Introduction
hearing amplification, hearing impairment, REMs, hearing loss, Hearing loss
HEARING LOSS, HEARING IMPAIRMENT, AIDS, HEARING LOSS
Hearing loss is a common and growing global health issue. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that approximately 2.5 billion people will experience hearing loss and 700 million will need hearing rehabilitation by 2050 [Hearing rehabilitation improves audiological performance, daily activity functioning, and quality of life. Hearing aids (HAs) are the most common and important method of hearing rehabilitation [Smartphones can be useful devices for amplification, and many smartphone-based HA apps (SHAAs) have been developed to improve the audibility of sounds for both individuals with and without hearing impairment [Although some SHAAs provide the recommended level of processing delay, conventional HAs have shown better performance than SHAAs in most aspects of amplification. Our previous study on the electroacoustic performance of various SHAAs [This study compared the audiological performance of an SHAA to that of a conventional HA. The study settings included unaided and aided conditions in quiet and noisy situations. The objective benefit of hearing amplification was evaluated in sound-field tests and real-ear measurements (REMs). We used the sound-field test to evaluate the hearing threshold and word recognition scores (WRSs) at 50 dB. REMs were studied using 55-, 65-, and 75-dB stimuli in the 250-8000 Hz range. The subjective benefits were evaluated using the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) and International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA).