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High-frequency consonant word discrimination lists in hearing aid evaluation
1Department of Special Education, East Tennessee State University.
Journal of the American Auditory Society
|November 1, 1978
Summary
High-frequency consonant scores supplement NU-6 results for hearing aid fitting. Patient preference may stem from comfort with familiar sound, not optimal amplification.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Hearing aid selection involves assessing audibility and patient preference.
- Traditional tests like the NU-6 provide audibility information.
- High-frequency consonant testing offers insights into specific speech sound audibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the utility of high-frequency consonant scores with NU-6 scores in hearing aid selection.
- To investigate the role of patient preference in hearing aid outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized NU-6 scores and high-frequency consonant scores for hearing aid evaluation.
- Assessed patient preference for hearing aids.
Main Results:
- High-frequency consonant scores agreed with NU-6 scores for 5 out of 9 subjects.
- Discrepancies noted where NU-6 indicated appropriate amplification, but high-frequency scores did not.
- Patient preference sometimes favored comfort over audibility, potentially due to acclimatization to altered sound quality.
Conclusions:
- High-frequency consonant scores are valuable supplements, not replacements, for NU-6 testing.
- Counseling on effective communication strategies may be needed alongside hearing aid fitting.
- Patient comfort and acclimatization significantly influence hearing aid choice, sometimes overriding audiological recommendations.