Fitting Assistive Technology for People with Hearing Loss: The Importance of Remote Microphone Systems ' Electroacoustic Verification

Author(s)

Jacob, Regina Tangerino de Souza ; Paccola, Elaine Cristina Moreto ; Bucuvic, Erika Cristina ; Salgado, Manoel Henrique

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH; v. 18, n. 24, p. 11-pg., 2021-12-01.

Abstract

The remote microphone system (RMS) must be appropriately working when fitting it in a person with hearing loss. For this verification process, the concept of transparency is adopted. If it is not transparent, the hearing aid (HA) may not capture the user's voice and his peers appropriately, or the RMS may not have the advantage in gain needed to emphasize the speaker's voice. This study investigates the influence of the receiver's gain setting on the transparency of different brands and models of RMS and HAs. It is a retrospective chart review with 277 RMS from three distinct brands (RMA, RMB, and RMC) and HAs. There was an association of the receiver's gain setting with the variables: brand of the transmitter/receiver (p = 0.005), neck loop's receiver vs. universal and dedicated receivers (p = 0.022), and between brands of HA and transmitter/receiver (p < 0.001). RMS transmitter (odds ratio [OR = 7.9]) and the type of receiver (neckloop [OR = 3.4]; universal [OR = 0.78]) presented a higher risk of not achieving transparency in default gain, confirming and extolling the need to include electroacoustic verification in the protocol of fitting, verification, and validation of RMS and HA. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/23162-2 - Electroacoustic verification protocol of remote microphones for hearing impaired students
• Grantee: Regina Tangerino de Souza Jacob
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research