PP428 - Verification of Gain Settings in a Remote Microphone System for Pediatric Hearing Aid Users

Abstract:
This study evaluated the impact of intensity and relative M adjustments in the EduMic system on the output of Oticon Opn Play and Xceed Play hearing aids programmed for varying degrees of hearing loss. Electroacoustic verification indicated that customized adjustments are essential for ensuring transparency and optimizing auditory gain. Findings reinforce the importance of specific gain adjustments to meet the auditory needs of children in educational settings. Future studies may explore the effectiveness of EduMic in real-world environments to maximize its benefits for pediatric hearing-impaired populations.

Summary:
Objective
To investigate the impact of intensity and relative M adjustments of the EduMic system on the output of hearing aids programmed for different degrees of hearing loss.

Rationale
For children with hearing loss, environments such as classrooms present additional challenges due to noise and distance from the speaker. Remote microphone systems (RMS) like EduMic are used to mitigate these challenges, providing better auditory accessibility. Electroacoustic verification ensures that the RMS and hearing aid operate transparently, essential for sound quality and speech comprehension.

Methodology
This descriptive, quantitative study was conducted in a controlled environment. Oticon Opn Play and Xceed Play hearing aids were programmed for five levels of hearing loss (40 to 80 dBHL) using the DSL v5.0 prescription rule. EduMic’s intensity and relative M settings were adjusted to assess their impact on RMS output (RMS values). Tests were conducted according to ANSI S3.22 guidelines to verify electroacoustic responses, comparing outputs across various EduMic gain configurations.

Results
The intensity and relative M adjustments significantly affected RMS output, with higher variation observed in lower degrees of hearing loss. Results also indicated an interaction between the degree of hearing loss and EduMic parameters. Electroacoustic transparency was achieved in certain hearing loss levels with specific relative M and intensity settings.

Conclusion
Customizing EduMic gain settings is crucial to ensuring optimal auditory accessibility in educational settings, especially for pediatric users. These findings reinforce the need for electroacoustic verification to adjust the RMS according to the user’s degree of hearing loss. Future studies should consider real-world testing to evaluate EduMic's performance in everyday environments.