The Expected Benefit of Hearing Aids in Quiet as a Function of Hearing Thresholds

2019 ◽  
pp. 63-85
Author(s):  
Peter J. Blamey
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Retrospective Data ◽  
Monosyllabic Word ◽  
Pure Tone Average ◽  
Hearing Thresholds ◽  
Monosyllabic Words ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Difference

This chapter aimed to estimate speech perception benefits in quiet for clients with different degrees of hearing loss. The difference between aided and unaided scores on a monosyllabic word test presented binaurally was used as the measure of benefit. Retrospective data for 492 hearing aid users with four-frequency pure-tone average hearing losses (PTA) ranging from 5 dB HL to 76 dB HL in the better ear were analyzed using nonlinear regression. The mean benefit for the perception of monosyllabic words in this group of clients was 22.3% and the maximum expected benefit was 33.6% for a PTA of 52 dB HL. The expected benefit can be expressed as a reduction of the error rate by about half for isolated words and about one quarter for sentences across the full range of PTA.

scholarly journals Supplementary Effect of Choline Alfoscerate on Speech Recognition in Patients With Age-Related Hearing Loss: A Prospective Study in 34 Patients (57 Ears)

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gina Na ◽  
Sang Hyun Kwak ◽  
Seung Hyun Jang ◽  
Hye Eun Noh ◽  
Jungghi Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Monosyllabic Words ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Age Related Hearing Loss

To investigate the effect of choline alfoscerate (CA) on hearing amplification in patients with age related hearing loss, we performed a prospective case-control observational study from March 2016 to September 2020. We assessed patients with bilateral word recognition score (WRS) <50% using monosyllabic words. The patients were 65–85 years old, without any history of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, parkinsonism, or depression. After enrollment, all patients started using hearing aids (HA). The CA group received a daily dose of 800 mg CA for 11 months. We performed between-group comparisons of audiological data, including pure tone audiometry, WRS, HA fitting data obtained using real-ear measurement (REM), and the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid benefit scores after treatment. After CA administration, the WRS improved significantly in the CA group (4.2 ± 8.3%), but deteriorated in the control group (−0.6 ± 8.1%, p = 0.035). However, there was no significant between-group difference in the change in pure tone thresholds and aided speech intelligibility index calculated from REM. These findings suggest that the difference in WRS was relevant to central speech understanding rather than peripheral audibility. Therefore, administering oral CA could effectively enrich listening comprehension in older HA users.

scholarly journals Hearing Thresholds of Nigerian Navy Personnel Serving in Lagos Area

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abubakar O Aliyu ◽  
Waheed A Adedeji ◽  
Adekunle Daniel ◽  
Tajudeen Yusuf ◽  
Paul A Onakoya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Past History ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
Work Place ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pure Tone Average ◽  
Hearing Thresholds ◽  
The Right ◽  
Navy Personnel

Abstract Introduction: Navy personnel are exposed to several risk factors that increase hearing thresholds and impair hearing. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of hearing impairment among Nigerian Navy personnel. Materials and Method: This was a cross sectional study of Nigerian Navy personnel working in various ships. Structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on hearing. All the subjects had ear examination and pure tone audiometry of both ears. Results: The prevalence of hearing impairment was 22(14.7%) in the right and 17(11.3%) in the left ears. The Pure Tone Average for the right and left ear were 19.0±8.6dB and 17.4±6.7dB respectively. There was a statistically significant association between noisy work place and total hearing loss (p<.01), pure tone average in the left ear (p<.05) and frequencies of 3000 Hz (p<.05), 2000 Hz (p<.001) and 1000Hz (p<.05) in the left ear. The association between past history of ear infections and pure tone average in the left ear (p<.05) and the frequency 2000 Hz (p<.005) in the left ear were significant. The length of service years, occupational group, age, sex report of change in hearing, non-use of hearing protection and presence of tinnitus did not show significant association with pure tone averages nor on the frequencies tested. Conclusion: The significant unilateral hearing impairment on the right ear suggests the need for more research on hearing impairment in the Nigerian Navy as well as development of a comprehensive hearing conservation programme.

