Evaluation of Auditory Functions for Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officers

Background: Auditory fitness for duty (AFFD) testing is an important element in an assessment of workers’ ability to perform job tasks safely and effectively. Functional hearing is particularly critical to job performance in law enforcement. Most often, assessment is based on pure-tone detection thresholds; however, its validity can be questioned and challenged in court. In an attempt to move beyond the pure-tone audiogram, some organizations like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are incorporating additional testing to supplement audiometric data in their AFFD protocols, such as measurements of speech recognition in quiet and/or in noise, and sound localization. Purpose: This article reports on the assessment of RCMP officers wearing hearing aids in speech recognition and sound localization tasks. The purpose was to quantify individual performance in different domains of hearing identified as necessary components of fitness for duty, and to document the type of hearing aids prescribed in the field and their benefit for functional hearing. The data are to help RCMP in making more informed decisions regarding AFFD in officers wearing hearing aids. Research Design: The proposed new AFFD protocol included unaided and aided measures of speech recognition in quiet and in noise using the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) and sound localization in the left/right (L/R) and front/back (F/B) horizontal planes. Sixty-four officers were identified and selected by the RCMP to take part in this study on the basis of hearing thresholds exceeding current audiometrically based criteria. This article reports the results of 57 officers wearing hearing aids. Results: Based on individual results, 49% of officers were reclassified from nonoperational status to operational with limitations on fine hearing duties, given their unaided and/or aided performance. Group data revealed that hearing aids (1) improved speech recognition thresholds on the HINT, the effects being most prominent in Quiet and in conditions of spatial separation between target and noise (Noise Right and Noise Left) and least considerable in Noise Front; (2) neither significantly improved nor impeded L/R localization; and (3) substantially increased F/B errors in localization in a number of cases. Additional analyses also pointed to the poor ability of threshold data to predict functional abilities for speech in noise (r2 = 0.26 to 0.33) and sound localization (r2 = 0.03 to 0.28). Only speech in quiet (r2 = 0.68 to 0.85) is predicted adequately from threshold data. Conclusions: Combined with previous findings, results indicate that the use of hearing aids can considerably affect F/B localization abilities in a number of individuals. Moreover, speech understanding in noise and sound localization abilities were poorly predicted from pure-tone thresholds, demonstrating the need to specifically test these abilities, both unaided and aided, when assessing AFFD. Finally, further work is needed to develop empirically based hearing criteria for the RCMP and identify best practices in hearing aid fittings for optimal functional hearing abilities.

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Auditory Outcomes with Hearing Rehabilitation in Children with Unilateral Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1177/0194599817726757 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 157 (4) ◽

pp. 565-571 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Swathi Appachi ◽

Jessica. L. Specht ◽

Nikhila Raol ◽

Judith E. C. Lieu ◽

Michael S. Cohen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Speech Recognition ◽

Sound Localization ◽

Hearing Aids ◽

Bone Conduction ◽

Unilateral Hearing Loss ◽

Hearing Rehabilitation ◽

Hearing Devices ◽

Bone Conduction Hearing ◽

Speech Recognition In Noise

Objective Options for management of unilateral hearing loss (UHL) in children include conventional hearing aids, bone-conduction hearing devices, contralateral routing of signal (CROS) aids, and frequency-modulating (FM) systems. The objective of this study was to systematically review the current literature to characterize auditory outcomes of hearing rehabilitation options in UHL. Data Sources PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception to January 2016. Manual searches of bibliographies were also performed. Review Methods Studies analyzing auditory outcomes of hearing amplification in children with UHL were included. Outcome measures included functional and objective auditory results. Two independent reviewers evaluated each abstract and article. Results Of the 249 articles identified, 12 met inclusion criteria. Seven articles solely focused on outcomes with bone-conduction hearing devices. Outcomes favored improved pure-tone averages, speech recognition thresholds, and sound localization in implanted patients. Five studies focused on FM systems, conventional hearing aids, or CROS hearing aids. Limited data are available but suggest a trend toward improvement in speech perception with hearing aids. FM systems were shown to have the most benefit for speech recognition in noise. Studies evaluating CROS hearing aids demonstrated variable outcomes. Conclusions Data evaluating functional and objective auditory measures following hearing amplification in children with UHL are limited. Most studies do suggest improvement in speech perception, speech recognition in noise, and sound localization with a hearing rehabilitation device.

