Showing papers in "Ear and Hearing in 1990"
TL;DR: A transient evoked Otoacoustic emission system which is designed to operate with a personal computer and designed to meet the essential requirements for routinely reliable OAE test performance in clinical and screening applications under nonideal conditions is designed.
Abstract: Otoacoustic emission test instruments are now entering routine audiological practice. Two general classes of technique are in use in laboratory work--those employing spectrum analysers to observe the continuous generation of OAEs, both stimulated or unstimulated, and those using transient stimulation and waveform averaging to extract a delayed OAE or "cochlear echo" waveform from ear canal sound. Both methods have particular advantages in clinical applications. The transient OAE type of method has proved very effective in screening applications, particularly in neonates. It is possible to perform noninvasive screening acoustic cochleography in about a minute. The technique is also useful for characterizing cochlear mechanical status prior to long term monitoring. Achieving routinely reliable OAE test performance in clinical and screening applications under nonideal conditions makes special demands on the instrumental design and the response evaluation procedures. The essential requirements are reviewed and discussed in a general and specific context. We have tried to meet these requirements in a transient evoked otoacoustic emission system (the ILO88) which we designed to operate with a personal computer. We report on our design of probe, and our use of evaluation procedures for probe fit, and response quality. Signal processing methods have been developed to reject noncochlear acoustic responses, and to optimise the rejection of patient noise. Examples of its clinical use, and the practical problems typically encountered are given here.
632 citations
TL;DR: Aspirin's effect on outer hair cell electromotility attests to the role of the outerhair cell in generating Otoacoustic emissions and demonstrates how their physiology can influence the propagation of OtoACoustic emissions.
Abstract: Outer hair cell electromotility is a rapid, force generating, length change in response to electrical stimulation. DC electrical pulses either elongate or shorten the cell and sinusoidal electrical stimulation results in mechanical oscillations at acoustic frequencies. The mechanism underlying outer hair cell electromotility is thought to be the origin of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions. The ability of the cell to change its length requires that it be mechanically flexible. At the same time the structural integrity of the organ of Corti requires that the cell possess considerable compressive rigidity along its major axis. Evolution appears to have arrived at novel solutions to the mechanical requirements imposed on the outer hair cell. Segregation of cytoskeletal elements in specific intracellular domains facilitates the rapid movements. Compressive strength is provided by a unique hydraulic skeleton in which a positive hydrostatic pressure in the cytoplasm stabilizes a flexible elastic cortex with circumferential tensile strength. Cell turgor is required in order that the pressure gradients associated with the electromotile response can be communicated to the ends of the cell. A loss in turgor leads to loss of outer hair cell electromotility. Concentrations of salicylate equivalent to those that abolish spontaneous otoacoustic emissions in patients weaken the outer hair cell's hydraulic skeleton. There is a significant diminution in the electromotile response associated with the loss in cell turgor. Aspirin's effect on outer hair cell electromotility attests to the role of the outer hair cell in generating otoacoustic emissions and demonstrates how their physiology can influence the propagation of otoacoustic emissions.
528 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the results of the auditory questionnaire, hearing sensitivity, acoustic compliance measures, and word recognition tests obtained from 1662 men and women in their 60th through 90th decades are presented.
Abstract: Many studies have documented the decline in auditory function with age. We broaden that data base in this the first of a series of reports emanating from the auditory testing of the Framingham cohort during biennial exam 18. The results of the auditory questionnaire, hearing sensitivity, acoustic compliance measures, and word recognition tests obtained from 1662 men and women in their 60th through 90th decades are presented. Pure-tone thresholds increased with age but the rate of change with age did not differ by gender even though men had poorer threshold sensitivity. Maximum word recognition ability declined with age more rapidly in men than in women and was poorer in men than in women at all ages. Acoustic compliance and middle ear pressure did not vary with gender or age. Acoustic reflex thresholds to a contralateral stimulus at 1 kHz increased slightly with age, more in women than in men; ipsilateral acoustic reflex thresholds did not vary with age or gender. Hearing aids were being used in only 10% of subjects likely to benefit from amplification.
