Exam Preview

High versus Low Technology Hearing Aids: What Drives User Preferences?

---

1.  In two recent studies of outcomes with premium versus basic level hearing aids, Cox et al. and Wu et al. reported the following: No benefit with either the basic or the premium level instruments. More benefit with the basic level instruments.b.More benefit with the basic level instruments. More benefit with the premium level instruments. Equivalent benefit with both instruments on most (but not all) outcome measures.

2.  In the current study, which of the hearing aids had access to a smartphone/tablet application? Premium only Basic only Both Neither

3.  In the current study, which of the hearing aids used receiver in the canal technology? Premium only Basic only Both Neither

4.  In the current study, probe mic measurements were used to evaluate the hearing aids’ output for speech. Which statement describes the fitting protocol that they used? Both hearing aids were fitted to NAL-NL2. The premium hearing aid was fitted to DSLv5-adult and the basic hearing aid was fitted to NAL-NL2. Both hearing aids were fitted to DSLv5-adult. Both hearing aids were fitted to the manufacturer’s proprietary prescription.

5.  In the current study, which hearing aid provided a higher bandwidth (i.e. more audibility at higher frequencies)? The basic hearing aid had better bandwidth than the premium hearing aid. The premium hearing aid had better bandwidth than the entry level hearing aid. The two hearing aids were equal in bandwidth. Both hearing aids provided poor audibility in the high frequencies.

6.  In the current study, lab outcome measures found: Good performance for speech sound recognition, directional benefit, and sound quality for basic and premium aids. Better performance for speech sound recognition, directional benefit, and sound quality for basic aids Better performance for speech sound recognition, directional benefit, and sound quality for premium aids d.Poor performance for speech sound recognition, directional benefit, and sound quality for basic and premium aids

7.  In the current study, preference measures found: No preference for basic or premium hearing aids Significant preference for the basic hearing aids Significant preference for the premium hearing aids Significant preference for both hearing aids

8.  In the current study, participants rated the reasons for preferring one aid over the other using “concept mapping”. In this procedure, the participants are tasked with rating: Only the statements they personally provided All the statements Only the statements provided by other participants None of the above

9.  In the current study, a "map" of preference factors was measured that included clusters for: Age of participants, ear size, and lifestyle. Physical fit factors, signal processing factors, advanced app features/streaming, and audibility/sound quality factors. Gender, socioeconomic status, and degree of hearing loss. Hearing aid prescription type, degree of hearing loss, and age.

10.  In the current study, access to app-based DSP steering was rated significantly higher for participants who: Preferred the basic hearing aids Preferred the premium hearing aids Were younger Were older