Comparison of frequency response and aided speech-recognition performance for hearing aids selected by three different prescriptive methods.

The gain and the speech-recognition performance obtained for behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids selected by different prescriptive methods was compared. The three prescriptive methods examined were the NAL-revised method, the Memphis State or COX method, and the POGO-II procedure. Twelve subjects had hearing aids and earmolds selected to match the prescription made by each method. Once selected, the instruments were fine tuned to match the obtained gain to that prescribed and then speech recognition was assessed. Subjects listened to the CUNY Nonsense Syllable Test (NST) in quiet and in noise. Results indicated that, although the prescribed frequency responses differed significantly among methods, there were no differences among the three prescriptive methods in obtained frequency responses or aided speech-recognition performance.