Article Suggests Apps and Devices to Help with Tinnitus
Described as a “phantom sound generated by the brain” by audiologist Julie Prutsman, tinnitus is a common condition experienced as ringing or buzzing in the ears, often caused by loud noise exposure. While there is no “cure” for tinnitus, there are methods of coping with the symptoms, according to a recent article in Wired.
Prutsman recommends avoiding silence and exposing yourself to a sound-rich environment. The article’s author suggests the Lofi Work Playlist on Spotify and the Calm or Rainy Mood app at night from the Calm.com website. Additionally, the ReSound Relief App can be helpful, according to the article, because it allows users to create layered soundscapes and customised audio balance for each ear. Other options include sleep headbands, Bose’s SleepBuds II, fans, smart speakers, pillows with built-in audio, and tabletop sound generators.
“Nothing works for everyone, which is why seeking help can be maddeningly frustrating,” Joy Onozuka, a tinnitus research and communications officer for the American Tinnitus Association(ATA), was quoted as saying in the article. “We advise people to start with and explore inexpensive technologies, with free trials or good return policies.”
When searching for a treatment, the article stresses the importance of finding things approved by the FDA and/or with clinical data to support its claims. Prutsman says that the Neosensory Duo and Lenire devices have solid science behind them, and utilise bimodal stimulation, both touch and sound, to help “rewire the brain.”
Other options include features to monitor noise levels on Apple iOS devices and watches, apps like the NIOSH Sound Level Meter, or the SoundPrint app which lists noise levels at different venues.
“Hearing protection is really important for someone that has tinnitus and doesn’t want it to get worse,” Prutsman is quoted as saying in the article. “Unfortunately, a lot of people will go to the opposite extreme and overprotect their hearing at safe levels. This can create a worse situation called hyperacusis or hyper-sensitivity to sound.”
To read the article in its entirety, please click here.
Source: Wired
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Signia Launches Insio Charge&Go AX Custom Hearing Aids
Signia announced the general availability of its Insio Charge&Go AX custom hearing aids, the newest device built upon Signia’s Augmented Xperience (AX) platform.
The AX platform utilizes Signia’s Augmented Focus technology, which helps process speech and background noise separately—using two dedicated processors—and combines them to deliver “outstanding speech clarity in a fully immersive soundscape,” according to the company.
Signia Insio Charge&Go AX and Signia AX were recently named CES 2022 Innovation Awards Honorees in the Wearables and Accessibility categories.[1]
The Insio Charge&Go AX is the second family of Signia hearing aids built upon the AX platform, following the Spring 2021 launch of the Pure Charge&Go T AX RIC hearing aids. The Insio Charge&Go AX is the “industry’s first family of custom-fitted in-the-canal (ITC) and in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids to feature contactless charging, Bluetooth connectivity, and the ability to stream from Android and Apple iOS devices.”
“By taking the Augmented Xperience platform and adapting it for use in our newest custom hearing aids, Signia continues to combine world-class audiology and world’s- first technologies to enhance human performance,” said Dr Brian Taylor, senior director of audiology for Signia. “The Insio Charge&Go AX hearing aids join the widely- acclaimed, groundbreaking Pure Charge&Go T AX rechargeable RIC hearing aids in giving hearing care professionals a wider range of solutions to fit patients’ needs, wants, and styles.”
Designed For All Patients’ Needs
Both the ITC and ITE Insio Charge&Go AX custom hearing aids are fully rechargeable and designed to support a broad range of patients’ needs. They come with a contactless charger for “easy operation, meaning wearers don’t have to worry about charging positions when ensuring maximum battery life.” And they connect to iPhones and ASHA-compatible Android devices and feature push-button control of smartphone functions.
All Insio Charge&Go AX custom hearing aids are “designed for a high fitting rate.” They are “uniquely small and customized to the wearer’s ear canal for all-day comfort and higher patient satisfaction.” They also come in a range of colors including Black, Dark Brown, Brown, Mocha, Tan, and Beige.
“As with all our hearing aids, we’re not just looking to help correct a loss,” said Taylor. “Through iconic innovation and a consumer-centric approach, Signia also aims to give patients an edge. Our new custom, AX-based hearing aids are the first custom hearing aid with contactless charging that can be tailored to both the patient’s hearing loss and ear anatomy.”
According to studies, Signia AX results in greater than 25% better speech understanding in noise compared to users’ own hearing aids.[2] And 95% of study participants reported exceptional speech understanding in their home environment.[3]
Backed by the Power of the Signia app
Like other Signia hearing aids, the new Insio Charge&Go AX hearing aids come with the Signia app, providing “on-the-go support and intuitive access to hearing aid controls.”
The Signia App provides wearers with streaming capabilities; tinnitus therapy; the AI-based Signia Assistant for a more personalized listening experience and 24/7 digital support; Signia Telecare for remote care support; and much more. It also allows wearers to activate Signia’s “first-of-its-kind Face Mask Mode, which dramatically improves audibility for wearers communicating with someone in a face mask.”
For more information on the Signia Insio Charge&Go AX hearing aids, visit here.
[1] The CES Innovation Awards are based upon descriptive materials submitted to the judges. CTA did not verify the accuracy of any submission of any claims made and did not test the item to which the award was given.
[2] Signia White Paper. Based on transformation of the 1.8 dB SNR improvement using a value of the slope of the psychometric function (Wagener & Brand, 2005).
[3] Signia White Paper. 18/19 participants had a mean rating of speech intelligibility-related questions of more than 8.0 and 9.0, respectively.
Source: Signia
Images: Signia
https://honiton-hearing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Insio_AX__Honiton-hearing-centre-devon.jpeg640864adminhttps://honitonnew.leecurran.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/honitonhearinglogo.pngadmin2022-01-30 18:42:202022-01-30 18:42:20Signia Launches Insio Charge&Go AX Custom Hearing Aids
By Nicky Chong-White, PhD, Jorge Mejia, PhD, James Galloway, MDesSc, and Brent Edwards, PhD
The recently released Headphone Accommodations feature of Apple AirPods Pro has the potential to help people with hearing loss. When activated with Transparency mode, Headphone Accommodations applies customizable frequency-dependent gain to help the wearer better hear the sounds around them. In this article, objective measures that characterize the acoustic performance of AirPods Pro are presented. The results suggest that, while differences to traditional hearing aids exist, Headphone Accommodations provides amplification to help people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss hear sounds more easily and allow them to experience the benefits of amplification.
