Clinical Findings with the Phonak MicroEar

Auditory disorders in patients with normal peripheral hearing acuity have long been recognized. Many of these patients report considerable difficulty listening in less than optimal environments, such as in the presence of reverberation or with unfavorable signal-to-noise ratio. Karlin (1942) stated that “ . . . conventional auditory acuity tests have little predictive value of auditory behavior in more complex social situations.” In the 60 years since Karlin’s statement, recognition of these clinical populations, often generally classified as having auditory processing disorders (APD), has grown, and yet is often dismissed by audiologists based on conventional audiometry results and/or the belief that even if a disorder is identified, effective treatment does not exist or the listener will not pursue treatment. Patients with APD can often benefit from signalto-noise ratio enhancement, greater than what can be provided merely by attending to room acoustics. The Phonak MicroEar is a product designed for patients with normal hearing acuity who require additional signal-to-noise ratio enhancement. It is tool which can be used as part of a comprehensive rehabilitative approach to treatment for these patients. This product is designed to be an ear-level self contained unit with electroacoustic characteristics designed to accommodate normal peripheral hearing acuity. In addition, a number of transmitter options are available which allows the listener to be able to maximize flexibility depending on their listening needs. Clinical findings and clinical experiences with the Phonak MicroEar will be highlighted in this paper, including