Pub Date : 2025-12-10DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2025.109506
Lei Zhou , Chunyan Li , Na Shen , Keguang Chen , Huaili Jiang , Miaolin Feng , Menglong Zhao , Chi Cheng , Xinsheng Huang
Objective
To establish a high-fidelity finite element method (FEM) model of the human inner ear and explore the biomechanical effects of superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SCD) on both cochlear and vestibular function.
Methods
A detailed FEM model of the entire human ear was reconstructed from high-resolution computed tomography (CT) data. The model was validated through comparison with established experimental data, including basilar membrane (BM) displacement patterns, cochlear tonotopy, inner ear impedance, and middle-ear transfer function. After validation, the model was adapted to simulate SCD.
Results
The simulated outcomes were consistent with published in-vitro and in-vivo findings, indicating the accuracy of the model. The introduction of SCD resulted in attenuated BM displacement, a marked reduction in cochlear impedance, and an increase in vestibular sensitivity to air-conducted stimuli.
Conclusion
This study developed and validated a whole-ear FEM model demonstrating that SCD produces low-frequency conductive hearing loss and enhances vestibular sound responses. These findings provide explanations for clinical symptoms and VEMP findings, while also revealing the influence of intracranial pressure. Collectively, this model serves as a valuable tool for advancing pathophysiological and diagnostic research.
{"title":"Whole-ear finite element analysis of superior semicircular canal dehiscence and its impact on inner-ear responses","authors":"Lei Zhou , Chunyan Li , Na Shen , Keguang Chen , Huaili Jiang , Miaolin Feng , Menglong Zhao , Chi Cheng , Xinsheng Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109506","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109506","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To establish a high-fidelity finite element method (FEM) model of the human inner ear and explore the biomechanical effects of superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SCD) on both cochlear and vestibular function.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A detailed FEM model of the entire human ear was reconstructed from high-resolution computed tomography (CT) data. The model was validated through comparison with established experimental data, including basilar membrane (BM) displacement patterns, cochlear tonotopy, inner ear impedance, and middle-ear transfer function. After validation, the model was adapted to simulate SCD.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The simulated outcomes were consistent with published <em>in-vitro</em> and <em>in-vivo</em> findings, indicating the accuracy of the model. The introduction of SCD resulted in attenuated BM displacement, a marked reduction in cochlear impedance, and an increase in vestibular sensitivity to air-conducted stimuli.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study developed and validated a whole-ear FEM model demonstrating that SCD produces low-frequency conductive hearing loss and enhances vestibular sound responses. These findings provide explanations for clinical symptoms and VEMP findings, while also revealing the influence of intracranial pressure. Collectively, this model serves as a valuable tool for advancing pathophysiological and diagnostic research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12881,"journal":{"name":"Hearing Research","volume":"470 ","pages":"Article 109506"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145749656","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-09DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2025.109505
Alexander Huber , Bastian Baselt , Ivo Dobrev , Lukas Prochazka , Flurin Pfiffner , Dominik Etter , Nicole Peter-Siegrist , Christof Röösli , Jae Hoon Sim , Merlin Schär
Accurate experimental measurement of middle ear mechanics is critical for both basic auditory research and clinical applications. Although numerous experimental studies have characterized middle ear function, structured guidance for selecting appropriate measurement techniques is limited, which can result in suboptimal experimental designs.
In this article, we present a systematic, three-phase framework for method selection in middle ear research. Phase 1 defines project-specific parameters based on the research question, Phase 2 maps these parameters to relevant physical quantities, and Phase 3 identifies suitable techniques from a methods toolbox using a “Zurich Measurement Assessment Chart (ZMAC). ZMAC visualizes the performance of methods across multiple criteria. The article includes a method toolbox that offers a structured guide to the wide range of techniques available for studying middle ear mechanics. The methods outline is organized into major measurement domains such as static and dynamic motion, geometry and microstructure, pressure and force, and clinical assessments. Each method is presented in a standardized format that summarizes core principles, use cases, advantages and limitations, and future developments, enabling researchers to efficiently translate project-specific parameters into practical implementation. Furthermore, ZMAC contributes to improved reproducibility and more consistent standardization across laboratories.
Middle ear measurements are inherently challenging due to the extremely small amplitudes, forces, and pressures involved, evolving at high temporal resolution. No single technique provides a universal solution. Instead, method selection must be tailored to the research objective, carefully balancing strengths and limitations in relation to the specific research question. Looking forward, advances in middle ear research are expected from multimodal, miniaturized, and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted approaches linking structure and mechanics to patient-centered outcomes and therapeutic benefit.
