Search

Objective: To determine the benefits of proper guidance and proper use of hearing aid in language development age. Study Design: Descriptive Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of ENT, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Karachi Medical and Dental College. Period: January 2022 to December 2023. Methods: In this study those cases were included which came with hearing loss. Both sexes were included in this study. After informed consent complete history and examination was done. Also relevant investigations were performed where required. Results: In this study, male were 72 (60%), male female ratio was 1.5:1. Highest number of patients were between the age of 6-8 years 60 (50%). Between 1.5 to 3 years, 51 children were properly guided and followed the proper instruction of use of hearing aid while 9 children were not properly guided and not properly used of hearing aid. 92 patients (76.6%) used hearing aid consistent with proper guidance, in which 79 (85.8%) children developed good speech and language. while 13 (14.1%) children were found poor in speech and language development while 28 (23.33%) children did not use hearing aid properly and all found poor in speech and language. Conclusion: Proper use of hearing aid which may be beneficial in improvement of word recognition and speech development in hearing impaired child under proper guidance and training from otologist and audiologist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We compared and analyzed the surgical results of fat myringoplasty between elderly and young adult patients with chronic otitis media. We also investigated whether underlying diseases and other factors impact the surgical outcome. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 141 patients who underwent fat myringoplasty for chronic otitis media for five years. They were compared by age, sex, underlying disease, perforation size, pre- and postoperative pure tone audiometry, postoperative otorrhea, postoperative re-perforation, and cause of re-perforation. Result: Postoperative re-perforation was more common in the elderly group, albeit with no significant difference (p = 0.072). The factors affecting re-perforation were insufficient fat graft (44.4%), postoperative infection (33.3%), and nasal blowing (22.2%). Our findings revealed no significant association between preoperative perforation size and re-perforation (p = 0.391). Additionally, we found no significant relationship between hypertension and re-perforation (p > 0.99), nor between age group and postoperative infection (p = 0.488). Diabetes was also not significant (p = 0.640). Following surgery, both groups exhibited a significant improvement in hearing. Conclusion: Although age and underlying conditions play significant roles in the healing process, our results suggest that external factors such as infection, nasal blowing, cough, and insufficient grafted fat tissue have a similarly significant impact on surgical outcomes in elderly patients with COM as they do in adults. In conclusion, the decision to perform surgery in elderly patients with COM should be based on a comprehensive assessment of the patient's overall health status, hearing, use of hearing aids, and the indications for surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This systematic review examined the audiological and non-audiological factors that influence hearing aid use, benefit and satisfaction in adults based on studies published during the last decade (2010 and 2023). Design: Studies were identified by using PRISMA guidelines for systematic searches on five platforms (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, EBSCOhost including CINAHL and Academic Search Complete). The National Institute of Health Quality assessment tool and the Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine tool were used for quality assessment and grading of level of evidence. Results: Forty-six articles were included in the review. A total of 101 significant factors influencing hearing aid use (n = 47), benefit (n = 17) and satisfaction (n = 37) were identified. Clear determinants of hearing aid use, benefit and satisfaction included hearing sensitivity, self-reported hearing difficulty, speech perception, attitude and beliefs. 34 cross-sectional studies in this review were graded level 4, 9 cohort studies rated level 3, and 3 randomised control trials rated level 2. Conclusion: Factors associated with hearing aid outcomes identified in the past decade support previous evidence. New factors like social networks and service-delivery models, have also been identified. These factors require further investigations through high quality studies to further strengthen existing evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A delay in a child's capacity to develop language is one of the impacts of hearing loss. Children use amplification devices so they can develop spoken language skills comparable or equivalent to those of their peers without hearing loss. The aim of the study was to detect the effect of using different amplification devices on the development of the language in children. Methods: The study included three groups of 5-8 years old children, who used different hearing devices and had bilateral severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Each group consisted of ten children; one using