Vocal Biomarkers of Mild-to-Moderate Hearing Loss in Children and Adults: Voiceless Sibilants

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (11) ◽  
pp. 2814-2826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea L. Pittman ◽  
Ayoub Daliri ◽  
Lauren Meadows
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Perception ◽  
Speech Production ◽  
Auditory Feedback ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Spectral Characteristics ◽  
Objective Measure ◽  
Hearing Level ◽  
High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine if an objective measure of speech production could serve as a vocal biomarker for the effects of high-frequency hearing loss on speech perception. It was hypothesized that production of voiceless sibilants is governed sufficiently by auditory feedback that high-frequency hearing loss results in subtle but significant shifts in the spectral characteristics of these sibilants.MethodSibilant production was examined in individuals with mild to moderately severe congenital (22 children; 8–17 years old) and acquired (23 adults; 55–80 years old) hearing losses. Measures of hearing level (pure-tone average thresholds at 4 and 8 kHz), speech perception (detection of nonsense words within sentences), and speech production (spectral center of gravity [COG] for /s/ and /ʃ/) were obtained in unaided and aided conditions.ResultsFor both children and adults, detection of nonsense words increased significantly as hearing thresholds improved. Spectral COG for /ʃ/ was unaffected by hearing loss in both listening conditions, whereas the spectral COG for /s/ significantly decreased as high-frequency hearing loss increased. The distance in spectral COG between /s/ and /ʃ/ decreased significantly with increasing hearing level. COG distance significantly predicted nonsense-word detection in children but not in adults.ConclusionsAt least one aspect of speech production (voiceless sibilants) is measurably affected by high-frequency hearing loss and is related to speech perception in children. Speech production did not predict speech perception in adults, suggesting a more complex relationship between auditory feedback and feedforward mechanisms with age. Even so, these results suggest that this vocal biomarker may be useful for identifying the presence of high-frequency hearing loss in adults and children and for predicting the impact of hearing loss in children.

Amplitude Modulation Detection by Listeners with Unilateral Dead Regions

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 597-606
Author(s):  
Brian C.J. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Amplitude Modulation ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Hearing Level ◽  
Detection Thresholds ◽  
High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽  
Frequency Components ◽  
Noise Test ◽  
The Dead ◽  
Sinusoidal Amplitude Modulation

Background: A dead region is a region in the cochlea where the inner hair cells and/or neurons are functioning very poorly, if at all. We have shown that, for people with sensorineural hearing loss, thresholds for detecting sinusoidal amplitude modulation (AM) of a sinusoidal carrier were lower for ears with high-frequency dead regions, as diagnosed using the threshold-equalizing noise test, calibrated in hearing level, than for ears without dead regions when the carrier frequency was below the edge frequency, fe, of the dead region. Purpose: To measure AM-detection thresholds for subjects with unilateral dead regions, using carrier frequencies both below and above fe. Research Design: Ten subjects with bilateral high-frequency hearing loss, but with unilateral high-frequency dead regions, were tested. The carriers were presented at sensation levels of 5, 10, or 15 dB. The values of fe were close to 1000, 1500, or 2000 Hz. Results: For carrier frequencies below fe, AM-detection thresholds were lower for the ears with dead regions than for the ears without dead regions, replicating earlier findings. In contrast, for carrier frequencies above fe, AM-detection thresholds tended to be higher for ears with dead regions than for ears without dead regions. Conclusions: The reason why AM detection was poorer in the ears with dead regions for carrier frequencies above fe is unclear. However, this finding is consistent with the generally poor discrimination of sounds that has been reported previously for sounds with frequency components falling within a dead region. The results have implications for the ability of people with dead regions to use information from frequency components falling inside the dead region.

scholarly journals Music – A double edged sword for students in COVID scenario

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 005-008
Author(s):  
Kiran Naik ◽  
Ravi KS ◽  
Pragati
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Prolonged Exposure ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
Natural Phenomenon ◽  
High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B ◽  
The Impact

Background: Hearing loss is often thought of as a natural phenomenon of the aging process. However younger people with repeated usage of ear phone music are reporting nowadays with hearing impairment and more during this COVID pandemic era. In today’s society, these devices are indispensable and are part of day‑to‑day life and because of the restriction on outdoor movement in COVID pandemic more and more people are reliant on ear phone music to allay boredom. Hence, this study was conducted to create awareness regarding prolonged exposure to loud noise either through an MP3 player or cell phone music. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was done compromising 400 students from Shri Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences from March 2020 to December 2020. They were divided into four groups using a questionnaire, Group A comprising 100 students who had a habit of listening to music through ear phones at least 2 h a day, Group B comprising 100 students who are used to earphone music less than 1 h per day and Group C comprising of 100 students who very occasionally use ear phones, but hear music mostly through speakers and Group D comprising of 100 students who are not used to ear phone music. All the 400 students studied were attending online classes as per the college schedule which constituted 3-4 hours daily. All the groups were subjected to pure tone audiometry when they reported back to their regular offline classes as the pandemic reduced in January 2021 and the audiogram obtained. Results and Observations: The study revealed high frequency hearing loss in 6% of Group A and 2% in Group B; whereas, in there were no hearing impairment in Groups C and D indicating a significant role of prolonged ear phone music as a cause of high frequency hearing loss in students. The thin percentage and absence of hearing loss in Groups B, C, and D suggests the impact of the duration of exposure also has a role in the pathology. Conclusion: This study proves beyond doubt that the prolonged usage of loud ear phone music is harmful to the ears and also the COVID induced movement restriction precipitated the indiscriminate use of ear phone music which further increased the causation.