{"title":"Methods matter: Current and future practices for middle ear mechanics laboratories","authors":"Alexander Huber , Bastian Baselt , Ivo Dobrev , Lukas Prochazka , Flurin Pfiffner , Dominik Etter , Nicole Peter-Siegrist , Christof Röösli , Jae Hoon Sim , Merlin Schär","doi":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109505","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109505","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate experimental measurement of middle ear mechanics is critical for both basic auditory research and clinical applications. Although numerous experimental studies have characterized middle ear function, structured guidance for selecting appropriate measurement techniques is limited, which can result in suboptimal experimental designs.</div><div>In this article, we present a systematic, three-phase framework for method selection in middle ear research. Phase 1 defines project-specific parameters based on the research question, Phase 2 maps these parameters to relevant physical quantities, and Phase 3 identifies suitable techniques from a methods toolbox using a “Zurich Measurement Assessment Chart (ZMAC). ZMAC visualizes the performance of methods across multiple criteria. The article includes a method toolbox that offers a structured guide to the wide range of techniques available for studying middle ear mechanics. The methods outline is organized into major measurement domains such as static and dynamic motion, geometry and microstructure, pressure and force, and clinical assessments. Each method is presented in a standardized format that summarizes core principles, use cases, advantages and limitations, and future developments, enabling researchers to efficiently translate project-specific parameters into practical implementation. Furthermore, ZMAC contributes to improved reproducibility and more consistent standardization across laboratories.</div><div>Middle ear measurements are inherently challenging due to the extremely small amplitudes, forces, and pressures involved, evolving at high temporal resolution. No single technique provides a universal solution. Instead, method selection must be tailored to the research objective, carefully balancing strengths and limitations in relation to the specific research question. Looking forward, advances in middle ear research are expected from multimodal, miniaturized, and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted approaches linking structure and mechanics to patient-centered outcomes and therapeutic benefit.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12881,"journal":{"name":"Hearing Research","volume":"470 ","pages":"Article 109505"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145793065","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-06DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2025.109490
Thibault Vicente , Daniel González-Toledo , María Cuevas-Rodríguez , Luis Molina-Tanco , Arcadio Reyes-Lecuona , Lorenzo Picinali
It is known that individuals make use of spatial hearing cues to improve the audibility of a target signal and separate it from competing sounds. This phenomenon is known as spatial release from masking (SRM). Recent research has shown that this happens also when sources are located in the median plane, where interaural differences are limited. When assessing this within virtual conditions, it has been shown that employing individually measured head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) results in higher SRM abilities compared to using non-individual filters. In a previously published work, we found that Spanish speakers benefit from individual HRTFs when discriminating a target English speech from a single masker in the median plane. This study replicates the protocol of that previous work, varying the number of maskers and participants’ English proficiency levels to explore relationships among task difficulty and HRTF use. Results from a first experiment show that English speakers behave differently to Spanish ones; their SRM advantage is not significant. We suggest that this is due to their language proficiency, which allows them to rely on spectral glimpsing alone, that is, exploiting spectro-temporal gaps between voices rather than spectral cues introduced by spatial separation. A second experiment introduces a second speech masker, co-located with the first; by making the task more complex, participants seem to increase their reliance on spatial cues, resulting in significant effects of masker position and HRTF. This highlights a trade-off between the use of target glimpsing and spatial cues and the need for further exploration into how task difficulty influences SRM with different HRTFs.