binaural hearing aids, the second had a unilateral cochlear implant, and the third group received a bimodal fitting. They were submitted to the following: history taking, intelligence and mental status examination, auditory performance assessment, and Language assessment. Results: Bimodal and cochlear implant users have a significantly better aided response, speech understanding, and language performance than hearing aid users. There is a negative, moderate correlation between the aided hearing thresholds and treatment-related factors. Conversely, there is a positive, moderate correlation between the word recognition score, revised categories of auditory perception scale, language performance and the treatment-related factors. Conclusions: The aided responses and language development were better among studied cases with cochlear implants and cases with bimodal hearing than cases with hearing aids. Consequently, it is crucial to assess auditory performance and language skills in each child with severe to profound hearing loss individually in terms of hearing aid benefit and the need for cochlear implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hearing aids (HAs), especially those with sound generators (SGs), are used in the management of tinnitus. However, their comparative efficacies and long-term outcomes remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy and long-term outcomes of tinnitus therapy using various HA SG models. We retrospectively reviewed 666 patients with chronic tinnitus characterized by persistent symptoms for >6 months. At the initial visit, the patients received educational counselling on tinnitus (Utsunomiya method) and completed a comprehensive questionnaire comprising the tinnitus handicap inventory, a visual analog scale, the state–trait anxiety inventory, and the emotional intelligence scale. The scores were compared among various models of HA SGs and SGs. The patients underwent follow-ups for up to 2 years. Our results indicated that tinnitus retraining therapy using SGs and conventional HAs effectively managed chronic tinnitus. The prolonged use of HAs appeared to exacerbate tinnitus symptoms, emphasizing the superior long-term effectiveness of SG HAs, particularly ZEN (Widex ZEN, WS Audiology, Lynge, Denmark). Our findings indicate that HAs are useful in the first year, but their prolonged use may exacerbate tinnitus symptoms, whereas HA SGs are effective in the long term. Future studies should account for the variations in tinnitus treatment effects based on the type of sound employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While targeted rehabilitation can enhance hearing aid self-efficacy (HASE), little research has been done to determine the factors contributing to its predictive value. By investigating the experiences of individuals who successfully use HAs and have high levels of HASE, we hoped to illuminate specific strategies and/or sources of support these individuals share that might explain why high HASE is often linked to successful outcomes. This qualitative study explored the experiences of five older adults who were successful HA users and reported having high HASE. Semi-structured interview guides were developed using the transtheoretical model of behavioral change as a framework. Interviews were analyzed thematically and holistically. Participants attributed their HA success to: intrinsic motivation to improve their hearing, confident self-reliance when making health decisions, willingness to act on advice from trusted others, pro-social personal attributes, positive expectations about HA outcomes, and actively pursuing an optimal HA outcome. For these participants, internal factors related to emotional state and source of motivation, and, to a lesser extent, verbal persuasion played a crucial role in their long-term success. This suggests that external influencers might be less impactful in facilitating success for those with high HASE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bone-anchored hearing instruments (BAHIs) are an important alternative solution for hearing loss in a particular group of patients. This study aims to examine shifts in attitudes about BAHIs among hearing health professionals over time. Methods: A survey was designed to assess the knowledge and attitude of otorhinol aryngologists (ENT) and audiologists (Au) concerning BAHIs. The survey was administered in 2019 and 2023 at various conferences. Results: The survey received 243 responses (122 in 2019 and 121 in 2023). Among these, 186 (77%) were from ENTs, while 49 (20%) were from Aus. Notably, the preference for using BAHI for conductive and mixed hearing loss cases increased from 19.3% to 47.9%. The number of individuals with prior experience decreased, yet those who applied BAHIs grew. Signifcant shifts were observed in patient selection based on hearing level, hearing loss type, and clinical condition. The profession and experience emerged as infuential factors in these changes. Conclusion: While most subjects recognized the signifcance of hearing rehabilitation, their fundamental knowledge and familiarity with BAHIs remained limited. A broader implementation of educational and training initiatives focusing on BAHIs is essential to enhance understanding and profciency in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate retrospectively the frequency of usage of bimodal stimulation among cochlear implant (CI) users, as well its clinical benefit relative to unilateral use. All subjects had been monitored with the clinical Minimal Outcome Measurements test battery. 