Metoder för att fastställa begränsningsnivå vid hörapparatutprovning

Abstract

To prevent the patient from experiencing uncomfortably loud sounds, a limit for maximum power output, which should not exceed the patient’s uncomfortable level, is programmed in the hearing aid. The aim of this study was to investigate how hearing aid manufacturers and audiologists make sure that the patient will not experience un¬com¬fortably loud sounds with hearing aids. To study this we interviewed three manufacturers and six audiolo¬gists and examined the software of four manufacturers. The software contains sound systems that can be used to evaluate the patient’s experience of loud sounds with hearing aids. The audiologists however do not use these sound systems. The results of the study show that the manufacturers have differing opinions regarding MPO. The audiologists however have similar opinions in this matter. Most audiologists do not measure uncomfortable levels as routine because of the uncertainty of the measurement. The manufacturers and our sources do not re¬com¬mend measurement of the uncomfortable level without hearing aids. The audiologists use informal methods to evaluate the MPO.

From these results we suggest development of a calibrated sound system, which can be used by all audiologists for evaluation of experience of loud sounds with hearing aids.