Task-Dependent Effects of Signal Audibility for Processing Speech: Comparing Performance With NAL-NL2 and DSL v5 Hearing Aid Prescriptions at Threshold and at Suprathreshold Levels in 9- to 17-Year-Olds With Hearing Loss.
Andrea L Pittman, Elizabeth C Stewart
PMID 37254534WHAT IT FOUND
More hearing aid gain helps children hear soft words but does not improve their ability to learn new words or remember sentences.
For complex tasks, repeating the information is more effective than increasing the volume or audibility of the speech signal.
Key findings
01Speech reception thresholds and word recognition at low levels were better with the DSL prescription than with the NAL prescription.
02Performance on cognitively demanding tasks like word learning and multiword recall did not improve significantly with increased audibility from hearing aid settings.
03Repeating words improved memory and learning performance more effectively than increasing the audibility of the speech signal.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study included only 15 analyzed participants, which limits the generalizability of the findings. The results apply only to children aged 9 to 17 with mild-to-moderate hearing loss; younger children or those with severe losses may respond differently. The adaptive gain feature tested is specific to Phonak hearing aids and may not work the same way with other brands. The study did not measure general cognitive ability or language skills, which could influence how much audibility helps a child learn.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the U.S. government (non-commercial).
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that increasing hearing aid gain will improve a child's language learning or memory. This study found that while more gain helps with hearing soft sounds, it does not help with complex tasks like learning new words, where repetition is more effective.