482 citations
TL;DR: Although the 27-item questionnaire had high internal consistency reliability and validity as reflected by correlations with life satisfaction and depression scales, it is recommended that only the items on the Factor 1 and the Factor 2 subscales be scored because of the lowinternal consistency reliability of the Factor 3 subscale.
Abstract: The psychometric properties of a tinnitus handicap questionnaire are reported. There were two phases in this study. In Phase I, 87 questions were administered to 100 tinnitus patients. From their responses, 59 items that were either redundant, insensitive, or had low item-total correlations were eliminated. In Phase II, the resulting 27-item questionnaire was administered to 319 patients. Fifty-three of these patients also completed psychological and psychophysical measures that were used to validate the questionnaire. A factor analysis of patients' responses revealed a three-factor structure. These three factors appeared to reflect the physical, emotional, and social consequences of tinnitus (Factor 1), hearing ability of the patient (Factor 2), and the patients' view of tinnitus (Factor 3). Although the 27-item questionnaire had high internal consistency reliability and validity as reflected by correlations with life satisfaction and depression scales, it is recommended that only the items on the Factor 1 and the Factor 2 subscales be scored because of the low internal consistency reliability of the Factor 3 subscale. This questionnaire can be used to compare a patient's tinnitus handicap with the norm, identify specific areas of handicaps, and to monitor a patient's progress with particular treatment programs.
468 citations
TL;DR: The Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE) was modified for use with younger hearing-impaired adults (less than 65 years of age).
Abstract: The Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE) was modified for use with younger hearing-impaired adults (less than 65 years of age). Similar to the HHIE, the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA), is a 25-item self-assessment scale composed of two subscales (emotional and social/situational). Replacement questions from the HHIE which form the HHIA focus on the occupational effects of hearing loss. For 67 hearing-impaired adults, the HHIA demonstrated high internal consistency reliability and a low standard error of measurement. Audiometric correlates of the HHIA revealed weak, yet statistically significant relationships with pure-tone sensitivity and supra-threshold word recognition ability. These findings support the use of self-report handicap measures with adults in that audiometric measures alone are insufficient in describing a patient's reaction to their hearing loss.
441 citations
TL;DR: In the present review, selected examples of several forms of sensorineural hearing loss demonstrate that DPOAEs have the ability to act as objective indicators of the frequency/level configuration of the conventional audiogram in cases in which hearing impairment results primarily from damage to the outer hair cells.
Abstract: Otoacoustic emissions permit, for the first time, an unbiased means of examining the preneural elements of the peripheral auditory pathway that make the initial contribution to the perception of acoustic stimuli. Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) represent one type of evoked emission that has significant potential for becoming an important test in the audiometric evaluation of hearing capacity. In the present review, selected examples of several forms of sensorineural hearing loss demonstrate that DPOAEs have the ability to act as objective indicators of the frequency/level configuration of the conventional audiogram in cases in which hearing impairment results primarily from damage to the outer hair cells. In contrast, normal DPOAE functioning, in the presence of a significant hearing loss, indicates a locus of damage central to the region of the outer hair cells. Like the other emitted responses, DPOAEs can be measured noninvasively, are highly repeatable, under test-retest conditions, and are simple and rapid to detect using microcomputer-based instrumentation. Further, DPOAEs test both the "threshold" and suprathreshold levels of outer hair-cell activity in the form of response/growth functions, over a 30- to 40-dB stimulus range. In combination, these attributes indicate that DPOAEs can provide an objective and comprehensive assessment of the cochlear reserve of a given ear.
232 citations
TL;DR: It appears that the "half-gain" rule ceases to apply when HTL exceeds about 70 dB, and relatively more low frequencies were required for between a third and half of the subjects, depending upon how frequency response is expressed.
