Magnitude Estimation of Loudness III

Aided and unaided loudness functions for narrow-band noise stimuli were obtained from hearing-impaired listeners with a magnitude estimation procedure. A comparison of aided loudness functions with those obtained from normal-hearing subjects suggests that the hearing aids did not restore normal loudness relations among the spectral components of speech stimuli. Instead, aided loudness functions tend to reflect an interaction between the abnormal loudness growth that frequently characterizes sensorineural hearing loss and the saturation characteristics of the hearing aid.

Download Full-text

Magnitude Estimation of Loudness II

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/jshr.2701.28 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 28-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Kimberly Keller Knight ◽

Robert H. Margolis

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽

Hearing Impairment ◽

Magnitude Estimation ◽

Rapid Growth ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Normal Subjects ◽

Indirect Measures ◽

Clinical Methods ◽

Loudness Growth

Because clinical methods most commonly used for assessing loudness are indirect measures that require one normal or near normal ear, loudness perception has not been studied thoroughly in listeners with symmetrical hearing loss. In this investigation, loudness perception was studied in three groups of listeners: normal listeners, listeners with asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss, and individuals with bilaterally symmetrical hearing impairment due to presbycusis. In Experiment 1, a Magnitude Estimation of Loudness (ME) technique was compared to Alternate Binaural Loudness Balance (ABLB) results for subjects with asymmetrical hearing impairment. Results indicate that ME and ABLB measurements produce similar evidence of abnormally rapid growth of loudness in asymmetrically impaired listeners. In Experiment 2, loudness growth in individuals with normal hearing or with presbycusic hearing impairment was determined from ME measurements. Although presbycusic subjects tended to have steeper loudness functions than normal subjects, the differences did not reach statistical significance except at 6000 Hz, suggesting that, as a group, presbycusic listeners display little, if any, recruitment of loudness.

Download Full-text

Susceptibility to Residual Inhibition Is Associated With Hearing Loss and Tinnitus Chronicity

Trends in Hearing ◽

10.1177/2331216520986303 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. 233121652098630

Author(s):

S. Hu ◽

L. Anschuetz ◽

D. A. Hall ◽

M. Caversaccio ◽

W. Wimmer

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Narrow Band ◽

Acoustic Stimulation ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Short Term ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Band Noise ◽

Comparator Group ◽

Residual Inhibition ◽

Subject Comparison

Residual inhibition, that is, the temporary suppression of tinnitus loudness after acoustic stimulation, is a frequently observed phenomenon that may have prognostic value for clinical applications. However, it is unclear in which subjects residual inhibition is more likely and how stable the effect of inhibition is over multiple repetitions. The primary aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of hearing loss and tinnitus chronicity on residual inhibition susceptibility. The secondary aim was to investigate the short-term repeatability of residual inhibition. Residual inhibition was assessed in 74 tinnitus subjects with 60-second narrow-band noise stimuli in 10 consecutive trials. The subjects were assigned to groups according to their depth of suppression (substantial residual inhibition vs. comparator group). In addition, a categorization in normal hearing and hearing loss groups, related to the degree of hearing loss at the frequency corresponding to the tinnitus pitch, was made. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with susceptibility to residual inhibition. Repeatability of residual inhibition was assessed using mixed-effects ordinal regression including poststimulus time and repetitions as factors. Tinnitus chronicity was not associated with residual inhibition for subjects with hearing loss, while a statistically significant negative association between tinnitus chronicity and residual inhibition susceptibility was observed in normal hearing subjects (odds ratio: 0.63; p = .0076). Moreover, repeated states of suppression can be stably induced, reinforcing the use of residual inhibition for within-subject comparison studies.

Download Full-text

Measurements of Loudness Growth in 1/2-Octave Bands for Children and Adults With Normal Hearing

American Journal of Audiology ◽

10.1044/1059-0889(1999/008) ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 40-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Melisa R. Ellis ◽

Michael K. Wynne

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Hearing Aids ◽

Hearing Aid ◽

Age Groups ◽

Lower Boundary ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Boundary Values ◽

Simple Modification ◽

Point Data ◽

Loudness Growth

The loudness growth in 1/2-octave bands (LGOB) procedure has been shown previously to provide valid estimates of loudness growth for adults with normal hearing and those with hearing loss (Allen, Hall, & Jeng, 1990), and it has been widely incorporated into fitting strategies for adult hearing aid users by a hearing aid manufacturer. Here, we applied a simple modification of LGOB to children and adults with normal hearing and then compared the loudness growth functions (as obtained from end-point data) between the two age groups. In addition, reliability data obtained within a single session and between test sessions were compared between the two groups. Large differences were observed in the means between the two groups for the lower boundary values, the upper boundary values, and the range between boundaries both within and across all frequencies. The data obtained from children also had greater variance than the adult data. In addition, there was more variability in the data across test sessions for children. Many test-retest differences for children exceeded 10 dB. Adult test-retest differences were generally less than 10 dB. Although the LGOB with the modifications used in this study may be used to measure loudness growth in children, its poor reliability with this age group may limit its clinical use for children with hearing loss. Additional work is needed to explore whether loudness growth measures can be adapted successfully to children and whether these measures contribute worthwhile information for fitting hearing aids to children.

