International Journal of Audiology最新文献

Objective: Following the adaptation of a patient-reported experience measure (PREM) of "Audiology Care", based on the Consumer Quality Index (CQI), from a Dutch to a UK context, we compared patient experiences of the prescription and fitting process for first-time adult hearing aid (HA) users in two different venues affiliated to the same organisation.

Design: The adapted PREM consisted of 32 questions and 7 subscales.

Study sample: The PREM was posted to a group of 1821 NHS patients who had received a first HA fitting via a social enterprise within the past 12 months at either a Hospital or High Street venue. 967 (53%, 796 Hospital, 171 High Street) patients responded and were included in the study.

Results: For two out of seven subscales the mean patient ratings for the two venues showed statistically significant differences: "Accommodation and Facilities" and "Waiting Times". In both cases the differences were very small. Internal consistency of subscales ranged from 0.36-0.81 with only three subscales showing good or acceptable values: "Conduct of Employees", "Expertise of Employees" and "Arranging Appointments".

Conclusion: This translated and adapted PREM can be a useful tool to standardise assessment and reporting of patient experiences of first-time HA users in the UK.

Objective: The current study aimed to explore (1) school-aged children's auditory and cognitive abilities and (2) their perceptions (self-reported and parents) of listening behaviours and symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Study sample: Twenty-one children aged 8 to 12 participated in this study. Eleven children with mTBI were diagnosed in the emergency department, and 10 were matched controls. They were assessed twice, in the acute (≤14 days) and chronic (≥3 months) stages post-injury, using six central auditory behavioural tests, a cognitive screening battery, and questionnaires. ANOVA and correlation analysis were performed.

Results: Group differences were present in three auditory tests as children with mTBI obtained poorer scores than controls (Pitch Pattern Sequence Tests - PPST: p = 0.037; Gap In Noise test - GIN threshold: p = 0.046; Duration Pattern Test - DPT: p = 0.053), but not for perceived listening behaviours and cognitive abilities. Correlations were found only between perceived listening behaviours and reported mTBI symptoms for parents (p =0.014) and children (p =0.002).

Conclusions: Auditory abilities, mostly those related to temporal processing, were affected following mTBI, independently of cognitive abilities. Better identification of auditory processing difficulties following mTBI will improve treatment and resource allocation for children.

Objective: Children's events are often perceived as excessively loud, with risks of noise-induced hearing loss and other adverse effects. In many countries, including Hungary, specific regulations for recreational noise levels are absent. This research aims to establish a scientific basis for safety categories and noise level limits to protect children's hearing.

Design: Noise levels were measured at events, and otoacoustic emissions were assessed to determine auditory impacts. Children and parents also completed loudness perception surveys.

Study sample: Thirteen events were analysed with 25 noise-level measurement points. We included children aged 3-12 years, conducted 38 otoacoustic emission tests on both ears before and after the event, and collected 51 completed questionnaires.

Results: Only seven measurement points were in the "safe" category, 40% were "risky", and 32% were "dangerous". While safe events did not alter inner ear function, it was reduced in several cases after risky events. High noise intensities were uncomfortable for 80% of the children.

Conclusions: Children's events often exceed safe noise levels, underscoring the critical need for sound monitoring and control. We recommend implementing guidelines, public education, and warnings to prevent hearing loss, with proposed regulations and age-related safety recommendations, presenting sound intensity categories with letters A to F.

Objective: To investigate whether the N1, P2, and N2 auditory evoked potentials reflect performance in phonological awareness tasks.

Design: A systematic search was conducted using keywords such as "cortical auditory potential," "N1," "P2," "N2," and "phonological awareness" across databases (CINAHL, Embase, PubMed/Medline, Web of Science) and gray literature (Google Scholar, OpenGrey, ProQuest).

Study sample: Human studies were included if they analysed N1, P2, and/or N2 components in relation to phonological awareness tasks, either by correlating these components with task performance or comparing latency and amplitude across groups with different levels of phonological awareness.

Results: Of 371 records, seven studies (2004-2021) from Brazil, the Netherlands, China, Canada, and Finland were selected. Four were case-control studies, two were intervention studies, and one was observational. Four used phonological priming, and three used standardised phonological awareness assessments. Five studies suggested that the N1, P2, and N2 components may predict phonological awareness performance.