Modification of auditory pathway functions in patients with hearing improvement after middle ear surgery

1998 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juha-Pekka Vasama ◽  
Jyrki P. Mäkelä ◽  
Hans A. Ramsay
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Middle Ear ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Conductive Hearing Loss ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Middle Ear Surgery ◽  
Ear Surgery ◽  
Pure Tone Average ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Conductive Hearing

We recorded auditory-evoked magnetic responses with a whole-scalp 122-channel neuromagnetometer from seven adult patients with unilateral conductive hearing loss before and after middle ear surgery. The stimuli were 50-msec 1-kHz tone bursts, delivered to the healthy, nonoperated ear at interstimulus intervals of 1, 2, and 4 seconds. The mean preoperative pure-tone average in the affected ear was 57 dB hearing level; the mean postoperative pure-tone average was 17 dB. The 100-msec auditory-evoked response originating in the auditory cortex peaked, on average, 7 msecs earlier after than before surgery over the hemisphere contralateral to the stimulated ear and 2 msecs earlier over the ipsilateral hemisphere. The contralateral response strengths increased by 5% after surgery; ipsilateral strengths increased by 11%. The variation of the response latency and amplitude in the patients who underwent surgery was similar to that of seven control subjects. The postoperative source locations did not differ noticeably from preoperative ones. These findings suggest that temporary unilateral conductive hearing loss in adult patients modifies the function of the auditory neural pathway. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1998;119:125-30.)

Outcomes after Application of Active Bone Conducting Implants

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 197-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleonor Koro ◽  
Mimmi Werner
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
Sound Field ◽  
Hearing Gain ◽  
Mixed Hearing Loss ◽  
Glasgow Benefit Inventory ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Single Sided Deafness

Background: A bone conducting implant is a treatment option for individuals with conductive or mixed hearing loss (CHL, MHL) who do not tolerate regular hearing aids, and for individuals with single-sided deafness (SSD). An active bone conducting implant (ABCI) was introduced in 2012 with indication in CHL, MHL, and SSD, and it is still the only ABCI available. With complete implantation of the active transducer and consequent intact skin, a decrease in infections, skin overgrowth, and implant losses, all common disadvantages with earlier passive bone conducting implants, could be expected. Our Ear, Nose and Throat Department, a secondary care center for otosurgery that covers a population of approximately 365,000 inhabitants, was approved to implant ABCIs in 2012. Objectives: Our aim was to conduct an evaluation of audiological and subjective outcomes after ABCIs. Method: A cohort study with retrospective and prospective data collection was performed.The first 20 consecutive patients operated with an ABCI were asked for informed consent. The main outcome measures werepure tone and speech audiometry and the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI). Results: Seventeen patients accepted to participate and 15 were able to complete all parts. Six patients had CHL or MHL. In this group the pure tone audiometry tests are comparable with an average functional hearing gain of 29.8 dB HL. With bilateral hearing, the mean Word Recognition Score (WRS) in noise was 35.7% unaided and 62.7% aided. Ten patients had the indication SSD. With the hearing ear blocked, the pure tone average was >101 dB HL, compared to 29.3 dB HL in sound field aided. With bilateral hearing, the mean WRS in noise was 59.7% unaided and 72.8% aided. The mean of the total GBI score was 42.1 in the group with CHL or MHL and 20.6 in the group with SSD. Conclusions: The patients benefit from their implants in terms of quality of life, and there is a substantial hearing gain from the implant for patients with conductive or MHL. Patients with SSD benefit less from the implant than other diagnoses but the positive outcomes are comparable to other options for this group.

Middle Fossa Approach for Resection of Vestibular Schwannomas: A Decade of Experience

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A Kosty ◽  
Shawn M Stevens ◽  
Yair M Gozal ◽  
Vincent A DiNapoli ◽  
Smruti K Patel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Facial Nerve ◽  
Tumor Size ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Vestibular Schwannomas ◽  
Nerve Function ◽  
Facial Nerve Function ◽  
Pure Tone Average ◽  
Class A ◽  
The Mean

