scholarly journals Promoting healthy hearing over the lifespan

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James W. Hall III
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Test Battery ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Comorbid Conditions ◽  
Specific Test ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Central Auditory Function ◽  
Hearing Health ◽  
Age Related Hearing Loss

Background and Aim: Comorbid conditions and unhealthy lifestyles are risk factors for auditory dysfunction, including age-related hearing loss. With a focus on adults, this paper describes a new approach to hearing health care that aims to prevent or mitigate hearing loss and related disorders, like tinnitus. Accurate diagnosis and effective management of hearing loss is best achieved with a patient-specific test battery that includes sensitive measures of peripheral and central auditory function. Background and Aim: Comorbid conditions and unhealthy lifestyles are risk factors for auditory dysfunction, including age-related hearing loss. With a focus on adults, this paper describes a new approach to hearing health care that aims to prevent or mitigate hearing loss and related disorders, like tinnitus. Accurate diagnosis and effective management of hearing loss is best achieved with a patient-specific test battery that includes sensitive measures of peripheral and central auditory function. Conclusion: The traditional model for hearing health care service delivery relies on a rather outdated and simplistic protocol for evaluating and describing hearing loss, and a technologyfocused approach for management. This paper offers an evidence-based rationale for expanding the test battery for diagnosing hearing loss, and a multidisciplinary intervention approach.   Keywords: Comorbid conditions; smoking; diet; value-added tests

scholarly journals The GoAudio Quantitative Mobile Audiology Test Enhances Access to Clinical Hearing Assessments

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 887-897
Author(s):  
Alaa Koleilat ◽  
David P. Argue ◽  
Lisa A. Schimmenti ◽  
Stephen C. Ekker ◽  
Gayla L. Poling
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Primary Study ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Hearing Thresholds ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Hearing Assessment ◽  
Hearing Health ◽  
Age Related Hearing Loss

Purpose Hearing loss is a common impairment of the human senses with an estimated 48 million American adults reporting some trouble hearing; however, access to hearing health care is limited. Detection of hearing loss through a mobile, handheld tool can provide an important access point and potentially expedited access to the continuum of hearing health care. Here, we determined that GoAudio, a portable, automated hearing assessment tool, can be used to identify individuals who require additional hearing evaluation in a clinical workflow. Method This initial study included 24 adults, ages 18–65 years ( M = 50, SD = 12), tested with GoAudio versus “gold-standard” clinical audiometry for eight frequencies to evaluate “real-world” applications. Participants utilized noise-canceling headphones combined with a tablet-based application for the GoAudio assessment. Results The primary study outcome measurements were the comparison of hearing thresholds (dB HL) from clinical audiometry and GoAudio. Results suggest that GoAudio is comparable to clinical audiometry for the identification of hearing loss at most frequencies (except 1 kHz for both ears and 2 kHz in the right ear). Upon stratifying data based on age, we identified that GoAudio is capable of identifying suspected age-related hearing loss or hearing thresholds greater than 30 dB HL at higher frequencies in both ears. Conclusion The study results support that GoAudio can be used effectively in clinical practice workflows as a reliable hearing assessment tool for the identification of hearing loss at the majority of frequencies outside a sound-treated booth and can detect characteristics of age-related hearing loss. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.13087682

scholarly journals Hearing Disorders and Sensorineural Aging

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Alessandra Fioretti ◽  
Otello Poli ◽  
Theodoros Varakliotis ◽  
Alberto Eibenstein
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Organ Of Corti ◽  
Physiological Age ◽  
Hearing Disorders ◽  
Hearing Sensitivity ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Loss Of Autonomy ◽  
Central Auditory Function ◽  
Central Auditory Pathways ◽  
Age Related Hearing Loss

