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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2017; 21(03): 243-249
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1593471
Original Research
Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Effectiveness of Low Cut Modified Amplification using Receiver in the Canal Hearing Aid in Individuals with Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder

Prashanth Prabhu
1   Department of Audiology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing Ringgold Standard Institution, Mysore, Karnataka, India
,
Animesh Barman
1   Department of Audiology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing Ringgold Standard Institution, Mysore, Karnataka, India
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

18 May 2016

23 August 2016

Publication Date:
22 November 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction The studies on hearing aid benefit in individuals with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) shows limited benefit. Low cut modified amplification is found to be effective in few individuals with ANSD. With advancement in technology, receiver in the canal (RIC) hearing aids have proven to be more effective than traditional behind the ear (BTE) hearing aids.

Objective Thus, the present study attempts to determine the effectiveness of low cut modified amplification using RIC and BTE.

Method Twenty participants with ANSD were fitted with BTE and RIC using traditional and low cut modified amplification. We divided them into good and poor performers based on unaided speech identification scores (SIS). We then compared aided SIS and aided benefit across conditions in good and poor performers with ANSD across both conditions using BTE and RIC.

Results The results of the study showed that the aided performance improved with low cut modified amplification in both BTE and RIC hearing aids. The improvement noticed with low-cut modified fitting with RIC was significant in more than BTE, especially in good performers with ANSD.

Conclusion The improved clarity and naturalness of sound with RIC may have led to better aided scores and better acceptance of the hearing aid. Thus, low-cut modified amplification, preferably with RIC, needs to be attempted in fitting individuals with ANSD, especially in those with good unaided SIS in quiet.

Keywords

hearing aids - hearing loss - speech perception
 

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