Hearing Loss
Conditions
Brief summary
Speech intelligibility will be evaluated for school age children with hearing loss in a simulated classroom environment, using Phonak hearing aids and receivers and two different microphone transmitters: a Roger Touchscreen mic and a fixed directional microphone.
Detailed description
Speech intelligibility will be evaluated for school age children with hearing loss in a simulated classroom environment, using Phonak hearing aids and receivers and two different microphone transmitters: a Roger Touchscreen mic and a fixed directional microphone. The simulated classroom environment will include a teacher condition, in which speech is presented from a distance in front of the participant, and a small-group condition, in which speech is presented randomly from three different speakers around the participant. Both conditions will have diffuse background noise, and the various SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) levels will be tested. Subjective preference and fatigue questionnaires will also be collected from the participants after the use of each transmitter.
Interventions
DEVICEPhonak Roger TouchScreen Microphone
Transmitter microphone system operating on the 2.4 GHz band, which allows for low-delay and reliable long-range broadcast to a compatible Roger receiver, designed to be used in educational settings. It features six microphones and adaptive technology in which speech signals are increased when background noise increases to ensure that the speech signal is always above the noise level.
DEVICEPhonak Partner Mic
Wireless microphone that uses Phonak proprietary AirStream technology to connect to Phonak hearing aids. It uses a fixed directional microphone, and is paired to the hearing aids such that the hearing aid microphones are attenuated at a fixed level when the microphone is in use.
Sponsors
Hearts for Hearing
Sonova AG
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Speech intelligibility testing will be conducted on a single group of participants, first using one remote mic system, and then the other. The order of devices will be counter-balanced across participants.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
8 Years to 12 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Healthy middle and outer ear * Mild, moderate or moderate-severe binaural sensorineural hearing loss * Minimum AZ Bio score of 70% at 60 dB in quiet * Experienced hearing aid users (6+ months) * Able to read and follow directions * English speakers with ability to communicate easily
Exclusion criteria
* Active middle ear infection * Temporary or unilateral hearing loss * Unable to follow verbal directions * Unable to communicate easily * Unable to tolerate the physical fit of the hearing aids
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Speech Intelligibility score using the AZ Bio Sentence Test-teacher condition | One day (Visit 1) | Sentences are presented from a front speaker located 8.5 feet away from participant. Diffuse background noise is presented from four corner speakers. Various Signal to Noise Ratios (SNR) will be tested: +4 dB, +2 dB, and -2 dB. The number of words correctly repeated will be calculated and expressed as a percentage for each SNR level. A higher score is better. |
| Speech Intelligibility score using the AZ Bio Sentence Test- small group condition | One day (Visit 1) | Sentences are presented randomly from three different speakers, located around a small table with the participant, simulating a small group at a table. Diffuse background noise is presented from four corner speakers. Various Signal to Noise Ratios (SNR) will be tested: +4 dB, +2 dB, and -2 dB. The number of words correctly repeated will be calculated and expressed as a percentage for each SNR level. A higher score is better. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Listening Fatigue using the Vanderbilt Fatigue Scale for Children | Two days (Visit 2 and Visit 3) | Ten questions related to fatigue, answers rank from 1 (never) to 5 (almost always). Total scores can range from 10 to 50, with higher scores indicating more self-perceived fatigue. |
| Subjective Preferences of participants | Two days (Visit 1 following the lab testing, and Visit 3, following the field trial) | Participants will be asked to rank their preference for the microphone systems using a Likert type of rating scale (1-5), where a lower score (\<3) would indicate preference for the partner mic and a higher score (\>3) will indicate preference for the Roger Touchscreen. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed