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Brodie KD, Florentine MM, Taketa E, Ho M, Chan DK. Differences in Hearing Devices and Speech Therapy Utilization Between Children With Permanent Unilateral Versus Bilateral Hearing Loss. Ear Hear 2024; 45:563-571. [PMID: 38073032 DOI: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In this study, we aimed to describe differences in diagnosis and both auditory and speech/language intervention utilization between children with permanent unilateral hearing loss as compared with bilateral hearing loss. DESIGN A retrospective cohort study was performed of children evaluated in a multidisciplinary hearing loss clinic at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. Children aged 0 to 18 years with either permanent unilateral or bilateral hearing loss were included. RESULTS One hundred fourteen children with unilateral hearing loss and 268 children with bilateral hearing loss were studied for a total of 382 children. There were no demographic differences between children with permanent unilateral versus bilateral hearing loss. Rates of newborn hearing screening and referred screening results were similar between those with unilateral and bilateral hearing loss. Despite similar rates of referred newborn hearing screening, those with bilateral hearing loss were diagnosed at a younger age (mean 3.6 years, SD 3.8 years) as compared with those with unilateral hearing loss (mean 5.0 years, SD 4.2 years). Children with unilateral hearing loss had similar severity of hearing loss in their poorer hearing ear as compared with children with bilateral hearing loss, yet they were significantly less likely to be fitted with hearing devices (53% versus 78%) or receive speech/language therapy (36% versus 54%) as compared with children with bilateral hearing loss. Multivariate analysis found that bilateral hearing loss and earlier age of hearing loss diagnosis were associated with hearing device use. CONCLUSIONS Early diagnosis and intervention for childhood hearing loss have a significant impact on a child's educational success and social relationships. However, little is known about differences in diagnosis and resource utilization between children with permanent unilateral hearing loss versus bilateral hearing loss. Children with unilateral hearing loss were diagnosed at a later age and were less likely to utilize hearing devices or speech/language therapy compared with those with bilateral hearing loss, despite having similar severity of hearing loss in the poorer hearing ear. There is a strong body of evidence that children with unilateral hearing loss have improved hearing outcomes with hearing devices, which suggests there is room for improvement in identifying unilateral hearing loss and providing adequate services to optimize educational success. However, speech therapy is generally implemented in response to language delays. Therefore, children with unilateral loss may have lower rates of language delays as compared with those with bilateral hearing loss, thereby explaining differences in speech therapy utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara D Brodie
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Michelle M Florentine
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Emily Taketa
- Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Melissa Ho
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Audiology Clinic, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Dylan K Chan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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O'Brien K, Hackenberg B, Döge J, Bohnert A, Rader T, Lackner KJ, Beutel ME, Münzel T, Wild PS, Chalabi J, Schuster AK, Schmidtmann I, Matthias C, Bahr-Hamm K. Age standardization and time-of-day performance for the Oldenburg Sentence Test (OLSA): results from the population-based Gutenberg Health Study. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 281:2341-2351. [PMID: 38110748 PMCID: PMC11023958 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-023-08358-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The Oldenburg Sentence Test (OLSA) is a German matrix test designed to determine speech recognition thresholds (SRT). It is widely used for hearing-aids and cochlear implant fitting, but an age-adjusted standard is still lacking. In addition, knowing that the ability to concentrate is an important factor in OLSA performance, we hypothesized that OLSA performance would depend on the time of day it was administered. The aim of this study was to propose an age standardization for the OLSA and to determine its diurnal performance. METHODS The Gutenberg Health Study is an ongoing population-based study and designed as a single-centre observational, prospective cohort study. Participants were interviewed about common otologic symptoms and tested with pure-tone audiometry and OLSA. Two groups-subjects with and without hearing loss-were established. The OLSA was performed in two runs. The SRT was evaluated for each participant. Results were characterized by age in 5-year cohorts, gender and speech recognition threshold (SRT). A time stamp with an hourly interval was also implemented. RESULTS The mean OLSA SRT was - 6.9 ± 1.0 dB (group 1 male) and - 7.1 ± 0.8 dB (group 1 female) showing an inverse relationship with age in the whole cohort, whereas a linear increase was observed in those without hearing loss. OLSA-SRT values increased more in males than in females with increasing age. No statistical significance was found for the diurnal performance. CONCLUSIONS A study with 2900 evaluable Oldenburg Sentence Tests is a novelty and representative for the population of Mainz and its surroundings. We postulate an age- and gender-standardized scale for the evaluation of the OLSA. In fact, with an intergroup standard deviation (of about 1.5 dB) compared to the age dependence of 0.7 dB/10 years, this age normalization should be considered as clinically relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karoline O'Brien
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Berit Hackenberg
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Julia Döge
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Andrea Bohnert
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Tobias Rader
- Division of Audiology, Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximillian-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Karl J Lackner
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Manfred E Beutel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Thomas Münzel
- Department of Cardiology-Cardiology I, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site RhineMine, Mainz, Germany
| | - Philipp S Wild
- Preventive Cardiology and Preventive Medicine, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH), University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site RhineMine, Mainz, Germany
| | - Julian Chalabi
- Preventive Cardiology and Preventive Medicine, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Irene Schmidtmann
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Christoph Matthias
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Katharina Bahr-Hamm
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES The study aimed to develop and validate the Mandarin digit-in-noise (DIN) test using four digit (i.e., two-, three-, four-, and five-digit) sequences. Test-retest reliability and criterion validity were evaluated. How the number of digits affected the results was examined. The research might lead to more informed choice of DIN tests for populations with specific cognitive needs such as memory impairment. DESIGN The International Collegium of Rehabilitative Audiology guideline for developing the DIN was adapted to create test materials. The test-retest reliability and psychometric function of each digit sequence were determined among young normal-hearing adults. The criterion validity of each digit sequence was determined by comparing the measured performance of older adult hearing aid users with that obtained from two other well-established sentence-in-noise tests: the Mandarin hearing-in-noise test and the Mandarin Chinese matrix test. The relation between the speech reception thresholds (SRTs) of each digit sequence of the DIN test and working memory capacity measured using the digit span test and the reading span test were explored among older adult hearing aid users. Together, the study sample consisted of 54 young normal-hearing adults and 56 older adult hearing aid users. RESULTS The slopes associated with the two-, three-, four-, and five-digit DIN test were 16.58, 18.79, 20.42, and 21.09 %/dB, respectively, and the mean SRTs were -11.11, -10.99, -10.56, and -10.02 dB SNR, respectively. Test-retest SRTs did not differ by more than 0.74 dB across all digit sequences, suggesting good test-retest reliability. Spearman rank-order correlation coefficients between SRTs obtained using the DIN across the four digit (i.e., two-, three-, four-, and five-digit) sequences and the two sentence-in-noise tests were uniformly high ( rs = 0.9) across all participants, when data from all participants were considered. Results from the digit span test and reading span test correlated significantly with the results of the five-digit sequences ( rs = -0.37 and -0.42, respectively) but not with the results of the two-, three-, and four-digit sequences among older hearing aid users. CONCLUSIONS While the three-digit sequence was found to be appropriate for clinical use for assessment of auditory perception, the two-digit sequence could be used for hearing screening. The five-digit sequence could be difficult for older hearing aid users, and with its SRT related to working memory capacity, its use in the evaluation of speech perception should be investigated further. The Mandarin DIN test was found to be reliable, and the findings are in line with SRTs obtained using standardized sentence tests, suggesting good criterion validity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shangqiguo Wang
- Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
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Dritsas S, Chua KWD, Goh ZH, Simpson RE. Classification, registration and segmentation of ear canal impressions using convolutional neural networks. Med Image Anal 2024; 94:103152. [PMID: 38531210 DOI: 10.1016/j.media.2024.103152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Today, fitting bespoke hearing aids involves injecting silicone into patients' ears to produce ear canal molds. These are subsequently 3D scanned to create digital ear canal impressions. However, before digital impressions can be used they require a substantial amount of effort in manual 3D editing. In this article, we present computational methods to pre-process ear canal impressions. The aim is to create automation tools to assist the hearing aid design, manufacturing and fitting processes as well as normalizing anatomical data to assist the study of the outer ear canal's morphology. The methods include classifying the handedness of the impression into left and right ear types, orienting the geometries onto the same coordinate system sense, and removing extraneous artifacts introduced by the silicone mold. We investigate the use of convolutional neural networks for performing these semantic tasks and evaluate their accuracy using a dataset of 3000 ear canal impressions. The neural networks proved highly effective at performing these tasks with 95.8% adjusted accuracy in classification, 92.3% within 20° angular error in registration and 93.4% intersection over union in segmentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stylianos Dritsas
- Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, 487372, Singapore.
