Guidelines for the evaluation of hearing aid fitting (2010)

Abstract

Objective: The methods to evaluate the efficacy of the adjusted hearing aid for a hearing-impaired person are fitting tests. The tests include those presently carried out for evaluating hearing aid fitting, and the methods of testing and evaluation have been published as "Guidelines for the evaluation of hearing aid fitting (2010)" by the Japan Audiological Society.

Methods: Guidelines for the following 8 test methods are presented. (1) Measurements of speech performance-intensity functions and speech recognition scores; (2) Assessment of hearing aid fitting from the aspect of tolerance of environmental noise; (3) Measurement of real-ear insertion gain (measurement of sound pressure levels at the eardrum); (4) Measurement of the hearing threshold level and the uncomfortable loudness level (UCL) in sound pressure level (SPL) with an inserted earphone; (5) Aided threshold test in a sound field (functional gain measurement); (6) Prediction of insertion gain and aided threshold from hearing aid characteristics and the pure tone audiogram; (7) Measurement of speech recognition in noise; (8) Assessment of hearing aid fitting using questionnaires. In the above tests, (1) and (2) are mandatory tests, and (3) to (8) are informative tests.

Results: By performing test combinations properly selected from the above 8 tests, the benefits of a hearing aid could be determined.

Conclusion: The above test methods were useful and valuable in determining the efficacy of the adjusted hearing aid for a hearing-impaired person during clinical practice.

Keywords: Clinical practice; Efficacy; Guideline; Hearing aid fitting.