Journal of Audiology and Otology最新文献

Background and objectives: : Prior research has demonstrated a significant correlation between hearing loss and dementia; nevertheless, these two disorders have been addressed independently. This study proposes a questionnaire to simultaneously assess auditory and cognitive functions in older adults. As an inaugural pilot investigation, the current study aimed to engineer items for specific facets of cognitive function.

Subjects and methods: : A systematic review of articles from six databases identified seven self-report questionnaires (211 items) for cognitive impairment and 31 cognitive items for screening older adults. Forty individuals aged 60 years or older were categorized into four groups based on their auditory and cognitive status using the pure-tone average (PTA) and Cognitive Impairment Screening Test (CIST), respectively. Each group completed the Cognitive Impairment Screening for Elderly (CISE). The internal consistency of the CISE was examined, and principal component and factor analyses were performed.

Results: : The four groups exhibited strikingly distinct PTA and CIST scores. The CISE demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency (α=0.94). Subsequently, Item 16 was excluded owing to inadequate fit, and the remaining 30 items were grouped by factor analysis into four categories: 10 pertaining to daily activities associated with memory loss, 8 concerning emotional alterations or stress, 7 associated with reduced social interaction and cognitive confusion, and 5 related to language usage difficulties. To comprehensively examine the individual factors, 7 representative items with factor loadings exceeding 0.70 were considered to represent these factors.

Conclusions: : This study validated 30 items for the cognition section, from which 7 representative items were selected. Further development is warranted to create a single integrated questionnaire that incorporates items from the auditory section for effective diagnosis and treatment in future clinical settings.

Background and objectives: The auditory brainstem response (ABR) represents a critical tool for evaluating auditory pathways. Although absolute and inter-peak latencies (IPLs) are commonly analyzed, the differences between different stimulus types and presentation modes, particularly during binaural processing, remain underexplored. This study compared the absolute latencies, IPLs, and binaural interaction component (BIC) latencies of ABRs elicited by click and LS CE-chirp stimuli under both monaural and binaural conditions. The present study analyzed the clinical features of cochlear function in Ramsay-Hunt syndrome.

Subjects and methods: Twenty-one adults with normal hearing aged 22-25 years underwent ABR testing using click and LS CE-chirp stimuli under binaural, right ear, and left ear conditions. Their absolute latencies, IPLs, and BIC latencies for waves I, III, and V were recorded. BIC latencies were calculated by subtracting each subject's binaural wave latency from their mean monaural latency.

Results: The subjects' LS CE-chirp stimuli elicited significantly longer wave V latencies under binaural vs monaural conditions, although their click-evoked ABRs did not show significant differences across the different presentation modes evaluated. The wave III latencies were significantly longer for the LS CE-chirp stimuli under the binaural and right-ear conditions. The IPLs showed stimulus- and ear-dependent differences, with LS CE-chirps evoking shorter IPLs vs. regular clicks under some conditions. The BIC latencies for waves III and V were significantly longer for the LS CE-chirp stimuli, whereas those for wave I showed no significant differences.

Conclusions: LS CE-chirp stimuli enhanced ABR detectability and revealed longer binaural processing times, particularly at higher auditory brainstem levels. These findings support the utility of LS CE-chirp in terms of assessing binaural integration and central auditory processing.

Background and objectives: Children constantly gain auditory experiences that promote speech and language development. Therefore, evaluating the auditory capacities of children in noisy environments is imperative. In this study, we sought to evaluate the speech perception abilities of children with normal hearing in noisy environments.

Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed, enrolling 162 Tamil-speaking children aged 3-6 years with normal hearing. These children were further categorized into three groups based on age range: group 1 (3;0-3;11 years), group 2 (4;0-4;11 years), and group 3 (5;0-5;11 years). The two-talker babble was recorded and presented under four conditions: silence, 0 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), +10 dB SNR, and +20 dB SNR. Scoring was carried out and recorded appropriately.

Results: A significant difference (p<0.05) in performance was observed at 0 dB SNR and +10 dB SNR compared to that in the other two presentation conditions. Among all the age groups assessed, performance was poorer in those exposed to 0 dB SNR, whereas near-perfect scores were recorded among those exposed to 20 dB SNR.