| | | | - Zhi Hwee Goh
- Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, 487372, Singapore
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Ceuleers D, Keppler H, Degeest S, Baudonck N, Swinnen F, Kestens K, Dhooge I. Auditory, Visual, and Cognitive Abilities in Normal-Hearing Adults, Hearing Aid Users, and Cochlear Implant Users. Ear Hear 2024; 45:679-694. [PMID: 38192017 DOI: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Speech understanding is considered a bimodal and bidirectional process, whereby visual information (i.e., speechreading) and also cognitive functions (i.e., top-down processes) are involved. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is twofold: (1) to investigate the auditory (A), visual (V), and cognitive (C) abilities in normal-hearing individuals, hearing aid (HA) users, and cochlear implant (CI) users, and (2) to determine an auditory, visual, cognitive (AVC)-profile providing a comprehensive overview of a person's speech processing abilities, containing a broader variety of factors involved in speech understanding. DESIGN Three matched groups of subjects participated in this study: (1) 31 normal-hearing adults (mean age = 58.76), (2) 31 adults with moderate to severe hearing loss using HAs (mean age = 59.31), (3) 31 adults with a severe to profound hearing loss using a CI (mean age = 58.86). The audiological assessments consisted of pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry in quiet and in noise. For evaluation of the (audio-) visual speech processing abilities, the Test for (Audio) Visual Speech perception was used. The cognitive test battery consisted of the letter-number sequencing task, the letter detection test, and an auditory Stroop test, measuring working memory and processing speed, selective attention, and cognitive flexibility and inhibition, respectively. Differences between the three groups were examined using a one-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis test, depending on the normality of the variables. Furthermore, a principal component analysis was conducted to determine the AVC-profile. RESULTS Normal-hearing individuals scored better for both auditory, and cognitive abilities compared to HA users and CI users, listening in a best aided condition. No significant differences were found for speech understanding in a visual condition, despite a larger audiovisual gain for the HA users and CI users. Furthermore, an AVC-profile was composed based on the different auditory, visual, and cognitive assessments. On the basis of that profile, it is possible to determine one comprehensive score for auditory, visual, and cognitive functioning. In the future, these scores could be used in auditory rehabilitation to determine specific strengths and weaknesses per individual patient for the different abilities related to the process of speech understanding in daily life. CONCLUSIONS It is suggested to evaluate individuals with hearing loss from a broader perspective, considering more than only the typical auditory abilities. Also, cognitive and visual abilities are important to take into account to have a more complete overview of the speech understanding abilities in daily life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorien Ceuleers
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hannah Keppler
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sofie Degeest
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nele Baudonck
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Freya Swinnen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Katrien Kestens
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ingeborg Dhooge
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
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Hicks KB, Brown KD, Selleck AM, Dedmon MM, Thompson NJ. Surgical Outcomes of Modified Technique for Transcutaneous Bone Conduction Hearing Aid Implantation. Laryngoscope 2024; 134:2401-2404. [PMID: 38149671 DOI: 10.1002/lary.31244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To detail a modified surgical technique for implantation of the Osia 2 Bone Conduction Hearing Aid (BCHA) system and to assess intra- and postoperative outcomes of this technique. METHODS A retrospective review was performed for cases undergoing implantation of an Osia 2 BCHA at a tertiary academic medical center. Modifications were made to the surgical procedure including: horizontal or curvilinear incisions, placement of the osseointegrated screw slightly superior to the plane of the external auditory canal, and double layer wound closure. Data regarding outcomes including demographics, incision type, surgical time, drilling requirements, and complications were collected using the electronic medical record. RESULTS A total of twenty-eight cases were evaluated with 57.1% and 42.9% utilizing horizontal and curved incisions, respectively. The median age for recipients was 43.1 years with six pediatric cases included in the study. Median operative time was 58 min (43-126 min). The majority of cases required minimal (60.7%) or no drilling (28.6%) with a significant increase in operative time for those requiring moderate drilling versus minimal to no drilling (F = 8.02, p = 0.002). There were no intraoperative complications. One (3.6%) postoperative seroma occurred which resolved with conservative management. CONCLUSION The proposed modified surgical technique is a safe and effective method for implantation of the transcutaneous BCHA system with a low complication rate. Keys include incision design, implant placement, and two-layered closure to minimize wound tension. These modifications can improve ease of the procedure and reduce operative time. These techniques also appear to be applicable to the pediatric population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3 Laryngoscope, 134:2401-2404, 2024.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla B Hicks
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.A
| | - Kevin D Brown
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.A
| | - A Morgan Selleck
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.A
| | - Matthew M Dedmon
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.A
| | - Nicholas J Thompson
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.A
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Ellis GM, Crukley J, Souza PE. The Effects of Signal to Noise Ratio, T60 , Wide-Dynamic Range Compression Speed, and Digital Noise Reduction in a Virtual Restaurant Setting. Ear Hear 2024; 45:760-774. [PMID: 38254265 DOI: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Hearing aid processing in realistic listening environments is difficult to study effectively. Often the environment is unpredictable or unknown, such as in wearable aid trials with subjective report by the wearer. Some laboratory experiments create listening environments to exert tight experimental control, but those environments are often limited by physical space, a small number of sound sources, or room absorptive properties. Simulation techniques bridge this gap by providing greater experimental control over listening environments, effectively bringing aspects of the real-world into the laboratory. This project used simulation to study the effects of wide-dynamic range compression (WDRC) and digital noise reduction (DNR) on speech intelligibility in a reverberant environment with six spatialized competing talkers. The primary objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of WDRC and DNR in a complex listening environment using virtual auditory space techniques. DESIGN Participants of greatest interest were listeners with hearing impairment. A group of listeners with clinically normal hearing was included to assess the effects of the simulation absent the complex effects of hearing loss. Virtual auditory space techniques were used to simulate a small restaurant listening environment with two different reverberation times (0.8 and 1.8 sec) in a range of signal to noise ratios (SNRs) (-8.5 to 11.5 dB SNR). Six spatialized competing talkers were included to further enhance realism. A hearing aid simulation was used to examine the degree to which speech intelligibility was affected by slow and fast WDRC in conjunction with the presence or absence of DNR. The WDRC and DNR settings were chosen to be reasonable estimates of hearing aids currently available to consumers. RESULTS A WDRC × DNR × Hearing Status interaction was observed, such that DNR was beneficial for speech intelligibility when combined with fast WDRC speeds, but DNR was detrimental to speech intelligibility when WDRC speeds were slow. The pattern of the WDRC × DNR interaction was observed for both listener groups. Significant main effects of reverberation time and SNR were observed, indicating better performance with lower reverberation times and more positive SNR. CONCLUSIONS DNR reduced low-amplitude noise before WDRC-amplified the low-intensity portions of the signal, negating one potential downside of fast WDRC and leading to an improvement in speech intelligibility in this simulation. These data suggest that, in some real-world environments that include both reverberation and noise, older listeners with hearing impairment may find speech to be more intelligible if DNR is activated when the hearing aid has fast compression time constants. Additional research is needed to determine the appropriate DNR strength and to confirm results in wearable hearing aids and a wider range of listening environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory M Ellis
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Jeff Crukley
- Data Science and Statistics, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behavior, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pamela E Souza
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
- Knowles Hearing Center, Evanston, Illinois, USA
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Lett C, Welch D, Dobson R. Remote or in-clinic? The effect of service delivery mode on hearing aid output: study protocol for a double-blinded, randomised trial in adults with mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss. Trials 2024; 25:256. [PMID: 38610038 PMCID: PMC11010415 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-024-08068-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Teleaudiology can potentially improve access to hearing healthcare services. Remote hearing aid fittings offer a new mode of service delivery that removes barriers of geography and access to an audiologist. Real-ear measurements (REMs) are the gold standard for hearing aid output verification but require in-clinic appointments. This study will investigate whether remote hearing aid fittings can provide clinically equivalent outcomes when compared to current, in-clinic, best practice guidelines. RESEARCH DESIGN A repeated measure, double-blinded crossover design will be used. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups to determine order of intervention, balanced for degree of hearing loss. STUDY SAMPLE Sixty adults with mild to moderate hearing loss and at least 1 year of experience with hearing aids will be recruited. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Participants will complete two hearing aid fitting protocols, one using an in-clinic fitting process and the other using a remote (at-home) fitting process. In-clinic fittings will include REMs with adjustments to standard (NAL-NL2) prescription targets. The two fitting protocols will then be randomly assigned to participants in a crossover design, so participants and researchers will be blinded to the order of the two fitting protocols. Participants will then have a 4-week period with follow-up appointments for participant-directed gain adjustment. For each fitting protocol, participants will complete objective measurements of final hearing aid output with REMs, speech-in-noise testing, subjective measurements of hearing aid performance, and quality of life measurements. They will then begin an identical period of living with, adjusting, and objective assessment with the other fitting protocol. Data will be analysed as repeated measures with statistical control for potential confounding variables. RESULTS Data will compare the four-frequency average real-ear aided response (4FREAR) for hearing aids programmed in-clinic and hearing aids programmed remotely, after participant-directed gain adjustments. Secondary measures will assess clinically significant differences in estimated speech intelligibility, hearing-related quality of life, hearing aid benefit, sound quality and preference, and speech-in-noise ability. CONCLUSIONS This study will inform the development of best practice guidelines for remote hearing aid fittings. If no clinically significant differences are found between in-clinic and remote fit hearing aids, it has the potential to expand teleaudiology initiatives. TRIAL REGISTRATION Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry, ACTRN12623000028606p . Date of registration: 12 January 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Lett
- School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - David Welch
- School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Rosie Dobson
- School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Bass JK, Wang F, Thaxton ME, Warren SE, Srivastava DK, Hudson MM, Ness KK, Brinkman TM. Association of hearing loss with patient-reported functional outcomes in adult survivors of childhood cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 2024; 116:596-605. [PMID: 38048603 PMCID: PMC10995849 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djad250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hearing loss is prevalent following ototoxic therapy for childhood cancer. Associations between hearing loss, self-perceived hearing handicap, and functional outcomes have not been examined in survivors. METHODS Adult survivors treated with platinum or head and neck radiotherapy with hearing loss were recruited. A total of 237 survivors (median age at survey = 37.0 years [range = 30.0-45.0 years]; median = 29.1 years [range = 22.4-35.0 years] since diagnosis; median = 4.0 years [range = 2.9-7.7 years] from last audiogram to survey) completed the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults and questionnaires on social and emotional functioning and hearing aid use. Hearing loss severity was defined according to Chang criteria. Multivariable logistic regression models estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between hearing loss, hearing handicap, functional outcomes, and hearing aid use with adjustment for sex, race, age at hearing loss diagnosis, and age at survey. RESULTS Two-thirds of survivors had severe hearing loss, which was associated with increased likelihood of hearing handicap (mild-moderate handicap: OR = 2.72, 95% CI = 1.35 to 5.47; severe handicap: OR = 5.99, 95% CI = 2.72 to 13.18). Survivors with severe hearing handicap had an increased likelihood of social isolation (OR = 8.76, 95% CI = 3.62 to 21.20), depression (OR = 9.11, 95% CI = 3.46 to 24.02), anxiety (OR = 17.57, 95% CI = 3.77 to 81.84), reduced personal income (OR = 2.82, 95% CI = 1.46 to 5.43), and less than full-time employment (OR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.30 to 4.70). Survivors who did not use a recommended hearing aid were twice as likely to have less than full-time employment (OR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.10 to 4.61) and reduced personal income (OR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.08 to 4.63) compared with survivors who wore a hearing aid. CONCLUSION Self-perceived hearing handicap beyond measured hearing loss is associated with reduced functional outcomes. Assessment of hearing handicap may facilitate targeted interventions in adult survivors with hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnnie K Bass
- Rehabilitation Services, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | | | - Sarah E Warren
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Deo Kumar Srivastava
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Melissa M Hudson
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Kirsten K Ness
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Tara M Brinkman
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
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10
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Pingali H, Ulin L, Stiles D, Martinchek M, Schwartz AW. Hearing matters: An audiology and geriatrics collaboration to improve hearing care service utilization among older veterans. J Am Geriatr Soc 2024; 72:1269-1271. [PMID: 38064298 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.18697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Hema Pingali
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lindsey Ulin
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Danielle Stiles
- Department of Audiology, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michelle Martinchek
- Department of Geriatrics and Extended Care, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- New England Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrea Wershof Schwartz
- Department of Geriatrics and Extended Care, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- New England Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Aging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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11
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Yuan D, Tournis E, Ryan ME, Lai CM, Geng X, Young NM, Wong PCM. Early-stage use of hearing aids preserves auditory cortical structure in children with sensorineural hearing loss. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae145. [PMID: 38610087 PMCID: PMC11021813 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Hearing is critical to spoken language, cognitive, and social development. Little is known about how early auditory experiences impact the brain structure of children with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. This study examined the influence of hearing aid use and residual hearing on the auditory cortex of children with severe to profound congenital sensorineural hearing loss. We evaluated cortical preservation in 103 young pediatric cochlear implant candidates (55 females and 48 males) by comparing their multivoxel pattern similarity of auditory cortical structure with that of 78 age-matched children with typical hearing. The results demonstrated that early-stage hearing aid use preserved the auditory cortex of children with bilateral congenital sensorineural hearing loss. Children with less residual hearing experienced a more pronounced advantage from hearing aid use. However, this beneficial effect gradually diminished after 17 months of hearing aid use. These findings support timely fitting of hearing aids in conjunction with early implantation to take advantage of neural preservation to maximize auditory and spoken language development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Yuan
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 4F, Hui Yeung Shing Building, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 3F, Sino Building Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Elizabeth Tournis
