• 한국소음진동공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국소음진동공학회 2007년도 추계학술대회논문집
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• pp.796-801
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• 2007

This research presents a laboratory study about a comparison between two methods that measure a hearing threshold of the Subjects who participated in an experiment of the Jury test. The Subjects heard a signal by a headphone. The Subjects of total 63 persons (man=42, woman=21 persons) participated in an experiment. A test of hearing was divided into two (Top-Down, Bottom-Up) methods. Total time of hearing test was about 80 minute(40min/day). As a results of the hearing test, a hearing threshold of the Subjects who used to wear a headphone was higher than that of the Subjects who not used to wear a headphone. A hearing threshold of a man was higher than that of a woman. The result of hearing test was showed that ISO's hearing threshold(MAF) was lower than a result that get from an experiment.

• 한국전기전자재료학회논문지
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• 제22권8호
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• pp.704-713
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• 2009

As using recruitment phenomenon, SISI test and Bekesy audiometry are employed to differentially diagnose both the cochlear hearing loss and the retrocochlear hearing loss. The main purpose of this study is to find out the sensitivity and specificity of the SISI test within the scope of 1 KHz to 4 KHz in diagnosing various types of hearing losses. In this study, the Bekesy audiometry was conducted for Bekesy audiograms of certain groups according to Jerger's classification, which included persons with normal hearing and patients with hearing impairment. Subject persons of the SISI test were categorized into the several groups with normal hearing, mild hearing loss, moderate hearing loss, moderate-severe hearing loss and severe hearing loss, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of certain groups were evaluated according to the SISI scores of 20 % below, 25 ${\sim}$ 65 %, and more than 70%. Also, the Bekesy audiometry is conducted on the several subject groups with normal hearing, mixed hearing loss, and sensori-neural hearing loss.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.171-177
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to validate the performance and diagnostic efficacy of the Korean digits-in-noise (K-DIN) test in comparison to the Korean speech perception-in-noise (K-SPIN) test, which is the representative speech-in-noise test in clinical practice. Subjects and Methods: Twenty-seven subjects (15 normal-hearing and 12 hearing-impaired listeners) participated. The recorded Korean 0-9 digits were used to form quasirandom digit triplets; 50 target digit triplets were presented at the most comfortable level of each subject while presenting speech-shaped background noise at various levels of signal-to-noise ratios (-12.5, -10, -5, or +5 dB). Subjects were then instructed to listen to both target and noise masker unilaterally and bilaterally through a headphone. K-SPIN test was also conducted using the same procedure as the K-DIN. After calculating their percent correct responses, K-DIN and K-SPIN results were compared using a Pearson-correlation test. Results: Results showed a statistically significant correlation between K-DIN and K-SPIN in all hearing conditions (left: r=0.814, p<0.001; right: r=0.788, p<0.001; bilateral: r=0.727, p<0.001). Moreover, the K-DIN test achieved better testing efficacy, shorter average listening time (5 min vs. 30 min), and easier performance of task according to participants' qualitative reports than the K-SPIN test. Conclusions: In this study, the Korean version of digit triplet test was validated in both normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners. The findings suggest that the K-DIN test can be used as a simple and time-efficient hearing-in-noise test in audiology clinics in Korea.

• 대한청각학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.171-177
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to validate the performance and diagnostic efficacy of the Korean digits-in-noise (K-DIN) test in comparison to the Korean speech perception-in-noise (K-SPIN) test, which is the representative speech-in-noise test in clinical practice. Subjects and Methods: Twenty-seven subjects (15 normal-hearing and 12 hearing-impaired listeners) participated. The recorded Korean 0-9 digits were used to form quasirandom digit triplets; 50 target digit triplets were presented at the most comfortable level of each subject while presenting speech-shaped background noise at various levels of signal-to-noise ratios (-12.5, -10, -5, or +5 dB). Subjects were then instructed to listen to both target and noise masker unilaterally and bilaterally through a headphone. K-SPIN test was also conducted using the same procedure as the K-DIN. After calculating their percent correct responses, K-DIN and K-SPIN results were compared using a Pearson-correlation test. Results: Results showed a statistically significant correlation between K-DIN and K-SPIN in all hearing conditions (left: r=0.814, p<0.001; right: r=0.788, p<0.001; bilateral: r=0.727, p<0.001). Moreover, the K-DIN test achieved better testing efficacy, shorter average listening time (5 min vs. 30 min), and easier performance of task according to participants' qualitative reports than the K-SPIN test. Conclusions: In this study, the Korean version of digit triplet test was validated in both normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners. The findings suggest that the K-DIN test can be used as a simple and time-efficient hearing-in-noise test in audiology clinics in Korea.

• 재활복지공학회논문지
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.121-128
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• 2015

