The Effect of Conventional and Transparent Surgical Masks on Speech Understanding in Individuals with and without Hearing Loss

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (01) ◽  
pp. 058-067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel R. Atcherson ◽  
Lisa Lucks Mendel ◽  
Wesley J. Baltimore ◽  
Chhayakanta Patro ◽  
Sungmin Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Perception ◽  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Visual Input ◽  
Acoustic Properties ◽  
Speech Understanding ◽  
Profound Hearing Loss ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
Significant Difference

AbstractIt is generally well known that speech perception is often improved with integrated audiovisual input whether in quiet or in noise. In many health-care environments, however, conventional surgical masks block visual access to the mouth and obscure other potential facial cues. In addition, these environments can be noisy. Although these masks may not alter the acoustic properties, the presence of noise in addition to the lack of visual input can have a deleterious effect on speech understanding. A transparent (“see-through”) surgical mask may help to overcome this issue.To compare the effect of noise and various visual input conditions on speech understanding for listeners with normal hearing (NH) and hearing impairment using different surgical masks.Participants were assigned to one of three groups based on hearing sensitivity in this quasi-experimental, cross-sectional study.A total of 31 adults participated in this study: one talker, ten listeners with NH, ten listeners with moderate sensorineural hearing loss, and ten listeners with severe-to-profound hearing loss.Selected lists from the Connected Speech Test were digitally recorded with and without surgical masks and then presented to the listeners at 65 dB HL in five conditions against a background of four-talker babble (+10 dB SNR): without a mask (auditory only), without a mask (auditory and visual), with a transparent mask (auditory only), with a transparent mask (auditory and visual), and with a paper mask (auditory only).A significant difference was found in the spectral analyses of the speech stimuli with and without the masks; however, no more than ∼2 dB root mean square. Listeners with NH performed consistently well across all conditions. Both groups of listeners with hearing impairment benefitted from visual input from the transparent mask. The magnitude of improvement in speech perception in noise was greatest for the severe-to-profound group.Findings confirm improved speech perception performance in noise for listeners with hearing impairment when visual input is provided using a transparent surgical mask. Most importantly, the use of the transparent mask did not negatively affect speech perception performance in noise.

Speech Understanding Using Surgical Masks: A Problem in Health Care?

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (09) ◽  
pp. 686-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Lucks Mendel ◽  
Julie A. Gardino ◽  
Samuel R. Atcherson
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Perception ◽  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Deleterious Effect ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Speech Understanding ◽  
Speech Stimuli ◽  
Dental Office ◽  
Significant Difference

Background: Successful communication is necessary in health-care environments. Yet the presence of noise in hospitals, operating rooms, and dental offices may have a deleterious effect on health-care personnel and patients understanding messages accurately. The presence of a surgical mask and hearing loss may further affect speech perception. Purpose: To evaluate whether a surgical mask had an effect on speech understanding for listeners with normal hearing and hearing impairment when speech stimuli were administered in the presence or absence of dental office noise. Research Design: Participants were assigned to one of two groups based on hearing sensitivity in this quasi-experimental, cross-sectional study. Study Sample: A total of 31 adults participated in this study (1 talker, 15 listeners with normal hearing, and 15 with hearing impairment). The normal hearing group had thresholds of 25 dB HL or better at the octave frequencies from 250 through 8000 Hz while the hearing loss group had varying degrees and configurations of hearing loss with thresholds equal to or poorer than 25 dB HL for the same octave frequencies. Data Collection And Analysis: Selected lists from the Connected Speech Test (CST) were digitally recorded with and without a surgical mask present and then presented to the listeners in four conditions: without a mask in quiet, without a mask in noise, with a mask in quiet, and with a mask in noise. Results: A significant difference was found in the spectral analyses of the speech stimuli with and without the mask. The presence of a surgical mask, however, did not have a detrimental effect on speech understanding in either the normal-hearing or hearing-impaired groups. The dental office noise did have a significant effect on speech understanding for both groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the presence of a surgical mask did not negatively affect speech understanding. However, the presence of noise did have a deleterious effect on speech perception and warrants further attention in health-care environments.

