AudiologyOnline Phone: 800-753-2160


Signia Conversation - March 2024

Polar Plots

Angela Pool, MS, FAAA

January 19, 2004

Share:

Question

Regarding polar plots, can you please tell me the best application for each of them?

Answer

The intent of a directional microphone is to provide greater amplification for sounds arriving from the front and reduce (attenuate) sounds coming from the side or rear. The graphical display of the output (or lack thereof) from different directions is referred to as a polar plot. Polar plots will vary by both microphone design and by frequency. There are two ways to change the polar pattern and, thus, the area of greatest attenuation in a directional microphone. The manufacturer can either change the external port spacing of the microphone(s) or the internal time delay. With digital instruments, the latter method can be used to allow for varying or adaptive polar patterns. So, within the same digital instrument it is possible to have several different polar patterns, including bi-directional, cardioid, hypercardioid, and supercardioid (see figure below).

What polar pattern works best is dependent on the listening environment. For example, if a hearing aid wearer is listening to speech from the front and the noise is directly behind them, then the cardioid pattern would provide the best audibility because the most attenuation occurs directly behind the listener (180 degrees). If the noise were coming directly from the side (90 and 270 degrees), then a bi-directional pattern would provide the best results because this polar plot attenuates best on the sides. Unfortunately, most real-world listening situations have noise arriving from all angles, or noise that continuously moves around to different angles. In situations such as this, the hypercardioid pattern has been used by many manufacturers to provide good performance for the listener.



BIO

Angela Pool has been an Educational Specialist and trainer with Siemens Hearing Instruments for the last four years. Prior to joining Siemens she worked as a clinical audiologist at Mayo Clinic and the University of Florida Pediatric Hearing Program. Ms. Pool received her Masters degree in Audiology from the University of South Alabama.


Click here to visit the Siemens Hearing Instruments website.


Angela Pool, MS, FAAA


Related Courses

Auditory Wellness: What Clinicians Need to Know
Presented by Brian Taylor, AuD, Barbara Weinstein, PhD
Audio
Signia

Presenters

Brian Taylor, AuDBarbara Weinstein, PhD
Course: #36608Level: Intermediate0.5 Hours
  'i loved the podcast format'   Read Reviews
As most hearing care professionals know, the functional capabilities of individuals with hearing loss are defined by more than the audiogram. Many of these functional capabilities fall under the rubric, auditory wellness. This podcast will be a discussion between Brian Taylor of Signia and his guest, Barbara Weinstein, professor of audiology at City University of New York. They will outline the concept of auditory wellness, how it can be measured clinically and how properly fitted hearing aids have the potential to improve auditory wellness.

View this Course for FREE.
Need CEUs? Become a AudiologyOnline member to get unlimited CEUs.

Only $129/yr

Learn More

Understanding Patient Empowerment Along the Hearing Health Journey
Presented by Brian Taylor, AuD, Sarah Gotowiec, PhD
Audio
Signia

Presenters

Brian Taylor, AuDSarah Gotowiec, PhD
Course: #37890Level: Intermediate0.5 Hours
  'great topic'   Read Reviews
Most clinicians recognize the importance of empowerment in the patient journey, but do they know what it really means for a patient to feel empowered? Find out in this engaging and informative podcast with WSA research scientist, Sarah Gotowiec, PhD, who reviews the five dimensions of patient empowerment and how clinicians can apply her research to empower patients more effectively throughout the patient journey. This recent open access article is the focus of her discussion: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14992027.2021.1915509

View this Course for FREE.
Need CEUs? Become a AudiologyOnline member to get unlimited CEUs.

Only $129/yr

Learn More

Signia Expert Series: Hearing Aid Fitting Nuggets Mined From Recent Research
Presented by H. Gustav Mueller, PhD
Recorded Webinar
Signia

Presenter

H. Gustav Mueller, PhD
Course: #37894Level: Intermediate1 Hour
  'Information will help us help others hear better'   Read Reviews
Each year, over 300 articles are published in professional journals related to the function and fitting of hearing aids. Some are rather esoteric, but others have data that provide unique fitting tips that can be applied on Monday morning! We'll review the key findings of some of this emerging research that hopefully will be useful to you and beneficial for your patients.

View this Course for FREE.
Need CEUs? Become a AudiologyOnline member to get unlimited CEUs.

Only $129/yr

Learn More

Signia Expert Series: What Did They Say? Potential Solutions for Helping Patients Hear the Television
Presented by Erin Picou, AuD, PhD, Haiping Huang, AuD
Recorded Webinar
Signia

Presenters

Erin Picou, AuD, PhDHaiping Huang, AuD
Course: #37895Level: Intermediate1 Hour
  'This course was presented very clear and with great research'   Read Reviews
Watching television or movies at home is a very common leisure activity for adults. Yet, people with hearing loss often struggle to hear the television. This presentation will discuss the importance of television or movie viewing and will offer some evidence-based solutions for improving the television viewing experience for adults with hearing loss.

View this Course for FREE.
Need CEUs? Become a AudiologyOnline member to get unlimited CEUs.

Only $129/yr

Learn More

Research QuickTakes Volume 4: Debunking Some Beliefs About Fitting Hearing Aids
Presented by Brian Taylor, AuD, H. Gustav Mueller, PhD
Recorded Webinar
Signia

Presenters

Brian Taylor, AuDH. Gustav Mueller, PhD
Course: #38922Level: Intermediate1.5 Hours
  'stresses REMs'   Read Reviews
Over the years, general practices and beliefs around fitting hearing aids are formed. Some are from experience, some are from random observations or readings, and others are from a colleague or a rep. Often, not all of these beliefs are true, and that’s what we’ll talk about in this course.

View this Course for FREE.
Need CEUs? Become a AudiologyOnline member to get unlimited CEUs.

Only $129/yr

Learn More

Our site uses cookies to improve your experience. By using our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy.