ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the speech perception performance of BTE hearing aids with different directional microphones. Methods 20 adults with sensorineural hearing loss participated in the research. Two digital hearing aids were programmed for adaptive directional, fixed directional, and omni-directional microphone patterns. The multi-talker noise was presented in three conditions: 180?,?90?, and 360?. Each subject was tested in nine listening conditions (three microphone patterns and three noise presentations) by using modified Hearing In Noise Test. SNR was obtained in each testing condition. Results Under each noise presentation, the sequence of microphone patterns that obtained SNR from low to high was: adaptive directional, fixed directional, and omni-directional. Conclusion Adaptive directional microphone worked best when the noise source was changing or the noise was coming not only from behind but also from other directions; fixed directional microphone could be employed when the noise came from the rear; omni-directional microphone was suitable for hearing in quiet.