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Binaural Application of the Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid

Annals of Otology Rhinology & Laryngology ◽

10.1177/000348949810700301 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 107 (3) ◽

pp. 187-193 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Ad F. M. Snik ◽

Andy J. Beynon ◽

Catharina T. M. van der Pouw ◽

Emmanuel A. M. Mylanus ◽

Cor W. R. J. Cremers

Keyword(s):

Speech Recognition ◽

Sound Localization ◽

Hearing Aids ◽

Hearing Aid ◽

Bone Conduction ◽

Listening Condition ◽

Bone Anchored Hearing Aid ◽

Bone Conduction Hearing ◽

Bone Conduction Hearing Aid ◽

Binaural Listening

Most, but not all, hearing-impaired patients with air conduction hearing aids prefer binaural amplification instead of monaural amplification. The binaural application of the bone conduction hearing aid is more disputable, because the attenuation (in decibels) of sound waves across the skull is so small (10 dB) that even one bone conduction hearing aid will stimulate both cochleas approximately to the same extent. Binaural fitting of the bone-anchored hearing aid was studied in three experienced bone-anchored hearing aid users. The experiments showed that sound localization, and speech recognition in quiet and also under certain noisy conditions improved significantly with binaural listening compared to the monaural listening condition. On the average, the percentage of correct identifications (within 45°) in the sound localization experiment improved by 53% with binaural listening; the speech reception threshold in quiet improved by 4.4 dB. The binaural advantage in the speech-in-noise test was comparable to that of a control group of subjects with normal hearing listening monaurally versus binaurally. The improvements in the scores were ascribed to diotic summation (improved speech recognition in quiet) and the ability to separate sounds in the binaural listening condition (improved sound localization and improved speech recognition in noise whenever the speech and noise signals came from different directions). All three patients preferred the binaural bone-anchored hearing aids and used them all day.

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Sentence Recognition in Steady-State Speech-Shaped Noise versus Four-Talker Babble

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ◽

10.3766/jaaa.17083 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (01) ◽

pp. 054-065

Author(s):

Andrew J. Vermiglio ◽

Caroline C. Herring ◽

Paige Heeke ◽

Courtney E. Post ◽

Xiangming Fang

Keyword(s):

Steady State ◽

Speech Recognition ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Pure Tone ◽

