• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1995 no.11
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• pp.121-123
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• 1995

This paper presents a new method which compensates loss of loudness for digital hearing aids. Loudness grows more rapidly in frequency domain with substantial shifts of hearing threshold, so that loud sounds reach the uncomfortable sound level (UCL) at about the same physical stimulus level as with normal hearing. The result is a compression of the available dynamic range of hearing. Many techniques have been developed to compensate for hearing losses. In this paper, we propose a digital hearing aid which uses a single digital filter for reducing distortion and the fuzzy function to calculate gain factors. This function describes how much gain is needed for every frequency to restore loudness perception of a normal ear.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.12-21
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• 2000

In this paper, we propose a novel hearing aid algorithm for sensorinural hearing loss restoration with multi-channel(band) dynamic range compression and psychoacoustics. In this way, we can present a normal perception condition to the impaired listener. The proposed algorithm make loudness scaling function achieve proper loudness level, and analysis masking property for the signal will be perceived to impaired listener, and then, restore normal spectral contrast using SMR(signal-to-masking ratio) defined by distance between the level of each frequency and masking threshold.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1981.05a
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• pp.38.2-39
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• 1981

Speech reception threshold is a base for word discrimination testing, but it also serves as a check for the reliability of pure tone audiogram. In order to investigate the correlation between SRT and PTA these tests were carried out in patients with conductive hearing loss and normal hearing, using Grason-Stadler 1702 Audiometer. The results were as follows; 1) The difference between the scores of SRT and PTA's was 2.4 dB with a range of -3.3 dB∼+8.3 dB in conductive hearing loss, and was 1.9 dB with a range of -6.7 dB∼+5 dB in normal hearing group. 2) The difference between the scores of SRT and each speech frequency of PTA was 6 dB at 500 Hz, 3 dB at 1,000 Hz and 8.8 dB at 2,000 Hz in conductive hearing loss, and 3 dB at 500Hz, 2 dB at 1,000Hz, and 5dB at 2,000Hz in normal hearing group.

• Proceedings of the Acoustical Society of Korea Conference
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• 1994.06a
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• pp.1064-1069
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• 1994

