Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense.
Research Unit for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
Am J Audiol. 2021 Mar 10;30(1):93-104. doi: 10.1044/2020_AJA-20-00042. Epub 2020 Dec 29.
Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate real-life benefit from directional microphone and noise reduction ("noise management" [NM]) processing using retrospective self-reports and smartphone-based ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) combined with logging of the acoustic environments. Method A single-blinded, counterbalanced crossover design was used. Eleven hearing-impaired adults were bilaterally fitted with behind-the-ear devices with NM either activated (NM) or deactivated. For the retrospective self-reports, the short scale of the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities Hearing Scale questionnaire (SSQ12) was applied. For the EMAs, smartphone-based self-reports combined with hearing aid (HA)-based classifications of the listening environments ("soundscapes") experienced by the participants was used. To explore potential associations with the real-life data, two laboratory measures of aided speech recognition in noise were administered. Results The soundscapes in which the participants submitted their EMAs were representative of the soundscapes they experienced during normal HA use and of the soundscapes reported in the literature for older HA users. The SSQ12 and EMA scores both showed an overall benefit from NM. The EMA scores, together with the logged acoustic data, revealed that this benefit was driven by NM being preferred particularly in listening environments classified as "speech" or "speech in noise." The laboratory measures of aided speech recognition in noise were unable to predict the real-life data. Conclusions EMA combined with acoustic data-logging is suited for more targeted evaluations of real-life HA benefit. Advanced NM settings can provide subjective user benefits in specific listening situations.
目的 本研究旨在通过回顾性自我报告和基于智能手机的生态瞬时评估（EMA）与声学环境记录相结合，研究定向麦克风和降噪（“噪声管理”[NM]）处理的实际受益。
方法 采用单盲、平衡交叉设计。11 名听力障碍成年人双侧佩戴具有 NM 功能的耳后设备（NM 开启或关闭）。对于回顾性自我报告，使用语音、空间和音质听力量表（SSQ12）的简短量表。对于 EMA，使用基于智能手机的自我报告与参与者经历的助听器（HA）分类的听力环境（“声音景观”）相结合。为了探索与实际生活数据的潜在关联，进行了两项辅助噪声言语识别的实验室测量。
结果 参与者提交 EMA 的声音景观代表了他们在正常 HA 使用期间经历的声音景观，以及文献中报道的老年 HA 用户的声音景观。SSQ12 和 EMA 评分均显示 NM 具有整体受益。EMA 评分与记录的声学数据表明，这种受益是由于 NM 特别在被归类为“言语”或“噪声中的言语”的听力环境中更受欢迎而产生的。辅助噪声言语识别的实验室测量无法预测实际生活数据。
结论 EMA 结合声学数据记录适用于更有针对性的 HA 实际受益评估。先进的 NM 设置可以在特定的听力情况下为用户提供主观受益。
