In-situ Audiometry Compared to Conventional Audiometry for Hearing Aid Fitting.
Maaike Van Eeckhoutte, Bettina Skjold Jasper, Erik Finn Kjærbøl and 2 others
PMID 38835268WHAT IT FOUND
Modern hearing aid software automatically corrects for low-frequency leakage in open-fit devices.
In-situ thresholds matched conventional audiometry within 5 dB for 11 patients. Clinicians can trust in-situ results for fitting, provided they follow manufacturer guidelines on dome selection.
Key findings
01In-situ audiometry thresholds did not differ significantly from conventional audiometry thresholds for four tested hearing aid models.
02Most manufacturers' software compensates for low-frequency leakage by increasing the intensity of in-situ stimuli when an open fit is selected.
03GN ReSound is an exception; its software does not correct for leakage, requiring clinicians to use closed domes for in-situ measurements even if the patient wears open domes.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The clinical trial included only 11 participants, which is fewer than the 15 suggested by sample size calculations. The study only included patients with symmetrical, mild-to-moderate hearing loss who did not require masking, so results may not apply to complex cases. Testing was conducted in a soundproof booth; background noise in remote or home settings could affect validity. The study did not assess whether in-situ audiometry is valid for initial diagnosis, only for fitting verification.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest and received no financial support for the research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not use in-situ audiometry for initial diagnosis or for patients with asymmetrical hearing loss requiring masking. It is intended for verifying hearing aid gain, not replacing the diagnostic audiogram.