Many technology offerings by Apple demonstrate their growing commitment towards health and accessibility. Apple provides a number of accessibility features to benefit people who are deaf or hard of hearing. With Made for iPhone (MFi) hearing aids, users can stream audio from their iPhone directly to their hearing aids and control their hearing aid settings. The Live Listen feature helps users hear conversations more clearly by using their iPhone as a remote microphone which sends amplified sounds to their AirPods or compatible hearing aids.
Figure 1. Apple AirPods Pro with recharging case.
Recent iOS releases have added capabilities to AirPods Pro that have the potential to help people with hearing loss. While earbuds that seal the ear canal typically block external sounds, the AirPods Pro Transparency mode uses microphones on the outside of the devices to let wearers hear the world around them (Figure 1). With the release of Headphone Accommodations in 2020, the sound picked up by these microphones is amplified with both frequency-dependency gain and compression, giving AirPods Pro hearing aid-like capability. While different gain presets can be selected from a connected iPhone, the user’s audiogram can also be entered which is then used to “fit” the gain in the AirPods Pro to their hearing loss.
With audio processing features that seem comparable to those in traditional hearing aids, there have been suggestions that AirPods Pro can be alternatives to hearing aids to help people with hearing loss hear better or, more generally, provide benefit to hearing and communication in difficult listening situations.
To determine how similar the amplification in AirPods Pro is to hearing aid amplification, we used standard hearing aid characterization methods to measure the performance of AirPods Pro. In this article, we present the findings from our objective evaluation of Headphone Accommodations with Transparency mode in AirPods Pro and provide insights into how Headphone Accommodations may benefit people with hearing loss.
Study Methods
In order to understand how AirPods Pro can help people with hearing difficulties, acoustic measurements were performed to investigate:
Gain provided by Headphone Accommodations for a given audiogram or preset profile, and
Other acoustic characteristics commonly used to characterize hearing aids.
Figures 2a-b. iPhone screenshots of interfaces to control Headphone Accommodations.
Devices. For this study we used Apple AirPods Pro earbuds (with firmware version 3E751, released April 2021) paired with an iPhone running iOS 14. Settings for Headphone Accommodations were adjusted on the iPhone to tune the headphone audio to different configurations (Figure 2).
Figure 3. Acoustic room test configuration with GRAS Coupler.
Equipment and set-up. Gain measurements were conducted in an acoustic test room as shown in Figure 3. Measures were performed using a GRAS RA0045 Ear simulator (standard IEC 60318-4 (711)) and B&K type 4190 reference free-field microphone positioned 1 meter from the loudspeaker. The RA0045 ear simulator has acoustic impedance closely resembling that of an average human ear and is widely used in verification of frequency response of consumer audio products and hearing aids.
Other acoustic measurements commonly used to determine the specifications of hearing aid characteristics according to IEC and ANSI test standards were carried out using the Aurical Hearing Instrument Test (HIT) box with 2cc coupler (Figure 4).
A) Measurements of Headphone Accommodations Gain
Figure 4. Aurical HIT test configuration.
To determine the amount of gain provided by Headphone Accommodations, the output sound level of the AirPods Pro was measured across the range of audible frequencies. The input sound stimulus was the International Speech Test Signal (ISTS),1 presented from the loudspeaker at 50, 65, and 80 dB SPL.
Transparency Mode. As a baseline, the gain of the AirPods Pro in Transparency mode with Headphone Accommodations turned off was measured. This is the default setting for users who do not wish to apply any audio tuning profiles to the sounds around them and, according to the Apple website, “lets outside sound in, so you can hear what’s going on around you” while wearing the AirPods Pro.2
Figure 5. Gain for Transparency mode with Headphone Accommodations turned off relative to the unaided condition for different input speech levels.
For the AirPods Pro to be acoustically transparent while being worn, the gain relative to the unaided (or unworn) condition should be 0 dB. As can be seen in Figure 5, the gain is close to 0 dB except in the 1-2 kHz and 4-6 kHz regions where resonances are present. These deviations may be transducer resonances that vary in frequency and amplitude across manufacturing batches.
Transparency Mode with Headphone Accommodations. The frequency response of the AirPods Pro can be customized by the user in three ways: 1) Using preset profiles; 2) Manually adjusting settings, and 3) Using audiogram data.
1) Using preset profiles.Headphone Accommodations comes with three preset profiles for users to select, each providing different frequency-varying gain. Figure 6 depicts the gain measured for each profile. For a 65 dB input speech level, the Balanced Tone profile provides a gain boost of around 12 dB gain between 2-5 kHz, Vocal Range has a peakier shape with around 15 dB gain between 2-5 kHz, and Brightness has a more gradually sloping gain to 4 kHz that peaks at 15 dB. Gain compression is also noted, with a compression ratio of approximately 1.5:1 at 4kHz in all profiles.
Figures 6a-c. Headphone Accommodations gain for Transparency mode with preset profiles, a) Balanced Tone, b) Vocal Range and c) Brightness, all at moderate strength, for different input levels.
2) Manually adjusting settings.Headphone Accommodations for the preset profiles can also be manually fine-tuned. The user can adjust the amount of amplification from 0 to 100%, and the tonal balance from 0% (darker) to 100% (brighter). Additionally, the user can select the degree that soft sounds will be boosted by choosing the strength as slight, moderate, or strong.
Figure 7 shows the effects on gain for an input sound level of 65 dB SPL for the Vocal Range preset profile at slight strength when settings are adjusted. The amplification control varies gain over a 12 dB range. Tone adjustment increases the gain by up to 8 dB above 1.5 kHz while decreasing gain down to -4 dB below 1.5 kHz. Increasing the strength setting can add up to 8 dB gain per level.
Figures 7a-c. Effect of adjusting a) Amplification b) Tone and c) Strength for the Vocal Range preset on Headphone Accommodations gain.
Figure 8. Custom audiogram profiles applied to Headphone Accommodations.
3) Using audiogram data. A final way to adjust the gain in Headphone Accommodations is by using audiogram data. At the time of testing, the only way to enter an audiogram was by completing a hearing sensitivity test on the iPhone that writes the results to the Apple Health app. To allow us to enter a specific audiogram without doing a hearing test, we developed an app that allowed us to manually input an audiogram to tune Headphone Accommodations. (Note: Since this work was done, iOS 15 now allows one to enter an audiogram manually.) We created 3 custom audiograms, as shown in Figure 8, and measured the gain provided by Headphone Accommodations for each of these hearing losses (Figure 9). For comparison to what an audiologist-fit hearing aid would provide for people with these audiograms, real-ear insertion gains specified by NAL-NL2 are also shown.
