Validity and Reliability of the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Elderly: Version Adapted for Use on the Portuguese Population

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (08) ◽  
pp. 677-682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Margarida Marques de Paiva ◽  
João Simões ◽  
António Paiva ◽  
Craig Newman ◽  
Francisco Castro e Sousa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Original Version ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Portuguese Population ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Hearing Handicap

Background: The use of the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE) questionnaire enables us to measure self-perceived psychosocial handicaps of hearing impairment in the elderly as a supplement to pure-tone audiometry. This screening instrument is widely used and it has been going through adaptations and validations for many languages; all of these versions have kept the validity and reliability of the original version. Purpose: To validate the HHIE questionnaire, translated into Portuguese of Portugal, on the Portuguese population. Research Design: This study is a descriptive correlational qualitative study. The authors performed the translation from English into Portuguese, the linguistic adaptation, and the counter translation. Study Sample: Two hundred and sixty patients from the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Department of Coimbra University Hospitals were divided into a case group (83 individuals) and a control group (177 individuals). Intervention: All of the 260 patients completed the 25 items in the questionnaire and the answers were reviewed for completeness. Data Collection and Analysis: The patients volunteered to answer the 25-item HHIE during an ENT appointment. Correlations between each individual item and the total score of the HHIE were tested, and demographic and clinical variables were correlated with the total score, as well. The instrument’s reproducibility was assessed using the internal consistency model (Cronbach’s alpha). Results: The questions were successfully understood by the participants. There was a significant difference in the HHIE-10 and HHIE-25 total scores between the two groups (p < 0.001). Positive correlations can be seen between the global question and HHIE-10 and HHIE-25. In the regression study, a relationship was observed between the pure-tone average and the HHIE-10 (p < 0.001). Reliability of the instrument was proven by a Cronbach alpha index of 0,79. Conclusions: The HHIE translation into Portuguese of Portugal maintained the validity of the original version and it is useful to assess the psychosocial handicap of hearing impairment in the elderly.

An Epidemiologic Study of Tinnitus in a Population in Jiangsu Province, China

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (09) ◽  
pp. 578-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xia Xu ◽  
Xingkuan Bu ◽  
Ling Zhou ◽  
Guangqian Xing ◽  
Cheng Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Epidemiologic Study ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
Jiangsu Province ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
History Of

Background: Tinnitus is a common complaint and often of no clinical significance. There are a number of unresolved issues concerning the etiology, pathogenesis, and natural history of tinnitus. There are a few current population-based estimates of the prevalence of tinnitus done in representative large geographic areas, but there is little data from multi-area, large sample studies of tinnitus in China. Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of tinnitus and related factors in a Chinese population. These data would be used to plan and evaluate health-care services. Research Design: We carried out an epidemiologic study of tinnitus as part of an epidemiologic study of ear and hearing disorders that was undertaken in Jiangsu Province, China. A question about tinnitus history was included in a comprehensive questionnaire about hearing. All participants also had both pure tone audiometry and an otological examination. Study Sample: The sample consisted of 6333 people 10 yr of age or older, selected by the methods of probability proportional to size. Data Collection and Analysis: All participants answered a questionnaire concerning their tinnitus and had pure tone audiometry testing and an ear examination. All data were entered using EPIDATD 3.0 software and analyzed by a chi-squared test and test for trends. Results: The overall prevalence of tinnitus was 14.5%, and the standardized rates were 11.4% in the whole country and 12.4% in Jiangsu province. Its prevalence increased with age. The prevalence of tinnitus was 11.9 and 15.6% in urban and rural residents, respectively There was no significant difference in prevalence between men and women. Hearing impairment, history of middle ear infections, and noise exposure were the main risk factors for tinnitus. Conclusion: Tinnitus is a common problem in the population. With the aging of the population, the prevalence of tinnitus will increase. The prevention of tinnitus should focus on hearing impairment screening, otitis media treatment, and noise exposure reduction. Health services in rural areas should emphasize prevention more.

scholarly journals Hearing problems in patients with hereditary gelsolin amyloidosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuuli Mustonen ◽  
Ville Sivonen ◽  
Sari Atula ◽  
Sari Kiuru-Enari ◽  
Saku T. Sinkkonen
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
Cranial Neuropathy ◽  
Control Group ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Right ◽  
Patients Experience ◽  
Hearing Problems