Conclusions: Our findings provide a basis for comparing the performance of children utilizing hearing devices in noisy environments. This normative data can also serve as a benchmark for evaluating the performance of children with hearing loss fitted with hearing devices.

The prevalence of mild-to-moderate hearing loss is increasing due to noise exposure and an expanding elderly population. Despite the benefits of hearing aids, many individuals avoid them due to cost and incomplete awareness, opting instead for smartphone-based hearing aid applications (SHAAs) and personal sound amplification products (PSAPs). However, these devices are currently lacking official approval for medical use. The study results, together with roundtable discussions organized by the Patient-Centered Clinical Research Coordinating Center (PACEN) and recent research findings, were reviewed to develop clinical guidelines. The roundtable discussions involved seven otology experts and one lay representative and focused on defining PSAPs and establishing minimum requirements for their use by patients with hearing loss. Hearing aids were found to effectively address all types of hearing loss and improve speech recognition in noisy environments. In contrast, SHAA and PSAP are effective only under specific conditions: SHAA for mild loss and PSAP for mild-to-moderate loss. Both devices perform poorly in noisy settings and lack noise processing features. Hearing aids are recommended as the most effective and versatile option for auditory rehabilitation, whereas SHAA and PSAP should only be considered under defined conditions when hearing aids are impractical. Continued updates and cost-effectiveness evaluations will be required as technologies advance.

Lymphomas originating in the ear are extremely rare. As with other malignancies of the temporal bone, diagnosis of lymphoma in the middle ear and temporal bone is often delayed, negatively impacting treatment and prognosis. The delay in diagnosis is primarily due to its clinical presentation overlapping with benign infectious conditions of the middle ear. Here, we present a rare case of a 46-year-old woman with prolonged otorrhea, hearing disturbances, intermittent vertigo, and headache. She underwent surgery to investigate suspected chronic otomastoiditis, and subsequent pathological examination revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Severe and persistent middle ear symptoms should raise red flags and warrant thorough and detailed investigations, including pathological confirmation.

Background and objectives: Misophonia is a sound sensitivity disorder characterized by intense emotional and physiological responses to specific triggers. These responses are often associated with heightened reactions from the autonomic nervous system. In this study, we investigated the psychometric properties of the misophonia measurement questionnaires.

Materials and methods: A bibliographic search without publication date or language restrictions was conducted in March 2023 and updated in October 2024. The search had no time limit for the retrieval of relevant studies, including cross-sectional and psychometric studies. Two authors screened the titles and abstracts, and irrelevant studies were excluded after reviewing the full text of the articles. Any disagreements during the selection process were resolved through discussion. Standardized critical appraisal tools from the Joanna Briggs Institute and the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) tool were used to assess the psychometric properties of the instruments.

Results: Of the 130 screened articles, 34 were selected for full-text evaluation, and 25 articles met the inclusion criteria.

Conclusion: Evidence regarding the psychometric properties of the measures of misophonia is limited, indicating the need for further research to explore these instruments across various cultures and languages.

Background and objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a minimal inverted-J incision for bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) Attract implantation. Classical large incisions often result in prolonged surgical time and wound-related complications. A linear incision can lead to an incision scar overlapping the implanted magnet, resulting in wound complications, magnet instability, and problems with external device attachment. Our novel incision method overcomes the limitations of both incision methods.

Subjects and methods: We assessed the outcomes of patients who underwent BAHA Attract implantation using a minimal inverted-J incision, which was designed to provide adequate exposure while avoiding excessive incision. The total surgery duration, wound healing, and implant stability were evaluated based on hearing outcomes and compared with those of patients who underwent a classical incision.

Results: The minimal inverted-J incision and classical incision groups demonstrated no significant differences in surgical time (32.7±6.3 min vs. 36.9±5.4 min, p=0.056), postoperative major wound complications (6.3% vs. 20%, p=0.176), and hearing outcomes (51.8±31.1 dB vs. 49.3±27.8 dB, p=0.585); however, the trends consistently showed that the minimal inverted-J incision group was either superior or comparable to the other groups.

