An Evidence-Based Systematic Review of Directional Microphones and Digital Noise Reduction Hearing Aids in School-Age Children With Hearing Loss
American Journal of Audiology
McCreery, R., Venediktov, R., et al. (2012).
American Journal of Audiology, 21, 295-312.
This evidence-based systematic review investigates the effect of directional microphones or digital noise reduction digital noise reduction in hearing aids on a variety of outcomes (e.g., audibility, speech recognition, speech and language, hearing aid self- or parent-reported outcomes) in school-age children, 5-17 years old, with documented conductive, mixed, or sensorineural hearing loss and who use hearing aids.
Based on "preliminary results from a moderate body of evidence, [digital noise reduction] algorithms that do not reduce the audibility of speech could be used to increase listener comfort in school-age children" (p. 309).
"Based on a moderate body of evidence, [hearing aids] with a directional microphone response were found to improve speech recognition in noise in controlled situations where the target signal is located in front of the listener" (p. 309).
