Speech Identification with Single Channel Multichannel and Channel-free Hearing Aids

Abstract

Results of investigations in multichannel and single hearing aids are equivocal; this is due to some acoustical modifications brought about by the multichannel hearing aids. The present study is aimed to compare the performance of single channel multichannel and channel free hearing in quiet and two SNR conditions. 12 participants in the age range of 30-60 years Participated in the present study. All the participants had sensory neural hearing loss with degree ranging from 41-70 dB. Speech identification scores were assessed in quiet and two SNR conditions (+10 dB and 0 dB SNR) for single, three, eight channel and channel free hearing aids. Results revealed that participants performed better with channel free hearing aid in quiet and in presence of noise conditions. The performance was better in 8 channel hearing over three and single channel only in noise conditions. Results suggest that the new technology overcomes the disadvantages of multichannel hearing aids. Performance of multichannel hearing aids showed better performance only in noise but no difference in performance between single and three channel hearing aids. So increasing the number of channels improves performance only in noise.