Mohamed Rahme

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate remote microphone performance across three hearing aid brands using various simulated electroacoustic verification methods to optimize speech perception outcomes in a real-world environment. Method: This study was conducted using manikin recordings at varying azimuth angles between a simulated talker and listeners at a real-world gymnasium and employing a predictive speech perception metric (Hearing Aid Speech Perception Index). The listener manikins were programmed to simulate mild, sloping hearing loss and fitted with three brands of premium receiver-in-canal hearing aids, including their respective proprietary remote microphones (both low and high technology levels). Remote microphones were verified electroacoustically in a test box for transparency and maximum audible output frequency (MAOF), alongside signal-processing features. Results: Remote microphone verification using MAOF was a strong predictor of remote microphone performance in the real-world gymnasium. Furthermore, remote microphones consistently produced higher speech perception scores relative to hearing aids alone across all brands, regardless of the factor of azimuth. Conclusions: Remote microphone verification using MAOF, alongside the recommended transparency approach, can support optimal real-world performance. Future behavioral assessments of remote microphones in real-world environments with individuals with hearing loss are discussed. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.32065932

Purpose: The use of hearing aid–based step counting may offer objective measurement of activity, but there is little published literature on the perspectives of older adult users in using this feature. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively describe the experiences and motivation for using a hearing aid step-counting feature in a sample of active older adults. Method: A prospective qualitative research design was employed with the use of focus groups with active older adult participants who were fitted with hearing aids with a step-counting feature. Twelve older adults with hearing loss (age range: 64–88 years) were recruited in this study. Half of the participants were experienced hearing aid users. Participants were recruited from two physical activity groups with varying intensity levels. Results: The majority of participants were physically active and had prior experience using step-counting features on alternative devices. Major themes were Goal Setting and Health Monitoring, Device Use, and Movement and Motivation Factors. Background experiences and individual perspectives related to the reasons and motivations for using hearing aids for monitoring daily step count were the major subthemes. Conclusions: Participants who engaged in light-intensity physical activity were more likely to be motivated to monitor daily step count using the hearing aids. Participants' perspectives on the reason for motivation varied between cursory monitoring to stay consistently active and striving to meet a daily step objective. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.32159181

Deep neural network (DNN)-based noise reduction has emerged as a promising advancement in hearing aid signal processing as a means to improve speech intelligibility in noisy environments for hearing aid wearers. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the DNN on speech intelligibility in speech-shaped noise (SSN) and multitalker babble (MTB) when the target speech was coming from the front and from the side. Subjective ratings of clarity, total impression, listening effort, and background noise awareness were also collected. Twenty adult participants with mild to moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss were fitted with hearing aids from a single manufacturer, programmed with four different settings that varied across combinations of microphone directionality (omnidirectional and directional beamforming) and noise reduction (off, traditional, DNN). Results showed that DNN, when combined with beamforming, consistently outperformed the other programs across all metrics. Outcomes were influenced by both noise type and spatial configuration. DNN was more effective in SSN than MTB. Beamforming was especially beneficial when the target speech came from the front. Listening in programs that included both DNN and beamforming together resulted in additional benefits shown in the outcome measures, most likely due to the beamforming improving the signal-to-noise ratio and providing a cleaner signal for the DNN to work with.

Purpose: Individuals with hearing loss typically experience greater listening effort, which is the additional recruitment of cognitive/mental resources such as attention and memory to understand speech and can be aversive and tiring. Reducing effort is an important goal of the hearing health care industry. Pupillometry is an objective and increasingly popular measure of listening effort, but gold standard measures of pupil size are expensive and unwieldy. The purpose of this study was to compare a low-cost and portable pupillometry device (Gazepoint GP3 HD) to a more traditional gold standard pupillometry tool (EyeLink 1000) for indexing listening effort via pupil size. Method: Twenty normal-hearing young adults (age range: 18–23 years) were recruited in this study. Participants' pupil size was measured using the Gazepoint and EyeLink pupillometry devices while listening to Hearing in Noise Test sentences in stationary speech–shaped noise at signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) ranging from −8 to +8 dB. Results: Participants' word report accuracy increased from approximately 12% to 100% when the SNRs increased from −8 to +8 dB. Peak pupil diameter decreased for both devices and was smaller with the Gazepoint device. Data quality was comparable for the two devices. Conclusion: Gazepoint appeared to be an effective pupillometry device that records pupil dilation across a wide range of SNRs, without interfering with the auditory task.

