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Bilateral digital hearing aids for binaural hearing
B P Kimberley1, R Dymond, A Gamer
1University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal
|March 1, 1994
Summary
Improving hearing aid technology can enhance sound localization for hearing impaired individuals. New digital signal processing strategies in bilateral hearing aids show promise for better spatial hearing and speech understanding.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Hearing Science
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Binaural hearing rehabilitation, including sound localization and speech-in-noise understanding, is often neglected in hearing-impaired individuals.
- Conventional hearing aid fittings can worsen localization ability compared to unaided conditions.
- Advancements in digital signal processing enable complex filter implementation in compact in-the-ear hearing aids.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore strategies for enhancing sound localization in hearing-impaired listeners using bilateral digital signal processing.
- To investigate the impact of advanced hearing aid fitting on localization performance.
Main Methods:
- Examining three bilateral hearing aid strategies: precise fitting of individual hearing losses, equalization of ear canal acoustics affected by hearing aids, and binaural fitting adjustments for improved localization.
- Conducting early psychophysical testing to evaluate localization performance.
Main Results:
- Early psychophysical tests indicate that the implemented strategies can improve localization performance.
- Bilateral digital signal processing in hearing aids shows potential for enhancing spatial hearing.
Conclusions:
- Bilateral digital signal processing offers a promising avenue for improving binaural hearing rehabilitation.
- Further research and development in advanced hearing aid fitting strategies are warranted to optimize localization and speech-in-noise abilities.