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Impact of Hearing Aid Technology on Outcomes in Daily Life III: Localization
Jani A Johnson1, Jingjing Xu, Robyn M Cox
1School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
Ear and Hearing
|July 13, 2017
Summary
Premium hearing aids showed slightly better sound localization in quiet lab tests, but no significant difference was found compared to basic hearing aids in noise or daily life. Further research is needed for diverse hearing aid technologies.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Hearing Science
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Hearing aids aim to improve audibility and sound perception.
- Premium hearing aids offer advanced features beyond basic models.
- Horizontal sound localization is crucial for spatial awareness and communication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of premium-feature versus basic-feature hearing aids in horizontal sound localization.
- To evaluate localization performance in both controlled laboratory settings and real-world daily life.
- To test the hypothesis that premium hearing aids provide superior localization capabilities.
Main Methods:
- Forty-five older adults with mild to moderate hearing loss participated.
- Participants were fitted with four pairs of hearing aids (premium and basic) from two manufacturers.
- Evaluations included laboratory tests with a 360° loudspeaker array and a standardized questionnaire for daily life assessment.
Main Results:
- Laboratory tests indicated premium hearing aids offered more accurate localization than basic ones only with high-frequency sounds in quiet conditions.
- No significant differences in localization performance were observed between premium and basic hearing aids in noise, or in daily life as reported by users.
- Findings were consistent across both evaluated manufacturers.
Conclusions:
- Premium hearing aids demonstrated a limited advantage over basic models in specific laboratory conditions.
- Self-reported everyday localization did not differ significantly between premium and basic hearing aid users.
- The study highlights the potential discrepancy between laboratory findings and real-world effectiveness, underscoring the need for further research across diverse hearing aid technologies and manufacturers.
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