Noise reduction algorithm in hearing aids: influence on speech recognition in noisy environment

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i10.8352

Keywords:

Hearing aids; Hearing loss; Audiology; Audiometry; Speech; Speech discrimination tests.

Abstract

Purpose: To verify the influence of the noise reduction algorithm on speech recognition of adults and elderly users of hearing aids. Method: Cross-sectional study conducted with 18 years or older individuals with sensorineural hearing loss, referred for hearing aids fitting. It was used the List of Sentences in Portuguese test in an acoustically treated cabin under two conditions: noise reduction algorithm on and off. Results: There was an improvement in the Signal-to-Noise ratio in the condition of noise reduction on compared to noise reduction off (p = 0.043). Regarding the Speech Recognition in Noise Index, no statistically significant differences were observed. Two variables were defined: ΔSNR and ΔSRNI. ΔSNR is the difference between the Signal-to-Noise ratio with noise reduction off and on, while ΔSRNI is the difference between Speech Recognition in Noise Index with noise reduction on and off. An increase in ΔSNR is related to a worsening of ΔSRNI. Conclusion: The Signal-to-Noise ratio improved with the use of the noise reduction. However, this was not verified for the SRNI. In addition, an inverse relationship between ΔSNR and ΔSRNI was observed, implying that an improvement in Signal-to-Noise ratio may compromise the speech recognition in noise.

Author Biographies

Sabrina Nuñes Gonçalves, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Fonoaudióloga, Mestranda em Saúde da Criança e do Adolescente.

Adriana Laybauer Silveira, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre

Fonoaudióloga, Especialista em Audiologia, Mestre e Doutoranda em Saúde da Criança e do Adolescente. Fonoaudióloga no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre.

Adriane Ribeiro Teixeira, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre e Universidade Federal de São Paulo

Fonoaudióloga, Especialista em Audiologia e Gerontologia, Mestre em Distúrbios da Comunicação Humana, Doutora em Gerontologia Biomédica e Pós-doutoranda em Dist´úrbios da Comunicação. Professora Associada III no Departamento de Saúde e Comunicação Humana (UFRGS).

 

References

Baraldi, G. S., Almeida, L. C., & Borges, A. C. C. (2007). Evolução da perda auditiva no decorrer do envelhecimento. Revista Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia, 73(1), 64–70. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0034-72992007000100010

Bentler, R., Wu, Y. H., Kettel, J., & Hurtig, R. (2008). Digital noise reduction: Outcomes from laboratory and field studies. International Journal of Audiology, 47(8), 447–460. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992020802033091

Bertozzo, M. C., & Blasca, W. Q. (2019). Análise comparativa dos métodos prescritivos NAL-NL2 e DSL v5.0a na adaptação do AASI em idosos. CoDAS, 31(4). https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1782/20192018171

Brons, I., Houben, R., & Dreschler, W. A. (2014). Effects of noise reduction on speech intelligibility, perceived listening effort, and personal preference in hearing-impaired listeners. Trends in Hearing, 18. https://doi.org/10.1177/2331216514553924

Canzi, P., Manfrin, M., Locatelli, G., Nopp, P., Perotti, M., & Benazzo, M. (2016). Development of a novel Italian speech-in-noise test using a roving-level adaptive method: adult population-based normative data. Acta Otorhinolaryngologica Italica : Organo Ufficiale Della Societa Italiana Di Otorinolaringologia e Chirurgia Cervico-Facciale, 36(6), 506–512. https://doi.org/10.14639/0392-100X-1133

Chung, K. (2004). Challenges and Recent Developments in Hearing Aids: Part I. Speech Understanding in Noise, Microphone Technologies and Noise Reduction Algorithms. Trends in Amplification, 8(3), 83–124. https://doi.org/10.1177/108471380400800302

Cooper, J. C., & Cutts, B. P. (1971). Speech discrimination in noise. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 14(2), 332–337. https://doi.org/10.1044/jshr.1402.332

Costa, M. J. (1998). Listas de sentenças em português: apresentação & estratégias de aplicação na audiologia. Santa Maria: Pallotti.

Costa, M. J., Daniel, R. C., & Neujahr, S. dos S. (2011). Sentence recognition in quiet and in noise on earphones: reference benchmarks. In Revista CEFAC (Vol. 13).

da Silva, A. P. R. (2014). A seleção do AASI no deficiente auditivo idoso, comparando o desempenho entre a programação padrão e a programação individualizada. Universidade de São Paulo.

Davis, H., & Silverman, S. R. (1966). Hearing and Deafness. In Hearing and Deafness (3rd ed). New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

de Oliveira, J. R. M., Lopes, E. S., & Alves, A. F. (2010). Speech perception of hearing impaired people using a hearing aid with noise supression algorithms. Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 76(1), 14–17. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1808-86942010000100003

Desjardins, J. L., & Doherty, K. A. (2014). The effect of hearing aid noise reduction on listening effort in hearing-impaired adults. Ear and Hearing, 35(6), 600–610.

https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000000028

Dworsack-Dodge, M. (2013). The Devil is in the Fitting Details. Retrieved August 12, 2020, from AudiologyOnline website: https://www.audiologyonline.com/articles/devil-in-fitting-details-11566

Ferreira, G. C., Santos, S. N. dos, & Costa, M. J. (2017). Fatores de influência na percepção de fala em idosos usuários de próteses auditivas. Distúrbios Da Comunicação, 29(3), 405. https://doi.org/10.23925/2176-2724.2017v29i3p405-415

Guijo, L. M., Horiuti, M. B., & Cardoso, A. C. V. (2019). Mensuração do esforço auditivo com o uso de um paradigma de tarefa dupla do Português Brasileiro: estudo-piloto. CoDAS, 31(4). https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1782/20192018181

Henriques, M. O., Miranda, E. C. de, & Costa, M. (2008). Limiares de reconhecimento de sentenças no ruído, em campo livre: valores de referência para adultos normo-ouvintes. Revista Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia, 74(2), 188–192.

