Can the impact of hearing impairments be modelled?

The effects of two simulated hearing impairments (presbyacusis) on speech p erception were investigated in two groups of normally hearing subjects (30 and 48 subjects, respectively). Eight patients with presbyacusis with simil ar hearing impairment to those in the latter simulation served as the clini cal material. Word recognition scores were measured in quiet and in cocktai l party noise (S/N + 18 dB and + 12 dB). The recognition scores deteriorate d in the less favourable listening conditions. Somewhat surprisingly, the h earing impaired subjects showed better word recognition scores in quiet and especially in moderate noise. Subjective complaints on speech perception d ifficulties in noise on a visual analogue scale behaved quite logically; th e hearing impaired subjects' subjective experiences were no milder than tho se of the normally hearing during the simulation. The better results in wor d recognition shown by the hearing aid candidates may be explained by habit uation to the hearing impairment.