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Abstract
This study examined the effect of variations in hearing-aid frequency response on real-life functional performance of children with severe to profound hearing loss. A cross-over design was used in a double-blind comparison of the NAL prescription with alternatives that produced either a BOOST or a CUT (6dB/octave from 0.5 to 2kHz), relative to the NAL response. The functional performance of 30 children (aged 7 months to 16 years) when wearing hearing aids adjusted to each response over two to four weeks was assessed by using parents’ and teachers’ observations (PEACH and TEACH scales). Intelligibility judgments and self-reports were also obtained from school-aged children. Results indicated that on average, variations in frequency response resulted in differences in functional performance in real life. There were significant correlations between PEACH and TEACH, and also between children's intelligibility judgments and subjective reports from children and their parents and teachers. The findings support the use of the NAL response for initial fitting, and the evaluation of children's amplification needs by a systematic use of parents’ and teachers’ observations.
| Abbreviations | ||
| NAL-NL1 | = | National Acoustic Laboratories procedure for prescribing non-linear hearing aids |
| NAL-RP | = | National Acoustic Laboratories procedure for prescribing linear hearing aids, revised with profound correction |
| PEACH | = | Parent's evaluation of aural/oral performance of children |
| TEACH | = | Teachers’ evaluation of aural/oral performance of children |
| SELF | = | Self evaluation of listening function |
| Abbreviations | ||
| NAL-NL1 | = | National Acoustic Laboratories procedure for prescribing non-linear hearing aids |
| NAL-RP | = | National Acoustic Laboratories procedure for prescribing linear hearing aids, revised with profound correction |
| PEACH | = | Parent's evaluation of aural/oral performance of children |
| TEACH | = | Teachers’ evaluation of aural/oral performance of children |
| SELF | = | Self evaluation of listening function |
Sumario
Este estudio examinó el efecto de las variaciones en la respuesta frecuencial del auxiliar auditivo en cuando al desempeño funcional en la vida real en niños con hipoacusia severa a profunda. Se utilizó un diseño cruzado en una comparación doble ciego de la prescripción NAL con alternativas que produjeron un REFUERZO o un CORTE (6 dB/octava entre 0.5 y 2 kHz), en relación con la respuesta NAL. Se evaluó el desempeño funcional en 30 niños (edades entre 7 meses y 16 años) conforme utilizaban los auxiliares auditivos ajustados a cada respuesta, durante dos a cuatro semanas. La evaluación involucró las observaciones de maestros y progenitores (escalas PEACH y TEACH). También se obtuvieron juicios de inteligibilidad y auto-reportes de niños de edad escolar. Los resultados indicaron que en promedio, las variaciones en la respuesta frecuencial condujeron a diferencias en el desempeño funcional en la vida real. Existieron correlaciones significativas entre el PEACH y el TEACH, y también entre los juicios de inteligibilidad y los reportes subjetivos de los niños, sus padres y sus maestros. Los hallazgos apoyan el uso de la respuesta NAL para la adaptación inicial, y la evaluación de las necesidades de amplificaciones de los niños por medio del uso sistemático de las observaciones de progenitores y maestros.