Abstract Background Gelsolin amyloidosis (AGel amyloidosis) is a hereditary form of systemic amyloidosis featuring ophthalmological, neurological and cutaneous symptoms. Previous studies based mainly on patients’ self-reporting have indicated that hearing impairment might also be related to the disease, considering the progressive cranial neuropathy characteristic for AGel amyloidosis. In order to deepen the knowledge of possible AGel amyloidosis-related hearing problems, a clinical study consisting of the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) questionnaire, clinical examination, automated pure-tone audiometry and a speech-in-noise test was designed. Results Of the total 46 patients included in the study, eighteen (39%) had self-reported hearing loss. The mean scores in the SSQ were 8.2, 8.3 and 8.6 for the Speech, Spatial and Qualities subscales, respectively. In audiometry, the mean pure tone average (PTA) was 17.1 (SD 12.2) and 17.1 (SD 12.3) dB HL for the right and left ears, respectively, with no difference to gender- and age-matched, otologically normal reference values. The average speech reception threshold in noise (SRT) was − 8.2 (SD 1.5) and − 8.0 (SD 1.7) dB SNR for the right and left ears, respectively, which did not differ from a control group with a comparable range in PTA thresholds. Conclusion Although a significant proportion of AGel amyloidosis patients experience subjective difficulties in hearing there seems to be no peripheral or central hearing impairment at least in patients up to the age of 60 years.

Musicians' Hearing Handicap Index: A New Questionnaire to Assess the Impact of Hearing Impairment in Musicians and Other Music Professionals

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (12) ◽  
pp. 4219-4237
Author(s):  
Aikaterini Vardonikolaki ◽  
Vassilis Pavlopoulos ◽  
Konstantinos Pastiadis ◽  
Nikolaos Markatos ◽  
Ilias Papathanasiou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Exploratory Factor Analysis ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
Evaluation Tool ◽  
Sound Perception ◽  
Validated Questionnaire ◽  
Hearing Handicap ◽  
The Impact

Purpose We aimed to develop and validate the Musicians' Hearing Handicap Index (MHHI), a new self-evaluation tool for quantifying occupation-related auditory difficulties in music professionals. Although pure-tone audiometry is often considered the “gold standard” and is usually employed as the main instrument for hearing assessment, it cannot fully describe the impact of hearing dysfunction. The MHHI is an attempt to complement the hearing impairment assessment toolbox and is based on a unique approach to quantify the effects of hearing-related symptoms or hearing loss on the performance of musicians and other music industry professionals. Method An initial set of 143 questionnaire items was successively refined through a series of critical appraisals, modifications, and suggestions. This yielded an intermediate questionnaire consisting of 43 items, which was administered to 204 musicians and sound engineers. After exploratory factor analysis, the final form of the MHHI questionnaire was obtained, consisting of 29 items. The questionnaire's test–retest reliability, internal consistency, discriminating power, content validity, criterion validity, and aspects of construct validity and inherent conceptual structure were assessed. Results Exploratory factor analysis revealed a combination of four common factors for the 29 validated questionnaire items. They were named “impact on social and working lives,” “difficulties in performance and sound perception,” “communication difficulties,” and “emotional distress.” The MHHI was shown to be a valid and reliable instrument to assess musicians' and sound engineers' occupational difficulties due to hearing impairment and related symptoms. Conclusion The ability of the MHHI to discriminate between groups of music professionals with different auditory symptoms or pure-tone audiometry thresholds suggests that auditory symptoms might influence a professional's performance to an extent that cannot be assessed by a pure-tone audiogram.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the effects of Covid-19 on cochleovestibular system with audiovestibular tests

2022 ◽  
pp. 014556132110699
Author(s):  
Kazım Bozdemir ◽  
Elif Ersoy Çallıoğlu ◽  
Yüce İslamoğlu ◽  
Mehmet Kadir Ercan ◽  
Fatma Eser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Otoacoustic Emissions ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
Semicircular Canals ◽  
Outer Hair Cells ◽  
Head Impulse Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Caloric Test ◽  
Distortion Product ◽  
Significant Difference

