[The effects of hearing aid frequency responses on speech discrimination score]

The effects of the frequency responses of hearing aids on speech discrimination scores were studied in 100 patients with sensori-neural hearing loss. Consonant discrimination scores of /s, z, m/ in frequency responses with high frequency amplification were better than those with low frequency amplification. On the other hand, consonant discrimination scores of /g/ were better in frequency responses with low frequency amplification. The discrimination scores of the other consonants were not affected by the frequency responses. In the fitting of the frequency response of a hearing aid, low frequency amplification is effective for improving sound quality through the hearing aid. However, there is a risk of decreasing the discrimination scores of /s, z, m/.