Field Study News
April 2016
RogerReady
RogerReady
Automating the Roger™ experience
Automating
the Roger™ experience
Phonak
listening
in complex
environments
for hearing
aid users
of all of
ages.
The new
Phonakcontinuously
continuouslystrives
strivestotoimprove
improve
listening
in complex
environments
for hearing
aid users
all ages.
TheRogerReady
new RogerReady
feature,
combines
thethe
benefits
of aofwireless
system
withwith
the hearing
performance
afforded
feature, available
availableininSky
SkyVVand
andNaída
NaídaV Vhearing
hearingaids,
aids,
combines
benefits
a wireless
system
the hearing
performance
by
automatic
activation.
In
this
study,
technical
measurements
were
performed
to
evaluate
the
activationand
deactivation
time
of
through automatic activation. In this study, technical measurements were performed to evaluate the activation and deactivation
RogerReady.
Results
revealed
that
this
feature
consistently
captures
remote
microphone
input
in
less
than
400
ms,
confirming
that
time of RogerReady. Results revealed that this feature consistently captures remote microphone input in less than 400 ms, the
RogerReady feature grants nearly instantaneous access to the Roger microphone signal. Based on these results, the RogerReady feature
confirming that the RogerReady feature grants nearly instantaneous access to the Roger microphone signal. Based on these
has been applied as the default setting for DSL fittings in Phonak Target Junior mode for the pediatric population, enabling more
results, the RogerReady feature has been applied as the default setting for DSL fittings in Phonak Target Junior mode for the
seamless application of automatic activation of the Roger program in the hearing aid.
pediatric population, enabling more seamless application of automatic activation of the Roger program in the hearing aid.
Introduction
Introduction
It has been universally recognized that use of a Roger wireless
It has been universally
recognized
thatwill
useimprove
of a Roger
wireless
communication
system or
personal FM
the speech
perception
and understanding
for the FM
hearing
impaired the
child in
communication
system or personal
will improve
the
classroom
(Thibodeau
2010; Anderson,
Colodzin
&
speech
perception
and understanding
forGoldstein,
the hearing
impaired
Iglehart 2005; Boothroyd & Iglehart 1998). These devices have
child in the classroom (Thibodeau 2010; Anderson, Goldstein,
also been shown to provide significant benefit for individuals with
Colodzinprocessing
& Iglehartdisorder,
2005; Boothroyd
& Iglehart
These
auditory
single sided
deafness,1998).
and autism
devices
have
also
been
shown
to
provide
significant
benefit
spectrum disorder by improving the signal-to-noise ratio (Rance,
Saunders,
Carew,
Johansson
Tan 2013; Schafer
et single
al 2012;
for individuals
with
auditory& processing
disorder,
sided
Johnstone,
John,
Hall &spectrum
Crandell 2009;
Tharpe,
Ricketts &the
Sladen
deafness, and
autism
disorder
by improving
2003).
signal-to-noise ratio (Rance, Saunders, Carew, Johansson &
Tan 2013; Schafer
al 2012;
John,
Hallwere
& Crandell
Previously,
ensuringetthat
remoteJohnstone,
microphone
signals
easily
accessible
through
the hearing
aid2003).
often necessitated selecting a
2009; Tharpe,
Ricketts
& Sladen
basic listening program that would incorporate direct audio input
(DAI).
Theseensuring
dedicatedthat
Roger/DAI
programssignals
excluded
the use
Previously,
remote+Mic
microphone
were
of
advanced
soundthrough
cleaningthe
features
available
in the
hearing aid.
easily
accessible
hearing
aid often
necessitated
While this is a conservative approach to fittings, this hierarchy
selecting a basic listening program that would incorporate
ensured that children would have dependable, automatic access
direct
audioparticularly
input (DAI).teachers,
These dedicated
Roger/DAI+Mic
to
speakers,
using a remote
microphone.
programs
excluded
the use of
advanced
sound
cleaning
This
Roger/DAI
configuration
does
not allow
children
to take
advantage
of Phonak
features available
in automatic
the hearingtechnology
aid. Whilewhich
this ishas
a now been
optimized
for approach
the listening
of a child’s
life.
conservative
to environments
fittings, this hierarchy
ensured
AutoSense Sky OS is the Phonak pediatric operating system that
that children would have dependable, automatic access to
allows for automatic adaptation of the hearing aid based on the
speakers,scene.
particularly
teachers,
using
remote microphone.
listening
This system
steers
basea program
activation, gain
This
Roger/DAI
configuration
does
not
allow
children
take
model, and the activation of directional microphones,
asto
well
as
other
soundof
cleaning
In technology
the current default
advantage
Phonakfeatures.
automatic
which has now
configuration
forfor
DSLthe
fittings,
older
children haveofaccess
to the
been optimized
listening
environments
a child’s
life.
automatic program and the associated sound cleaning features
via a button press. Research has shown, however, that many
children do not reliably change their hearing aid program for
different listening environments (Ricketts, Picou, Galster,
Federman & Sladen 2010). So even when the automatic program
is available,Sky
it isOS
likely
thatPhonak
many children
not consistently
AutoSense
is the
pediatricdidoperating
system
activate
it. As
result, hearing
performance
challenging
that
allows
fora automatic
adaptation
of theinhearing
aid
listening environments such as working in groups, recess, and
based on the listening scene. This system steers base program
lunch time was sacrificed to ensure instantaneous and reliable
activation,
gain model,
andchildren
the activation
of directional
access to Roger.
This leaves
at a listening
disadvantage
microphones,
as well
as other issound
features.
In the
when the wireless
microphone
not incleaning
use, because
the child
is
limited to
using configuration
one default program
all environments
current
default
for DSLin fittings,
older children
encountered
throughout
the day.
Wolfe and
(2016)
shown that
have
access to
the automatic
program
thehas
associated
use of a hearing aid automatic mode can have performance and
sound cleaning features via a button press. Research has
comfort benefits for children that are not realized in a designated
shown,
however,
many children
not default.
reliably change
basic program
thatthat
is typically
applied do
as the
their hearing aid program for different listening environments
AutomaticPicou,
hearing
aid capability
is now
available
to pediatric
(Ricketts,
Galster,
Federman
& Sladen
2010).
So even
hearing aid users, with no risk of incorrect program-switching,
when the automatic program is available, it is likely that many
nor the need for manual activation due to a new feature,
children
did not
consistently
activate
As a result, hearing
RogerReady.
RogerReady
activates
the it.
Roger/DAI+Mic
program
performance
in
challenging
listening
environments
such
whenever speech inputs are detected by the Roger microphone.
Forworking
childrenin
whose
hearing
aids
arelunch
configured
to start
up in
as
groups,
recess,
and
time was
sacrificed
AutoSense
Sky OS, RogerReady
eliminates
the to
need
for aThis
manual
to
ensure instantaneous
and reliable
access
Roger.
Roger/DAI+Mic program, and the need to have the
leaves children at a listening disadvantage when the wireless
Roger/DAI+Mic program as the startup default.
microphone
is OS
notcan
in use,
the as
child
limitedprogram,
to
AutoSense Sky
nowbecause
be assigned
theisstartup
using
oneRogerReady
default program
in alltheenvironments
encountered
and with
activated,
system is designed
to
consistently the
and day.
reliably provide immediate access to the signal
throughout
detected from the Roger transmitter.
Wolfe (2016) has shown that use of a hearing aid automatic
mode can have performance and comfort benefits for children
that are not realized in a designated basic program that is
typically applied as the default.
Automatic hearing aid capability is now available to pediatric
hearing aid users, with no risk of incorrect program-switching,
nor the need for manual activation due to a new feature,
RogerReady. RogerReady activates the Roger/DAI+Mic
Methodology
This study was performed at the Phonak Audiology Research
Center (PARC) in the USA (Warrenville, Illinois). The tests
were conducted in a double-walled, sound-treated booth,
using binaural Sky V90-P BTEs coupled to KEMAR’s (Knowles
Electronic Mannequin for Acoustic Research) ears with
standard BTE couplers. The hearing aids were programmed
using a flat 50 dB sensorineural hearing loss. Roger 18
design-integrated receivers were attached to the hearing
aids and connected wirelessly to a Roger inspiro microphone.
AutoSense Sky OS was programmed as the startup program
with the Roger/DAI+Mic triggered automatically via
RogerReady. There were no manual programs accessible,
and Easy Beeps were disabled, per the Junior mode fitting
defaults. The aids were placed on KEMAR inside of the booth.
The Roger inspiro was hung in front of a loudspeaker, located
approximately two meters outside of the sound booth, with
the iLapel microphone attached 20 cm below the center
cone of the speaker. A diagram of the set up can be seen in
Figure 1. The target stimulus used was female speech taken
from an audiobook. The stimulus was played via Adobe
Audition software and was calibrated to 80 dBA at the inspiro
microphone. Five minutes of recorded silence preceded the
speech passage, thus ensuring the hearing aids were in
AutoSense Sky OS. Once the sound file was started, both the
sound booth and the outside room were vacated for the entire
testing period.
Center (PARC) in the USA (Warrenville, Illinois). The tests were
conducted in a double-walled, sound-treated booth, using
binaural Sky V90-P BTEs coupled to KEMAR’s (Knowles Electronic
Mannequin for Acoustic Research) ears with standard BTE
couplers. The hearing aids were programmed using a flat 50 dB
sensorineural hearing loss. Roger 18 design-integrated receivers
were attached to the hearing aids and connected wirelessly to a
Roger inspiro transmitter. AutoSense Sky OS was programmed as
the startup program with the Roger/DAI+Mic triggered
automatically via RogerReady. There were no manual programs
accessible, and easy beeps were disabled, per the Junior mode
fitting defaults. The aids were placed on KEMAR inside of the
booth. The Roger inspiro was hung in front of a loudspeaker,
located approximately two meters outside of the sound booth,
with the iLapel microphone attached 20 cm below the center
cone of the speaker. A diagram of the set up can be seen in
figure 1. The target stimulus used was female speech taken from
an audiobook. The stimulus was played via Adobe Audition
software and was calibrated to 80 dBA at the inspiro microphone.
Five minutes of recorded silence preceded the speech passage,
thus ensuring the hearing aids were in AutoSense Sky OS. Once
the sound file was started, both the sound booth and the outside
room were vacated for the entire testing period.
program to allow for clear
program and AutoSense Sk
from KEMAR’s ears confirm
switched out of the Roger/
AutoSense Sky OS, as the h
amplifying the babble in th
program whenever speech inputs are detected by the Roger
microphone. For children whose hearing aids are configured to
Results
start up in AutoSense Sky OS, RogerReady eliminates the
need
Adobe
Audition software w
for a manual Roger/DAI+Mic program, and the need tothehave
hearing aids placed on
precisely five minutes afte
the Roger/DAI+Mic program as the startup default. AutoSense
program was activated in
Sky OS can now be assigned as the startup program, and
with
target
stimulus (see Figure
times. In each trial, less th
RogerReady activated, the system is designed to consistently
the Roger microphone was
passage is seen below with
and reliably provide immediate access to the signal detected
from the Roger microphone.
“Besides the beautiful birch
Figure 2. Analysis from Adobe A
stimulus with the red vertical lin
bottom graph, the red vertical l
while the yellow vertical line ind
time between the red and yellow
The time difference between th
This recording was done w
hearing aid. It’s worth noti
activation time extends to
three syllables being misse
are disabled by default for
results show that the auto
program is fast and can be
content. The activation of
as 2.0 seconds (Dechant, 2
Figure 1. Sky
V90-P
hearing
aids
placed
on KEMAR’s
ears
Figure
1. Sky V90-P
hearing
aidswere
were placed
on KEMAR’s
ears in the
soundin the sound
booth with booth
doorwith
closed.
The The
Roger
was
a loudspeaker
outside was measure
door closed.
Rogerinspiro
inspiro was
hunghung
from a from
loudspeaker
outside
Deactivation
of the booth.
The
microphone
of ofthe
20below
cmthe
below
cone
of the
booth.
The microphone
the inspiro
inspiro waswas
20 cm
centerthe
cone center
switch
out of the Roger/DA
of the loudspeaker
to simulate
a ateacher
wearing
an inspiro
of the loudspeaker
to simulate
teacher wearing
an inspiro
iLapel. iLapel.
