FONIX® 8000 - Frye Electronics

98 FONIX 8000 Hearing Aid Test System
A few technical details about this test:
• Choose between showing test results in SPL (Output) and Gain in the
local menu. (Use [MENU] to open the local menu, the arrow keys to
adjust the selections, and [EXIT] or [MENU] again to close the local
menu.)
• [F2] sets the aid type. This changes the length of time each stimulus is
presented before the measurement is taken. Suitable default delay times
are set when the aid type is selected. You can make further adjustments to
the delay settings in the local menu. See Section 2.3.1.3 for details.
• The settings used for the test displayed on the graph are shown above
the data results on the right side of the screen. The settings used when
[START] is pressed are shown below the data under “Current Settings.”
4.4 Attack & Release
The Attack & Release test demonstrates how the hearing aid reacts to noise at
different intensity levels. The test works by presenting a loud-soft-loud-soft
stimulus sequence to the aid. The first loud-soft tones are done to prepare the
analyzer and the hearing aid for the test. The second loud-soft tones are used
for the actual measurements.
The loud stimulus demonstrates the hearing aid’s attack time. That is, how the
hearing aid reacts to the test stimulus going from a soft level to a loud level. The
last soft stimulus demonstrates the hearing aid’s release time. That is, how the
hearing aid reacts to the test stimulus going from a loud level to a soft level.
To enter the Attack & Release screen: From the Opening screen, press [F3] to
enter the Advanced Coupler Navigation screen. Then press [F3] to enter the
Attack & Release screen.
Press [START] to run the Attack & Release test.
Measurement results are displayed in graphical and numeric format. See Figure
4.4. The top graph contains the response of the aid over time to the Attack test.
The bottom graph shows the response of the aid over time to the Release test.
These graphical displays let you see how the device performs over the attack
and release phases. Erratic performance during these critical phases could result
in effects that are audible to a hearing-impaired listener. These effects could be
annoying or could even obscure parts of a conversation. The actual attack and
release times determined by the analyzer are shown in a box to the right of the
graph.