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Spatial Hearing in Complex Sound Environments: Clinical Data

By Behrens, Thomas; Hearing Review,
Publication Date: March 2008

Overview of the role of hearing aids in enabling hearing-impaired individuals to understand speech in noisy environments. Focus is on the Oticon Epoq hearing aid which, by allowing two hearing instruments to wirelessly exchange information, then using the information for coordinating compression binaurally, enables people with hearing loss to better organize the spatial complexity of typical daily-life environments. Extended-frequency bandwith and better output acoustics via the Epoq’s BTE (behind-the-ear) receiver-in-the-ear (RITE or receiver-in-canal, RIC) style render hearing cues more accessible for the user when combined with the wireless processing. As part of evaluating Epoq, a clinical study at its maker Oticon assessed performance in 7 listening situations with spatial complexity with 58 experienced adult hearing-instrument users with moderate hearing impairment who wore the Epoq (no name on shell) for a 4-week test period. Ratings were obtained for both the Epoq and participants’ own bilateral hearing aid. Results showed ratings based on Epoq fittings to be almost 1 scale point higher than the bilateral ratings. In addition, improved performance observed in group settings was found indicative of Epoq users being better able to spatially separate different talkers.

Assistive Products Discussed: EPOQ HEARING AID
Published by: Ascend Media LLC   (Website:http://www.ascendmedia.com)

Link to text: http://www.hr-hpr.com/issues/articles/2008-03_05.asp
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