International Journal of Audiology最新文献

Objectives: This study aimed to develop and evaluate a Ghanaian Digit Triplet Test for adult hearing screening.

Design: The study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 optimised digit recognition across speech materials in a controlled environment, while Phase 2 collected normative data and assessed list equivalence using an adaptive and fixed-level method.

Study sample: Eighty adults aged 18 to 50 years with normal hearing thresholds (≤ 15 dB HL) participated: 16 in Phase 1 and 64 in Phase 2.

Results: The mean SRTs were -11.3 dB for Asante-Twi and -11.4 dB for Ghanaian English, closely matching other digit triplet tests. Psychometric slopes were 17.9%/dB for Asante-Twi and 19.4%/dB for Ghanaian English. No significant differences were found in SRTs across list numbers or orders for the Asante-Twi version, indicating list equivalence and no learning effect. However, a significant learning effect in the Ghanaian English version necessitated different normative values based on participants' test exposure.

Conclusions: The GDTT demonstrates consistency with other digit triplet tests while addressing specific linguistic and cultural factors. The test can improve access to hearing screening in resource-limited settings in Ghana. Further research should explore the test's applicability to a broader demographic, including children.

Objective: To evaluate audiological and nonaudiological predictors of hearing aid (HA) uptake in patients with unilateral hearing loss (UHL) and bilateral hearing loss (BHL).

Design: Retrospective study.

Study samples: A total of 655 patients with UHL and 3,699 patients with BHL were retrospectively included over a 10-year period. The primary audiological measurements were 4-frequency average pure-tone audiometry, speech discrimination score, hearing loss type, and presence of tinnitus.

Results: The HA uptake rates in patients with UHL and BHL were 28.4% and 45.0%, respectively. In the UHL group, no substantial differences were identified between the HA uptake and refusal groups, except for sex. In contrast, the BHL group showed significant differences based on age, sex, and hearing threshold.The significant associations between potential explanatory variables and HA uptake were observed for age, SDS, and tinnitus, with odd ratios of 1.015, 1.004, and 1.251, respectively. The predictive accuracy (discriminating power) was 52.0% for UHL and 55.9% for BHL.

Conclusions: The statistical analysis of this study indicates that audiological predictors accounted for approximately 50% of the impact on HA uptake. Our findings underscore the importance of considering nonaudiological factors during counselling to enhance HA uptake.

Objective: To assess the acceptability of parent-delivered ear health checks at home for children with complex needs.

Design: A multi-method service level evaluation of a modified ear check pathway. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected via interviews, Likert scale questions, and otoscopy and tympanometry acceptance data.

Study sample: A purposive sample of twelve children with complex needs who had not accepted either otoscopy or tympanometry in their last clinic appointment. This included their parent carers who had agreed to carry out ear health checks within the home environment.

Results: Parents' confidence increased following training for video-otoscopy (10 out of 12) and tympanometry (9 out of 12). More children accepted otoscopy (62.5% compared to 16.7%) and tympanometry (54.1% compared to 12.5%) when delivered at home by a parent, compared to their last clinical setting appointment. Parent/carer responses indicated the service modifications were acceptable, supported partnership working and improved access. Trust and individualisation were important constructs.

Conclusions: Parent carer-delivered ear health checks at home have the potential to provide an alternative approach to reasonable adjustments for children with complex needs, utilising familiarity and enabling flexibility, potentially reducing some of the barriers faced by children with complex needs in accessing services.

Objective: The goal was to develop a new set of male and female sentence materials in the Dutch language suitable for use in assessments of speech intelligibility in noise in children.

Design: A subset of the LIST sentences, a Flemish-Dutch language sentence intelligibility test, was selected for its suitability and appropriateness for children. This subset was grouped into new lists, which were then validated with speech-shaped noise.

Study sample: Fifty-four typically hearing children between 8 and 12 years old and 12 typically hearing adults participated.

Results: Children obtained an average SRT of -6.4 (± 0.8) dB SNR across all female lists, and -5.8 (± 0.8) dB SNR across all male lists. Furthermore, an age effect was observed, with performance improving with age. Lists were shown to be equivalent within each set.

Conclusion: The two sets of sentences developed and evaluated in noise here, one consisting of 280 sentences/recordings by a male speaker, and one consisting of 210 sentences/recordings by a female speaker are suitable for children aged 8 to 12 years old. Reference data for three age groups are provided.