scholarly journals The Effects of Manufacturer’s Prefit and Real-Ear Fitting on the Predicted Speech Perception of Children with Severe to Profound Hearing Loss

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (05) ◽  
pp. 346-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tian Kar Quar ◽  
Cila Umat ◽  
Yong Yee Chew
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Perception ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
High Input ◽  
Profound Hearing Loss ◽  
High Frequency Region ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference

AbstractThe use of probe microphone measures in hearing aid verification is often neglected or not fully used by practitioners. Some practitioners rely on simulated gain and output provided by manufacturer's fitting software to verify hearing aids.This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of manufacturer’s prefit procedure in matching the prescribed real-ear targets. It also aims to study its correlated impact on the predicted speech perception in children with severe and profound hearing loss.This cross-sectional experiment was carried out by measuring the output of hearing aids based on prefit versus real-ear at low-, moderate-, and high-input levels. The predicted speech perception for different hearing aid fittings was determined based on the Speech Intelligibility Index (SII).Sixteen children (28 ears) aged between 4 and 7 yr, with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss took part in the study.Two different types of hearing aids (Phonak and Unitron) were programmed based on their respective manufacturers’ Desired Sensation Levels (DSL) v5 Child procedure. The hearing aids were then verified using coupler-based measurements and individual real-ear-to-coupler differences. The prefit outputs were compared with the DSL v5 Child–prescribed outputs at low-, moderate-, and high-input levels. The hearing aids were then adjusted to closely match the prescribed output. The SIIs were calculated for the fittings before and after adjustment.Sixty four percent of fittings that were based on the prefit procedure achieved the optimal fit-to-targets, with less than 5-dB RMS deviations from the DSL v5 Child targets. After adjusting the hearing aids to attempt to meet the DSL v5 Child targets, 75% of the ears tested achieved the optimal fit-to-targets. On average, hearing aid outputs generated by the manufacturer’s prefit procedure had good and reasonable agreement with the DSL v5 Child–prescribed outputs at low- and mid-frequencies. Nonetheless, at 4000 Hz, the hearing aid output mostly fell below the DSL v5 Child–prescribed outputs. This was still the case even after the hearing aid was adjusted to attempt to match with the targets. At low input level, some prefit outputs were found to be higher than the prescribed outputs. The deviations of prefit outputs from the prescribed outputs were dependent on the type of hearing aid and input levels. There was no significant difference between the SII calculated for fittings based on the prefit and adjusted fit.Prefit procedure tends to produce outputs that were below the DSL v5 Child–prescribed outputs, with the largest mean difference at 4000 Hz. Even though the hearing aid gains were adjusted to attempt to match with the targets, the outputs were still below the targets. The limitations of hearing aids to match the DSL v5 Child targets at high-frequency region have resulted in no improvement in the children’s predicted speech perception.

scholarly journals Application of Wireless Contralateral Routing of Signal Technology in Unilateral Cochlear Implant Users with Bilateral Profound Hearing Loss

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (07) ◽  
pp. 579-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hillary A. Snapp ◽  
Michael E. Hoffer ◽  
Anthony Spahr ◽  
Suhrud Rajguru
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Perception ◽  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Profound Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech In Noise ◽  
Bonferroni Adjustment ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Hearing Outcomes