Purpose The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on audiovestibular system with Transiently Evoked Distortion Otoacoustic Emissions (TOAE), Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE), video head impulse test (vHIT) and caloric test. Methods Audiovestibular findings of 24 patients with moderate/severe COVID-19 and 24 healthy controls were compared using pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, TOAE, DPOAE, caloric test, and vHIT. Results On audiometry, the pure tone averages of the COVID-19 patients were higher than the controls ( P = .038). The TEOAE amplitudes at 4000 and 5000 Hz ( P = .006 and P < .01), and DPOAE amplitudes at 3000, 6000, and 8000 Hz ( P < .001, P = .003 and P < .001) were significantly lower in COVID-19 patients compared to the controls. On vestibular tests, there was no significant difference between the caloric test results of the patients and the controls ( P > .05). On vHIT testing, amplitudes of right semicircular canal was found to be significantly lower in COVID-19 group compared to the control group ( P = .008). Conclusion COVID-19 may affect inner ear functions causing a subtle damage in the outer hair cells and lateral semicircular canals. It must be kept in mind that COVID-19 may cause cochleovestibular problems.

scholarly journals Frequency-Following Response (FFR) in Military Pilots

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graziela Maria Martins-Moreira ◽  
Alessandra Spada Durante
Keyword(s):  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Aircraft Accidents ◽  
Frequency Following Response ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Qualitative Variables ◽  
Chi Squared ◽  
The Right ◽  
Military Pilots

Abstract Introduction Good hearing in pilots, including central auditory skills, is critical for flight safety and the prevention of aircraft accidents. Pure tone audiometry alone may not be enough to assess hearing in the members of this population who, in addition to high noise levels, routinely face speech recognition tasks in non-ideal conditions. Objective To characterize the frequency-following response (FFR) of a group of military pilots compared with a control group. Methods Twenty military pilots in the Study Group and 20 non-pilot military personnel, not exposed to noise in their work, in the Control Group, all with normal hearing, aged between 30 and 40 years old, completed a questionnaire to assess their hearing habits, and their FFRs were measured with a /da/ syllable (duration 40 milliseconds, speed 10.9/s), at 80 dB NA in the right ear. All procedures were approved by the ethical committee of the institution. Statistical analysis was performed using the t-Student or Mann-Whitney tests for quantitative variables, and the Fisher or chi-squared tests for qualitative variables, and a value of p < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results There was no significant difference between the groups regarding auditory habits. In the FFR, wave amplitudes A (p = 0.01) and C (p = 0.04) were significantly lower in the Study Group. Conclusion Working as a military pilot can be a crucial factor in determining an individual's typical FFR pattern, demonstrated in the present study by statistically significant reductions in the amplitudes of the A and C waves.

Effectiveness of neurobic exercise program on memory and depression among elderly residing at old age home

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Divya Raj ◽  
Subramaniam Santhi ◽  
G. J. Sara Sapharina
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Interventional Group ◽  
Old Age Homes

AbstractObjectivesThis study finds out the effectiveness of neurobic exercise program on memory and depression among elderly residing in old age homes.MethodsThe non-probability purposive sampling technique was used for sample selection. Wechsler's memory scale (WMS-IV) and Geriatric depression scale (GDS) were the instruments used to assess the memory and depression among elderly during the pretest and posttest, respectively and the researcher had developed data sheet to collect information about the background variables using interview technique.ResultsThe neurobic exercise program was found to be effective in reducing depression among elderly residing in old age homes. There was a significant difference (p<0.001) in the level of depression had been found during the pretest and posttest in the interventional group. There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.001) found between the study group and in the control group. There was significant correlation (r=0.417, p<0.05) found between the memory and depression during the pretest in the study group among the elderly. A statistically significant association (p<0.05) found in the mean scores of depression and marital status of the elderly during the pretest in the study group and there was a significant association (p<0.01) found in the mean scores of depression and the gender of the elderly during the pretest and posttest in the non interventional group were found.ConclusionsThe findings suggested that neurobic exercise program is an effective intervention in improving memory and reducing depression.

scholarly journals The Combined Effects of Sports Smart Bracelet and Multi-Component Exercise Program on Exercise Motivation among the Elderly in Macau

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Cheuk Kei Lao ◽  
Bing Long Wang ◽  
Richard S. Wang ◽  
Hsiao Yun Chang
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Exercise Training ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Exercise Motivation ◽  
Sport Training ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Significant Difference

