Aided Acoustic Change Complex in Individuals with Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Abstract

Multiple overlapping P 1-N l-P2 responses can be elicited in response to naturally produced speech stimulus. This overlapping neural response represents the acoustical changes within speech stimulus. These potentials are known as Acoustic Change Complex (ACC). Research evidences clearly indicates that ACC can be reliably recorded in normal hearing individuals. But, there is lack of evidences in individual with sloping sensorineural hearing loss with different duration and degree of hearing loss and its effect on unaided and aided ACC. Hence, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of degree and duration of sloping sensorineural hearing loss and digitally amplified speech by hearing aid on ACC. The result of the study indicated that a clear ACC can be successfully recorded in aided condition compared to unaided condition. The present study also showed that as the degree and duration of hearing loss increases, there is a change in unaided and aided ACC compared to lesser degree and duration of hearing loss.