Investigating the Role of Auditory Processing Abilities in Long-Term Self-Reported Hearing Aid Outcomes among Adults Age 60+ Years

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (07) ◽  
pp. 405-419
Author(s):  
Alyssa Davidson ◽  
Frank Musiek ◽  
Julia M. Fisher ◽  
Nicole Marrone

Abstract Background Self-reported hearing aid outcomes among older adults are variable and important to improve. The extent of the role of auditory processing in long-term hearing aid outcomes is not well understood. Purpose To determine how auditory processing abilities are related to self-reported hearing aid satisfaction and benefit along with either aided audibility alone or exploratory factors suggested by previous literature. Research Design Descriptive analyses and multiple regression analyses of cross-sectional self-reported outcomes. Study Sample Adult participants, >60 years (n = 78), fitted with bilateral hearing aids to treat symmetric, mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss. Data Collection and Analysis Participants were recruited from a single audiology clinic to complete a series of questionnaires, behavioral assessments, and obtain data from their hearing aids, including real ear measures and data logging of hearing aid use. Multiple linear regressions were used to determine the amount of variance explained by predictive factors in self-reported hearing aid satisfaction and benefit. The primary predictive factors included gap detection threshold, spatial advantage score, dichotic difference score, and aided audibility. Exploratory factors included personality, self-efficacy, self-report of disability, and hearing aid use. All interpretations of statistical significance used p < 0.05. Effect sizes were determined using Cohen's f 2 with a medium effect suggesting clinical relevance. Results Gap detection threshold was a statistically significant predictor in both primary regression models with a medium effect size for satisfaction and a small effect size for benefit. When additional exploratory factors were included in the regression models with auditory processing abilities, gap detection and self-efficacy were both significant predictors of hearing aid satisfaction with medium effect sizes, explaining 10 and 17% of the variance, respectively. There were no medium effect sizes found for other predictor variables in either the primary or exploratory hearing aid benefit models. Additional factors were statistically significant in the models, explaining a small amount of variance, but did not meet the medium effect size criterion. Conclusion This study provides initial evidence supporting the incorporation of measures of gap detection ability and hearing aid self-efficacy into clinical practice for the interpretation of postfitting long-term hearing aid satisfaction.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaochun Han ◽  
Yoni K. Ashar ◽  
Philip Kragel ◽  
Bogdan Petre ◽  
Victoria Schelkun ◽  
...  

Identifying biomarkers that predict mental states with large effect sizes and high test-retest reliability is a growing priority for fMRI research. We examined a well-established multivariate brain measure that tracks pain induced by nociceptive input, the Neurologic Pain Signature (NPS). In N = 295 participants across eight studies, NPS responses showed a very large effect size in predicting within-person single-trial pain reports (d = 1.45) and medium effect size in predicting individual differences in pain reports (d = 0.49, average r = 0.20). The NPS showed excellent short-term (within-day) test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.84, with average 69.5 trials/person). Reliability scaled with the number of trials within-person, with ≥60 trials required for excellent test-retest reliability. Reliability was comparable in two additional studies across 5-day (N = 29, ICC = 0.74, 30 trials/person) and 1-month (N = 40, ICC = 0.46, 5 trials/person) test-retest intervals. The combination of strong within-person correlations and only modest between-person correlations between the NPS and pain reports indicates that the two measures have different sources of between-person variance. The NPS is not a surrogate for individual differences in pain reports, but can serve as a reliable measure of pain-related physiology and mechanistic target for interventions.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Haft ◽  
Fumiko Hoeft