Modified Earpieces and CROS for High Frequency Hearing Losses

1968 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 204-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Dodds ◽  
Earl Harford
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Sound Field ◽  
Intensity Level ◽  
Test Results ◽  
High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽  
Increased Sensitivity ◽  
Difficult Cases

Persons with a high frequency hearing loss are difficult cases for whom to find suitable amplification. We have experienced some success with this problem in our Hearing Clinics using a specially designed earmold with a hearing aid. Thirty-five cases with high frequency hearing losses were selected from our clinical files for analysis of test results using standard, vented, and open earpieces. A statistical analysis of test results revealed that PB scores in sound field, using an average conversational intensity level (70 dB SPL), were enhanced when utilizing any one of the three earmolds. This result was due undoubtedly to increased sensitivity provided by the hearing aid. Only the open earmold used with a CROS hearing aid resulted in a significant improvement in discrimination when compared with the group’s unaided PB score under earphones or when comparing inter-earmold scores. These findings suggest that the inclusion of the open earmold with a CROS aid in the audiologist’s armamentarium should increase his flexibility in selecting hearing aids for persons with a high frequency hearing loss.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Effectiveness of Earplugs in Preventing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in an Auto Parts Factory in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 7190
Author(s):  
Wei Gong ◽  
Liangliang Zhao ◽  
Ling Li ◽  
Thais C. Morata ◽  
Wei Qiu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Detectable Effect ◽  
High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽  
Mandatory Requirement ◽  
Exposed Workers ◽  
Fit Testing ◽  
Auto Parts

A survey was administered to 385 noise-exposed workers from an auto parts factory and 1268 non-noise-exposed health department employees in China. Individual 8 h A-weighted equivalent sound levels (LAeq,8h), earplug personal attenuation ratings (PARs), and pure-tone audiometric tests were performed. The average LAeq,8h of noise-exposed workers was 87 dB (A) with a mean PAR of 7 dB. The prevalence of high-frequency hearing loss was 65% for noise-exposed workers and 33% for the non-noise-exposed employees. The use of earplugs had no observable effect on the prevalence of high-frequency hearing loss of the study participants (OR 0.964, 95% CI 0.925–1.005, p = 0.085). No significant relationship between the effectiveness offered by earplug use and high-frequency hearing thresholds at 3, 4, and 6 kHz was found (t = −1.54, p = 0.125). The mandatory requirement of earplug use without individualized training on how to wear HPDs correctly had no detectable effect on the prevention of hearing loss at the auto parts factory. The hearing conservation program at the surveyed factory was not effective. Periodic hearing tests, earplug fit testing, expanding the offer of different types of hearing protection, and employee education about the importance of protecting their hearing were recommended to the occupational health and safety program.

Caudal Pontine Reticular Formation of C57BL/6J Mice: Responses to Startle Stimuli, Inhibition by Tones, and Plasticity

1998 ◽  
Vol 79 (5) ◽  
pp. 2603-2614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Carlson ◽  
James F. Willott
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Reticular Formation ◽  
Auditory System ◽  
Neural Plasticity ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Acoustic Startle ◽  
Acoustic Startle Response ◽  
Pontine Reticular Formation ◽  
High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽  
Old Mice

Carlson, Stephanie and James F. Willott. Caudal pontine reticular formation of C57BL/6J mice: responses to startle stimuli, inhibition by tones, and plasticity. J. Neurophysiol. 79: 2603–2614, 1998. C57BL/6J (C57) mice were used to examine relationships between the behavioral acoustic startle response (ASR) and the responses of neurons in the caudal pontine reticular formation (PnC) in three contexts: 1) responses evoked by basic startle stimuli; 2) the prepulse inhibition (PPI) paradigm; and 3) the effects of high-frequency hearing loss and concomitant neural plasticity that occurs in middle-aged C57 mice. 1) Responses (evoked action potentials) of PnC neurons closely paralleled the ASR with respect to latency, threshold, and responses to rapidly presented stimuli. 2) “Neural PPI” (inhibition of responses evoked by a startle stimulus when preceded by a tone prepulse) was observed in all PnC neurons studied. 3) In PnC neurons of 6-mo-old mice with high-frequency (>20 kHz) hearing loss, neural PPI was enhanced with 12- and 4-kHz prepulses, as it is behaviorally. These are frequencies that have become “overrepresented” in the central auditory system of 6-mo-old C57 mice. Thus neural plasticity in the auditory system, induced by high-frequency hearing loss, is correlated with increased salience of the inhibiting tones in both behavioral and neural PPI paradigms.

scholarly journals High Frequency Hearing Loss and Hyperactivity in DUX4 Transgenic Mice

PLoS ONE ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e0151467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhijit Dandapat ◽  
Benjamin J. Perrin ◽  
Christine Cabelka ◽  
Maria Razzoli ◽  
James M. Ervasti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
High Frequency Hearing Loss
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