scholarly journals Adapting Audiology Procedures During the Pandemic: Validity and Efficacy of Testing Outside a Sound Booth

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Yula C. Serpanos ◽  
Melissa Hobbs ◽  
Karina Nunez ◽  
Lucia Gambino ◽  
Jasmin Butler

Purpose: This investigation aims to provide outcomes from a clinical perspective on the validity and efficacy of a wireless automated audiometer system that could be used in multiple settings when a sound booth is not accessible. Testing was conducted in a clinical setting under modified protocols meeting safety precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Four doctoral students in audiology served as examiners. Participants were 69 adults between the ages of 20 and 69 years, with normal hearing (≤ 25 dB HL; n = 110 ears) or hearing loss (> 25 dB HL; n = 25 ears). Two versions of a pure-tone air-conduction threshold test following a modified Hughson-Westlake approach were performed and compared at 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz (a) in a sound-treated test booth using standard manual audiometry and (b) in a quiet, nonsound-treated clinical room (sound booth free) using automated KUDUwave audiometry. Participants were asked to complete a five-item feedback questionnaire, and examiners were interviewed to report on their experience. Results: Clinical validity to within ±10 dB of standard audiometry was demonstrated for 94.5% of the total thresholds ( n = 937) measured with the sound booth–free approach. Less accuracy (73.3%) was observed using a ±5 dB comparison. When comparing the mean thresholds, there were significant differences ( p < .01) between the mean thresholds at most frequencies, with mean sound booth thresholds being higher than the sound booth–free mean thresholds. A strong threshold correlation (.91–.98) was found between the methods across frequencies. Participant and examiner feedback supported the efficacy of the sound booth–free technology. Conclusions: Findings support sound booth–free, automated software-controlled audiometry with active noise monitoring as a valid and efficient procedure for pure-tone hearing threshold assessment. This method offers an effective alternative when circumstances require more transportable hearing assessment technology or do not allow for standard manual audiometry in a sound booth.

1972 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 280-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Betty Caraway Ritchie ◽  
Richard A. Merklein

The efficiency of the Verbal Auditory Screening for Children (VASC) compared to a pure-tone threshold test as a technique to identify hearing impairment among preschool children was investigated with 162 subjects. The VASC-1 test correctly identified 84.6% of the total subjects. Of the 41 subjects failed by the pure-tone threshold test, 48.8% were missed by the VASC-1. An analysis of the average hearing threshold loss for 500–2000 Hz or the ears misclassified by the VASC-1 revealed 83.3% ranged from 0 to 13 dB. The VASC-1 and the verbal portion of the VASC-2 appear to be fairly equivalent forms.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-114
Author(s):  
Abdullahi Musa Kirfi ◽  
◽  
Mohammed Bello Fufore ◽  
Garba Mohammed Mainasara ◽  
Abdulrazak Ajiya ◽  
...  

Background: Prisoners, due to confinement are isolated from contact with the society and access to many of the facilities, including medical care. This study aimed to evaluate the hearing threshold of inmates of Kaduna convict prison. Method: It was a cross-sectional study of prison inmates at the Kaduna convict prison between April 2017 and February 2019. Ethical approvals were obtained from relevant bodies and all consented inmates aged 18 – 55years in the Kaduna convict prison were enrolled. Equal number of control matched for age and gender were enrolled from the communities in Kaduna North Local Government Area. Data were collated using a structured questionnaire. A diagnostic Pure Tone Audiometry was performed to assess their hearing threshold. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 was used for analysis. Results: Four hundred and thirty inmates and equal number of control group were enrolled. The mean age for the inmates and controls were 30.2±7.5 and 30.4±8.02 years respectively. There were 383 males and 47 females in both groups. Among the 860 ears of the inmates, 238(27.7%) ears had hearing loss while in the control group, 95/ (11.1%) ears had impaired hearing. Conductive hearing loss was the commonest among the inmates 111(46.6%) while sensorineural was commoner among the controls 57(60.0%). The mean pure tone average among the inmates was 25.6±11.3dBHL and 26.1±11.2dBHL on the right and left ears respectively while in the control group, it was 18.4±7.8dBHL on the right and 17.9±7.9dBHL on the left. Conclusion: This study revealed that hearing loss was more prevalent among prison inmates than the general population. In majority of the inmates, the hearing loss was mild, conductive and mostly affecting all the frequencies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (12) ◽  
pp. 2581-2585
Author(s):  
Tahir Hussain x Tahir Hussain Khan ◽  
Humaira Tahir ◽  
Imran Ali ◽  
Sohail Abdul Malik

Objectives: To compare assessment of hearing by PTA and status of tympanic membrane by oto-endoscope, pre-operative and post-operative tympanoplasty. Study Design: Retrospective/ Comparative study. Setting: Two different hospitals in Karachi. 1-Social Security Landhi Hospital Karachi. 2- Al-Tibri medical College & Hospital, Old Thana, Malir, Karachi. Period: July 2017 to June 2018. Material & Methods: 76 patients were included for this study with both genders who had dry tympanic membrane perforations. Age ranges between 18 to 40 years. Made two groups A (pre-operative and B (post-operative). In group-A, examined tympanic membrane perforations. 45 patients had small size (25%) perforations, 15 medium size (50%) and 16 subtotal (75%). Hearing assessment done by Pure tone Audiometry (PTA). After 1. 2 and 3 months post-tympanoplasty, examined grafted tympanic membrane and compared pre-operated status of tympanic membrane with post-operated status of tympanic membrane. PTA done after 3 months and compared it with pre-operated PTA. Results: Examination of tympanic membrane before tympanoplasty performed, perforations noted in all patients with different sizes in their tympanic membrane. PTA (pure tone audiometry) advised before tympanoplasty to all patients. Weber test performed on 1st post-operated day, it was lateralized towards operated ear which indicate the safety of inner ear. Post-operated 1, 2 and 3 months examined tympanic membrane with oto-endoscope. Intact grafted tympanic membrane seen in 70 patients after 1 months. After 2 months 72 patients had intact grafted tympanic membrane and after 3 months 73 patients out of 76 patients had intact grafted tympanic membrane. PTA also advised after 3 months of tympanoplasty and compared it with pre-operated pure tone audiometry (PTA). Air conduction (AC) decreased 15.39dB after tympanoplasty. AB-gap reduction 13.95dB seen in 73 patients which showed hearing improvement. P value is < 0.001 significant. Conclusion: Tympanoplasty is a good and safe procedure for hearing improvement by reduction of AB-gap as well as provide protection of middle ear mucosa from infections due to closure of perforations of tympanic membranes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (10) ◽  
pp. 711-719
Author(s):  
Min Kyu Lee ◽  
Tae Min Kim ◽  
Sung Jin Lim ◽  
Dong Heun Park ◽  
Yoon Chan Rah ◽  
...  

Background and Objectives Fat myringoplasty is a simple, fast, and effective procedure for repairing tympanic membrane (TM) perforations. The aim of this study is to evaluate the surgical outcomes of pure-fat myringoplasty for small TM perforations at our hospital and review the current knowledge regarding fat myringoplasty, with consideration of the effectiveness of additional substances used in the treatment of small TM perforations.Subjects and Method We retrospectively studied 41 patients who underwent pure-fat myringoplasty at our hospital from March 2008 through April 2019 and were followed up for at least 2 months thereafter.Results Of 41 patients, 16 were males and 25 were females, with the mean age of 48 (male, 9-75 years; female, 16-65 years). All perforations were classified as small perforations, ranging from 1% to 17% of the TM. The overall success rate was 92.7%, with the TMs of 3 patients (7.3%) failing to close. Air-bone gap (ABG) decreased in 19 out of 24 patients who underwent both preoperative and postoperative pure tone audiometric examinations. The mean ABG was 4.42 dB (n=24; paired-t test, p=0.001; 95% confidence interval, 1.77-7.07). The literature review revealed that TM closure success rate of over 80% was associated with pure-fat myringoplasty, while the TM closure success rate for fat myringoplasty with additional substances was 85% to 100%.Conclusion Our study revealed a high TM closure success rate and good hearing outcomes are associated with pure-fat myringoplasty. Pure-fat myringoplasty seems to be sufficient for repairing small TM perforations.