AbstractThe aim of the study was to determine if contralateral routing of signal (CROS) technology results in improved hearing outcomes in unilateral cochlear implant (CI) patients and provides similar gains in speech perception in noise to traditional monaural listeners (MLs).The study is a prospective, within-subject repeated-measures experiment.Adult, English-speaking patients with bilateral severe–profound sensorineural hearing loss using an Advanced Bionics CI (n = 12) in one ear were enrolled for the study.Hearing performance in the monaural listening condition (CI only) was compared with the CROS-aided (unilateral CI + CROS) condition. Participants were tested for speech-in-noise performance using the Bamford-Kowal-Bench Speech-in-Noise™ test materials in the speech front/noise front (0 degrees/0 degrees azimuth), speech front/noise back (0 degrees/180 degrees azimuth), speech deaf ear/noise monaural ear (90 degrees/270 degrees azimuth), and speech monaural ear/noise deaf ear (90 degrees/270 degrees azimuth) configurations. Localization error was assessed using three custom stimuli consisting of 1/3 octave narrowband noises centered at 500 and 4000 Hz and a broadband speech stimulus. Localization stimuli were presented at random in the front hemifield by 19 speakers spatially separated by 10 degrees. Outcomes were compared with a previously described group of traditional MLs in the CROS-aided condition (normal hearing ear + CROS).All participants were tested acutely with no adaptation to the CROS device. Statistical analyses were performed using Wilcoxon signed rank tests for nonparametric data and paired sample. Statistical significance was set to p < 0.00625 after Bonferroni adjustment for eight tests.Significant benefit was observed from unaided to the CI + CROS–aided condition for listening in noise across most listening conditions with the greatest benefit observed in the speech deaf ear/noise monaural ear (90 degrees/270 degrees azimuth) condition (p < 0.0005). When compared with traditional MLs, no significant difference in decibel gain from the unaided to CROS-aided conditions was observed between participant groups. There was no improvement in localization ability in the CROS-aided condition for either participant group and no significant difference in performance between traditional MLs and unilateral CI listeners.These findings support that unilateral CI users are capable of achieving similar gains in speech perception to that of traditional MLs with wireless CROS. These results indicate that the use of wireless CROS stimulation in unilateral CI recipients provides increased benefit and an additional rehabilitative option for this population when bilateral implantation is not possible. The results suggest that noninvasive CROS solutions can successfully rehabilitate certain monaural listening deficits, provide improved hearing outcomes, and expand the reach of treatment in this population.

scholarly journals Hearing Impairment in Angolan Children with Acute Bacterial Meningitis With and Without Otitis Media and Otorrhea

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Lempinen ◽  
Anu Laulajainen-Hongisto ◽  
Antti A. Aarnisalo ◽  
Luis Bernardino ◽  
Heikki Peltola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Bacterial Meningitis ◽  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Otitis Media ◽  
Clinical Course ◽  
Acute Bacterial Meningitis ◽  
Profound Hearing Loss ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Ear Infections ◽  
Hearing Loss In Childhood

Abstract Background: Bacterial meningitis (BM) is a common cause of hearing loss in childhood. Our aim was to investigate bacterial etiology, hearing impairment, and outcome in childhood BM with vs. without otitis media (OM) in the resource-poor settings of Angola. Methods: Hearing was tested through brainstem-evoked response audiometry (ABR) in 391 (76%) of 512 children with confirmed BM. The bacteria identified from the ear discharge were compared to those from CSF and the relevance of findings was examined in terms of hearing among children with or without OM on day 1 and 7 of hospitalization, and at follow-ups of 1, 3 and 6 month(s).Results: No correlation was found in bacteriology between the ear discharge and CSF, and the most common ear pathogens more likely reflected chronic than acute middle ear infections. On day 7 in hospital, hearing impairment (>40 dB) was common, regardless of whether concomitant OM or not (in 27% vs. 30%, respectively), whereas on day 7, profound hearing loss (>80 dB) was diagnosed slightly more in children without OM 16% vs. 10% accordingly. Any hearing deficit on day 7 was associated with a higher risk of complicated or fatal clinical course (OR 2.76, CI95% 1.43-5.29, P = .002).Conclusion: No significant difference prevailed in hearing thresholds between children with or without OM in hospital on day 7 or at later follow-ups. Any hearing impairment on day 7 associated with a higher risk for complicated clinical course or death. Trial registration: ISRCTN62824827. Registered 22 June 2005, http://www.isrctn.com/ ISRCTN62824827.

scholarly journals Perception and learning of relative pitch by musicians using the vibrotactile mode

2021 ◽  
pp. 102986492110152
Author(s):  
Carl Hopkins ◽  
Saúl Maté-Cid ◽  
Robert Fulford ◽  
Gary Seiffert ◽  
Jane Ginsborg
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Music Education ◽  
Success Rate ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Pitch Discrimination ◽  
Professional Musicians ◽  
Profound Hearing Loss ◽  
Relative Pitch ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Schools For The Deaf