Background and objectives: Faced with the serious problem of an aging population, exercise is one of the most effective ways to maintain the health of the elderly. In recent years, with the popularization of smartphones, the elderly have increasingly accepted technological products that incorporate artificial intelligence (AI). However, there is not much research on using artificial intelligence bracelets to enhance elders’ motivation and participation in exercise. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the combination of sports smart bracelets and multi-sport training programs on the motivation of the elderly in Macau. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted with a randomized trial design in a 12 week multi-sport exercise training intervention. According to the evaluation, a total of sixty elders’ pre- and post-test data were included in this study. Results: After 12 weeks of multi-sport exercise training, the evaluation scores on the exercise motivation scale (EMS) increased significantly in the group wearing exercise bracelets and those taking part in the multi-component exercise program, and the degree of progress reached a statistically significant level, but the control group did not show any statistically significant difference. The influence of the combination of sports smart bracelets and multi-sport training programs on elders’ motivation is clearer. Conclusions: The use of sports smart bracelets by elderly people in conjunction with diverse exercise training can effectively enhance elders’ motivation and increase their participation in regular exercise. The combination of sports smart bracelets and multi-sport training programs is worth promoting in the elderly population.

scholarly journals The importance of central auditory evaluation in Friedreich's ataxia

2018 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 170-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bianca Simone Zeigelboim ◽  
Hélio A. G. Teive ◽  
Michèlli Rodrigues da Rosa ◽  
Jéssica Spricigo Malisky ◽  
Vinicius Ribas Fonseca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pure Tone ◽  
Evoked Potential ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
Friedreich’S Ataxia ◽  
Friedreich's Ataxia ◽  
Auditory Evoked Potential ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Central Auditory Function

ABSTRACT Objective To assess central auditory function in Friedreich's ataxia. Methods A cross-sectional, retrospective study was carried out. Thirty patients underwent the anamnesis, otorhinolaryngology examination, pure tone audiometry, acoustic immittance measures and brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) assessments. Results The observed alterations were: 43.3% in the pure tone audiometry, bilateral in 36.7%; 56.6% in the BAEP test, bilateral in 50%; and 46.6% in the acoustic immittance test. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the comparison between the tests performed. Conclusion In the audiological screening, there was a prevalence of the descending audiometric configuration at the frequency of 4kHz, and absence of the acoustic reflex at the same frequency. In the BAEP test, there was a prevalence of an increase of the latencies in waves I, III and V, and in the intervals of interpeaks I-III, I-V and III-V. In 13.3% of the patients, wave V was absent, and all waves were absent in 3.3% of patients.

scholarly journals Effect of Eight Weeks Water Resistance Training with Dark Chocolate Supplementation on the Balance of the Elderly

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Mousavi ◽  
Farshad Ghazalian
Keyword(s):  
Resistance Training ◽  
Water Resistance ◽  
Training Group ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Dark Chocolate ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Group Water ◽  
Age Range

Introduction: Improving balance in the daily lives of the elderly plays an important role, especially in reducing their risk of falling. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks water resistance training with dark chocolate supplementation on the balance of the elderly.Methods: In this study, 38 elderly people with an age range of 73-60 years were randomly divided into four groups. Participants in groups, included water resistance training and water resistance training + dark chocolate, performed water resistance training for eight weeks. In this period, groups of dark chocolate and water resistance training + dark chocolate, consumed 6 pieces of dark chocolate 83%, 5 gr per day, and the control group did not have any training or supplementation. The stork test (flamingo) was used to assess balance. The results of covariance analysis (ANOVA) showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the four groups. Data were evaluated using Excel and SPSS-25 (p≤ 0.05). Results: The adjusted means after eliminating the effect of pre-test scores showed that the water resistance-training group had a higher mean than the other three groups and the weakest scores belonged to the control group. The results of other groups were as followed: experimental group 18.77, chocolate group 16.88, combined group (water resistance training + dark chocolate) 17.24 and control group 9.77. The results of Benferoni test showed that there was a significant difference between the water resistance training group and the control group (p = 0.006). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it seems that eight weeks of water resistance training and dark chocolate supplementation can improve the balance and quality of life of the elderly.

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