Abstract: The optimal frequency response slope, from the low frequencies (250 or 500 Hz) to 2000 Hz, was estimated for each of 46 severely or profoundly hearing-impaired adults. The estimates were derived from paired comparison judgments of speech filtered to simulate different frequency response conditions, from home trials and ratings of different tone settings of high-powered, behind-the-ear hearing aids, and for 28 subjects, from speech recognition testing. The estimated optimal response, expressed as the slope from 250 to 2000 Hz and as the slope from 500 to 2000 Hz, was compared with the response prescribed by the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL) procedure and its relationship to audiometric variables was analyzed. Insertion gain was measured for the preferred volume setting with the best frequency response. Preferred gain was typically about 10 dB higher than the NAL prescribed gain. Considering these results in relation to other data, it appears that the "half-gain" rule ceases to apply when HTL exceeds about 70 dB. The estimated optimal frequency response agreed with the NAL response for some subjects but relatively more low frequencies were required for between a third and half of the subjects, depending upon how frequency response is expressed. Generally, more low frequencies were required if HTL at 2000 Hz exceeded 95 dB, whereas the NAL response was usually appropriate for other cases.
175 citations
TL;DR: Otoacoustic emissions can be separated into two interrelated classes according to the type of eliciting stimulus, and four discrete subtypes can be recognized that include spontaneous, transiently evoked, stimulus-frequency, and distortion-product Otoac acoustic emissions.
Abstract: Otoacoustic emissions can be separated into two interrelated classes according to the type of eliciting stimulus. On the basis of this categorization, four discrete subtypes can be recognized that include spontaneous, transiently evoked, stimulus-frequency, and distortion-product otoacoustic emissions. Methods of recording and findings in the ears of normally hearing humans are reviewed for each emission type.
117 citations
TL;DR: Results showed a significant latency increase for the N1, P2, and P3 components in the processing disordered group, and the interpeak latency interval P2-P3 was significantly longer in the clinical group.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate auditory event-related potentials, and related long latency components, in children with auditory processing disorders, and to compare these results with a normal group matched for age, intelligence, and gender. Results showed a significant latency increase for the N1, P2, and P3 components in the processing disordered group. Furthermore, the interpeak latency interval P2-P3 was significantly longer in the clinical group. In terms of amplitude measures, only P3 amplitude differed significantly between groups. These results suggest that the long latency potentials may be useful in the assessment of children with processing disorders.
110 citations
TL;DR: There is a statistically significant decrease in EOAE amplitude for a fixed stimulus level with increasing age even in a carefully screened sample, but at the present time it is unclear if these ageassociated changes are due to normal developmental changes in the external and/or middle ear acoustics, normal developmentalChanges in cochlear mechanics and/ or everyday co chlear wear and tear.
Abstract: Evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAEs) are a promising tool for evaluating cochlear status in children Preliminary data from normal-hearing subjects ranging from birth to 299 years old are discussed EOAEs are present and robust in infant ears However, there is a statistically significant decrease in EOAE amplitude for a fixed stimulus level with increasing age even in a carefully screened sample At the present time it is unclear if these age-associated changes are due to normal developmental changes in the external and/or middle ear acoustics, normal developmental changes in cochlear mechanics and/or everyday cochlear wear and tear Issues related to further application of evoked emissions to pediatric populations are discussed
104 citations
TL;DR: The FM system was the only audiological recommendation to produce uniformly high speech recognition scores across all listening conditions with both types of speech materials and Implications for the audiological management of unilaterally hearing-impaired children in the classroom are discussed.
Abstract: The purpose of this investigation was to examine three types of audiological recommendations [unaided, CROS (contralateral routing of signals) and personal FM system] and their impact upon speech recognition ability of children with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Each of these recommendations was tested under three listening conditions encountered in a classroom [monaural direct (MD), monaural indirect (MI), midline signal/omnidirectional noise (MS/ON)] with two types of speech materials (Nonsense Syllable Test and an American English adaptation on the Bamford-Kowal-Bench Sentence Lists). These experimental conditions were simulated in a classroom, recorded on audiotape, and played back to subjects under headphones to control such factors as signal-to-noise ratio, earmold fit, and head shadow effects. Six school-age children with unilateral hearing losses between 56 and greater than 120 dB HL (PTA) were evaluated using a repeated measures design. The children experienced the most listening difficulty in the MI condition when they were unaided. The CROS aid improved speech recognition in this condition but degraded speech recognition in the MD condition. The FM system was the only audiological recommendation to produce uniformly high speech recognition scores across all listening conditions with both types of speech materials. Implications for the audiological management of unilaterally hearing-impaired children in the classroom are discussed.
