Influence factors in speech perception in elderly users of hearing aids

Abstract

Purpose: To verify the performance of the elderly in speech tests considering the aspects: adjustments
of hearing aids and / or degree and configuration of hearing loss, performance on cognitive screening
and hearing skills. Methods: Participated 36 elderly aged 60 to 87 years , with sensorineural hearing
loss of mild to moderately severe. Obtained the Sentence Recognition Indexes in Noise (SRIN) through
Brazilian Portuguese Sentence List, with hearing aids, using the following settings: omnidirectional
microphone; noise reduction and omnidirectional microphone; directional microphone; the noise
reduction and directional microphone. Considered: tritonal average 500,1000, 2000 Hz and 3000, 4000
and 6000 Hz; Mini mental state examination results, dichotic digits test and standard duration. Results:
When speech and noise came from the same direction (0/0° azimuth), there was no predominance of
the settings in the best performance in SRIN. In the condition that the noise focused behind the subject
(0/180° azimuth), the directional microphone associated noise reduction were essential for the best
performance. There was a correlation between the SRPRN 0/0° and the dichotic digits test. Conclusion:
The ability of figure-ground for verbal sounds showed influence in the communicative performance of
the elderly user of hearing aids, when speech and noise came from the same direction. But when speech 

and noise are spatially separated, the directional microphone and the associated noise reduction helped
the individual to respond more efficiently to the stimuli presented.