Examination of hearing difficulties of students with impaired hearing in inclusive settings and the effectiveness of digital wireless hearing systems

Abstract

　　We examined the effects of digital wireless hearing systems (DWHS) using speech-in-noise perceptions and two subjective evaluation methods: the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ). The subjects were seven hearing-impaired students (their four-frequency pure-tone average was 78.9±18.6dBHL: 52.5-107.5) in inclusive settings. The results showed that the speech-in-noise perception scores improved significantly by 10%-20% with the use of DWHS in high-noise conditions (SNR 0dB to -5dB). On the other hand, the VAS scores of hearing difficulty in classroom environments improved by 40%, suggesting that reduction in the listening effort (SSQ) to speech is an important background factor. These results suggest the effectiveness of using speech-in-noise perceptions and subjective evaluation methods for the evaluation of DWHS.