The physiological age-related hearing loss is defined as presbycusis and it is characterized by reduced hearing sensitivity and problems in understanding spoken language especially in a noisy environment. In elderly the reduced speech recognition is generally caused by a reduction of the cochlear cells in the organ of Corti and degeneration of the central auditory pathways. In order to have a complete management strategy of central and peripheral presbycusis the diagnostic evaluation should include clinical ENT examination, standard audiological tests, and tests of central auditory function. Treatment should include not only the appropriate instruments for peripheral compensation but also auditory rehabilitative training and counseling to prevent social isolation and loss of autonomy. Other common hearing disorders in elderly are tinnitus and hyperacusis which are often undervalued. Tinnitus is characterized by the perception of a “phantom” sound due to abnormal auditory perception. Hyperacusis is defined as a reduced tolerance to ordinary environmental sounds. Furthermore auditory, visual, nociceptive, and proprioceptive systems may be involved together in a possible context of “sensorineural aging.” The aim of this review is to underline the presence of hearing disorders like tinnitus and hyperacusis which in many cases coexist with hearing loss in elderly.

Do We Have Effective Patient Education Materials for Age-Related Hearing Loss?

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-87
Author(s):  
Erika S. Squires ◽  
Hua Ou
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Patient Education ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Reading Level ◽  
Educational Materials ◽  
Intended Audience ◽  
Suitability Assessment ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Hearing Health ◽  
Age Related Hearing Loss

Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore and compare the readability and suitability of patient education materials (PEMs) on topics of age-related hearing loss (ARHL) supplied by electronic health record (EHR) systems and organizations specializing in communication sciences and disorders (CSD). Method PEMs on ARHL were identified through a computerized search of EHR databases and CSD organization websites. Selected PEMs were assessed using three readability indices as well as the Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM; Doak et al., 1996), which is a standardized tool to assess the content and design of written educational materials. Ten PEMs from EHR databases and 17 PEMs from CSD organizations were analyzed. Results Overall, 66.7% of PEMs were written above the eighth-grade readability target. PEMs from CSD organizations were significantly more difficult to read compared to those from EHR databases. In total, 85.2% of PEMs were classified as “adequate” using the SAM analysis. No significant SAM score differences were found between PEMs from CSD organizations and those from EHR databases. Common areas of weakness among PEMs were (a) failure to include a summary of key information, (b) reading level, (c) vocabulary (too advanced for the intended audience), and (d) limited subdivision of complex topics. Conclusions The readability and suitability of PEMs on topics of ARHL supplied by EHR providers and CSD organizations are not supportive of the health literacy skills of the average U.S. adult. It is critical to improve the readability, suitability, and comprehensibility of PEMs on ARHL to make information about hearing health care more accessible and usable.

scholarly journals Translating Public Health Practices: Community-Based Approaches for Addressing Hearing Health Care Disparities

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (01) ◽  
pp. 037-048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Marrone ◽  
Hae-Ra Han ◽  
Frank Lin ◽  
Carrie Nieman ◽  
Jonathan Suen
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Health Care Disparities ◽  
Underserved Populations ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Health Practices ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Hearing Health

AbstractEpidemiologic studies reveal disparities in hearing health care with lower prevalence of hearing aid use among older adults from racial/ethnic minority groups and lower socioeconomic positions. Recent national reports recommend exploring innovative delivery models to increase the accessibility and affordability of hearing health care, particularly for underserved and vulnerable populations. With an expected rise in the prevalence of age-related hearing loss over the next four decades due to a rapidly aging population, the condition is a growing public health imperative. This review describes key public health practices for developing and delivering community-based care that characterizes an emerging area of research in novel approaches of hearing loss management programs to reach underserved populations. With evolving technologies that enable care to extend beyond the clinic, adapting a long-utilized community health worker approach presents a strategy for the field of hearing health care to be actively involved in designing and leading initiatives for achieving hearing health equity. Principles from community-based participatory research offer a paradigm for the field to integrate into its research endeavors for addressing disparities. An interdisciplinary approach for engaging these challenges offers hearing health care researchers and providers an opportunity to advance the field and delivery of care.