- Department of Audiology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, 225 E. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - Maura E Ryan
- Department of Medical Imaging, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, 225 E. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
- Department of Medical Imaging, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 N. St. Clair St,Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - Ching Man Lai
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 4F, Hui Yeung Shing Building, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xiujuan Geng
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 4F, Hui Yeung Shing Building, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Nancy M Young
- Division of Otolaryngology, Ann and Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, 225 E. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 N St. Clair St, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
- Knowles Hearing Center, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, 2240 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208-3540, United States
| | - Patrick C M Wong
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 4F, Hui Yeung Shing Building, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, G/F, Leung Kau Kui Building, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
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12
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Key S, Mohamed N, Da Cruz M, Kong K, Hasan Z. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of a New Active Transcutaneous Bone Conduction Implant. Laryngoscope 2024; 134:1531-1539. [PMID: 37721219 DOI: 10.1002/lary.31053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This review aims to quantify the pooled functional gain (FG) in different types of hearing loss with the transcutaneous hearing device, Osia (Cochlear, Sydney, Australia) in comparison with the unaided state. Secondary outcomes are patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) and complication rates. DATA SOURCES Medline, Embase, SCOPUS, Cochrane CENTRAL, PROSPERO and Cochrane Library. REVIEW METHODS Systematic review and meta-analysis of indexed search terms relating to "Osia," "Osseointegration," "Cochlear Implant," and "Bone-Anchored Prosthesis" was performed from database inception to September 20, 2022. RESULTS Of the 168 studies identified, 14 studies with 15 patient cohorts (n = 314) met inclusion criteria for meta-analysis. Pooled overall mean FG for all types of hearing loss was 35.0 dB sound pressure level (SPL) (95% confidence interval [CI] 29.12-40.97) compared against unaided hearing. Pooled FG for conductive/mixed hearing loss was 37.7 dB SPL (95% CI 26.1-49.3). Pooled single-sided deafness (SSD) FG could not be calculated due to the small patient cohort for whom SSD data was reported. There is a trend toward improvements in speech receptiveness threshold, signal to noise ratio, and some PROMs compared with baseline hearing. Early complication rates demonstrate risks similar to other transcutaneous implants, with a low predicted explantation (0.11%, 95% CI 0.00%-1.90%) and wound infection rate (1.92% [95% CI 0.00%-6.17%]). No articles directly comparing transcutaneous devices were identified. CONCLUSION The Osia devices demonstrate clear audiologic benefits and a good safety profile for the included patient population. Our study results indicate that frequency-specific gain, PROMs, and the audiological benefit in single-sided deafness may be areas for future prospective research. Laryngoscope, 134:1531-1539, 2024.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seraphina Key
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nusrat Mohamed
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Canterbury Hospital, Campsie, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Melville Da Cruz
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kelvin Kong
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Zubair Hasan
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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13
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Canale A, Urbanelli A, Albera R, Gragnano M, Bordino V, Riva G, Sportoletti Baduel E, Albera A. Binaural hearing in monaural conductive or mixed hearing loss fitted with unilateral Bonebridge. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital 2024; 44:113-119. [PMID: 38651553 DOI: 10.14639/0392-100x-n2752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Objective To determine the benefits of binaural hearing rehabilitation in patients with monaural conductive or mixed hearing loss treated with a unilateral bone conduction implant (BCI). Methods This monocentric study includes 7 patients with monaural conductive or mixed hearing loss who underwent surgical implantation of a unilateral BCI (Bonebridge, Med-El). An ITA Matrix test was performed by each patient included in the study - without and with the BCI and in three different settings - to determine the summation effect, squelch effect and head shadow effect. Subjective hearing benefits were assessed using the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) questionnaire. Results The difference in signal to noise ratio of patients without and with BCI was 0.79 dB in the summation setting (p < 0.05), 4.62 dB in the head shadow setting (p < 0.05) and 1.53 dB (p = 0.063) in the squelch setting. The APHAB questionnaire revealed a subjective discomfort in the presence of unexpected sounds in patients using a unilateral BCI (aversiveness score) compared to the same environmental situations without BCI, with a mean discomfort score of 69.00% (SD ± 21.24%) with monaural BCI versus 25.67% (SD ± 16.70%) without BCI (difference: -43.33%, p < 0.05). In terms of global score, patients wearing a unilateral Bonebridge implant did not show any significant differences compared to those without hearing aid (difference: -4.00%, p = 0.310). Conclusions Our study shows that the use of a unilateral BCI in patients affected by monaural conductive or mixed hearing loss can improve speech perception under noise conditions due to the summation effect and to the decrease of the head shadow effect. However, since monaural BCIs might lead to discomfort under noise conditions in some subjects, a pre-operative assessment of the possible individual benefit of a monaural BCI should be carried out in patients affected by unilateral conductive or mixed hearing loss in order to investigate the possible additional effect of the fitting of hearing aids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Canale
- ENT Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Anastasia Urbanelli
- ENT Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Roberto Albera
- ENT Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Maria Gragnano
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Paediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Valerio Bordino
- ENT Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Riva
- ENT Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Albera
- ENT Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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14
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Garcia Morales EE, Reed NS. State Mandates for Hearing Aid Coverage: An Opportunity for Improving Access to Hearing Health. Am J Public Health 2024; 114:361-363. [PMID: 38478869 PMCID: PMC10937609 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2024.307620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel E Garcia Morales
- Both authors are with the Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Nicholas S Reed
- Both authors are with the Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
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15
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Howell T, Sung V, Smith L, Dettman S. Australian families of deaf and hard of hearing children: Are they using sign? Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 179:111930. [PMID: 38579404 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2024.111930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children may experience communication delays, irrespective of early intervention and technology. Australian Sign Language (Auslan) is one approach in early intervention to address language delays. Current prevalence of Auslan use among Australian families with DHH children is unknown. AIMS The first aim was to determine the proportion of families enrolled in an Australian statewide hearing loss databank who use Auslan with their DHH child. The second aim was to explore the relationships between indicators of child hearing loss (bilateral or unilateral hearing loss, degree of hearing loss, and device use: hearing aids and cochlear implants), family factors (maternal education, attendance at early intervention, family history of deafness, and socio-economic disadvantage) and the family's reported use of Auslan. METHODS We analysed the enrolment data from 997 families who participated in an Australian statewide hearing loss databank between 2012 and 2021. We described the proportion of families who used Auslan with their DHH child at home. The association between indicators of child hearing loss and family factors, and the parental reports of communication approach were examined using correlation analyses. RESULTS Eighty-seven of 997 parents (8.7%) reported using Auslan with their DHH child. Of these, 26 (2.6%) used Auslan as their primary language. The use of Auslan at home was associated with the following indicators of child hearing loss: bilateral hearing loss, profound compared to mild hearing loss, and cochlear implant and hearing aid use compared to no device use. The family factors associated with the use of Auslan were: referral or attendance at early intervention compared to those who did not attend, and a family history of deafness compared to those with none. No association was found between maternal education and socio-economic disadvantage and the use of Auslan. CONCLUSION This Australian study found a low proportion (8.7%) of families with a DHH child who reported using Auslan. Seven child hearing loss and family factors were considered, and five were significantly associated with using Auslan at home. Children with a greater degree of hearing loss, attendance at early intervention and family history of deafness tended to use Auslan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tegan Howell
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Speech and Audiology, 550 Swanston Street, Carlton, 3053, Australia.
| | - Valerie Sung
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, Grattan Street, Parkville, 3010, Australia; Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Children's Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, 3052, Australia.
| | - Libby Smith
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, 3052, Australia.
| | - Shani Dettman
- University of Melbourne, Department of Speech and Audiology, 550 Swanston Street, Carlton, 3053, Australia.
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16
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Gabova K, Meier Z, Tavel P. Parents' experiences of remote microphone systems for children with hearing loss. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol 2024; 19:831-840. [PMID: 36198072 DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2022.2128443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 10/10/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Remote microphone systems improve intelligibility in difficult conditions when the performance of hearing aids/cochlear implants is insufficient. The purpose of this study was to explore parents' experiences with remote microphone systems for their children with hearing loss and to determine the advantages and disadvantages as perceived by parents. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews with parents of children with moderate to profound bilateral hearing loss (2-19 years old). The open coding method and thematic analysis were used. The final sample consisted of 19 mothers and 9 fathers who had experience with remote microphone systems. RESULTS Parents listed the advantages of remote microphone systems for their child, for themselves and for other carers, such as better hearing and understanding, a life more similar to that of their peers without hearing loss, safety in road traffic, lower fatigue, vocabulary acquisition, better school results. Some limitations were identified, namely low benefits, technical issues and a reluctance to use the device by children or teachers. CONCLUSIONS It is crucial to provide parents with information about assistive devices and the consequences of limited access to hearing speech. Professionals should motivate parents, children and teachers to use remote microphone systems even in situations when the benefit may not be obvious if there is a potential benefit for the child. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThe main advantages of remote microphone systems perceived by parents are better hearing and understanding, a life more similar to peers without hearing loss, safety in traffic, lower fatigue, vocabulary acquisition and better school results.The main disadvantages are for parents: persisting hearing problems, low benefits, technical issues and a reluctance to use the device by children or teachers.Sufficient and accurate information is needed about remote microphone systems, but also about the consequences of hearing loss in general.The possibility to try wireless devices before buying and troubleshooting help is appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristyna Gabova
- Olomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Zdenek Meier
- Olomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Tavel
- Olomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
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17
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Moyer C, Purdy J, Carvalho D, Vaughan L, Shroyer L. Evaluation of the Baha SoundArc in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 179:111925. [PMID: 38552429 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2024.111925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The Baha SoundArc coupling system has been developed as a non-surgical coupling of a Baha sound processor to the skull allowing the transfer of vibrational energy to the cochlear partition via bone conduction pathways. Today, there are several alternatives to this non-surgical approach as the Baha headband/test band, or the Baha Softband, or adhesive patches. Each of these current options have benefits and liabilities. The aim of the study was to evaluate pediatric experience and performance when using two non-surgical options, the Baha SoundArc compared to the Baha Softband. METHODS Twenty-five children with unilateral mixed or conductive hearing loss aged 5-12 years of age evaluated the use of the Baha SoundArc compared to their existing Baha Softband in a one month take home trial. Participants had a minimum of 3 months experience using the control, Baha Softband. Participants were assessed at baseline and one month following fit of the Baha SoundArc. Measures included an experience and use patient reported outcome, speech perception testing in quiet using Phonetically Balanced Kindergarten (PBK) words, and sound field audiometry. RESULTS Mean aided soundfield thresholds across the frequency range were 27.6 dB HL for Softband and 26.0 dB HL for SoundArc, which were not significantly different (P = >.05). Mean word recognition score was 80.8% when aided with the Softband device and 85.1% with the SoundArc, which was also not significantly different (P = >.05). Most children favored the aesthetics and usability of the SoundArc over Softband, but comfort ratings were largely similar for both devices. CONCLUSIONS Bone conduction sound processors mounted on a SoundArc or a Softband resulted in comparable improvements in aided thresholds and speech understanding in children suffering from conductive or mixed hearing loss. Both wearing modalities can be considered equivalent in terms of audiological outcomes, although both patients and clinicians preferred the usability and aesthetics of the SoundArc. The SoundArc provides an alternative wearing option for patients that may otherwise be discouraged by the aesthetics and usability of the Softband device. CLINICALTRIALS GOV IDENTIFIER NCT03333577.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Moyer
- Rady Children's Hospital, Audiology Department, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Julie Purdy
- Rady Children's Hospital, Audiology Department, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | - Daniela Carvalho
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of California at San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Lisa Vaughan
- Cook's Children's Hospital, Audiology Department, Ft. Worth, TX, USA
| | - Lindsay Shroyer
- Arizona Hearing and Balance Center, Audiology Department, Chandler, AZ, USA
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18
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Arnold ML, Heslin BJ, Dowdy M, Kershner SP, Phillips S, Lipton B, Pesko MF. Longitudinal Policy Surveillance of Private Insurance Hearing Aid Mandates in the United States: 1997-2022. Am J Public Health 2024; 114:407-414. [PMID: 38478867 PMCID: PMC10937611 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2023.307551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Objectives. To produce a database of private insurance hearing aid mandates in the United States and quantify the share of privately insured individuals covered by a mandate. Methods. We used health-related policy surveillance methods to create a database of private insurance hearing aid mandates through January 2023. We coded salient features of mandates and combined policy data with American Community Survey and Medicare Expenditure Panel Survey-Insurance Component data to estimate the share of privately insured US residents covered by a mandate from 2008 to 2022. Results. A total of 26 states and 1 territory had private insurance hearing aid mandates. We found variability for mandate exceptions, maximum age eligibility, allowable frequency of benefit use, and coverage amounts. Between 2008 and 2022 the proportion of privately insured youths (aged ≤ 18 years) living where there was a private insurance hearing aid mandate increased from 3.4% to 18.7% and the proportion of privately insured adults (19-64 years) increased from 0.3% to 4.6%. Conclusions. Hearing aid mandates cover a small share of US residents. Mandate exceptions in several states limit coverage, particularly for adults. Public Health Implications. A federal mandate would improve hearing aid access. States can also improve access by adopting exception-free mandates with limited utilization management and no age restrictions. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(4):407-414. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307551).
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Arnold
- Michelle L. Arnold and Madison Dowdy are with the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa. Brianna J. Heslin and Stacie P. Kershner are with the Center for Law, Health & Society, Georgia State University College of Law, Atlanta. Serena Phillips and Michael F. Pesko are with the Department of Economics, College of Arts and Science, University of Missouri, Columbia. Brandy Lipton is with the Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine
| | - Brianna J Heslin
- Michelle L. Arnold and Madison Dowdy are with the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa. Brianna J. Heslin and Stacie P. Kershner are with the Center for Law, Health & Society, Georgia State University College of Law, Atlanta. Serena Phillips and Michael F. Pesko are with the Department of Economics, College of Arts and Science, University of Missouri, Columbia. Brandy Lipton is with the Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine
| | - Madison Dowdy
- Michelle L. Arnold and Madison Dowdy are with the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa. Brianna J. Heslin and Stacie P. Kershner are with the Center for Law, Health & Society, Georgia State University College of Law, Atlanta. Serena Phillips and Michael F. Pesko are with the Department of Economics, College of Arts and Science, University of Missouri, Columbia. Brandy Lipton is with the Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine
| | - Stacie P Kershner
- Michelle L. Arnold and Madison Dowdy are with the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa. Brianna J. Heslin and Stacie P. Kershner are with the Center for Law, Health & Society, Georgia State University College of Law, Atlanta. Serena Phillips and Michael F. Pesko are with the Department of Economics, College of Arts and Science, University of Missouri, Columbia. Brandy Lipton is with the Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine
| | - Serena Phillips
- Michelle L. Arnold and Madison Dowdy are with the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa. Brianna J. Heslin and Stacie P. Kershner are with the Center for Law, Health & Society, Georgia State University College of Law, Atlanta. Serena Phillips and Michael F. Pesko are with the Department of Economics, College of Arts and Science, University of Missouri, Columbia. Brandy Lipton is with the Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine
| | - Brandy Lipton
- Michelle L. Arnold and Madison Dowdy are with the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa. Brianna J. Heslin and Stacie P. Kershner are with the Center for Law, Health & Society, Georgia State University College of Law, Atlanta. Serena Phillips and Michael F. Pesko are with the Department of Economics, College of Arts and Science, University of Missouri, Columbia. Brandy Lipton is with the Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine
| | - Michael F Pesko
- Michelle L. Arnold and Madison Dowdy are with the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa. Brianna J. Heslin and Stacie P. Kershner are with the Center for Law, Health & Society, Georgia State University College of Law, Atlanta. Serena Phillips and Michael F. Pesko are with the Department of Economics, College of Arts and Science, University of Missouri, Columbia. Brandy Lipton is with the Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine
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19
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Nyirjesy SC, Lewis JH, Hallak D, Conroy S, Moberly AC, Tamati TN. Evaluating Listening Effort in Unilateral, Bimodal, and Bilateral Cochlear Implant Users. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2024; 170:1147-1157. [PMID: 38104319 DOI: 10.1002/ohn.609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Evaluate listening effort (LE) in unilateral, bilateral, and bimodal cochlear implant (CI) users. Establish an easy-to-implement task of LE that could be useful for clinical decision making. STUDY DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Tertiary neurotology center. METHODS The Sentence Final Word Identification and Recall Task, an established measure of LE, was modified to include challenging listening conditions (multitalker babble, gender, and emotional variation; test), in addition to single-talker sentences (control). Participants listened to lists of sentences in each condition and recalled the last word of each sentence. LE was quantified by percentage of words correctly recalled and was compared across conditions, across CI groups, and within subjects (best aided vs monaural). RESULTS A total of 24 adults between the ages of 37 and 82 years enrolled, including 4 unilateral CI users (CI), 10 bilateral CI users (CICI), and 10 bimodal CI users (CIHA). Task condition impacted LE (P < .001), but hearing configuration and listener group did not (P = .90). Working memory capacity and contralateral hearing contributed to individual performance. CONCLUSION This study adds to the growing body of literature on LE in challenging listening conditions for CI users and demonstrates feasibility of a simple behavioral task that could be implemented clinically to assess LE. This study also highlights the potential benefits of bimodal hearing and individual hearing and cognitive factors in understanding individual differences in performance, which will be evaluated through further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Nyirjesy
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jessica H Lewis
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Diana Hallak
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Sara Conroy
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Aaron C Moberly
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Terrin N Tamati
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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20
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Lladó P, Hyvärinen P, Pulkki V. The impact of head-worn devices in an auditory-aided visual search task. J Acoust Soc Am 2024; 155:2460-2469. [PMID: 38578178 DOI: 10.1121/10.0025542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Head-worn devices (HWDs) interfere with the natural transmission of sound from the source to the ears of the listener, worsening their localization abilities. The localization errors introduced by HWDs have been mostly studied in static scenarios, but these errors are reduced if head movements are allowed. We studied the effect of 12 HWDs on an auditory-cued visual search task, where head movements were not restricted. In this task, a visual target had to be identified in a three-dimensional space with the help of an acoustic stimulus emitted from the same location as the visual target. The results showed an increase in the search time caused by the HWDs. Acoustic measurements of a dummy head wearing the studied HWDs showed evidence of impaired localization cues, which were used to estimate the perceived localization errors using computational auditory models of static localization. These models were able to explain the search-time differences in the perceptual task, showing the influence of quadrant errors in the auditory-aided visual search task. These results indicate that HWDs have an impact on sound-source localization even when head movements are possible, which may compromise the safety and the quality of experience of the wearer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Lladó
- Acoustics Lab, Department of Information and Communication Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, 00076, Finland
| | - Petteri Hyvärinen
- Acoustics Lab, Department of Information and Communication Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, 00076, Finland
| | - Ville Pulkki
- Acoustics Lab, Department of Information and Communication Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, 00076, Finland
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Alnoury MK, Daniel SJ. Minimally Invasive OSIA Bone Conduction Hearing Implant (MOSIA) in Children: How I do it? Laryngoscope 2024; 134:1901-1906. [PMID: 37632735 DOI: 10.1002/lary.31001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
The MOSIA is a novel minimally invasive endoscopic-assisted technique that has been shown to reduce postoperative morbidity and improve aesthetics. This is the first series to include children under the age of 12, as the FDA in the United States only approved OSIA for children 12 and older. Laryngoscope, 134:1901-1906, 2024.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed K Alnoury
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sam J Daniel
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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22
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Gotowiec S, Bennett RJ, Larsson J, Ferguson M. Development of a self-report measure of empowerment along the hearing health journey: a content evaluation study. Int J Audiol 2024; 63:275-285. [PMID: 36794384 DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2174456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To conduct the first phases in the development of a self-report measure of empowerment on the hearing health journey, specifically, item generation and content evaluation of the initial pool of items generated. DESIGN A content expert panel survey and cognitive interviews were conducted. Descriptive statistics were obtained for the quantitative data, and the cognitive interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. STUDY SAMPLE Eleven researchers and clinicians participated in the content expert surveys. Sixteen experienced hearing aid users participated in the cognitive interviews, recruited from the USA and Australia. RESULTS The items underwent five iterations based on feedback from the survey and interview data. This resulted in a set of 33 quality-tested potential survey items that were rated highly for relevance (mean = 3.96), clarity (mean = 3.70) and fit to dimensions of empowerment (mean = 3.92) (scale 0-4, where 4 was the maximum rating). CONCLUSIONS Involving stakeholders in item generation and content evaluation increased relevance, clarity, fit to dimension, comprehensiveness, and acceptability of the items. This preliminary version of the 33-item measure underwent further psychometric refinement (Rasch analysis and traditional classical test theory testing) to validate it for clinical and research use (reported separately).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rebecca J Bennett
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Perth, Australia
- School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | | | - Melanie Ferguson
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Perth, Australia
- School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
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23
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Kim H, Choo OS, Ha J, Yang J, Jang JH, Park HY, Choung YH. Objective and subjective efficacy of hearing aids in patients with mild-to-moderate unilateral hearing loss: a prospective study. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 281:1671-1681. [PMID: 37803218 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-023-08255-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE In patients with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (USNHL), we explored both objective functional audiological gains and subjective satisfaction, indicating when a unilateral hearing aid is valuable. METHODS Thirty-seven patients with mild-to-moderate USNHL (mean pure-tone thresholds between 25 and 70 dB) were prescribed unilateral hearing aids. Functional gain, the aided speech discrimination score (SDS), the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) score, and the sound localization test score were collected, and a questionnaire (the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly, HHIE) completed after 1, 2, and 3 months of hearing aid use. We classified the participants as having 'no handicap' (HHIE < 17), 'mild-to-moderate handicap' (17-42), and 'significant handicap' (> 42). RESULTS The decrease in handicap afforded by unilateral hearing aids was largest in the 'significant handicap' group (the HHIE total score fell from 59.1 to 37.2; P = 0.007). There were no between-group differences in either functional gain or the aided SDS. Only the 'significant handicap' group evidenced an improved HINT score; the composite signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) fell from - 1.5 to - 2.2 dB [S/N] (P = 0.023). The HHIE usefully indicated when a hearing aid alleviated the discomfort of USNHL; patients with unaided HHIE scores ≥ 20 evidenced significant decreases in the composite SNR (- 1.7 to - 2.0 dB [S/N]; P = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS When considering whether to prescribe a unilateral hearing aid for patients with mild-to-moderate USNHL, it is helpful to use the HHIE to evaluate discomfort. If the total score is ≥ 20, a hearing aid is appropriate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hantai Kim
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, 35365, Republic of Korea
| | - Oak-Sung Choo
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, 07441, Republic of Korea
| | - Jungho Ha
- Department of Otolaryngology, Ajou University School of Medicine, 164 Worldcup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Jisun Yang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Ajou University School of Medicine, 164 Worldcup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Hun Jang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Ajou University School of Medicine, 164 Worldcup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Hun Yi Park
- Department of Otolaryngology, Ajou University School of Medicine, 164 Worldcup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Hoon Choung
- Department of Otolaryngology, Ajou University School of Medicine, 164 Worldcup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16499, Republic of Korea.