As can be seen, NAL-NL2 generally prescribes a steeper gain curve than what Headphone Accommodations provides. Note also that NAL-NL2 also prescribes a higher compression ratio than what Headphone Accommodations provides, as demonstrated by the wide spread between gain curves for different input levels. Headphone Accommodations is most closely matched with NAL-NL2 at normal conversational levels (65 dB SPL), but generally provides greater amplification at loud input levels (80 dB SPL) and lower amplification at soft sound levels (50 dB SPL).
Figures 9a-c. Headphone Accommodations gain with custom audiograms for (a) mild sloping (b) mild-moderate sloping and (c) flat 40 dB hearing loss for input levels of 50, 65, 80 dB SPL. The dashed lines show the prescribed NAL-NL2 Real Ear Insertion Gain (REIG) for the same audiograms.
B) Other Measurements
Industry standards ANSI S3.22:2014 and IEC 60118-7:2005 specify methods for characterizing the acoustic performance of hearing aid devices. Therefore, AirPods Pro performance was measured in adherence to these standards, where appropriate, allowing for comparisons to be made with traditional hearing aids (Table 1).
Table 1. Measurements on AirPods Pro as per ANSI S3.22-2014. 1Mid-range hearing aid from a major hearing aid manufacturer.
A brief description of the measures performed:
Output SPL for 90-dB input SPL (OSPL90) is used to approximate the maximum output level performance of the device.
Total Harmonic Distortion is a measure of distortion caused by nonlinearities in the audio throughput. Lower numbers indicate better sound quality.
Equivalent Input Noise is a measure of the device’s internal noise, typically caused by the microphone. Lower numbers indicate better sound quality.
Attack and release times measure the speed of the compressor.
The OSPL90 for AirPods Pro is less than 100 dB, more than 10 dB lower than typical hearing aids. Whereas hearing aids are designed specifically to amplify sound for people with mild to severe hearing loss, the max output level of AirPods Pro suggests they are more suited to provide amplification for mild-moderate losses. As very high audio levels can cause hearing damage, consumer devices such as headphones and earbuds often limit maximum output levels for hearing safety.
Total harmonic distortion is very low for the AirPods Pro. The attack time is fast, indicating the compression responds quickly to reduce the gain of high-level sounds. The release time is slower than some hearing aids but faster than others.
However, the measured equivalent input noise for the AirPods Pro in Transparency mode was higher than typical hearing aids, which suggests that users with near-normal hearing thresholds may perceive some audible sound, such as a faint background hiss, when using Transparency mode in very quiet environments.
Final Observations
AirPods Pro with Headphone Accommodations in Transparency mode enable people with hearing loss to hear quiet sounds more easily by providing frequency-dependent gain amplification and compression. The preset profiles are suitable for those with mild-to-moderate sloping hearing loss and can allow them to experience the benefit of amplification. Sound preferences can be fine-tuned to adjust the strength, tone, and overall amount of amplification.
The gain provided by Headphone Accommodations for a given audiogram does not compensate for the reduced audibility and reduced loudness across the range of input sound levels in the same way that traditional hearing aids fit to NAL-NL2 do. In particular, loud sound levels are generally over-amplified in the AirPods Pro compared to NAL-NL2, while soft sound levels are under-amplified.
References
Holube I, Fredelake S, Vlaming M, Kollmeier B. Development and analysis of an International Speech Test Signal (ISTS). Int J Audiol. 2010;49(12):891-903. doi:10.3109/14992027.2010.506889
Apple Inc. AirPods Pro and AirPods Max Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode. Available at: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210643
Keidser G, Dillon H, Flax M, Ching T, Brewer S. The NAL-NL2 prescription procedure. Audiol Res. 2011;1(1):e24. doi:10.4081/audiores.2011.e24
Citation for this article: Chong-White N, Mejia J, Galloway J, Edwards B. Evaluating Apple AirPods Pro with Headphone Accommodations as hearing devices. Hearing Review. 2021;28(12)8-11.
About the authors:Nicky Chong-White, PhD, is a Senior Research Engineer at the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL) in Sydney, Australia. Since joining NAL in 2004, she has applied her background in speech and audio signal processing, acoustics, machine learning and software development to investigate hearing. Jorge Mejia, PhD, is Head of Signal Processing at NAL. His current research is focused on developing technology to improve speech understanding in noise for people with hearing impairments, understanding the real-world benefit of established and emerging hearing technologies, and developing artificial intelligence solutions. James Galloway, MDesSc (Audio & Acoustics), is a Research Engineer at NAL responsible for facilitating research experiments and conducting electroacoustic analysis. Brent Edwards, PhD, is Director at NAL. For over 22 years he has led R&D teams at major hearing aid companies and Silicon Valley startups that have developed innovative signal processing algorithms, fitting procedures, diagnostics and outcome measures, wireless technologies, transducers, and other technologies that have benefited hearing aid wearers and hearing care professionals worldwide.
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Here’s a quick audiological reference to the potential effects of the COVID-19 virus
By Robert M. DiSogra, AuD
It is still too early in the pandemic to make definitive statements about the full impact of the COVID-19 virus on the auditory/vestibular and central auditory systems. Certainly, hearing care professionals should revise their Case History forms and consider adding tests for auditory processing disorders and a cognitive screening in order to make the appropriate referral(s) for patients. Counseling will continue to be a major part of the patient’s experience with hearing care clinicians.
This article presents a brief summary of what is already reported about COVID-19 and the impact it has had on the patients of hearing care professionals and our practices since the pandemic was first declared in 2020. Until more evidence-based research is published, this summary is designed to serve as a “first-look” at the recent literature for audiological understanding, management, and counseling of COVID-19 survivors.
As noted by Kelley and Bhattacharjee in this edition of Hearing Review (see p 14), there currently are no definitive links to auditory/vestibular complaints due to this specific coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), although many hearing-related issues have presented in these patients. As with anything related to COVID-19, reliable updated information should be monitored, with a particular focus on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at www.cdc.org. Additional COVID-19 information for audiologists can be found on the American Academy of Audiology’s Coronavirus Resource page at: www.audiology.org/practice-management/covid-19-resources.
General Definitions and Information
Long-hauler. This is a term used to describe a person whose COVID-19 symptoms linger 8 weeks to 6 months post-diagnosis. There is no formal diagnostic label for a long-hauler. However, several published papers have offered more than 10 possible labels including “COVID-19 Syndrome” and “Post-COVID-19 Syndrome.”1 Numerous long hauler Facebook support groups exist on social media and LinkedIn, including: Long Haul COVID Fighters, Long COVID Support, COVID-19 Information Center, and COVID-19 Long Haulers Outreach.
