ACHIEVING PRESCRIBED GAIN FREQUENCY RESPONSES WITH ADVANCES IN HEARING-AID TECHNOLOGY

Technological limitations have restricted the capability of older gene ration in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids to closely match prescribed real ear gain/frequency responses. Newer technology, widely available in cu rrently marketed ITE hearing aids, has considerably improved this capa bility. Data for 60 ears are presented comparing the real ear insertio n gain (REIG) actually achieved to the target REIG, using ITE hearing aids having: 1) older generation narrow-band receivers, and amplifiers with single-pole-filter low frequency tone control and a class A ampl ifier output stage (n = 30), and 2) newer generation amplifiers with a two- or four-pole-filter low frequency tone control, and wide band re ceivers, containing a class D amplifier output stage (n = 30). With th e newer technology ITE hearing aids, the means and ranges of deviation from target gain were reduced. Capability for achieving prescription REIG with ITE hearing aids can be further improved with multichannel a mplifiers. Examples of the latter are shown for several difficult-to-f it audiograms.