Increased maximum power output may improve speech recognition with bone conduction hearing devices

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the influence of maximum power output of bone conduction hearing devices on speech recognition in quiet and in noise in experienced users of bone conduction hearing devices.

Design: Prospective, randomised cross-over investigation comparing speech recognition performance, subjective sound quality, and device preference between two bone conduction hearing devices with different maximum power outputs.

Study sample: Sixteen adult subjects with conductive or mixed hearing loss.

Results: Both speech recognition in quiet and speech recognition in noise improved significantly when using the device with high vs. lower maximum power output. Mean improvement in word recognition score in quiet was 10.5% and the mean speech reception threshold in noise improved by 0.9 dB SNR. Compared to the device with lower maximum power output, the sound quality was rated significantly higher with the device with high maximum power output, which was also the device of preference for 81% of the subjects.

Conclusion: Bone conduction hearing devices with higher maximum power output have the potential to improve speech recognition in both quiet and noisy listening environments.

Keywords: Maximum power output; bone conduction; conductive hearing loss; hearing device; mixed hearing loss; speech recognition.