103 adults with bilateral postlingual profound sensorineural hearing loss and unilateral CI use were extracted from the local database. These were divided into two groups: those who only used a CI and those who used bimodal stimulation. The preoperative contralateral residual hearing in the bimodal group was significantly better than that of the CI-only group. In both groups, speech perception in quiet and in noise improved after CI, with no significant difference between postoperative unimodal conditions. For the bimodal group, an additional significant improvement was found for the bimodal condition compared to the unimodal. Given the observed auditory benefit of bimodal stimulation in comparison to unimodal stimulation and given the finding that degree of residual hearing is not correlated with bimodal benefits, it is recommended to encourage CI recipients to continue contralateral HA use after CI. As a result of expanding CI criteria worldwide, the population of bimodal users is expected to grow in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The Microphone and Receiver in the ear (M&RIE) hearing aid is designed to consider the pinna cues by placing an additional microphone along with a standard receiver at the entrance of the ear canal. There is a need to clinically validate the technology using speech identification measures, as a literature shortage exists. The objective of the study was to evaluate speech identification and quality rating with hearing aids fitted with standard and M&RIE receivers. Method: Twenty individuals (mean ± SD age being 34.10 ± 11.9 years) with mild-to-moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss were divided into two groups: naïve and experienced. Their speech identification obtained using the receiver in the ear hearing aid compatible with standard and M&RIE receivers were compared. The study assessed speech identification in quiet using ten sentences, calculated SNR-50 using the Spearman–Karber equation, and used an 11-point scale for self-perceived quality rating. Results: The study analyzed data using SPSS and found no significant difference between naive and experienced hearing aid users in quiet and SNR-50 conditions (p > 0.05). However, naive users rated higher in clarity, naturalness, pleasantness, and overall impression of standard receiver settings. Across different receiver settings, both naïve and experienced groups revealed better speech identification with the M&RIE receiver for both SIS (p < 0.05) and SNR-50 (p < 0.05) measures. Conclusion: The study found that placing a third microphone in the ear canal improves speech identification and quality rating in both naïve and experienced users, with pinna and ear canal resonance playing a crucial role in prescribing hearing aid gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to conduct a cross-sectional analysis of the association between hearing aid use and cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults with hearing impairment, stratified by cardiovascular risk level. This cross-sectional study covers 1857 hearing-impaired individuals selected among 10,674 community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years of age) in Japan. We investigate the association between hearing aid use and cognitive decline stratified by cardiovascular risk level, by assessing self-reported hearing impairment and hearing aid use, absolute cardiovascular risk, cognitive function, and potential confounding factors. The association between hearing impairment severity and increased cardiovascular risk, and the benefit of hearing aid use in preventing cognitive decline, were examined in a binomial logistic regression analysis, with the presence of cognitive decline as the objective variable. In the low cardiovascular risk group, hearing aid users had a lower odds ratio for decline in executive function than non-users (odds ratio = 0.61, 95% confidence interval: 0.39–0.98). However, there was no significant association between hearing aid use and cognitive decline in the high cardiovascular risk group (p > 0.05). Among older adults with hearing impairment, hearing aid use was associated with the maintenance of executive function in individuals of low cardiovascular risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hearing aids and other hearing devices should provide the user with a benefit, for example, compensate for effects of a hearing loss or cancel undesired sounds. However, wearing hearing devices can also have negative effects on perception, previously demonstrated mostly for spatial hearing, sound quality and the perception of the own voice. When hearing devices are set to transparency, that is, provide no gain and resemble open-ear listening as well as possible, these side effects can be studied in isolation. In the present work, we conducted a series of experiments that are concerned with the effect of transparent hearing devices on speech perception in a collocated speech-in-noise task. In such a situation, listening through a hearing device is not expected to have any negative effect, since both speech and noise undergo identical processing, such that the signal-to-noise ratio