International Journal of Audiology 2014; 53: 1

Editorial

The ANL: Does it, or does it not? About twenty years ago, an intriguing idea regarding the ability to predict successful hearing-aid usage was suggested, based on identifying the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at which individuals stop attending to a conversation. After demonstrating that those who wore their hearing aids full time tolerated more background noise than part-time hearingaid users, Nabelek et al (1991) proposed a procedure to identify the SNR tolerance unique to each individual; it involved specifying the level of background noise perceived by an individual as interfering with speech understanding with data showing that those who tolerated more background noise showed better acceptance of their hearing aids. This procedure, later termed the acceptable noise level (ANL) test (Rogers et al, 2003), has gained considerable research interest, as well as some clinical application. In fact, the original test has been translated into different languages (Chen et al, 2011; Ho et al, 2013; Olsen et al, 2012a,b). As evidenced by the number of papers recently submitted and published in IJA on this topic area (see references below) it became clear that a comprehensive review of the literature, as well as dialogue on the current status of this intriguing and potentially useful technique would be on value to IJA readers. Thus, the lead article in this Volume 53:1, 2014 issue of the International Journal of Audiology by Drs. Steen Østergaard Olsen and K Jonas Brännström is devoted to this topic as a Discussion Paper. Not only will readers find a comprehensive review of existing ANL literature, but will benefit from the excellent comments of three reviewers who have significant expertise in this area: Drs. Earl Johnson, Melinda Freyaldenhoven Bryan, and Sandra Gordon-Hickey. In addition, readers will have access to Drs. Olsen and Brännströms’ responses to the review points raised and will be able to make an informed decision about the feasibility of predicting hearingaid benefit from ANL test findings. Does the ANL predict successful hearing-aid use? After digesting the comprehensive author and reviewer information, it is doubtful that readers will form a firm answer to this question. Rather, as pointed out by the authors and reviewers, this area continues to have great potential if the procedures are clearly defined, and they are used with the standardized procedures. Most important, though, is that the experience of reading the paper carefully will provide an excellent summary of and appreciation for the complex process involved in developing important research questions, exploring methods to test hypotheses to answer critical components of the questions, and reaching valid and reliable conclusions. Such a process involves considerable input from many sources; to carry it out correctly, the process is often painfully slow and time-intensive. With our expanding ability to communicate globally, we now have the ability to focus attention on important research and clinical areas in audiology, with the goal that the new discoveries will ultimately translate to improved diagnoses and quality of life for all those with hearing loss. This 2014 inaugural International Journal of Audiology issue attempts to provide a platform for readers to be made

aware of the advancements and current status of one important topic: the ANL test.

Ross J. Roeser, PhD UTD\Callier Center, Administration, 1966 Inwood Road, Dallas, 75235 United States Editor-in-Chief [email protected]

References Adams E.M., Gordon-Hickey S., Moore R.E. & Morlas H. 2010. Effects of reverberation on acceptable noise level measurements in younger and older adults. Int J Audiol, 49, 832–838. Chen J., Zhang H., Plyler P.N., Cao W. & Chen J. 2011. Development and evaluation of the Mandarin speech signal content on the acceptable noise level test in listeners with normal hearing in mainland China. Int J Audiol, 50, 354–360. Franklin C.A., Thelin J.W., Nabelek A.K. & Burchfield S.B. 2006. The effect of speech presentation level on acceptance of background noise in listeners with normal hearing. J Am Acad Audiol, 17, 141–146. Fredelake S., Holube I., Schlueter A. & Hansen M. 2012. Measurement and prediction of the acceptable noise level for single-microphone noise reduction algorithms. Int J Audiol, 51, 299–308. Ho H.C., Wu Y.H., Hsiao S.H., Stangl E. & Lentz E.J. et al. 2013. The equivalence of acceptable noise level (ANL) with English, Mandarin, and non-semantic speech: A study across the U.S. and Taiwan. Int J Audiol, 52, 83–91. Johnson E., Ricketts T. & Hornsby B. 2009. The effect of extending high-frequency bandwidth on the acceptable noise level (ANL) of hearing-impaired listeners. Int J Audiol, 48, 353–362. Kim J.S. & Bryan M.F. 2011. The effects of asymmetric directional microphone fittings on acceptance of background noise. Int J Audiol, 50, 290–296. Nabelek A.K., Tucker F.M. & Letowski T.R. 1991. Toleration of background noises: Relationship with patterns of hearing-aid use by elderly persons. J Speech Hear Res, 34, 679–685. Nichols A.C. & Gordon-Hickey S. 2012. The relationship of locus of control, self-control, and acceptable noise levels for young listeners with normal hearing. Int J Audiol, 51, 353–359. Olsen S.Ø., Lantz J., Nielsen L.H. & Brännström K.J. 2012a. Acceptable noise level (ANL) with Danish and non-semantic speech materials in adult hearing-aid users. Int J Audiol, 51, 678–688. Olsen S.Ø., Nielsen L.H., Lantz J. & Brännström K.J. 2012b. Acceptable noise level: Repeatability with Danish and non-semantic speech materials for adults with normal hearing. Int J Audiol, 51, 557–563. Plyler P.N., Alworth L.N., Rossini T.P. & Mapes K.E. 2011. Effects of speech signal content and speaker gender on acceptance of noise in listeners with normal hearing. Int J Audiol, 50, 243–248. Rogers D.S., Harkrider A.W., Burchfield S.B. & Nabelek A.K. 2003. The influence of listener’s gender on the acceptance of background noise. J Am Acad Audiol, 14, 372–382.

ISSN 1499-2027 print/ISSN 1708-8186 online © 2014 British Society of Audiology, International Society of Audiology, and Nordic Audiological Society DOI: 10.3109/14992027.2013.851418

Copyright of International Journal of Audiology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.

The ANL: does it, or does it not?

The ANL: does it, or does it not? - PDF Download Free
29KB Sizes 0 Downloads 0 Views