Discrimination of Gain Increments in Speech-Shaped Noises
Frequency-dependent gain adjustments are routine in hearing-aid fittings, whether in matching to real-ear targets or fine-tuning to patient feedback. Patient feedback may be unreliable and fittings inefficient if adjustments are not discriminable. To examine what gain adjustments are discriminable,...
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Series: | Trends in Hearing |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2331216518820220 |
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doaj-696c8361b3e54dbab228c8d3080991622020-11-25T03:00:05ZengSAGE PublishingTrends in Hearing2331-21652019-01-012310.1177/2331216518820220Discrimination of Gain Increments in Speech-Shaped NoisesBenjamin Caswell-Midwinter0William M. Whitmer1School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Nursing, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UKHearing Sciences—Scottish Section, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Nottingham, Glasgow, UKFrequency-dependent gain adjustments are routine in hearing-aid fittings, whether in matching to real-ear targets or fine-tuning to patient feedback. Patient feedback may be unreliable and fittings inefficient if adjustments are not discriminable. To examine what gain adjustments are discriminable, we measured the just-noticeable differences (JNDs) for level increments in speech-shaped noises processed with prescription gains. JNDs were measured in the better ears of 38 participants with hearing impairment using a fixed-level, same-different task. JNDs were measured for increments at six individual frequency-bands: a 0.25-kHz low-pass band; octave-wide bands at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz; and a 6-kHz high-pass band. JNDs for broadband increments were also measured. JNDs were estimated at d’ of 1 for a minimally discriminable increment in optimal laboratory conditions. The JND for frequency-band increments was 2.8 dB excluding the 0.25-kHz low-pass band, for which the JND was 4.5 dB. The JND for broadband increments was 1.5 dB. Participants’ median frequency-band and broadband JNDs were positively correlated. JNDs were mostly independent of age, pure-tone thresholds, and cognitive score. In consideration of self-fitting adjustments in noisier conditions, JNDs were additionally estimated at a more sensitive d’ of 2. These JNDs were 6 dB for bands below 1 kHz, and 5 dB for bands at and above 1 kHz. Overall, the results suggest noticeable fine-tuning adjustments of 3 dB and self-fitting adjustments of 5 dB.https://doi.org/10.1177/2331216518820220 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Benjamin Caswell-Midwinter William M. Whitmer |
spellingShingle |
Benjamin Caswell-Midwinter William M. Whitmer Discrimination of Gain Increments in Speech-Shaped Noises Trends in Hearing |
author_facet |
Benjamin Caswell-Midwinter William M. Whitmer |
author_sort |
Benjamin Caswell-Midwinter |
title |
Discrimination of Gain Increments in Speech-Shaped Noises |
title_short |
Discrimination of Gain Increments in Speech-Shaped Noises |
title_full |
Discrimination of Gain Increments in Speech-Shaped Noises |
title_fullStr |
Discrimination of Gain Increments in Speech-Shaped Noises |
title_full_unstemmed |
Discrimination of Gain Increments in Speech-Shaped Noises |
title_sort |
discrimination of gain increments in speech-shaped noises |
publisher |
SAGE Publishing |
series |
Trends in Hearing |
issn |
2331-2165 |
publishDate |
2019-01-01 |
description |
Frequency-dependent gain adjustments are routine in hearing-aid fittings, whether in matching to real-ear targets or fine-tuning to patient feedback. Patient feedback may be unreliable and fittings inefficient if adjustments are not discriminable. To examine what gain adjustments are discriminable, we measured the just-noticeable differences (JNDs) for level increments in speech-shaped noises processed with prescription gains. JNDs were measured in the better ears of 38 participants with hearing impairment using a fixed-level, same-different task. JNDs were measured for increments at six individual frequency-bands: a 0.25-kHz low-pass band; octave-wide bands at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz; and a 6-kHz high-pass band. JNDs for broadband increments were also measured. JNDs were estimated at d’ of 1 for a minimally discriminable increment in optimal laboratory conditions. The JND for frequency-band increments was 2.8 dB excluding the 0.25-kHz low-pass band, for which the JND was 4.5 dB. The JND for broadband increments was 1.5 dB. Participants’ median frequency-band and broadband JNDs were positively correlated. JNDs were mostly independent of age, pure-tone thresholds, and cognitive score. In consideration of self-fitting adjustments in noisier conditions, JNDs were additionally estimated at a more sensitive d’ of 2. These JNDs were 6 dB for bands below 1 kHz, and 5 dB for bands at and above 1 kHz. Overall, the results suggest noticeable fine-tuning adjustments of 3 dB and self-fitting adjustments of 5 dB. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1177/2331216518820220 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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