Effect of tongue reconstruction following hemiglossectomy on articulation and speech intelligibility

This study is aimed to investigate the articulatory functions of patients who have undergone tongue reconstruction following hemiglossectomy. The second aim of the study is to compare the speech intelligibility between hemiglossectomy patients who have undergone tongue reconstruction using pectoralis major myocutaneous with those hemiglossectomy patients who had undergone tongue reconstruction using radial forearm free flap.Fourteen patients who have undergone tongue reconstruction following hemiglossectomy as a treatment for oral cancer between the age of 30 to 60 years were taken up for this study. Tamil Articulation Test was used for assessing the articulatory functions of patients. The speech intelligibility of each patient was assessed using the Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped intelligibility rating scale. Analysis of articulatory errors revealed linguoalveolar consonants were more impaired when compared to other consonants. Patients with radial forearm free flap had somewhat better speech intelligibility compared to patients with pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction.The type of reconstruction also impacts the speech intelligibility. Effective intervention can be planned based on the comprehensive speech evaluation and analysis of articulatory error relative to place and manner of production.

Picture description in the assessment of connected speech intelligibility in Parkinson's disease: A pilot study

Introduction: Assessment of intelligibility in dysarthria tends to rely on oral reading of sentences or words. However, self-generated utterances are closer to a clients’ natural speech. This study investigated how transcription of utterances elicited by picture description can be used in the assessment of intelligibility in speakers with Parkinson’s disease. Methods: Speech samples from eleven speakers with Parkinson’s disease and six neurologically healthy persons were audio-recorded. Forty-two naive listeners completed transcriptions of self-generated sentences from a picture description task and orally read sentences from the Swedish Test of Intelligibility, as well as scaled ratings of narrative speech samples. Results: Intelligibility was higher in orally read than self-generated sentences and higher for content words than for the whole sentence in self-generated sentences for most of the speakers, although these within-group differences were not statistically significant at group level. Adding contextual leads for the listeners increased intelligibility in self-generated utterances significantly, but with individual variation. Although correlations between the intelligibility measures were at least moderate or strong, there was a considerable inter- and intra-speaker variability in intelligibility scores between tasks for the speakers with Parkinson’s disease, indicating individual variation of factors that impact intelligibility. Intelligibility scores from neurologically healthy speakers were generally high across tasks with no significant differences between the conditions. Discussion/Conclusion: Within-speaker variability support literature recommendations to use multiple methods and tasks when assessing intelligibility. The inclusion of transcription of self-generated utterances elicited by picture description to the intelligibility assessment has the potential to provide additional information to assessment methods based on oral reading of pre-scripted sentences, and to inform the planning of interventions.

Model-based hearing-restoration strategies for cochlear synaptopathy pathologies

It is well known that ageing and noise exposure are important causes of sensorineural hearing loss, and can result in damage of the outer hair cells or other structures of the inner ear, including synaptic damage to the auditory nerve (AN), i.e., cochlear synaptopathy (CS). Despite the suspected high prevalence of CS among people with self-reported hearing difficulties but seemingly normal hearing, conventional hearing-aid algorithms do not compensate for the functional deficits associated with CS. Here, we present and evaluate a number of auditory signal-processing strategies designed to maximally restore AN coding for listeners with CS pathologies. We evaluated our algorithms in subjects with and without suspected age-related CS to assess whether physiological and behavioural markers associated with CS can be improved. Our data show that after applying our algorithms, envelope-following responses and perceptual amplitude-modulation sensitivity were consistently enhanced in both young and older listeners. Speech intelligibility showed small improvements across participants, with the young group benefitting the most from processed speech. Our proposed hearing-restoration algorithms can be rapidly executed and can thus extend the application range of current hearing aids and hearables, while leaving sound amplification unaffected.

Application of Multiplanar Volume Reconstruction Technique for the Assessment of Electrode Location and Analysis of the Correlation to Cochlear Programming and Performance in Common Cavity Deformity

Purpose: Owing to the characteristic anatomy, cochlear implantation (CI) for common cavity deformity (CCD) has resulted in varied outcomes and frequent facial and vestibular nerve stimulation. The current study analyzed the correlation among the distance between each electrode and cavity wall (abbreviation, D), programming parameters, and performances outcomes.Materials and Methods: The current, retrospective study included 25 patients (27 ears) with CCD underwent CI. The multiplanar volume reconstruction (MPVR) techniques were employed to reconstruct and evaluate the postoperative temporal bone CT. The D and maximum comfortable level (MCL) 6 months after CI, facial and vestibular nerve stimulation, and outcomes 1, 2, and 3 years after CI pertaining to the questionnaires were documented and analyzed.Results: The patients were divided into symptomatic (10, 37%) and asymptomatic (17, 63%) groups according to with or without facial and vestibular nerve stimulation. The MCL pertaining to the symptomatic group was significantly lower than asymptomatic group, but Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) scores 1 year after surgery was better (p < 0.05). The subjects were divided into flat (12, 44.4%) and curved (15, 55.6%) groups based on the contour of MCL map. The MCL and D were lower and shorter in the curved group than the flat group, and CAP score 1 year after surgery and Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) 3 years after surgery were better (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Although abnormal reactions such as facial and vestibular nerve stimulation were observed to be more frequent, lower MCL and better outcomes were observed in relation to the shorter D.

