Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2018 Dec;61(12):663-668. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2018.00052.

Comparison of Clinical Usefulness of Program-Assisted and Real Ear Measurement-Assisted Hearing Aids Fitting

• Chang YS
• Jung HI
• Cho YS

• KMID: 2430844
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2018.00052

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of this study were to determine the clinical usefulness of the program-assisted and real ear measurement (REM)-assisted fitting of hearing aids.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
Fifteen participants with moderate to moderately severe hearing loss were enrolled in this study. Objective and subjective fitting results were assessed to compare the benefits between the program-assisted fitting (using a software fitting program) and the REM-assisted fitting. Real ear insertion gain (REIG), sound-field audiometry using warble tone, and Korean Hearing in Noise Test (K-HINT) were performed as objective tests. Sound quality rating was performed as a subjective test.
RESULTS
In the program fitting, 48.89% of fitting points failed to come within ±10 dB of the REIG target. In the REM fitting, however, the percentage of failure significantly decreased to 23.33% (p=0.013). In K-HINT test, the reception threshold for speech in quiet situation significantly decreased from 50.1 dB HL with the program fitting to 44.7 dB HL after the REM fitting (p < 0.001). In front noise condition, signal-to-noise ratio improved from 4.53 dB to 3.50 dB with the REM fitting without statistical significance (p=0.099). In the sound quality rating, the REM fitting (4.27±0.56) showed a significantly better sound quality ratings than the program fitting (3.69±0.74) (p=0.017).
CONCLUSION
The REM fitting showed better results in both subjective and objective measurements than the program fitting.

Keyword

Hearing aids fitting; Korean Hearing in Noise Test; Real ear measurement; Sound quality

MeSH Terms

Audiometry
Ear*
Hearing Aids*
Hearing Loss
Hearing*
Methods
Noise
Signal-To-Noise Ratio