7=Strongly Agree). Subjects used each feature in a
simulated sound environment before completing the
questionnaire.
During the chronic phase of the study, the same ques-
tionnaire format was used to evaluate subjective experi-
ence with each feature. Responses were based upon
subjects' use of the programs in their everyday listening
environments
Acute questionnaires indicated that all individual fea-
tures were acceptable by all subjects (18/18, 100%).
Tables 4-6 list the median ratings for each feature from
the questionnaires administered during both the acute
and chronic phases of the study. Acute ratings were
generally favorable for a majority of subjects with me-
dian values of 6 or 7 for all questions. The lowest acute
response for any feature was a value of 3. Chronic rat-
ings generally were a lower and more variable but most
of the ratings had median values in the positive agree-
ment range. This variability was an anticipated outcome
given the randomized, cross-over blinded study design
during the chronic phase.
Tables 7-10 list the minimum, maximum, and median
values for the two groups (A and B) on each subjective
comfort question. Table 10 reports the overall acceptability
rating for the combined feature program and EchoBlock
for each group. Overall acceptability shows that there was
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