Objective verification of audibility in bone conduction devices

Persson, Ann-Charlotte,1970Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Institutionen för kliniska vetenskaper,Institutionen för kliniska vetenskaper, Avdelningen för öron-, näs- och halssjukdomar,Institute of Clinical Sciences,Institute of Clinical Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology,University of Gothenburg (author)

Objective: To objectively measure audibility in patients wearing bone conduction devices (BCDs) with a new approach using a skin microphone at the patient’s forehead. Design: The skin microphone was attached by a softband and shielded by an earmuff. This set-up was confirmed not to be influenced by neither noise floor nor sound bypassing the BCD. Sound field warble tones were used for measuring aided hearing thresholds and maximum power output (MPO) whereas an international speech test signal (ISTS) was presented at different speech levels. Study sample: 29 patients were tested (two were bilateral), 19 used percutaneous, eight used active transcutaneous and two used passive transcutaneous devices. Results: The skin microphone responses at ISTS levels, hearing threshold and MPO, could be obtained in all patients. Two patients with poor audibility are highlighted in this article as examples. After adjusting the gain of the BCD, they were retested with the skin microphone (for verification) and with speech-in-noise tests (for validation). Both tests confirmed an improved audibility after the adjustments. Conclusion: In summary, the proposed measurement of audibility of speech using a skin microphone is a promising method that can be used in a clinical setting for all types of BCDs.

Håkansson, Bo,1953Chalmers tekniska högskola,Chalmers University of Technology(Swepub:cth)boh (author)
Fredén Jansson, Karl-Johan,1988Chalmers tekniska högskola,Chalmers University of Technology(Swepub:cth)karljohf (author)
Reinfeldt, Sabine,1978Chalmers tekniska högskola,Chalmers University of Technology(Swepub:cth)f97sare (author)
Eeg-Olofsson, Måns,1967Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Institutionen för kliniska vetenskaper,Institutionen för kliniska vetenskaper, Avdelningen för öron-, näs- och halssjukdomar,Institute of Clinical Sciences,Institute of Clinical Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology,University of Gothenburg(Swepub:gu)xeegma (author)
Göteborgs universitetInstitutionen för kliniska vetenskaper (creator_code:org_t)

By the author/editor: Persson, Ann-Cha ...; Håkansson, Bo, 1 ...; Fredén Jansson, ...; Reinfeldt, Sabin ...; Eeg-Olofsson, Må ...

About the subject

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES: MEDICAL AND HEAL ...; and Clinical Medicin ...; and Otorhinolaryngol ...

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY: ENGINEERING AND ...; and Mechanical Engin ...; and Applied Mechanic ...

By the university: University of Gothenburg; Chalmers University of Technology

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