Bone Conduction Trial Device to Eliminate the Effect of Transcranial Attenuation: A Prospective Observational Study in Single-Sided Deaf Subjects

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 231-236
Author(s):  
Annes Claes ◽  
Rajae Bouzegta ◽  
Vincent Van Rompaey ◽  
Olivier Vanderveken ◽  
Paul Van de Heyning ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Bone Conduction ◽  
Good Alternative ◽  
Speech In Noise ◽  
Friedman's Test ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Alternative Test ◽  
Speech Reception Thresholds ◽  
Bone Conduction Device ◽  
Electronic Housing

Objectives: The contact miniTM (CM) is a nonimplantable, digital bone conduction device (BCD) consisting of 2 isolated units: an electronic housing, including the microphone, and a vibrator housing. The study investigated whether the CM can be used as an alternative test device for a BCD trial in single-sided deaf (SSD) adults with the microphone placed at the SSD ear and the vibrator at the normal-hearing (NH) ear (i.e., cross position). Methods: Twenty SSD adults (mean age: 50 [±13.2] years) participated in a 2-week BCD trial with the CM on the headband in cross position. Prior to the trial, the subjects performed adaptive speech-in-noise tests in an unaided condition. After the trial, speech-in-noise tests were performed with the CM in cross position (CMcross) and ipsilateral position, i.e., both units at the SSD ear (CMipsi). Five different speech-in-noise configurations were used (S0N0; S0NNH; S0NSSD; S0°NNH+SSD; and SSSDNNH). Speech reception thresholds (SRT) were analyzed comparing the unaided, the CMcross condition, and the CMipsi condition. Results: Friedman’s test revealed no significant differences in SRTs between the CMcross, CMipsi, and the unaided condition for the S0N0, S0NNH, S0NSSD, and S0°NNH+SSD configuration. However, in the SSSDNNH configuration, a significant effect was found (p < 0.001). Wilcoxon pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni correction indicated that SRTs in the CMcross condition were significantly lower (i.e., better speech understanding) than those in the unaided (p < 0.001) and the CMipsi condition (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The CM may be a good alternative for patients with SSD, resulting in significantly better speech recognition when noise is presented to the NH ear and speech to the SSD ear. As the speech recognition results are better in the cross than the ipsilateral position, the CMcross might help to overcome the negative effect of transcranial attenuation during BCD trials.

Estimating Real-World Performance of Percutaneously Coupled Bone-Conduction Device Users With Severe-to-Profound Unilateral Hearing Loss

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-187
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Elkins ◽  
Anne Harvey ◽  
Jake Hillyer ◽  
Chantel Hazlewood ◽  
Stacey Watson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Bone Conduction ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Noise Performance ◽  
Speech Stimuli ◽  
Speech In Noise ◽  
Directional Microphone ◽  
Bone Conduction Device ◽  
Subjective Reports ◽  
World Environment

Purpose The bone-conduction device attached to a percutaneous screw (BCD) is an important treatment option for individuals with severe-to-profound unilateral hearing loss (UHL). Clinicians may use subjective questionnaires and speech-in-noise measures to evaluate BCD use in this patient population; however, the translation of these metrics to real-world aided performance is unclear. The purpose of this study was twofold: first, to measure speech-in-noise performance in BCD users with severe-to-profound UHL in a simulated real-world environment, relative to individuals with normal hearing bilaterally; second, to determine if BCD users' subjective reports of aided performance relate to simulated real-world performance. Method A between-subjects design with two groups was conducted with 14 adults with severe-to-profound UHL (BCD group) and 10 age-matched participants with normal hearing bilaterally (control group). Speech-in-noise tests were administered in an eight-speaker R-Space simulating a real-world environment. To further explore speech-in-noise evaluation methods for this population, testing was also completed in a clinically common two-speaker array. The effects of various microphone settings on performance were explored for BCD users. Subjective performance was measured with the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB; Cox & Alexander, 1995) and the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (Gatehouse & Noble, 2004). Statistical analyses to explore relationships between variables included repeated-measures analysis of variance, regression analyses, independent-samples t tests, nonparametric Mann–Whitney tests, and correlations. Results In the simulated real-world environment, BCD group participants struggled with speech-in-noise understanding compared to control group participants. BCD benefit was observed for all microphone settings when speech stimuli were presented to the side with the BCD. When adaptive directional or fixed directional microphone settings were used, a relationship was noted between simulated real-world speech-in-noise performance for speech stimuli presented to the side with the BCD and subjective reports on the Background Noise subscale of the APHAB. Conclusions The Background Noise subscale of the APHAB may help estimate real-world speech-in-noise performance for BCD users with severe-to-profound UHL for signals of interest presented to the implanted side, specifically when adaptive or fixed directional microphone settings are used. This subscale may provide an efficient and accessible alternative to assessing real-world speech-in-noise performance in lieu of less clinically available measurement tools, such as an R-Space.

scholarly journals Functional Results and Subjective Benefit of a Transcutaneous Bone Conduction Device in Patients With Single-Sided Deafness