본 논문에서는 보청기 사용자가 본인의 청력손실도를 청력검사를 통해 스스로 측정하여 보청기/이어폰에 피팅이 가능한 어플리케이션을 개발하였다. 개발된 어플리케이션은 청력검사와 피팅을 통한 증폭 기능을 동시에 제공한다는 점에서 청력검사 기능 혹은 증폭 기능만 갖춘 기존의 어플리케이션들과 차이점이 있다. 개발된 어플리케이션의 청력검사는 기본검사와 정밀검사를 제공하며, 두 검사 모두 순음청력검사방법을 사용하여 6개의 주파수에서 청력손실도를 측정한다. 기본검사는 난청인의 청력손실도 경향을 이용하여 검사 과정을 단축시킴으로써 짧은 검사 시간을 제공하며, 정밀검사는 모든 주파수 영역에서 이중 확인을 통해 보다 정확한 결과를 제공한다. 청력검사의 결과로 얻은 주파수별 청력손실도를 기반으로 음성 명료도를 높이기 위해 입력신호는 보청기 피팅 방법 중 하나인 NAL-NL1 방법을 통하여 증폭된다. 또한 환경설정기능을 통하여 저장된 설정 값을 불러와 바로 적용할 수 있는 기능을 제공한다. 이처럼 개발된 어플리케이션은 사용자 스스로 피팅 과정을 진행할 수 있기에 피팅을 위해 주기적으로 병원이나 전문센터를 방문하였던 기존의 불편함을 간편화하여 보청기를 사용하는 난청인의 수를 증가 시킬 것으로 전망된다.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.72-79
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: The speech-in-noise test is typically performed using an audiometer. The results of the digit-in-noise recognition (DIN) test may be influenced by the flat frequency response of free-field audiometry and frequency of the hearing aid fit based on fitting rationale. This study aims to investigate the DIN test in unaided and aided conditions. Subjects and Methods: Thirty four adults with moderate and severe sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) participated in the study. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for 50% of the DIN test was obtained in the following two conditions: 1) the unaided condition, performed using an audiometer in a free field; and 2) aided condition, performed using a hearing aid with an unvented individual earmold that was fitted based on NAL-NL2. Results: There was a statistically significant elevation in the mean SNR for the severe SNHL group in both test conditions when compared with that of the moderate SNHL group. In both groups, the SNR for the aided condition was significantly lower than that of the unaided condition. Conclusions: Speech recognition in hearing-impaired patients can be realized by fitting hearing aids based on evidence-based fitting rationale rather than by measuring it using free-field audiometry measurement that is utilized in a routine clinic setup.

• 재활복지공학회논문지
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.21-28
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• 2007

대부분의 보청기에서는 난청인의 청력 손실을 보상하기 위해 음성 증폭 알고리즘과 잡음 및 피드백을 제거하기 위한 알고리즘 등을 사용하고 있고, 음성의 인지율을 높이기 위해서 음성의 대비를 강조하는 알고리즘을 사용한다. 음성 대비 강조 알고리즘 사용 시 과도한 대비증폭에 의해서 포먼트(formant) 사이에서 마스킹 현상이 발생할 수 있다. 마스킹 현상을 확인하기 위해서 6가지의 주관적인 평가와 1가지의 객관적인 평가를 수행하였다. 주관적인 평가로는 순음 검사, 어음 청취 역치 검사, 낱말 분별력 검사, 순음 마스킹 검사, 포먼트 순음 마스킹 검사, 어음 마스킹 검사로 이루어져있고 객관적인 평가를 위해서 LLR(log likelihood ratio)을 도입하였다. 정상 청각 피험자와 난청 피험자의 결과로 미루어 볼 때, 난청 피험자가 마스킹이 잘 일어난다는 것을 볼 수 있었고, 어음을 이용한 마스킹 검사에서는 마스킹에 의해서 난청 피험자에서 어음에 대한 인지율이 떨어지는 결과를 볼 수 있다. 이러한 현상은 포먼트 향상에 의한 왜곡 때문이 아닌 마스킹 때문이다. 그러므로 마스킹 효과의 특성을 조사하여, 보청기 적합 시, 이러한 마스킹 특성을 고려하는 것이 필요하다.

• 전기학회논문지
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• 제59권4호
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• pp.831-840
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• 2010

In this paper, we propose a hearing impairment simulator considering reduced frequency selectivity and asymmetrical auditory filter of the hearing impaired, and we verified the reduced frequency selectivity and asymmetrical auditory filter affected in speech perception through experiments. The reduced frequency selectivity has made embodied by spectral smearing using LPC(linear prediction coding). The shapes of auditory filter are asymmetrical different with each center frequency. Hearing impaired person which has hearing loss was differently changed with that of normal hearing people and it has different value for speech of quality through auditory filter. The experiments confirmed subjective test and objective test. The subjective experiments are composed of 4 kinds of tests: pure tone test, SRT(speech reception threshold) test, and WRS(word recognition score) test without spectral smearing, and WRS test with spectral smearing. The experiment of the hearing impairment simulator was performed from 9 subjects who have normal ears. The amount of spectral smearing was controlled by LPC order. The asymmetrical auditory filter of proposed hearing impairment simulator was simulated and then some tests to estimate the filter's performance objectively were performed. The objective experiment as simulated auditory filter's performance evaluation method used PESQ(perceptual evaluation of speech quality) and LLR(log likelihood ratio) for speech through auditory filter. The processed speech was evaluated objective speech quality and distortion using PESQ and LLR value. When hearing loss processed, PESQ and LLR value have big difference according to asymmetrical auditory filter in hearing impairment simulator.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.94-102
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• 2009

In this paper, we propose a hearing impairment simulator considering reduced frequency selectivity of the hearing impaired, and verify it's performance through experiments. The reduced frequency selectivity was embodied by spectral smearing using linear prediction coding(LPC). The experiments are composed of 4 kinds of tests; pure tone test, speech reception threshold(SRT) test, and word recognition score(WRS) test without spectral smearing and with spectral smearing. The experiments of the hearing impairment simulator were performed with 9 subjects who have normal hearing. The amount of spectral smearing was controlled by LPC order. The percentile score of WRS test without smearing is $89.78{\pm}2.420%$. The scores of WRS with 24th LPC order and with 8th LPC order are $88.00{\pm}3.556%$ and $83.78{\pm}2.123%$ respectively. It is verified that WRS score is lowered by decreasing LPC order. This is a reasonable result considering that spectral smearing is getting heavier according to decreasing LPC order. It is confirmed that spectral smearing using LPC simulates the reduced frequency selectivity of the hearing impaired and affects the clearness of speech reception.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.169-178
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• 2009

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.