AutoSense Sky OS. This wa
Deactivation or switching out of the Roger/DAI+Mic program was
also assessed. The previously described arrangement was used for
recording as seen in figure
automatically switched ba
seconds of the speech stim
Deactivation or switching out of the Roger/DAI+Mic program
was also assessed. The previously described arrangement was
used for this measurement. Additionally, a stimulus consisting
of 4-talker babble was played through the speakers in the
sound booth with KEMAR. The environmental mic was disabled
in the Roger/DAI program to allow for clear distinction
between the Roger/DAI program and AutoSense Sky OS. Visual
analysis of the recordings from KEMAR’s ears confirmed
precisely when the hearing aids switched out of the Roger/
DAI program and back into AutoSense Sky OS, as the hearing
aid microphones resumed amplifying the babble in the sound
booth.
Field Study News | RogerReady
2
tronic
0 dB
eivers
to a
ed as
ams
de
he
er,
th,
er
n
from
phone.
ge,
nce
utside
from KEMAR’s ears confirmed precisely when the hearing aids
switched out of the Roger/DAI program and back into
AutoSense Sky OS, as the hearing aid microphones resumed
amplifying the babble in the sound booth.
Results
Adobe
Audition software was used to analyze the recording
Results
from the hearing aids placed on KEMAR. The acoustic signal
Adobe Audition software was used to analyze the recording from
started
precisely five minutes after the recorded silence. The
the hearing aids placed on KEMAR. The acoustic signal started
Roger
program
was activated
in less than
400The
msRoger
from the
precisely
five minutes
after the recorded
silence.
program
in less than
ms from
the onset
of the
onset
of was
the activated
target stimulus
(see400
Figure
2). These
results
were
target
stimulus
(see
Figure
2).
These
results
were
replicated
ten
replicated ten times. In each trial, less than one syllable of
times. In each trial, less than one syllable of speech directed to
speech
directed
to the
Roger
microphone
was
missed.
An
the Roger
microphone
was
missed.
An example
of the
original
example
thebelow
original
is seen
belowcrossed
with the
passage isofseen
withpassage
the missed
phoneme
out:missed
phoneme crossed out:
“Besides
thebeautiful
beautiful
birch…”
“Besides the
birch…”
Deactivation was measured as the time it took the devices
to switch out of the Roger/DAI program and back into
AutoSense Sky OS. This was validated by the Adobe Audition
recording as seen in Figure 3. In the ten trials, the hearing
aids automatically switched back into AutoSense Sky OS
within 50 seconds of the speech stimulus ending. For testing
purposes, the hearing aid microphone was disabled in the
Roger
program.
However,
normalinuse,
would have
hearing
aid microphone
wasindisabled
thechildren
Roger program.
However, in normal
wouldaid
have
uninterrupted
uninterrupted
accessuse,
to children
the hearing
microphone
in the
access to the hearing aid microphone in the Roger program and in
Roger program and in AutoSense Sky OS.
Refere
AAA Clin
Technolo
Supplem
www.aud
library/h
AutoSense Sky OS.
Anderson
of S/N en
listening
implant.
Boothroy
amplifica
Figure 3. The deactivation of RogerReady is 50 seconds from the time the
Figure 2. Analysis from Adobe Audition software. The top graph is the raw
Figure 2. with
Analysis
Adobe Audition
software.
Thethe
topstimulus
graph isbegins.
the rawIn the
stimulus
the from
red vertical
line indicating
when
bottom
thered
redvertical
verticalline
lineindicating
again indicates
thestimulus
start ofbegins.
the stimulus,
stimulusgraph,
with the
when the
In the
while the yellow vertical line indicates the onset of speech through Roger. The
bottom graph, the red vertical line again indicates the start of the stimulus,
time between the red and yellow lines is the activation time of RogerReady. The
whiledifference
the yellowbetween
vertical line
the onset
speech
through400
Roger.
time
the indicates
red and yellow
linesofwas
repeatedly
ms. The
stimulus
is offdeactivation
to the exit of
from
the Roger
and
intothe
AutoSense
Figure
3. The
RogerReady
is program
50 seconds
from
time the Sky OS.
