Brody Lisa, Wu Yu-Hsiang, Stangl Elizabeth
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
Am J Audiol. 2018 Dec 6;27(4):581-593. doi: 10.1044/2018_AJA-18-0027.
The aim of this study was to compare the benefit of self-adjusted personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) to audiologist-fitted hearing aids based on speech recognition, listening effort, and sound quality in ecologically relevant test conditions to estimate real-world effectiveness.
Twenty-five older adults with bilateral mild-to-moderate hearing loss completed the single-blinded, crossover study. Participants underwent aided testing using 3 PSAPs and a traditional hearing aid, as well as unaided testing. PSAPs were adjusted based on participant preference, whereas the hearing aid was configured using best-practice verification protocols. Audibility provided by the devices was quantified using the Speech Intelligibility Index (American National Standards Institute, 2012). Outcome measures assessing speech recognition, listening effort, and sound quality were administered in ecologically relevant laboratory conditions designed to represent real-world speech listening situations.
All devices significantly improved Speech Intelligibility Index compared to unaided listening, with the hearing aid providing more audibility than all PSAPs. Results further revealed that, in general, the hearing aid improved speech recognition performance and reduced listening effort significantly more than all PSAPs. Few differences in sound quality were observed between devices. All PSAPs improved speech recognition and listening effort compared to unaided testing.
Hearing aids fitted using best-practice verification protocols were capable of providing more aided audibility, better speech recognition performance, and lower listening effort compared to the PSAPs tested in the current study. Differences in sound quality between the devices were minimal. However, because all PSAPs tested in the study significantly improved participants' speech recognition performance and reduced listening effort compared to unaided listening, PSAPs could serve as a budget-friendly option for those who cannot afford traditional amplification.
本研究旨在比较自我调节个人扩音产品（PSAP）与听力学家适配的助听器在生态相关测试条件下基于语音识别、聆听努力程度和声音质量的益处，以评估实际效果。
25名患有双侧轻度至中度听力损失的老年人完成了单盲交叉研究。参与者使用3种PSAP和1种传统助听器进行助听测试，以及非助听测试。PSAP根据参与者的偏好进行调节，而助听器则使用最佳实践验证方案进行配置。使用语音可懂度指数（美国国家标准协会，2012年）对设备提供的可听度进行量化。在旨在代表现实世界语音聆听情况的生态相关实验室条件下，进行评估语音识别、聆听努力程度和声音质量的结果测量。
与非助听聆听相比，所有设备均显著提高了语音可懂度指数，助听器提供的可听度高于所有PSAP。结果进一步显示，总体而言，助听器在提高语音识别性能和降低聆听努力程度方面比所有PSAP显著更优。设备之间在声音质量方面观察到的差异很小。与非助听测试相比，所有PSAP均提高了语音识别和聆听努力程度。
与本研究中测试的PSAP相比，使用最佳实践验证方案适配的助听器能够提供更高的助听可听度、更好的语音识别性能和更低的聆听努力程度。设备之间的声音质量差异最小。然而，由于本研究中测试的所有PSAP与非助听聆听相比均显著提高了参与者的语音识别性能并降低了聆听努力程度，因此PSAP对于那些无力承担传统扩音设备的人而言可作为一种经济实惠的选择。
