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Swann S, O'Brien I, Rance G, Dowell R. Interviews with musicians with hearing aids. Int J Audiol 2023:1-9. [PMID: 37980926 DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2275118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: Musicians who wear hearing aids are a unique subset of hearing-impaired individuals. There are a number of issues musicians experience with hearing aids, making effective hearing rehabilitation a challenge. Research suggests hearing aid satisfaction in musicians is lower partly due to their advanced listening skills, however, qualitative research addressing musicians who wear hearing aids for music is scarce. The current study aimed to record the barriers encountered by musicians who wear hearing aids when playing their instrument/singing, listening to recorded music and listening to live music.Design: Professional musicians who wear hearing aids were interviewed. Participants were questioned about their experiences with hearing loss and hearing aids, with particular emphasis on experiences listening to recorded and live music, and playing or performing music with the hearing aids.Study Sample: Eight professional musicians were interviewed, using a semi-structured interview style, with a question and prompt guide.Results: Thematic analysis revealed three main themes in the data: the musicians' journey, communication, and flexibility/adjustability.Conclusions: The results have implications for future research into specific fitting parameters for hearing aids for musicians (particularly for music performance), the need for evidence-based rehabilitation programs for musicians with hearing loss, and the need for a glossary of terms to assist communication between Audiologists and musicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Swann
- Department of Audiology & Speech Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ian O'Brien
- Brass Department, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, South Brisbane, Australia
| | - Gary Rance
- Department of Audiology & Speech Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Richard Dowell
- Department of Audiology & Speech Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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Vaisberg JM, Beaulac S, Glista D, Macpherson EA, Scollie SD. Perceived Sound Quality Dimensions Influencing Frequency-Gain Shaping Preferences for Hearing Aid-Amplified Speech and Music. Trends Hear 2021; 25:2331216521989900. [PMID: 33563136 PMCID: PMC7876583 DOI: 10.1177/2331216521989900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hearing aids are typically fitted using speech-based prescriptive formulae to make speech more intelligible. Individual preferences may vary from these prescriptions and may also vary with signal type. It is important to consider what motivates listener preferences and how those preferences can inform hearing aid processing so that assistive listening devices can best be tailored for hearing aid users. Therefore, this study explored preferred frequency-gain shaping relative to prescribed gain for speech and music samples. Preferred gain was determined for 22 listeners with mild sloping to moderately severe hearing loss relative to individually prescribed amplification while listening to samples of male speech, female speech, pop music, and classical music across low-, mid-, and high-frequency bands. Samples were amplified using a fast-acting compression hearing aid simulator. Preferences were determined using an adaptive paired comparison procedure. Listeners then rated speech and music samples processed using prescribed and preferred shaping across different sound quality descriptors. On average, low-frequency gain was significantly increased relative to the prescription for all stimuli and most substantially for pop and classical music. High-frequency gain was decreased significantly for pop music and male speech. Gain adjustments, particularly in the mid- and high-frequency bands, varied considerably between listeners. Music preferences were driven by changes in perceived fullness and sharpness, whereas speech preferences were driven by changes in perceived intelligibility and loudness. The results generally support the use of prescribed amplification to optimize speech intelligibility and alternative amplification for music listening for most listeners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M Vaisberg
- National Centre for Audiology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Graduate Program in Health & Rehabilitation Sciences (Hearing Science), Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Bose Corporation, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Steve Beaulac
- National Centre for Audiology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Danielle Glista
- National Centre for Audiology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,School of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ewan A Macpherson
- National Centre for Audiology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,School of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Susan D Scollie
- National Centre for Audiology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,School of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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