A 70-year-old patient is being fitted with a hearing aid. The audiogram shows a moderately severe high-frequency SNHL with a sloping configuration (ski-slope pattern). Which hearing aid style and processing feature would most appropriately address this audiogram?
- A Analogue body-worn hearing aid with uniform linear amplification
- B Behind-the-ear (BTE) digital hearing aid with frequency-specific (channel-based) amplification providing greater high-frequency gain with open-fit dome ✓
- C Bone conduction hearing aid (BAHA) to bypass the cochlear pathology
- D Completely-in-canal (CIC) aid with manual volume control and no digital noise reduction
Explanation
A sloping high-frequency SNHL (ski-slope pattern) requires selective amplification of high frequencies while sparing low frequencies where residual hearing is near-normal. Modern multi-channel digital BTE aids with open-fit or receiver-in-canal (RIC) designs deliver frequency-specific gain prescribed to match the individual audiogram (commonly NAL-NL2 or DSL v5 prescription), provide digital noise reduction, feedback cancellation, and directional microphones. An open-fit dome reduces occlusion effect since low frequencies do not need amplification. Bone conduction aids are for conductive/mixed loss, not SNHL. Analogue linear aids do not provide frequency-specific amplification.
Reference: Dhingra Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 7th ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.