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Integrated Speech Mapping

Integrated Speech Mapping is an automated process of Speech Mapping that assists with verifying the hearing aid operation to assure good speech audibility and comfort for the fitting. It uses a calibrated input signal with a known spectral shape in order to give the most accurate measurement of the hearing aid output in response to a known speech input. Integrated Speech Mapping first calibrates the hearing aid's input signal and then captures speech to verify the performance for the Normal memory. This wizard can be launched via Speech Mapping or at the conclusion of Adult Auto Path.

 

Integrated Speech Mapping calibrates the patient's hearing aid based on the Moderate target level selected via Target Preferences. Prior to using Integrated Speech Mapping, it is important to calibrate your system speakers. See Speaker Calibration for more information.

 

Once the wizard is complete, the hearing aid settings can be modified to better match the target via several Fitting screens. The options to launch QuickFit, Fine Tuning/Band, or Expert Assistant, all with Speech Mapping active, can be selected.

 

International Speech Test Signal (ISTS)International Speech Test Signal (ISTS)

 

The signal used for obtaining the capture in Integrated Speech Mapping is the International Speech Test Signal (ISTS). This signal was created by a working group of the European Hearing Instruments Manufacturer Association (EHIMA). The working group was called “ISMADHA” and is an abbreviation for the goal of the project: An International Standard for Measuring Advanced Digital Hearing Aids.

 

ISTS is a collection of short segments of six languages, designed to have the characteristics of speech without comprehension for measuring hearing aids. It was created from 21 female speakers reading the story “The North Wind and the Sun” which is available in many different languages.

  1. Connect and select the desired hearing aid(s) to capture via Get Started.

  2. Click on the Read Device Settings or Load a Previous Session radio button and then click Start.

  3. Click Advanced Tools from the Left Navigation Menu.

  4. Click Speech Mapping.
    Tip:  Click Tools from the Menu Bar and click Speech Mapping to activate.
  5. Click Integrated Speech Mapping.
    Tip:  Once Adult Auto Path is complete, click Go to Integrated Speech Mapping to access.
  6. If your speakers need calibrating, a message displays. Click Speaker Calibration.
    Tip:  Click Continue to bypass the speaker calibration and continue to Integrated Speech Mapping or click Close to cancel Integrated Speech Mapping.
  7. Inspire automatically defaults to a binaural Select Binaural view if applicable. To capture only the right or left hearing aid, click Select Right Only or Select Left Only.
    Note:  If fitting CROS/BiCROS devices, only the receiver aid can be captured, therefore, only the receiver side displays. The hearing aid(s) is automatically muted, all Noise Control settings are set to Off, and any Directionality settings are set to Omni.
  8. Based on your PC's speaker configuration, seat the patient 18 inches or 46 centimeters from the center or right speaker, as illustrated in the animation.
    Note:  If using Surround Sound Speakers (5.1 and higher), the signal will play from the front center speaker and if using Desktop Stereo Speakers, the signal will play from the right speaker.
  9. Click Next to calibrate the hearing aid(s).
    Note:  The calibration signal is a broadband, white noise signal that is automatically adjusted to achieve the Moderate target level selected via Target Preferences at the hearing aid microphone.
    Tip:  If the calibration was completed previously during the same fitting session, click Skip Calibration and continue at step 10 or click Close to cancel Integrated Speech Mapping.
  10. If the calibration was successful, click Next to capture speech or click Recalibrate Patient to calibrate the hearing aid(s) again, if desired.
    Tip:  If the calibration was unsuccessful, click Retry and repeat steps 8-9 or click Close to cancel Integrated Speech Mapping.
  11. Check or uncheck the targets (soft, moderate, and/or loud) to display on the fitting graph.
    Note:  If None is selected for any target level via Target Preferences, that option is disabled. However, Moderate Target is checked by default regardless of the target level preference selected. The real-time view selected via Speech Mapping displays on the fitting graph for output only. Regardless of the graphical view currently selected, Real Ear Response output and Input Type: Speech always displays on the fitting graph while on this screen to assist with verifying audibility of the signal.
    Note:  The hearing aid(s) is automatically unmuted (only if unmuted prior to accessing Integrated Speech Mapping), and all Noise Control and Directional settings that were changed in step 7 are returned to their previous setting.
  12. Click Next to capture the average input over time.
    Note:  The speech capture automatically stops recording after 10 seconds. Once the capture is complete, a green output curve encased in a shaded region displays on the fitting graph with the average input value in dB SPL referenced below the graph.
  13. Click QuickFit with Speech Mapping, Fine Tuning with Speech Mapping/Band with Speech Mapping, or Expert Assistant with Speech Mapping to make adjustments if necessary, or click Close to close Integrated Speech Mapping and return to the Speech Mapping screen (if accessed via this screen) or launch the QuickFit screen (if accessed via Adult Auto Path).
    Tip:  Click Recalibrate Patient to calibrate the input level again and repeat steps 8-9 or click Recapture to capture speech again if desired and repeat steps 11-12. If Recapture is selected, the previous capture will be overwritten when the new capture is complete because only one Integrated Speech Mapping capture per hearing aid is allowed.
  14. To manage the curve or capture additional curves, see Speech Mapping.