The proposed work will evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of using laboratory and wearable versions of a digital signal-processing (DSP) development system in research and clinical studies of the reliability and validity of hearing aid fitting procedures. A multiple-baseline, """"""""time-lagged control,"""""""" design will used in conjunction with a new preference-based fitting procedure to demonstrate the nature of the relationships between preference behavior of hearing-impaired individuals in laboratory test situations and preferences under real-world conditions. Reliability of frequency response preferences in the laboratory and in the real world, and the effects of real-world experience with hearing aids on judgments of aided performance in different listening situations and environments simulated in the laboratory, will be investigated. The proposed work is expected to establish basic conditions under which frequency response characteristics can be fitted reliably and validly to individual hearing-impaired listeners. Ultimately, this research may lead to the development and evaluation of improved algorithms for resolving the communicative difficulties faced by hearing-impaired persons in a variety of listening situations.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
1R03DC001045-01
Application #
3424482
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (SRC (02))
Project Start
1991-01-01
Project End
1992-12-31
Budget Start
1991-01-01
Budget End
1991-12-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Michigan State University
Department
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
193247145
City
East Lansing
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48824
Punch, J L; Robb, R; Shovels, A H (1994) Aided listener preferences in laboratory versus real-world environments. Ear Hear 15:50-61
Punch, J; Rakerd, B (1993) Loudness matching of signals spectrally shaped by a simulated hearing aid. J Speech Hear Res 36:357-64
Punch, J L; Robb, R (1992) Prescriptive hearing aid fitting by parameter adjustment and selection. J Am Acad Audiol 3:94-100