Brain fog is a non-medical term that describes the symptoms comparable to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and/or an auditory processing disorder.2 Auditory processing testing is strongly recommended when such a patient is in your office. A cognitive screening is also recommended in order to make an appropriate referral. There are many overlapping behaviors of mild cognitive impairment, auditory processing disorder, and “brain fog” (see sidebar).
A new set of questions that detail the COVID-19 experiences of the patient should be developed. This includes the specific dates of any hospitalization and medications prescribed related to the diagnosis of COVID-19, as well as the onset of any auditory/vestibular/cognitive complaints.
Be aware that comorbidities and prior COVID-19 medical management must be further evaluated because they can exacerbate a pre-existing condition.
The patient’s pharmacist is a valuable resource to learn more about the patient’s pharmaceutical history.
To obtain information on a particular drug’s side effects the following resources are recommended:
Contact the patient’s pharmacist.The patient may report significant communication complaints but have a normal pure-tone audiogram.
Presently, there appears to be no published information about the drugs used for COVID-19 intervention and any drug interactions with a patient’s pre-COVID diagnosis drug regimen.
Outer Ear
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be worn by the clinician at all times when removing cerumen (any procedure), and infection control protocols should always be followed.3
Otoscopy should still be part of the initial workup and all subsequent visits. Video otoscopy is strongly recommended to maintain a visual record of the status of the ear canal and tympanic membrane.
The COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in an airborne way through the secretions of the ear canal epithelium.4,5
Cerumen can be disposed of in the trash, drain, or toilet without any need for a biohazard bag; there is no risk of transmission of the virus to someone else.6
Middle Ear
The COVID-19 virus can colonize in the middle-ear and mastoid region.7
Middle-ear muscle reflexes may be absent because of peripheral hearing loss or brainstem involvement, although there is no published research on this test with COVID-19 patients.
Inner Ear/Cochlea
Hearing loss is likely to occur at the peak of the infection, possibly due to the blood-labyrinth barrier being damaged/destroyed at this period. Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) usually occurs after the peak of the infection (downward slope of infection), but hearing loss could occur within four weeks of infection. It is not known if any fever associated with the virus could also contribute to the hearing loss. The hearing loss might not be immediately obvious to the patient if it is in the mild loss category.8
At least two studies9,10 involving COVID-19 patients suggest otoacoustic emission (OAE) test results (Distortion Product and Transient Evoked) may be abnormal with or without hearing loss on a pure-tone audiogram.
The most common type of COVID-19 hearing loss is bilateral SNHL in the high frequencies.9
If extended high-frequency audiometry is available, it should be added to the test battery. Although there is no published research about the use of high-frequency audiometry relative to COVID-19, like any virus, the loss might be more deleterious to the higher frequencies first—similar to drug ototoxicity.
Although there is no published data about word recognition scores (WRS) being affected by the virus, if the WRS is abnormal in the presence of normal pure-tone audiogram, then an auditory processing evaluation is strongly recommended.
Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) has been reported after the vaccine, but the incidence was no different than for the general population.11 The researchers noted that there were only 40 reports of SSNHL in the VAERS during a 3-month period during which time more than 86.5 million dosages were administered. Onset (mean): 4 days (range: 0-21 days).
Auditory symptoms can fluctuate.12
There continues to be a need for research in this area.
Brainstem/Auditory Cortex
ABRs can be abnormal with no measurable waves after Wave I if the virus has affected the brainstem.13
Eight terms have been used to describe auditory pathway/primary auditory cortex dysfunctions which could also involve the virus:
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). This term has been used interchangeably with “brain fog.”14,15
Brain fog. Used interchangeably with MCI.16
Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) or Auditory Processing Disorder (APD).17
Obscure auditory dysfunction.18,19
Hidden hearing loss.20
Cochlear synaptopathy.21
Adverse drug reactions.12,22-24
There is also a possibility of an undiagnosed learning disability.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is usually secondary to SNHL. However, if there is no pure-tone loss, then OAE data should confirm cochlear involvement.25
Comorbidities must be identified in the case history along with the patient’s current medications.26
Tinnitus self-assessments are an effective counseling tool with tinnitus patients (ie, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Tinnitus Functional Index).
There continues to be a need for research in this area.
Vestibular System
There is no evidence-based research about auditory/vestibular-related symptom recovery, therefore recovery cannot be predicted.
Some reports suggest there is an approximate 20% risk of vestibular involvement.27
Again, there continues to be a need for research.
Considerations for Special Patient Populations Regarding COVID-19
Pediatric referrals. Over the next year, there could be more referrals by pediatricians for families of babies and toddlers who did not keep their initial follow-up appointment and/or where audiological services were limited or not available during the pandemic’s peak.28 Re-establish yourself with all pediatricians in your area about your facility’s pediatric services.
Diabetes (Types I and II). There is an increased risk of hearing loss, or an exacerbation of pre-existing hearing loss, in patients with diabetes according to the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org).
Low vision/blindness. Patients who are blind or have low vision are more at risk for anxiety-related problems (ie, less independent).29
Adults with Down syndrome and/or developmental disabilities. Patients with Down syndrome are more at risk for anxiety-related problems (ie, confusion/altered consciousness).30 Patients with developmental disabilities also have higher risk of contracting COVID-19 because of their need for close contact from their caregivers.31
Dietary Supplements
There are no FDA-approved, over-the-counter (OTC) supplements or nutraceuticals for COVID-19 management (including supplements for other auditory/vestibular problems and tinnitus).32
Audiometric Testing Guidelines
No audiometric testing guidelines exist for COVID-19 management. Until specific testing and management guidelines are developed by the major hearing care associations for COVID-19 survivors with communication complaints, it is recommended that audiologists use the following two guidelines from the American Academy of Audiology: Position Statement and Clinical Practice Guidelines33 and Audiologist’s Role in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Vestibular Disorders.34 As noted earlier, the AAA Coronavirus Resource webpage is also a good resource.
Communication strategies should be reviewed as needed for patients and their families whether hearing loss has been identified or an auditory processing disorder has been identified (see: https://drbobdisogra.com/communication-strategies). The use of Hearing Assistive Technologies (HAT) and/or hearing aids should also be addressed as needed.
In terms of special billing procedures for this patient population, there is only one new insurance billing code for COVID-19. The billing code 77902 is used for COVID-19-related supplies. (Note: There is no guarantee of payment. Covered expenses and reimbursement depend on the patient’s contract.)
Conclusion
Obviously, more audiology evidence-based research is needed as we continue to study the virus and its impact on the auditory system and patient management for hearing care professionals. Certainly, a new Case History form needs to be developed because of the unusual circumstances around the pandemic and the emergence of patients who are still experiencing lingering medical issues.