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24
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Han SY, Lee SY, Suh MW, Lee JH, Park MK. Insufficient nutrient intake in individuals with disabling hearing loss and the restoration of nutritional sufficiency in hearing aid users. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7509. [PMID: 38553548 PMCID: PMC10980801 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57927-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Hearing loss affects some nutrient intake. Disabling hearing loss may exacerbate these issues. We aimed to evaluate nutrient intake and assess deficiencies based on functional hearing status. The study included 6907 participants with information on demographic factors, nutrient intake, weight, height, disease status, and hearing level in the eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted from 2019 to 2021. We categorized the participants into 3 groups based on their functional hearing status: bilateral hearing, unilateral hearing, and disabling hearing loss. The disabling hearing loss group showed lower intake of most major nutrients (P < 0.05), dietary fiber (P < 0.001), and most minerals and vitamins (P < 0.05), with some insufficiencies. The unilateral hearing group showed lower intake only for potassium (P = 0.036) compared to the bilateral hearing group and significantly higher intake of hydration (P = 0.039), dietary fiber (P = 0.039), and calcium (P = 0.009) than the disabling hearing loss group. Nutrient insufficiency in the disabling hearing loss group was more prominent in women, and was partially resolved by using hearing aids. Clinicians and nutritionists should consider undernourishment in these patients, and appropriate interventions for nutrition and hearing aids should be recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Yoon Han
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Yeon Lee
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Sensory Organ Research Institute, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung-Whan Suh
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Sensory Organ Research Institute, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Ho Lee
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Sensory Organ Research Institute, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Moo Kyun Park
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Sensory Organ Research Institute, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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25
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Ghadei A, Kumari A, Thontadarya S, Srividya A. Challenges Faced by Individuals with Hearing Impairment during COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown in India - A Pilot Study. Int Tinnitus J 2024; 27:126-134. [PMID: 38507625 DOI: 10.5935/0946-5448.20230020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
COVID - 19 (Corona Virus Infectious Disease) situations reported in 2019, declared by World Health Organization (WHO) as a pandemic is still a prevailing global crisis. Common regulations were implemented such as lockdown, wearing face masks as mandatory, face shields, gloves and maintaining physical and social distance in public places to reduce the spread of the virus. These pandemic induced challenges affected social communication, technical and behavioral aspects in lifestyle of people with hearing impairment. Along with medical, paramedical services, the crisis had challenged hearing, speech language pathology and therapy services too. The study aimed to explore the challenges that adults with hearing impairment had experienced during the pandemic and to suggest some practical solutions that can be implemented by audiologists. It is a questionnaire-based study with purposive sampling method employed in data collection. The questionnaire was administered on adult hearing aid users (mean age: 18 years) recruited for participation from different parts/ clinical setups across India. The outcome of the questionnaire did support the assumption that availing audiological services was difficult or impossible for most of the hearing aid users. Accessing batteries was reported to be the most frequent issue. Adequate level of hearing though hearing aid was important to them and clinical services could not be availed for long period of time due to travel related issues and closure of audiological services. Also, social isolation impacted on their quality of life and effective communication. As a possible solution most of the users chose tele services as a better solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhilash Ghadei
- TMC Fellow in Speech and Swallow Therapy, Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tata memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India
| | - Archita Kumari
- Grade 1 -Clinical Supervisor (SLP), Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical sciences, Indore, India
| | - Suresh Thontadarya
- Associate Professor, BSHRF, Dr. S.R. Chandrasekhar Institute of Speech and Hearing, Lingarajapuram, Bangalore, India
| | - A Srividya
- Associate Professor, BSHRF, Dr. S.R. Chandrasekhar Institute of Speech and Hearing, Lingarajapuram, Bangalore, India
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26
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Öztürk H, Karabulut M, Baydan-Aran M, Tokgöz-Yılmaz S. Validity and reliability of the ERSA questionnaire in Turkish. J Deaf Stud Deaf Educ 2024; 29:258-264. [PMID: 38215790 DOI: 10.1093/deafed/enad064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
This methodological study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Evaluation of the Impact of Hearing Loss in Adults (ERSA) questionnaire for individuals with treated hearing loss. The study involved 200 participants, and both exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to examine structural validity. External validity was assessed by correlating ERSA scores with the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB). Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were evaluated using Cronbach's alpha and the intraclass correlation coefficient, respectively. The Turkish ERSA demonstrated strong psychometric properties, with significant correlations between APHAB and ERSA scores and excellent internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The findings suggest that the Turkish ERSA is a valid and reliable tool for evaluating the impact of hearing loss in individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hüseyin Öztürk
- Audiology Balance and Speech Disorders Unit, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Mustafa Karabulut
- Division of Balance Disorders, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Mine Baydan-Aran
- Audiology Balance and Speech Disorders Unit, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Suna Tokgöz-Yılmaz
- Audiology Balance and Speech Disorders Unit, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye
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27
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Huang AR, Lin FR. Hearing loss and dementia in older adults: A narrative review. J Chin Med Assoc 2024; 87:252-258. [PMID: 38112446 DOI: 10.1097/jcma.0000000000001042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of hearing loss is high among older adults; globally, 65% of adults over 60 years have hearing loss. Over the past decade, evidence from epidemiologic studies has linked hearing loss to nearly two times greater risk of dementia. The hypothesized mechanistic pathways through which hearing loss could contribute to increased dementia risk include the effects of hearing on greater cognitive load, changes in brain structure and function, and decreased social engagement. These mechanistic pathways may be modified by management of hearing loss using existing intervention (eg, hearing aids). Hearing treatment may be an effective intervention for slowing cognitive decline in some older adults. In this review, we update existing reviews of the current epidemiologic research on the association between hearing loss and dementia risk and discuss hypothesized mechanisms of this association. We also discuss management of hearing loss as a potential intervention for slowing cognitive decline and reducing dementia risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison R Huang
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Frank R Lin
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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28
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Unwin BK, D'Amora JM, O'Shaughnessy C. What Physicians Need to Know About Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids. Am Fam Physician 2024; 109:279-283. [PMID: 38574224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian K Unwin
- Carilion Clinic Center for Healthy Aging, Roanoke, Virginia
| | - Julia M D'Amora
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, Virginia
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29
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Liu Y, Yang L, Chen P, Yang J, Ren R, Li Y, Wang D, Zhao S. Role of early hearing aid experience in speech recognition in patients with bilateral congenital microtia following Bonebridge implantation: a retrospective cohort study. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 281:1205-1214. [PMID: 37792216 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-023-08210-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To identify audiological and demographic variables that predict speech recognition abilities in patients with bilateral microtia who underwent Bonebridge (BB) implantation. METHODS Fifty patients with bilateral microtia and bilateral conductive hearing loss (CHL) who underwent BB implantation were included. Demographic data, preoperative hearing aid use experience, and audiological outcomes (including pure-tone hearing threshold, sound field hearing threshold [SFHT], and speech recognition ability) for each participant were obtained. The Chinese-Mandarin Speech Test Materials were used to test speech recognition ability. The word recognition score (WRS) of disyllabic words at 65 dB SPL signals was measured before and after BB implantation in quiet and noisy conditions. RESULTS The mean preoperative WRS under quiet and noisy conditions was 10.44 ± 12.73% and 5.90 ± 8.76%, which was significantly improved to 86.38 ± 9.03% and 80.70 ± 11.34%, respectively, following BB fitting. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that lower preoperative SFHT suggested higher preoperative WRS under both quiet and noisy conditions. Higher age at implantation predicted higher preoperative WRS under quiet conditions. Furthermore, patients with more preoperative hearing aid experience and lower postoperative SFHT were more likely to have higher postoperative WRS under both quiet and noisy testing conditions. CONCLUSIONS This study represents the first attempt to identify predictors of preoperative and postoperative speech recognition abilities in patients with bilateral microtia with BB implantation. These findings emphasize that early hearing intervention before implantation surgery, combined with appropriate postoperative fitting, contributes to optimal benefits in terms of postoperative speech recognition ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Peiwei Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Jinsong Yang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Ran Ren
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Danni Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Shouqin Zhao
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
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30
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Ertürk P, Aslan F, Türkyılmaz MD. Listening to speech-in-noise with hearing aids: Do the self-reported outcomes reflect the behavioral speech perception task performance? Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 281:1139-1147. [PMID: 37632542 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-023-08193-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between behavioral speech-in-noise listening tasks and self-reported speech-in-noise outcomes of hearing aid user adult listeners. METHOD To measure the self-reported outcomes of hearing, the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults [HHI-A], Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) and Amsterdam Inventory for Auditory Disability and Handicap were employed. To screen the cognitive abilities, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tool was used. Turkish matrix sentence test (TMST) was used for speech-in-noise test. Eighteen adult hearing aid users (mean age of 36.6 years) were participated. CONCLUSIONS Results showed that some self-reported listening-in-noise outcomes are correlated with lab-based measurements of speech-in-noise test scores but not with the aided speech intelligibility thresholds. Given the present limitations of relying solely on self-report measures, it is important to complement them with objective measures to ensure a comprehensive evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pınar Ertürk
- Department of Audiology, Health Sciences Institute, Hacettepe University, Ankara, TR, Turkey.