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 1151-1156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman D. Laske ◽  
Christof Röösli ◽  
Flurin Pfiffner ◽  
Dorothe Veraguth ◽  
Alex M. Huber
Keyword(s):  
Bone Conduction ◽  
Functional Results ◽  
Single Sided Deafness ◽  
Bone Conduction Device

scholarly journals Multitasking with typical use of hearing aid noise reduction in older listeners

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Schoof ◽  
Pamela Souza
Keyword(s):  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Noise Reduction ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Recognition Task ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Improve Performance ◽  
Sentence Recognition ◽  
Monitoring Task ◽  
Speech In Noise ◽  
Dual Task Paradigm

Objective: Older hearing-impaired adults typically experience difficulties understanding speech in noise. Most hearing aids address this issue using digital noise reduction. While noise reduction does not necessarily improve speech recognition, it may reduce the resources required to process the speech signal. Those available resources may, in turn, aid the ability to perform another task while listening to speech (i.e., multitasking). This study examined to what extent changing the strength of digital noise reduction in hearing aids affects the ability to multitask. Design: Multitasking was measured using a dual-task paradigm, combining a speech recognition task and a visual monitoring task. The speech recognition task involved sentence recognition in the presence of six-talker babble at signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of 2 and 7 dB. Participants were fit with commercially-available hearing aids programmed under three noise reduction settings: off, mild, strong. Study sample: 18 hearing-impaired older adults. Results: There were no effects of noise reduction on the ability to multitask, or on the ability to recognize speech in noise. Conclusions: Adjustment of noise reduction settings in the clinic may not invariably improve performance for some tasks.

scholarly journals Speech Understanding and Sound Localization with a New Nonimplantable Wearing Option for Baha

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Gawliczek ◽  
Wilhelm Wimmer ◽  
Fabio Munzinger ◽  
Marco Caversaccio ◽  
Martin Kompis
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Sound Localization ◽  
Bone Conduction ◽  
Speech Understanding ◽  
Bilateral Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Understanding In Noise ◽  
Speech Reception ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Speech Reception Thresholds ◽  
Sound Processor

Objective. To measure the audiological benefit of the Baha SoundArc, a recently introduced nonimplantable wearing option for bone conduction sound processor, and to compare it with the known softband wearing option in subjects with normal cochlear function and a purely conductive bilateral hearing loss.Methods. Both ears of 15 normal hearing subjects were occluded for the time of the measurement, yielding an average unaided threshold of 49 dB HL (0.5 – 4 kHz). Soundfield thresholds, speech understanding in quiet and in noise, and sound localization were measured in unaided conditions and with 1 or 2 Baha 5 sound processors mounted on either a softband or a SoundArc device.Results. Soundfield thresholds and speech reception thresholds were improved by 19.5 to 24.8 dB (p<.001), when compared to the unaided condition. Speech reception thresholds in noise were improved by 3.7 to 4.7 dB (p<.001). Using 2 sound processors rather than one improved speech understanding in noise for speech from the direction of the2nddevice and sound localization error by 23° to 28°. No statistically significant difference was found between the SoundArc and the softband wearing options in any of the tests.Conclusions. Bone conduction sound processor mounted on a SoundArc or on a softband resulted in considerable improvements in hearing and speech understanding in subjects with a simulated, purely conductive, and bilateral hearing loss. No significant difference between the 2 wearing options was found. Using 2 sound processors improves sound localization and speech understanding in noise in certain spatial settings.

scholarly journals Performance evaluation of a novel piezoelectric subcutaneous bone conduction device

2018 ◽  
Vol 370 ◽  
pp. 94-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivo Dobrev ◽  
Jae Hoon Sim ◽  
Flurin Pfiffner ◽  
Alexander M. Huber ◽  
Christof Röösli
Keyword(s):  
Performance Evaluation ◽  
Bone Conduction ◽  
Bone Conduction Device

scholarly journals Direct comparison of mastoidal and retrosigmoidal placement of a transcutaneous bone conduction device after canal wall down tympanoplasty

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 1603-1606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Loader ◽  
Elisabeth Sterrer ◽  
Caroline Reichmayr ◽  
Alexandra Kaider ◽  
Wolfang Gstöttner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Conduction ◽  
Canal Wall ◽  
Canal Wall Down ◽  
Bone Conduction Device

Evaluation of Automatic Directional Processing with Cochlear Implant Recipients

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (08) ◽  
pp. 478-486
Author(s):  
Lisa G. Potts ◽  
Soo Jang ◽  
Cory L. Hillis
Keyword(s):  
Signal Processing ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Noise Performance ◽  
Mixed Model Analysis ◽  
Speech In Noise ◽  
Speech Recognition In Noise

