Week 7.1

Question 1

What is a hearing aid manufacturer software?

Answer 1

Where the ability to add/delete/change programs occurs. All manufacturers offer different programs for different environments.

Question 2

What is the goal of all programs?

Answer 2

To optimize listening in a particular environment

Question 3

What is a noise program?

Answer 3

• generally have directional/cardioid
• fillers separate noise from fluctuating signal (speech)
• gain generally not as loud since LF turned down
• to be effective must face away from noise

Question 4

What is a music program? Who benefits?

Answer 4

• Generally for highly trained musicians
• Music has greater frequency & intensity range than speech, so extend this in program
• All advanced features turned off (directional microphones, noise reduction, frequency lowering)
• Output limiting increased or turned off
• Want to make HI as linear as possible

Question 5

What is a TV program?

Answer 5

Provide more high frequency gain - this is the only difference.

Question 6

Why is TV so difficult for someone with a hearing loss?

Answer 6

1) No separation of background noise from speech
2) Distance from user creates echo = distortion
3) Visual cues on TV are limited
4) Pace of speech cannot be altered

Question 7

Name 3 other program options not already listed.

Answer 7

Tinnitus program
Wind noise program
FM Program
Telecoil Program
Phone program

Question 8

What are the differences between a high-end and a low-end hearing aid?

Answer 8

High end have:

• More channels (better match HA to HL)
• More programs
• Better noise reduction (low end only decrease by 5dB, high by 15dB)
• Binaural synchrony (compare/exchange info)
• Extra accessories