Exposure to stigma and stereotype threat has shown detrimental effects on psychological and academic outcomes in numerous marginalized groups. Research has demonstrated that individuals with specific learning disabilities (SLDs) are vulnerable to stigmatization because of their SLDs. The purpose of this quantitative meta-analysis is to provide an estimation of the overall relationship between SLD-related stigma and psychological and academic outcomes in individuals with SLDs, as well as examine the overall effect size of SLD-related stereotype threat across studies. A total of seven effect sizes examining SLD stigma and psychological adjustment, two effect sizes examining SLD stigma and academic outcomes, and six effect sizes examining SLD stereotype threat across 13 studies were analyzed. Meta-analytic findings revealed that greater SLD stigma scores had a medium-sized and significant correlation with less optimal psychological adjustment (r=-.39, k=7, p&lt;.0001). SLD stigma showed a weak association with academic outcomes (r=-.06, k=2, p=.59). The estimated mean effect size of stereotype threat manipulations in individuals with SLDs was g=0.49 (k=6, p&lt;.030), reflecting a medium effect and overall poorer performance-related outcomes in conditions of high stereotype threat. Given the small number of studies, moderator analyses were unable to be performed and evidence for publication bias is equivocal. These findings highlight the need for more research on SLD-related stigma and stereotype threat, and suggest that these negative experiences be a target of intervention and support efforts for individuals with SLDs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. e100040
Author(s):  
Weiliang Wang ◽  
Yuqiu Zhou ◽  
Nannan Chai ◽  
Dongwei Liu

BackgroundTo date, cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) trials have primarily focused on clinical recovery; however, personal recovery is actually the fundamental aspect of the recovery process. The aim of this study was to summarise and synthesise the existing evidence regarding the effectiveness of CBT for personal recovery in patients with schizophrenia.AimThis study aimed to determine the effectiveness of CBT for personal recovery in patients with schizophrenia.MethodsA systematic search of the literature in PsycINFO, PubMed, Cochrane (CENTRAL), Embase and Web of Science (SCI) was conducted to identify randomised controlled trials reporting the impact of CBT interventions on personal recovery in patients with schizophrenia. The estimated effect sizes of the main study outcomes were calculated to estimate the magnitude of the treatment effects of CBT on personal recovery. We also evaluated the CBT’s effect size at the end-of-treatment and long-term (follow-up) changes in some aspects of personal recovery.ResultsTwenty-five studies were included in the analysis. The effect of CBT on personal recovery was 2.27 (95% CI 0.10 to 4.45; I2=0%; p=0.04) at post-treatment and the long-term effect size was 2.62 (95% CI 0.51 to 4.47; I2=0%; p=0.02). During the post-treatment period, the pooled effect size of CBT was 0.01 (95% CI −0.12 to 0.15; I2=33.0%; p>0.05) for quality of life (QoL), 0.643 (95% CI 0.056 to 1.130; I2=30.8%; p<0.01) for psychological health-related QoL, −1.77 (95% CI −3.29 to −0.25; I2=40%; p=0.02) for hopelessness and 1.85 (95% CI 0.69 to 3.01; I2=41%; p<0.01) for self-esteem. We also summarised the effects of CBT on QoL (subscale scores not included in the evaluation of the pooled effect size), self-confidence and connectedness, and all results corresponded to positive effects. However, there was insufficient evidence regarding the long-term effects of CBT on personal recovery.ConclusionsCBT is an effective therapy with meaningful clinical effect sizes on personal recovery and some aspects of personal recovery of schizophrenia after treatment. However, the effect is relatively immediate and rapidly decreases as time progresses. Therefore, in the future, more studies should focus on the mechanism of CBT for personal recovery and the factors that influence the long-term effects of CBT.Trial registration numberCRD42018085643.