| | - Filiz Aslan
- Department of Audiology, Health Sciences Institute, Hacettepe University, Ankara, TR, Turkey
| | - Meral Didem Türkyılmaz
- Department of Audiology, Health Sciences Institute, Hacettepe University, Ankara, TR, Turkey
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Zelger P, Zorowka P, Schmutzhard J, Galvan O, Rossi S, Stephan K, Seebacher J. Localization of Low- and High-Frequency Sounds in Cochlear Implant Recipients Using a Contralateral Hearing Aid. Otol Neurotol 2024; 45:e228-e233. [PMID: 38238908 DOI: 10.1097/mao.0000000000004090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The ability to localize sounds is partly recovered in patients using a cochlear implant (CI) in one ear and a hearing aid (HA) on the contralateral side. Binaural processing seems effective at least to some extent, despite the difference between electric and acoustic stimulation in each ear. To obtain further insights into the mechanisms of binaural hearing in these listeners, localization of low- and high-frequency sounds was tested. STUDY DESIGN The study used a within-subject design, where participants were tasked with localizing sound sources in the horizontal plane. The experiment was conducted in an anechoic chamber, where an array of seven loudspeakers was mounted along the 24 azimuthal angle span from -90° to +90°. Stimuli were applied with different frequencies: broadband noise and high- and low-frequency noise. SUBJECTS Ten CI recipients participated in the study. All had an asymmetric hearing loss with a CI in the poorer ear and an HA on the contralateral side. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Accuracy of sound localization in terms of angular error and percentage of correct localization scores. RESULTS The median angular error was 40° in bimodal conditions for both broadband noise and high-frequency noise stimuli. The angular error increased to 47° for low-frequency noise stimuli. In the unilaterally aided condition with an HA, only a median angular error of 78° was observed. CONCLUSIONS Irrespective of the frequency composition of the stimuli, this group of bimodal listeners showed some ability to localize sounds. Angular errors were larger than those reported in the literature for bilateral CI users or single-sided deaf listeners with a CI. In the unilateral listening condition with HA, only localization of sounds was not possible for most subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joachim Schmutzhard
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Sonja Rossi
- Department for Hearing, Speech and Voice Disorders
| | - Kurt Stephan
- Department for Hearing, Speech and Voice Disorders
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32
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Gutierrez JA, Shannon CM, Nguyen SA, Meyer TA, Lambert PR. Comparison of Quality of Life Outcomes for Percutaneous Versus Transcutaneous Implantable Hearing Devices: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Otol Neurotol 2024; 45:e129-e136. [PMID: 38270194 DOI: 10.1097/mao.0000000000004111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare quality of life (QOL) outcomes of percutaneous and transcutaneous bone conduction devices (pBCD and tBCD, respectively). DATABASES REVIEWED Pubmed, Scopus, CINAHL. METHODS A systematic review was performed searching for English language articles from inception to March 15, 2023. Studies reporting QOL outcomes measured using a validated tool following implantation of either pBCDs or tBCDs were considered for inclusion. QOL outcomes included scores for Glasgow Benefit Inventory, Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory, Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit, and the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale. A meta-analysis of continuous measures was performed. RESULTS A total of 52 articles with 1,469 patients were included. Six hundred eighty-nine patients were implanted with pBCDs, and the remaining 780 were implanted with tBCDs. Average Glasgow Benefit Inventory scores for the tBCD group (33.0, 95% confidence interval [22.7-43.3]) were significantly higher than the pBCD group (30.9 [25.2-36.6]) (Δ2.1 [1.4-2.8], p < 0.0001). Mean Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory scores (Δ3.9 [2.0-5.8], p = 0.0001) and mean gain in Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit scores (Δ5.6 [4.8-6.4], p < 0.0001) were significantly higher among patients implanted with tBCDs than those implanted with pBCDs. Patients implanted with tBCDs also had significantly higher gains on the Speech (Δ1.1 [0.9-1.3], p < 0.0001), Spatial (Δ0.8 [0.7-0.9], p < 0.0001), and Qualities of Hearing (Δ1.2 [1.1-1.3], p < 0.0001) portions of the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale than those implanted with pBCDs. CONCLUSIONS Patients implanted with transcutaneous devices had better QOL outcomes than those implanted with percutaneous devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge A Gutierrez
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
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Zaar J, Simonsen LB, Laugesen S. A spectro-temporal modulation test for predicting speech reception in hearing-impaired listeners with hearing aids. Hear Res 2024; 443:108949. [PMID: 38281473 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2024.108949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Spectro-temporal modulation (STM) detection sensitivity has been shown to be associated with speech-in-noise reception in hearing-impaired (HI) individuals. Based on previous research, a recent study [Zaar, Simonsen, Dau, and Laugesen (2023). Hear Res 427:108650] introduced an STM test paradigm with audibility compensation, employing STM stimulus variants using noise and complex tones as carrier signals. The study demonstrated that the test was suitable for the target population of elderly individuals with moderate-to-severe hearing loss and showed promising predictions of speech-reception thresholds (SRTs) measured in a realistic set up with spatially distributed speech and noise maskers and linear audibility compensation. The present study further investigated the suggested STM test with respect to (i) test-retest variability for the most promising STM stimulus variants, (ii) its predictive power with respect to realistic speech-in-noise reception with non-linear hearing-aid amplification, (iii) its connection to effects of directionality and noise reduction (DIR+NR) hearing-aid processing, and (iv) its relation to DIR+NR preference. Thirty elderly HI participants were tested in a combined laboratory and field study, collecting STM thresholds with a complex-tone based and a noise-based STM stimulus design, SRTs with spatially distributed speech and noise maskers using hearing aids with non-linear amplification and two different levels of DIR+NR, as well as subjective reports and preference ratings obtained in two field periods with the two DIR+NR hearing-aid settings. The results indicate that the noise-carrier based STM test variant (i) showed optimal test-retest properties, (ii) yielded a highly significant correlation with SRTs (R2=0.61) exceeding and complementing the predictive power of the audiogram, (iii) yielded significant correlation (R2=0.51) with the DIR+NR-induced SRT benefit, and (iv) did not provide significant correlation with subjective preference for DIR+NR settings in the field. Overall, the suggested STM test represents a valuable tool for diagnosing speech-reception problems that remain when hearing-aid amplification has been provided and the resulting need for and benefit from DIR+NR hearing-aid processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Zaar
- Eriksholm Research Centre, DK-3070 Snekkersten, Denmark; Hearing Systems Section, Department of Health Technology,Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Lisbeth Birkelund Simonsen
- Hearing Systems Section, Department of Health Technology,Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark; Interacoustics Research Unit, DK-2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Søren Laugesen
- Interacoustics Research Unit, DK-2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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Bennett A, Tan JY, Ramzan U, Linton S. Clinical experience: Simultaneous bilateral Osia implantation in children with microtia. Clin Otolaryngol 2024; 49:283-286. [PMID: 38156762 DOI: 10.1111/coa.14129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Bennett
- Department of ENT Head and Neck Surgery, St. John's Hospital, Livingston, Scotland, UK
- University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Jiak-Ying Tan
- Department of ENT Head and Neck Surgery, St. John's Hospital, Livingston, Scotland, UK
| | | | - Stefan Linton
- Department of ENT Head and Neck Surgery, St. John's Hospital, Livingston, Scotland, UK
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Frisby C, Eikelboom RH, Mahomed-Asmail F, de Kock T, Manchaiah V, Swanepoel DW. International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) translation into isiXhosa. Int J Audiol 2024; 63:229-232. [PMID: 36519291 DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2022.2154281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin Frisby
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Virtual Hearing Lab, Collaborative Initiative between University of Colorado and the University of Pretoria, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Robert H Eikelboom
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Subiaco, Australia
- Centre for Ear Sciences, Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Australia
| | - Faheema Mahomed-Asmail
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Virtual Hearing Lab, Collaborative Initiative between University of Colorado and the University of Pretoria, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | - Vinaya Manchaiah
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Virtual Hearing Lab, Collaborative Initiative between University of Colorado and the University of Pretoria, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- UCHealth Hearing and Balance, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Speech and Hearing, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, India
| | - De Wet Swanepoel
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Virtual Hearing Lab, Collaborative Initiative between University of Colorado and the University of Pretoria, Aurora, CO, USA
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Subiaco, Australia
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Lively S, Agrawal S, Stewart M, Dwyer RT, Strobel L, Marcinkevich P, Hetlinger C, Croce J. CROS or hearing aid? Selecting the ideal solution for unilateral CI patients with limited aidable hearing in the contralateral ear. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0293811. [PMID: 38394286 PMCID: PMC10890777 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
A hearing aid or a contralateral routing of signal device are options for unilateral cochlear implant listeners with limited hearing in the unimplanted ear; however, it is uncertain which device provides greater benefit beyond unilateral listening alone. Eighteen unilateral cochlear implant listeners participated in this prospective, within-participants, repeated measures study. Participants were tested with the cochlear implant alone, cochlear implant + hearing aid, and cochlear implant + contralateral routing of signal device configurations with a one-month take-home period between each in-person visit. Audiograms, speech perception in noise, and lateralization were evaluated. Subjective feedback was obtained via questionnaires. Marked improvement in speech in noise and non-implanted ear lateralization accuracy were observed with the addition of a contralateral hearing aid. There were no significant differences in speech recognition between listening configurations. However, the chronic device use questionnaires and the final device selection showed a clear preference for the hearing aid in spatial awareness and communication domains. Individuals with limited hearing in their unimplanted ears demonstrate significant improvement with the addition of a contralateral device. Subjective questionnaires somewhat contrast with clinic-based outcome measures, highlighting the delicate decision-making process involved in clinically advising one device or another to maximize communication benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Lively
- Department of Otolaryngology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Smita Agrawal
- Collaborative Research Group, Clinical Research, Advanced Bionics, Valencia, CA, United States of America
| | - Matthew Stewart
- Department of Otolaryngology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Robert T. Dwyer
- Collaborative Research Group, Clinical Research, Advanced Bionics, Valencia, CA, United States of America
| | - Laura Strobel
- Department of Otolaryngology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Paula Marcinkevich
- Department of Otolaryngology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Chris Hetlinger
- Research and Technology Group, Advanced Bionics, Valencia, CA, United States of America
| | - Julia Croce
- Department of Otolaryngology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
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Van Zyl C, Rogers C, Kuschke S. Outcomes and device use in children with bone-conduction hearing devices in South Africa. S Afr J Commun Disord 2024; 71:e1-e8. [PMID: 38426736 PMCID: PMC10913003 DOI: 10.4102/sajcd.v71i1.1005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bone-conduction hearing devices (BCHD) can provide hearing solutions in settings where middle ear pathology is rife. OBJECTIVES Describe functional hearing outcomes and device use of children fitted with BCHD. METHOD Retrospective review of 79 children fitted with BCHD between January 2017 and May 2022. Outcomes included device use and subjective reports measured with the Parents' Evaluation of Aural/Oral Performance of Children (PEACH) and the Teachers' Evaluation of Aural/Oral Performance of Children (TEACH). Analysis of variance established association between mean data logging and type and degree of hearing loss. Thematic analyses were done for qualitative outcomes. RESULTS Average usage was 7.0 h/day (5.4 SD; range 0.1-24). PEACH ratings indicated 93.3% of children wore their BCHD 'always' or 'often', with 80% displaying Typical auditory performance at 1-month follow-up. TEACH ratings indicated 84.2% of children wore their BCHD 'always' or 'often', with 78.9% showing typical auditory behaviour. Increased usage was noted for conductive, mixed, moderate and severe hearing losses. There was a mean delay of 17.2 months (23.4 SD; range 0-90) between age of diagnosis and fitting. Thematic analyses identified two main themes: advantages and barriers to BCDH use. CONCLUSION Average device use fell short of the internationally recommended 10 h/day. Higher BCHD use was associated with higher functional listening performance scores. Long waiting times for medical or surgical intervention for conductive hearing losses can delay BCHD fitting.Contribution: Limited information is available to examine outcomes in children fitted with BCHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chéri Van Zyl
- Department of Audiology, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; and Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
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Engdahl B, Aarhus L. Prevalence and predictors of self-reported hearing aid use and benefit in Norway: the HUNT study. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:474. [PMID: 38355451 PMCID: PMC10867996 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17852-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Knowledge on hearing aid use and benefit is important to ensure appropriate and effective treatment. We aimed to assess prevalence and predictors of hearing aid use and benefit in Norway, as well as possible birth cohort changes. METHODS We analyzed two large cross-sectional, population-based hearing surveys of 63,182 adults in 1996-1998 and 2017-2019 (the HUNT study). We used multivariable regression models to examine independent predictors of hearing aid use and benefit, including demography, hearing-related variables, known risk factors for hearing loss and birth cohort. RESULTS The nationally weighted hearing aid use in the adult population increased from 4.2% in 1997 to 5.8% in 2018. The use among individuals with disabling hearing loss (≥ 35 dB HL) increased from 46.3% to 64.4%. Most users reported some (47%) or great (48%) help from their hearing aids. In addition to the level of hearing loss and birth cohort, factors associated with hearing aid use included lower age, tinnitus, childhood-onset hearing loss, higher education, marriage, having children, being exposed to occupational noise or impulse noise, recurrent ear infections, and head injury. In addition to the level of hearing loss, factors related to hearing aid benefit included younger age, female gender, and higher income. Being bothered by tinnitus reduced the benefit. CONCLUSION Our study shows an increase in self-reported hearing aid usage over time in Norway, with lower adoption rates and perceived benefits observed among the elderly. The results suggest that having a spouse and children positively influences the adoption of hearing aids. These findings emphasize the necessity of customized strategies to address demographic disparities and the need for innovative enhancements in hearing rehabilitation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Engdahl