The return to AutoSense Sky OS can be visualized by the presence of noise
presented to the hearing aid microphones which is seen as a low amplitude
The
return
tosegment
AutoSense
can be visualized
by the line.
presence of noise
input
in the
of Sky
the OS
recording
past the yellow
stimulus is off to the exit from the Roger program and into AutoSense Sky OS.
presented to the hearing aid microphones which is seen as a low amplitude
input in the segment of the recording past the yellow line.
Johnston
Multiple
auditory
time between the red and yellow lines is the activation time of RogerReady.
The time
differencewas
between
the with
red andthe
yellow
lines
was repeatedly
400
This
recording
done
Easy
Beeps
disabled
inms.
the
hearing aid. It’s worth noting, if the Easy Beeps are enabled,
This recording was done with the Easy Beeps disabled in the
the
activation time extends to an average of 830 ms, resulting
hearing aid. It’s worth noting, if the Easy Beeps are enabled, the
in three syllables being missed in all trials. Therefore the
activation time extends to an average of 830 ms, resulting in
Easy
arebeing
disabled
byindefault
forTherefore
all Targetthe
Junior
mode
three Beeps
syllables
missed
all trials.
Easy Beeps
fittings.
These
results for
show
that the
automatic
activation
are disabled
by default
all Target
Junior
mode fittings.
These
of
the Roger/DAI+Mic
programactivation
is fast and
canRoger/DAI+Mic
be used with
results
show that the automatic
of the
program isloss
fastofand
can becontent.
used with
minimal
loss of
minimal
speech
The
activation
ofspeech
earlier
content. of
TheEasyFM
activation
of EasyFM
was as long
versions
wasofasearlier
long versions
as 2.0 seconds
(Dechant,
2010).
ound
outside
er cone
m was
ed for
as 2.0 seconds (Dechant, 2010).
Deactivation was measured as the time it took the devices to
switch out of the Roger/DAI program and back into
Conclusion
AutoSense Sky OS. This was validated by the Adobe Audition
recordingJunior
as seenmode
in figure
3. In for
the DSL
ten trials,
theprovide
hearing children
aids
Phonak
defaults
fittings
automatically
AutoSense
Sky OS within
nine
years of switched
age and back
olderinto
with
Roger/DAI+Mic
as the50startseconds of the speech stimulus ending. For testing purposes, the
up program and AutoSense Sky OS as an alternative manual
program. This study confirms the
new RogerReady feature 2
Field Study News | RogerReady
consistently and reliably governs switching into and out of
the Roger/DAI+Mic program. Roger activation was achieved
within one syllable of the onset of speech through the Roger
microphone. Deactivation also occurred reliably, allowing
Dechant,
Study Ne
http://ww
ary/Field
Conclusion
Phonak Junior mode defaults for DSL fittings provide children
nine years of age and older with Roger/DAI+Mic as the start-up
program and AutoSense Sky OS as an alternative manual program.
This study confirms the new RogerReady feature consistently and
reliably governs switching into and out of the Roger/DAI+Mic
program. Roger activation was achieved within one syllable of
the onset of speech through the Roger microphone. Deactivation
also occurred reliably, allowing children the benefit of resuming
the performance and comfort benefits of an adaptive hearing aid
operating system when speech was not present at the Roger
microphone. These results are favorable for the application of the
RogerReady feature for children of all ages.
Rance G.
The use o
children
Ricketts
(2010). P
Classroom
Amplifica
Schafer E
Maloney
spectrum
children the benefit of resuming the performance and comfort disorder
46(1):30
benefits of an adaptive hearing aid operating system when
speech was not present at the Roger microphone. These
results are favorable for the application of the RogerReady
feature for children of all ages.
Tharpe A
Children
Clear Com
Wolfe, J.
Evaluatio
Children
Field Study News | RogerReady
3
References
AAA Clinical Practice: Remote Microphone Hearing Assistance
Technologies for Children and Youth Birth-21 Years and Supplement
A (2011). Available at www.audiology.org/publications-resources/
document-library/hearing-assistance-technologies.
Anderson K., Goldstein H., Colodzin L., Iglehart F. (2005). Benefit of
S/N enhancing devices to speech perception of children listening in
a typical classroom with hearing aids or a cochlear implant. J Educ
Audiol (12): 14-28.
Boothroyd A. & Iglehart F.(1998). Experiments with classroom FM
amplification. Ear Hearing (19): 202-217.
