Localisation of speech through similar and dissimilar binaural hearing aid listening modes

This paper compared the localisation abilities in the horizontal plane of 12 adults with bilateral asymmetrical sensorineural hearing impairment whilst listening to speech using each one of the following three binaural hearing aid listening modes: (a) binaural listening with two similar ear-level hearing aids, (b) binaural listening with two similar bodyworm hearing aids and, (c) binaural listening with two dissimilar hearing aids (one ear-level, one bodyworn). It was found that the differences in localisation ability between the three binaural hearing aid listening modes were small and none of them proved to be statistically significant. It was concluded that where possible binaural hearing aids should be of similar type and model, although in situations where this could not be achieved or was not indicated, the issuing of dissimilar binaural hearing aids should not be discouraged.