1) The study evaluated different hearing aid solutions for streaming television audio, including the Phonak Audéo Marvel paired with the TV Connector versus competitors. 2) 15 experienced hearing aid users rated different sound attributes and defined an ideal profile. 3) The Phonak solution most closely matched the ideal profile with balanced bass and treble, moderate reverberation and sharpness, and high dynamics, details and naturalness. 4) Participants preferred the sound quality of the Phonak solution over competitors. The Phonak solution and AutoSense OS 3.0 classification of streamed media provided better hearing performance for television listening.

1. Media streaming:
The sound quality
preferred by hearing
aid wearers
A benchmark study

2. Introduction:
Positive benefits of
watching television
For seniors, watching
television has a
positive benefit “an
active way to remain
socially integrated, to
structure daily life, and
to satisfy needs for
reflection and
contemplation”
Oestlund, B., Jönsson, B. & Waller, P. (2010). Watching Television in Later
Life: A deeper understanding of the meaning of TV viewing for design in
geriatric contexts. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences 24(2):233-43.

3. Introduction: Hearing aid features which enhance the sound experience
AutoPilotPersonalLogicAutoSelect
AutoSense OS 3.0
SoundFlowAutoSense OS
AutoSense OSAutoSense Sky OS
SoundFlow
1999 2003 2004
201820172016
2014 2012 2010 SoundFlow 2007
• Claro • Perseo • Savia
• SoundNavigation
• EasyPhone
• EasyFM
• Specific environments
for pediatrics
• Belong
• SoundRecover 2
• Symmetrical gain for asymmetrical
losses
• Classification of
streamed media
• Venture
• 7 base programs
• Quest
• BVST
• Speech in Wind
• Auto StereoZoom
• 5 base programs
• Spice
• StereoZoom
• UltraZoom
• Auto ZoomControl
• Multi-dimensional sound
classification
• Core
• 4 base programs
Classification of sound reaching microphones directly. AutoSelect in the Claro platform in the late nineties AutoSense OS speech clarity in
noise AutoSense OS classifier as 20% better than manual program
Übelacker, E., & Tchorz, T. (2015). Untersuchung des Nutzens einer Programmwahlautomatik für Hörgeräteträger, Hörakustik 1/2015.

4. Introduction: AutoSense OSTM 3.0 enhancements
Acoustic
(through HA microphones)
Speech
in car
Music
Speech in
loud house
Calm
situation
Comfort
in noise
Speech
in noise
Comfort
in echo
HFP
Phone calls
AirStream
Partner Mic
Roger
Streamed
speech
Streamed
music
Streamed
Classified
AutoSense OS functionality has been expanded. AutoSense OS 3.0 now also includes the classification of
media streaming into the sound classes, Speech vs Music

5. Objective
Legarth, S., Latzel, M. & Appleton-Huber, J. (2017). TV Connector – superior listening to television programs containing speech. Phonak Field Study News, retrieved from www.phonakpro.com/evidence, accessed July 16th, 2018.
Soren Vase Legarth, DELTA SenseLab
DELTA SenseLab to benchmark impact of this AutoSense OS 3.0 innovation in the new Phonak Marvel technology, paired
with the TV Connector, against a prior product as well as current competitive solutions
Matthias Latzel, PhD, Phonak HQ

6. Methodology: Participants
Legarth, S., Latzel, M. & Appleton-Huber, J. (2017). TV Connector – superior listening to television programs containing speech. Phonak Field Study News, retrieved from www.phonakpro.com/evidence, accessed July 16th, 2018.
Expert listeners as a result of training and familiarization with listening tasks prior
Participants
N = 15 (6 , 9 )
Mean Age = 73.7 years
Mild-moderate SNHL

7. Methodology: Equipment
RECD adjusted
to match
KEMAR
Streaming program
activated manually
Loudness
equalization
Frequency
lowering
algorithms
turned OFF
Default setting
with closed
Slim Tips
Hearing aid set up
Hearing aids paired with TV streaming solutions
5 x competitor
premium aids
5 x respective
TV streamers
TV connectorTV connector
Phonak Audeo
Marvel
Phonak Audeo
Belong-Direct

8. Methodology: Equipment
Sample description
Title music from
Danish TV series
“Broen”
Live music
Eric Clapton
concert at Royal Albert
Hall “I shot
the sheriff”
Dialogue from
Danish TV series
“Broen”
1 2 3
DR news
News from Danish
television
4
Sport
Champions League
football match
5
Speech in noise
Action scene
from Danish
TV series “Broen”
4

9. Methodology: Defining relevant sound attributes and the ideal profile
Naturalness
Bass
Dynamics
Treble
Sharpness
Reverberation
Details
0%
100%
7 relevant attributes for
perceptual evaluation identified
Attributes capture key
characteristics differentiating
hearing aid streamers
Preferred ratings recorded for a
each attribute, for each streaming
solution, for each broadcast
sample
Created an ideal profile
Preference ratings retested with a
high test reliability

10. Results: Phonak Audéo Marvel with TV Connector is a close match
to the ideal profile
• Balanced Treble & Bass
• Moderate Reverberation
• Moderate Sharpness
• A high level of Dynamics,
Details & Naturalness
The ideal profile is
characterized by:
Reverberation
Details
Naturalness
Bass
Treble
Sharpness Dynamics
0%
100%

11. Results: Phonak Audéo Marvel with TV Connector is preferred over
competitor solutions
Overall preference for the Phonak Audéo Marvel solution

12. Conclusion
Television watching is a popular activity
Speech clarity & sound quality
Phonak matches the ideal profile
Rated top among competitors
AutoSense OS 3.0 classifies streamed media
Phonak provides hearing performance

13. Phonak Field Study News
Legarth, S. V., Latzel, M. & Rodrigues, T. (2018)
Media streaming: The sound quality preferred by hearing aid users
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