- Department of Physical Health and Ageing, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Postbox 4404 Nydalen, N-0403, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Lisa Aarhus
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Internal Medicine, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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Menon KN, Hoon-Starr M, Shilton K, Hoover EC. Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Challenge the Core Values of Traditional Audiology. J Speech Lang Hear Res 2024; 67:657-667. [PMID: 38329402 PMCID: PMC11000794 DOI: 10.1044/2023_jslhr-23-00306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Regulatory changes in the United States introduced over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids with the goal of increasing the accessibility and affordability of hearing health care. It is critical to understand the values inherent to hearing health care systems to evaluate their effectiveness in serving people with hearing difficulty. In this study, we evaluated the relative importance of values across service delivery models and the extent to which the introduction of OTC hearing aids represents a values shift relative to traditional audiology. METHOD We performed a qualitative content analysis of two document categories: critique documents that motivated the creation of OTC hearing aids and regulatory documents that defined OTC hearing aids. Team members coded portions of text for the values they expressed. In total, 29,235 words were coded across 72 pages in four documents. Rank-order analyses were performed to determine the prioritization of values within each category of documents and subsequently compare values between OTC and traditional audiology documents analyzed in a previous study. RESULTS Critique and regulatory documents both prioritized values related to reducing barriers to hearing aid access and use, but the lack of a significant correlation in the rank order of values in these documents was evidence of inconsistency between the motivation and implementation of OTC hearing aids. Differences in the rank order of values in the OTC documents compared to traditional audiology were consistent with a values shift. CONCLUSIONS The introduction of OTC as a solution to low hearing aid use represents a values shift, challenging the values of traditional audiology. This research demonstrates a need to establish the values of hearing health care service delivery through a consensus of stakeholders, including individuals from diverse backgrounds underserved by the traditional model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine N. Menon
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park
| | - Michelle Hoon-Starr
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park
| | - Katie Shilton
- College of Information Studies, University of Maryland, College Park
| | - Eric C. Hoover
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park
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Kam ACS. Efficacy of Amplification for Tinnitus Relief in People With Mild Hearing Loss. J Speech Lang Hear Res 2024; 67:606-617. [PMID: 38271299 DOI: 10.1044/2023_jslhr-23-00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of amplification with hearing aids for people with chronic subjective tinnitus and mild hearing loss. METHOD In this randomized, controlled, three-arm trial, 38 subjects with a primary complaint of tinnitus were randomly assigned to one of the three treatment groups. Twelve subjects received informational counselling (IC) only, 13 received IC with hearing aid fitting, and 13 subjects received IC with individualized music stimulation for 12 months. The primary efficacy analysis in tinnitus severity was based on the change from baseline to 12 months after the 1st day of the intervention. Secondary outcome measures included tinnitus impact, psychological and mental health effects, subjective ratings, and psychoacoustically measured tinnitus loudness. RESULTS A statistically significant treatment difference among the three groups in the Chinese Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI-CH) total score at the predefined end point in Month 12 was observed (F = 3.34, p = .04, partial η2 = .16). Reductions in the TFI-CH scores in both the hearing aid and the customized music group were more prominent than in the IC-only group. Only the hearing aid group showed a significantly greater treatment effect than the IC-only group. CONCLUSION Results from this study support that a combination of hearing aid use and IC can help improve tinnitus in people with mild hearing loss. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25015979.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Chi Shan Kam
- Department of Special Education and Counselling, The Education University of Hong Kong
- Integrated Centre for Wellbeing, The Education University of Hong Kong
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Han JS, Lim JH, Kim Y, Aliyeva A, Seo JH, Lee J, Park SN. Hearing Rehabilitation With a Chat-Based Mobile Auditory Training Program in Experienced Hearing Aid Users: Prospective Randomized Controlled Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2024; 12:v12i1e50292. [PMID: 38329324 PMCID: PMC10867308 DOI: 10.2196/50292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Hearing rehabilitation with auditory training (AT) is necessary to improve speech perception ability in patients with hearing loss. However, face-to-face AT has not been widely implemented due to its high cost and personnel requirements. Therefore, there is a need for the development of a patient-friendly, mobile-based AT program. Objective In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of hearing rehabilitation with our chat-based mobile AT (CMAT) program for speech perception performance among experienced hearing aid (HA) users. Methods A total of 42 adult patients with hearing loss who had worn bilateral HAs for more than 3 months were enrolled and randomly allocated to the AT or control group. In the AT group, CMAT was performed for 30 minutes a day for 2 months, while no intervention was provided in the control group. During the study, 2 patients from the AT group and 1 patient from the control group dropped out. At 0-, 1- and 2-month visits, results of hearing tests and speech perception tests, compliance, and questionnaires were prospectively collected and compared in the 2 groups. Results The AT group (n=19) showed better improvement in word and sentence perception tests compared to the control group (n=20; P=.04 and P=.03, respectively), while no significant difference was observed in phoneme and consonant perception tests (both P>.05). All participants were able to use CMAT without any difficulties, and 85% (17/20) of the AT group completed required training sessions. There were no changes in time or completion rate between the first and the second month of AT. No significant difference was observed between the 2 groups in questionnaire surveys. Conclusions After using the CMAT program, word and sentence perception performance was significantly improved in experienced HA users. In addition, CMAT showed high compliance and adherence over the 2-month study period. Further investigations are needed to validate long-term efficacy in a larger population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Sang Han
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hyung Lim
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeonji Kim
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Aynur Aliyeva
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, CincinnatiOH, United States
| | - Jae-Hyun Seo
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaehyuk Lee
- Nara Information Co, Ltd, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Shi Nae Park
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Huang LH, Xie JG, Zhang Y, Li ZZ, Li X, Tong XM, Zhang H. [New perspective of the 2023 American Academy of Audiology position statement on early identification of cytomegalovirus in newborns]. Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2024; 59:192-196. [PMID: 38369801 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115330-20230801-00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- L H Huang
- Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Beijing 100005, China
| | - J G Xie
- Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Y Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100176, China
| | - Z Z Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
| | - X Li
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing 100191, China
| | - X M Tong
- Department of Pediatrics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - H Zhang
- Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Beijing 100005, China
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Kanagokar V, Fathima H, Bhat JS, Muthu ANP. Effect of inter-aural temporal envelope differences on inter-aural time difference thresholds for amplitude modulated noise. Codas 2024; 36:e20220261. [PMID: 38324806 PMCID: PMC10903954 DOI: 10.1590/2317-1782/20232022261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The inter-aural time difference (ITD) and inter-aural level difference (ILD) are important acoustic cues for horizontal localization and spatial release from masking. These cues are encoded based on inter-aural comparisons of tonotopically matched binaural inputs. Therefore, binaural coherence or the interaural spectro-temporal similarity is a pre-requisite for encoding ITD and ILD. The modulation depth of envelope is an important envelope characteristic that helps in encoding the envelope-ITD. However, inter-aural difference in modulation depth can result in reduced binaural coherence and poor representation of binaural cues as in the case with reverberation, noise and compression in cochlear implants and hearing aids. This study investigated the effect of inter-aural modulation depth difference on the ITD thresholds for an amplitude-modulated noise in normal hearing young adults. METHODS An amplitude modulated high pass filtered noise with varying modulation depth differences was presented sequentially through headphones. In one ear, the modulation depth was retained at 90% and in the other ear it varied from 90% to 50%. The ITD thresholds for modulation frequencies of 8 Hz and 16 Hz were estimated as a function of the inter-aural modulation depth difference. RESULTS The Friedman test findings revealed a statistically significant increase in the ITD threshold with an increase in the inter-aural modulation depth difference for 8 Hz and 16 Hz. CONCLUSION The results indicate that the inter-aural differences in the modulation depth negatively impact ITD perception for an amplitude-modulated high pass filtered noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vibha Kanagokar
- Department of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
| | - Hasna Fathima
- Department of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
- Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, National Institute of Speech and Hearing - Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
| | | | - Arivudai Nambi Pitchai Muthu
- Department of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
- Department of Audiology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing - Mysore, Karnataka, India.
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Na E, Toupin-April K, Olds J, Chen J, Fitzpatrick EM. Benefits and risks related to cochlear implantation for children with residual hearing: a systematic review. Int J Audiol 2024; 63:75-86. [PMID: 36524877 DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2022.2155879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to synthesise information concerning the potential benefits and risks related to cochlear implants (CIs) versus hearing aids (HAs) in children with residual hearing. DESIGN A systematic review of articles published from January 2003 to January 2019 was conducted. STUDY SAMPLE Our review included studies that compared the benefits and risks of CIs versus HAs in children (≤18 years old) with residual hearing. A total of 3265 citations were identified; 8 studies met inclusion criteria. RESULTS Children with CIs showed significantly better speech perception scores post-CI than pre-CI. There was limited evidence related to improvement in everyday auditory performance, and the results showed non-significant improvement in speech intelligibility. One study on social-emotional functioning suggested benefits from CIs. In four studies, 37.2% (16/43) of children showed loss of residual hearing and 14.0% (8/57) had discontinued or limited use of their device. CONCLUSIONS Children with CIs showed improvement in speech perception outcomes compared to those with HAs. However, due to the limited number of studies and information to guide decision-making related to other areas of development, it will be important to conduct further research of both benefits and risks of CIs in this specific population to facilitate decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunjung Na
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Karine Toupin-April
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Janet Olds
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Canada
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Jianyong Chen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Elizabeth M Fitzpatrick
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
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Fernandez J, McCormack L, Hyvärinen P, Kressner AA. Investigating sound-field reproduction methods as perceived by bilateral hearing aid users and normal-hearing listeners. J Acoust Soc Am 2024; 155:1492-1502. [PMID: 38376347 DOI: 10.1121/10.0024875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
A perceptual study was conducted to investigate the perceived accuracy of two sound-field reproduction approaches when experienced by hearing-impaired (HI) and normal-hearing (NH) listeners. The methods under test were traditional signal-independent Ambisonics reproduction and a parametric signal-dependent alternative, which were both rendered at different Ambisonic orders. The experiment was repeated in two different rooms: (1) an anechoic chamber, where the audio was delivered over an array of 44 loudspeakers; (2) an acoustically-treated listening room with a comparable setup, which may be more easily constructed within clinical settings. Ten bilateral hearing aid users, with mild to moderate symmetric hearing loss, wearing their devices, and 15 NH listeners were asked to rate the methods based upon their perceived similarity to simulated reference conditions. In the majority of cases, the results indicate that the parametric reproduction method was rated as being more similar to the reference conditions than the signal-independent alternative. This trend is evident for both groups, although the variation in responses was notably wider for the HI group. Furthermore, generally similar trends were observed between the two listening environments for the parametric method. The signal-independent approach was instead rated as being more similar to the reference in the listening room.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janani Fernandez
- Department of Information and Communications Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Leo McCormack
- Department of Information and Communications Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Petteri Hyvärinen
- Department of Information and Communications Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Abigail Anne Kressner
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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Asta B, Çinar Sateki N M, Uzdi L N, Tokgöz Yilmaz S. The effect of having a child with hearing impairment on parents. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 177:111864. [PMID: 38237356 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2024.111864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In this study, it was aimed to compare parents of children with hearing impairment (with cochlear implant (CI) or hearing aid) and parents of children with normal hearing (NH) in terms of care burden, self-efficacy and psychological resilience levels. METHODS The study participants were parents of children aged 3-12 years. Zarit Care Burden Scale (ZCBS), Parental Self-Efficacy Scale (PSES) and Brief Psychological Resilience Scale (BPRS) were administered to the parents. RESULTS The mean BPRS score was statistically significantly higher for the NH group than for the hearing impairment groups. It was found that the mean ZCBS score was statistically significantly higher for CI group than for the other groups (p < 0.05). A statistically significant and positive correlation was found between the PSES and BPRS scores of the CI group. CONCLUSION It is thought that the results of this study will contribute to the creation of case-specific intervention/rehabilitation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beyza Asta
- Department of Audiology, Erciyes University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kayseri, Turkey; Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, Ankara University, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Merve Çinar Sateki N
- Department of Audiology, Sakarya University of Applied Sciences University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Sakarya, Turkey.