Hilkhuysen, G., Gaubitch, N., Brookes, M., & Huckvale, M. (2012). Effects of noise suppression on intelligibility: Dependency on signal-to-noise ratios. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 131(1), 531–539. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.3665996

Holube, I., Puder, H., & Velde, T. M. (2014). DSP Hearing aids. In M. J. METZ (Ed.), Sandlin’s Textbook of Hearing Aid Amplification: Technical and Clinical Considerations. (pp. 221–294).

Hopkins, K. (2015). Deafness in cochlear and auditory nerve disorders. In Handbook of Clinical Neurology (Vol. 129, pp. 479–494). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-62630-1.00027-5

Hu, Y., & Loizou, P. C. (2007). A comparative intelligibility study of single-microphone noise reduction algorithms. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 122(3), 1777–1786. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.2766778

IBGE - Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. (2013). Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde - Pessoas com deficiência auditiva, total, percentual e coeficiente de variação, por sexo e situação do domicílio. Retrieved September 21, 2019, from https://sidra.ibge.gov.br/tabela/5719

Keidser, G., Dillon, H. R., Flax, M., Ching, T., & Brewer, S. (2011). The NAL-NL2 prescription procedure. Audiology Research, 1(1S). https://doi.org/10.4081/audiores.2011.e24

Melo, R., Menezes, D., & Pacífico, F. (2017). Brazilian Portuguese Hearing in Noise Test (HINT): different interpretation criteria for individuals’ responses. CoDAS, 29(1). https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1782/20172016082

Nordrum, S., Erler, S., Garstecki, D., & Dhar, S. (2006). Comparison of performance on the hearing in noise test using directional microphones and digital noise reduction algorithms. American Journal of Audiology, 15(1), 81–91. https://doi.org/10.1044/1059-0889(2006/010)

Oliveira, J. R. M., Lopes, E. S., & Alves, A. F. (2010). Percepção de fala dos deficientes auditivos usando aparelho de amplificação com algoritmo de redução de ruído. Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 76(1), 14–17. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1808-86942010000100003

OMS - Organização Mundial de Saúde. (2018). World hearing day infographic. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/deafness/world-hearing-day/WorldHearing-Day-Infographic-EN.pdf?ua=1

Plomp, R. (1994). Noise, amplification, and compression: considerations of three main issues in hearing aid design. Ear and Hearing, 15(1), 2–12. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8194676

Plomp, R., & Mimpen, A. M. (1979). Speech-reception threshold for sentences as a function of age and noise level. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 66(5), 1333–1342. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.383554

Ricketts, T. A., & Hornsby, B. W. Y. (2005). Sound quality measures for speech in noise through a commercial hearing aid implementing “digital noise reduction.” Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 16(5), 270–277. https://doi.org/10.3766/jaaa.16.5.2

Santos, S. N., & Costa, M. J. (2016). Percepção de fala no ruído em idosos usuários de próteses auditivas com diferentes microfones e algoritmo de redução de ruído. Audiology - Communication Research, 21(0). https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-6431-2015-1607

Smaldino, J., Kreisman, B., & John, A. (2014). Sandlin’s textbook of hearing aid amplification. In M. Metz (Ed.), Sandlin’s textbook of hearing aid amplification (3rd ed, pp. 629–658). San Diego: Plurall.

Wu, Y.-H., Stangl, E., Chipara, O., Hasan, S. S., DeVries, S., & Oleson, J. (2019). Efficacy and Effectiveness of Advanced Hearing Aid Directional and Noise Reduction Technologies for Older Adults With Mild to Moderate Hearing Loss. Ear and Hearing, 40(4), 805–822. https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000000672

Yumba, W. (2019). Selected Cognitive Factors Associated with Individual Variability in Clinical Measures of Speech Recognition in Noise Amplified by Fast-Acting Compression Among Hearing Aid Users. Noise

Downloads

Published

17/09/2020

How to Cite

GONÇALVES, S. N. .; SILVEIRA, A. L. .; TEIXEIRA, A. R. . Noise reduction algorithm in hearing aids: influence on speech recognition in noisy environment. Research, Society and Development, [S. l.], v. 9, n. 10, p. e059108352, 2020. DOI: 10.33448/rsd-v9i10.8352. Disponível em: https://www.rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/8352. Acesso em: 26 apr. 2024.

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 10

Section

Health Sciences

License

Copyright (c) 2020 Sabrina Nuñes Gonçalves; Adriana Laybauer Silveira; Adriane Ribeiro Teixeira

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

2) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

3) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.