1998 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juha-Pekka Vasama ◽  
Jyrki P. Mäkelä ◽  
Hans A. Ramsay

We recorded auditory-evoked magnetic responses with a whole-scalp 122-channel neuromagnetometer from seven adult patients with unilateral conductive hearing loss before and after middle ear surgery. The stimuli were 50-msec 1-kHz tone bursts, delivered to the healthy, nonoperated ear at interstimulus intervals of 1, 2, and 4 seconds. The mean preoperative pure-tone average in the affected ear was 57 dB hearing level; the mean postoperative pure-tone average was 17 dB. The 100-msec auditory-evoked response originating in the auditory cortex peaked, on average, 7 msecs earlier after than before surgery over the hemisphere contralateral to the stimulated ear and 2 msecs earlier over the ipsilateral hemisphere. The contralateral response strengths increased by 5% after surgery; ipsilateral strengths increased by 11%. The variation of the response latency and amplitude in the patients who underwent surgery was similar to that of seven control subjects. The postoperative source locations did not differ noticeably from preoperative ones. These findings suggest that temporary unilateral conductive hearing loss in adult patients modifies the function of the auditory neural pathway. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1998;119:125-30.)


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 197-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleonor Koro ◽  
Mimmi Werner

Background: A bone conducting implant is a treatment option for individuals with conductive or mixed hearing loss (CHL, MHL) who do not tolerate regular hearing aids, and for individuals with single-sided deafness (SSD). An active bone conducting implant (ABCI) was introduced in 2012 with indication in CHL, MHL, and SSD, and it is still the only ABCI available. With complete implantation of the active transducer and consequent intact skin, a decrease in infections, skin overgrowth, and implant losses, all common disadvantages with earlier passive bone conducting implants, could be expected. Our Ear, Nose and Throat Department, a secondary care center for otosurgery that covers a population of approximately 365,000 inhabitants, was approved to implant ABCIs in 2012. Objectives: Our aim was to conduct an evaluation of audiological and subjective outcomes after ABCIs. Method: A cohort study with retrospective and prospective data collection was performed.The first 20 consecutive patients operated with an ABCI were asked for informed consent. The main outcome measures werepure tone and speech audiometry and the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI). Results: Seventeen patients accepted to participate and 15 were able to complete all parts. Six patients had CHL or MHL. In this group the pure tone audiometry tests are comparable with an average functional hearing gain of 29.8 dB HL. With bilateral hearing, the mean Word Recognition Score (WRS) in noise was 35.7% unaided and 62.7% aided. Ten patients had the indication SSD. With the hearing ear blocked, the pure tone average was >101 dB HL, compared to 29.3 dB HL in sound field aided. With bilateral hearing, the mean WRS in noise was 59.7% unaided and 72.8% aided. The mean of the total GBI score was 42.1 in the group with CHL or MHL and 20.6 in the group with SSD. Conclusions: The patients benefit from their implants in terms of quality of life, and there is a substantial hearing gain from the implant for patients with conductive or MHL. Patients with SSD benefit less from the implant than other diagnoses but the positive outcomes are comparable to other options for this group.


2002 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yildirim A. Bayazit ◽  
Mustafa Namiduru ◽  
Nurhayat Bayazit ◽  
Enver Özer ◽  
Muzaffer Kanlikama

BACKGROUND: Although brucellosis can lead to multisystem complications, involvement of the ear in brucellosis is rarely reported in the literature. The purpose of this study was to assess the hearing status of patients with brucellosis. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-two patients with brucellosis were included in the study. Pure tone and speech audiometry and tympanometry were performed in the patients. RESULTS: The mean pure tone averages of the patients were within normal limits and were similar in both ears ( P > 0.05). The pure tone averages of the patients with or without anti- Brucella treatment were not significantly different ( P > 0.05) and were within the normal limits. When the hearing levels of these patients were compared at the frequencies of 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz, there was no significant difference as well ( P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral brucellosis does not appear to be associated with hearing loss.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A Kosty ◽  
Shawn M Stevens ◽  
Yair M Gozal ◽  
Vincent A DiNapoli ◽  
Smruti K Patel ◽  
...  