This study investigated the perception and learning of relative pitch using vibrotactile stimuli by musicians with and without a hearing impairment. Notes from C3 to B4 were presented to the fingertip and forefoot. Pre- and post-training tests in which 420 pairs of notes were presented randomly were carried out without any feedback to participants. After the pre-training test, 16 short training sessions were carried out over six weeks with 72 pairs of notes per session and participants told whether their answers were correct. For amateur and professional musicians with normal hearing and professional musicians with a severe or profound hearing loss, larger pitch intervals were easier to identify correctly than smaller intervals. Musicians with normal hearing had a high success rate for relative pitch discrimination as shown by pre- and post-training tests, and when using the fingertips, there was no significant difference between amateur and professional musicians. After training, median scores on the tests in which stimuli were presented to the fingertip and forefoot were >70% for intervals of 3–12 semitones. Training sessions reduced the variability in the responses of amateur and professional musicians with normal hearing and improved their overall ability. There was no significant difference between the relative pitch discrimination abilities between one and 11 semitones, as shown by the pre-training test, of professional musicians with and without a severe/profound hearing loss. These findings indicate that there is potential for vibration to be used to facilitate group musical performance and music education in schools for the deaf.

Determine the Frequency of Sensorineural Deafness in Children with Cerebral Palsy

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1478-1481
Author(s):  
A. G. Magsi ◽  
M. U. Rehman ◽  
F. A. Soomro ◽  
Z. Ahmed ◽  
A. Q. Memon
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Sensorineural Deafness ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Profound Hearing Loss ◽  
College Hospital ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Hearing Assessment ◽  
Normal Head

Aim: To determine the frequency of sensorineural deafness in child with cerebral palsy. Study Design: Descriptive/cross-sectional Place and Duration of Study: Department of Neurology, Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana from 1st October 2020 to 31st March 2021. Methodology: One hundred and seventy patients of both genders age between 1-14 years were enrolled. Children diagnosed as having cerebral palsy and fulfilling the inclusion criteria was included. Hearing assessment was done with audiometry and degree of hearing loss was recorded in both ears in the form of mild, moderate, severe and profound degree of hearing loss. Results: Most of the patients 90 (52.94%) were between 1-5 years old followed by 51(30%) patients between 5-10 years with mean age of 4.8±7.8 years. 115 (67.65%) cases were males and 55 (32.35%) females. 54 (31.8%) cases had microcephaly and116 (68.2) cases had normal head circumference. Among 170 cases of cerebral palsy 48 (28.23%) cases had hearing loss and 122 (71.77%) of patients of CP had no hearing deficit. Among 48 cases of CP with hearing loss 15 (31.25%) cases had mild, 14 (29.17) cases had moderate, 10 (20.83%) had severe and 11 (22.92%) cases had profound hearing loss. Conclusion: The frequency of sensorineural deficit is high and significantly associated with cerebral palsy patients. Keywords: Degree of hearing loss, Sensorineural hearing loss, Cerebral palsy

A study on the proportion of hearing impairment among percussionists in Thrissur district of Kerala

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 816
Author(s):  
Jubina Bency A. T. ◽  
Sarangi . ◽  
Sebastian Roy ◽  
Shalu Sara Mathew ◽  
Shamseena A. ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Moderate Degree ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hearing Ability ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Mild Degree

Background: Hearing loss is a cause of global concern. Percussionists are exposed to greater levels of continuous or intermittent noise than others. Little is known about the relationship between percussion activity and hearing impairment. The early detection of the same and subsequent management makes a significant reduction in the burden of health care services. The objective was to study the proportion of hearing impairment in percussionists in the district of Thrissur using an IOS based mobile application.Methods: A cross sectional study was done on percussionists from Thrissur district who has experience of more than five years and has no congenital or traumatic hearing loss. A predesigned semi structured questionnaire was given and hearing tests were done using a mobile application U hear in a sound proof setting to understand the current state of hearing ability amoung the percussionists.Results: A total of 39 subjects were involved in our study of which all were males. Mean age of our study population was 30.44+12.04. most of them were diagnosed with at least mild degree of hearing loss of one of the ear or both the ears. 15.4% of them had mild degree of hearing loss, 64.1% had moderate degree of hearing loss and 20.5% had severe hearing loss.Conclusions: The study shows percussionists are more exposed to sounds of various frequencies for longer duration, they are more prone to hearing loss. The study brought out that age is directly proportional to hearing loss, music induced hearing loss progress at a rate proportion to the work experience. 