Brain fog appears to be the trending term for mild cognitive impairment or possibly an auditory processing disorder. Diagnostic tests—supported by evidence-based research—can help quantify the impact that the virus has on the central auditory pathways. In my opinion, the term “brain fog” should be dropped from all future research papers when cognitive impairments are suspected with COVID-19 patients. Physicians and other healthcare professionals need to be educated on what an auditory processing disorder is and how the audiologist can quantify their test results with evidence-based research.
It is still too early in the pandemic to make definitive statements about the full impact of the COVID-19 virus on the auditory/vestibular and central auditory systems. Audiologists should consider adding a cognitive screening test to their practices in order to make the appropriate referral(s) for those patients whose auditory processing test results do not indicate that any processing issues are present. Counseling will continue to be a major part of the patient’s experience with hearing care clinicians.
CORRESPONDENCE can be addressed to HR or Dr DiSogra at: bobd1030@aol.com.
Citation for this article: DiSogra R. COVID-19 and the hearing care professional: What we know so far. Hearing Review. 2021;28(9):18-21.
Celik S, Kalcioglu MT, Esen F, Hanege FM, Cag Y, Kocoglu E. SARS-CoV-2 presence in cerumen. ENT Jour. 2020;100(2):158S-159S.
Hanege FM, Kocoglu E, Kalcioglu MT, et al. SARS-CoV-2 presence in the saliva, tears, and cerumen of COVID-19 patients. Laryngoscope. 2020;131(5):E1677-E1682.
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Audeo Phonak announced ActiveVent, said to be “the world’s first intelligent hearing aid receiver” and CROS P, the Paradise solution for people with unilateral hearing loss (UHL). Both ActiveVent and CROS P are the latest additions to the company’s Paradise line of hearing aid technology, now “the best-selling platform in Phonak history,” according to the company.
ActiveVent Receiver is “the world’s first hearing aid receiver that automatically opens and closes based on the listening environment.” The new receiver utilizes a mechanically switching vent that intelligently balances speech clarity in noise with listening comfort 1, thus combining the hearing performance of a closed fit with the comfort of an open fit.
CROS P is the Paradise solution for people with UHL. CROS P and Audéo P improve speech recognition in noise when speech is presented to the non-hearing ear2 *. CROS P paired with Audéo P are easy to use, rechargeable,** and feature universal Bluetooth connectivity to smartphones, TVs, laptops and more, including Roger devices, according to Phonak.
With ActiveVent Receiver and CROS P, Phonak “expands access to Paradise hearing solutions and unrivaled sound quality.” ActiveVent receivers were proven to help hearing aid wearers more easily block noise, providing an average of 10% better speech clarity in noisy situations3 *** while providing natural sound in various listening situations. ActiveVent Receiver also deliverers superior sound quality for streamed media****. Likewise, when CROS P is fitted with an Audeo P hearing aid, people with UHL can hear speech in noise and follow conversations from whatever direction they come from.2 *
Phonak ActiveVent
“We are thrilled to announce another world’s first with ActiveVent Receiver while extending proven Paradise technology to those with unilateral hearing with CROS P,” said Jon Billings, vice-president Phonak marketing. “Just one year ago we introduced Phonak Paradise with the goal of helping consumers rediscover the wonders of sound. These products represent our commitment to superior sound quality in even the most challenging listening situations—and now for virtually every form of hearing loss.”
Paradise – One Year Later
Introduced in August 2020, Phonak Paradise technology offers “the combination of unrivaled sound quality, universal Bluetooth connectivity with multiple Bluetooth connections, hands-free calling, and Tap Control for easy access to popular voice assistants like Siri and Google Assistant.”
Phonak ActiveVent Receiver Animation
According to the company’s announcement, over 1,000,000 Phonak Paradise hearing aids were sold in the past year despite the challenges consumers and hearing care professionals faced with the global pandemic. Among them, 90% of consumers would recommend Paradise to family or friends and 92% of providers would recommend Paradise to their peers.4
In the US, CROS P is available to order beginning today via licensed hearing care professionals and ActiveVent Receivers will be available fall of 2021.
Latzel M, Hobi S. Receiver with mechanical vent provides benefit of open and closed acoustics for better speech understanding in noise and naturalness of own voice perception. Phonak Field Study News in preparation. Expected end 2021.
Taphuntsang D. Market Research ID 4387. 2020. Please contact marketinginsight@phonak.com if you are interested in further information.
* When using a CROS system compared to unaided.
** There are 2 models: a rechargeable and 312 battery.
*** When using a CROS system compared to unaided.
**** Compared to standard acoustic coupling in quiet.
Bluetooth word mark is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such mark by Sonova AG is under license.
https://honiton-hearing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ActiveVent.jpeg610610adminhttps://honitonnew.leecurran.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/honitonhearinglogo.pngadmin2021-08-25 18:38:192021-08-25 18:38:19Phonak Launches ActiveVent and CROS Paradise
Signia announced the launch of its Augmented Xperience (AX) hearing aid platform that “intelligently and automatically processes sound to better ensure that patients hear more clearly – regardless of the listening environment.”
Rather than simply amplifying all sounds, like most of today’s hearing aids, Augmented Xperience is said to “intelligently understand which sounds should be pulled to the foreground and prioritized, and which should remain in the background.”
The net result of this world’s first split-processing technology is “a fully-immersive and intelligent hearing experience. Sounds shift into the foreground and background naturally and seamlessly depending on the environment, creating an augmented hearing experience that’s better than normal hearing in certain situations.[1]”
“Hearing isn’t always easy. A group of people talking simultaneously, softly-spoken talkers in a bustling room, too much background noise – these are challenging environments regardless of a patient’s hearing ability,” said Dr Leanne Powers, director of professional education at Signia. “Augmented Xperience changes the game by understanding which sounds should be brought into focus and which remain in the background – creating an almost superhuman level of hearing that optimizes a patient’s performance through enhanced hearing in any situation.”
Signia’s all-new Pure Charge&Go AX hearing aids, the first to feature the AX platform, deliver up to 36 hours of run-time per charge and are directly compatible with Android and iOS devices, the company says.
The Augmented Xperience platform is rooted in a “world’s first Augmented Focus technology” that is said to “process speech and background noise separately to create a clear contrast between the two.” According to Signia, it then recombines them to deliver “outstanding speech clarity even in a fully immersive soundscape – like a crowded cafe or an open office environment.”
Augmented Focus leverages two independent processors – the first of which addresses ‘focus’ sounds like the speech of a conversation partner, while the second addresses ‘surrounding’ sounds like background music or ambient laughter, which create situational awareness and excitement. The two processors capture focus and surrounding sounds independently to create a greater contrast between the two – pulling focus sounds closer and placing surrounding sounds further away.