{"title":"Exploring the relationship between task difficulty, head-related transfer function and spatial release from masking in a speech-on-speech experiment","authors":"Thibault Vicente , Daniel González-Toledo , María Cuevas-Rodríguez , Luis Molina-Tanco , Arcadio Reyes-Lecuona , Lorenzo Picinali","doi":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109490","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109490","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>It is known that individuals make use of spatial hearing cues to improve the audibility of a target signal and separate it from competing sounds. This phenomenon is known as spatial release from masking (SRM). Recent research has shown that this happens also when sources are located in the median plane, where interaural differences are limited. When assessing this within virtual conditions, it has been shown that employing individually measured head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) results in higher SRM abilities compared to using non-individual filters. In a previously published work, we found that Spanish speakers benefit from individual HRTFs when discriminating a target English speech from a single masker in the median plane. This study replicates the protocol of that previous work, varying the number of maskers and participants’ English proficiency levels to explore relationships among task difficulty and HRTF use. Results from a first experiment show that English speakers behave differently to Spanish ones; their SRM advantage is not significant. We suggest that this is due to their language proficiency, which allows them to rely on spectral glimpsing alone, that is, exploiting spectro-temporal gaps between voices rather than spectral cues introduced by spatial separation. A second experiment introduces a second speech masker, co-located with the first; by making the task more complex, participants seem to increase their reliance on spatial cues, resulting in significant effects of masker position and HRTF. This highlights a trade-off between the use of target glimpsing and spatial cues and the need for further exploration into how task difficulty influences SRM with different HRTFs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12881,"journal":{"name":"Hearing Research","volume":"470 ","pages":"Article 109490"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145714093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-04DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2025.109503
Jongwoo Lim , Namkeun Kim
Vestibular stimulation is a promising method for mitigating motion sickness and assessing vestibular function. However, conventional methods such as galvanic, caloric, or bone conduction (BC) stimulation lack the spatial selectivity needed to replicate the precise inputs of natural head movements. In this study, a novel approach is proposed using multiple BC transducers with coordinated magnitude and phase to generate targeted vestibular motions. A validated finite element model of the human head was employed to simulate vestibular responses to stimuli from four transducer locations. A genetic algorithm was then used to optimize the magnitude and phase of each input to produce desired one-dimensional (1D), two-dimensional (2D), and rotational vestibular motions. The results demonstrate that the optimized BC inputs can generate 1D linear, 2D planar, and rotational motions with high directional accuracy. The deviations from the target axes were consistently below the known psychophysical thresholds for motion perception. This computational study confirms the feasibility of using multi-site BC stimulation to achieve precise and configurable vestibular actuation, offering a significant improvement over existing techniques.
{"title":"Simulations of low-frequency vibration pattern at the inner ear for activation of the vestibular system","authors":"Jongwoo Lim , Namkeun Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109503","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109503","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Vestibular stimulation is a promising method for mitigating motion sickness and assessing vestibular function. However, conventional methods such as galvanic, caloric, or bone conduction (BC) stimulation lack the spatial selectivity needed to replicate the precise inputs of natural head movements. In this study, a novel approach is proposed using multiple BC transducers with coordinated magnitude and phase to generate targeted vestibular motions. A validated finite element model of the human head was employed to simulate vestibular responses to stimuli from four transducer locations. A genetic algorithm was then used to optimize the magnitude and phase of each input to produce desired one-dimensional (1D), two-dimensional (2D), and rotational vestibular motions. The results demonstrate that the optimized BC inputs can generate 1D linear, 2D planar, and rotational motions with high directional accuracy. The deviations from the target axes were consistently below the known psychophysical thresholds for motion perception. This computational study confirms the feasibility of using multi-site BC stimulation to achieve precise and configurable vestibular actuation, offering a significant improvement over existing techniques.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12881,"journal":{"name":"Hearing Research","volume":"470 ","pages":"Article 109503"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145742522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-02DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2025.109502
Chail Koo , Yingjie Zhou , Devin Thomas , Robert Fuentes , Jin Li , Matthew Kim , Claus-Peter Richter , Xiaodong Tan
Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) is a mitochondrial deacetylase that regulates redox balance and cellular stress resistance. Its role in hearing maintenance under basal conditions is controversial. Here, we investigated the effect of Sirt3 deficiency on auditory function and studied whether honokiol, a small-molecule SIRT3 activator, provides protection in the cochlea.
Male and female Sirt3+/+, Sirt3+/−, and Sirt3−/− mice were assessed for auditory brainstem response thresholds at 6, 8, and 12 weeks of age. Mice were given honokiol via intraperitoneal injection at weeks 6, 8, and 10. Synapse integrity, hair cell survival, antioxidant enzyme activity, hydrogen peroxide levels, and gene expression were studied in the cochlea. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to investigate the interaction between genotype, frequency, age, and treatment on auditory brainstem response thresholds.
