International Journal of Audiology最新文献

Objective: The present study sought to determine the cochlear frequency regions represented by Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABRs) obtained using the high-pass noise/derived response (HP/DR) technique.

Design: Broadband noise sufficient to mask the ABR to 50 dB nHL clicks was HP filtered (96 dB/oct) at 8000, 4000, 2000, 1000 and 500 Hz. Mixed with the clicks and HP noise masker was narrowband noise. Three derived response bands, denoted by the upper and lower high-pass noise frequencies, were obtained: DR4000-2000, DR2000-1000, and DR1000-500.

Study sample: Ten adults with normal hearing, aged 19-27 years (mean age: 22.4 years), were recruited from the community.

Results: Frequencies contributing to each DR were determined from the wave V percent amplitude (or latency shift) vs narrowband masker frequency profiles (relative to a no-narrowband-noise condition). Overall, results indicate derived band centre frequencies were closer to the lower HP cut-off frequencies for DR4000-2000 and DR2000-1000, and approximately halfway between the lower HP cut-off and the geometric mean of the two HP frequencies for DR1000-500, with bandwidths of 0.5-1 octave in width.

Conclusions: These results confirm the validity of the HP/DR technique for assessing narrow cochlear regions (≤1.0 octave wide), with centre frequencies within ½-octave of the lower HP frequency.

Objective: The objective of this study was to obtain an understanding of audiologists' knowledge of Spanish speech perception materials for the paediatric hearing loss population.

Design: An electronic survey, the Knowledge of Spanish Audiology & Speech Tools (KSAST) was distributed via Qualtrics to audiologists who worked with Spanish-speaking children.

Study sample: One hundred and fifty-three audiologists practicing in the United States completed the electronic survey over a period of six months.

Results: Audiologists lacked knowledge of current Spanish measures and there was no consensus on what providers were administering for the paediatric population. The largest gaps in knowledge existed for the infancy through early childhood age groups. Notably, even when Spanish measures exist, audiologists reported feeling uncomfortable using them in clinic due to a variety of reasons (e.g., did not know how to access measure, did not know how to administer).

Conclusions: This study highlights the lack of consensus in managing Spanish-speaking patients with hearing loss. There is a lack of validated age-appropriate measures to accurately assess speech perception for Spanish-speaking children. Future research should focus on improving training on management of Spanish-speaking patients, as well as development of speech measures and best practice guidelines for this population.

Objective: While targeted rehabilitation can enhance hearing aid self-efficacy (HASE), little research has been done to determine the factors contributing to its predictive value. By investigating the experiences of individuals who successfully use HAs and have high levels of HASE, we hoped to illuminate specific strategies and/or sources of support these individuals share that might explain why high HASE is often linked to successful outcomes.

Design and study sample: This qualitative study explored the experiences of five older adults who were successful HA users and reported having high HASE. Semi-structured interview guides were developed using the transtheoretical model of behavioral change as a framework. Interviews were analyzed thematically and holistically.

Results: Participants attributed their HA success to: intrinsic motivation to improve their hearing, confident self-reliance when making health decisions, willingness to act on advice from trusted others, pro-social personal attributes, positive expectations about HA outcomes, and actively pursuing an optimal HA outcome.

Conclusions: For these participants, internal factors related to emotional state and source of motivation, and, to a lesser extent, verbal persuasion played a crucial role in their long-term success. This suggests that external influencers might be less impactful in facilitating success for those with high HASE.

Objective: One proposed method to improve sound localisation for bilateral cochlear implant (BiCI) users is to synchronise the automatic gain control (AGC) of both audio processors. In this study we tested whether AGC synchronisation in a dual-loop front-end processing scheme with a 3:1 compression ratio improves sound localisation acuity.

Design: Source identification in the frontal hemifield was tested in in an anechoic chamber as a function of (roving) presentation level. Three different methods of AGC synchronisation were compared to the standard unsynchronised approach. Both root mean square error (RMSE) and signed bias were calculated to evaluate sound localisation in the horizontal plane.

Study sample: Six BiCI users.

Results: None of the three AGC synchronisation methods yielded significant improvements in either localisation error or bias, neither across presentation levels nor for individual presentation levels. For synchronised AGC, the pooled mean (standard deviation) localisation error of the three synchronisation methods was 24.7 (5.8) degrees RMSE, for unsynchronised AGC it was 27.4 (7.5) degrees. The localisation bias was 5.1 (5.5) degrees for synchronised AGC and 5.0 (3.8) for unsynchronised.

Conclusions: These findings do not support the hypothesis that the tested AGC synchronisation configurations improves localisation acuity in bilateral users of MED-EL cochlear implants.

Objective: Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) has been widely used in tinnitus management. However, its efficacy is often assessed through subjective methods. Here, we aimed to assess potential neural changes following TRT using mismatch negativity (MMN).

Design: Chronic tinnitus (>6 months) patients participated in a six-month TRT program. We collected tinnitus psychoacoustic features and gathered the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) before and after TRT. We also used a multi-featured paradigm, including frequency, intensity, duration, location and silent gap deviants, to elicit MMN response before and after TRT. Data were analyzed retrospectively.

Study sample: The study involved 26 chronic tinnitus patients.

Results: Post-TRT measurements showed that MMN amplitudes significantly increased for all deviant conditions (p ≤ .03). However, we did not find a significant difference in MMN latencies for all deviant conditions (p ≥ .13). The THI scores of the patients significantly decreased following the TRT program (p < 0.001). Our results reveal improved subjective tinnitus perception following the TRT program.