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe middle cranial fossa (MCF) approach is a challenging surgical technique for the resection of small and intermediate sized, primarily intracanalicular, vestibular schwannomas (VS), with the goal of hearing preservation (HP).OBJECTIVETo describe a decade-long, single institutional experience with the MCF approach for resection of VS.METHODSThis is a retrospective cohort study of 63 patients who underwent the MCF approach for resection of VS from 2006 to 2016. Audiometric data included pure-tone average (PTA), low-tone pure-tone average (LtPTA), word recognition score, and American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) hearing classification at presentation and follow-up. Patients with postoperative serviceable (AAO-HNS class A-B) and/or useful (AAO-HNS class A-C) hearing were compared to those without HP. Facial nerve function was assessed using the House–Brackmann scale.RESULTSThe mean age and duration of follow-up were 50 ± 13 yr and 21 ± 21 mo, respectively. The mean tumor size was 10 ± 4 mm. The serviceable and usable HP rates were 54% and 50%, respectively. Some residual hearing was preserved in 71% of patients. Large tumor size (P = .05), volume (P = .03), and extrameatal tumor extension (P = .03) were associated with poor audiometric outcomes. The presence of a fundal fluid cap (P = .01) was a favorable finding. At definitive testing, LtPTA was significantly better preserved than traditional PTA (P = .01). Facial nerve outcomes, tumor control rates, and durability of audiometric outcomes were excellent. 47% of patients pursued aural rehabilitation.CONCLUSIONIn our series, the MCF approach for VS provided excellent rates of tumor and facial nerve function, with durable serviceable HP.

scholarly journals Is exposure to personal music players a confounder in adolescent mobile phone use and hearing health studies?

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (11) ◽  
pp. 4527-4534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geza Benke ◽  
Christina Dimitriadis ◽  
Berihun M. Zeleke ◽  
Imo Inyang ◽  
Dean McKenzie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Hearing Threshold ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
Mobile Phone Use ◽  
Hearing Thresholds ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Health Studies ◽  
The Difference

Objective This study was performed to determine whether exposure to personal music players (PMPs) in the immediate morning prior to hearing testing confounds the association between mobile phone use and hearing thresholds of adolescents. Design In this cohort study of cognitive function in year 7 students (median age 13 years, range 11–14), information regarding the weekly use of mobile phones and the use of PMPs was assessed by a questionnaire. Pure-tone audiometry was used to establish hearing thresholds for all participants. Results Among a cohort of 317 adolescents (60.9% females), 130 were unexposed to PMP use while 33 were exposed to PMP use in the morning prior to hearing testing. No statistically significant difference in hearing threshold shifts was found between adolescents who were and were not exposed to PMP use prior to hearing testing. Likewise, the difference in the use of mobile phones according to the PMP use status was not statistically significant. Conclusion Exposure to PMPs prior to hearing testing did not introduce confounding in the present study of mobile phone use and hearing loss among adolescents.

scholarly journals Correlation between Speech Perception Outcomes after Cochlear Implantation and Postoperative Acoustic and Electric Hearing Thresholds

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 324
Author(s):  
Ursina Rüegg ◽  
Adrian Dalbert ◽  
Dorothe Veraguth ◽  
Christof Röösli ◽  
Alexander Huber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Speech Perception ◽  
Correlation Analysis ◽  
Cochlear Implantation ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Small Population ◽  
Reliable Prediction ◽  
Electric Hearing ◽  
Hearing Thresholds ◽  
Monosyllabic Words

The reliable prediction of cochlear implant (CI) speech perception outcomes is highly relevant and can facilitate the monitoring of postoperative hearing performance. To date, multiple audiometric, demographic, and surgical variables have shown some degree of correlation with CI speech perception outcomes. In the present study, postsurgical acoustic and electric hearing thresholds that are routinely assessed in clinical practice were compared to CI speech perception outcomes in order to reveal possible markers of postoperative cochlear health. A total of 237 CI recipients were included in this retrospective monocentric study. An analysis of the correlation of postoperative pure-tone averages (PTAs) and electric CI fitting thresholds (T-/C-levels) with speech perception scores for monosyllabic words in quiet was performed. Additionally, a correlation analysis was performed for postoperative acoustic thresholds in intracochlear electrocochleography (EcochG) and speech recognition scores in a smaller group (n = 14). The results show that neither postoperative acoustic hearing thresholds nor electric thresholds correlate with postoperative speech perception outcomes, and they do not serve as independent predictors of speech perception outcomes. By contrast, the postoperative intracochlear total EcochG response was significantly correlated with speech perception. Since the EcochG recordings were only performed in a small population, a large study is required to clarify the usefulness of this promising predictive parameter.

