Quantitative measurement techniques for fitting hearing instruments using selective spectrum filtering

Clinical investigation has shown that significant improvements in hearing can be achieved with selective spectrum shaping using active filters. A study was conducted with 20 subjects having sensorineural losses using a matrix technique for quantitatively measuring listener performance. A master hearing instrument was used having adjustable filter responses. Test data showed that listener SDS (intelligibility) means varied from 5.6% to 49.7% as the high pass filter frequency response changed ± 1/2 octave and/or low frequency relative gain changed ±5dB in OdB S/N. Thus, selective spectrum filtering appears highly applicable for establishing quantitative hearing instrument measurement techniques while concomitantly realizing improved hearing performance.