In addition to Augmented Focus, the AX platform features include:
Acoustic-Motion Sensors: Recognize one’s movements and adjust sounds accordingly to “ensure hearing in any situation is as precise and personalized as possible;”
Own Voice Processing (OVP): Processes the wearer’s voice separately from other sounds, “leading to higher user satisfaction with the sound of their own voice;[2]”
Signia Face Mask Mode: Helps deliver “better speech understanding through masks;”
The Signia app: Provides access to hearing aid controls, streaming capabilities, tinnitus therapy, the Signia Assistant for 24/7 digital support, Signia Telecare for remote care support, and much more.
“Signia has invested heavily in developing worlds-first technologies across motion sensing, voice processing, speech intelligibility, and now augmented hearing,” said Powers. “With the AX platform, and its Augmented Focus technology, Signia is continuing to demonstrate its commitment to our HCPs and their patients by providing them with solutions that level up their human performance through optimized hearing throughout one’s day.”
Signia Pure Charge&Go AX: Combining Modern Design and Ultimate Connectivity
Built on the AX platform, the Pure Charge&Go AX features a “sleek hearing aid design that is both comfortable and discreet.” As the company’s smallest rechargeable RIC hearing aid, Pure AX can make it “easier and more comfortable to wear with glasses and/or face masks.”
The Pure Charge&Go AX is also compatible with the Pure Charge&Go AX CROS transmitter for patients with single-sided deafness, and with an optional T-Coil, which enables the patient to pick up sound signals in public places like train stations, theaters, and museums.
Pure AX “boasts up to 36 hours of wear time on a single charge” and features convenient connectivity to ASHA-enabled Android phones and iPhones for effortless direct streaming. It is available in black, graphite, dark champagne, silver, pearl white, fine gold, deep brown, sandy brown, rose gold, and beige color options.
For more information on Signia Augmented Xperience, visit here. To learn more about Signia Pure Charge&Go AX, visit here.
Rupert Brown, an Isle of Wight musician, mixes nature sounds with music to create a soundscape that helps distract his brain from the tinnitus.
“The island is my orchestra,” says Brown in a BBC video, about his efforts to record waves crashing, birds twittering, and wind in the trees, which he then mixes in the studio with non-classical music and the sounds of what he believes are others’ type of tinnitus to form the soundscape.
https://honiton-hearing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Tinnitus-Honiton-Devon.jpeg385500adminhttps://honitonnew.leecurran.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/honitonhearinglogo.pngadmin2021-04-12 16:25:002021-04-12 16:25:00Musician Creates Soundscapes to Help Tinnitus
Researcher Designs Vibrating Glove for Deaf Individuals
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Artem Brazhnikov, a master student of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy, and Transport of Samara Polytech, a Russian technical university, attempted to help restore hearing function with the help of a vibrating glove he designed. A press release announcing the invention appears on the EurekAlert website.
Initially, Artem designed a joystick glove to be able to play computer games one-handed. He then improved the device, turning it into an unusual hearing aid. To make the joystick glove into the vibro-glove, he removed the finger-position sensors, provided the glove with tactile feedback modules (vibration motors), and converted the electronic control unit from a game controller into an audio signal spectrum analyzer.
“When a person loses his hearing, his other senses become more acute. The sensory substitution occurs: the brain compensates the lack of information from one sense organ at the expense of others,” said Artem. “A vibrating glove is a re-translator that converts sounds into tactile sensations.”
A glove microphone amplifies the audio signal and transmits it to a spectrum analyzer that splits the audio range into separate frequency bands. Each tactile module corresponds to one sound strip. The strength of a tactile stimulation is proportional to the amplitude of sound vibrations in the corresponding frequency band. This process is somewhat similar to playing a keyboard.
“For example, a piano has many keys, pressing which (tactile stimulation) generates a certain note, that is, a sound vibration of a certain frequency,” Artem explained. “Now imagine that there is an instrument that performs the opposite operation, that is, catches notes (sound vibrations) and converts them into keystrokes (tactile stimulation). A person playing such an instrument does not hear the sounds it makes, but feels how the piano itself presses the keys. So a vibrating glove is a piano, but only working vice versa.”
Source: EurekAlert!, Samara Polytech
Image:EurekAlert!, Samara Polytech
https://honiton-hearing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/hearing-shop-Devon.jpeg6401280adminhttps://honitonnew.leecurran.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/honitonhearinglogo.pngadmin2021-03-23 17:53:352021-03-23 17:53:35Researcher Designs Vibrating Glove for Deaf Individuals
Signia announced the launch of its newest lineup of Motion Charge&Go X hearing aids, which includes the Motion Charge&Go SP X – said to be the “first-ever rechargeable super power hearing aid that delivers uncompromised hearing with up to 61 hours of run-time per charge.” The Motion Charge&Go SP X, and its rechargeability, helps “ensure that even individuals with severe-to-profound hearing loss can enhance their human performance through improved hearing in every situation.”
This joins two other all-new Motion hearing aids – Motion Charge&Go P X and Motion Charge&Go X – to complete Signia’s latest lineup of Motion Charge&Go behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing solutions that are said to address “all levels of hearing loss.”
“Those with moderate to severe hearing loss depend heavily on their hearing aids – and not just for catching the total at the grocery checkout line or the specials at a restaurant, but for the real connections and sounds that give life meaning,” said Dr Tish Ramirez, Signia’s Vice President of Professional Relations and Product Management. “Signia Motion X delivers industry-best rechargeability and connectivity to ensure wearers stay better connected to their world without any limitations. Motion X hearing aids don’t just provide better hearing, they help provide a better life.”
Motion Charge&Go SP X is said to have up to 61 hours per charge, according to Signia, and is “the world’s most powerful rechargeable hearing aid.” The Motion Charge&Go P X offers up to 30 hours per charge, while the Motion Charge&Go X offers up to 24 hours per charge.
Signia Motion Charge&Go X: A new era in hearing technology
Signa’s “first-of-its-kind acoustic-motion sensor technology” is said to recognize one’s movements and adjusts sounds accordingly to ensure hearing in any situation is as precise and personalized as possible. Signia’s world’s-first OVP is a cutting-edge technology that processes the wearer’s voice separately from other sounds, leading to higher user satisfaction with the sound of their own voice.[1]
The Signia app provides access to hearing aid controls, streaming capabilities, tinnitus therapy, the Signia Assistant for a more personalized listening experience, and 24/7 digital support, Signia Telecare for remote care support, Signia Face Mask Mode for better speech understanding through masks, and much more.