The Speech Intelligibility Index and the Pure-Tone Average as Predictors of Lexical Ability in Children Fit With Hearing Aids

2012 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 764-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek J. Stiles ◽  
Ruth A. Bentler ◽  
Karla K. McGregor
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Receptive Vocabulary ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Nonword Repetition ◽  
Pure Tone Average ◽  
Speech Intelligibility Index ◽  
Valid Estimate ◽  
Repeated Words

Purpose To determine whether a clinically obtainable measure of audibility, the aided Speech Intelligibility Index (SII; American National Standards Institute, 2007), is more sensitive than the pure-tone average (PTA) at predicting the lexical abilities of children who wear hearing aids (CHA). Method School-age CHA and age-matched children with normal hearing (CNH) repeated words and nonwords, learned novel words, and completed a standardized receptive vocabulary test. Analyses of covariance allowed comparison of the 2 groups. For CHA, regression analyses determined whether SII held predictive value over and beyond PTA. Results CHA demonstrated poorer performance than CNH on tests of word and nonword repetition and receptive vocabulary. Groups did not differ on word learning. Aided SII was a stronger predictor of word and nonword repetition and receptive vocabulary than PTA. After accounting for PTA, aided SII remained a significant predictor of nonword repetition and receptive vocabulary. Conclusions Despite wearing hearing aids, CHA performed more poorly on 3 of 4 lexical measures. Individual differences among CHA were predicted by aided SII. Unlike PTA, aided SII incorporates hearing aid amplification characteristics and speech-frequency weightings and may provide a more valid estimate of the child's access to and ability to learn from auditory input in real-world environments.

scholarly journals The practices and philosophies of cartilage tympanoplasty in difficult and challenging circumstances: audiological and morphological perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 358
Author(s):  
Apoorva Kumar Pandey ◽  
Ajaz U. Haq ◽  
Sharad Hernot ◽  
Madhuri Kaintura ◽  
Aparna Bhardwaj ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Success Rate ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Randomized Study ◽  
Chronic Otitis Media ◽  
Functional Results ◽  
Pure Tone Average ◽  
Cartilage Tympanoplasty ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Graft Success ◽  
Hearing Outcomes

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> The main objective of the study was to assess the anatomical and functional results of cartilage tympanoplasty using full thickness cartilage graft (with or without perichondrium) reinforced with fascia in high risk situations.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This prospective non-controlled, non-randomized  study included 124 cases of chronic otitis media who underwent cartilage (reinforcement) tympanoplasty (underlay) and ossicular reconstruction with or without mastoidectomy in following seven groups:  revision cases, atelectatic cases, subtotal perforation (dry), larger anterior perforations (dry), tympanosclerosis, cholesteatomatous ear, and wet (discharging) ears .  Graft success was accepted labelled as an intact graft at the end of six month postoperatively. At the same time, hearing results were also assessed by comparing pre- and post-operative pure tone average air-bone gap (PTA-ABG) of each group using Student “t” test and p&lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant for the hearing outcomes.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Anatomical success rate in this series was 94.36%. The overall mean pre- and post- operative pure tone average air-bone gap (PTA-ABG) were 31.33±10.41 dB and 19.55±12.04 dB, respectively and the difference was statistically significant (p&lt;0.05). Best take up rates were observed in atelectatic and tympanosclerotic group i.e., 100% and 96.55% respectively.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> This study discusses the results of cartilage tympanoplasty in specifically indicated seven situation and reveals good anatomic results in each group (minimum success rate was 86.66% in wet ears) and statistically significant differences in mean pre- and post op PTA-ABG in groups except cholesteatoma and wet ear group.</p>

Hearing Aid Evaluation

1993 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 621-633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harvey Dillon
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Internal Noise ◽  
Sound Field ◽  
Monosyllabic Word ◽  
Index Method ◽  
Monosyllabic Words ◽  
Importance Function ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Intensity Functions

In this study, hearing aid gain for speech was defined as the difference in level between the aided and unaided performance-intensity functions measured at any specific value of percentage of items correct. The articulation index method was used to predict speech gain based on the subject’s unaided sound field thresholds, ambient room noise, hearing aid internal noise, hearing aid insertion gain, and the subject’s unaided performance-intensity function. Predicted speech gain agreed with measured speech gain with rms errors of only 3 dB for 11 subjects with mild or moderate hearing loss tested with monosyllabic words and continuous discourse. The speech gain provided by a hearing aid can thus be predicted from electroacoustic measures, which generally can be obtained in a shorter time. Importance functions believed to be applicable to nonsense syllables, words, and continuous discourse were used to make the predictions, but prediction accuracy was not affected by the importance function chosen. Speech gain measured with the monosyllabic word test was highly correlated with speech gain measured with the continuous discourse test, provided that similar presentation levels were used.

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