Conclusions: Our novel incision technique for BAHA Attract implantation addresses the limitations associated with both the classical and minimal linear incision approaches.

Background and objectives: The Automated Method for Testing Auditory Sensitivity (AMTAS) is a promising automated hearing assessment tool currently available as an alternative for conducting hearing assessments. The aim of this study was to assess the validity, reliability, and usability of the AMTAS in a Malaysian population.

Subjects and methods: This study included 100 participants who participated in validity testing, 30 in reliability testing, and 232 participants who answered the Malay version of the mHealth Application Usability Questionnaire (M-MAUQ). The test was conducted at a general hospital and district hospital. Hearing thresholds were compared between conventional pure-tone audiometry and AMTAS for validation. The hearing threshold of the AMTAS was measured twice to investigate the test-retest reliability. The usability of the AMTAS was analyzed based on M-MAUQ scores for ease of use, interface and satisfaction, and usefulness after the participants used the AMTAS.

Results: The mean difference in hearing thresholds between these two methods ranged from 1.25 dB to 3.40 dB at the general hospital and 0.30 dB to 3.35 dB at the district hospital, with over 95% of participants exhibiting a mean difference within ±10 dB. The intraclass correlation coefficient for the test-retest reliability of the AMTAS ranged from 0.64 to 0.99 across tested frequencies. The overall mean scores of the M-MAUQ for each item ranged from 6.31 to 6.80 out of a full score of 7, indicating excellent usability of the AMTAS.

Conclusions: This study revealed that the AMTAS is a valid and reliable approach for measuring hearing status in the Malaysian population, demonstrating high user satisfaction.

Background and objectives: We aimed to describe the demographic and audiometric profiles of adults accessing audiological services in Malaysia, including comparisons between public hospitals and private hearing aid centers and between the west and east coasts of Peninsular Malaysia.

Subjects and methods: We retrospectively reviewed 1,828 patient records, including 1,720 from public hospitals and 108 from private hearing aid centers.

Results: Patients in private centers were older (mean age, 65.99 years; standard deviation [SD], 16.97) and had more severe hearing loss (mean four-frequency average hearing loss [4FAHL], 50.56 dB HL; SD, 21.47) than those in public hospitals (mean, 53.83 years; SD, 16.91; mean 4FAHL, 39.37 dB HL; SD, 22.55). Patients on the west coast of Malaysia were slightly older (mean, 55.10 years; SD, 16.87) than those residing on Malaysia's east coast (mean, 53.18 years; SD, 17.76). Gender distribution differed according to region, with more males on the east coast (57.3%) than on the west coast (50.9%) but was similar across public and private settings.

Conclusions: Distinct demographic and audiometric trends were observed between service settings. Older age and more severe HL were associated with private care, whereas regional differences suggest the need for services that accommodate geographic variations.

Background and objectives: Frequency allocation is crucial in cochlear implantation (CI) mapping, significantly impacting speech perception. Previous studies have suggested that limiting the upper frequency range may improve outcomes; however, evidence remains limited, particularly among non-English-speaking populations. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between frequency allocation and speech perception in Korean CI users.

Subjects and methods: We prospectively evaluated 14 ears from nine Korean CI users under two frequency allocation conditions: a standard setting (188-7,938 Hz) and a narrow, modified setting (188-5,938 Hz). Speech perception was assessed using Ling's six-sound test, as well as vowel, consonant, monosyllabic, disyllabic, and sentence recognition tests. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models to account for repeated measures and subject-level clustering.

Results: Narrow frequency allocation significantly improved the perception of vowels (p=0.032), consonants (p=0.035), and monosyllables (p=0.022). Disyllable perception exhibited a positive trend (p=0.056), whereas sentence recognition demonstrated no significant difference (p=0.367).

Conclusions: Narrow frequency allocation significantly enhanced vowel, consonant, and monosyllable perceptions among Korean CI users. These findings underscore the importance of tailoring CI frequency settings to the phonemic characteristics unique to Korean-speaking populations.