Mindfulness ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myrthe G. B. M. Boekhorst ◽  
Lianne P. Hulsbosch ◽  
Ivan Nyklíček ◽  
Viola Spek ◽  
Anna Kastelein ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Mindful parenting (MP) interventions show promising results, but they mostly target parents (of children) with mental health problems. This study examined an online MP intervention for mothers with toddlers in a population-based sample. Aims were to assess acceptability and effectiveness of the intervention for mothers with and without parental stress, and examine their predetermined personal goals. Methods The study included 157 mothers with toddlers from the general population of whom 73 reported parental stress. The mothers participated in an 8-week online MP training. Questionnaires were completed at waitlist, pretest, posttest, and follow-up. Results Mothers rated the training positively, although only 23.1% completed the training. Personal goals were analyzed qualitatively, establishing four different themes: attention, well-being, patience, and balance. Significant improvements in personal goals posttest and follow-up were found (large and very large effect size, respectively). We found no significant improvements from waitlist to pretest for all outcome variables, except personal goals (medium effect size). Mixed-linear model analyses showed significant improvements posttest and follow-up as compared to pretest regarding Self-compassion, Parental over-reactivity and Symptoms of anxiety and depression (small to medium effect sizes). There was an effect at posttest for Parenting problems, and for Parental role restriction at follow-up (small effect sizes). Levels of parental stress and theme of personal goal did not influence the effectiveness of the intervention. Conclusions The current study provides initial evidence that an online MP training could be an easily accessible, inexpensive, and valuable intervention for parents without an indication for a therapist-assisted intervention. Trial Registration Dutch Trial Register (NTR7401)


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 2473011420S0007
Author(s):  
Christopher W. Reb ◽  
Edward T. Haupt ◽  
Gregory C. Berlet

Category: Trauma; Other Introduction/Purpose: Knee flexion has been demonstrated to impede popliteal venous return with large effect size among patients lying supine for surgery. Passive popliteal flow impedance has also been suggested to occur with knee scooter usage due to knee flexion. This study compared the effect of knee flexion angles on popliteal venous return between upright, crutch and knee scooter positioning when immobilized. Further, the countervailing effect of standardized hallux musculovenous pump activation was observed. Methods: This was an IRB approved study of young, healthy volunteers. Popliteal venous diameter and flow metrics were assessed with venous ultrasonography and compared between straight leg, crutch, and knee scooter positioning while wearing a walking boot and nonweightbearing. Flow was assessed with muscles at rest and with hallux musculovenous pump activation via active oscillation between hallux metatarsophalangeal joint extension and flexion at one motion per second (0.5 Hz) as paced by a metronome. Observer consistency was assessed. Paired-sample Student’s t-test and the Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to assess within-subject differences for diameter and venous flow parameters, respectively. Knee flexion and musculovenous pump activation effects sizes were calculated. A priori sample size indicated 24 subjects were needed to achieve 80% power to detect a significant ( p < 0.006 ) difference in medial flow for any of 8 comparisons, assuming large effect sizes. Results: 16 of 24 (67%) subjects were female. Twelve limbs (50%) were right sided. The mean age was 21.9 years (SD 3.0 years) and the mean body mass index was 21.9 (SD 1.9). Observer consistencies were excellent (0.93 to 0.99). No significant differences in mean vessel diameter, time-averaged mean velocity, and total volume flow occurred. Corresponding knee flexion effect sizes were small (range -0.04 to -0.26). A significant decrease (-24%) in active median time-averaged peak velocity (TAPV) occurred between upright and crutch position (20.89 cm/s vs. 15.92 cm/s, p < 0.001) with a medium effect size (-0.51). Hallux musculovenous pump increased all flow parameters (all p< 0.001) and effect sizes were comparatively larger (>0.6) across all knee flexion positions. Conclusion: Compared to values reported for supine individuals, upright passive popliteal venous return was observed to be markedly diminished at all knee flexion angles. Knee flexion had minimal effect on diameter, a small effect in further diminishing TAMV and TVF and a medium effect on diminishing TAPV. Hallux musculovenous pump activiation had a large effect on increasing flow at all knee flexion angles. Patients may well be counseled to use toe motion to counter the negative effects of gravity, and to a lesser extent knee flexion, when using crutches and knee scooters while their ankle is immobilized.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 2572-2585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Huang ◽  
Grey Giddins ◽  
Li-dong Wu