Dechant, S. (2010). New EasyFM Feature for Naida. Phonak Field
Study News. Available at: http://www.phonak.com/content/dam/
phonak/b2b/C_M_tools/Library/Field_Study_News/en/fsn_2010_
march_easyFM_GB.pdf
Johnstone K.N., John A.B., Hall J.W., & Crandell C.C. (2009). Multiple
benefits of personal FM system use by children with auditory
processing disorder (APD). Int J of Audiol 48(6): 371-83.
Authors and investigators
Rance G., Saunders K., Carew P., Johansson M., & Tan J. (2013). The
use of listening devices to ameliorate auditory deficit in children with
autism. J Pediatr 164(2): 352-57.
Ricketts T.A.,Picou E.M., Galster J.A., Federman J., & Sladen D.P. (2010).
Potential for Directional Hearing Aid Benefit in Classrooms: Field
Data. A Sound Foundation Through Early Amplification: 143-152.
Schafer E.C., Mathews L., Mehta S., Hill M., Munoz A., Bishop R.,
& Maloney M. (2012). Personal FM systems for children with autism
spectrum disorders (ASD) and/or attention-deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD): An initial investigation. J Commun Disord 46(1):
Authors and investigators
30-52.
Lisa Standaert started with the Phonak
Tharpe A.M., Ricketts T., & Sladen D.(2003). FM Systems for Children
Audiology
Technical
SupportClear
Department
with Minimal to Mild Hearing
Loss. ACCESS:
Achieving
in
2005,
and
recently
joined
the
Phonak
Communication Employing Sound Solutions: 191-97.
Audiology Research Center (PARC) in
Wolfe, J., Morais, M., Schafer,
E., Her
Jones,
C., Rakita,
L. (2016).
Evaluation
2015.
prior
work history
includes
of Adaptive Noise Management
Technologies
for
Children
with
hearing aid fitting and dispensing,
Hearing Loss. Manuscriptcochlear
submitted
for publication.
implant
programming and
counseling, and intraoperative monitoring.
She earned an M.A. in Audiology at Wayne State University and
an Au.D. from A.T. Still University.
Charla
Levy,graduated
graduatedwith
withher
herAu.D.
Au.D. in
Lisa
Charla Levy
Lisa Standaert
Standaertstarted
startedwith
withthe
thePhonak
Phonak
2015
from
the
University
of
North
Audiology Technical Support Department
in 2015 from the University of NorthTexas
Texas
Audiology Technical Support Department
and
her B.S.
B.S.ininCommunication
Communication
in 2005, and recently joined the Phonak
and earned
earned her
in 2005, and recently joined the Phonak
Disorders
TexasState
StateUniversity
Universityinin
Audiology Research Center (PARC) in
Disorders from Texas
Audiology
Research
Center
(PARC)
in
2015. Her prior work history includes
2011. Currently
2011.
Currentlyshe
sheisisworking
workingasasa research
a
2015.
work
includes
hearingHer
aidprior
fitting
andhistory
dispensing,
cochlear
audiologist
in the Phonak
Audiology
research
audiologist
in the
Phonak
hearing
aid fitting andand
dispensing,
implant programming
counseling,
Research Center
(PARC)
studying
to develop
Audiology
Research
Center
(PARC)
cochlear
implant
programming
and
and intraoperative monitoring. She
earned
hearing aid
and aid
advance
studying
to technologies
develop hearing
counseling,
and intraoperative
monitoring. technologies and advance
an M.A. in Audiology
at Wayne State
hearing
healthcare
worldwide.
hearing
healthcare
worldwide.
University
Au.D.
from A.T. Still
She earnedand
anan
M.A.
in Audiology
at University.
Wayne State University and
an Au.D. from A.T. Still University.
028-1577-03/V1.00/2016-04/© Phonak AG All rights reserved
Charla Levy, graduated with her Au.D. in
2015 from the University of North Texas
and earned her B.S. in Communication
Disorders from Texas State University in
2011. Currently she is working as a
research audiologist in the Phonak
Audiology Research Center (PARC)
studying to develop hearing aid
technologies and advance hearing healthcare worldwide.
Field Study News | RogerReady
4