at ear is not altered and spatial effects are irrelevant. However, we found a consistent hearing device disadvantage for speech intelligibility and similar trends for rated listening effort. Several hypotheses for the possible origin for this disadvantage were tested by including several different devices, gain settings and stimulus levels. While effects of self-noise and nonlinear distortions were ruled out, the exact reason for a hearing device disadvantage on speech perception is still unclear. However, a significant relation to auditory model predictions demonstrate that the speech intelligibility disadvantage is related to sound quality, and is most probably caused by insufficient equalization, artifacts of frequency-dependent signal processing and processing delays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hearing impairment is a global issue, affecting billions of people; however, there is a gap between the population affected by hearing loss and those able to access hearing healthcare. Tele-audiology, the application of telemedicine in audiology, serves as a new form of technology which aims to provide synchronous or asynchronous hearing healthcare. In this article, we reviewed some recent studies of tele-audiology-related topics to have a glimpse of the current development, associated challenges, and future advancement. Through the utilization of tele-audiology, patients can conveniently access hearing healthcare, and thus save travel costs and time. Recent studies indicate that remote hearing screening and intervention are non-inferior to the performance of traditional clinical pathways. However, despite its potential benefits, the implementation of tele-audiology faces numerous challenges, and audiologists have varying attitudes on this technology. Overcoming obstacles such as high infrastructure costs, limited reimbursement, and the lack of quality standards calls for concerted efforts to develop effective strategies. Ethical concerns, reimbursement, and patient privacy are all crucial aspects requiring in-depth discussion. Enhancing the education and training of students and healthcare workers, along with providing relevant resources, will contribute to a more efficient, systematic hearing healthcare. Future research will aim to develop integrated models with evidence-based protocols and incorporating AI to enhance the affordability and accessibility of hearing healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Digital noise reduction (DNR) minimizes the effect of noise on speech signals by continuously monitoring frequency bands in the presence of noise. In the present study, we explored the effect of DNR technology on speech intelligibility in individuals using hearing aids (HAs) and investigated implications for daily use. Methods and material: Eighteen participants with bilateral moderate sensorineural hearing loss (aged 16-45 years) were included. Bilateral receiver-in-the-ear HAs were fitted in the participants. The adaptive and nonadaptive (with a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of +5 and -5 dB, respectively) Turkish matrix sentence test (TURMatrix) in noise and freefield hearing assessments, including hearing thresholds with hearing aids, speech recognition thresholds (SRT), and speech discrimination scores, were conducted in two different conditions: HA in the DNR-on and DNR-off conditions. Results: No significant difference was observed between free-field hearing assessments with the HA in the DNR-off and DNR-on conditions (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the adaptive and nonadaptive TURMatrix revealed significant differences between the scores under the DNR-on and DNR-off conditions (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, under the DNR-on condition, there was no correlation between free-field hearing assessments with HA and TURMatrix results (P > 0.05). However, a significant correlation was observed between SRT scores with HA and TURMatrix scores (adaptive and nonadaptive, +5 and -5 dB SNR, respectively) under the DNR-off condition (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study findings suggest that DNR can improve speech intelligibility in noisy environments. Therefore, DNR can enhance an individual's auditory comfort by improving their capacity to grasp speech in background noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A vestibular schwannoma is a benign tumor; however, the schwannoma itself and interventions can cause sensorineural hearing loss. Most vestibular schwannomas are unilateral tumors that affect hearing only on one side. Attention has focused on improving the quality of life for patients with unilateral hearing loss and therapeutic interventions to address this issue have been emphasized. Herein, we encountered a patient who was a candidate for hearing preservation surgery based on preoperative findings and had nonserviceable hearing after the surgery, according to the Gardner–Robertson classification. Postoperatively, the patient had decreased listening comprehension and ability to localize sound sources. He was fitted with bilateral hearing aids, and his ability to localize sound sources improved. Although the patient had postoperative nonserviceable hearing on the affected side and age-related hearing loss on the unaffected side, hearing aids in both ears were useful for his daily