Diagnosis of Sensorineural Hearing Loss with Neural Networks versus Logistic Regression Modeling of Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions

Eight patients with Waardenburg's syndrome (WS) with normal hearing and 3 additional patients exhibiting a low-frequency hearing loss were tested for the level of the acoustic distortion product 2f1-f2 by means of the Otodynamics Distortion Product Analyser (ILO92). Wide notches in distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) between 1,000 and 3,000 Hz were found in 7 (12 ears, 87.5%) examined patients with normal audiograms, which was a significantly higher rate than that found in the control group (10%). The 3 patients with low-frequency hearing loss gave a consistent pattern in audiometric configuration shown by both pure tone audiograms and DPOAEs. It is concluded from these initial results that DPOAEs may be a useful approach to identifying subclinical pathologic aberrations in the inner ear in WS patients, and may be a predictor of low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss.

Download Full-text

A Hearing Screening Pilot Study With Students With Significant Cognitive Disabilities

Language Speech and Hearing Services in Schools ◽

10.1044/2019_lshss-19-00017 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (2) ◽

pp. 494-503

Author(s):

Nancy Quick ◽

Jackson Roush ◽

Karen Erickson ◽

Martha Mundy

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽

Doctoral Students ◽

Otoacoustic Emissions ◽

Cognitive Disabilities ◽

Sensorineural Hearing ◽

Significant Disabilities ◽

Significant Cognitive Disabilities ◽

Distortion Product ◽

School Based

Purpose Many children with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities are at a higher risk for hearing loss than their peers who are typically developing. Unfortunately, they do not consistently participate in routine school-based hearing screenings. The current study investigated the feasibility of increasing their participation using an otoacoustic emissions protocol and documented results relative to student educational profiles. Method A total of 43 students with significant cognitive disabilities enrolled at a public school exclusively serving this population participated in the study. All but 9, who were excluded because of known hearing loss, were screened by a licensed audiologist assisted by audiology doctoral students. The protocol included otoscopy, tympanometry, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), and teacher surveys. Results DPOAE screening was attempted on 33 students without previously diagnosed hearing loss and successfully completed for 26 (78.8%). Two students (4.6%) with absent otoacoustic emissions and normal tympanograms were referred for further assessment due to concerns about possible sensorineural hearing loss in one or both ears, and 10 (23.3%) had abnormal tympanograms in one or both ears. Conclusions Considering the high risk of sensorineural hearing loss for children with significant disabilities, it is important for them to be included in school hearing screenings. The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of using DPOAEs for school-based hearing screenings with this population with an interprofessional team of licensed audiologists, educators, and speech-language pathologists. The results further suggest that students with significant disabilities and hearing loss may be unidentified and underserved. Given the complex needs of this population, an interprofessional practice model for hearing screenings and intervention services is recommended.

Download Full-text

Spontaneous Recovery of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Possible Association with Autoimmune Disorders

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ◽

10.3766/jaaa.17.7.5 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 17 (07) ◽

pp. 498-505 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Jeffrey J. DiGiovanni ◽

Padmaja Nair

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽

Otoacoustic Emissions ◽

White Male ◽

Pure Tone Audiometry ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Sensorineural Hearing ◽

Residual Effects ◽

Distortion Product ◽

The Right

A 46-year-old white male diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) was seen for audiological testing 15 minutes following a sudden onset hearing loss in the right ear. The test battery included pure-tone audiometry, word-recognition testing, speech-recognition threshold (SRT) testing, immittance testing, and distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) testing. Testing revealed a sensorineural hearing loss in the right ear. Shortly after testing, the patient indicated that his condition had improved. Testing was repeated, and the second round of tests revealed normal hearing in both ears. Four days later, a follow-up test again indicated normal hearing in both ears. Possible connections of this brief occurrence of idiopathic hearing loss with the patient's medical conditions are discussed. Specifically, symptoms were consistent with a transient ischemic attack (TIA) affecting his right cochlea in the stria vascularis region, resulting in a temporary, sensorineural hearing loss. No residual effects were observed clinically.

Download Full-text