Tobias Piechowiak – Who we are

@conference{euronoise2018,
title = {Technical evaluation of hearing-aid fitting parameters for different auditory profiles},
author = {Raul Sanchez-Lopez and Federica Bianchi and Michal Fereczkowski and Tobias Piechowiak and Ole Hau and Michael Syskind Pedersen and Thomas Behrens and Tobias Neher and Torsten Dau and Sébastien Santurette},
url = {http://www.euronoise2018.eu/component/contentbuilder/details/10/83/euronoise-2018-technical-evaluation-of-hearing-aid-fitting-parameters-for-different-auditory-profiles?Itemid=259},
issn = { 2226-5147},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-05-30},
booktitle = {In Proceedings of Euronoise 2018, Crete, Greece, 27-31 May 2018, pp. 381-388},
abstract = {Hearing-aid users have reported an increased satisfaction since digital technology and advanced signal processing became available in hearing aids. However, many users still experience difficulties in noisy environments and in complex listening scenarios. Although numerous parameters can be adjusted to provide an individualized hearing solution, hearing-aid fitting currently consists of: 1) the gain prescription and adjustment based on the pure-tone audiogram, 2) the activation of advanced features on-demand, such as beamforming and noise reduction. In a previous study [1], a novel approach for auditory profiling was suggested, where the hearing deficits were characterized according to two types of distortion. This allowed the classification of listeners into four auditory profiles according to a high/low degree of hearing distortions along the two dimensions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate different hearing-aid compensation strategies that may fit the needs of different auditory profiles via technical measures. A hearing-aid simulator, consisting of beamforming, noise reduction, and dynamic range compression, was used to test which parameter spaces and outcome measures may be of interest for a “profile-based hearing-aid fitting”. The simulator consists of two dummy behind-the-ear hearing aids and off-line sound processing performed on a personal computer. Technical measures, such as signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvement, envelope degradation, and a metric of spectral distortions, were used to evaluate the effects of different signal processing strategies on the signal at the output of the simulator. Several parameter settings were evaluated using speech in the presence of various interferers at different SNRs. Here, the results of this technical evaluation are presented and discussed, with a view towards identifying the effective compensation strategies for different auditory profiles.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}

@conference{ISAAR2019TP,
title = {Using the BEAR data to obtain shortened version of the SSQ-12 and IOI-HA},
author = {Tobias Piechowiak and David Zapala},
url = {https://whova.com/embedded/speaker_session_detail/isaar_201908/700948/},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-08-21},
booktitle = {Poster presentation at the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research: Vol. 7: Auditory Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems},
number = {SP.59},
organization = {The Danavox Jubilee Foundation},
abstract = {The Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale (SSQ-12) and the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA-7) are questionnaires containing 12 and 7 items, respectively. They are designed to subjectively assess hearing ability and are complementary to behavioral measures. Both questionnaires have been applied across a range of clinical and clinical research-related contexts, for example for assessing outcomes of e.g. cochlear implants and hearing aids. However, due to time constraints neither of the questionnaires seem to be an inherent part of standard clinical quality control. The Better Hearing Rehabilitation (BEAR) database contains SSQ-12 and IOI-HA-7 scores of around 2000 subjects. Applying an explanatory factor analysis (EFA) allowed us to reduce the SSQ-12 to 5 questions and the IOI-HA to 3 remaining questions. The SSQ-5 explains 77% of the variance in the SSQ-12 data while the IOI-HA-3 accounts for 69% of the variance in the original IOI-HA-7 dataset. We judge that these new versions can be used more efficiently by shortening time and focusing on the items that are most effective to reflect individual benefit. Furthermore, the analysis seems to confirm the validity of such a reduction from similar findings in the literature that were done on different datasets.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}

@conference{ISAAR2019TP2,
title = {Hearing aids in the drawer: Usage time as a function of auditory and non-auditory factors},
author = {Mads Christensen and Alexander Ibsen and Jens-Ulrik Hansen and Tobias Piechowiak},
url = {https://whova.com/embedded/speaker_session_detail/isaar_201908/701064/},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-08-21},
booktitle = {Poster presentation at the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research: Vol. 7: Auditory Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems},
number = {SP.58},
organization = {The Danavox Jubilee Foundation},
abstract = {The BEAR project is a Danish national audiological project scheduled to run for 5 years from 2016. The overall aim of the project is to improve hearing rehabilitation in Denmark through a revision of current clinical practice. Based on results obtained in the BEAR project, a revised clinical protocol will be suggested, if possible. Potential benefits resulting from the project may have important impact both nationally and internationally. In Denmark, approximately 500,000 – 800,000 people have a treatable hearing loss and around 300,000 people own a hearing aid. However, a large portion (20%) of owners do not use their HAs regularly and the underlying reasons for this are not well understood, but one must conclude that these owners do not sufficiently benefit from their devices. This results in wasted clinical resources and a lack of rehabilitation for people with hearing-impairment. Literature suggest possible causes as to why a significant number of patients do not use their HA regularly: insufficient awareness of hearing difficulties, alternate coping strategies, personality, low trust in the benefit from hearing aids, cognitive and functional restrictions and social stigma. In this study, these literature claims were investigated with the help of the BEAR database.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}