life. Therefore, the patient was able to maintain a binaural hearing effect and the ability to localize the sound source improved. This report emphasizes the importance of hearing preservation with vestibular schwannomas, and the demand for hearing loss rehabilitation as a postoperative complication can increase, even if hearing loss is nonserviceable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate audiological characteristics and parents' opinions on hearing device use in children with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (USNHL) who attended a tertiary-level audiologic center. The medical charts of 70 children aged 6 to 12 years with USNHL were reviewed. In 51.4% of cases, the children were diagnosed with USNHL after the age of 2 years. The main causes of USNHL were congenital cytomegalovirus infection (21.4%) and unilateral cochlear nerve hypoplasia (12.9%). The percentage of patients wearing a hearing device was 45.7% (32/70); of these, 28 (87.5%) wore a conventional hearing aid, 2 (6.3%) a CROS device, and 2 (6.3%) a cochlear implant. Regarding the choice to use a hearing device, no significant differences were found between the subcategories of hearing loss degree (p = 0.55) and audiometric configuration (p = 0.54). Most parents of children with mild-to-severe USNHL observed improved attention (90.9%), and reduced fatigue and restlessness (86.4%) using the hearing aid. These children performed significantly better on all audiological tests (speech perception in quiet and in noise conditions, and sound localization) while wearing the hearing aid (p < 0.001). More efforts should be made to raise awareness among professionals and parents about the negative consequences of uncorrected USNHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The primary objective of this pilot study is to describe the impacts of bullying and peer victimization (BPV) in children with hearing loss. Study design: Prospective clinical survey study. Methods: This pilot study enrolled children between 8 and 18 years who were administered validated surveys at an outpatient clinic between July 2020 and March 2022. Surveys included health-related quality of life questionnaires (PedsQL and EQ-5D-Y), along with bullying and peer victimization questionnaires ("My Life in School" and the multidimensional peer victimization scale). Responses were scored with multivariate analysis. Clinical histories and active ICD-10 codes were also collected. Results: About 105 patients were recruited with a mean age of 13.1 years (SD = 3.15) and hearing loss (n = 30) among the top otolaryngological diagnoses. When surveying patients with hearing loss, 50.0% (n = 15) actively used a hearing aid device. Children (ages 8-12 years) with hearing loss reported a significantly lower psychosocial health-related quality of life than their peers without hearing loss (P =.007), though this was not the case for adolescents (ages 13-18 years) with hearing loss (P =.099). These trends did not change significantly before or after students resumed in-person classes. Children who wore hearing aids did not report a different BPV level than their peers. Conclusion: In this small sample of school-aged children, any hearing loss, even with mild severity, was associated with diminished health-related quality of life; however, this was unrelated to hearing aid use. Wearing a hearing aid did not appear to be linked to higher bullying and peer victimization rates. Along with further studies on BPV with larger sample sizes, the findings in this study may help physicians counsel parents and children on the psychosocial aspects of hearing loss treatment and guide care decisions. Level of Evidence: 3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the relationship between the use of assistive devices for functional loss and social engagement. This study investigated whether wearing assistive devices (dentures and hearing aids) is associated with social engagement among older adults in South Korea. Potential heterogeneity by type of social engagement (informal social contact versus formal social activity) and gender was also examined. This study analyzed data from 3725 individuals aged 65 or older collected over the course of 6 waves of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA) from 2008 to 2018 (2150 women and 1575 men). Individual fixed effects models were used to account for unobserved individual-level heterogeneity that could confound the relationship between wearing assistive devices and social engagement. The fixed effects estimates showed that wearing assistive devices is associated with a decrease in formal social activity (b = − 0.034 for dentures and b = − 0.077 for hearing aids), but not informal social contact. Gender-stratified fixed effects revealed that the association between wearing assistive devices and social engagement is statistically significant only for men. In men, wearing assistive devices is associated with a decrease in formal social activity (b = − 0.049 for denture and b = − 0.095 hearing aids). The findings of this study suggest that wearing assistive devices may reduce the formal social activity of older adults, particularly men. Policymakers should consider developing interventions to help older adults overcome the stigma associated with assistive devices, which can hinder their social integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cochlear