The effects of noise reduction technologies on the acceptance of background noise.

Background: Directional microphones (D-Mics) and digital noise reduction (DNR) algorithms are used in hearing aids to reduce the negative effects of background noise on performance. Directional microphones attenuate sounds arriving from anywhere other than the front of the listener while DNR attenuates sounds with physical characteristics of noise. Although both noise reduction technologies are currently available in hearing aids, it is unclear if the use of these technologies in isolation or together affects acceptance of noise and/or preference for the end user when used in various types of background noise.

A comparison of video versus conventional visual reinforcement in 7- to 16-month-old infants.

Purpose: To compare response patterns to video visual reinforcement audiometry (VVRA) and conventional visual reinforcement audiometry (CVRA) in infants 7-16 months of age.

Method: Fourteen normal-hearing infants aged 7-16 months (8 male, 6 female) participated. A repeated measures design was used.

The objective and subjective evaluation of low-frequency expansion in wide dynamic range compression hearing instruments.

The effects of low-frequency expansion on the objective and subjective evaluation of four channel in-the-ear hearing instruments was investigated. Three expansion settings were programmed in each device: expansion off, expansion restricted to channel one, and expansion restricted to channels one and two. Objective evaluations were conducted in quiet (Connected Speech Test) and in noise (Hearing in Noise Test) with speech levels fixed at 40 dB SPL.

The objective and subjective evaluation of multichannel expansion in wide dynamic range compression hearing instruments.

Purpose: The effects of multichannel expansion on the objective and subjective evaluation of 20 listeners fitted binaurally with 4-channel, digital in-the-ear hearing instruments were investigated.

Method: Objective evaluations were conducted in quiet using the Connected Speech Test (CST) and in noise using the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) at 40, 50, and 60 dB SPL. Subjective evaluations were conducted by having each participant (a) rate their satisfaction regarding the amount of noise reduction they perceived daily and (b) indicate which expansion condition they preferred overall after a 2-week trial.