title: Study of the long-term effects of frequency compression by behavioral verbal tests in adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify the effect of long-term use of hearing aids with frequency compression for verbal behavior tests and daily activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two adults, aged between 30 and 60 years old, with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss at high frequencies with steeply sloping configuration were divided into two groups: 16 with hearing aids with frequency compression algorithm enabled and 16 not enabled. All participants underwent the detection tests of consonant sounds, monosyllable recognition in quiet environments, identification of fricative monosyllables, and Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) questionnaire in five times throughout a 12-month trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Detection of consonant sounds, recognition of monosyllables in quiet environments and identification of fricative monosyllables improved significantly with frequency compression enabled. Participants had their APHAB scores improved whether they were adapted to the frequency compression or not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Frequency compression provides the anticipated improvement in audibility, detection of high-frequency consonant sounds, and recognition of monosyllables.
authors.affiliation: Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa Clarizia
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Marchesin
authors.affiliation: Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Cecília Martinelli
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Iório
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010700:Phonetics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013063:Speech Discrimination Tests; D013067:Speech Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires