Input-output (I/O) functions of hearing aids were measured in response to a 2000 Hz tone burst, having 0.5 ms rise/fall time and 10 ms duration. Findings indicated that the steady-state output limitation characteristics of hearing aids cannot be estimated from their onset responses. (Author/DB)

Suggestions for the design, installation, and operation of laboratory fume hoods are listed. (RH)

Speech recognition threshold (SRT) was measured in quiet and in noise for normal hearing subjects and subjects with high frequency sensorineural hearing loss. The speed, reliability, and apparent sensitivity of the SRT to frequency response characteristics make it a potentially useful tool for hearing aid evaluation. (Author/DB)

Three hearing aid manufacturers provided custom full-shell in-the-ear hearing aids designed for maximum acoustic gain for each of three hearing-impaired adults. Full-on coupler gain curves were similar across all nine hearing aids, with individual differences producing substantial variance in insertion gain across hearing aids. (Author/DB)

This paper describes the Vocal Demodulator as a new device for analysis of vocal tremor. The Vocal Demodulator produces amplitude-demodulated and frequency-demodulated outputs and measures the frequency and level of low-frequency tremor components in sustained phonation. The paper describes quantification of the demodulation process, validation…

A 2-microphone dereverberation technique was evaluated by obtaining speech recognition measures and preference judgments from 10 normal-hearing adults and 7 older adult hearing-impaired listeners. Both groups had higher scores at the shorter reverberation time than at the longer reverberation time. Hearing-impaired subjects performed significantly…

This paper discusses the problem of feedback in hearing aids and offers examples based on a computer simulation of hearing aid behavior. The available technology for dealing with feedback is reviewed, and the new digital signal-processing approaches which may finally solve the feedback problem are described. (Author/DB)

Eight subjects participated in a comparison of the multipeak (MPEAK) and spectral peak (SPEAK) speech coding strategies of the Nucleus 22-channel cochlear implant system. Overall, speech recognition performance was significantly higher with the SPEAK strategy than with the MPEAK strategy on all speech tests. (Author)

The efficacy of the IBM SpeechViewer's Vowel Accuracy Module for the improvement of vowel productions was evaluated in five preschool children with hearing impairment. Treatment effects were observed for four subjects on one vowel, for two subjects on a second vowel, and for one subject on a third vowel. Difficulties with the equipment were…

This study, involving 11 older males with mild or moderate sensorineural loss, tested whether speech gain that results from a hearing aid fitting is predictable on the basis of unaided performance intensity curve, unaided narrow-band sound field thresholds, hearing aid insertion gain as a function of frequency, ambient noise, and internal hearing…

The use of continuous discourse tracking to evaluate sensory prostheses for the hearing impaired was assessed in terms of the strategies used by the talker and responses elicited from the listener. Listeners showed small but significant differences in response patterns. Much larger differences were observed in the pattern of correction strategies…

Examines 71 of the 605 licensed child care centers in Atlanta for playground hazards and school accidents. Finds 684 hazards in 66 centers, including climbing equipment over 6 feet high with inadequate impact-absorbing undersurfacing that had over twice the rate of fall injuries as climbing equipment under 6 feet high. (FMW)

Seven subjects participated in a comparison of the normal and noise suppression settings on the Spectra 22 speech processor of the Nucleus 22-channel cochlear implant system. Group data revealed no significant difference in performance between the two settings for either monosyllabic words in quiet or sentences presented in background babble.…

This paper reviews recent research and reports on an ongoing longitudinal study concerning effects of cochlear implants, tactile aids, and hearing aids on the development of speech production skills in 18 children and youth with profound hearing impairments. The most improved speech was seen in the subjects with cochlear implants. (DB)

Presents major outcomes of a 2-year trial of the Open University's Cyclops shared-screen telewriting tutorial system. Impact of the system is considered in terms of human factors of the technology; tutors' and students' experience with Cyclops; and tutorial activities and their acceptability to participants. (Author)