Male Sirt3−/− mice showed early-onset, progressive hearing loss, with reduced postsynaptic densities. Honokiol treatment preserved hearing thresholds, increased SIRT3 signal in wild-type mice, and increased SIRT5 signal in male Sirt3−/− mice. In male Sirt3−/− mice, honokiol did not restore presynaptic or postsynaptic puncta numerically, but restored presynaptic morphology. Honokiol treatment improved superoxide dismutase 2 enzymatic activity, decreased cochlear hydrogen peroxide levels, and upregulated Sirt5 mRNA expression in male Sirt3−/− cochleae. Linear mixed-effects modeling identified genotype, frequency, and interactions of fixed effects with honokiol treatment as significant predictors of auditory brainstem response thresholds.
This study demonstrates that SIRT3 is required for hearing function and that honokiol attenuates hearing loss and oxidative stress in male Sirt3−/− mice.
{"title":"Sex-specific hearing loss in Sirt3 knockout mice and attenuation by honokiol","authors":"Chail Koo , Yingjie Zhou , Devin Thomas , Robert Fuentes , Jin Li , Matthew Kim , Claus-Peter Richter , Xiaodong Tan","doi":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109502","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109502","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) is a mitochondrial deacetylase that regulates redox balance and cellular stress resistance. Its role in hearing maintenance under basal conditions is controversial. Here, we investigated the effect of <em>Sirt3</em> deficiency on auditory function and studied whether honokiol, a small-molecule SIRT3 activator, provides protection in the cochlea.</div><div>Male and female <em>Sirt3</em><sup>+/+</sup>, <em>Sirt3</em><sup>+/−</sup>, and <em>Sirt3</em><sup>−/−</sup> mice were assessed for auditory brainstem response thresholds at 6, 8, and 12 weeks of age. Mice were given honokiol via intraperitoneal injection at weeks 6, 8, and 10. Synapse integrity, hair cell survival, antioxidant enzyme activity, hydrogen peroxide levels, and gene expression were studied in the cochlea. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to investigate the interaction between genotype, frequency, age, and treatment on auditory brainstem response thresholds.</div><div>Male <em>Sirt3</em><sup>−/−</sup> mice showed early-onset, progressive hearing loss, with reduced postsynaptic densities. Honokiol treatment preserved hearing thresholds, increased SIRT3 signal in wild-type mice, and increased SIRT5 signal in male <em>Sirt3</em><sup>−/−</sup> mice. In male <em>Sirt3</em><sup>−/−</sup> mice, honokiol did not restore presynaptic or postsynaptic puncta numerically, but restored presynaptic morphology. Honokiol treatment improved superoxide dismutase 2 enzymatic activity, decreased cochlear hydrogen peroxide levels, and upregulated <em>Sirt5</em> mRNA expression in male <em>Sirt3</em><sup>−/−</sup> cochleae. Linear mixed-effects modeling identified genotype, frequency, and interactions of fixed effects with honokiol treatment as significant predictors of auditory brainstem response thresholds.</div><div>This study demonstrates that SIRT3 is required for hearing function and that honokiol attenuates hearing loss and oxidative stress in male <em>Sirt3</em><sup>−/−</sup> mice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12881,"journal":{"name":"Hearing Research","volume":"470 ","pages":"Article 109502"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145692911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-27DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2025.109489
Pradeep Dheerendra , Christopher I. Petkov , Adrian Rees , Timothy D. Griffiths
The cortical representation of the temporal dimension of sound in the primate auditory cortex remains an open question. In this work, we review studies that investigated the brain basis for the processing of acoustic time windows in humans, macaques and marmosets that employ functional magnetic resonance imaging and neurophysiological recordings. We identify the functional anatomy of response patterns to temporal integration for each study, to arrive at a representative organization in humans and non-human primates (NHP). A synthesis of prior studies identifies a certain level of commonality for temporal processing in primates. Surprisingly, however, our analysis revealed that while both humans and NHPs process shorter time-windows in postero-medial areas and longer time-windows in non-primary lateral areas, macaque neurobiological responses in primary auditory cortex appear to favor shorter temporal timescales than human primary auditory cortex. This difference in neurobiological sensitivity is in line with behavioural sensitivities in these species. This review and analysis results raise the possibility of evolutionary specialization of the human cortex relative to nonhuman primates, potentially for the processing of speech which requires sensitivity to longer timescales.