Download Full-text

Otologics Fully Implantable Hearing Device Phase II Results

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1016/j.otohns.2008.05.185 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 139 (2_suppl) ◽

pp. P57-P57

Author(s):

Drew M Horlbeck ◽

Herman A Jenkins ◽

Ben J Balough ◽

Michael E Hoffer

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽

Phase Ii ◽

Hearing Aids ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Pure Tone ◽

Sound Field ◽

Sensorineural Hearing ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Hearing Device

Objective The efficacy of the Otologics Fully Implantable Hearing Device (MET) was assessed in adult patients with bilateral moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss. Methods Surgical insertion of this totally implanted system was identical to the Phase I study. A repeated-measures within-subjects design assessed aided sound field thresholds and speech performances with the subject's own, appropriately fit, walk-in hearing aid(s) and the Otologics Fully Implantable Hearing Device. Results Six- and 12-month Phase II data will be presented. Ten patients were implanted and activated as part Phase II clinical trial. Three patients were lost to long term follow-up due to two coil failures and one ossicular abnormality preventing proper device placement. No significant differences between preoperative (AC = 59 dB, BC = 55 dB) and postoperative (AC = 61 dB, BC = 54 dB) unaided pure tone averages were noted (p < 0.05). Pure tone average implant aided thresholds (41 dB) were equivalent to that of walk-in-aided (37 dB) condition with no significant difference (p < 0.05) between patients’ walk-in-aided individual frequency thresholds and implant-aided thresholds. Word recognition scores and hearing in noise scores were similar between the walk-in-aided and for the implant-aided condition. Patient benefit scales will be presented at all end points. Conclusions Results of the Otologics MET Fully Implantable Hearing Device Phase II trial provide evidence that this fully implantable device is a viable alternative to currently available hearing aids in patients with sensorineural hearing loss.

Download Full-text

Investigating the Impact of Hearing Aid Use and Auditory Training on Cognition, Depressive Symptoms, and Social Interaction in Adults With Hearing Loss: Protocol for a Crossover Trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.8936 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Joanna Nkyekyer ◽

Denny Meyer ◽

Peter J Blamey ◽

Andrew Pipingas ◽

Sunil Bhar

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Social Interaction ◽

Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽

Hearing Aids ◽

Hearing Aid ◽

Sensorineural Hearing ◽

Auditory Training ◽

Face To Face ◽

Hearing Aid Use

BACKGROUND Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common sensory deficit among older adults. Some of the psychosocial consequences of this condition include difficulty in understanding speech, depression, and social isolation. Studies have shown that older adults with hearing loss show some age-related cognitive decline. Hearing aids have been proven as successful interventions to alleviate sensorineural hearing loss. In addition to hearing aid use, the positive effects of auditory training—formal listening activities designed to optimize speech perception—are now being documented among adults with hearing loss who use hearing aids, especially new hearing aid users. Auditory training has also been shown to produce prolonged cognitive performance improvements. However, there is still little evidence to support the benefits of simultaneous hearing aid use and individualized face-to-face auditory training on cognitive performance in adults with hearing loss. OBJECTIVE This study will investigate whether using hearing aids for the first time will improve the impact of individualized face-to-face auditory training on cognition, depression, and social interaction for adults with sensorineural hearing loss. The rationale for this study is based on the hypothesis that, in adults with sensorineural hearing loss, using hearing aids for the first time in combination with individualized face-to-face auditory training will be more effective for improving cognition, depressive symptoms, and social interaction rather than auditory training on its own. METHODS This is a crossover trial targeting 40 men and women between 50 and 90 years of age with either mild or moderate symmetric sensorineural hearing loss. Consented, willing participants will be recruited from either an independent living accommodation or via a community database to undergo a 6-month intensive face-to-face auditory training program (active control). Participants will be assigned in random order to receive hearing aid (intervention) for either the first 3 or last 3 months of the 6-month auditory training program. Each participant will be tested at baseline, 3, and 6 months using a neuropsychological battery of computer-based cognitive assessments, together with a depression symptom instrument and a social interaction measure. The primary outcome will be cognitive performance with regard to spatial working memory. Secondary outcome measures include other cognition performance measures, depressive symptoms, social interaction, and hearing satisfaction. RESULTS Data analysis is currently under way and the first results are expected to be submitted for publication in June 2018. CONCLUSIONS Results from the study will inform strategies for aural rehabilitation, hearing aid delivery, and future hearing loss intervention trials. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03112850; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03112850 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6xz12fD0B).