TL;DR: Generally, the behavioral threshold and comfort current levels were lower than the predicted values based on EABR/EMLR findings, and this observation may be due in part to psychophysical loudness differences noted for pulse rates of 10 to 500 pulses per second in some of the patients that the authors have studied in greater detail.
Abstract: Electrical auditory brain stem responses (EABR) and electrical middle latency responses (EMLR) were recorded from patients who had received the Nucleus multichannel cochlear implant system. Twenty-five sequential patients had either intraoperative or outpatient EABR testing. We also recorded EMLRs from several outpatients. EABR results were consistent among all patients tested. Wave V mean latencies were the shortest (3.82 msec) for the most apical electrode (E20) and increased slightly for the medial (E12) and basal (E5) electrodes (3.94 and 4.20 msec, respectively). Absolute latencies for all EABR component waves were observed to be 1 to 1.5 msec shorter than typical acoustic auditory brain stem response (ABR) mean latencies. We have examined the relationships between patients' EABR/EMLR and their behavioral responses to electrical stimulation. Generally, the behavioral threshold and comfort current levels were lower than the predicted values based on EABR/EMLR findings. This observation may be due in part to psychophysical loudness differences noted for pulse rates of 10 to 500 pulses per second in some of the patients that we have studied in greater detail.
TL;DR: The EOAE test has been found to be practical and quick to perform and the reduction in time compared to ABR is sufficient for it to be considered as the primary screen for hearing impairment.
Abstract: Seven hundred and twenty-three neonates under intensive care have been tested by evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAE) and the auditory brain stem response (ABR) to investigate the use of EOAE as a test for hearing impairment. Three hundred and thirty-one have had follow-up tests to the age of at least 2 years. The EOAE test has been found to be practical and quick to perform. The proportion of NICU infants producing a recordable EOAE is 80%, and the sensitivity and selectivity to the ABR result in the period up to 3 months post due date is 93 and 84%, respectively. These figures are high enough and the reduction in time compared to ABR is sufficient for the EOAE to be considered as the primary screen. The follow-up data show mixed results with both false positives and false negatives present. The incidence of severe hearing impairment is close to that expected from retrospective studies at 2 in 331 (1 bilateral, 1 unilateral). Firm conclusions on the sensitivity of EOAE to long-term hearing impairment await the results from larger numbers of infants and further follow up data.
TL;DR: Recent work indicates that some subjects with tinnitus display oscillating or ringing evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAEs), and it is hypothesized that the oscillating EOAEs and tinn Titus are related to a common underlying pathology rather than the emissions being the source of the tinnitis.
Abstract: Attempts to identify the mechanisms underlying tinnitus and to develop effective treatments have been frustrating, in part because there are no objective measures of tinnitus. Following Kemp's initial reports of evoked and spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), many people hoped that OAEs
TL;DR: Findings covering the period 1983-1988, indicate that only one out of three hearing-impaired infants can be expected to be identified through audiological screening programs in Neonatal Intense Care Units (NICUs) and although the age at diagnosis for NICU graduates is significantly earlier than for Well Baby Nursery (WBN) graduates, age at enrollment in a parent-infant program for both NICU and WBN infants is around 20 months.
Abstract: This study is a follow-up of an 1980–1982 study that examined the occurrence of risk factors and the patterns of identification and habilitation in a group of hearingimpaired infants from an urban setting. Current findings covering the period 1983–1988, indicate that only one out of three he
TL;DR: Electrically elicited stapedius reflexes were examined in 25 deaf patients who had received a 22-channel Clark/NUCLEUS cochlear implant and suggest that stapedia reflex evaluation may be a useful tool for speech processor fitting.
Abstract: Electrically elicited stapedius reflexes were examined in 25 deaf patients who had received a 22-channel Clark/ NUCLEUS cochlear implant. Using an apical, a medial and a basal electrode pair, different stimulation positions within the cochlea and different stimulation modes were examined. For threshold determination, 10 reflexes were averaged with reflexes recorded on the nonoperated side. Reflexes were elicited in 19 of the 25 patients (76%); a saturation of reflex amplitude could be recorded in 14 (56%) subjects. In two additional cases, a reflex could be obtained by increasing the bipolar stimulation width (changing the stimulation mode). In comparison with different stimulation positions within the cochlea, the stimulation of apical electrodes produced more distinctive reflexes and required lower current levels. An increase in the bipolar stimulation width also decreased the intensity required for stapedius reflex threshold. Our data suggest that stapedius reflex evaluation may be a useful tool for speech processor fitting.