Risk Factors of Age-related Hearing Loss, Adults over 65 Years in Korea: Including the Effect of the War Participation

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-73
Author(s):  
Dong-Wook Kim ◽  
Tae-Young Lee ◽  
Da-Hye Choi ◽  
Taek-Yeong Kim ◽  
Hyun-Chul Moon
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Related Hearing Loss

scholarly journals Chronic Oral Selegiline Treatment Mitigates Age-Related Hearing Loss in BALB/c Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 2853
Author(s):  
Judit Szepesy ◽  
Viktória Humli ◽  
János Farkas ◽  
Ildikó Miklya ◽  
Júlia Tímár ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Dose Range ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Hearing Function ◽  
Brainstem Response ◽  
Aging Societies ◽  
Age Related Hearing Loss

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL), a sensorineural hearing loss of multifactorial origin, increases its prevalence in aging societies. Besides hearing aids and cochlear implants, there is no FDA approved efficient pharmacotherapy to either cure or prevent ARHL. We hypothesized that selegiline, an antiparkinsonian drug, could be a promising candidate for the treatment due to its complex neuroprotective, antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and dopaminergic neurotransmission enhancing effects. We monitored by repeated Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) measurements the effect of chronic per os selegiline administration on the hearing function in BALB/c and DBA/2J mice, which strains exhibit moderate and rapid progressive high frequency hearing loss, respectively. The treatments were started at 1 month of age and lasted until almost a year and 5 months of age, respectively. In BALB/c mice, 4 mg/kg selegiline significantly mitigated the progression of ARHL at higher frequencies. Used in a wide dose range (0.15–45 mg/kg), selegiline had no effect in DBA/2J mice. Our results suggest that selegiline can partially preserve the hearing in certain forms of ARHL by alleviating its development. It might also be otoprotective in other mammals or humans.

scholarly journals Reduced resting state functional connectivity with increasing age-related hearing loss and McGurk susceptibility

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alina Schulte ◽  
Christiane M. Thiel ◽  
Anja Gieseler ◽  
Maike Tahden ◽  
Hans Colonius ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Mcgurk Effect ◽  
Functional Coupling ◽  
Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽  
Visual Integration ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Hearing Thresholds ◽  
Age Related Hearing Loss

Abstract Age-related hearing loss has been related to a compensatory increase in audio-visual integration and neural reorganization including alterations in functional resting state connectivity. How these two changes are linked in elderly listeners is unclear. The current study explored modulatory effects of hearing thresholds and audio-visual integration on resting state functional connectivity. We analysed a large set of resting state data of 65 elderly participants with a widely varying degree of untreated hearing loss. Audio-visual integration, as gauged with the McGurk effect, increased with progressing hearing thresholds. On the neural level, McGurk illusions were negatively related to functional coupling between motor and auditory regions. Similarly, connectivity of the dorsal attention network to sensorimotor and primary motor cortices was reduced with increasing hearing loss. The same effect was obtained for connectivity between the salience network and visual cortex. Our findings suggest that with progressing untreated age-related hearing loss, functional coupling at rest declines, affecting connectivity of brain networks and areas associated with attentional, visual, sensorimotor and motor processes. Especially connectivity reductions between auditory and motor areas were related to stronger audio-visual integration found with increasing hearing loss.

scholarly journals Sex Differences in the Triad of Acquired Sensorineural Hearing Loss

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 8111
Author(s):  
Kuang-Hsu Lien ◽  
Chao-Hui Yang
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
Hormone Replacement ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing ◽  
Drug Induced ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Related Hearing Loss

The triad of noise-generated, drug-induced, and age-related hearing loss is the major cause of acquired sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL) in modern society. Although these three forms of hearing loss display similar underlying mechanisms, detailed studies have revealed the presence of sex differences in the auditory system both in human and animal models of ASNHL. However, the sexual dimorphism of hearing varies among noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), ototoxicity, and age-related hearing loss (ARHL). Importantly, estrogen may play an essential role in modulating the pathophysiological mechanisms in the cochlea and several reports have shown that the effects of hormone replacement therapy on hearing loss are complex. This review will summarize the clinical features of sex differences in ASNHL, compare the animal investigations of cochlear sexual dimorphism in response to the three insults, and address how estrogen affects the auditory organ at molecular levels.

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