Benefits of Syllabic Input Compression for Users of Cochlear Implants

2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (01) ◽  
pp. 014-024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugh J. McDermott ◽  
Katherine R. Henshall ◽  
Colette M. McKay
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Input Signal ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Average Level ◽  
Signal Compression ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Sentence Recognition ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Low Levels

Ten users of multielectrode cochlear implants participated in an evaluation of the perceptual effects of input-signal compression. A syllabic compressor was introduced into the microphone circuit of Spectra-22 or SPrint sound processors. The post-compression gain was adjusted to provide similar loudness for speech at an average level of 65 dBA with compression either enabled or disabled. Sentence recognition was measured at three levels. Averaged across all listeners, statistically significant score increases were obtained at each level with compression enabled (45 dBA: 19.6 percentage points, p < .0001; 55 dBA: 16.6 percentage points, p < .0001; 70 dBA: 3.1 percentage points, p = .031). A test of speech intelligibility in noise showed no significant effect of compression. Generally, participants in the trial reported improved perception of low-level sounds with compression, although a few disliked the increased loudness of some background noises. Some participants suggested that the ability to enable or disable compression with a manual switch would be helpful. Overall, the results show that input compression can improve the performance of these sound processors for users of cochlear implants, especially when listening to speech at low levels.

ATTENTUATION OF THE OUTPUT SIGNAL BY PROTECTIVE AND FIXING TOOLS FOR HEARING AIDS AND COCHLEAR IMPLANTS

Akustika ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 163-167
Author(s):  
Sergei Levin ◽  
Gaziz Tufatulin ◽  
Inna Koroleva ◽  
Viktoriia Vasilyeva ◽  
Elena Levina
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Input Signal ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Acoustic Measurements ◽  
Signal Attenuation ◽  
High Frequencies ◽  
Significant Attenuation ◽  
Speech Spectrum ◽  
Sound Processor

The aim was to study amount of attenuation of input signal at the hearing aid (HA) or cochlear implant sound processor (SP) microphone by different protective tools or clothes. Materials and methods. The acoustic measurements were conducted in the soundproof cabin using artificial head with HA/SP and different protective tools, which can influence on microphone function. Probe microphone was integrated in the microphone input of SP and connected with HA verification system. Results. The biggest amount of signal attenuation was observed using water-resistant cases for SP. Changes affect the speech spectrum, therefore using such protective tools can lead to decrease of speech intelligibility. Maximum attenuation was 9.36±0.33 dB at 4000 Hz. Non-hermetic membrane protective cases gave maximum attenuation 7.67±0.18 dB (5000 Hz). Clothes which cover head lead to significant change of signal at microphone up to 9.24±0.16 dB mostly at high-frequencies, which less influences on speech intelligibility. The results confirm that clothes and protective tools for HA of SP show significant attenuation of sounds.

Effects of Fundamental Frequency Contours on Sentence Recognition in Mandarin-Speaking Children With Cochlear Implants

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (11) ◽  
pp. 3855-3864
Author(s):  
Wanting Huang ◽  
Lena L. N. Wong ◽  
Fei Chen ◽  
Haihong Liu ◽  
Wei Liang
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Lexical Tone ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Sentence Recognition ◽  
Test Conditions ◽  
Age Appropriate ◽  
F0 Contour ◽  
Appropriate Sentences

Purpose Fundamental frequency (F0) is the primary acoustic cue for lexical tone perception in tonal languages but is processed in a limited way in cochlear implant (CI) systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of F0 contours in sentence recognition in Mandarin-speaking children with CIs and find out whether it is similar to/different from that in age-matched normal-hearing (NH) peers. Method Age-appropriate sentences, with F0 contours manipulated to be either natural or flattened, were randomly presented to preschool children with CIs and their age-matched peers with NH under three test conditions: in quiet, in white noise, and with competing sentences at 0 dB signal-to-noise ratio. Results The neutralization of F0 contours resulted in a significant reduction in sentence recognition. While this was seen only in noise conditions among NH children, it was observed throughout all test conditions among children with CIs. Moreover, the F0 contour-induced accuracy reduction ratios (i.e., the reduction in sentence recognition resulting from the neutralization of F0 contours compared to the normal F0 condition) were significantly greater in children with CIs than in NH children in all test conditions. Conclusions F0 contours play a major role in sentence recognition in both quiet and noise among pediatric implantees, and the contribution of the F0 contour is even more salient than that in age-matched NH children. These results also suggest that there may be differences between children with CIs and NH children in how F0 contours are processed.

Psychovegetative status of underground miners

2020 ◽  
pp. 589-589
Author(s):  
N. K. Voznesensky ◽  
S. V. Paramonova ◽  
A. L. Sedinin
Keyword(s):  
Specific Structure ◽  
Average Level ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Situational Anxiety ◽  
Personal Anxiety

The structure of psychovegetative status of underground miners is studied. The low level of attention in 64% of employees was revealed. 44% of the subjects had an average level of neuropsychic tension. Average level of personal anxiety (69%) and low level of situational anxiety (87%). The specific structure of psychovegetative status of underground miners is revealed.

scholarly journals Integrated Bimodal Fitting for Unilateral CI Users with Residual Contralateral Hearing

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-206
Author(s):  
Gennaro Auletta ◽  
Annamaria Franzè ◽  
Carla Laria ◽  
Carmine Piccolo ◽  
Carmine Papa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Performance Difference ◽  
Test Conditions ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Noisy Conditions ◽  
New Formula ◽  
Better Than

Background: The aim of this study was to compare, in users of bimodal cochlear implants, the performance obtained using their own hearing aids (adjusted with the standard NAL-NL1 fitting formula) with the performance using the Phonak Naìda Link Ultra Power hearing aid adjusted with both NAL-NL1 and a new bimodal system (Adaptive Phonak Digital Bimodal (APDB)) developed by Advanced Bionics and Phonak Corporations. Methods: Eleven bimodal users (Naìda CI Q70 + contralateral hearing aid) were enrolled in our study. The users’ own hearing aids were replaced with the Phonak Naìda Link Ultra Power and fitted following the new formula. Speech intelligibility was assessed in quiet and noisy conditions, and comparisons were made with the results obtained with the users’ previous hearing aids and with the Naída Link hearing aids fitted with the NAL-NL1 generic prescription formula. Results: Using Phonak Naìda Link Ultra Power hearing aids with the Adaptive Phonak Digital Bimodal fitting formula, performance was significantly better than that with the users’ own rehabilitation systems, especially in challenging hearing situations for all analyzed subjects. Conclusions: Speech intelligibility tests in quiet settings did not reveal a significant difference in performance between the new fitting formula and NAL-NL1 fittings (using the Naída Link hearing aids), whereas the performance difference between the two fittings was very significant in noisy test conditions.

Speech intelligibility of Mandarin-speaking deaf children with cochlear implants

2005 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 505-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chii-Yuan Huang ◽  
Hui-Mei Yang ◽  
Yung-Ji Sher ◽  
Yi-Hui Lin ◽  
Jiunn-Liang Wu
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Deaf Children

scholarly journals Temporal fine structure influences voicing confusions for consonant identification in multi-talker babble

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vibha Viswanathan ◽  
Barbara G. Shinn-Cunningham ◽  
Michael G. Heinz
Keyword(s):  
Fine Structure ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Background Noise ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Temporal Fine Structure ◽  
Vast Literature ◽  
Listening Environments ◽  
Intact Condition ◽  
Speech Content

To understand the mechanisms of speech perception in everyday listening environments, it is important to elucidate the relative contributions of different acoustics cues in transmitting phonetic content. Previous studies suggest that the energy envelopes of speech convey most speech content, while the temporal fine structure (TFS) can aid in segregating target speech from background noise. Despite the vast literature on TFS and speech intelligibility, the role of TFS in conveying additional speech content over what envelopes convey in complex acoustic scenes is poorly understood. The present study addresses this question using online psychophysical experiments to measure consonant identification in multi-talker babble for intelligibility-matched intact and 64-channel envelope-vocoded stimuli. Consonant confusion patterns revealed that listeners had a greater tendency in the vocoded (versus intact) condition to be biased towards reporting that they heard an unvoiced consonant, despite envelope and place cues being largely preserved. This result was replicated when babble instances were varied across independent experiments, suggesting that TFS conveys important voicing cues over what envelopes convey in multi-talker babble, a masker that is ubiquitous in everyday environments. This finding has implications for assistive listening devices that do not currently provide TFS cues, such as cochlear implants.