Purpose: Objective audiological assessments provide valuable insights on physiological dimensions of hearing loss (HL), but not on lived experiences and functional limitations perceived by individuals. This study employed the multidimensional ICF framework to explore how demographic and diagnostic variables predict self-reported disability in adults with HL.

Method: This cross-sectional study included 571 participants from India (94), South Africa (79), Sweden (219), and the USA (179). Responses from structured interviews based on the ICF were measured against demographic and diagnostic variables.

Results: 74.6% of the participants were hearing aid (HA) users with moderate-to-severe HL. Five statistically significant predictors were identified; HA usage, degree of HL, level of education, age, and income bracket. The predictors were associated with the ICF components; body functions (b126, b210, b230, b240), activity and participation (d310, d350) and environmental factors (e125, e250, e310, e355, e410, e460).

Conclusions: This study emphasises that an individual's experience with HL is significantly influenced by various factors beyond the severity of the HL itself. This underscores the ICF's utility in capturing the complex interplay of biopsychosocial factors on HL. Identifying significant predictors could aid in tailoring interventions to improve health outcomes and quality of life for individuals with HL.

Objective: This review aimed to catalogue the literature exploring electrocochleography (ECochG) as a potential tool to improve pre-implantation counselling for cochlear implant (CI) recipients. Specifically, it examined the correlation between ECochG responses and speech perception to assess whether these measurements could explain some of the variability in CI outcomes.

Design: Scoping review.

Study sample: Sixteen studies were included in this review, 14 of which investigated the correlation between ECochG total response (ECochG-TR) and speech perception outcomes. Additionally, four studies focused on specific components of ECochG-TR in relation to speech perception outcomes.

Results: Despite several limitations, most studies found that ECochG-TR significantly contributed to the variability in speech perception outcomes, explaining between 16-59% of the variance. The few studies correlating specific ECochG responses, such as cochlear microphonics, summating potential, auditory nerve neurophonics, and compound action potential, with CI outcomes, reported inconsistent results.

Conclusion: This review demonstrated that ECochG-TR can explain a significant portion of the variance in CI outcomes. However, due to the numerous limitations, further research is needed on the correlation between specific ECochG responses and CI outcomes. While ECochG measurements hold value in a research context, they have limited utility in clinical practice for pre-implantation counselling.

Objective: Targeted early detection programs for otitis media exist for First Nations populations across several countries, with variable success reported. Health professionals are in a unique position to evaluate factors that may impact on programme success. This research therefore aims to understand: "What factors do health professionals view as influencing the success of otitis media detection programs for First Nations children?"

Design: A scoping review, including a systematic search and synthesis of qualitative research on this topic, was conducted using adapted PRISMA and JBI guidelines. Articles were critically appraised using tools to assess their methodological quality and cultural safety.

Study sample: Seven sources published between 2003 and 2022 met the review inclusion criteria.

Results: Two major themes of Health Resource Access and Person and Family Centred Care were identified. Health Resource Access was further explored through three sub-themes examining Client, Practitioner and Service access. Subthemes related to Person and Family Centred Care included Cultural Safety, Health Service Collaboration, Health Education and Consumer Partnerships.

Conclusions: The voices of health professionals are largely missing from conversations on otitis media detection for First Nations children. Health professionals can provide unique insights into service delivery that compliment those of parents and care-givers.

Objective: This study investigated the potential impact of sound exposure in preschools on children's hearing function by measuring distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) over time.

Design: A longitudinal repeated-measures approach was employed to evaluate how DPOAE amplitudes varied with sound exposure and pre-school attendance duration, analysed using general estimation equation (GEE) modelling.

Study sample: The sample included 62 children aged three to six years attending preschools. Sound exposure levels and DPOAE amplitudes were measured during time being indoor.

Results: Average indoor sound levels (time indoors (_Ti)) were 81 dB LAeq_Ti, with highest noise events reaching 112 dB LAFmax. A total of 31 measurements (52%) exceeded 80 dB LAeq_Ti. GEE analysis showed a significant decrease in DPOAE amplitudes at 6 and 8 kHz in the right ear in relation to sound exposure levels, suggesting a sound level-dependent effect. Time spent in pre-school revealed a decrease in DPOAE amplitudes at 3 and 4 kHz in the right ear over the day and week, indicating cumulative effects of sound exposure.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that pre-school sound exposure may adversely affect children's hearing, particularly at higher frequencies and over time. Further research is needed to validate these results and explore long-term implications of early-age noise exposure.