scholarly journals Hearing Screening in the Community

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (02) ◽  
pp. 145-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielle H. Saunders ◽  
Melissa T. Frederick ◽  
ShienPei C. Silverman ◽  
Tina Penman ◽  
Austin Gardner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Failure Rate ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Ambient Noise ◽  
Failure Criteria ◽  
Hearing Screening ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Sound Levels

AbstractAdults typically wait 7–10 yr after noticing hearing problems before seeking help, possibly because they are unaware of the extent of their impairment. Hearing screenings, frequently conducted at health fairs, community events, and retirement centers can increase this awareness. To our knowledge, there are no published studies in which testing conditions and outcomes have been examined for multiple “typical screening events.”The purpose of this article is to report hearing screening outcomes for pure tones and self-report screening tests and to examine their relationship with ambient noise levels in various screening environments.One thousand nine hundred fifty-four individuals who completed a hearing screening at one of 191 community-based screening events that took place in the Portland, OR, and Tampa, FL, metro areas.The data were collected during the recruitment phase of a large multisite study. All participants received a hearing screening that consisted of otoscopy, pure-tone screening, and completion of the Hearing Handicap Inventory–Screening Version (HHI-S). In addition, ambient sound pressure levels were measured just before pure-tone testing.Many more individuals failed the pure-tone screening (n = 1,238) and then failed the HHI-S (n = 796). The percentage of individuals who failed the pure-tone screening increased linearly with age from <20% for ages <45 yr to almost 100% for individuals aged ≥85 yr. On the other hand, the percentage of individuals who failed the HHI-S remained unchanged at approximately 40% for individuals aged ≥55 yr. Ambient noise levels varied considerably across the hearing screening locations. They impacted the pure-tone screen failure rate but not the HHI-S failure rate.It is important to select screening locations with a quiet space for pure-tone screening, use headphones with good passive attenuation, measure sound levels regularly during hearing screening events, halt testing if ambient noise levels are high, and/or alert individuals to the possibility of a false-positive screening failure. The data substantiate prior findings that the relationship between pure-tone sensitivity and reported hearing loss changes with age. Although it might be possible to develop age-specific HHI-S failure criteria to adjust for this, such an endeavor is not recommended because perceived difficulties are the best predictor of hearing health behaviors. Instead, it is proposed that a public health focus on education about hearing and hearing loss would be more effective.

The Effects of Clinical Factors and Neonatal Morbidities on Hearing Screening Among Neonatal Admissions

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amjad Nuseir ◽  
Maha Zaitoun ◽  
Hasan Albalas ◽  
Ahmad Alomari ◽  
Waseem Khasawneh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Failure Rate ◽  
Maternal Age ◽  
Otoacoustic Emission ◽  
Hearing Screening ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission ◽  
Clinical Factors

Background: Hearing loss is an important disorder affecting newborns admitted to NICU. A national hearing screening program using otoacoustic emission testing is an essential tool to identify hearing loss early in neonates enabling early intervention to avoid further challenges of pediatric deafness. On the other hand, a delay of the auditory pathway maturation in preterm babies compared to term newborns has already been suggested in the literature. Taking this information into account, in this paper, we aim to identify the best time to perform NICU infant hearing screening tests. Objectives: We aim to study the clinical factors and neonatal morbidities that may affect neonatal hearing screening results using otoacoustic emission test, in order to decrease the false positive test results that increase parental anxiety and increase the need for subsequent investigations. Methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional study that included 204 infants who were admitted to a tertiary referral hospital NICU unit between September 2017 and May 2018. Both transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) screening tests were performed in order to screen hearing loss. Results: Our study included 204 infants, 52.9% of which were males and 47.1% females. There were correlations between both hyperbilirubinemia and ventilation ≥5 days and the failure rate of the first OAE test results among NICU infants where the P-values were (p=0.0133) and (p=0.0456) respectively. Moreover, 165 babies (80.9%) passed the first OAE with a mean birth weight of 2759 gram and mean maternal age of 30.6 years, while 39 babies (19.1%) failed the test with a mean birth weight of 2436 gram and mean maternal age of 32 years. There was no statistically significant relation between both maternal age and birth weight with failure of the first screening test. Conclusion: Our study suggests a higher failure rate of the first OAE in NICU infants who had hyperbilirubinemia or ventilation ≥5 days. Therefore, our recommendation is to postpone the first phase of hearing screening for those infants until the first scheduled vaccine appointment to achieve high compliance to attendance and decrease distress to the family that can be associated with false-negative results of the test.