{"title":"Evidence for evolutionary divergence in temporal integration windows between human and monkey auditory cortex","authors":"Pradeep Dheerendra , Christopher I. Petkov , Adrian Rees , Timothy D. Griffiths","doi":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109489","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109489","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The cortical representation of the temporal dimension of sound in the primate auditory cortex remains an open question. In this work, we review studies that investigated the brain basis for the processing of acoustic time windows in humans, macaques and marmosets that employ functional magnetic resonance imaging and neurophysiological recordings. We identify the functional anatomy of response patterns to temporal integration for each study, to arrive at a representative organization in humans and non-human primates (NHP). A synthesis of prior studies identifies a certain level of commonality for temporal processing in primates. Surprisingly, however, our analysis revealed that while both humans and NHPs process shorter time-windows in postero-medial areas and longer time-windows in non-primary lateral areas, macaque neurobiological responses in primary auditory cortex appear to favor shorter temporal timescales than human primary auditory cortex. This difference in neurobiological sensitivity is in line with behavioural sensitivities in these species. This review and analysis results raise the possibility of evolutionary specialization of the human cortex relative to nonhuman primates, potentially for the processing of speech which requires sensitivity to longer timescales.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12881,"journal":{"name":"Hearing Research","volume":"469 ","pages":"Article 109489"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145654190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-26DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2025.109492
Jongyeon Yoon , Jeongsan Kim , Jongwoo Lim , Ivo Dobrev , Christof Röösli , Seungchul Lee , Il Joon Moon , Namkeun Kim
This study validates an automated deep learning framework for generating high-fidelity 3D models of the middle-ear ossicles from low-resolution clinical CT images. The framework employs a sequential three-stage pipeline: (1) accurate Region of Interest (ROI) detection using YOLOv5x, (2) 4x super-resolution of the ROI with a Deep Back-Projection Network (DBPN), and (3) slice interpolation using a 2.5D U-Net to create a dense volumetric dataset. To ensure robust reconstruction from incomplete data, the interpolation stage integrates a "hint channel" that leverages anatomical priors. The framework demonstrated high accuracy, achieving a mean Average Precision (mAP50) of 0.9835 for ROI detection and producing final 3D models with a high degree of anatomical fidelity (Dice coefficient: 0.85; and mean surface distance: 4.8 µm). The hint channel's efficacy was most evident on an external inference set, where it successfully generated complete ossicular structures that were otherwise omitted due to sparse source information, demonstrating the model's strong generalization. Furthermore, the entire automated process, from CT scan to final 3D model, was completed within 5 min, offering a substantial improvement in workflow efficiency compared to manual methods that require approximately more than 20 min. The proposed framework is thus validated as a rapid, accurate, and robust tool for generating patient-specific 3D ossicle models from standard clinical CTs. This technology is expected to enhance the accuracy of biomechanical finite element simulations and serves as a foundational step toward advancing precision medicine in otologic surgery and custom prosthesis design.
{"title":"Automated high-fidelity 3D reconstruction of middle-ear ossicles from low-resolution clinical CT using a deep learning pipeline","authors":"Jongyeon Yoon , Jeongsan Kim , Jongwoo Lim , Ivo Dobrev , Christof Röösli , Seungchul Lee , Il Joon Moon , Namkeun Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109492","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109492","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study validates an automated deep learning framework for generating high-fidelity 3D models of the middle-ear ossicles from low-resolution clinical CT images. The framework employs a sequential three-stage pipeline: (1) accurate Region of Interest (ROI) detection using YOLOv5x, (2) 4x super-resolution of the ROI with a Deep Back-Projection Network (DBPN), and (3) slice interpolation using a 2.5D U-Net to create a dense volumetric dataset. To ensure robust reconstruction from incomplete data, the interpolation stage integrates a \"hint channel\" that leverages anatomical priors. The framework demonstrated high accuracy, achieving a mean Average Precision (mAP50) of 0.9835 for ROI detection and producing final 3D models with a high degree of anatomical fidelity (Dice coefficient: 0.85; and mean surface distance: 4.8 µm). The hint channel's efficacy was most evident on an external inference set, where it successfully generated complete ossicular structures that were otherwise omitted due to sparse source information, demonstrating the model's strong generalization. Furthermore, the entire automated process, from CT scan to final 3D model, was completed within 5 min, offering a substantial improvement in workflow efficiency compared to manual methods that require approximately more than 20 min. The proposed framework is thus validated as a rapid, accurate, and robust tool for generating patient-specific 3D ossicle models from standard clinical CTs. This technology is expected to enhance the accuracy of biomechanical finite element simulations and serves as a foundational step toward advancing precision medicine in otologic surgery and custom prosthesis design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12881,"journal":{"name":"Hearing Research","volume":"469 ","pages":"Article 109492"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145677405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-26DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2025.109491
Justin M. Aronoff , Jordan Deutsch , Josephine R. LaPapa , Karla Rodriguez , Leslie R. Bernstein
The detection and discrimination of interaural time differences (ITDs) underpin many binaural abilities. Obtaining precise “threshold”-ITDs is, however, often quite time consuming. This study investigated the use of a rapid, descending series procedure to estimate threshold-ITDs. The procedure involves beginning with a suprathreshold ITD and then decreasing the ITD over sequential trials independent of response accuracy, ending with subthreshold ITDs. Normal hearing participants were tested using both an adaptive and descending series procedure. The results from the two procedures were comparable, while the descending series procedure required approximately half the time to complete as did the adaptive procedure. A function was determined for estimating ITD thresholds from the number of correct responses obtained with the descending series procedure. The results indicate that a descending series procedure is an efficient approach for estimating threshold-ITDs.
