Amp 2 Test 2 Flashcards
What is a lifestyle assessment ?
An informal assessment to identify technology level needed based on the person’s activity level (need more tech for more active lifestyle)
List 8 warning signs of ear disease that should be referred for medical evaluation before proceeding with amplification?
Visible deformity of the ear
Active draining (last 90 days)
Sudden /rapid progressing HL (last 90 days)
Acute or chronic dizziness
Sudden onset unilateral HL (last 90 days)
ABG > 15 dB at 500, 1k, and 2kHz
Cerumen occlusion/foreign object in canal
Pain/discomfort in ear
Create a guide for the purpose of assisting your ability to recommend amplification based on patient preferences, degree of hearing loss, and evidenced based research:
Patient preference should be documented to provide treatment that is applicable for their lifestyle and needs.
Degree of HL should be documented to learn about how important technologies are to them (mild HL are beginning their journey with amplification, want all the features compared to severe HL users that want more speech information from landlines, and rechargeability)
Evidence based research says those with a high ANL and those frequently communicating in large group settings need premium technology (streaming, convenience, connectivity, and DSP) —> use good demos to show patients the levels of tech available
How many frequency shaping bands, and compression shaping channels are needed to optimize a hearing aid fitting?
Frequency shaping bands:
Flat/sloping losses: 4 bands
Steep sloping loss: 7 bands
Compression channels: 9 needed
Increasing BANDS might improve speech audibility but increasing CHANNELS from 3 to 18 doesn’t give any benefit
Describe the function of each part of the ear-level probe module:
Reference mic: monitor and calibrate the speaker’s output
Retention cord: stabilize the reference mic’s position
Probe tube: measure intensity at the eardrum
Probe mic: measures sound coming out of the probe tube
What are the output requirements to achieve binaural benefit
Aided responses of both ears should be within 15dB of each other
Differentiate and describe the uses/limitations of Type I and Type II test signals
Type 1: pure tone swept or pulsed across frequencies used to test or verify MPO. Drives higher output than speech. Limitations: doesn’t show how it affects compression channels & digital feedback supression circuitry cancels out type 1 tones
Type 2: speech-like signals that has random frequencies at random intensities (broadband). Limitations : rapid changes in gain doesn’t show the device’s response to specific spectral signals
Differentiate the variety of Type 2 signals available in current probe microphone systems
Speech-STD: filtered to provide the LTASS
ICRA: distorted English speaker that has been modified to be unintelligible
ISTS: 6 female speakers in 6 different languages
Speech- Live: not standardized, but measures the LTASS of any signal over 10sec (can’t be used to calibrate amplification, but can be used for counseling purposes)
Explain how a signal’s LTASS is calculated
Averaging a speech signal for 10 seconds
Describe some factors that impact its average value
Intensity of the speech, vocal effort, language, and mic placement
Describe the substitution method calibration protocol:
The sound level meter is placed at where the subject’s enad should be, and that location is stored in the equipment. Limitation: if the head is not in that exact spot, then the numbers may be slightly off
Describe both modified pressure method calibration protocols and differentiate the concurrent equalization method from the substitution method:
Concurrent equalization: the mic constantly monitors and adjusts the signal intensity (every 10 sec in the carrot passage). The preferred method
Stored equalization: probe calibrated to the ear, and then it stays at that level through the testing (used when there may be an open dome)
Head movement can impact the measurements