Spatial Separation ◽

Normal Limits ◽

Significant Relationships ◽

Noise Test ◽

Speech Recognition In Noise ◽

Binaural Listening

AbstractSpeech recognition in noise (SRN) evaluations reveal information about listening ability that is unavailable from pure-tone thresholds. Unfortunately, SRN evaluations are not commonly used in the clinic. A lack of standardization may be an explanation for the lack of widespread acceptance of SRN testing. Arguments have been made for the utilization of steady-state speech-shaped noise vs. multi-talker babble. Previous investigations into the effect of masker type have used a monaural presentation of the stimuli. However, results of monaural SRN tests cannot be generalized to binaural listening conditions.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of masker type on SRN thresholds under binaural listening conditions.The Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) protocol was selected in order to measure SRN thresholds in steady-state speech-shaped noise (HINT noise) and four-talker babble with and without the spatial separation of the target speech and masker stimuli.Fifty native speakers of English with normal pure-tone thresholds (≤ 25 dB HL, 250–4000 Hz) participated in the study. The mean age was 20.5 years (SD 1.01).All participants were tested using the standard protocol for the HINT in a simulated soundfield environment under TDH-50P headphones. Thresholds were measured for the Noise Front, Noise Left, and Noise Right listening conditions with HINT noise and four-talker babble. The HINT composite score was determined for each noise condition. The spatial advantage was calculated from the HINT thresholds. Pure-tone threshold data were collected using the modified Hughson-Westlake procedure. Statistical analyses include descriptive statistics, effect size, correlations, and repeated measures ANOVA followed by matched-pairs t-tests.Repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to investigate the effects of masker type and noise location on HINT thresholds. Both main effects and their interaction were statistically significant (p < 0.01). No significant differences were found between masker conditions for the Noise Front thresholds. However, for the Noise Side conditions the four-talker babble thresholds were significantly better than the HINT noise thresholds. Overall, greater spatial advantage was found for the four-talker babble as opposed to the HINT noise conditions (p < 0.01). Pearson correlation analysis revealed no significant relationships between four-talker babble and HINT noise speech recognition performances for the Noise Front, Noise Right conditions, and the spatial advantage measures. Significant relationships (p < 0.05) were found between masking noise performances for the Noise Left condition and the Noise Composite scores.One cannot assume that a patient who performs within normal limits on a speech in four-talker babble test will also perform within normal limits on a speech in steady-state speech-shaped noise test, and vice-versa. Additionally, performances for the Noise Front condition cannot be used to predict performances for the Noise Side conditions. The utilization of both HINT noise and four-talker babble maskers, with and without the spatial separation of the stimuli, may be useful when determining the range of speech recognition in noise abilities found in everyday listening conditions.

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Speech Perception and Information-Carrying Capacity for Hearing Aid Users of Different Ages

Audiology and Neurotology ◽

10.1159/000448349 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 21 (Suppl. 1) ◽

pp. 16-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Ulrich Hoppe ◽

Thomas Hocke ◽

Alexander Müller ◽

Anne Hast

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Speech Recognition ◽

Speech Perception ◽

Hearing Aids ◽

Carrying Capacity ◽

Pure Tone ◽

Hearing Aid ◽

The Elderly ◽

Monosyllabic Word ◽

Older Subjects

Hearing impairment in the elderly is usually treated with conventional hearing aids; however, a large number of older people do not achieve sufficient speech recognition with hearing aids. The aim of the study was to describe speech perception with hearing aids in comparison to pure-tone hearing loss and maximum speech recognition scores for phonemically balanced words. Data from 392 hearing aid users with different degrees of hearing loss were evaluated retrospectively. In particular, pure-tone thresholds, the maximum monosyllabic word score, and the monosyllabic word score in quiet at conversational level with a hearing aid were analysed. The results showed that speech perception scores decline with increasing age. Even when corrected for pure-tone hearing loss, a significant decline in speech recognition scores after the age of 80 years was observed. Regarding the maximum monosyllabic word score, the effect is smaller but still observable; thus, speech recognition with hearing aids is significantly lower for older subjects. This can be attributed partially to the reduction of the information-carrying capacity in this group.

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Broad binaural fusion impairs segregation of speech based on voice pitch differences in a ‘cocktail party’ environment

10.1101/805309 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yonghee Oh ◽

Curtis L. Hartling ◽

Nirmal Kumar Srinivasan ◽

Morgan Eddolls ◽

Anna C. Diedesch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Speech Recognition ◽

