Measuring Comfort and Clarity With Low Gain Feature in Pediatric Hearing Aid Users

A familiar spondee word list is presented at varying dB (decibel) levels. Threshold is defined as the lowest dB level at which a correct response occurs for two out of three ascending trials. Testing was completed in two, two-hour test sessions occurring two weeks apart. A different fitting prescription, NAL (National Acoustic Laboratory) or DSL (Desired Sensation Level) was selected for each test session, and counterbalanced across participants. Each session consisted of testing with the ASG (Adaptive Situational Gain) feature on and off. The lower the number (dB level), the softer the participant is able to repeat the words correctly two out of three times.

Familiar monosyllabic word list presented at 40 dB and 70 dB. Percentage of words correctly repeated is calculated. Testing was completed in two, two-hour test sessions occurring two weeks apart. A different fitting prescription, NAL (National Acoustic Laboratory) or DSL (Desired Sensation Level) was selected for each test session and counterbalanced across participants such that one test session consisted of testing with one prescription, either NAL or DSL, but with both levels (40 and 70 dB) and with both ASG (Adaptive Situational Gain) settings, on and off. The higher the score, the better the word recognition in each condition.

Out of a list of seven words, the participant repeats back as many words as they can recall. Percentage of correct words repeated back is calculated. Testing was completed in two, two-hour test sessions occurring two weeks apart. One fitting prescription, NAL (National Acoustic Laboratory) or DSL (Desired Sensation Level) was selected for each test session and counterbalanced across participants such that one test session consisted of testing with one prescription, either NAL or DSL, but with both levels (40 and 70 dB) and with both ASG (Adaptive Situational Gain) settings, on and off. A higher percentage score indicates better multi-word recognition.

A list of 10 3-word phrases are presented to the participant. The participant indicates if the phrase contains a nonsense word by selecting the numbered response button (i.e. "1", "2", or "3") that corresponds to the position oof the nonsense word in the phrase. Testing was completed in two, two-hour test sessions occurring two weeks apart. A different fitting prescription, NAL (National Acoustic Laboratory) or DSL (Desired Sensation Level) was selected for each test session and counterbalanced across participants such that one test session consisted of testing with one prescription, either NAL or DSL, but with both levels (40 and 70 dB) and with both ASG (Adaptive Situational Gain) settings, on and off. . The score is the percent correct, a higher score is better.

A word learning task used to determine participant's ability to associate novel/nonsense words with novel images as rapidly as possible. Five nonsense words are paired with five novel images displayed on response buttons. The words are presented randomly 10 times each. The participant selects one picture per word. Scores are presented as percent correct. A higher percentage indicates better word learning. Testing was completed in two, two-hour test sessions occurring two weeks apart. A different prescription, NAL (National Acoustic Laboratory) or DSL (Desired Sensation Level) was selected for each test session and counterbalanced across participants such that one test session consisted of testing with one prescription, either NAL or DSL, but with both levels (40 and 70 dB) and with both ASG (Adaptive Situational Gain) settings, on and off.

Participants will rank preference for the ASG feature (either on or off) in each fitting (NAL and DSL) after listening to audio file.