| | - Nurcan Uzdi L
- Department of Mental Health and Diseases Nursing, Erciyes University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kayseri, Turkey.
| | - Suna Tokgöz Yilmaz
- Department of Audiology, Ankara University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey.
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Hulme C, Young A, Rogers K, Munro KJ. Deaf signers and hearing aids: motivations, access, competency and service effectiveness. Int J Audiol 2024; 63:136-145. [PMID: 36382888 DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2022.2143431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study concerns culturally Deaf signers in the UK who use hearing aids and (i) explores motivations for hearing aid use (ii) identifies barriers and facilitators to accessing NHS hearing aid services, (iii) examines cultural competency of hearing aid clinics and (iv) identifies factors influencing effective adult hearing aid service provision. DESIGN Online survey in British Sign Language and English that was informed by Deaf service users. STUDY SAMPLE 75 Deaf adult BSL users who wear hearing aids and use NHS hearing aid clinics. RESULTS No specific reason emerged as outstandingly important for hearing aid use; however, assisting with lipreading (57%) and listening to music (52%) were rated as very/extremely important. Access issues reported were contacting clinics, poor communication with staff and lack of Deaf awareness. To be an effective and culturally competent hearing aid clinic for Deaf signers, a good understanding of Deaf culture and language was most rated as important (87%). CONCLUSION The study is the first that explores hearing aid use and experiences of accessing hearing aid clinics from Deaf signers' perspectives. Enhancements to clinical practice are required to consider culturally Deaf people's motivations for hearing aid use and make services more BSL-friendly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celia Hulme
- Social Research with Deaf People (SORD), School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Alys Young
- Social Research with Deaf People (SORD), School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Centre for Deaf Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Katherine Rogers
- Social Research with Deaf People (SORD), School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Kevin J Munro
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD), School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
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48
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Anthony T, Assi S, Garcia Morales EE, Jiang K, Powell D, Martinez-Amezcua P, Oh ES, Deal JA, Reed NS. Hearing Loss, Hearing Aids, and Satisfaction With Health Care in the National Health Interview Survey. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2024; 170:414-421. [PMID: 37746921 PMCID: PMC10844895 DOI: 10.1002/ohn.533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Hearing loss may negatively impact satisfaction with health care via patient-provider communication barriers and may be amenable to hearing care treatment. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional. SETTING National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative survey of noninstitutionalized US residents, 2013 to 2018 pooled cycles. METHODS Participants described satisfaction with health care in the past year, categorized as optimal (very satisfied) versus suboptimal (satisfied, dissatisfied, very dissatisfied) satisfaction. Self-report hearing without hearing aids (excellent, good, a little trouble, moderate trouble, a lot of trouble) and hearing aid use (yes, no) were collected. Weighted Poisson regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and health covariates were used to estimate prevalence rate ratios (PRRs) of satisfaction with care by hearing loss and hearing aid use. RESULTS Among 137,216 participants (mean age 50.9 years, 56% female, 12% black), representing 77.2 million Americans in the weighted model, 19% reported trouble hearing. Those with good (PRR = 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-1.23), a little trouble (PRR = 1.27, 95% CI, 1.23-1.31), moderate trouble (PRR = 1.29, 95% CI, 1.24-1.35), and a lot of trouble hearing (PRR = 1.26, 95% CI, 1.18-1.33) had a higher prevalence rate of suboptimal satisfaction with care relative to those with excellent hearing. Among all participants with trouble hearing, hearing aid users had a 17% decrease in the prevalence rate of suboptimal satisfaction with care (PRR = 0.83, 95% CI, 0.78-0.88) compared to nonusers. CONCLUSION Hearing loss decreases patient satisfaction with health care, which is tied to Medicare hospital reimbursement models. Hearing aid use may improve patient-provider communication and patient satisfaction, although prospective studies are warranted to truly establish their protective effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Anthony
- College of Public Health, University of South Florida,
Tampa, FL
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College
of Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
| | - Sahar Assi
- Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Johns
Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University
Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Emmanuel E. Garcia Morales
- Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Johns
Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University
Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Kening Jiang
- Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Johns
Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University
Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Danielle Powell
- Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Johns
Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins
University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Pablo Martinez-Amezcua
- Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Johns
Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University
Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Esther S. Oh
- Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Johns
Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of
Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jennifer A. Deal
- Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Johns
Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University
Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Nicholas S. Reed
- Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Johns
Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University
Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
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Cantuaria ML, Pedersen ER, Waldorff FB, Wermuth L, Pedersen KM, Poulsen AH, Raaschou-Nielsen O, Sørensen M, Schmidt JH. Hearing Loss, Hearing Aid Use, and Risk of Dementia in Older Adults. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2024; 150:157-164. [PMID: 38175662 PMCID: PMC10767640 DOI: 10.1001/jamaoto.2023.3509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Importance Hearing loss has been suggested as a risk factor for dementia, but there is still a need for high-quality research to better understand the association between these 2 conditions and the underlying causal mechanisms and treatment benefits using larger cohorts and detailed data. Objective To investigate the association between hearing loss and incident dementia, as well as how hearing aid use contributes to this association. Design, Setting, and Participants This population-based cohort study was conducted in Southern Denmark between January 2003 and December 2017 and included all residents 50 years and older. We excluded all persons with dementia before baseline as well as those who did not live in the region 5 years before baseline, with incomplete address history, or who had missing covariate information. Exposures Individual hearing status based on the Hearing Examinations in Southern Denmark database, which contains data on all pure-tone audiometry examinations performed at public hearing rehabilitation clinics in Southern Denmark. Main Outcomes and Measures Incident cases of dementia and Alzheimer disease as identified from national registries. Results The study population comprised 573 088 persons (298 006 women [52%]; mean [SD] age, 60.8 [11.3] years) with 23 023 cases of dementia and mean (SD) follow-up of 8.6 (4.3) years. Having a hearing loss was associated with an increased risk of dementia, with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.07 (95% CI, 1.04-1.11) compared with having no hearing loss. Severe hearing loss in the better and worse ear was associated with a higher dementia risk, with an HR of 1.20 (95% CI, 1.09-1.32) and 1.13 (95% CI, 1.06-1.20), respectively, compared with having no hearing loss in the corresponding ear. Compared with people without hearing loss, the risk of dementia was higher among people with hearing loss who were not using hearing aids than those who had hearing loss and were using hearing aids, with HRs of 1.20 (95% CI, 1.13-1.27) and 1.06 (95% CI, 1.01-1.10), respectively. Conclusions and Relevance The results of this cohort study suggest that hearing loss was associated with increased dementia risk, especially among people not using hearing aids, suggesting that hearing aids might prevent or delay the onset and progression of dementia. The risk estimates were lower than in previous studies, highlighting the need for more high-quality longitudinal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuella Lech Cantuaria
- Research Unit for ORL–Head & Neck Surgery and Audiology, Odense University Hospital & University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Work, Environment and Cancer, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ellen Raben Pedersen
- The Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Frans Boch Waldorff
- Department of Public Health, Research Unit for General Practice and Section of General Practice, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Lene Wermuth
- Department of Neurology, Slagelse Hospital, Slagelse, Denmark
- Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | | | | | - Ole Raaschou-Nielsen
- Work, Environment and Cancer, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Mette Sørensen
- Work, Environment and Cancer, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Natural Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jesper Hvass Schmidt
- Research Unit for ORL–Head & Neck Surgery and Audiology, Odense University Hospital & University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Brain Research–Inter-Disciplinary Guided Excellence, Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Odense Patient data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
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50
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Pignac S, Sygal N, Biglari M, Olds J, Fitzpatrick EM. Determining cochlear implant candidacy in children with residual hearing: A scoping review. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 177:111855. [PMID: 38190764 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2024.111855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this review was to summarize what is known about criteria, assessments, and recommendations for evaluating cochlear implant (CI) candidacy in children with residual hearing. METHODS Peer-reviewed studies were identified through a systematic search in five electronic databases. Articles were screened and assessed for eligibility. From the eligible studies, data were extracted to summarize and present a narrative synthesis of the findings. RESULTS A total of seven articles (two reviews and five primary studies) were included in the final analysis. Hearing levels better than the moderately severe to severe range (65-90 dB HL) tend to be supported as audiological candidacy criteria for pediatric CI. Recommendations for candidacy consideration based on audiologic thresholds range from 65 to 80 dB Hl pure-tone average as the lower boundary. Our review did not identify any specific assessment protocols. However, additional decision-making considerations related to borderline hearing loss configurations and assessment tools (the Speech Intelligibility Index and the Pediatric Minimum Speech Test Battery) were identified. Supplementary assessment considerations were also reported. CONCLUSION There is limited information regarding specific assessment protocols for children with residual hearing. The literature is primarily focused on guidelines related to audiologic criteria, although it is widely recommended that other areas of functioning should also be considered. Most recommendations appear to be based on expert opinion, clinical expertise, and evidence from overall pediatric CI outcomes rather than empirical evidence targeting children with residual hearing. There is an ongoing need for research to further develop protocols and tools that can assist clinicians and families in making cochlear implantation decisions for children with residual hearing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Pignac
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, 200 Lees Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Ninell Sygal
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, 200 Lees Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Maryam Biglari
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, 200 Lees Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Janet Olds
- Child Hearing Laboratory, CHEO Research Institute, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 8L1, Canada
| | - Elizabeth M Fitzpatrick
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, 200 Lees Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada; Child Hearing Laboratory, CHEO Research Institute, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 8L1, Canada.
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