Conclusion: The N1, N2, and P2 components are potential predictors of phonological processing. Tasks involving phonological priming-especially rhyme and alliteration-modulate N1 and N2, while the P2 component, though less studied, appears to be sensitive to alliteration. Future research should explore these relationships in greater detail for clinical applications.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of implementing a fast-track process (single-session assess-and-fit appointment with no ENT specialist's examination) in hearing rehabilitation by investigating the accuracy of the protocol assignment applying various cut-off criteria and describing the audiometric profile of patients being evaluated for their first hearing aids.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Study sample: Patients from a single institution (n = 1807, median age 75 years, IQR 67-82 years) undergoing the evaluation for their first hearing aid fitting.

Results: There were no audiometric signs warranting further diagnostic evaluation in 1259 subjects (69.7%). These subjects could be identified using a single criterion: the average threshold difference between the ears in the frequencies from 0.5 to 4 kHz less than 10 dB. Age was found to be a good predictor for the success of a single-session evaluation and fitting, with a cut-off value of 75 years. Altogether, 593 persons (32.8%) were candidates for a fast-track process. The time-saving from a single-session process was estimated to be 1.0%.

Conclusions: It is feasible to have a fast-track hearing aid fitting protocol. Patients can be preselected with excellent accuracy using a single audiometric criterion and an age limit of 75. Time savings for a single-session process are insignificant.

Objective: To reduce the amplitude of stimulus artefacts present in bone conduction auditory brainstem response (BC ABR) measurements.

Design: Electromagnetic shielding was applied to the surface of a clinical BC transducer. A foam pad was also placed on the shielded mastoid-contacting plate of the transducer. Acoustic impacts of these modifications were evaluated using an artificial mastoid. Unmodified and modified (shielding with pad) transducers were then used to elicit BC ABRs in adults and infants. Stimulus artefact amplitudes were compared across transducers.

Study sample: Six adults (24-42 years old) and 13 typically developing infants (mean age 48.77 days) with no sensorineural hearing loss.

Results: Shielding alone slightly decreased acoustic transducer output above approximately 1000 Hz. The addition of a foam pad largely negated this loss, while lower-frequency (500-1000 Hz) acoustic transducer output was slightly increased. The modified transducer produced significantly less stimulus artefact, although variation across subjects was also evident. In a clinical setting, Wave V was detected at similar rates for both transducers.

Conclusion: While artefact was not eliminated, direct attenuation of artefact amplitude (versus software-based mitigation strategies) could simplify BC ABR and other evoked potential measurement protocols and support more stringent artefact rejection criteria to yield more informative recordings.

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.

Objective: To understand how older adults living with hearing loss cope with and manage their hearing loss.

Design: Grounded theory methodology with a patient-oriented approach was used to generate a theory grounded in data obtained from older adults living with hearing loss. Constant comparative analysis was used.

Study sample: Participants included 68 individuals aged 50 years and older with self-reported hearing loss living in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Results: We report on two theoretical constructs of the psychosocial process of embodying hearing loss. 'Confronting the issue' captures individuals' experiences after they reached a turning point in acknowledging their hearing loss journey and began searching for services and supports that includes (1) accessing services and supports, (2) receiving the diagnosis, and (3) teasing out options. 'Adjusting to a new norm' describes participants' experiences as they started to navigate their life with hearing loss that includes (1) benefits and challenges living with a hearing assistive device, (2) developing coping strategies, and (3) envisioning a future living with hearing loss.

Conclusions: Embodying hearing loss includes both understanding the concept of hearing loss and engaging with the challenges, emotions and experiences associated with it to help promote understanding, support and inclusion in society for those affected by hearing loss.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of an enhanced Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) device (Vivosonic Integrity) in testing the hearing of young children under two years of age in the child's home or in a hospital.

Design: A prospective observational study for assessing ABR thresholds in children aged between 18 months and 2 years of age. The ABR tests were performed at home or in a regular hospital consultation room without soundproofing adaptations or electromagnetic shielding.

Study sample: Hearing was assessed in a total of 31 children (mean age 21.4 ± 3 months), with 20 tested at home and 11 in a hospital setting. These children, all with a congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection, were participants in the CONCERT-trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02005822).

Results: In 20 children tested at home, conclusive hearing thresholds were established at the first attempt in 91.7% of tested ears and in 100% following a second attempt. The first attempt was conclusive in all hospital-tested children.

Conclusions: Conclusive ABR results are achievable with the Vivosonic Integrity in young children under 2 years of age in home and hospital settings, even when awake, restless, talking, eating, drinking or watching television. This eliminates the need for sleep deprivation, sedation or general anaesthesia.