Communications of the ACM
Cambridge Software Improves Quality of Sound For Hearing Aid sers
Credit: Cambridge University
Cambridge University researchers have developed CAM2, software that improves the quality of sound for hearing aid users.
The software dictates the amount of amplification of high-frequency sounds required to restore their audibility. The technique increases the frequency range of sound that individuals with hearing loss are able to detect, improving speech perception, sound localization, and the ability to hear certain musical sounds.
"Until recently, hearing aids only provided amplification for frequencies up to four or five kHz, whereas a person with normal hearing can hear for frequencies up to 15 or 20 kHz," says Cambridge professor Brian Moore.
However, he says CAM2 extends the fitting range up to 10 kHz. The researchers note a recent study compared the CAM2 method with NAL-NL2, which is a fitting method used by the U.K.'s National Health Service and many other health organizations around the world. A majority of participants in the study preferred CAM2, both for overall sound quality and for the clarity of speech in a noisy situation.
From University of Cambridge
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