ISSN 1808-8686 (on-line) - 3945 - Portuguese Version 
Year: 2010 Vol. 76 Ed. 1 - (3º)
Artigo Original
Pages: 14 to 17
Speech perception of hearing impaired people using a hearing aid with noise supression algorithms
Author(s): Jerusa Roberta Massola de Oliveira1, Eymar Sampaio Lopes2, Alceu Ferreira Alves3
Keywords: hearing loss, noise, speech perception.
Abstract: Often, individuals with hearing loss have difficulties understanding speech in noisy environments. Aim: It was the aim of this study to assess the performance of adult individuals with sensorineural hearing loss, associated with speech perception using digital hearing aids with a sound reduction algorithm called Speech Sensitive Processing, on and off, in the presence of noise. Materials and Methods: This case study was performed with 32 individuals with sensorineural hearing loss of mild, moderate or mild to moderate level. Our evaluation involved a speech perception test, where we investigated the recognition of sentences in noise, in order to get a signal/noise ratio, with a digital hearing aid. Result Description: The algorithm provided a benefit for most hearing impaired individuals, in the investigation of signal/noise ratio and the results pointed to a statistically significant difference when the algorithm was on, compared to when the algorithm was off. Conclusion: The use of a sound reduction algorithm must be considered as a clinical alternative - since we observed an efficacy in noise reduction and heightened speech perception.
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