Academic Journal
Examining Force Level Output of Skin-Drive Bone Conduction Hearing Devices in Adults With Simulated Conductive Hearing Loss
| Title: | Examining Force Level Output of Skin-Drive Bone Conduction Hearing Devices in Adults With Simulated Conductive Hearing Loss |
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| Authors: | Rana El-Naji, Susan Scollie, Marlene Bagatto |
| Source: | Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications |
| Publisher Information: | American Speech Language Hearing Association, 2024. |
| Publication Year: | 2024 |
| Subject Terms: | Adult, Male, Hearing Loss, Conductive, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Auditory Threshold, bone conduction, Young Adult, 03 medical and health sciences, Hearing Aids, 0302 clinical medicine, Audiometry, Humans, Female, conductive hearing loss, Bone Conduction, hearing devices |
| Description: | Purpose: Bone conduction hearing devices (BCDs) that deliver sound across the skin (i.e., transcutaneous) are suitable for some individuals who have conductive or mixed hearing losses. Prescriptive targets for percutaneous devices are available, for example, from the Desired Sensation Level–Bone Conduction Hearing Device (DSL-BCD) algorithm. These targets, however, may require modification for use with transcutaneous BCDs. The current study investigated three key variables that may inform target modification: (a) comparison of thresholds measured using an audiometric bone conduction (BC) transducer versus transcutaneous BCDs that offer in situ threshold measurement, (b) transcutaneous BCD default force level outputs versus recommended DSL percutaneous BC targets, and (c) the preferred listening levels (PLLs) of adults wearing transcutaneous BCDs in a laboratory setting. Method: Bilateral conductive hearing loss was simulated in 20 normal-hearing adults via earplugs. Thresholds were measured using a B-71 BC transducer and two commercially available BCDs coupled to a soft headband. DSL percutaneous BC targets were generated, and PLLs were obtained for a 60-dB SPL speech stimulus. Force level outputs were measured using a skull simulator on the Audioscan Verifit2 at the hearing aids' default settings and at the participants' PLL for each device. Results: On average, audiometric BC thresholds were significantly better than those measured in situ with each BCD. PLLs were similar to prescribed targets for one device with the smoother response shape and agreed in the high frequencies for both devices. Conclusions: In situ thresholds are significantly higher than audiometric BC thresholds, suggesting that device-based in situ measurement more accurately accounts for the signal transmission from transcutaneous BCDs. PLLs differed from the percutaneous targets and varied between devices, which may indicate that either target modifications or manipulations of device frequency response shaping are needed to approximate PLL with transcutaneous BCD devices. |
| Document Type: | Article |
| File Description: | application/pdf |
| Language: | English |
| ISSN: | 1558-9137 1059-0889 |
| DOI: | 10.1044/2024_aja-23-00258 |
| Access URL: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38748932 https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/scsdpub/121 |
| Accession Number: | edsair.doi.dedup.....a3621139623c5cd0b6c8a38f32eed90f |
| Database: | OpenAIRE |
| ISSN: | 15589137 10590889 |
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| DOI: | 10.1044/2024_aja-23-00258 |