{"title":"Validating a rapid psychophysical procedure for estimating interaural time difference thresholds","authors":"Justin M. Aronoff , Jordan Deutsch , Josephine R. LaPapa , Karla Rodriguez , Leslie R. Bernstein","doi":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109491","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109491","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The detection and discrimination of interaural time differences (ITDs) underpin many binaural abilities. Obtaining precise “threshold”-ITDs is, however, often quite time consuming. This study investigated the use of a rapid, descending series procedure to estimate threshold-ITDs. The procedure involves beginning with a suprathreshold ITD and then decreasing the ITD over sequential trials independent of response accuracy, ending with subthreshold ITDs. Normal hearing participants were tested using both an adaptive and descending series procedure. The results from the two procedures were comparable, while the descending series procedure required approximately half the time to complete as did the adaptive procedure. A function was determined for estimating ITD thresholds from the number of correct responses obtained with the descending series procedure. The results indicate that a descending series procedure is an efficient approach for estimating threshold-ITDs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12881,"journal":{"name":"Hearing Research","volume":"469 ","pages":"Article 109491"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145687371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-24DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2025.109488
Stefan Stenfelt, Filip Wiman
Air-bone gaps (ABGs) provide a clinical marker of middle ear transmission efficiency, yet their dependence on age and sensorineural hearing loss remains unclear. We retrospectively analyzed 24,570 audiograms (13,417 patients, 4–102 years) collected at three Swedish audiology clinics between 2018 and 2019, excluding ears with evidence of conductive pathology. ABGs were computed from pure-tone air conduction (AC) and bone conduction (BC) thresholds at 250–4000 Hz. Mean ABGs deviated significantly from 0 dB at all six test frequencies, with clinically relevant differences at 250, 1000, 3000, and 4000 Hz. Children and adolescents showed systematically larger ABGs than adults, consistent with age-dependent craniofacial and BC transmission differences. In adults, ABGs decreased with age at 500 Hz and 2 kHz and increased at 250 Hz, 3 kHz, and 4 kHz, with differences depending on whether analyses included all adults or only adults with normal hearing. These age-dependent patterns likely reflect changes in soft tissue at the BC transducer and middle ear stiffness. Threshold-related effects were strongest at 250 and 500 Hz when ABGs were referenced to AC thresholds, where BC transducer distortion and vibrotactile responses likely contributed. Across frequencies, ABG distributions were predominantly positively skewed, with values ranging between -0.21 and 0.55. These findings demonstrate that even if ABGs vary with age and hearing threshold, the influence from middle ear transmission is minor. Instead, most of the systematic variations of ABGs relate to methodological constraints, underscoring the importance of careful interpretation of ABGs in clinical diagnostics.