scholarly journals Do overweight/obesity and low levels of leisure-time vigorous physical activity moderate the effect of occupational physical activity on self-rated health of construction workers?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Van den Berge ◽  
S. H. Van Oostrom ◽  
H. F. Van der Molen ◽  
S. J. W. Robroek ◽  
C. T. J. Hulshof ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Material Handling ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Manual Material Handling ◽  
Strenuous Work ◽  
Low Levels

Abstract Purpose To investigate the combined effects of occupational physical activity (OPA) and either overweight/obesity or low levels of leisure-time vigorous physical activity (LTVPA) on self-rated health. Methods A longitudinal study was performed among 29,987 construction workers with complete data on 2 Workers’ Health Surveillance Programs during 2010–2018. Self-reported OPA involved strenuous work postures and manual material handling. Low level of LTVPA was defined as self-reported vigorous activity for less than three times per week lasting at least 20 min per session. Overweight and obesity were based on Body Mass Index (BMI) (25.0 ≤ BMI < 30.0 kg/m2 and BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2, respectively) using measured body height and weight. Self-rated health was measured using a single item question. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the associations between the separate risk factors at baseline and self-rated health at follow-up. The combined effects of demanding OPA and either overweight/obesity or low level of LTVPA on self-rated health were analyzed using the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI). Results Mean follow-up duration was 31.7 (SD = 14.9) months. Construction workers with strenuous work postures (OR 1.35 95% CI 1.25–1.46), manual material handling (OR 1.29 95% CI 1.19–1.40), obesity (OR 1.31 95% CI 1.17–1.47) and low LTVPA (OR 1.13 95% CI 1.01–1.25) were more likely to report poor self-rated health at follow-up. No statistically significant interaction effects were found for OPA and obesity or low LTVPA. Conclusions OPA, obesity and low level of LTVPA were separate risk factors for poor self-rated health, but did not appear to have a synergistic effect.

scholarly journals Cytotoxic Effect of Progesterone, Tamoxifen and Their Combination in Experimental Cell Models of Human Adrenocortical Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Rossini ◽  
Mariangela Tamburello ◽  
Andrea Abate ◽  
Silvia Beretta ◽  
Martina Fragni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Localization ◽  
Cytotoxic Effect ◽  
Clinical Approach ◽  
Cell Models ◽  
Adrenocortical Cancer ◽  
Experimental Cell ◽  
Low Level ◽  
H295r Cells ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Protein Reduction

Progesterone (Pg) and estrogen (E) receptors (PgRs and ERs) are expressed in normal and neoplastic adrenal cortex, but their role is not fully understood. In literature, Pg demonstrated cytotoxic activity on AdrenoCortical Carcinoma (ACC) cells, while tamoxifen is cytotoxic in NCI-H295R cells. Here, we demonstrated that in ACC cell models, ERs were expressed in NCI-H295R cells with a prevalence of ER-β over the ER-α.Metastasis-derived MUC-1 and ACC115m cells displayed a very weak ER-α/β signal, while PgR cells were expressed, although at low level. Accordingly, these latter were resistant to the SERM tamoxifen and scarcely sensitive to Pg, as we observed a lower potency compared to NCI-H295R cells in cytotoxicity (IC50: MUC-1 cells: 67.58 µM (95%CI: 63.22–73.04), ACC115m cells: 51.76 µM (95%CI: 46.45–57.67) and cell proliferation rate. Exposure of NCI-H295R cells to tamoxifen induced cytotoxicity (IC50: 5.43 µM (95%CI: 5.18–5.69 µM) mainly involving ER-β, as their nuclear localization increased after tamoxifen: Δ A.U. treated vs untreated: 12 h: +27.04% (p &lt; 0.01); 24 h: +36.46% (p &lt; 0.0001). This effect involved the SF-1 protein reduction: Pg: −36.34 ± 9.26%; tamoxifen: −46.25 ± 15.68% (p &lt; 0.01). Finally, in a cohort of 36 ACC samples, immunohistochemistry showed undetectable/low level of ERs, while PgR demonstrated a higher expression. In conclusion, ACC experimental cell models expressed PgR and low levels of ER in line with data obtained in patient tissues, thus limiting the possibility of a clinical approach targeting ER. Interestingly, Pg exerted cytotoxicity also in metastatic ACC cells, although with low potency.