implant (CI) is an established treatment option for patients with inadequate speech understanding and insufficient aided scores. Nevertheless, reliable predictive models and specific therapy goals regarding achievable speech understanding are still lacking. Method: In this retrospective study, 601 cases of CI fittings between 2005 and 2021 at the University Medical Center Freiburg were analyzed. We investigated the preoperative unaided maximum word recognition score (mWRS) as a minimum predictor for post-interventional scores at 65 dB SPL, WRS65(CI). The WRS65(CI) was compared with the preoperative-aided WRS, and a previously published prediction model for the WRS65(CI) was reviewed. Furthermore, the effect of duration of hearing loss, duration of HA fitting, and etiology on WRS65(CI) were investigated. Results: In 95.5% of the cases, a significant improvement in word recognition was observed after CI. WRS65(CI) achieved or exceeded mWRS in 97% of cases. Etiology had a significant impact on WRS65(CI). The predicted score was missed by more than 20 percentage points in 12.8% of cases. Discussion: Our results confirmed the minimum prediction via mWRS. A more precise prediction of the expected WRS65(CI) is possible. The etiology of hearing loss should be considered in the indication and postoperative care to achieve optimal results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among hearing aid (HA) users, there is a considerable variability in word recognition scores (WRSs). This variability is most pronounced among individuals with moderately severe to severe hearing loss. The variability cannot be adequately explained by factors such as pure-tone audiogram, audiogram type or age. This prospective study was designed to investigate the relationship between tone decay (TD) and WRS in a group of HA users with corresponding pure-tone hearing loss. The study population included 22 patients with hearing loss between 50 and 80 dB HL. Aided WRS, unaided WRS and TD were assessed for both ears. TD was found to be frequency-dependent. TD and WRS were correlated, with up to R = −0.66. The TD test was revealed to be a feasible method for explaining variability in WRS among HA users with hearing loss below 80 dB. This may contribute to improved differential diagnostics. The TD test may thus offer a better understanding of the limitations of HA use in the context of cochlear implant candidacy assessment for HA users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: For successful hearing aid (HA) use during daily life, an objective parameter reflecting the subjective satisfaction is required. We explored the aided hearing status, hearing in noise test (HINT) scores, and subjective outcomes to predict performance improvements in everyday living. (2) Methods: A total of 406 patients with hearing loss (HL) who were prescribed HAs were included and were divided into two groups according to the symmetricity of HL. The relationship between audiometric data and subjective questionnaires under unaided and aided (3 months) conditions were investigated. (3) Results: Patients with symmetric HL showed a significant HINT signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) change and significant increase in their subjective satisfaction questionnaire score under the bilateral HA condition. On the other hand, the HINT SNR change and subjective questionnaire score showed various significances according to the side of HA (better or worse hearing) in asymmetric HL HINT SNR and was significantly correlated with the subjective questionnaire score in symmetric HL patients and AHL patients with unilateral HA in their better ear. (4) Conclusions: The HINT SNR improvement after long-term HA use could be an effective tool for predicting the subjective satisfaction of HA use and HA validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early literacy development is critical for children with hearing loss to develop literacy skills in the years to come. The aim of this study is to compare the early literacy skills of 60–72 months' children with hearing loss to the results of children with normal hearing. Methods: A total of 40 children (20 children with hearing aid (HA) and 20 children with normal hearing (NH) were evaluated in the study. Receptive and expressive language was assessed by Test of Early Language Development (TELD-3) and Early Literacy Test (EROT) was applied to assess the early literacy skills of all children in the study. Results: The receptive and expressive language results of the hearing-impaired group were significantly lower than those of normal hearing. Moreover, in EROT when a general analysis is made with main test titles such as, the vocabulary knowledge, letter knowledge, the listening comprehension, results showed that there was a significant difference between the HA and NH groups. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of supporting early literacy skills, which are prerequisite skills for reading and writing skills, in children who receive both mainstreaming education and special education in the risk group and/or continue their education in kindergarten. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hearing loss impacts health-related quality of life and general well-being and was identified in a Lancet report as one of the largest potentially modifiable factors for the prevention of age-related dementia. There is a lack of robust data on how cochlear implant treatment in the elderly impacts quality of life. The primary objective was to measure the change in health utility following cochlear implantation in individuals aged ≥ 60 years. Methods: This study uniquely prospectively recruited a large multinational sample of 100 older adults (mean age 71.7 (SD7.6) range 60–91 years) with severe to profound hearing loss. In a repeated-measures design, pre and post implant outcome measures were analysed using mixed-effect models. Health utility was assessed with the Health Utilities Index Mark III (HUI3). Subjects were divided into groups of 60–64, 65–74 and 75 + years. Results: At 18 months post implant, the mean HUI3 score improved by 0.13 (95%CI: 0.07–0.18 p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the HUI3 between age groups (F[2,9228] = 0.53, p = 0.59). The De Jong Loneliness scale reduced by an average of 0.61 (95%CI: 0.25–0.97 p < 0.014) and the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale improved on average (1.25, 95%CI: 0.85–1.65 p < 0.001). Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly Screening reduced by an average of 8.7 (95%CI: 6.7–10.8, p < 0.001) from a significant to mild-moderate hearing handicap. Age was not a statistically significant factor for any of the other measures (p > 0.20). At baseline 90% of participants had no or mild depression and there was no change in mean depression scores after implant. Categories of Auditory perception scale showed that all subjects achieved a level of speech sound discrimination without lip reading post implantation (level 4) and at least 50% could use the telephone with a known speaker. Conclusions: Better hearing improved individuals' quality of life, ability to communicate verbally and their ability to function independently. They felt less lonely and less handicapped by their hearing loss. Benefits were independent of age group. Cochlear implants should be considered as a routine treatment option for those over 60 years with bilateral severe to profound hearing loss. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/), 7 March 2017, NCT03072862. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of language, memory and intellectual functions is linked to normal hearing and correct sounds interpretation. Hearing loss (HL), especially in its severe form, negatively affects the development of these functions. This prospective study aimed at comparing the Intelligent Quotients (IQ) of children with cochlear implants (CI) with the ones of people wearing hearing aids (HA) after one year of hearing rehabilitation. 21 subjects with severe/profound bilateral hearing loss (deafness) were included in this study. Eleven children with congenital profound HL underwent CI and ten children with moderate to severe HL (congenital and acquired) were rehabilitated by HA. Children's IQs were assessed at enrolment (T0) and 12 months after hearing aids/CI use plus speech therapy. Statistical analyses were performed to analyze the data within and between groups. Comparison of IQs showed no statistically significant differences between CI and HA none at T0 and T1. The subtests showed lower scores in verbal comprehension and process speed index in patients treated with HA when compared to CI. This study showed that auditory rehabilitation can support the normal development of cognitive function in children between six and eight years of age. The use of the correct hearing aids based on the patient's hearing thresholds is important to maximize the rehabilitation outcomes. Due to the small sample size, although stratified for age, our results must be considered preliminary and further analyses on larger samples are needed to confirm our data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder is a pathology resulting from regional dysfunction extending from the auditory structures in the ear to the auditory brainstem. It is especially diagnosed by the presence of otoacoustic emission as well as the absence of auditory brainstem response or the presence of serious disorders in wave morphologies. Cochlear implant is one of the treatment methods for this disorder and is preferred by clinicians in order to contribute to speech perception and language development. Here, some cochlear implant candidacy criteria come into play and the implantation option is applied if the necessary conditions are met for the auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder patient population. In this study, the effects of cochlear implant on auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder were compiled by including the researches of the last 10 years. As a result of the studies, it was determined that the cochlear implant improved postoperative speech perception and contributed positively to language development in the auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder population without the presence of any comorbidity. However, more studies with high evidence are needed for the effect of cochlear implant on auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder in the presence of comorbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of HNO is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Hearing loss is a significant public problem affecting 466 million people worldwide. Hearing-impaired persons