TL;DR: The differences between exposed and nonexposed older persons was no longer significant at age 79, and in women there were no differences in hearing sensitivity between those exposed to noise and those not exposure to noise.
Abstract: In a longitudinal and an age cohort comparing study the influence of aging and occupational noise exposure on hearing sensitivity was studied. The participants of the longitudinal study were studied at 70, 75, and 79 years of age. Seventy year old men exposed to occupational noise had 10 to 15 dB poorer hearing in the high frequency range than nonexposed men. The difference in hearing acuity decreased with increasing age. The differences between exposed and nonexposed older persons was no longer significant at age 79. In women there were no differences in hearing sensitivity between those exposed to noise and those not exposed to noise. Men not exposed to noise had 10 to 15 dB poorer hearing at 4 kHz compared with women of the same age also not exposed to noise.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Self-assessment for hearing is presented as a more systematic method for interviewing the patient, and although it does not always agree with pure-tone findings, it should be recognized as a useful assessment method to be used in combination with other measures of hearing.
Abstract: The history of self-assessment for hearing is reviewed from its beginning use in the 1930s to its emerging importance in the 1980s. It is presented as a more systematic method for interviewing the patient, and although it does not always agree with pure-tone findings, it should be recognized as a useful assessment method to be used in combination with other measures of hearing. The uses for self-assessment, psychometric concerns, issues in the definition of hearing domains (disorder, impairment, handicap, disability), and new frontiers also are discussed in this overview article.
TL;DR: It is suggested that, with ABR testing in newborn infants using bone conducted stimuli, bone vibrator placement on the temporal area remain consistent.
Abstract: The effect of bone conduction vibratory placement on the temporal area, revealed by the auditory brain stem response (ABR), in newborn infants, was investigated. Twenty-five full term neonates were tested at 48 to 72 hours postparturition. ABR wave V latencies were obtained from three different temporal area postauricular vibrator placements at 15 and 30 dB nHL stimulus intensity levels. Results showed that significant ABR wave V latency shifts were observed with changes in the three vibrator placements (p less than 0.05). It is suggested that, with ABR testing in newborn infants using bone conducted stimuli, bone vibrator placement on the temporal area remain consistent.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The results show significant effects of age, IQ, and, in particular, personality on many aspects of reported disability/handicap, with different relative contributions for females and males.
Abstract: The effects of hearing threshold levels, age, personality, and IQ on indices of self-reported disability/handicap derived from the Hearing Performance Inventory and the Institute of Hearing Research Hearing Disability Questionnaire have been investigated in a sample of 240 individuals with bilateral, symmetric sensorineural hearing, which was efficiently balanced across hearing threshold level and age. The results show significant effects of age, IQ, and, in particular, personality on many aspects of reported disability/handicap, with different relative contributions for females and males. It is possible to account for between 42 and 50% of the variance in most of the disability/handicap indices. Around 5% is accounted for by age and between 12 and 22% by aspects of personality. These findings suggest that the effects of age, IQ, and personality should be considered and incorporated into any practical application using self-assessment instruments.
TL;DR: The conclusion is that there is clinical usefulness for the evoked Otoacoustic emissions in evaluating cochlear function and in predicting noise susceptibility.
Abstract: This study was performed for the purpose of determining whether or not evoked otoacoustic emissions are useful as a clinical test. Two hundred and twenty-six sequences of the emission in response to stimulus tone bursts were averaged. The detection threshold of the emission was elevated in ears of inner ear impairment with profound sensorineural hearing loss, such as inner ear anomaly, mumps deafness, or sudden deafness, but it was not observed in ears of functional deafness. The mean interaural differences of emission threshold were near 35 dB in unilateral inner ear impairments with profound hearing loss. There was a positive correlation between the interaural difference of audiometric threshold and that of emission threshold in sudden deafness ears with various degrees of hearing loss. The incidence of continuous emission, whose duration was longer than 6 msec, was 30% in normal hearing ears and it was close to 90% in ears with bilateral or unilateral dip type hearing loss. The result was verified in a survey of a junior high school brass band. The conclusion is that there is clinical usefulness for the evoked otoacoustic emissions in evaluating cochlear function and in predicting noise susceptibility.
