Individual Preferences for
Automatic Functions in Amplification
Donald J. Schum, PhD
Vice President, Audiology & Professional Relations
Oticon, Inc.
[email protected]
Subjective
Assessment
Cognitive
Filter
Sensory
Filter
Sensory
Input
Perceptual Filter Model
(Bech & Zacharov, 2006)
Subjective
Assessment
Cognitive
Filter
Sensory
Filter
Sensory
Input
What is the
personal balance?
Perceptual Filter Model
(Bech & Zacharov, 2006)
Factors correlated with Overall Satisfaction
1. Overall benefit (.71)
2. Clarity of sound (.70)
3.Value (performance of the hearing aid relative to price) (.68)
4. Natural sounding (.66)
5. Reliability of the hearing aid (.65)
6. Richness or fidelity of sound (.65)
7. Use in noisy situations (.63)
8. Ability to hear in small groups (.63)
9. Comfort with loud sounds (.60)
10. Sound of voice (occlusion) (.60)
Kochkin (2010) MarkeTrak VIII
Factors correlated with Overall Satisfaction
1. Overall benefit (.71)
2. Clarity of sound (.70)
3.Value (performance of the hearing aid relative to price) (.68)
4. Natural sounding (.66)
5. Reliability of the hearing aid (.65)
6. Richness or fidelity of sound (.65)
7. Use in noisy situations (.63)
8. Ability to hear in small groups (.63)
9. Comfort with loud sounds (.60)
10. Sound of voice (occlusion) (.60)
Performance-based factors
Kochkin (2010) MarkeTrak VIII
Factors correlated with Overall Satisfaction
1. Overall benefit (.71)
2. Clarity of sound (.70)
3.Value (performance of the hearing aid relative to price) (.68)
4. Natural sounding (.66)
5. Reliability of the hearing aid (.65)
6. Richness or fidelity of sound (.65)
7. Use in noisy situations (.63)
8. Ability to hear in small groups (.63)
9. Comfort with loud sounds (.60)
10. Sound of voice (occlusion) (.60)
Sound Quality/Seamlessness/Comfort factors
Kochkin (2010) MarkeTrak VIII
Behavior of Automatics
Less Aggressive
Calm
Energetic
AT
More Aggressive
DIR
NR
More Help
Less Help
Speech Front 70 dB SPL
Various Transients Back
Directional
Response
More Help
Less Help
Speech Front 70 dB SPL
Pink Noise 180°
Accounting for Individual
Needs & Preferences
After Initial Fitting with Sound Samples
Less
More
Help provided by Automatic Functions

Detailed Optimization Activity
70 cases that included a Follow-up Session
•
1 to 3 weeks post fitting
Sound samples with A-B alternatives
Broad range of audiograms
Primarily binaural fittings
•
•
•
•
Questions:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
How many sound samples?
Which ones?
How did you choose?
Did Follow-up change the Personal Profile setting?
If so, which direction? How much?
Additional changes?
Lively ● Exact ● Balanced ● Gentle ● Steady
•
How many sound samples?
•
Which ones?
•
How did you choose?
•
Did Optimization change the
Personal Profile setting?
•
If so, which direction?
•
How Much?
•
Additional changes?
Lively ● Exact ● Balanced ● Gentle ● Steady
•
How many sound samples?
•
1 to 3: 75%
•
Which ones?
•
Restaurant clearly most popular
•
How did you choose?
•
Patient Report: 75% Favorites: 25%
•
Did Optimization change the
Personal Profile setting?
•
Yes: 44%
•
If so, which direction?
•
Right: 75%
•
How Much?
•
Typically 1 step or less
•
Additional changes?
•
68% further gain changes (up & down)
followed by Classical Music, Reception and Train
Left: 25%
Lively ● Exact ● Balanced ● Gentle ● Steady
•
How many sound samples?
•
1 to 3: 75%
•
Which ones?
•
Restaurant clearly most popular
•
How did you choose?
•
Patient Report: 75% Favorites: 25%
•
Did Optimization change the
Personal Profile setting?
•
Yes: 44%
•
If so, which direction?
•
Right: 75%
•
How Much?
•
Typically 1 step or less
•
Additional changes?
•
68% further gain changes (up & down)
followed by Classical Music, Reception and Train
Left: 25%
Lively ● Exact ● Balanced ● Gentle ● Steady
•
How many sound samples?
•
1 to 3: 75%
•
Which ones?
•
Restaurant clearly most popular
•
How did you choose?
•
Patient Report: 75% Favorites: 25%
•
Did Optimization change the
Personal Profile setting?
•
Yes: 44%
•
If so, which direction?
•
Right: 75%
•
How Much?
•
Typically 1 step or less
•
Additional changes?
•
68% further gain changes (up & down)
followed by Classical Music, Reception and Train
Left: 25%
Lively ● Exact ● Balanced ● Gentle ● Steady
•
How many sound samples?
•
1 to 3: 75%
•
Which ones?
•
Restaurant clearly most popular
•
How did you choose?
•
Patient Report: 75% Favorites: 25%
•
Did Optimization change the
Personal Profile setting?
•
Yes: 44%
•
If so, which direction?
•
Right: 75%
•
How Much?
•
Typically 1 step or less
•
Additional changes?
•
68% further gain changes (up & down)
followed by Classical Music, Reception and Train
Left: 25%
Lively ● Exact ● Balanced ● Gentle ● Steady
•
How many sound samples?
•
1 to 3: 75%
•
Which ones?
•
Restaurant clearly most popular
•
How did you choose?
•
Patient Report: 75% Favorites: 25%
•
Did Optimization change the
Personal Profile setting?
•
Yes: 44%
•
If so, which direction?
•
Right: 75%
•
How Much?
•
Typically 1 step or less
•
Additional changes?
•
68% further gain changes (up & down)
followed by Classical Music, Reception and Train
Left: 25%
Lively ● Exact ● Balanced ● Gentle ● Steady
•
How many sound samples?
•
1 to 3: 75%
•
Which ones?
•
Restaurant clearly most popular
•
How did you choose?
•
Patient Report: 75% Favorites: 25%
•
Did Optimization change the
Personal Profile setting?
•
Yes: 44%
•
If so, which direction?
•
Right: 75%
•
How Much?
•
Typically 1 step or less
•
Additional changes?
•
68% further gain changes (up & down)
followed by Classical Music, Reception and Train
Left: 25%
Lively ● Exact ● Balanced ● Gentle ● Steady
•
How many sound samples?
•
1 to 3: 75%
•
Which ones?
•
Restaurant clearly most popular
•
How did you choose?
•
Patient Report: 75% Favorites: 25%
•
Did Optimization change the
Personal Profile setting?
•
Yes: 44%
•
If so, which direction?
•
Right: 75%
•
How Much?
•
Typically 1 step or less
•
Additional changes?
•
68% further gain changes (up & down)
followed by Classical Music, Reception and Train
Left: 25%
Lively ● Exact ● Balanced ● Gentle ● Steady
•
How many sound samples?
•
1 to 3: 75%
•
Which ones?
•
Restaurant clearly most popular
•
How did you choose?
•
Patient Report: 75% Favorites: 25%
•
Did Optimization change the
Personal Profile setting?
•
Yes: 44%
•
If so, which direction?
•
Right: 75%
•
How Much?
•
Typically 1 step or less
•
Additional changes?
•
68% further gain changes (up & down)
followed by Classical Music, Reception and Train
Left: 25%
Individual Preferences for
Automatic Functions in Amplification
Donald J. Schum, PhD
Vice President, Audiology & Professional Relations
Oticon, Inc.
[email protected]