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), as a promising alternative to traditional corticosteroid (CS), is now increasingly used in the treatment of elbow epicondylitis (EE) and plantar fasciitis (PF). To date, however, the synthesis of information on the clinical efficacy of PRP versus CS is limited with divergent conclusions. Purpose: To compare the clinical efficacy of PRP and CS injections in reducing pain and improving function in EE and PF. Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Online databases were searched from inception to October 2018 for prospective studies evaluating PRP versus CS injections for EE or PF. Independent reviewers undertook searches, screening, and risk-of-bias appraisals. The primary outcomes of interest were pain and function in both the short term (1-3 months) and the long term (≥6 months). Results: Twenty trials with 1268 participants were included. For EE, PRP provides a statistically and clinically meaningful long-term improvement in pain, with a very large effect size of −1.3 (95% CI, −1.9 to −0.7) when compared with CS, but the evidence level was low. For EE, there was moderate evidence that CS provides a statistically meaningful improvement in pain in the short term, with a medium effect size of 0.56 (95% CI, 0.08-1.03) as compared with PRP; this improvement might not be clinically significant. For PF, there was low evidence that PRP provides a statistically and clinically meaningful long-term improvement in function (American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society score), with a very large effect size of 1.94 (95% CI, 0.61-3.28). There were no significant differences between the groups in improvement in function in EE and pain and short-term function in PF, but the quality of the evidence was low. Conclusion: The use of PRP yields statistically and clinically better improvement in long-term pain than does CS in the treatment of EE. The use of PRP yields statistically and clinically better long-term functional improvement than that of CS in the treatment of PF.


2008 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Badran ◽  
A K Arya ◽  
D Bunstone ◽  
N Mackinnon

AbstractObjectives:To report cases of long-term surgical complications, implant failure and revision surgery, within a large bone-anchored hearing aid programme.Study design:Retrospective, case–cohort study.Setting:Tertiary referral centre.Patients:One hundred and sixty-five adults and children who had undergone a total of 177 bone-anchored hearing aid implantations.Intervention:Diagnosis and explanation of adverse events and device failure.Main outcome measures:Operative complications and survival analysis, surgical challenges related to revisions, and causes of failure.Results:Twenty-one per cent of patients (3.4 per cent of those observed) suffered from skin reactions; this rate did not increase over time. Seventeen per cent had loss of osseointegration at a median interval of 6.3 months. Loss of osseointegration was observed more frequently in patients with a 3 mm compared with a 4 mm fixture (p < 0.001). Intra-operatively, the only complication was bleeding, occurring in 3 per cent of patients. Post-operative complications included: primary bleeding (2 per cent); severe skin reactions requiring intravenous antibiotics, cautery or grafting (8 per cent); thickening or overgrowth of skin requiring excision (8 per cent); failure of osseointegration requiring a new fixture (18 per cent); and graft necrosis requiring revision (1 per cent). In two patients, it was necessary to explore the area to remove overgrowth of bone. In 16 patients (10 per cent), the bone-anchored hearing aid had to be abandoned due to failure of osseointegration (n = 4), dissatisfaction with the aid (n = 6), intolerable pain (n = 4), hair growth around the abutment (n = 1) or recurrent infections (n = 1). In 12 of these patients, the bone-anchored hearing aid was removed surgically. Overall, 57 patients (34 per cent) underwent revision surgery.Conclusion:Awareness of complications is becoming increasingly important in bone-anchored hearing aid programme. A substantial workload of device maintenance should be anticipated, and patients should be appropriately counselled beforehand. Ninety per cent of our patients chose to persevere with this form of hearing rehabilitation.


2010 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Grynszpan ◽  
S. Perbal ◽  
A. Pelissolo ◽  
P. Fossati ◽  
R. Jouvent ◽  
...  