TL;DR: Normative high-frequency thresholds could not be recommended for clinical use due to the very large intersubject threshold variability and future research should concern intrasubject threshold reliability and variability rather than specifying intersubject normative thresholds.
Abstract: Test and re-test high-frequency (10-20 kHz) thresholds were obtained for 200 ears of 100 normally hearing (0.25-8 kHz) young adults (18-28 years old) using a Beltone 2000 audiometer and Sennheiser HD 250 earphones referenced to sound pressure levels developed in a Bruel and Kjaer flat-plate coupler. Normative high-frequency thresholds could not be recommended for clinical use due to the very large intersubject threshold variability. This occurred even though test versus re-test thresholds were not significantly different (p greater than 0.05) at any frequency. However, comparisons of the test minus re-test threshold for individual ears were within a clinically acceptable range of +/- 10 dB for at least 95% of the ears at each frequency. Future research should concern intrasubject threshold reliability and variability rather than specifying intersubject normative thresholds.
TL;DR: Short versions of the HHIE and RQDS are as accurate and sensitive for detecting change as long versions, and the HHie-S is a superior versatile instrument for screening and assessing rehabilitation in elderly individuals with hearing impairment.
Abstract: Several scales exist for screening handicap and assessing rehabilitation in elderly individuals with hearing loss. There are few comparative studies, however, to suggest which scales perform best. Using receiver-operating curves and responsiveness indices, we examined the relative discriminating ability and sensitivity to detect change of four scales: a long and short version of the Hearing Handicap Inventory in the Elderly (HHIE-L, HHIE-S), and a long and short version of the Revised Quantified Denver Scale of Communication Function (RQDS-L, RQDS-S). All scales were administered to 137 elderly veterans with hearing loss and 101 elderly veterans without hearing loss. Follow-up testing to determine relative ability to detect change was assessed in hearing impaired individuals only after they had used a hearing aid for 4 months. Discriminative accuracy for correctly identifying individuals with hearing loss were: HHIE-L 78%, HHIE-S 79%, RQDS-L 73%, and RQDS-S 74%. Overall differences between the HHIE-S and the RQDS-S were not statistically significant (p = 0.06). True positive results were greater with the HHIE-S compared to the RQDS-S (p = 0.03). Responsiveness indices were: HHIE-L 1.78, HHIE-S 1.86, RQDS-L 1.04, and RQDS-S 1.07. Differences between the HHIE-S and the RQDS-S were statistically significant (p less than 0.05). We conclude short versions of the HHIE and RQDS are as accurate and sensitive for detecting change as long versions, and the HHIE-S is a superior versatile instrument for screening and assessing rehabilitation in elderly individuals with hearing impairment.
TL;DR: The results indicate that demyelinating lesions can cause deficits in temporal processing in the central auditory pathway, and auditory temporal processing is not a unitary phenomenon since abnormalities at different levels of the auditory system disrupt different types of temporal processing.