@conference{isaar2019skn,
title = {Speech related hearing aid benefit index derived from standardized self-reported questionnaire data},
author = {Sreeram Kaithali Narayanan and Tobias Piechowiak and Anne Wolff and Sabina Storbjerg Houmøller and Vijay Narne and Gérard Loquet and Dan Dupont Hougaard and Michael L Gaihede and Jesper Hvass Schmidt and Dorte Hammershøi},
url = {https://whova.com/embedded/speaker_session_detail/isaar_201908/701058/},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-08-21},
booktitle = {Poster presentation at the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research: Vol. 7: Auditory Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems},
number = {SP.50},
organization = {The Danavox Jubilee Foundation},
abstract = {Speech understanding in noisy environments has been the most desired hearing aid (HA) benefit sought by hearing aid users. This paper examines the possibility of developing a speech related HA benefit index from correlated speech related questions from three different self-reported questionnaire's (SSQ12, IOI-HA, and 15D). The 4 questions in SSQ12 (question number 1,4,11 and 12), 3 questions in IOI-HA(question number 3,5 and 6) and 3rd question from health-related quality of life questionnaire 15D relating to speech were found correlated and are chosen for further analysis. After the normalization of the relevant questions, a principal component analysis (PCA) is used to reduce the dimensionality and determine the coefficients. The resultant coefficients are used to create a common speech related HA benefit index.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}

@conference{EFAS2019GL,
title = {Better Hearing Rehabilitation (BEAR) Study in Denmark: Introducing the Centralized Clinical Database},
author = {Gérard Loquet and Vijay Narne and Tobias Piechowiak and Anne Wolff and Sabina Storbjerg Houmøller and Dan Dupont Hougaard and Jesper Hvass Schmidt and Dorte Hammershøi},
url = {https://fff0e2ea-6f01-41b9-b0dd-7dbdf3580dbb.filesusr.com/ugd/09d8d3_dc3fb64898554097a7427d3d03a1f290.pdf},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-05-22},
booktitle = {Poster at the 14th Congress of the European Federation of Audiology Societies (EFAS 2019), Lisbon, Portugal, 22-25 May 2019},
number = {04087-P080},
organization = {European Federation of Audiology Societies},
abstract = {Background: The purpose of the BEAR project is to improve hearing loss management by revising diagnostic techniques and hearing aid fitting practices based on individual hearing profiles, expectations and lifestyle. As a starting point, a large clinical database has been prepared to better characterize the current clinical status in Denmark. The analysis will be used to identify the main challenges faced by hearing aid users in order to develop appropriate tools to improve performances.

Method: The study is a multicentre, prospective, open, non-randomized, single-arm trial with sequential enrolment of all qualified patients, conducted under a common clinical investigation plan. Up to almost 2,000 evaluable patients have been enrolled from two Danish clinics. After having undergone medical and audiological examination and other assessments (health related and quality of life questionnaires), the patients were prescribed a hearing aid and got a fitting. Approximately 2 months later, a follow-up visit took place and whenever needed an adjustment was offered (plus other assessments). An across-center database, hosted independently from clinics, universities and hearing-aid manufacturers but accessible by all parties, was created to gather the data (access granted to each partner if data managers adhere to ethical permissions and requirements for data security).

Results: The investigation generated approximately 30’000 patient records and we started by characterizing the general distribution of audiometric data (air and bone conductions, speech tests) and questionnaires (health, speech, hearing aids, tinnitus and quality of life related). The analysis focused specifically on correlations detection between demographics, audiometric tests and questionnaires in order to classify patients into subsets.

Conclusion: The present clinical database should be seen as a starting point for other BEAR work packages. We believe that such large variety of data generated will lead to a more comprehensive picture of the hearing-aid user and will bring benefits to both clinicians and manufacturers. Indeed, this first step represents the baseline against which new fitting strategies will be tested. Alternatively, clinically relevant subpopulations with low hearing-aid benefit will be identified and studied to tentatively bring alternatives in rehabilitation.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}

@conference{DTAS2018bb,
title = {Technical evaluation of hearing-aid fitting parameters for different auditory profiles},
author = {Raul Sanchez-Lopez and Federica Bianchi and Michal Fereczkowski and Tobias Piechowiak and Ole Hau and Michael Syskind Pedersen and Thomas Behrens and Tobias Neher and Torsten Dau and Sébastien Santurette},
url = {http://www.dtas.dk/DTAS_Program_2018.pdf},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-10-05},
booktitle = {Poster presentation at Danish Technical Audiological Society's annual meeting, 5-6 Oct 2018. Hotel Vejlefjord, Stouby, Denmark},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}