ObjectiveThis study was aimed at examining the effects of an adaptive non-linear frequency compression algorithm implemented in hearing aids (i.e., SoundRecover2, or SR2) at different parameter settings and auditory acclimatization on speech and sound-quality perception in native Mandarin-speaking adult listeners with sensorineural hearing loss.DesignData consisted of participants’ unaided and aided hearing thresholds, Mandarin consonant and vowel recognition in quiet, and sentence recognition in noise, as well as sound-quality ratings through five sessions in a 12-week period with three SR2 settings (i.e., SR2 off, SR2 default, and SR2 strong).Study SampleTwenty-nine native Mandarin-speaking adults aged 37–76 years old with symmetric sloping moderate-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss were recruited. They were all fitted bilaterally with Phonak Naida V90-SP BTE hearing aids with hard ear-molds.ResultsThe participants demonstrated a significant improvement of aided hearing in detecting high frequency sounds at 8 kHz. For consonant recognition and overall sound-quality rating, the participants performed significantly better with the SR2 default setting than the other two settings. No significant differences were found in vowel and sentence recognition among the three SR2 settings. Test session was a significant factor that contributed to the participants’ performance in all speech and sound-quality perception tests. Specifically, the participants benefited from a longer duration of hearing aid use.ConclusionFindings from this study suggested possible perceptual benefit from the adaptive non-linear frequency compression algorithm for native Mandarin-speaking adults with moderate-to-profound hearing loss. Periods of acclimatization should be taken for better performance in novel technologies in hearing aids.

目的 探讨自适应非线性频率压缩(adaptive nonlinear frequency compression,ANFC)技术助听器对成人耳聋患者音素感知和助听听阈的影响,并使用真耳分析进行验证.方法 20例轻度到极重度感音神经性聋成人患者双耳选配带有ANFC功能的助听器,分别在ANFC功能打开和关闭两种条件下(测试条件顺序随机),分别测试"搭"、"发"、"哈"、"喀"、"妈"、"沙(3 kHz)"、"沙(5 kHz)"、"虾"、"撒(6 kHz)"以及"撒(9 kHz)"10种不同频率的音素感知阈及助听听阈,并通过真耳分析软件获得/s/、/sh/两音的曲线频谱响应.结果 在ANFC功能打开和关闭两种条件下,20例患者0.25～4 kHz助听听阈无统计学差异(P>0.05),而ANFC功能打开时6 kHz和8 kHz助听听阈均值分别较ANFC关闭时降低约23和28 dB,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);音素感知测试结果示,AN-FC功能打开时四个高频音阈值"沙(5 kHz)"、"虾"、"撒(6 kHz)"和"撒(9 kHz)"音素感知阈均值较ANFC关闭时分别降低约6、12、15和16 dB,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),其余6个音"搭"、"发"、"哈"、"喀"、"妈"和"沙(3 kHz)"的音素感知阈ANFC打开或关闭时差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),与真耳分析验证结果一致.结论 AN-FC助听器可改善成人耳聋患者5 kHz以上的音素感知阈和助听听阈.

Objective To investigate the effects of nonlinear frequency compression (NLFC) on sound quality perception by the Mandarin-speaking subjects with high-frequency hearing loss.Methods Twenty-three listeners with sensorineural hearing loss with no previous experiences of using hearing aids participated in this study.They were all fitted binaurally with Phonak Bolero Q hearing aids.The stimuli,including male voice,female voice,bird chirping,music,and self-voice,were presented in a random order with a custom software via a loudspeaker at 65 dB SPL.Regarding NLFC parameters,cut-off frequency (CF) ranged from 4.9 to 6 kHz and compression ratio (CR) was programed as 1.5.Subjects evaluated the sound quality of the stimulus in loudness,clearness,naturalness and overall preference under the conditions of NLFC-on and NLFC-off.A paired-sample t-test was conducted to assess the group differences in sound quality rating between NLFC on and off conditions.Results Paired test showed significant difference of high-frequency hearing threshold under the condition of NLFC-on and NLFC-off at 6 and 8 kHz(P＞0.05).No significant statistical difference was found in subjects' sound quality ratings between NLFC-on and NLFC-off conditions (all P＞0.05).Conclusion NLFC technology resulted in no significant impact on sound quality perception for the non-experienced hearing aid users.

OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to investigate the development of speech skills in young children with Mondini dysplasia and age-matched deaf children with radiologically normal inner ears over a period of 5 years after cochlear implantation (CI).METHODS:In total, 700 congenitally severely to profoundly deaf children (281 girls and 419 boys) participated in this study. All of the participants had undergone unilateral CI surgery before 36 months of age. The participants were categorized into two groups based on the absence or presence of Mondini dysplasia in the implanted ear, as assessed via high-resolution, thin-slice computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging: group A comprised 592 children with radiologically normal inner ears and group B comprised 108 children with Mondini dysplasia. The Meaningful Use of Speech Scale (MUSS) and Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) were used to evaluate the speech performance of all young children at various time points: pre-surgery and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months after switch-on programming.RESULTS:The mean scores of SIR and MUSS in children from both group A and group B showed significant improvements over time. No significant differences were found in the mean scores of SIR between the two groups at any time interval during the 5-year follow-up. The mean score of MUSS was significantly different between group A and group B at 12, 24, and 36 months after implantation, whereas no obvious differences were noted pre-surgery, and at 1, 3, 6, 48, and 60 months post-operation.CONCLUSIONS:Young children with Mondini dysplasia develop their speech skills at a fast rate and achieve similar speech acquisition compared to age-matched children with radiologically normal inner ears 5 years post-operation. Therefore, CI is an effective intervention method for young children with Mondini dysplasia.

Objective To explore a method of detecting the horizontal localization ability in normal children aged 1~3 years old, and to obtain the minimum audible angle (MAA) at horizontal 0° degree in these children.Methods Using minimum audible angle measure procedure on the basis of conditioned play audiometry and behavioral audiometry methods, sound localization test at horizontal 0° degree was conducted in 37 children aged from 1 to 7 years old with stimulus of different frequencies.Results All 37 children completed the 1 000 Hz tests, 35 children completed the 500 Hz tests, and 30 children completed the 4 000 Hz test.An analysis of 30 children who completed all the tests was performed, 15 of them aged 1~3 years old and the rest aged 4~7 years old.The results for children aged 1~3 years old were as below: 1 000 Hz MAA(0°) =3.57°±1.35°,500 Hz MAA(0°) =5.03°±2.96°,and 4 000 Hz MAA(0°) =5.4°±2.86°, respectively.The results for children aged 4~7 years old were as below: 1 000 Hz MAA(0°) =3.56°±1.48°,500 Hz MAA(0°) =3.5°±2.17°,and 4 000 Hz MAA(0°) =6.13°±4.09°, respectively.There was no significant difference in MAA (0 °) at corresponding frequencies between the two groups.For the children aged 1~3 years old, there was no significant difference in MAA (0 °) among 500 Hz, 1 000 Hz and 4 000 Hz frequencies.For the children aged 4~7 years old, there was significant difference in MAA(0 °) between 500 Hz and 4 000 Hz as well as between 1 000 Hz and 4 000 Hz frequencies.However, there was no significant difference in MAA (0 °) between 500 Hz and 1 000 Hz frequencies.Conclusion MAA test procedure on the basis of conditioned behavioral audiometry and play audiometry could be used to evaluate the ability of sound localization in 1~3 years old children.The frequencies may have effects on children''s sound localization test results and there was no significant difference in MAA (0 °) between the 1~3 years old group and the 4~7 years age group.