Furthermore, the Xperience fitting (XFit) strategy helps offer a choice between more linear and more compressive gain settings for those with moderate-to-profound hearing loss. With the Dynamic Soundscape Processing slider, the wearer can “easily find a preferred balance of sound for best performance.” Additionally, the AI-based Signia Assistant helps allow the wearer to be more involved in actively shaping the sound quality of their own hearing aid.
All three models of Motion Charge&Go X offer Li-ion charging, Bluetooth connectivity, and an optional telecoil. They are available in all performance levels and can be ordered with an optional charger upgrade that includes a UV Dry&Clean function.
“Signia has invested heavily in developing first-of-its-kind, industry-leading technologies – across rechargeability, connectivity, speech intelligibility, and more,” said Ramirez. “However, this investment has been made with the sole aim of creating hearing solutions that prove people don’t have to be limited by their hearing loss – and that with one’s hearing restored, there’s nothing holding them back from performing their best.”
https://honiton-hearing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Honiton-hearing-Devon.jpg480640adminhttps://honitonnew.leecurran.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/honitonhearinglogo.pngadmin2021-03-17 17:57:072021-03-17 17:57:07Signia Launches Motion X Hearing Aids
By Laura Winther Balling, PhD, Oliver Townend, BSc, and Dana Helmink, AuD
Sound quality plays a key feature for overall hearing aid satisfaction as well as in everyday moments of real-life hearing. A large international survey of hearing aid users confirms the importance of sound quality, showing higher satisfaction with the WIDEX MOMENT™ hearing aids for overall sound quality, for specific situations of real-life use and for hearing aid users’ ability to participate in daily life.
As one of the major global hearing aid manufacturers, Widex has a long history of focusing on sound quality, designing all signal processing with the aim of achieving the best and most natural sound quality possible. For example, True Input Technology, with a linear transfer function up to 113 dB SPL and a linear input dynamic range of 108 dB SPL, was groundbreaking when launched,1 as was Variable Speed Compression, which offers the benefits of both slow and fast-acting compression.2
Most recently, WIDEX MOMENT™ launched with the focus on sound quality expressed in two main features:
TruAcoustics™ is an intelligent algorithm by which the acoustics in the individual ear canal is integrated in the parameter settings of the hearing aid, so the output at the eardrum is exactly right for the individual ear canal with the specific earware choice.3
Widex PureSound™ drastically reduces hearing aid delay and eliminates the delay-based distortions which are characteristic of other digital hearing aids.4
Innovations like these improve the sound quality in clearly audible ways and result in sound quality preferences in studies, such as the one reported by Balling et al.4 However, it is also an important assumption of the Widex design philosophy that good sound is not an isolated quality but a means to achieving higher hearing aid satisfaction across many situations in real life. With this broader view of sound quality, it is arguably the most important parameter for hearing aid satisfaction, along with speech understanding (especially in noise).
For these reasons, the survey reported below focused on satisfaction with sound quality in itself, as well as the experience in diverse situations of real-life hearing with Widex MOMENT hearing aid.
Survey Method
Our survey included 101 experienced hearing aid users recruited at local hearing clinics in 7 countries (US, Canada, China, Germany, France, Portugal, UK). They all wore the MOMENT mRIC R D rechargeable hearing aids and rated their satisfaction with them in comparison to their own existing hearing aids, which were from all major brands. Respondents were 60% male with a median age of 66 years (range 18-88). Close to half (45%) were work active, and they had a median of 6 years’ hearing aid experience (range 1-59 years).
Respondents fell into two groups: 39 of them had mild-to-moderate hearing losses going from 40 dBHL at low frequencies to 70 dBHL at high and had as their primary program PureSound™, which is particularly suitable for open fits and milder losses. The other 62 respondents had hearing losses up to 80 dB HL across frequencies (the mRIC M-receiver fitting range) and were fitted with the Universal program as their primary program. The MOMENT hearing aids were fitted with the ear tip recommended in the Compass GPS fitting software.
The survey used a cross-over design where respondents started a 7-week survey period by rating their satisfaction with their own existing hearing aids before being fitted with the MOMENT hearing aids and wearing them for 3 weeks. After 3 weeks, they rated their satisfaction with the MOMENT devices, before switching back to their own hearing aids, wearing those for 2 weeks and rating them at Week 6. For the final 2 weeks of the survey, respondents wore MOMENT and filled in a final set of questions about those at Week 7. This resulted in two ratings for own hearing aids (at Weeks 0 and 5) and two for MOMENT (at Weeks 3 and 7).
The questionnaires were filled in online using SMART-TRIAL software, using a format inspired by the MarkeTrak surveys,5 where respondents rate their satisfaction with their hearing aids on a 7-point scale ranging from “Very dissatisfied” (a rating of 1) to ‘Very satisfied’ (a rating of 7). Following the MarkeTrak approach, respondents who gave ratings in the top-3 satisfaction categories may be classified together as being “satisfied.” We asked questions about satisfaction both in general and in specific real-life situations.
The responses show that people are reasonably satisfied with their own hearing aids at the beginning of the survey period, but once they try the MOMENT hearing aids, their ratings of their own hearing aids in many cases become significantly lower. This in itself is evidence in favor of the MOMENT devices. However, the more interesting direct comparison is between the ratings of own hearing aids in Week 5 and MOMENT in Week 7, where respondents have had the most time to form an opinion about the new hearing aids.
We also estimated the age of the respondents’ own hearing aids based on the launch date of the device. Interestingly, we found no significant effects of this variable, indicating that the MOMENT advantages that we observe throughout are not simply explained by the contrast between older own hearing aids and new MOMENT devices, but by a genuine preference for the MOMENT sound.
Unless otherwise indicated, statistical testing of results was done using mixed-effects models that take into account the crucial fact that we have multiple responses per person. The significance levels for the relevant contrasts between own and MOMENT hearing aids are all below 0.0001, which means that potential concerns about repeated testing are unfounded.
Sound Quality Across Situations
As we would expect given the Widex design focus, the responses show a solid sound quality advantage for the MOMENT hearing aids, with significantly higher satisfaction for MOMENT than for own hearing aids (p < 0.0001). Looking at the average ratings plotted in the left panel of Figure 1, there is a 1-point advantage for MOMENT, with the average rating “Satisfied” for MOMENT and “Somewhat satisfied” for own hearing aids. Examining the distribution of answers in the right panel of Figure 1, we see many more “Very satisfied” and “Satisfied” MOMENT users. In total, considering the top-3 satisfaction categories, 91% of respondents are satisfied with the MOMENT sound quality.
