Improving Acceptance of Background Noise with Sound Enrichment

Abstract

Background: Acceptance of background noise serves as a means to predict likelihood of hearing aidsuccess. Individuals that are able to accept background noise are more likely to be successful with hearingaids.Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of sound enrichment on the acceptable noiselevel (ANL).Study Sample: Nineteen young adult participants served as listeners. Participants were randomlyassigned to the experimental or control group.Research Design: An experimental design with random assignment to experimental or control groupwas used.Data Collection and Analysis: One group used sound enrichment procedures for 2 weeks, whereas theother group served as a control group. Sound enrichment procedures required that participants add lowlevelbackground sound to any quiet environment encountered during the study. Most comfortable listeninglevel (MCL) and background noise level (BNL) were measured at three sessions, each 1 weekapart (baseline, after 1 week of treatment, and after 2 weeks of treatment).Results: Analytical statistics revealed that ANL improved for the sound enrichment group but remainedthe same for the control group. For both groups, there was no significant change in MCL across sessions.However, for the experimental group, BNL improved (increased) over the 2-week period while usingsound enrichment.Conclusions: Results of this study indicate that ANL can be improved with the use of sound enrichmentprocedures over a 2-week period. Future work should examine the use of sound enrichment proceduresfor older adults with hearing loss.