scholarly journals The Use of Frequency Lowering Technology in the Treatment of Severe-to-Profound Hearing Loss: A Review of the Literature and Candidacy Considerations for Clinical Application

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (04) ◽  
pp. 377-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Scollie ◽  
Danielle Glista
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Clinical Application ◽  
Current Literature ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Verification And Validation ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Profound Hearing Loss

AbstractThis article provides a review of the current literature on the topic of frequency lowering hearing aid technology specific to the treatment of severe and profound levels of hearing impairment in child and adult listeners. Factors to consider when assessing listener candidacy for frequency lowering technology are discussed. These include factors related to audiometric assessment, the listener, the type of hearing aid technology, and the verification and validation procedures that can assist in determining candidacy for frequency lowering technology. An individualized candidacy assessment including the use of real-ear verification measures and carefully chosen validation tools are recommended for listeners requiring greater audibility of high-frequency sounds, when compared with amplification via conventional hearing aid technology.

scholarly journals Use of nouns and verbs in the oral narrative of individuals with hearing impairment and normal hearing between 5 and 11 years of age

2013 ◽  
Vol 131 (5) ◽  
pp. 289-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica Endo Amemiya ◽  
Barbara Niegia Garcia Goulart ◽  
Brasilia Maria Chiari
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Oral Language ◽  
Speech Therapy ◽  
Oral Communication ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Oral Narrative ◽  
School Type ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Nouns and verbs indicate actions in oral communication. However, hearing impairment can compromise the acquisition of oral language to such an extent that appropriate use of these can be challenging. The objective of this study was to compare the use of nouns and verbs in the oral narrative of hearing-impaired and hearing children. DESIGN AND SETTING: Analytical cross-sectional study at the Department of Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo. METHODS: Twenty-one children with moderate to profound bilateral neurosensory hearing impairment and twenty-one with normal hearing (controls) were matched according to sex, school year and school type. A board showing pictures was presented to each child, to elicit a narrative and measure their performance in producing nouns and verbs. RESULTS: Twenty-two (52.4%) of the subjects were males. The mean age was 8 years (standard deviation, SD = 1.5). Comparing averages between the groups of boys and girls, we did not find any significant difference in their use of nouns, but among verbs, there was a significant difference regarding use of the imperative (P = 0.041): more frequent among boys (mean = 2.91). There was no significant difference in the use of nouns and verbs between deaf children and hearers, in relation to school type. Regarding use of the indicative, there was a nearly significant trend (P = 0.058). CONCLUSION: Among oralized hearing-impaired children who underwent speech therapy, their performance regarding verbs and noun use was similar to that of their hearing counterparts.

scholarly journals Survey of hearing disorders in an urban population in Rondonia, Northern Brazil

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Cecilia Bevilacqua ◽  
Marcos Roberto Banhara ◽  
Ariadnes Nobrega de Oliveira ◽  
Adriane Lima Mortari Moret ◽  
Katia de Freitas Alvarenga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Urban Area ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
World Health ◽  
Hearing Disorders ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Northern Brazil ◽  
Health Organization

OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of hearing loss for the population in the urban area. METHODS: A cross-sectional household survey based on the World Health Organization Ear and Hearing Disorders Survey Protocol was conducted in 298 households in the urban area of Monte Negro, Rondonia, Northern Brazil, from 2005 to 2007. Ear examinations, behavioral audiometry and pure tone audiometry were conducted on 577 individuals. RESULTS: The results showed that 3.8% (95%CI 2.17;5.45) of population were classified in the disabling hearing impairment category. The prevalence of moderate hearing impairment was 3.4%; severe impairment was 0.4%; and profound hearing impairment was not found. CONCLUSIONS: The impairing hearing loss prevalence found in this study is within of the international prevalence for this level of hearing loss and smaller than observed in a previous study in the South region of Brazil.

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