Defining The Auditory Area

The range of intensities between _________and uncomfortable listening level (UCL)

Rationale For Defining The Auditory Area

We need to accurately set

so that each individual may receive maximum benefit with comfortable listening

Determining The Auditory Area

To determine the auditory area we must make decisions regarding:

I. Stimuli

Skinner recommends using

They are readily available, have low peak-to-rms difference, give approx. the same UCL’s as ___, and allow recording of frequency specific UCL’s.

 

They are readily available,

Have low ________ difference,

Give approx. the same UCL’s as ____, and

Allow recording of frequency specific UCL’s.

Beattie Recommends Using

Hawkins Recommends Using

II. Response/Instructions

Instructions significantly affect response

Typical dB SPL Levels for UCL

_______………………...90-95

____ discomfort……….100-___

definite discomfort….….___-___

____ or pain…………...130-140

UCL

By using a range of descriptors you can assess

UCL with some control for different criteria

Levels of Loudness
(Hawkins, 1984)

Consequences

A low ____ will be obtained and the _____ will be unecessarily restricted which may reduce intelligibility

Consequences

A high _____ will be obtained and the _____ setting may result in discomfort and/or further hearing loss.

III. Transducer

Goal: The SPL in the ear canal when at ____ should be the same as when the HA produces its maximum output (______)

Supra-Aural Earphone

Cannot use dB SPL values to set ______ because……... *earphones calibrated in 6cc coupler and

*HA calibrated in _________

Insert Earphones

Can use to set _____ for HA if output is measured in 2 cc coupler

Button Receiver

Can use to set SSPL90 if earmold is attached and output measured in _______

Loudspeaker

Cannot use dB SPL to set SSPL90 because real ear effects and limited output

IV. Procedure

Ascending Method of Limits

Down 10, Up 5 with 5 dB steps until level for __________ is determined three times-

UCL is half way between this level at the level for "________".

UCL

So what if the hearing aid produces intensities exceeding the patient’s UCL?

Estimating The Auditory Area

In some cases we may need to estimate the auditory area based on data from listeners with ______ hearing loss

Auditory Area

In determining the auditory area, we must also consider the ______ and _____ of the measurements

V. Reliability of UCL Measurements

What factors may contribute to changes in scores and which of these can be controlled?

Factors To Consider That May Affect Reliability of Sensitivity Measurements

Standard Deviations For Sensitivity Measures

Reliability of UCL

With practice, listeners give ______UCL’s, therefore, Cox recommends adding ___dB to initial UCL values

VI. Validity of UCL Measurements

If 0 and UCL are accurate and hearing aid is set accordingly, then shouldn’t it be a successful fit?

Not Necessarily….

If SPL of hearing aid is based on frequency specific ____’s the overall loudness of broadband signals may be uncomfortable because of ____________.

Loudness Summation

As the bandwidth increases beyond the ___________, the perception of loudness ______ even though the overall level remains the same

Loudness Summation-Normal Hearing

Because we don’t measure loudness _______ clinically, we need to verify the SPL settings with a ________ stimulus

Articulation Index

Ranges from ___(none) to ___(all) speech information available

Sum of the contribution to speech recognition of a number of continuous _____ ______

Reflects the proportion of __________ that is audible

Reverberation Time