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Abstract
Digital feedback suppression (DFS) enables users of hearing instruments (HI) to benefit from amplification levels that normally would provoke whistling or poor sound quality. A standardized test for the measurement of DFS benefit is not available. This paper proposes and evaluates an objective method for assessment of extra feedback-free amplification (headroom) provided by a given DFS. It is shown that the whistle-free loop gain can be calculated from data obtained with simulated real-ear measurements with the modified pressure method. Test-retest trials were carried out to assess the reliability of the proposed method. Also, a method was developed for defining an appropriate gain level at which the proposed measurement should be carried out. It is concluded that the proposed method needs to be modified to provide useful information.
| Abbreviations | ||
| ASG | = | Added stable gain |
| BTE | = | Behind-the-ear |
| DFS | = | Digital feedback suppression |
| EFR | = | Extraneous frequency ratio |
| HI | = | Hearing instrument |
| HIT | = | Hearing instrument test |
| ITE | = | In-the-ear |
| KEMAR | = | Knowles Electronics manikin for acoustic research |
| MFG | = | Maximum feasible gain |
| MPCE | = | Modified pressure method with concurrent equalization |
| MPSE | = | Modified pressure method with stored equalization |
| MSG | = | Maximum stable gain |
| PCR | = | Power concentration ratio |
| REAR | = | Real-ear aided response |
| REIG | = | Real-ear insertion gain |
| REM | = | Real-ear measurement |
| SD | = | Standard deviation |
| SPL | = | Sound pressure level |
| sREM | = | Simulated real-ear measurement |
| Abbreviations | ||
| ASG | = | Added stable gain |
| BTE | = | Behind-the-ear |
| DFS | = | Digital feedback suppression |
| EFR | = | Extraneous frequency ratio |
| HI | = | Hearing instrument |
| HIT | = | Hearing instrument test |
| ITE | = | In-the-ear |
| KEMAR | = | Knowles Electronics manikin for acoustic research |
| MFG | = | Maximum feasible gain |
| MPCE | = | Modified pressure method with concurrent equalization |
| MPSE | = | Modified pressure method with stored equalization |
| MSG | = | Maximum stable gain |
| PCR | = | Power concentration ratio |
| REAR | = | Real-ear aided response |
| REIG | = | Real-ear insertion gain |
| REM | = | Real-ear measurement |
| SD | = | Standard deviation |
| SPL | = | Sound pressure level |
| sREM | = | Simulated real-ear measurement |
Sumario
La supresión digital de la retroalimentación (DFS) permite que los usuarios de instrumentos auditivos (HI) se beneficien de niveles de amplificación que normalmente provocarían silbidos o pobre calidad sonora. No está disponible una prueba estandarizada para la medición de la DFS. Este trabajo propone y evalúa un método objetivo para la evaluación del margen de amplificación extra libre de retroalimentación, que provee una DFS dada. Se muestra que puede calcularse una ganancia en un circuito libre de silbidos a partir de los datos obtenidos con mediciones de oído-real simulado con el método de presión modificada. Se practicaron pruebas test-retest para evaluar la confiabilidad del método propuesto. También se desarrolló un método para definir un nivel de ganancia apropiada al cual debiera conducirse la medición propuesta. Se concluye que el método propuesto necesita modificarse para poder proveer información útil.