Abstract: Central auditory function was assessed in 15 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) to determine whether the demyelinating lesions resulted in disruption of temporal processing. Auditory evoked potential (AEP) recordings included all three latency regions: Auditory brain stem responses (ABRs), midlatency responses (MLRs), and long-latency responses (LLRs). Two psychophysical tasks thought to involve temporal processing were used: a monaural-processing task (gap-detection) and a binaural-processing task (masking level difference; MLD). Further, AEP abnormalities and psychophysical performance deficits were related to lesion location, based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Reduced MLDs were seen in six MS subjects. Abnormal MLDs were always accompanied by abnormal ABRs and MLRs, and compared to subjects with normal MLDs, the subjects with abnormal MLDs were more likely to have bilateral abnormalities in the AEPs. Further, MLR indices of abnormal binaural interaction appeared to be specifically related to the psychophysical measure of binaural processing. The MRI data of these patients indicated widespread involvement of the auditory pathway. MS subjects with abnormal MRI signals restricted to levels caudal to the lateral lemniscus did not have abnormal MLDs. Gap-detection thresholds were more resistant to the effects of the demyelinating lesions; only two subjects had abnormal gap-detection thresholds. These subjects had extensive AEP abnormalities (bilaterally, in all three latency regions). The gap-detection thresholds were most specifically related to abnormalities of the LLRs. In addition, the subjects with elevated gap-detection thresholds were the only ones with a prolonged interval between the ABRs and MLRs. Thus, efficient neural conduction between the upper brain stem and auditory cortex appears to be crucial for normal monaural temporal processing. The results indicate that demyelinating lesions can cause deficits in temporal processing in the central auditory pathway. However, auditory temporal processing is not a unitary phenomenon since abnormalities at different levels of the auditory system disrupt different types of temporal processing. Finally, abnormal psychophysical performance was not seen in all subjects with AEP and MRI evidence of involvement of the auditory pathway; rather, these psychophysical measures appeared to be sensitive to disruption only in specific portions of the auditory system.
TL;DR: This finding indicates that auditory information is a necessary component for maintaining accurate speech and voice production abilities following onset of profound hearing loss after the acquisition of an adult phonological system.
Abstract: The present study investigated the effects of adventitious deafness on perceptual judgments of segmental and suprasegmental speech production skills. Subjects were 25 adventitiously deaf and 10 normal-hearing adult male speakers. Twelve subjects were classifed as aidable profound (AP) and 13
TL;DR: Comparisons were made of the ABR latencies of tinnitus and nontinnitus patient groups balanced for age and gender and matched for acoustic reflex threshold (ART)s, 1000 to 4000 Hz and 4000 Hz auditory thresholds, and normal hearing.
Abstract: Comparisons were made of the ABR latencies of tinnitus (T) and nontinnitus (NT) patient groups balanced for age and gender and matched for acoustic reflex threshold (ART)s, 1000 to 4000 Hz and 4000 Hz auditory thresholds, and normal hearing. In the ART match, prolongations of wave I [t(94) =
TL;DR: The properties of otoacoustic emissions are reviewed from a clinical point of view and the perspective interest of this test is discussed to consider as an interesting way for screening auditory dysfunction in infants.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to review the properties of otoacoustic emissions from a clinical point of view and to discuss the perspective interest of this test. In adults, the clinical significance of evoked Otoacoustic emissions seems to be limited either in endocochlear hearing losses or for detecting retrocochlear diseases. In infants, evoked Otoacoustic emissions seem to be a reliable, simple, non-invasive, and precise method for estimating auditory sensitivity for midfrequencies (1–4 kHz). Then, EOEs could be considered as an interesting way for screening auditory dysfunction in infants.
TL;DR: It is concluded that the revised QDS is a reliable and valid scale that can be used to assess self isolation and communication function in elderly individuals with hearing loss, and that a new 5 item short version performs as well as the original 25 item scale.
Abstract: The Quantified Denver Scale of Communication Function (QDS) is a 25 item questionnaire developed to measure communication difficulties in adults with hearing impairment This study reassessed the constructs, reliability, and validity of the scale, and developed a 5 item short version The QDS was administered to 238 elderly individuals (137 with and 101 without hearing loss) Factor analysis using this sample identified only two subscale constructs as opposed to four originally proposed constructs The validity of the new revised two-construct model was verified by four independent investigators who labeled the two constructs as measuring self isolation and communication function The internal reliability of the revised scale was 097 and of both construct subscales was 095 Overall test-retest reliability was 073 Validity examined by comparing the revised scale with another well-known handicap measure, the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly, was adequate: overall scale correlations were 073 and subscale correlations ranged from 064 to 072 The accuracy of the revised QDS for discriminating between individuals with and without hearing loss was 73% Stepwise discriminant analysis generated a 5 item short version scale which contained two questions from the long communication subscale and three from the long self-isolation subscale The accuracy of the short QDS was 74% We conclude that the revised QDS is a reliable and valid scale that can be used to assess self isolation and communication function in elderly individuals with hearing loss, and that a new 5 item short version performs as well as the original 25 item scale