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe middle cranial fossa (MCF) approach is a challenging surgical technique for the resection of small and intermediate sized, primarily intracanalicular, vestibular schwannomas (VS), with the goal of hearing preservation (HP).OBJECTIVETo describe a decade-long, single institutional experience with the MCF approach for resection of VS.METHODSThis is a retrospective cohort study of 63 patients who underwent the MCF approach for resection of VS from 2006 to 2016. Audiometric data included pure-tone average (PTA), low-tone pure-tone average (LtPTA), word recognition score, and American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) hearing classification at presentation and follow-up. Patients with postoperative serviceable (AAO-HNS class A-B) and/or useful (AAO-HNS class A-C) hearing were compared to those without HP. Facial nerve function was assessed using the House–Brackmann scale.RESULTSThe mean age and duration of follow-up were 50 ± 13 yr and 21 ± 21 mo, respectively. The mean tumor size was 10 ± 4 mm. The serviceable and usable HP rates were 54% and 50%, respectively. Some residual hearing was preserved in 71% of patients. Large tumor size (P = .05), volume (P = .03), and extrameatal tumor extension (P = .03) were associated with poor audiometric outcomes. The presence of a fundal fluid cap (P = .01) was a favorable finding. At definitive testing, LtPTA was significantly better preserved than traditional PTA (P = .01). Facial nerve outcomes, tumor control rates, and durability of audiometric outcomes were excellent. 47% of patients pursued aural rehabilitation.CONCLUSIONIn our series, the MCF approach for VS provided excellent rates of tumor and facial nerve function, with durable serviceable HP.


Perception ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 26 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 194-194
Author(s):  
J Jankauskiene ◽  
R Lukauskiene ◽  
B Mickiene

Thyroid optic neuropathy is one of the most troubling complications of endocrine ophthalmopathies. It is related to the degree of extraocular muscle swelling in the apex of the orbit. The purpose of this study was to investigate contrast sensitivity and visual-field thresholds in patients with thyroid optic neuropathy. We examined twenty-two patients aged 29 – 63 years (mean 45.3 years). The control group consisted of fifteen healthy persons of similar age. Contrast sensitivity was measured by means of Volkov's charts (sinusoidal gratings) at eight spatial frequencies from 17.5 to 0.46 cycles deg−1. The visual field was investigated with a static automatic perimeter (Allgan Humphrey Field Analyzer) by means of the central 30-2 threshold test. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination including best corrected Snellen visual acuity, fundus copy, and proptosis measurement with the Hertel exophthalmometer. The mean proptosis of patients was 19.4 mm. Fifteen of the patients had decreased visual acuity. Contrast sensitivity at low spatial frequencies was significantly reduced in the patients. It was established that a reduction of visual-field threshold accompanies the decrease of visual acuity. Our results show that contrast sensitivity and visual-field threshold testing are very sensitive at detecting early optic neuropathy and may be a useful means of following patients after treatment.


2019 ◽  
pp. 014556131987124
Author(s):  
Devanshu Kwatra ◽  
Sunil Kumar ◽  
Gautam Bir Singh ◽  
Ratna Biswas ◽  
Prabhakar Upadhyay

Purpose: This study explores the changes in hearing thresholds in pregnancy. Materials and Methods: A prospective hospital-based observational study was performed with a total of 69 patients in the age-group of 18 to 40 years. Patients underwent hearing assessment twice during the study period. Conventional pure tone audiometry and impedance audiometry were performed, first during the antepartum period (28-32 weeks of gestational age) and second time during the postpartum period (6 weeks postpartum). Results: Significant difference was seen between the average of air conduction threshold values at speech frequencies when antepartum values were compared with postpartum values. Conclusion: The alterations in hearing sensitivity in pregnant females which improved during the postpartum period can be attributed to pregnancy.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document