scholarly journals Contralateral Ear Occlusion for Improving the Reliability of Otoacoustic Emission Screening Tests

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Papsin ◽  
Adrienne L. Harrison ◽  
Mattia Carraro ◽  
Robert V. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Ambient Noise ◽  
Otoacoustic Emission ◽  
Acoustic Stimulation ◽  
Hearing Screening ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Newborn Hearing Screening ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Distortion Product ◽  
Newborn Hearing ◽  
Contralateral Ear

Newborn hearing screening is an established healthcare standard in many countries and testing is feasible using otoacoustic emission (OAE) recording. It is well documented that OAEs can be suppressed by acoustic stimulation of the ear contralateral to the test ear. In clinical otoacoustic emission testing carried out in a sound attenuating booth, ambient noise levels are low such that the efferent system is not activated. However in newborn hearing screening, OAEs are often recorded in hospital or clinic environments, where ambient noise levels can be 60–70 dB SPL. Thus, results in the test ear can be influenced by ambient noise stimulating the opposite ear. Surprisingly, in hearing screening protocols there are no recommendations for avoiding contralateral suppression, that is, protecting the opposite ear from noise by blocking the ear canal. In the present study we have compared transient evoked and distortion product OAEs measured with and without contralateral ear plugging, in environmental settings with ambient noise levels <25 dB SPL, 45 dB SPL, and 55 dB SPL. We found out that without contralateral ear occlusion, ambient noise levels above 55 dB SPL can significantly attenuate OAE signals. We strongly suggest contralateral ear occlusion in OAE based hearing screening in noisy environments.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Severity of Hearing Loss and Subjective Tinnitus Loudness among Patients Seen in a Specialist Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Therapy Clinic in UK

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (08) ◽  
pp. 712-719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hashir Aazh ◽  
Richard Salvi
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Regression Model ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Emotional Disturbances ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractHearing loss is often associated with the phantom sound of tinnitus. However, the degree of the association between severity of hearing loss and tinnitus loudness taking into account the impact of other variables (e.g., emotional disturbances) is not fully understood. This is an important question for audiologists who are specialized in tinnitus rehabilitation as patients often ask whether the loudness of their tinnitus will increase if their hearing gets worse.To explore the relationship between tinnitus loudness and pure tone hearing thresholds.This was a retrospective cross-sectional study.445 consecutive patients who attended a Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Therapy Specialist Clinic in UK were included.The results of audiological tests and self-report questionnaires were gathered retrospectively from the records of the patients. Multiple-regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between tinnitus loudness, hearing loss and other variables.The regression model showed a significant relationship between the pure tone average (PTA) at the frequencies 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz of the better ear and the tinnitus loudness as measured via visual analogue scale (VAS), r (regression coefficient) = 0.022 (p < 0.001). Other variables significantly associated with tinnitus loudness were tinnitus annoyance (r = 0.49, p < 0.001) and the effect of tinnitus on life (r = 0.09, p = 0.006). The regression model explained 52% of the variance of tinnitus loudness.Although increased tinnitus loudness was associated with worse PTA, the relationship was very weak. Tinnitus annoyance and impact of tinnitus on life were more strongly correlated with tinnitus loudness than PTA.

