Auditory Acclimatisation
Pronunciation: aw-DIT-or-ee uh-KLYE-muh-tie-ZAY-shun
The gradual improvement in speech recognition performance following hearing aid fitting, attributed to the central auditory system adapting to the new pattern of amplified input.
Full Definition
Auditory acclimatisation refers to the neurophysiological and perceptual adjustment period during which a new hearing aid user's speech understanding improves as the brain learns to interpret the altered acoustic signal provided by amplification. This process can extend over weeks to months and is an important consideration when evaluating early outcomes of hearing aid fittings. Editors should note that 'acclimatisation' (British spelling) and 'acclimatization' (American spelling) are both valid; house style should be applied consistently throughout a document. The concept is the functional opposite of the auditory deprivation effect and is sometimes incorrectly conflated with hearing aid benefit, which is a broader construct. References to 'adaptation' in this context are less precise and should be queried.
Usage
Usage note: Apply house style for British (-isation) vs American (-ization) spelling consistently. Do not use 'adaptation' as a substitute without querying the author, as it implies a different theoretical mechanism in some frameworks.
In Context
- "Patients were advised that auditory acclimatisation could take up to three months, during which speech clarity would progressively improve." — Patient information leaflet
- "The study's six-week follow-up period may have been insufficient to capture the full benefits of auditory acclimatisation." — Peer review comment