title: Evaluation of a Wind Noise Attenuation Algorithm on Subjective Annoyance and Speech-in-Wind Performance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Wind noise is a common problem reported by hearing aid wearers. The MarkeTrak VIII reported that 42% of hearing aid wearers are not satisfied with the performance of their hearing aids in situations where wind is present.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study investigated the effect of a new wind noise attenuation (WNA) algorithm on subjective annoyance and speech recognition in the presence of wind.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-blinded, repeated measures design was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen experienced hearing aid wearers with bilaterally symmetrical (≤10 dB) mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjective rating for wind noise annoyance was measured for wind presented alone from 0° and 290° at wind speeds of 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10 m/sec. Phoneme identification performance was measured using Widex Office of Clinical Amplification Nonsense Syllable Test presented at 60, 65, 70, and 75 dB SPL from 270° in the presence of wind originating from 0° at a speed of 5 m/sec.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The subjective annoyance from wind noise was reduced for wind originating from 0° at wind speeds from 4 to 7 m/sec. The largest improvement in phoneme identification with the WNA algorithm was 48.2% when speech was presented from 270° at 65 dB SPL and the wind originated from 0° azimuth at 5 m/sec.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The WNA algorithm used in this study reduced subjective annoyance for wind speeds ranging from 4 to 7 m/sec. The algorithm was effective in improving speech identification in the presence of wind originating from 0° at 5 m/sec. These results suggest that the WNA algorithm used in the current study could expand the range of real-life situations where a hearing-impaired person can use the hearing aid optimally.
authors.affiliation: Widex Office of Research in Clinical Amplification (ORCA-US), Lisle, IL.
authors.forename: Petri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Korhonen
authors.affiliation: Widex Office of Research in Clinical Amplification (ORCA-US), Lisle, IL.
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kuk
authors.affiliation: Widex Office of Research in Clinical Amplification (ORCA-US), Lisle, IL.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seper
authors.affiliation: Widex A/S, Lynge, Denmark.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mørkebjerg
authors.affiliation: Widex A/S, Lynge, Denmark.
authors.forename: Majken
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roikjer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013067:Speech Perception; D014919:Wind