Digital evaluation of effect of noise on speech: the signal to noise ratio
| Grant number: | 07/07599-4 |
| Support type: | Regular Research Grants |
| Duration: | February 01, 2008 - January 31, 2010 |
| Field of knowledge: | Health Sciences - Speech Therapy |
| Principal Investigator: | Regina Tangerino de Souza Jacob |
| Grantee: | Regina Tangerino de Souza Jacob |
| Home Institution: | Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Bauru , SP, Brazil |
Abstract
The Department and Clinic of the Speech Pathology and Audiology Course at Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru da Universidade de São Paulo are inserted in the campus of Universidade de São Paulo/ Bauru, where reference services in Audiology are embodied not only nationally but also internationally. In this context, Centro de Pesquisas Audiológias (CPA) is highlighted. CPA is a Research Group consolidated in CNPq since 1997, which has been developing relevant researches in the fields of prevention, identification, diagnosis and treatment of Hearing Impairment. In addition to this, Clínica de Fonoaudiologia do Curso de Fonoaudiologia da USP/ Campus Bauru is accredited/credentialed to Directive GM/MS n. 2073- September 2004, which institutes the National Policy in Attention to Auditive Health, to be installed in all federated units, respecting the competencies of the three spheres of management. This way, Program of Educational Audiology and Auditive (Re)habilitation, proposes the assistance to hearing impaired children, for a functional utilization of auditive residues, thus, enabling the construction and using of oral language, which will afford opportunity of interaction in their social environment. This scenery is propitious for performance of scientific investigation, which permits the development of guidance and recommendations for the assistance of auditive deficient patients, mainly through Unified Health System (SUS).In the last years, the advent of Digital Technology and Multichannel Cochlear Implants has been favoring the (Re) habilitation process in hearing impaired population. However, even so, noisy environment appears as a frequent complaint for speech perception. According to international studies, the FM Technology has been demonstrated as the best strategy for effective strategy to improve the listening environment and reduce the problems associated with speaker-to-listener distance, poor SNR (signal-to-noise ratio), and room reverberation in speech perception. Considering that: - One of the principles of Aurioral Approach is to insert hearing impaired children into regular school, which provides them greater enriching experiences while interacting with hearing children. -Construction Process, Acquisition and Development of reading and writing skills should be facilitated and favored, leading hearing impaired children to take a more positive attitude concerning the Portuguese language in this modality of expression. - Noise parameters at school found in Brazil are much higher above the forecasted conditions for an ideal environment of learning. - Even adapted to hearing aids nd using cochlear implants, hearing impaired complain about difficulty of speech perception in noisy environment, being this one of the most significant motives of dissatisfaction and rejection to amplification. -Studies to assess the performance of FM Technology in adults cannot be generalized for the pediatric population, and- In Brazil, national studies with high level of evidence about the importance of the use of FM Technology have not been found in the researched literature. The objective of this research is to assess the benefits of FM Technology for hearing impaired children. (AU)