Adesão ao uso do Sistema de Microfone Remoto em estudantes com deficiência auditiva usuários de dispositivos auditivos

RESUMO Objetivo Identificar relações entre a utilização sistemática do Microfone Remoto (MR) em sala de aula de estudantes com deficiência auditiva e características das escolas e dos professores. Método Foram analisados 120 sujeitos, entre cinco e 17 anos, com deficiência auditiva que foram adaptados MR em um Serviço de Saúde credenciada pelo Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Também foram sujeitos, professores de usuários de MR. Realizou-se uma análise de prontuários e no momento que os sujeitos compareceram para acompanhamento foi realizado entrevista com os pais/responsáveis para caracterizar rotina de utilização do MR na escola. Foram realizados contatos telefônicos e visitas presenciais em algumas escolas. Resultados Quanto ao uso, observa-se que a maioria dos sujeitos utilizava o dispositivo na escola. Aqueles que não utilizavam involuntariamente e voluntariamente consistiu na minoria dos sujeitos. Houve uma similaridade no padrão do Speech Intelligibility Index -SII dos sujeitos que ‘usam’ e ‘não usam involuntariamente’ o MR. Houve diferença significativa entre o tipo de escola e o nível de escolaridade, a maioria dos sujeitos que frequentavam escola regular e estavam matriculados no ensino fundamental I tendem a usar mais o dispositivo. Conclusão A maioria dos sujeitos faz uso do MR na escola. O nível educacional do estudante também foi um fator que interferiu na adesão ao uso dos MR, com maior adesão em estudantes do Ensino Fundamental I. Os dados sugerem que a articulação entre serviço de saúde e escola favorece a utilização do MR, entretanto quando essa relação é intermediada pelos pais, outros fatores acabam interferindo no uso sistemático no cotidiano da escola.

Pulsed magnetic stimulation in combination with pneumomassage in the therapy of patients with professional sensorineural hearing loss

Introduction. There are many methods for treating sensorineural hearing loss (SHL) of the occupational origin, which indicates insufficient effectiveness and an active search for more advanced therapy methods. Objective of the study: to evaluate changes in the state of the central nervous system pathways under the influence of a magnetic field and the long-term period. Materials and Methods. There were treated fifty two aviation workers with SHL of the occupational origin with moderate hearing loss. Pulsed magnetic stimulation (MS) and pneumatic massage of the tympanic membrane were used. Before and after treatment, electroencephalography was performed with the registration of visual and auditory evoked potentials (EP), somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP), psychological testing, and the study of higher mental functions in terms of short-term and delayed verbal memory, attention function. Results. After treatment, there was an improvement in speech intelligibility in 62% of cases, a decrease in the intensity of the tinnitus and head noise in 44% of cases, there was an improvement in the indicators of audiometric research and acumetry data from both sides. There was a statistically significant increase in the α-rhythm, the time of the pulse passing through the central afferent structures increased, the indicators of operative verbal memory, and the productivity of long-term memorization, the volume and stability of attention increased. Conclusion. The effectiveness of pulse MS in treating patients with occupational SHL has been proven. The prospects of using pulsed MS in combination with pneumatic massage in occupational pathology were shown, which was confirmed by positive changes in objective and subjective indicators characterizing the condition of patients immediately after the therapy sessions and a year after treatment.

Traffic noise attenuation solutions for naturally ventilated classrooms in South Africa

Traffic noise transmission through the open windows of naturally-ventilated classrooms can reduce speech intelligibility and can negatively impact academic performance. The findings of a numerical study are presented. Software was used to assess effective noise attenuation solutions for naturally-ventilated classrooms exposed to traffic noise. A typical situation in urban schools in Gauteng, South Africa, is considered in which classrooms are ventilated by large open windows in accordance with national building regulations and norms and standards for school design. The aim of the study was to establish a heuristic framework for early design decisions regarding how far from the road a classroom building should be set, and the effective height and position of a solid noise barrier to ensure a suitable ambient noise level inside a classroom with open windows. Efficacy was measured with reference to an indoor ambient sound level of 40 dBA. The findings show that with the insertion of barriers, the required ambient level was achieved for a classroom at least 68 m from the road, if the barrier is at least 3.5 m high. However, it was found that a significant insertion loss (>6 dB) and an improved signal to noise ratio could be achieved for classrooms as close as 17 m from the road with a barrier of at least 2 m high. Though not broadly generalizable, the findings provide a heuristic guide applicable for designing new schools or selecting attenuation interventions in existing city schools that are similar to those used in the study.