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Updated: May 2, 2026

An Automated System for Sound Localization Testing in Hearing-Impaired Listeners
Published on: March 13, 2026
Sensitivity to temporal fine structure and hearing-aid outcomes in older adults
Elvira Perez1, Abby McCormack1, Barrie A Edmonds1
1NIHR Nottingham Hearing Biomedical Research Unit, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham Nottingham, UK.
Objective:
To investigate the effect of sensitivity to temporal fine structure (TFS) on subjective measures of hearing aid outcome.
Design:
Prior to receiving hearing aids, participants completed a test to assess sensitivity to TFS and two self-assessment questionnaires; the Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile (GHABP), and the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of hearing (SSQ-A). Follow-up appointments, comprised three self-assessment questionnaires; the GHABP, the SSQ-B, and the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aid Outcomes (IOI-HA).
Study Sample:
75 adults were recruited from direct referral clinics.
Results:
Two thirds of participants were found to have good sensitivity to TFS; listeners with good sensitivity to TFS rated their hearing abilities higher at pre-fitting (SSQ-A) than those with poor sensitivity to TFS. At follow-up, participants with good sensitivity to TFS showed a smaller improvement on SSQ-B over listeners with poor sensitivity to TFS. Among the questionnaires, only the SSQ showed greater sensitivity to measure subjective differences between listeners with good and poor sensitivity to TFS.
Conclusions:
The clinical identification of a patient's ability to process TFS information at an early stage in the treatment pathway could prove useful in managing expectations about hearing aid outcomes.
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