{"title":"Impact of age and sensorineural hearing loss on sound transmission to the inner ear based on analysis of air-bone gaps","authors":"Stefan Stenfelt, Filip Wiman","doi":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109488","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109488","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Air-bone gaps (ABGs) provide a clinical marker of middle ear transmission efficiency, yet their dependence on age and sensorineural hearing loss remains unclear. We retrospectively analyzed 24,570 audiograms (13,417 patients, 4–102 years) collected at three Swedish audiology clinics between 2018 and 2019, excluding ears with evidence of conductive pathology. ABGs were computed from pure-tone air conduction (AC) and bone conduction (BC) thresholds at 250–4000 Hz. Mean ABGs deviated significantly from 0 dB at all six test frequencies, with clinically relevant differences at 250, 1000, 3000, and 4000 Hz. Children and adolescents showed systematically larger ABGs than adults, consistent with age-dependent craniofacial and BC transmission differences. In adults, ABGs decreased with age at 500 Hz and 2 kHz and increased at 250 Hz, 3 kHz, and 4 kHz, with differences depending on whether analyses included all adults or only adults with normal hearing. These age-dependent patterns likely reflect changes in soft tissue at the BC transducer and middle ear stiffness. Threshold-related effects were strongest at 250 and 500 Hz when ABGs were referenced to AC thresholds, where BC transducer distortion and vibrotactile responses likely contributed. Across frequencies, ABG distributions were predominantly positively skewed, with values ranging between -0.21 and 0.55. These findings demonstrate that even if ABGs vary with age and hearing threshold, the influence from middle ear transmission is minor. Instead, most of the systematic variations of ABGs relate to methodological constraints, underscoring the importance of careful interpretation of ABGs in clinical diagnostics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12881,"journal":{"name":"Hearing Research","volume":"469 ","pages":"Article 109488"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145621691","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-24DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2025.109486
Lauren K Dillard , Lois J Matthews , Kathleen E Bainbridge , Jada M Johnson , Judy R Dubno
Hearing loss is a common and impactful condition among aging adults. Improved understanding of modifiable risk factors for hearing loss, including smoking, could promote hearing loss prevention. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to determine the association of smoking with the rate of age-related hearing decline across the frequency range. Participants were from the Medical University of South Carolina Longitudinal Cohort Study of Age-related Hearing Loss. Smoking pack years were calculated (at baseline) as the number of self-reported packs smoked per day multiplied by years smoked, and categorized as 0, >0 to 5, >5 to 15, and >15 pack years. Outcome measures were individual audiometric thresholds (0.25 to 8.0 kHz) and pure-tone average (PTA) of thresholds at frequencies 0.5 to –4.0 kHz, averaged bilaterally. We used linear mixed regression models to determine the association of pack years with the rate of annual threshold change at each frequency and PTA. This study included 1032 participants (mean age: 63.3 [SD 14.1] years, mean follow-up time: 5.4 [SD 6.0] years; 60.4 % female; 21.7 % Black race). Compared to non-smokers (0 pack years), participants with >15 pack years had poorer baseline thresholds at frequencies 2.0 to 8.0 kHz and PTA. Compared to non-smokers, participants with >5 to 15 and >15 pack years had higher rates of annual threshold change at frequencies ranging from 1.0 to 8.0 kHz and PTA. Findings corroborate smoking as a possible modifiable risk factor for hearing loss that could have lasting impacts on hearing.
{"title":"Smoking history and the rate of hearing decline in aging: Results from a longitudinal cohort study","authors":"Lauren K Dillard , Lois J Matthews , Kathleen E Bainbridge , Jada M Johnson , Judy R Dubno","doi":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109486","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heares.2025.109486","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hearing loss is a common and impactful condition among aging adults. Improved understanding of modifiable risk factors for hearing loss, including smoking, could promote hearing loss prevention. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to determine the association of smoking with the rate of age-related hearing decline across the frequency range. Participants were from the Medical University of South Carolina Longitudinal Cohort Study of Age-related Hearing Loss. Smoking pack years were calculated (at baseline) as the number of self-reported packs smoked per day multiplied by years smoked, and categorized as 0, >0 to 5, >5 to 15, and >15 pack years. Outcome measures were individual audiometric thresholds (0.25 to 8.0 kHz) and pure-tone average (PTA) of thresholds at frequencies 0.5 to –4.0 kHz, averaged bilaterally. We used linear mixed regression models to determine the association of pack years with the rate of annual threshold change at each frequency and PTA. This study included 1032 participants (mean age: 63.3 [SD 14.1] years, mean follow-up time: 5.4 [SD 6.0] years; 60.4 % female; 21.7 % Black race). Compared to non-smokers (0 pack years), participants with >15 pack years had poorer baseline thresholds at frequencies 2.0 to 8.0 kHz and PTA. Compared to non-smokers, participants with >5 to 15 and >15 pack years had higher rates of annual threshold change at frequencies ranging from 1.0 to 8.0 kHz and PTA. Findings corroborate smoking as a possible modifiable risk factor for hearing loss that could have lasting impacts on hearing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12881,"journal":{"name":"Hearing Research","volume":"469 ","pages":"Article 109486"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145621693","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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