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Abstract
Abstract
Objectives: The objectives were: (1) to examine the effects of a directional microphone with different directivity patterns and different microphone combinations on wind noise levels at the hearing aid output; and (2) to derive strategies appropriate for hearing aid selection and future designs. Design: The in-situ frequency responses of a behind-the-ear hearing aid (BTE1) were matched when the hearing aid was programmed to dipole, hypercardioid, cardioids, or adaptive microphone mode. The in-situ frequency responses of another hearing aid (BTE2) were matched among an omnidirectional microphone (OMNI), an adaptive directional microphone (ADM), and a combination of an omnidirectional microphone at low frequencies and an adaptive directional microphone at high frequencies (MIXED). Flow noise was recorded at flow velocities of 0, 4.5, 9.0, and 13.5 m/s. Measurements were repeated for the hypercardioid pattern of BTE1. Study sample: Flow noise recorded using directional microphones with four directivity patterns and using OMNI, ADM, and MIXED. Results: Directional microphones with different directivity patterns generated similar flow noise levels. ADM yielded higher overall levels than OMNI and MIXED, which had similar overall levels. Conclusions: The adaptive directional microphone is the most versatile microphone for use in wind. The mixed microphone mode is a viable wind noise reduction option.
Declaration of interest: There was no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgements
The results of this study were presented in AudiologyNow! 2009 in April 2009 in Dallas, Texas, USA. The title of the presentation was ‘Effects of Signal Processing Algorithms on Wind Noise in Hearing Aids.’ The author would like to thank the Herrick Laboratories staff, Nicholas McKibben, and Dr. Kaibao Nie for technical support, and Oticon for donating one of the hearing aids.