Hearing Aids ◽

Recognition Performance ◽

Spatial Separation ◽

Hearing Impaired ◽

Cocktail Party ◽

Voice Pitch ◽

Strong Negative Correlation ◽

Improved Performance ◽

Central Auditory Neurons

ABSTRACTIn the normal auditory system, central auditory neurons are sharply tuned to the same frequency ranges for each ear. This precise tuning is mirrored behaviorally as the binaural fusion of tones evoking similar pitches across ears. In contrast, hearing-impaired listeners exhibit abnormally broad tuning of binaural pitch fusion, fusing sounds with pitches differing by up to 3-4 octaves across ears into a single object. Here we present evidence that such broad fusion may similarly impair the segregation and recognition of speech based on voice pitch differences in a ‘cocktail party’ environment. Speech recognition performance in a multi-talker environment was measured in four groups of adult subjects: normal-hearing (NH) listeners and hearing-impaired listeners with bilateral hearing aids (HAs), bimodal cochlear implant (CI) worn with a contralateral HA, or bilateral CIs. Performance was measured as the threshold target-to-masker ratio needed to understand a target talker in the presence of masker talkers either co-located or symmetrically spatially separated from the target. Binaural pitch fusion was also measured. Voice pitch differences between target and masker talkers improved speech recognition performance for the NH, bilateral HA, and bimodal CI groups, but not the bilateral CI group. Spatial separation only improved performance for the NH group, indicating an inability of the hearing-impaired groups to benefit from spatial release from masking. A moderate to strong negative correlation was observed between the benefit from voice pitch differences and the breadth of binaural pitch fusion in all groups except the bilateral CI group in the co-located spatial condition. Hence, tuning of binaural pitch fusion predicts the ability to segregate voices based on pitch when acoustic cues are available. The findings suggest that obligatory binaural fusion, with a concomitant loss of information from individual streams, may occur at a level of processing before auditory object formation and segregation.

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New possibility for measuring the cortical auditory evoked potentials: the HEARLab

Orvosi Hetilap ◽

10.1556/oh.2014.29992 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 155 (38) ◽

pp. 1524-1529

Author(s):

Ádám Bach ◽

Ferenc Tóth ◽

Vera Matievics ◽

József Géza Kiss ◽

József Jóri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Practice ◽

Evoked Potentials ◽

Auditory System ◽

Hearing Aids ◽

Pure Tone ◽

Auditory Evoked Potentials ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Speech Stimuli ◽

Novel Method ◽

Cortical Auditory Evoked Potentials

Introduction: Cortical auditory evoked potentials can provide objective information about the highest level of the auditory system. Aim: The purpose of the authors was to introduce a new tool, the “HEARLab” which can be routinely used in clinical practice for the measurement of the cortical auditory evoked potentials. In addition, they wanted to establish standards of the analyzed parameters in subjects with normal hearing. Method: 25 adults with normal hearing were tested with speech stimuli, and frequency specific examinations were performed utilizing pure tone stimuli. Results: The findings regarding the latency and amplitude analyses of the evoked potentials confirm previously published results of this novel method. Conclusions: The HEARLAb can be a great help when performance of the conventional audiological examinations is complicated. The examination can be performed in uncooperative subjects even in the presence of hearing aids. The test is frequency specific and does not require anesthesia. Orv. Hetil., 2014, 155(38), 1524–1529.

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Extended High Frequencies Provide Both Spectral and Temporal Information to Improve Speech-in-Speech Recognition

Trends in Hearing ◽

10.1177/2331216520980299 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 ◽

pp. 233121652098029

Author(s):

Allison Trine ◽

Brian B. Monson

Keyword(s):

Speech Recognition ◽

Pure Tone ◽

Recognition Performance ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Exploratory Analysis ◽

Temporal Information ◽

Significant Benefit ◽

Head Orientation ◽

Spectral Structure ◽

High Frequencies

Several studies have demonstrated that extended high frequencies (EHFs; >8 kHz) in speech are not only audible but also have some utility for speech recognition, including for speech-in-speech recognition when maskers are facing away from the listener. However, the contribution of EHF spectral versus temporal information to speech recognition is unknown. Here, we show that access to EHF temporal information improved speech-in-speech recognition relative to speech bandlimited at 8 kHz but that additional access to EHF spectral detail provided an additional small but significant benefit. Results suggest that both EHF spectral structure and the temporal envelope contribute to the observed EHF benefit. Speech recognition performance was quite sensitive to masker head orientation, with a rotation of only 15° providing a highly significant benefit. An exploratory analysis indicated that pure-tone thresholds at EHFs are better predictors of speech recognition performance than low-frequency pure-tone thresholds.

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Interactions between Cognition, Compression, and Listening Conditions: Effects on Speech-in-Noise Performance in a Two-Channel Hearing Aid

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ◽

10.3766/jaaa.18.7.7 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 18 (07) ◽

pp. 604-617 ◽

Cited By ~ 122

Author(s):

Thomas Lunner ◽

Elisabet Sundewall-Thorén

Keyword(s):

Speech Recognition ◽

Test Scores ◽

Pure Tone ◽

Hearing Aid ◽

Test Procedure ◽

Performance Measure ◽

Cognitive Test ◽

Fast Time ◽

Time Constants ◽

Pure Tone Average

This study which included 23 experienced hearing aid users replicated several of the experiments reported in Gatehouse et al (2003, 2006) with new speech test material, language, and test procedure. The performance measure used was SNR required for 80% correct words in a sentence test. Consistent with Gatehouse et al, this study indicated that subjects showing a low score in a cognitive test (visual letter monitoring) performed better in the speech recognition test with slow time constants than with fast time constants, and performed better in unmodulated noise than in modulated noise, while subjects with high scores on the cognitive test showed the opposite pattern. Furthermore, cognitive test scores were significantly correlated with the differential advantage of fast-acting versus slow-acting compression in conditions of modulated noise.The pure tone average threshold explained 30% of the variance in aided speech recognition in noise under relatively simple listening conditions, while cognitive test scores explained about 40% of the variance under more complex, fluctuating listening conditions, where the pure tone average explained less than 5% of the variance. This suggests that speech recognition under steady-state noise conditions may underestimate the role of cognition in real-life listening.

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AUDIOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF AGE-RELATED MANIFESTATIONS OF AUDITORY DISORDERS

Успехи геронтологии ◽

10.34922/ae.2020.33.3.017 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 549-554

Author(s):

Л. Е. Голованова ◽

Е. А. Огородникова ◽

Н. С. Белокурова ◽

Е. С. Лаптева ◽

М. Ю. Бобошко

Keyword(s):

Hearing Aids ◽

Auditory Processing ◽

Pure Tone ◽

Young Patients ◽

Pure Tone Audiometry ◽

Sound Field ◽

Speech Audiometry ◽

Central Auditory Processing ◽

Central Auditory Processing Disorder ◽

Age Related

Целью исследования был сравнительный анализ жалоб и аудиологических показателей у пациентов сурдологического центра в зависимости от возраста. Представлены результаты обследования 300 первичных пациентов (случайная выборка), обратившихся к сурдологу-оториноларингологу в течение 1 мес. В группу молодых пациентов (19-44 года) вошли 40 человек; в группу среднего возраста (45- 59 лет) - 62 человека; в группу пожилых (60-74 года) - 100 человек; в группу старческого возраста (75-90 лет) - 98 человек. Обследование включало сбор жалоб и анамнеза, ЛОР-осмотр, тональную пороговую аудиометрию, импедансометрию, речевую аудиометрию в наушниках для выявления признаков центральных слуховых расстройств или в свободном звуковом поле для оценки эффективности слухопротезирования. Установлено, что для ранней диагностики тугоухости и профилактики возрастных сенсорнокогнитивных дисфункций целесообразно использовать не только результаты тональной пороговой аудиометрии, но и данные речевой аудиометрии, а также анализ субъективных жалоб. Результаты работы свидетельствуют о необходимости организации скрининга состояния слуха в рамках диспансеризации населения старше 60 лет. The aim of the study was a comparative analysis of complaints and audiological ﬁndings in patients of the audiological center depending on their age. The results of the examination of 300 ﬁ rstly consulted patients (random sample) are presented. The group of young patients (19-44 years) included 40 people; middle age (45-59 years) - 62 people; elderly (60-74 years) - 100 people; senile age (75-90 years) - 98 people. The survey included the collection of complaints and anamnesis, ENT checkup, pure tone audiometry, impedancemetry, speech audiometry in headphones to detect the signs of Central Auditory Processing Disorder or in the free sound ﬁeld to assess the effectiveness of hearing aids. It was found that for early diagnosis of hearing loss and prevention of age-related sensory-cognitive dysfunction, it is advisable to use not only the results of pure tone audiometry, but also the data of speech audiometry, as well as the analysis of subjective complaints. The results of the work indicate the need for hearing screening in the population over 60 years old.

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