Download Full-text

The use of speech sentence audiometry in a free sound field

Science and Innovations in Medicine ◽

10.35693/2500-1388-2020-5-1-36-39 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 36-39

Author(s):

Mariya Yu. Boboshko ◽

Irina P. Berdnikova ◽

Natalya V. Maltzeva

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽

Hearing Aids ◽

Speech Intelligibility ◽

Normative Data ◽

Hearing Aid ◽

Sound Field ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Hearing Aid Benefit

Objectives -to determine the normative data of sentence speech intelligibility in a free sound field and to estimate the applicability of the Russian Matrix Sentence test (RuMatrix) for assessment of the hearing aid fitting benefit. Material and methods. 10 people with normal hearing and 28 users of hearing aids with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss were involved in the study. RuMatrix test both in quiet and in noise was performed in a free sound field. All patients filled in the COSI questionnaire. Results. The hearing impaired patients were divided into two subgroups: the 1st with high and the 2nd with low hearing aid benefit, according to the COSI questionnaire. In the 1st subgroup, the threshold for the sentence intelligibility in quiet was 34.9 ± 6.4 dB SPL, and in noise -3.3 ± 1.4 dB SNR, in the 2nd subgroup 41.7 ± 11.5 dB SPL and 0.15 ± 3.45 dB SNR, respectively. The significant difference between the data of both subgroups and the norm was registered (p

Download Full-text

Exposure of weak magnetic fields on auditory nerve of patients with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss

Russian otorhinolaryngology ◽

10.18692/1810-4800-2021-5-63-67 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (5) ◽

pp. 63-67

Author(s):

S. V. Surma ◽

◽

D. S. Klyachko ◽

B. F. Shchegolev ◽

E. A. Ogorodnikova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Magnetic Fields ◽

Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽

Hearing Aids ◽

Auditory Nerve ◽

Health Hazard ◽

Sensorineural Deafness ◽

Pure Tone Audiometry ◽

Sensorineural Hearing ◽

Alternative Methods

The article shows that one of the alternative methods of treating moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss can be the use of an external weak magnetic field. The proposed method is based on the coincidence of the effects caused by the exposure of an external electromagnetic field of certain parameters on the auditory nerve, and natural acoustic exposure. The similarity of reaction allows using of external magnetic fields as an artificial stimulator of the auditory system’s neural part. Induction of applied magnetic fields does not exceed 300 µT, which means that under the current legislation such fields are classified as posing no health hazard. This method was tested at Saint Petersburg Research Institute of Ear, Throat, Nose, and Speech based on relevant Ethics Committee approval and complied with informed consent standards of volunteers. 15 patients aged 18 to 45 with III and IV levels of sensorineural deafness without concomitant pathologies were tested. Threshold pure-tone audiometry was performed on each patient at 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz before and after the procedure. The results of the experiments showed that electromagnetic stimulation of auditory neurons allows increasing hearing sensitivity. The proposed procedure may not yield a tangible result in patients with auditory deprivation. Patients with hearing aids showed the most significant results. At the same time, the measurements have shown that the sound thresholds among them became 10 dB lower on the average. The non-invasiveness of the exposure provided additional comfort for the patient.

Download Full-text

Prevalence and classification of asymmetric forms of sensorineural hearing loss in older age group

Russian otorhinolaryngology ◽

10.18692/1810-4800-2021-5-8-12 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (5) ◽

pp. 8-12

Author(s):

T. Yu. Vladimirova ◽

◽

A. B. Martynova ◽

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽

Hearing Aids ◽

Hearing Threshold ◽

Older Age ◽

Sensorineural Hearing ◽

Age Group ◽

The Difference ◽

The Right

The significance of asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL) is due to a special approach to diagnosis, followed by the process of hearing aids and auditory rehabilitation. Currently, there is no standard audiometric criterion for determining the forms of asymmetry, which significantly affects the assessment of the prevalence of ASNHL. The study aimed to assess the prevalence and classification of ASNHL forms in the older age group using two methods of calculation: 1) the difference in the average hearing threshold at speech frequencies (in the range of 0,5–4 kHz) ≥15 dB was detected in 14,14% of cases; 2) the different degree of hearing loss, according to the International classification, in the right and left ear was 35,98%. In most cases, asymmetry was manifested by bilateral sensorineural hearing loss of varying severity, prevailing in the group of long-livers – 82,6%. Given the potentially high prevalence of asymmetry depending on the audiological criterion, the results of the work are a reason for further research in the development of a unified method for verifying a clinically significant form of ASNHL.

Download Full-text