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Matching commercial hearing aids to prescriptive gain and maximum output requirements
The Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders
|February 1, 1987
Summary
This study evaluated 71 hearing aids using the Prescription of Gain and Output (POGO) method. Minimum tolerances of +/- 12 dB for gain and +/- 4 dB for SSPL are needed for adequate hearing aid selection across configurations.
Area of Science:
- Audiology and Hearing Aid Technology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Acoustics
Background:
- Hearing aid fitting relies on matching device characteristics to audiological needs.
- Prescriptive formulas, like the Prescription of Gain and Output (POGO), guide hearing aid selection.
- Evaluating the real-world performance of hearing aids against prescriptive targets is crucial for clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the insertion gain and saturation sound pressure level (SSPL) of behind-the-ear hearing aids.
- To determine the impact of varying stringency criteria on the selection of hearing aids based on the POGO technique.
- To identify minimum tolerance levels for gain and SSPL to ensure adequate hearing aid choices for diverse audiometric profiles.
Main Methods:
- Computer-assisted analysis of 71 behind-the-ear hearing aids.
- Application of a modified Prescription of Gain and Output (POGO) technique to derive target gain and SSPL values.
- Simulation using three distinct audiometric contours and associated loudness discomfort levels.
- Evaluation of stringency criteria ranging from +/- 6 to +/- 16 dB for gain and +/- 2 to +/- 8 dB for SSPL.
Main Results:
- The relationship between tolerance levels and the number of optimally appropriate hearing aids varied significantly with audiometric configuration.
- Minimum gain tolerance of +/- 12 dB and SSPL tolerance of +/- 4 dB were necessary to offer a reasonable selection of hearing aids for various configurations.
- The number of hearing aids meeting prescriptive targets was sensitive to the chosen stringency criteria.
Conclusions:
- Achieving a satisfactory selection of hearing aids requires specific minimum tolerances for insertion gain and SSPL, particularly for diverse hearing loss patterns.
- The study highlights the importance of flexible stringency criteria in hearing aid selection protocols.
- Findings inform the clinical utility of hearing aid selection, especially when using limited clinic samples.