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Examination of two issues concerning functional gain measurements
The Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders
|February 1, 1987
Summary
This study examined aided sound-field thresholds and coupler gain. Corrected coupler gain measurements show potential clinical utility for predicting functional gain in hearing aid fittings.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Hearing Science
- Acoustics
Background:
- Assessing hearing aid performance requires understanding test-retest variability.
- Predicting individual functional gain from coupler measurements is crucial for effective hearing aid fitting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the test-retest variability of aided sound-field thresholds.
- To determine the feasibility of using corrected 2-cm3 coupler gain to predict individual functional gain.
Main Methods:
- Test-retest data were collected for aided sound-field thresholds.
- Critical differences for statistical significance were calculated.
- Functional gain and corrected 2-cm3 coupler gain were compared in 20 subjects.
Main Results:
- A difference greater than 15 dB was required for statistical significance (p < .05) between aided thresholds.
- Individual variability between functional gain and corrected coupler gain was substantially reduced compared to previous studies.
Conclusions:
- Corrected 2-cm3 coupler gain measurements demonstrate potential clinical utility.
- These findings suggest a more reliable method for predicting functional gain in hearing aid fittings.