Suction tube noise and myringotomy

1980 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. Spencer
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Otitis Media ◽  
External Auditory Meatus ◽  
Noise Induced Hearing Loss ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Suction Tube ◽  
Sound Levels ◽  
High Level

AbstactThe possibility of a noise-induced hearing loss occurring as a result of a high level of sucker-tip noise in myringtomy for seromucinous otitis media is discussed, A group of twenty-four ears is investigated and the noise levels generated by the suction tube are mearsured at operation by means of a probe microphone lowered into the external auditory meatus The conclusions reached are that, although the sound levels attained are at times quite high, they are not of suffcient amplitude, nor are they present for a suffcient length of time, to produce a sencori-neural hearing loss.

scholarly journals Self-Reported Hearing Loss and Pure Tone Audiometry for Screening in Primary Health Care Clinics

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 215013271880315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Louw ◽  
De Wet Swanepoel ◽  
Robert H Eikelboom
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Test Accuracy ◽  
Second Stage ◽  
Health Care Clinics ◽  
Primary Health

Objective: To evaluate the performance of self-reported hearing loss alone and in combination with pure tone audiometry screening in primary health care clinics in South Africa. Design: Nonprobability purposive sampling was used at 2 primary health care clinics. A total of 1084 participants (mean age 41.2 years; SD 15.5 years; range 16-97 years, 74.0% female) were screened using self-report and audiometry screening. Those failing audiometric screening and a sample of those who passed audiometric screening were also assessed by diagnostic pure time audiometry, to confirm or negate the finding of a hearing loss. Results: Four hundred and thirty-six participants (40.2%) self-reported a hearing loss with no significant association with gender or race. One hundred and thirty-six participant (12.5%) self-reported hearing loss and failed audiometry screening (35 dB HL at 1, 2, and 4 kHz). Combining self-report with a second stage audiometry screening revealed a high test accuracy (81.0%) for hearing loss, being most accurate (86.1%) to identify high-frequency hearing loss. Conclusion: While self-report of hearing loss is an easy and time-efficient screening method to use at primary health care clinics, its accuracy may be limited when used in isolation and it may not be sufficiently sensitive to detect hearing loss. Combining a simple audiometry screening as a second-stage screen can significantly improve overall performance and efficiency of the screening protocol.

scholarly journals Ballroom Music Spillover into a Beluga Whale Aquarium Exhibit

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M. Scheifele ◽  
John Greer Clark ◽  
Kristine Sonstrom ◽  
Huikwan Kim ◽  
Gopu Potty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element Analysis ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Plane Wave ◽  
Ambient Noise ◽  
Transmission Loss ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Underwater Noise ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Sound Levels

It is not uncommon for modern aquaria to be built with special entertainment areas. There are no known measurements of sound spillover from such entertainment areas into underwater animal exhibits. Entertainment organizations typically prefer to play music for events at 95 and 100 dBA in a ballroom at Georgia Aquarium. Concern over the potential effects of the music and noise on animals in adjacent exhibits inspired an initial project to monitor and compare sound levels in the adjacent underwater exhibits against the typical in-air sound levels of the ballroom. Measured underwater noise levels were compared to modeled levels based on finite element analysis and plane wave transmission loss calculations through the acrylic viewing window. Results were compared with the model to determine how, if at all, the ambient noise level in the Cold Water Quest exhibit changed as a result of music played in the ballroom.

Noise induced hearing loss in dance music disc jockeys and an examination of sound levels in nightclubs

2004 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Bray ◽  
Marcin Szymański ◽  
Robert Mills
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Temporary Threshold Shift ◽  
Noise Induced Hearing Loss ◽  
Dance Music ◽  
Sound Levels ◽  
Substantial Risk

Noise exposure, hearing loss and associated otological symptoms have been studied in a group of 23 disc jockeys using a questionnaire and pure tone audiometry. The level of noise exposure in the venues where they work has also been studied using Ametek Mk-3 audio dosimeters. Three members of the study group showed clear evidence of noise-induced hearing losson audiometry, 70 per cent reported temporary threshold shift after sessions and 74 per cent reported tinnitus. Sound levels of up to 108 dB(A) were recorded in the nightclubs. The average level for a typical session was 96 dB(A) which is above the level at which the provision of ear protection is mandatory for employers in industry. It can be concluded that DJs are at substantial risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss and noise exposure in nightclubs frequently exceeds safe levels.