Figure 1. Ratings of satisfaction with sound quality. The left panel shows mean ratings of satisfaction with sound quality as filled circles, with the whiskers representing ±1 standard deviation (SD) around the mean. The right plot shows ratings of own hearing aids in Week 5 and of MOMENT hearing aids in Week 7 of the survey.
An intriguing question is which aspects of sound and hearing aid use influence these high-satisfaction sound quality ratings. This is a complex issue that this survey cannot fully address, but it is informative to look at which other questions are correlated with sound quality satisfaction. In Table 1, such correlations are listed for the ratings of MOMENT at the end of the survey period. They are all strong correlations ranging between 0.522 to 0.698, and although there is some variation between individual situations, the correlations are all highly significant and of similar size. These correlations do not, of course, indicate causation but do suggest that sound quality plays a similar role across different situations.
Table 1. Spearman Rho correlations between sound quality satisfaction and satisfaction in specific situations for WIDEX MOMENT. (Notations: *** indicates significance at the p<0.001 level; a) Speech-in-noise situations; b) Outdoor situations; c) Listening through devices.
Another way of assessing the impact of sound quality on everyday satisfaction with hearing aids is analyzing the average satisfaction across the specific situations listed in Table 1 (excepting satisfaction with soft and loud sounds, which are not specific situations). A regression model shows that satisfaction with sound quality is a highly significant predictor of mean satisfaction across situations, accounting for more than 50% of the variance in satisfaction across situations (R2 = 0.51).
Sound Quality and Naturalness
In addition to the different listening situations, Table 1 also lists respondents’ agreement with the statement “I find that the sound is natural with the MOMENT hearing aids” on a 7-point scale. This shows one of the highest correlations with sound quality satisfaction, which means that those hearing aid wearers who are highly satisfied with the sound quality also perceive the sound as more natural.
In addition, naturalness ratings show a very similar pattern across weeks to sound quality satisfaction, as illustrated in Figure 2. Again, we see approximately a 1-point difference between the ratings of own and MOMENT hearing aids, and many more who “Agree” or “Strongly agree” that the sound of MOMENT is natural.
Figure 2. Ratings of naturalness of sound, with the left panel showing mean ratings per week and the right panel showing ratings for own hearing aids in Week 5 and for MOMENT in Week 7.
Satisfaction in Everyday Situations
As seen in Table 1, the survey included questions on a wide range of everyday situations. In Figure 3, these are grouped into four different more general categories, showing the distribution of ratings in Week 5 (own hearing aids) and Week 7 (MOMENT hearing aids).
Figure 3. Histograms showing distribution of ratings in Weeks 5 (own hearing aids) and 7 (MOMENT hearing aids).
The top-left panel shows the satisfaction with conversations in quiet, assessed by a single question. Level of satisfaction is generally high, as we would expect for this relatively easy listening environment. However, although the baseline is already high, the MOMENT ratings are still higher, with the most frequent response being “Very satisfied” and the difference to own hearing aids being highly significant (p < 0.0001).
Speech-in-noise ratings are shown in the top-right panel, based on a mean across questions on satisfaction in restaurants and with conversations in noise and during transport. These tend to be difficult situations for hearing aid users, which is also clear if we compare the general level of satisfaction with speech in quiet. This makes the significant advantage for MOMENT (p < 0.0001) all the more noteworthy: the most frequent mean rating for these questions is clearly in the “Satisfied” category for MOMENT, whereas ratings for own hearing aids are more spread out, with “Somewhat dissatisfied” as the most frequent. If we compare the own-vs-MOMENT hearing aid ratings per respondent, five times as many respondents are more satisfied with the MOMENT hearing aids compared with their own: 74% of respondents are more satisfied with MOMENT, 12% more satisfied with their own, and the remaining 14% give the same ratings to both.
The bottom left panel illustrates mean ratings in outdoor situations, again with a markedly differently distribution of ratings for own and MOMENT hearing aids (p < 0.0001). Part of the explanation for the MOMENT advantage could be that respondents experience the sound of MOMENT as more natural, something that is likely to play a larger role outdoors.
The final panel of Figure 3 represents the frequent listening situations where sound comes from a device, with TV likely being the most frequent for most people, but also telephone and music. As for conversations in quiet, the general level of satisfaction is higher here than for more difficult listening situations, but the MOMENT advantage remains, with a significant difference to own hearing aids (p < 0.0001). Collectively, the four types of situations illustrated in Figure 3 give a comprehensive view of the everyday lives of hearing aid users, and across all these situations MOMENT shows a solid advantage.
Participation in Daily Life
A common problem for people with hearing loss, reported both scientifically6,7 and by hearing aid users and their relatives to HCPs all over the world, is the difficulty of participating in everyday life. Therefore, the survey included a question inspired by the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA)8: “How satisfied are you with your ability to participate effortlessly in everyday life with [your own hearing aids/the WIDEX MOMENT hearing aids]?” The ratings for this question are shown in Figure 4, where both plots illustrate a similar 1-point MOMENT advantage that was also seen previously (p < 0.0001). An interesting statistic is how many people are satisfied (in the top-3 categories) with their ability to participate in everyday life; this number is 69% for own hearing aids but 90% for MOMENT. Conversely, only 6% of respondents indicate dissatisfaction with participation when wearing MOMENT, while the corresponding number is 20% for own hearing aids, in spite of the fact that the MOMENT devices are new to the respondents and they cannot be expected to be completely habituated to them yet.
Figure 4. Ratings of ability to participate in everyday life, with the left panel showing mean ratings per week and the right panel showing ratings for own hearing aids in Week 5 and for MOMENT in Week 7.
Overall Satisfaction
Finally, a question about overall satisfaction examines how all these different elements of real-life hearing come together in the respondents’ entire experience of wearing the MOMENT hearing aids, compared with their own. The responses to this question were tested in the same way as previous results, showing significantly higher ratings (p < 0.0001) for MOMENT than own hearing aids. The left panel in Figure 5 is a particularly clear example that respondents’ ratings of their own hearing aids change when they have tried MOMENT, as evidenced by the lower ratings in Week 5 compared to Week 0. More generally, Figure 5 confirms the MOMENT advantage that has also been clear in the more detailed questions, with the most frequent overall response to the MOMENT hearing aids being “Very satisfied.”
Figure 5. Ratings of overall satisfaction, with the left panel showing mean ratings per week and the right panel showing ratings for own hearing aids in Week 5 and for MOMENT in Week 7.
The Importance of Sound Quality in Real Life Hearing Aid Use
https://honiton-hearing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Widex-Hearing-aids-Honiton-Devon.png412412adminhttps://honitonnew.leecurran.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/honitonhearinglogo.pngadmin2021-03-03 10:30:222021-03-03 10:30:22Widex Moment
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