National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR)
Marquam Hill Audiology Grand Rounds - CEU Details
The current month's grand rounds info and CEU documents are below (see CEU information at the bottom of the page).
Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Time: 12-1pm (Pacific)
Location: Virtual via Microsoft Teams
Presenter: Chantal van Ginkel, Au.D., NCRAR Research Audiologist
Title: Hearing aid performance in noise: Suprathreshold tests and patient preferences
Overview: Listening in background noise remains a major complaint among hearing aid users, despite advances in hearing aid technology. It is not clear what variables should be used to make decisions about best directionality and noise reduction (DIR + NR) settings, and the audiogram alone provides very little information about suprathreshold abilities that are important to understanding speech in noise. Recently, the Audible Contrast Threshold (ACT) test has been suggested as a tool to improve the first fit of hearing aids in terms of DIR + NR settings. In an ongoing study, we investigated the relationships between the ACT, the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT), audiometric data, and hearing aid program preferences among US Veteran hearing aid users fit with Oticon hearing aids. Veterans completed the ACT test and HINT as well as multiple week field trials with pairs of DIR+NR during which they reported their preferences for DIR + NR settings. In general, HINT performance improved with more aggressive DIR + NR settings; however, strong preferences for different DIR + NR settings were not found. The lack of strong participant preferences in these data may be an indication that clinicians should prioritize performance based on suprathreshold tests, such as the ACT or HINT, more than preference information, when adjusting DIR + NR settings. By investigating the alignment between the ACT test, HINT, and participant preference, we seek to provide a foundation for a more comprehensive and individualized approach towards hearing aid customization in audiology.
As a result of this presentation, participants will be better able to describe the concept of the Audible Contrast Threshold test and identify which audiological variables are important to consider when addressing speech recognition in noise in a clinic setting.
Learner Outcomes: Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:
• Describe the concept of the Audible Contrast Threshold test.
• Identify which audiological variables other than the pure-tone audiogram are important to consider addressing speech recognition in noise in the clinic.
• Discuss whether patient performance on suprathreshold clinical tests or preference for different settings is more clinically meaningful to adjust hearing aid directionality and noise reduction settings.
Disclosure statement: Chantal van Ginkel has the following relevant financial disclosure: she receives a salary from the Veterans Healthcare Administration. She has no non-financial disclosures relationships to disclose.
*IMPORTANT DETAILS: The seminars will be broadcast via Microsoft Teams.
To receive a Teams invitation, please fill out the registration form at this link.
Once you have a Microsoft Teams invitation, please see the instructions for joining below at the time of the call:
1. Click on the “Join Microsoft Teams Meeting” link in the Outlook invitation for the seminar (in the Outlook calendar)
2. Click on “Join now," and mute your microphone.
3. Alternately, you can simply call the telephone number listed below the "Join Microsoft Teams Meeting" link. Note: MUTE your phone; do not place your phone on hold.
CEUs: new process!! To receive CEUs for watching the seminar, please click on this link to submit your information and evaluation.
Submit your evaluation within 5 business days (May 16) in order to receive credit. Questions? Please send them to Marianne Pierson at Marianne.Pierson@va.gov.
NCRAR is approved by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association to offer 0.1 CEU for this continuing education activity (Advanced level, Professional Area).