BackgroundCognitive remediation is frequently based on computerized training methods that target different cognitive deficits. The aim of this article was to assess the efficacy of computer-assisted cognitive remediation (CACR) in schizophrenia and to determine whether CACR enables selective treatment of specific cognitive domains.MethodA meta-analysis was performed on 16 randomized controlled trials evaluating CACR. The effect sizes of differences between CACR and control groups were computed and classified according to the cognitive domain assessed. The possible influences of four potential moderator variables were examined: participants' age, treatment duration, weekly frequency, and control condition type. To test the domain-specific effect, the intended goal of each study was determined and the effect sizes were sorted accordingly. The effect sizes of the cognitive domains explicitly targeted by the interventions were then compared with those that were not.ResultsCACR enhanced general cognition with a mean effect size of 0.38 [confidence interval (CI) 0.20–0.55]. A significant medium effect size of 0.64 (CI 0.29–0.99) was found for Social Cognition. Improvements were also significant in Verbal Memory, Working Memory, Attention/Vigilance and Speed of Processing with small effect sizes. Cognitive domains that were specifically targeted by the interventions did not yield higher effects than those that were not.ConclusionsThe results lend support to the efficacy of CACR with particular emphasis on Social Cognition. The difficulty in targeting specific domains suggests a ‘non-specific’ effect of CACR. These results are discussed in the light of the possible bias in remediation tasks due to computer interface design paradigms.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young Kwon Han ◽  
Kyoungwon Lee

Purpose: Several studies have reported the differences between Korean and other countries’ speech in long-term average speech spectrum (LTASS) and band importance function. Authors tried to identify the conversational speech level, the resulting spectrum, and the LTASS for Korean. The purpose of this study was to support the production of a Korean-type hearing aid fitting formula to effectively improve the sound quality of hearing aids and the communication abilities with hearing aids, and to standardize the sound stimuli required to measure the performance of hearing aids. Methods: A total of 73 participants with normal hearing and with no specific voice and language deficits was voluntarily recruited from capital, Gyeongsang and Jeolla areas. The conversational speech level was measured by vocalizing ‘soft,’ ‘moderate,’ ‘raised,’ and ‘loud’ at a distance of 1.0 m from the speaker. And LTASS was measured by vocalizing it at a distance of 0.2 m from the speaker. Results: There was a difference in the mean of males and females in the conversation level, but no significant regional differences were shown. The conversational speech level corresponding to 30th, 65th, and 99th percentiles was 59.67, 64.74, and 79.07 dB sound pressure level, respectively. And the speech spectrum of 30th, 65th, and 99th percentile and LTASS showed in different forms from the international speech test signal. Conclusion: The results of this study should help to calculate the Korean type hearing aid fitting formula and should be used as the basic data to determine the characteristics of the sound stimuli when measuring the performance of the hearing aid.


2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 1572-1580
Author(s):  
Laura Gaeta ◽  
Christopher R. Brydges

Purpose The purpose was to examine and determine effect size distributions reported in published audiology and speech-language pathology research in order to provide researchers and clinicians with more relevant guidelines for the interpretation of potentially clinically meaningful findings. Method Cohen's d, Hedges' g, Pearson r, and sample sizes ( n = 1,387) were extracted from 32 meta-analyses in journals in speech-language pathology and audiology. Percentile ranks (25th, 50th, 75th) were calculated to determine estimates for small, medium, and large effect sizes, respectively. The median sample size was also used to explore statistical power for small, medium, and large effect sizes. Results For individual differences research, effect sizes of Pearson r = .24, .41, and .64 were found. For group differences, Cohen's d /Hedges' g = 0.25, 0.55, and 0.93. These values can be interpreted as small, medium, and large effect sizes in speech-language pathology and audiology. The majority of published research was inadequately powered to detect a medium effect size. Conclusions Effect size interpretations from published research in audiology and speech-language pathology were found to be underestimated based on Cohen's (1988, 1992) guidelines. Researchers in the field should consider using Pearson r = .25, .40, and .65 and Cohen's d /Hedges' g = 0.25, 0.55, and 0.95 as small, medium, and large effect sizes, respectively, and collect larger sample sizes to ensure that both significant and nonsignificant findings are robust and replicable.


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