Objective: To investigate the improvement of speech recognition for phone call listening by using wireless audio streaming hearing aids in noisy environments. Methods: 30 subjects who were diagnosed as symmetrical, sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), no middle ear problem, good aided speech recognition and able to speak Mandarin were selected in this research. Speech recognition scores for the phone call between aided with wireless mode-on and aided with wireless mode-off in quiet and noisy environments were statistically analyzed. Results: For word recognition score, subjects with the wireless mode off and on in quiet condition were 85.7% ± 13.6% and 96.0% ± 7.2% (P < 0.05), respectively. In noisy conditions, subjects with the wireless mode off and on condition were 27.3% ± 21.2% and 88.7% ± 18.5% (P < 0.05). For sentence recognition score, subjects with the wireless mode off and on in quiet conditions were 84.7% ± 13.3% and 92.7% ± 10.1% (P < 0.05), respectively. In noisy conditions, the sentence recognition score for subjects with the wireless mode off and on condition were 11.0% ± 13.5% and 89.0% ± 11.8% (P < 0.05), respectively. Conclusions: In quiet environments, individuals with hearing loss who use non-wireless audio streaming hearing aids have achieved high speech recognition during phone calls. However, using wireless audio streaming hearing aids can further enhance this experience. In noisy environments, speech recognition during phone calls may decrease when using non-wireless audio streaming hearing aids. Wireless audio streaming hearing aids can still maintain a high level of speech recognition, effectively addressing the challenge of phone call accessibility for individuals with hearing loss. Therefore, wireless audio streaming hearing aid technology can greatly improve speech recognition.
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Tan, C. , Tu, L. , Wang, Y. , Jin, D. , Wang, Y. and Shi, W. (2024). Improving Speech Recognition during Phone Calls in Noisy Environment through the Use of Wireless Audio Streaming in Hearing Aids. Open Access Library Journal, 11, e1343. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1111343.
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