The purpose of the study was to qualitatively describe the experiences of hearing aid and physical fit accessories use during physical activity and exercise participation in a sample of older adults with hearing loss. A prospective qualitative research design was employed with the use of focus groups with older adult participants who were fitted with hearing aids and physical fit accessories. Twelve older adults with hearing loss (six experienced and six new hearing aid users, age range 64 - 88 years) were recruited in this study. The barriers to hearing at physical activity and exercise environments were related to reverberation, loud music, and instructor's location and position relative to exercise members, whereas facilitators were aided hearing, the instructor projecting their voice and demonstrating the moves. The most preferred physical fit accessories were the retention lock and the corded and cordless hearing aid sleeves. The least preferred accessories were the hearing aid-to-glasses connector and stick'n stay tape. Individual differences and needs were factored into different perspectives on hearing aid and physical fit accessory use, emphasising patient-centered approach when coaching and counselling on device use for physical activity and exercise.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to obtain, analyze, and compare subjective sound quality data for the same test stimuli using modified multistimulus MUSHRA (Multiple Stimulus with Hidden Reference and Anchors) based procedures (viz., MUSHRA with custom anchors and MUSHRA without anchor) and the single-stimulus Gabrielsson's total impression rating procedure. Method: Twenty normally hearing young adults were recruited in this study. Participants completed sound quality ratings on two different hearing aid recording data sets—Data Set A contained speech recordings from four different hearing aids under a variety of noisy and processing conditions, and Data Set B contained speech recordings from a single hearing aid under a combination of different noisy, reverberant, and signal processing conditions. Recordings in both data sets were rated for their quality using the total impression rating procedure. In addition, quality ratings of Data Set A recordings were obtained using a MUSHRA with custom anchors, while the ratings of Data Set B recordings were collected using a MUSHRA without anchor. Results: Statistical analyses revealed a high test–retest reliability of quality ratings for the same stimuli that were rated multiple times. In addition, high-interrater reliability was observed with all three rating procedures. Further analyses indicated (a) a high correlation between the total impression rating and the two modified MUSHRA ratings and (b) a similar relationship between the average and standard deviation of the subjective rating data obtained by the total impression rating and MUSHRA with custom anchors on Data Set A, and the total impression rating and the MUSHRA without anchor on Data Set B. Conclusion: Both sound quality procedures, namely, the MUSHRA-based procedures and the total impression rating scale, obtained similar quality ratings of varied hearing aid speech recordings with high reliability.

Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy and the effectiveness of Starkey Livio Artificial Intelligence hearing aids in tracking step count. A secondary purpose was to investigate the accuracy of the fall detection and alert system of Livio hearing aids in detecting fall maneuvers. Method: A participant wore Binaural Starkey Livio receiver-in-the-canal style hearing aids, a Sportline pedometer, and a Fitbit Charge 3 concurrently during both real-world and treadmill walking conditions. The real-world condition was conducted over a 5-day period. Step count for the treadmill protocol was assessed at six different treadmill speeds (2 mph, 2.5 mph, 3 mph, 3.5 mph, 4 mph, 4.5 mph, and 5 mph). The fall detection and alert system were assessed through falling maneuvers of activities of daily living. Results: In the real-world condition, Livio, Sportline, and Fitbit recorded steps within 1 SD of each other. In addition, Livio recorded the most accurate steps compared to actual physical steps taken. In the treadmill condition, Livio recorded the least number of steps across all walking paces compared to the rest of the devices. Also, Livio hearing aids detected majority of the engaged falling maneuvers. Conclusions: The Livio was found to be feasible, consistent, and sensitive in detecting steps and falls. Further research of higher sample size and recruitment of individuals with hearing loss are suggested.