Screening for Hearing Loss in Adolescents

1997 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice E. Holmes ◽  
Holly S. Kaplan ◽  
Regina M. Phillips ◽  
F. Joseph Kemker ◽  
F. Thomas Weber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Failure Rate ◽  
Educational Intervention ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Adolescent Population ◽  
Screening Protocol ◽  
High Level

Three-hundred-forty-two adolescents between the ages of 10–20 years were administered an auditory screening protocol consisting of a: (a) noise history questionnaire, (b) otoscopic inspection, (c) tympanometry, and (d) pure-tone screening at 25 dB HL at 1000, 2000, 4000, and 6000 Hz. Results of this screening protocol suggest a high level of admitted noise exposure in the adolescent population. Overall failure rate was 25%. Pure-tone failure rate was 7% for the frequencies of 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz, increasing to 17% when 6000 Hz was added. Significant correlations were found between firearm use and hearing loss at 6000 Hz. Recommendations for screening the adolescent population are made, and suggestions for educational intervention on the effects of firearm usage are provided.

scholarly journals INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEPENDENCE OF NOISE GENERATED BY STANDING CARS ON THE ENGINE POWER / STOVINČIŲ LENGVŲJŲ AUTOMOBILIŲ KELIAMO TRIUKŠMO PRIKLAUSOMYBĖS NUO VARIKLIO DARBINIO TŪRIO TYRIMAI

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-478
Author(s):  
Julius Gineika ◽  
Raimondas Grubliauskas
Keyword(s):  
Noise Level ◽  
Ambient Noise ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Noise Measurement ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Sound Levels ◽  
Local Sources ◽  
Engine Testing ◽  
Engine Capacity ◽  
Engine Power

Ambient noise harms a number of citizens in Europe. The major sources of environmental noise are that generated by cars in streets, parking lots, railway lines and airports as well as noise from local sources (fans, transformers). According to the methodology for noise measurement, engine testing has been carried out. The conducted analysis has been focused on engine capacity and the distance between vehicles and equipment. Equivalent, maximum and minimum sound levels at different frequencies have been measured accepting that errors may range up to 2 %. Maximum sound level has been reached using the engine of 2000 cm3 petrol capacity. At a half-meter distance, the equivalent sound level reaches 89 dB(A), whereas the noise level decreases moving away from the car. The obtained results of tested cars disclose that according to engine capacity, the majority of the investigated cars are technically faulty and therefore significantly exceed noise levels. Santrauka Straipsnyje nagrinėjamas lengvųjų automobilių variklių skleidžiamas triukšmas bei jo poveikis aplinkai. Pateikiama triukšmo matavimo metodika ir eksperimentinis variklio sukelto triukšmo tyrimas. Ištirti penki automobiliai su skirtingais darbinio tūrio skirtingais atstumais varikliais: 1400 cm3 benzininis, 1500 cm3 dyzelinis, 1800 cm3 benzininis, 2000 cm3 benzininis ir 2500 cm3 dyzelinis. Variklio keliamo triukšmo tyrimas buvo atliktas, esant 1000 sūk./min., taip pat įvertinta, kurie automobiliai viršija leistinus triukšmo lygius. Buvo atlikti tyrimai esant 3000 sūk./min. (benzininiams varikliams) ir 3500 sūk./min. (dyzeliniams varikliams). Išmatuoti ekvivalentinis, maksimalus bei minimalus garso lygiai, taip pat garso lygiai, esant skirtingiems dažniams. Priimame prielaidą, kad paklaida gali svyruoti iki 2 %. Didžiausias garso lygis pasiektas 2000 cm3 benzininio variklio. Pusės metro atstumu ekvivalentinis garso lygis siekia 89 dB(A). Tolstant nuo automobilio, triukšmo lygis mažėja. Remiantis gautais rezultatais, galima daryti išvadą, kad vertinant pagal variklių darbinį tūrį daugelis tirtųjų automobilių yra techniškai netvarkingi ir stipriai viršija triukšmo lygius.

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