aid Company, Lisle, IL.
authors.forename: Chi-Chuen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Widex Office of Research in Clinical Amplification (ORCA), Widex Hearing Aid Company, Lisle, IL.
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kuk
authors.affiliation: Widex Office of Research in Clinical Amplification (ORCA), Widex Hearing Aid Company, Lisle, IL.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Keenan
authors.affiliation: Widex Office of Research in Clinical Amplification (ORCA), Widex Hearing Aid Company, Lisle, IL.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schumacher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000628:therapy*; D006316:Hearing Loss, High-Frequency; D006801:Humans; D009146:Music; D013067:Speech Perception