scholarly journals Effect of Interventional Programme on Enhancing Empowerment Status through Decision Making Skills of Tribal Working Women in Utnoor Mandal Adilabad District, India

2021 ◽  
pp. 41-45
Author(s):  
N. Sandhya Rani ◽  
M. Sarada Devi
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Working Women ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Average Level ◽  
Sample Population ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Tribal Women ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact

Empowerment of tribal women is one of the central issues in the process of development all over the world. Empowerment is the process that allows one to gain the knowledge and attitude needed to cope with the changing world and the circumstances in which one lives [1]. Women empowerment is a process in which women gain greater share of control over material, human and intellectual resources as well as control over decision-making in their home, community, society and nation. Given the need to analyze the empowerment status of tribal women, the present study aimed to enhance the empowerment status through enhancing decision-making skills of tribal working women in India. The specific objective is to study the impact of intervention on enhancing status of empowerment through decision-making skills of tribal working women in Utnoor Mandal Adilabad district. The total sample population for the study was 50 tribal working women, and data was analyzed using a paired t test. Results revealed that at pretest, majority of the women were at average level of decision-making skills (78%), 12% were at low level and only 10% were at high level. After the intervention, post test results revealed that 74% of the women were high in decision making skills and remaining 26% were at average level. Interestingly, none of the respondents had low level of life skills. Thus, intervention found to be effective among women respondents to develop and enhance their empowerment status through decision-making skills.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Distributed Collaborative Adaptive Sensing for Detection of Low-Level Circulations and Implications for Severe Weather Warning Operations

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 173-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Brotzge ◽  
K. Hondl ◽  
B. Philips ◽  
L. Lemon ◽  
E. J. Bass ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Weather ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Test Bed ◽  
Scanning Strategy ◽  
Engineering Research ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Adaptive Sensing ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Casa System ◽  
Better Than

Abstract The Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA) is a multiyear engineering research center established by the National Science Foundation for the development of small, inexpensive, low-power radars designed to improve the scanning of the lowest levels (&lt;3 km AGL) of the atmosphere. Instead of sensing autonomously, CASA radars are designed to operate as a network, collectively adapting to the changing needs of end users and the environment; this network approach to scanning is known as distributed collaborative adaptive sensing (DCAS). DCAS optimizes the low-level volume coverage scanning and maximizes the utility of each scanning cycle. A test bed of four prototype CASA radars was deployed in southwestern Oklahoma in 2006 and operated continuously while in DCAS mode from March through June of 2007. This paper analyzes three convective events observed during April–May 2007, during CASA’s intense operation period (IOP), with a special focus on evaluating the benefits and weaknesses of CASA radar system deployment and DCAS scanning strategy of detecting and tracking low-level circulations. Data collected from nearby Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) and CASA radars are compared for mesoscyclones, misocyclones, and low-level vortices. Initial results indicate that the dense, overlapping coverage at low levels provided by the CASA radars and the high temporal (60 s) resolution provided by DCAS give forecasters more detailed feature continuity and tracking. Moreover, the CASA system is able to resolve a whole class of circulations—misocyclones—far better than the WSR-88Ds. In fact, many of these are probably missed completely by the WSR-88D. The impacts of this increased detail on severe weather warnings are under investigation. Ongoing efforts include enhancing the DCAS data quality and scanning strategy, improving the DCAS data visualization, and developing a robust infrastructure to better support forecast and warning operations.

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