Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.9718/JBER.2009.30.2.169

A Study of Korean Non-linear Fitting Formula based on NAL-NL1 for Digital Hearing Aids  

Kim, H.M. (Department of Electronic Engineering, Inha University)
Lee, S.M. (Institute for Information and Electronics Research, Inha University)
Publication Information
Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research / v.30, no.2, 2009 , pp. 169-178 More about this Journal
Abstract
In this study, we suggest Korean nonlinear fitting formula (KNFF) to maximize speech intelligibility for digital hearing aids based on NAL-NL1 (NAL-nonlinear, version 1). KNFF was derived from the same procedure which is used for deriving NAL-NL1. KNFF consider the long-term average speech spectrum of Korean instead of English because the frequency characteristic of Korean is different from that of English. New insertion gains of KNFF were derived using the SII (speech intelligibility index) program provided by ANSI. In addition, the insertion gains were modified to maximize the intelligibility of high frequency words. To verify effect of the new fitting gain, we performed speech discrimination test (SDT) and preference test using the hearing loss simulator from NOISH. In the SDT, a word set as test material consists of 50 1-syllable word generally used in hearing clinic. As a result of the test, in case of moderate hearing loss with severe loss on high frequency, the SDT scores of KNFF was more improved about 3.2% than NAL-NLl and about 6% in case of the sever hearing loss. Finally we have obtained the result that it was the effective way to increase gain of mid-high frequency bands and to decrease gain of low frequency bands in order to maximize speech intelligibility of Korean.
Keywords
Digital hearing aids; NAL-NL1; Korean nonlinear fitting formula; Speech discrimination test;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 2  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 T.A. Ricketts, 'Fitting hearing aids to individual loudness perception measures,' Ear & Hear, vol. 17, pp. 124-132, 1996   DOI   ScienceOn
2 J. Kiessling, M. Schubert, A. Archut, 'Adaptive fitting of hearing instruments by category loudness scaling(ScalAdapt),' Scand Audiol, vol 25, pp.153-160, 1996   ScienceOn
3 M. Killion, S. Fikret-Pasa, 'The 2 types of sensorineural hearing loss: loudness and intelligibility considerations,' The Hear J, vol. 46, no. 11, pp. 31-34, 1993
4 L. Cornelisse, R.C. Seewald, D.G. Jamieson, 'The input/output formula: a theoretical approach to the fitting of personal amplification,' J Acoust Soc Am, vol. 97, pp. 1854-1864, 1995   DOI   ScienceOn
5 D. Byrne, H. Dillon, T. Ching, R. Katsch, G. Keidser, 'NAL-NL1 Procedure for Fitting Nonlinear Hearing Aids: Characteristics and Comparisons with Other Procedures,' J Am Acad Audiol, vol. 12, pp. 37-51, 2001   ScienceOn
6 B.C.J. Moore, J.I. Alcantara, B.R. Glasberg, 'Development and evaluation of a procedure for fitting multichannel compression hearing aids,' Br J Audiol, vol 31, pp. 177-195, 1998   ScienceOn
7 D. Byrne, H. Dillon, K. Tran, S. Arlinger, K Wilbranham, R. Cox, B. Hagerman, R. Hetu, J. Kei, C. Lui, J. Kiessling, M.N. Kotby, N.H.A. Nasser, E. LePage, W. A.H. Kholy, Y. Nakanishi, H. Oyer, R. Powell, D. Stephens, R. Meredith, T. Sirimanna, G. Tavartkiladze, G.I. Frolenkov, S. Westerman, C. Ludvidsen, 'An internarional comparison of long-term average speech spectra,' J Acoust Soc Am, vol 96, pp. 2108-2120, 1994   DOI   ScienceOn
8 ANSI-S3.5-1997, 'American National Standard: Methods for the calculation of the speech intelligibility index,' American National Standards Institute, New Youk, 1997
9 S.H. Hong, D.W. Kim, Y.S. Cho, H.C. Woo, D. Won, Y.C. Park, W.K. Kim, 'Hearing Impairment Simulation for the Performance Evaluation of Hearing Aid,' Korean J Otolaryngol, vol 41, pp. 13-20, 1998
10 G.A. McCandless, P.E. Lyregaard, 'Prescription of gain/output (POGO) for hearing aids,' Hear Instrum, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 16-21, 1983
11 S.M. Lee, S.W. Kim, S.Y. Kwon, Y.C. Park, I.Y. Kim, S.I. Kim, 'Development of Adaptive Feedback Cancellation Algorithm for Multi-channel Digital Hearing Aids,' J. Biomed. Eng.Res., vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 315-321, 2004   과학기술학회마을   ScienceOn
12 H. Dillon, Hearing Aids, Sydney, Australia: National Acoustic Laboratories. Press, 2001, pp. 234-262
13 J. Allen, J. Hall, P. Jeng, 'Loudness growth in 1/2-octave bands (LGOB) - a procedure for the assessment of loudness,' J Acoust Soc Am, vol. 88, no. 2, pp.748-753, 1990.
14 R.M. Cox, 'Using loudness data for hearing aid selection: The IHAFF approach,' The Hear J, vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 10-44, 1995
15 S.W. Byun, 'Frequencies of Korean Syllables and the Distribution of Syllables of PB Word List,' Korean J Otolaryngol, vol. 46, pp. 737-741, 2003
16 J.H. Lee, 'Standardization of the Speech Audiometry Method,' A Report for Technical Development that is Standardization of the Speech Audiometry Method, pp. 177, 2008
17 S.K. Kahng, 'Acoustic Analysis of Korean and English Sim;le Vowels,' A Doctoral Dissertation, Dankook University, 1990