Author: Stefani Kim

Preserving the Temporal Envelope in Hearing Aid Processed Sounds

Temporal envelope and temporal fine structure cues are complementary in nature, and both are used by listeners in their communications. Hearing loss, as well as the etiology and configuration of the hearing loss, could affect the relative importance of each cue for the listeners in their appreciation and understanding of daily sounds. This article reviews the importance of cues related to the temporal envelope and presents results of a study that compares the Widex EVOKE system, which is designed in part to preserve and enhance the temporal envelope, with another premium hearing aid.

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Notes from an Early-Deafened Musician

The typical image of a musician with hearing loss is someone like Beethoven, who lost his hearing long after spending a lifetime learning, playing, or composing aural music. What is lost in this image is the fact that there are individuals like myself, who acquire significant hearing loss shortly after birth or in early adolescence, yet fall in love with aural music during this same period in their lives.

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Composing with Hearing Loss

Composing music when you have a severe hearing loss can be a real challenge. For example, one has to listen with high acuity to the musical tracks using headphones or in-ear monitors that, by nature, make hearing aid use very difficult or impossible. Here are some insights from an accomplished composer who has devised several solutions for the creation of great music.

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Loss Plus Correction Equals Baseline

Recommendations for a “Musicians’ Package” for Hearing Aid Users: A Smartphone app that has a 5- or even 10-band equalizer to modify music output. It should also be able to enable or disable automatic controls easily, such as feedback and attenuation levels, without a visit to the audiologist.

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Links Between Age-related Sensory Impairments Discussed at AGS Conference

Is the connection between sensory impairment and cognitive decline linear, with one health concern leading to the other, or is it cyclical, reflecting a more complex connection? AGS-NIA conference attendees think answers to these questions are critical, which is why their conference report maps the state of sensory and cognitive impairment research while also outlining important priorities for future scholarship and clinical practice.

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