Hearing Aid Performance Test

Test Test Box Real Ear Measurement

Hearing Aid Test Box (HATB) Real Ear Unaided Gain (REUG) Real Ear Aided Gain (REAG) Real Ear Insertion Gain (REIG) Aided Threshold Testing / Functional Gain Live Speech Mapping
Definition specialized device which enables hearing aid performance to be measure This is the base-line measure It uses the signal from the control mic. how much extra sound is It’s also called aided sound field testing or free- It is a fitting process that uses probe microphones & live real-time
using specific component (e.g coupler) when measuring insertion gain to regulate the sound level near the ear presented to the eardrum as a field testing speech to allow the patient & their family members to
(IG) to the required level result of inserting the HA in –Stimulus (sound) is given in a sound field/ immediately see &understand the benefits of Has and fitting
the ear free-field setting adjustments
–It’s a real-ear test
Component tone/ noise generator, amplifier, Loudspeaker (LS),control/ reference REM machine ,speaker probe mic, -REM machine, speaker, probe mic, xxxxxxx -PTA, Earmould, hearing aid, Speaker -Live speech Mapping software, probe mic, mic
microphone (mic) sound tube tube, earmould, Hearing aid
Transducer Speaker in test box Speaker speaker xxxxxx Speaker speaker
Stimulus NBN, Sweep pure tone, ICRA, Modulated Speech Signal Composite noise (e.g ICRA), Composite noise (e.g ICRA), Modulated xxxxxx Warble Tone live voice, speech sound recorded
Modulated Speech Signal Speech Signal
Measurement - GAIN-FREQUENCY RESPONSE -show what happens to the –compare to increase in sound level -compare the increase in -FG is identical to REIG (if same input level is Patients & their families' benefit greatly from the knowledge they
- OSPL 90-FREQUENCY RESPONSE sounds as they travel to a point provided by HAto level of the signal in sound level provided by the used) gain of the: hearing loss, improvement with Has, remaining
- FREQUENCY RESPONSE CURVE close to the eardrum when no HA the free field/ outside ear (which is HA to no HA -FG shows the benefit given by the HA limitations to hearing performance.
- INPUT-OUTPUT FUNCTIONS is worn regulated by the control mic.) -REIG takes into account the -The original way of assessing/ verifying the provides an excellent "view" of the patient's hearing & helps in
- ATTACK & RELEASE TIME –show The natural “amplification” -It’s a necessary step in the amount of “amplification” the real ear gain of Has setting realistic expectations for rehabilitation
- DISTORTION or resonances of the outer ear measurement of insertion gain (IG) person was getting from the -Determines the softest sound user can detect LSM is also useful in demonstrating multiple memories, volume
(ear canal, concha& pinna) resonances in the conchaor with the HA control adjustments, multichannel processing & earmold
ear canal, prior to inserting - Can compare thresholds to speech spectrum modifications
the HA
Procedure 1. Operating software>Open NOAH>Key in patient details>Work with 1. Patient is seated in a chair 1. Patient is seated in a chair 1. REIG = REAG –REUG 1. similar to PTA test (pushing the button 1. Ensure the audiogram is entered including:
client>Module selection>Fitting directly facing a directly facing a loudspeaker 2. REIG: for adults & play techniques for –pure tone air & bone conduction thresholds
2. Connect the HA before putting the HAs in the test box (some loudspeaker (LS) (LS) (O°azimuth) that is placed –aided minus unaided children) –narrow band noise or pure tone UCL at 500, 2000 &
Phonak& Starkey HAs) (O°azimuth) that is placed at ear level at a distance of 12 gain 2. Use sound-treated room 3000 Hz
3. So that you can turn the setting of HAs for full on gain (FOG) & SSPL at ear level at a distance to 18 inches –it’s useful clinically as 3. Seat the patient about 0.5 -1 m from 2. Complete a careful otoscopic examination
90 by just one click (& vice versa) of 12 to 18 inches 2. Probe mic. is marked 30 mm it answers the the speaker (can be 0 °or 45 °) (need 3. Position patient as f0r REM
-For example, go for: 2. Probe mic. is marked 30 from the tip males & 26 mm for question of how much some correction factors) 4. Calibrate Probe Tube as for REM
•Hearing system then ‘Measuring Setting’ –PhonakiPFG mm from the tip males & adult females amplification is 4. Warble tones –to avoid standing waves 5. Measure & place the probe tube in the ear canal.
•Icon ‘Hearing Aid Test’ –Starkey 26 mm for adult females 3. Mark is placed at the intra provided by the HA 5. Volume control on preferred setting 6. Complete a LSM measurement UNAIDED
4. Operating software>Phonak/ Starkey etc>Detect HA>HI (follow-up 3. Mark is placed at the intra tragal notch compared to having 6. Mask non-test ear if necessary 7. Carefully place the HA in the ear without disturbing the
case)>‘Hearing system’>‘Measuring Setting’>Activate FOG/ tragal notch 4. A short burst of a speech- no HA 7. Signals are presented & the results are probe tube
Microphone>Minimize the window 4. A short burst of a speech- weighted composite noise is plotted on the Aided Audiogram sheet 8. Complete a LSM measurement AIDED.
5. Connect the 2 cc coupler weighted composite noise presented at a level of 65 dB 8. Obtained threshold at each frequency 9. Make any adjustments needed to the HA so that, the LSM
6. Put the HA & 2 cc coupler into the test box is presented at a level of SPL & stored as the under 9. Adjust amplification to achieve curve for:
7. Operating software:>Module 65 dB SPL & stored as the response (i.e. the lower line) required aided thresholds (based on –Quiet Speech (50 to 60 dB) is at the bottom of the white
selection>Measurement>AvantHIT>HIT>Choose OSPL 90 (automatic under response (i.e. the 5. Following the unaided prescription) area
input level of 90dBSPL), ‘Tone’ then ‘Start’>Choose ‘Full-on-Gain’ lower line) measurement step 1-4, a HA is –Raised vocal effort speech is in the upper third of the
(input level of 60dBSPL), ICRA then click ‘Start’ placed in/ on the ear & turned 10. Functional Gain (FG) space between threshold & UCL
8. Choose ‘Harmonic Distortion’, ‘Input/ Output’, ‘Attack/Release’ then on to the required volume •The measured gain: Functional Gain –Loud sounds (very loud speech, clapping hands, etc) are
click ‘Start’ 6. The same signal is presented by •FG= Unaided –Aided thresholds approximately 10 dB below the UCL curve.
9. Compare the results to the specifications the loudspeaker (at the same 10. The procedures are quite similar to the real ear
10. Minimize the HIT window level as before) measurement (REM) except that:
11. Go back to Measurement Setting –No “target” is required but individual’s speech range is
–Close & restore user setting shown, Stimuli are real speech sounds of clinician or
12. Save the settings significant others
13. Detach everything –Special software is required to run the test
(IN CLINICAL ONLY )