DSL v5
Pronunciation: D-S-L version five
Also written as: DSL v5 — Desired Sensation Level version 5
Desired Sensation Level version 5, a paediatric-oriented prescriptive hearing aid fitting formula developed at Western University, Canada, designed to ensure audibility of speech across a wide input level range.
Full Definition
DSL v5 (Desired Sensation Level, version 5) is a prescriptive fitting formula for hearing aids developed at the National Centre for Audiology at Western University, Ontario. It is particularly widely applied in paediatric audiology because it is designed to ensure that the amplified speech signal is audible and comfortable across a range of input levels, accounting for the smaller ear canal volumes of children. Version 5 introduced non-linear processing targets and separate child and adult prescriptions. Editors must format the name correctly as 'DSL v5'—with a lowercase 'v' and no hyphen—and should not conflate it with NAL-NL2, which reflects a different philosophical and mathematical approach to gain prescription.
Usage
Usage note: Format consistently as 'DSL v5' with a space before the 'v' and no hyphen. Distinguish from NAL-NL2 in any comparative context. Note that earlier versions (DSL[i/o], DSL 4.1) exist and should not be confused with v5.
In Context
- "For paediatric fittings, the clinic's protocol specifies DSL v5 as the default prescriptive target." — Paediatric audiology protocol document
- "The manuscript must consistently use 'DSL v5' and not 'DSL-v5' or 'DSLv5,' per journal style." — Copy-editing annotation