title: Wind noise within and across behind-the-ear and miniature behind-the-ear hearing aids.
abstract: Previous studies investigated wind noise with Behind-The-Ear (BTE) hearing aids, but not the more common mini-BTE style of device, which typically has a smaller shell and microphones located more deeply behind the pinna. The current study investigated wind-noise levels across one BTE and two mini-BTE devices, and between the front and rear omni-directional microphones within devices. Levels were measured at two wind speeds (3 and 6 m/s) and 36 wind azimuths (10° increments). The pattern of wind-noise level versus azimuth was similar across mini-BTE devices, and differed for the BTE device. However, mean levels were markedly different across mini-BTE devices, and could be higher, lower, or similar to those of the BTE device. For within-device level differences, the pattern and mean across azimuth were similar across mini-BTE devices, and differed for the BTE device. Wind noise had the potential to slightly or severely reduce speech intelligibility at 3 or 6 m/s, respectively, across all devices.
authors.affiliation: Wolfson Dynamic Hearing Pty Ltd., 2 Chapel Street, Richmond, Victoria 3121, Australia.
authors.forename: Justin A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Zakis
authors.affiliation: Wolfson Dynamic Hearing Pty Ltd., 2 Chapel Street, Richmond, Victoria 3121, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hawkins
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D002138:Calibration; D004431:Ear, External; D004867:Equipment Design; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006801:Humans; D008904:Miniaturization; D009622:Noise; D014160:Transducers, Pressure; D014919:Wind