In order to realize the function of human interface of telecommunications whose objective is to interchange useful information among persons, we developed a bone conduction telephone with which hearing impaired persons with conductive or noise-induced hearing loss and presbycusis can communicate with each other without any other additional devices such as hearing aids. The bone conduction telephone we developed has chatacteristics as follows : (i) a hearing impaired person and a normal hearing person can communicate by bone and air conduction hearings, respectively, using only this telephone set because, as its receiver, it uses a bone conduction vibrator with which we can realize such function with the voice coil and damper of a small speaker unit, the vibrating plate, etc., (ii) it has tone control function compensating hearing losses of hearing impaired persons according to their hearing loss/frequency chatacteristics. Using the tone control function together with a received volume control, it has the received volume range of 20dB in loudness rating; and (iii) it has the function of three emergency calls and a bell lamp as the visual display of a received call.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: Hearing can be elicited in response to vibratory stimuli delivered to fluid in the external auditory meatus. To obtain a complete audiogram in subjects with normal hearing in response to pure tone vibratory stimuli delivered to fluid applied to the external meatus. Subjects and Methods: Pure tone vibratory stimuli in the audiometric range from 0.25 to 6.0 kHz were delivered to fluid applied to the external meatus of eight participants with normal hearing (15 dB or better) using a rod attached to a standard clinical bone vibrator. The fluid thresholds obtained were compared to the air conduction (AC), bone conduction (BC; mastoid), and soft tissue conduction (STC; neck) thresholds in the same subjects. Results: Fluid stimulation thresholds were obtained at every frequency in each subject. The fluid and STC (neck) audiograms sloped down at higher frequencies, while the AC and BC audiograms were flat. It is likely that the fluid stimulation audiograms did not involve AC mechanisms or even, possibly, osseous BC mechanisms. Conclusions: The thresholds elicited in response to the fluid in the meatus likely reflect a form of STC and may result from excitation of the inner ear by the vibrations induced in the fluid. The sloping fluid audiograms may reflect transmission pathways that are less effective at higher frequencies.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: Hearing can be elicited in response to vibratory stimuli delivered to fluid in the external auditory meatus. To obtain a complete audiogram in subjects with normal hearing in response to pure tone vibratory stimuli delivered to fluid applied to the external meatus. Subjects and Methods: Pure tone vibratory stimuli in the audiometric range from 0.25 to 6.0 kHz were delivered to fluid applied to the external meatus of eight participants with normal hearing (15 dB or better) using a rod attached to a standard clinical bone vibrator. The fluid thresholds obtained were compared to the air conduction (AC), bone conduction (BC; mastoid), and soft tissue conduction (STC; neck) thresholds in the same subjects. Results: Fluid stimulation thresholds were obtained at every frequency in each subject. The fluid and STC (neck) audiograms sloped down at higher frequencies, while the AC and BC audiograms were flat. It is likely that the fluid stimulation audiograms did not involve AC mechanisms or even, possibly, osseous BC mechanisms. Conclusions: The thresholds elicited in response to the fluid in the meatus likely reflect a form of STC and may result from excitation of the inner ear by the vibrations induced in the fluid. The sloping fluid audiograms may reflect transmission pathways that are less effective at higher frequencies.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.181-186
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: This study compared the perception of mono-syllabic and bisyllabic words in Tamil by young normal hearing adults in the presence of multi-talker speech babble at two signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Further for this comparison, a speech perception in noise test was constructed using existing mono-syllabic and bi-syllabic word lists in Tamil. Subjects and Methods: A total of 30 participants with normal hearing in the age range of 18 to 25 years participated in the study. Speech-in-noise test in Tamil (SPIN-T) constructed using mono-syllabic and bi-syllabic words in Tamil was used as stimuli. The stimuli were presented in the background of multi-talker speech babble at two SNRs (0 dB and +10 dB SNR). Results: The effect of noise on SPIN-T varied with SNR. All the participants performed better at +10 dB SNR, the higher of the two SNRs considered. Additionally, at +10 dB SNR performance did not vary significantly for neither mono-syllabic or bi-syllabic words. However, a significant difference existed at 0 dB SNR. Conclusions: The current study indicated that higher SNR leads to better performance. In addition, bi-syllabic words were identified with minimal errors compared to mono-syllabic words. Spectral cues were the most affected in the presence of noise leading to more of place of articulation errors for both mono-syllabic and bi-syllabic words.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.181-186
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: This study compared the perception of mono-syllabic and bisyllabic words in Tamil by young normal hearing adults in the presence of multi-talker speech babble at two signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Further for this comparison, a speech perception in noise test was constructed using existing mono-syllabic and bi-syllabic word lists in Tamil. Subjects and Methods: A total of 30 participants with normal hearing in the age range of 18 to 25 years participated in the study. Speech-in-noise test in Tamil (SPIN-T) constructed using mono-syllabic and bi-syllabic words in Tamil was used as stimuli. The stimuli were presented in the background of multi-talker speech babble at two SNRs (0 dB and +10 dB SNR). Results: The effect of noise on SPIN-T varied with SNR. All the participants performed better at +10 dB SNR, the higher of the two SNRs considered. Additionally, at +10 dB SNR performance did not vary significantly for neither mono-syllabic or bi-syllabic words. However, a significant difference existed at 0 dB SNR. Conclusions: The current study indicated that higher SNR leads to better performance. In addition, bi-syllabic words were identified with minimal errors compared to mono-syllabic words. Spectral cues were the most affected in the presence of noise leading to more of place of articulation errors for both mono-syllabic and bi-syllabic words.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.385-394
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• 2010

Automatic gain control(AGC) is used in hearing aids to compensate for the hearing level as to reduced dynamic range. AGC is consisted of the main 4 factors which are compression threshold, compression ratio, attack time, and release time. This study especially focus on each individual need for optimum release time parameters that can be changed within 7 certain range such as 12, 64, 128, 512, 2094, and 4096ms. To estimate the effect of various release time in AGC, twelve normal hearing and twelve hearing impaired listeners are participated. The stimuli are used by one syllable and sentence which have the same acoustic energy respectively. Then, each of score of the word recognition score is checked in quiet and noise conditions. As a result, it is verified that most people have the different best recognition score on specific release time. Also, if hearing aids is set by the optimum release time in each person, it is helpful in speech recognition and discrimination.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.275-282
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was done to examine the relationship between nursing students' hearing levels and accuracy of blood pressure (BP) measurements. Methods: Participants were 107 students who had finished their fundamental nursing practice and clinical practicum and who used earphones. Data were collected from October 13 to November 30, 2014 and from April 30 to May 19, 2015. Students' hearing thresholds were examined using an audiometer. Students were assigned to take two BP measurements on BP measurement training simulators, but only the second measurement was used for analysis. Results: All nursing students' hearing levels were within normal range, and there was no significant difference found among the settings for diastolic blood pressure. However, there were significant differences between low systolic blood pressure (SBP) (below 120mmHg) and high SBP (over 140mmHg) (z=9.02, p=.011). Measurement error in SBP showed a positive correlation with hearing threshold in the right ear at frequencies of 1000Hz and 500Hz. Conclusion: Findings indicate that BP measurement error is correlated with hearing threshold at some frequencies. To reduce measurement error, nursing students should be provided with health education about hearing and to improve training for students, further studies need to examine other factors influencing BP measurement error.