Speech Recognition in Patients with Abrupt-type High-frequency Hearing Loss.

This study investigated whether there are limitations on the benefit of providing audible speech information to listeners with high-frequency hearing loss. In a group of 10 listeners with various degrees of high-frequency hearing loss, speech recognition was tested across a wide range of presentation levels. For each of these listeners with hearing loss, recognition performance reached an asymptote of <100%. When the spectrum of the speech for this asymptotic performance level was compared with the listener's pure-tone thresholds, it was seen that providing audible speech to high-frequency regions (≥3000 Hz), where hearing loss exceeds 55 dB HL, tended to produce little or no improvement in recognition scores. In contrast, providing audible speech to lower frequency regions for a listener with a flat, severe-to-profound hearing loss did show improvement with increasing speech audibility, despite this listener's thresholds being greater than 55 dB HL. The present study adds further support to the idea that attempting to provide amplification to regions with severe high-frequency hearing loss (≥3000 Hz) may not necessarily benefit many individuals with hearing loss.

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Potential Benefits of an Integrated Electric-Acoustic Sound Processor with Children: A Preliminary Report

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ◽

10.3766/jaaa.15133 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 28 (02) ◽

pp. 127-140 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jace Wolfe ◽

Sara Neumann ◽

Erin Schafer ◽

Megan Marsh ◽

Mark Wood ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Speech Recognition ◽

Real World ◽

High Frequency ◽

Low Frequency ◽

High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽

Sentence Recognition ◽

Acoustic Hearing ◽

Potential Benefits ◽

Sound Processor

Background: A number of published studies have demonstrated the benefits of electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS) over conventional electric stimulation for adults with functional low-frequency acoustic hearing and severe-to-profound high-frequency hearing loss. These benefits potentially include better speech recognition in quiet and in noise, better localization, improvements in sound quality, better music appreciation and aptitude, and better pitch recognition. There is, however, a paucity of published reports describing the potential benefits and limitations of EAS for children with functional low-frequency acoustic hearing and severe-to-profound high-frequency hearing loss. Purpose: The objective of this study was to explore the potential benefits of EAS for children. Research Design: A repeated measures design was used to evaluate performance differences obtained with EAS stimulation versus acoustic- and electric-only stimulation. Study Sample: Seven users of Cochlear Nucleus Hybrid, Nucleus 24 Freedom, CI512, and CI422 implants were included in the study. Data Collection and Analysis: Sentence recognition (assayed using the pediatric version of the AzBio sentence recognition test) was evaluated in quiet and at three fixed signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) (0, +5, and +10 dB). Functional hearing performance was also evaluated with the use of questionnaires, including the comparative version of the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities, the Listening Inventory for Education Revised, and the Children’s Home Inventory for Listening Difficulties. Results: Speech recognition in noise was typically better with EAS compared to participants’ performance with acoustic- and electric-only stimulation, particularly when evaluated at the less favorable SNR. Additionally, in real-world situations, children generally preferred to use EAS compared to electric-only stimulation. Also, the participants’ classroom teachers observed better hearing performance in the classroom with the use of EAS. Conclusions: Use of EAS provided better speech recognition in quiet and in noise when compared to performance obtained with use of acoustic- and electric-only stimulation, and children responded favorably to the use of EAS implemented in an integrated sound processor for real-world use.

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Performance of Custom-Fit versus Fixed-Format Hearing Aids for Precipitously Sloping High-Frequency Hearing Loss

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1715980 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 13 (07) ◽

pp. 356-366

Author(s):

Therese C. Walden ◽

Brian E. Walden ◽

Mary T. Cord

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Patient Satisfaction ◽

Speech Recognition ◽

Hearing Aids ◽

High Frequency ◽

Hearing Aid ◽

Ear Canal ◽

High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽

The Real ◽

Patient Performance

This study compared the real-ear response provided by custom-fit hearing aids to the closest matching fixed-format disposable hearing aids in patients with precipitous high-frequency hearing loss. Laboratory and field measures of aided performance were obtained to compare patient performance with the custom-fit and fixed-format hearing aids. In addition, coupler versus real-ear response differences were compared for the two hearing aid types. The results revealed that relatively close approximations to the real-ear aided responses of the custom-fit instruments were possible for most participants using seven fixed acoustic formats. No significant differences in mean performance between the two instrument types were observed for aided speech recognition or field ratings of aided performance, although mean patient satisfaction was lower for the disposable hearing aids. The real-ear to coupler difference was greater for the disposable hearing aid than for the custom-fit instruments, presumably owing to its deeper insertion into the ear canal.

