Communication Sciences & Disorders

• Home
• Graduate Programs
• Undergraduate Programs
• Our People
• Research Labs
• Clinical & Community Services
• Student Association (NSSHLA)

• Research Labs Main
• Auditory Research Lab
• Child and Adolescent Language Lab (CALL)
• Clinical Research in Neurogenic Communication Disorders Lab (CRNCS)
• Computational, Speech, Sensory, Development & Diseases Lab (CSD²)
• Hearing Aid Research Lab (HARL)
• Infant and Toddler Language Laboratory
• Neural Bases of Communication and Swallowing
• Psychoacoustic Research Lab
• Research Applications in Clinical Education (RACE)
• Sensory-Neural Engineering Research Laboratory
• Sign Language Research Lab
• Stuttering Research Laboratory
• Video Analysis Lab

Hearing Aid Research Laborator

Focus of Lab

The primary focus of the Hearing Aid Research Laboratory is to evaluate the benefits derived from high-end signal processing, and user satisfaction measurements. Other areas of research interest in the laboratory include perceived sound quality in individuals with cochlear hearing loss, and electroacoustic characteristics of hearing aids.

In addition to research, the laboratory is used for hearing aid technical teaching in graduate level amplification courses. The laboratory houses a computer dedicated for hearing aid programming, and several models of current digital hearing aids donated by hearing aid manufacturers. Other educational uses of the laboratory include electroacoustic evaluation of hearing aids, hands on practice with linear and nonlinear fitting software, acoustic signal processing, and ear mold modification.

Personnel

• Ayasakanta Rout, Director
• Sara A. Conrad, Graduate Assistant
• Sarah K. Sporck, Au.D. dissertation
• Phillip K. Bond, Au.D. dissertation
• Melissa A. McNichol, Au.D. dissertation
• Sheena K Jessee, Au.D. dissertation

Current Projects

• Benchmarking digital signal processing algorithms in hearing aids.
• Acceptable Noise Level for different target speech (rapid, conversational, and clear speech)
• Evaluation of the impact of real ear measurements during hearing aid fitting  

Recent Graduates

Lori E. Hanline, Au.D. (2008)
Dissertation: Objective and Subjective Evaluation of Noise Reduction in Digital Hearing Aids

Jennifer J. Goldman, Au.D.  (2009)
Dissertation: The Effects of Testing Method, Target Stimuli and Attention on Acceptable Noise Level in Normal Hearing Listeners

Sara L. Billari, Au.D. (2009)
Dissertation: Outcome Assessment of Entry Level Digital Hearing Aids