Abstract Background For cochlear implant (CI) recipients, speech recognition in noise is consistently poorer compared with recognition in quiet. Directional processing improves performance in noise and can be automatically activated based on acoustic scene analysis. The use of adaptive directionality with CI recipients is new and has not been investigated thoroughly, especially utilizing the recipients' preferred everyday signal processing, dynamic range, and/or noise reduction. Purpose This study utilized CI recipients' preferred everyday signal processing to evaluate four directional microphone options in a noisy environment to determine which option provides the best speech recognition in noise. A greater understanding of automatic directionality could ultimately improve CI recipients' speech-in-noise performance and better guide clinicians in programming. Study Sample Twenty-six unilateral and seven bilateral CI recipients with a mean age of 66 years and approximately 4 years of CI experience were included. Data Collection and Analysis Speech-in-noise performance was measured using eight loudspeakers in a 360-degree array with HINT sentences presented in restaurant noise. Four directional options were evaluated (automatic [SCAN], adaptive [Beam], fixed [Zoom], and Omni-directional) with participants' everyday use signal processing options active. A mixed-model analysis of variance (ANOVA) and pairwise comparisons were performed. Results Automatic directionality (SCAN) resulted in the best speech-in-noise performance, although not significantly better than Beam. Omni-directional performance was significantly poorer compared with the three other directional options. A varied number of participants performed their best with each of the four-directional options, with 16 performing best with automatic directionality. The majority of participants did not perform best with their everyday directional option. Conclusion The individual variability seen in this study suggests that CI recipients try with different directional options to find their ideal program. However, based on a CI recipient's motivation to try different programs, automatic directionality is an appropriate everyday processing option.

The Impact of Music Training and Working Memory on Speech Recognition in Older Age

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Bruna S. Mussoi
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Memory Capacity ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Music Training ◽  
Speech In Noise ◽  
Speech Recognition In Noise ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Music training has been proposed as a possible tool for auditory training in older adults, as it may improve both auditory and cognitive skills. However, the evidence to support such benefits is mixed. The goal of this study was to determine the differential effects of lifelong musical training and working memory on speech recognition in noise, in older adults. Method A total of 31 musicians and nonmusicians aged 65–78 years took part in this cross-sectional study. Participants had a normal pure-tone average, with most having high-frequency hearing loss. Working memory (memory capacity) was assessed with the backward Digit Span test, and speech recognition in noise was assessed with three clinical tests (Quick Speech in Noise, Hearing in Noise Test, and Revised Speech Perception in Noise). Results Findings from this sample of older adults indicate that neither music training nor working memory was associated with differences on the speech recognition in noise measures used in this study. Similarly, duration of music training was not associated with speech-in-noise recognition. Conclusions Results from this study do not support the hypothesis that lifelong music training benefits speech recognition in noise. Similarly, an effect of working memory (memory capacity) was not apparent. While these findings may be related to the relatively small sample size, results across previous studies that investigated these effects have also been mixed. Prospective randomized music training studies may be able to better control for variability in outcomes associated with pre-existing and music training factors, as well as to examine the differential impact of music training and working memory for speech-in-noise recognition in older adults.

scholarly journals Modeling Binaural Unmasking of Speech Using a Blind Binaural Processing Stage

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 233121652097563
Author(s):  
Christopher F. Hauth ◽  
Simon C. Berning ◽  
Birger Kollmeier ◽  
Thomas Brand
Keyword(s):  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Binaural Processing ◽  
Speech In Noise ◽  
Masking Level Difference ◽  
Low Pass ◽  
Speech Intelligibility Index ◽  
Filtered Speech

The equalization cancellation model is often used to predict the binaural masking level difference. Previously its application to speech in noise has required separate knowledge about the speech and noise signals to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Here, a novel, blind equalization cancellation model is introduced that can use the mixed signals. This approach does not require any assumptions about particular sound source directions. It uses different strategies for positive and negative SNRs, with the switching between the two steered by a blind decision stage utilizing modulation cues. The output of the model is a single-channel signal with enhanced SNR, which we analyzed using the speech intelligibility index to compare speech intelligibility predictions. In a first experiment, the model was tested on experimental data obtained in a scenario with spatially separated target and masker signals. Predicted speech recognition thresholds were in good agreement with measured speech recognition thresholds with a root mean square error less than 1 dB. A second experiment investigated signals at positive SNRs, which was achieved using time compressed and low-pass filtered speech. The results demonstrated that binaural unmasking of speech occurs at positive SNRs and that the modulation-based switching strategy can predict the experimental results.

Auditory Functional Age

1972 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Bell
Keyword(s):  
Bone Conduction ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Speech Discrimination ◽  
Hearing Ability ◽  
Speech Reception ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Normative Aging ◽  
Bone Conduction Hearing ◽  
Speech Reception Thresholds ◽  
Air Conduction

In the audiologic research of the Boston VA Normative Aging Study, an auditory age measure has been developed to represent the extent to which an individual is older or younger than his age peers in terms of his hearing ability. Sixteen auditory measures were placed in a stepwise regression procedure: air and bone conduction hearing at various frequencies, speech reception thresholds, speech discrimination scores, and two and three frequency averages. With chronological age as criterion, the resulting equation yielded an auditory age calculated from two variables: air conduction at 8,000 cps and speech reception threshold. Because of redundancy among the larger number of measures, these two effectively index the larger number. The two include high and low frequency measures so are sensitive to high frequency loss at older age.

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