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Modified Earpieces and CROS for High Frequency Hearing Losses

Journal of Speech and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/jshr.1101.204 ◽

1968 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 204-218 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Elizabeth Dodds ◽

Earl Harford

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Hearing Aids ◽

High Frequency ◽

Hearing Aid ◽

Sound Field ◽

Intensity Level ◽

Test Results ◽

High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽

Increased Sensitivity ◽

Difficult Cases

Persons with a high frequency hearing loss are difficult cases for whom to find suitable amplification. We have experienced some success with this problem in our Hearing Clinics using a specially designed earmold with a hearing aid. Thirty-five cases with high frequency hearing losses were selected from our clinical files for analysis of test results using standard, vented, and open earpieces. A statistical analysis of test results revealed that PB scores in sound field, using an average conversational intensity level (70 dB SPL), were enhanced when utilizing any one of the three earmolds. This result was due undoubtedly to increased sensitivity provided by the hearing aid. Only the open earmold used with a CROS hearing aid resulted in a significant improvement in discrimination when compared with the group’s unaided PB score under earphones or when comparing inter-earmold scores. These findings suggest that the inclusion of the open earmold with a CROS aid in the audiologist’s armamentarium should increase his flexibility in selecting hearing aids for persons with a high frequency hearing loss.

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Length of Time of iPod Use, Not Volume, is Related to High Frequency Hearing Loss

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e741342011-100 ◽

2009 ◽

Author(s):

M. Todd Allen ◽

Cynthia L. Clark

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

High Frequency ◽

High Frequency Hearing Loss

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Evaluating the Effectiveness of Earplugs in Preventing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in an Auto Parts Factory in China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18137190 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (13) ◽

pp. 7190

Author(s):

Wei Gong ◽

Liangliang Zhao ◽

Ling Li ◽

Thais C. Morata ◽

Wei Qiu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

High Frequency ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Health Department ◽

Detectable Effect ◽

High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽

Mandatory Requirement ◽

Exposed Workers ◽

Fit Testing ◽

Auto Parts

A survey was administered to 385 noise-exposed workers from an auto parts factory and 1268 non-noise-exposed health department employees in China. Individual 8 h A-weighted equivalent sound levels (LAeq,8h), earplug personal attenuation ratings (PARs), and pure-tone audiometric tests were performed. The average LAeq,8h of noise-exposed workers was 87 dB (A) with a mean PAR of 7 dB. The prevalence of high-frequency hearing loss was 65% for noise-exposed workers and 33% for the non-noise-exposed employees. The use of earplugs had no observable effect on the prevalence of high-frequency hearing loss of the study participants (OR 0.964, 95% CI 0.925–1.005, p = 0.085). No significant relationship between the effectiveness offered by earplug use and high-frequency hearing thresholds at 3, 4, and 6 kHz was found (t = −1.54, p = 0.125). The mandatory requirement of earplug use without individualized training on how to wear HPDs correctly had no detectable effect on the prevention of hearing loss at the auto parts factory. The hearing conservation program at the surveyed factory was not effective. Periodic hearing tests, earplug fit testing, expanding the offer of different types of hearing protection, and employee education about the importance of protecting their hearing were recommended to the occupational health and safety program.

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Caudal Pontine Reticular Formation of C57BL/6J Mice: Responses to Startle Stimuli, Inhibition by Tones, and Plasticity

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.1998.79.5.2603 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 79 (5) ◽

pp. 2603-2614 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Stephanie Carlson ◽

James F. Willott

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Reticular Formation ◽

Auditory System ◽

Neural Plasticity ◽

High Frequency ◽

Acoustic Startle ◽

Acoustic Startle Response ◽

Pontine Reticular Formation ◽

High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽

Old Mice

Carlson, Stephanie and James F. Willott. Caudal pontine reticular formation of C57BL/6J mice: responses to startle stimuli, inhibition by tones, and plasticity. J. Neurophysiol. 79: 2603–2614, 1998. C57BL/6J (C57) mice were used to examine relationships between the behavioral acoustic startle response (ASR) and the responses of neurons in the caudal pontine reticular formation (PnC) in three contexts: 1) responses evoked by basic startle stimuli; 2) the prepulse inhibition (PPI) paradigm; and 3) the effects of high-frequency hearing loss and concomitant neural plasticity that occurs in middle-aged C57 mice. 1) Responses (evoked action potentials) of PnC neurons closely paralleled the ASR with respect to latency, threshold, and responses to rapidly presented stimuli. 2) “Neural PPI” (inhibition of responses evoked by a startle stimulus when preceded by a tone prepulse) was observed in all PnC neurons studied. 3) In PnC neurons of 6-mo-old mice with high-frequency (>20 kHz) hearing loss, neural PPI was enhanced with 12- and 4-kHz prepulses, as it is behaviorally. These are frequencies that have become “overrepresented” in the central auditory system of 6-mo-old C57 mice. Thus neural plasticity in the auditory system, induced by high-frequency hearing loss, is correlated with increased salience of the inhibiting tones in both behavioral and neural PPI paradigms.

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