For those with severe/profound loss with the usual Recruitment problems, there is a trade-off between clarity with good speech comprehension and comfort (comfort= no blasting loud sounds). The industry standard, Wide Dynamic Range Compression does modify the speech envelope which does change the essential characteristics of speech…making it harder for the brain to comprehend.
The higher the compression ratio the less faithful the sound delivered to the patient’s ear.
Same goes for MPO (Maximum Power Output) circuits. They all modify the natural sound of speech.
Maybe, it would be better for our professional fitters to reduce compression (knee point and ratio) and encourage their patients to accept the occasional blast.
Comments? Ed