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Research ArticleOpen Access

The Effect of Sound Location on Verification Measures of Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants

Volume 6 - Issue 3

Jessica J Messersmith1, Lindsey Jorgensen2,Teresa Wierzba-Bobrowicz2,David Alexander3

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    • 1 Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Poland
    • 2Neuropathological Institute, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Poland
    • 3First Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Poland

    *Corresponding author: P Jessica J Messersmith, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD

Received: June 21, 2018;   Published: July 05, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.06.001345

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Abstract

Purpose: Verification measures of many hearing aids and cochlear implants are commonly conducted at 0-degress azimuth. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of presentation azimuth on audiometric thresholds and verification of hearing aids (HA) and cochlear implants (CI).

Method: Group 1 was comprised of 20 adult listeners using a HA and CI. Group 2 was comprised of 5 adult listeners using their personal CI and HA. Verification measures were conducted at 0- 45 and 90-degrees presentation aziumuths for each device. For all participants, Real Ear Unconcluded Response (REUR), Real Ear Occluded Response (REOR) and Real Ear to Coupler Difference (RECD) values were obtained. For hearing aids, Real Ear Aided Response (REAR) frequency measures of the ISTS in a sound field environment were obtained in the different azimuth presenations. For CI measures, the same measures were made; additionally aided behavioral threshold measures were obtained at the three azimuths.

Results: Results from the current study indicated that the 45- and 90-degree azimuths have a higher dB SPL frequency response than those measured at 0-degrees. Aided behavioral thresholds were better at 45- and 90- than at 0-degrees.

Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that head position or movement during verification measures may affect measured performance with hearing aids and cochlear implants. There may be a greater effect on performance during speech measurements.

Keywords: Sound Location; Verification Measures; Hearing Aids; Cochlear Implants; Sound Source Location

Abstract| Background| Approaches to Verification| Hearing Aid Verification| Cochlear Implant Outcome Measures| Consideration for Sound Field Presentation| Method| Procedures| Results| Conclusion| Future Areas of Research| References|