Conclusion: These findings indicate that TRT might be a viable alternative in tinnitus management. The greater MMN amplitudes and improved subjective tinnitus perception raise the possibility that MMN can be a useful tool in tinnitus research and tinnitus patient follow-up.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate whether positive focus (PF), an intervention that asks hearing aid users to focus on positive listening experiences, improves hearing aid outcomes for first-time hearing aid users.

Design: The participants were randomised into a control or PF group. They were fitted with hearing aids and followed for six months after fitting. The PF group was asked to report positive listening experiences in their daily life via an app. Participants in both groups were periodically prompted by the app to answer questionnaires about hearing aid satisfaction and benefit. Two follow-up visits at approximately one and six months were performed.

Study sample: 20 adult first-time hearing aid users in the control and 18 in the PF group.

Results: Hearing aid satisfaction and benefit scores were significantly better in the PF group, already at two weeks and throughout the six months. In the PF group, the hearing aid outcomes were positively correlated with the number of submitted positive reports.

Conclusions: These results point to the importance of asking first-time hearing aid users to focus on positive listening experiences and to reflect upon them. This can lead to improved short- and long-term hearing aid outcomes.

Objective: To assess transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) data from 15 years of a newborn hearing screening program and evaluate how well various criteria separate ears with and without hearing loss.

Design: Retrospective review of TEOAE data using logistic regression, receiver operating characteristic curves, and cumulative percentage graphs.Study sample: Children with hearing loss who passed TEOAE screening as a newborn were compared to children who failed TEOAE screening and normal hearing children who either passed or failed. Exclusions were applied for acquired hearing loss or auditory neuropathy.

Results: Ears with hearing loss that passed screening had significantly lower TEOAE response levels compared to ears with normal hearing. Noise levels, test times, and number of sweeps were also lower. Most of these ears had mild hearing loss. Logistic regression results showed that high-frequency TEOAE response level is the best predictor of hearing loss. A multivariate "logit" score calculated from the regression was the best indicator for separating ears with hearing loss from ears with normal hearing.

Conclusions: TEOAE response levels or an algorithm which incorporates logit scores should be considered as a minimum passing criterion to increase the sensitivity of the TEOAE screening.

Objective: To evaluate the short- and long-term effect of remote synchronous fine-tuning and follow-up visits on hearing-related problems and hearing aid (HA) benefits for first-time HA users.

Design: A randomised controlled trial.

Study sample: Patients at public tax-funded HA clinics in Sweden due for aural rehabilitation (AR) were randomised to either an intervention group (n = 33) or a control group (n = 36). Both groups completed the conventional AR process, but the intervention group received synchronous remote fine-tuning of HAs and online follow-up visits. Outcome measures were used before and after intervention, and 6 months and 1 year after intervention.

Results: Both groups improved hearing-related problems measured with the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly/Adults over time, and no significant differences were found between the groups. Such improvements were also found for the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit except for the subscale aversiveness. Both groups decreased the use of HAs in hours/day over time. The intervention group reported significant improvements in activity limitation when measured directly after the intervention, compared to the control group.

Conclusion: Synchronous remote fine-tuning and follow-ups for first-time HA users did not influence the outcomes of hearing-related problems and HA benefits differently from standard care at our clinic.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of problematic tinnitus in a representative United States (US) sample.

Design: Cross-sectional study of the NHANES database from 2011-2012 and 2015-2016.

Study sample: 8029 records were included for analysis.

Results: The prevalence of any tinnitus was 16.32%. Only 1.38% reported tinnitus as a big problem or worse. Univariate analysis revealed a statistically significant relationship between tinnitus constancy and duration with severity, where more constant perception and longer duration was related to increased severity (p < 0.0001). Multivariable models showed a clear relationship of increased odds ratio (OR) of problematic tinnitus with constancy of tinnitus but not duration. Furthermore, multivariable models showed higher Body Mass Index (OR= 1.013, 95% CI: 0.99-1.03), sleep trouble (OR = 2.016, 95% CI: 1.52-2.66) and comorbidities (OR = 1.43, 95%CI: 1.06-1.94) were all associated with increased problematic tinnitus, but not non-problematic tinnitus.

Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that the prevalence of problematic tinnitus is much lower than the prevalence of any tinnitus. There was also a relationship between BMI, sleep trouble, other comorbidities and increased odds of problematic tinnitus. Tinnitus severity was significantly related to constancy of perception but had a less clear relationship to duration.

Objective: This study aimed to explore meaningful life changes due to hearing aid use in adult users.

Design: A cross-sectional survey design was used with open-ended questions analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis.

Study sample: US-based adult hearing aid users (n = 653) from the Hearing Tracker website community and Lexie Hearing database.

Results: Participants had a mean age of 65.4 years (13.6 SD), including 61.2% males, 38.3% females (0.5% other). Analysis of 2122 meaning units from responses identified two broad domains: 'meaningful benefits' (n = 1709; 80.5%) and 'remaining difficulties' (n = 413; 19.5%). The meaningful benefits domain included five categories (27 sub-categories): (a) psychosocial benefits, (b) improvements in hearing, (c) personal benefits, (d) hearing aid features and connectivity, and (e) situational benefits. Participants reported enhanced relationships and improved occupational functioning as key benefits. The remaining difficulties domain contained four categories (25 sub-categories): (a) hearing aid limitations, (b) hearing and communication issues, (c) situational difficulties, and (d) personal issues. Notable difficulties included hearing aid design issues and challenges in noisy environments.

Conclusion: Hearing aid users reported diverse benefits and persistent challenges related to device use, illustrating the complexity of their lived experiences. These findings can inform empathetic, effective rehabilitation strategies and user-centric hearing aid technologies.