Evaluating new hearing aid technologies in laboratory simulations of listening scenarios

Abstract

It can be important for clinical researchers to be able to evaluate the performance of sensory aids using both objective and subjective methods. New technology (such as self-fit hearing aids) can be evaluated in a laboratory setting in calibrated listening scenarios that reflect daily listening situations. In the Center for Applied and Translational Sensory Science (CATSS) multisensory laboratory, we have developed simulations of challenging conversational scenarios so that users of sensory aids can make judgments of sensory aid performance in realistic but controlled conditions. Listeners with hearing loss make ratings of intelligibility, sound quality, and preference in scenarios such as small group conversations and entertainment listening. At the same time, measures of hearing-aid gain and speech intelligibility are obtained. These ratings are compared to outcome measures such as the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ; Gatehouse and Noble, 2004) and Social Participation restrictions questionnaire (SPaRQ; Heffernan et al., 2018) to determine relationships between intelligibility, preference, benefit, and hearing aid gain. Results will help refine methods for evaluating the performance of emerging technologies for hearing loss. [Work supported by NIDCD R01 DC 13267.]It can be important for clinical researchers to be able to evaluate the performance of sensory aids using both objective and subjective methods. New technology (such as self-fit hearing aids) can be evaluated in a laboratory setting in calibrated listening scenarios that reflect daily listening situations. In the Center for Applied and Translational Sensory Science (CATSS) multisensory laboratory, we have developed simulations of challenging conversational scenarios so that users of sensory aids can make judgments of sensory aid performance in realistic but controlled conditions. Listeners with hearing loss make ratings of intelligibility, sound quality, and preference in scenarios such as small group conversations and entertainment listening. At the same time, measures of hearing-aid gain and speech intelligibility are obtained. These ratings are compared to outcome measures such as the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ; Gatehouse and Noble, 2004) and Social Participation restrictions ...