benefit from the use of hearing aids, but the need is unmet in 85% of the global population. For the Russian population, no data have been found on this issue. The purpose of this study is to estimate the prevalence of hearing aid use in the Russian adult population. Methods: data on hearing aid use and self-reported trouble with hearing were obtained from the open access database of the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey—Higher School of Economics (RLMS-HSE) for the years 1994–2021. Results: the prevalence of hearing aid use in Russian adults ranged from 4.3 per 1000 (95% CI 3.2–5.9) to 8.8 per 1000 (95% CI 7.5–10.2). The mean rate of self-reported trouble with hearing was 22.2% (SD 0.8); of them, 2.2% (SD 0.2) used hearing aids, and it strongly correlated with older age (r = 0.889) and more severe hearing issues (r = 0.938). Conclusions: The overall prevalence of hearing aid use in Russian adults is very low with unmet needs in 98% of the cases of self-reported trouble with hearing, which is worse than in other populational studies and global estimates. The RLMS-HSE can be used for the monitoring of the national hearing health care system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Hearing loss (HL) and mild behavioral impairment (MBI) are non‐cognitive markers of dementia. This study investigated the relationship between hearing and MBI and explored the influence of hearing aid use on the treatment of hearing loss, both cross‐sectionally and longitudinally. METHODS: Data were analyzed from National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center participants, age ≥50, dementia‐free at baseline, collected between 2005 and 2022. Three self‐report questions were used to generate a three‐level categorical hearing variable: No‐HL, Untreated‐HL, and Treated‐HL. MBI status was derived from the informant‐rated Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI‐Q) using a published algorithm. At baseline (n = 7080), logistic regression was used to examine the association between hearing status (predictor) and the presence of global and domain‐specific MBI (outcome), adjusting for age, sex, cognitive diagnosis, and apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4). Cox proportional hazard models with time‐dependent covariates were used to examine the effect of (1) hearing status as exposure on the rate of incident MBI (n = 5889); and (2) MBI as exposure on the rate of incident HL in those with no HL at baseline (n = 6252). RESULTS: Cross‐sectionally, participants with Untreated‐HL were more likely to exhibit global MBI (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.24–2.21) and individual MBI domains of social inappropriateness (aOR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.06–3.39), affective dysregulation (aOR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.21–2.38), and impulse dyscontrol (aOR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.21–2.38), compared to those with No‐HL. Participants with Treated‐HL (i.e., hearing aid use) did not differ from No‐HL for odds of global or most MBI domains, except for impulse dyscontrol (aOR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.05–1.81). Longitudinally, we found relationships between Treated‐HL and incident MBI (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.01–1.63) and between MBI and incident Untreated‐HL (aHR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.19–1.94). DISCUSSION: Our cross‐sectional results support that hearing aid use is associated with lower odds of concurrent global MBI in dementia‐free participants. Longitudinally, relationships were found between MBI and HL. The severity of HL was not assessed, however, and may require further exploration. Highlights: Hearing Loss (HL) and mild behavioral impairment (MBI) are markers of dementiaCross‐sectionally: Untreated‐HL was associated with global MBI burden, butHL treated with hearing aids was notWe found associations between MBI and incident Untreated‐HL [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: South Korea's National Health Insurance has provided hearing aids to registered individuals with hearing disabilities since 1989. In 2015, hearing aid subsidies increased to approximately US$1,000. This study aimed to understand hearing loss categories in Korea by analyzing patients between 2010 and 2020 and the effect of the 2015 hearing aid policy change on the prevalence of hearing loss. Methods: The participants were patients registered on the National Health Insurance Service database from 2010 to 2020 with hearing loss. A total of 5,784,429 patients were included in this study. Hearing loss was classified into conductive, sensorineural, and other categories. Patients with hearing loss were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases diagnostic code. Disability diagnosis and hearing aid prescription were defined using the National Health Insurance Disability and Hearing Aid Code. Results: The increase in hearing aid prescriptions and hearing disability registrations following the subsidy increase impacts hearing loss prevalence. Hearing aid prescription and hearing disability were found to have an effect on increasing hearing loss prevalence in univariate and multivariate analyses. The r-value of each analysis exceeded 0.95.Other hearing losses increased rapidly after the increased subsidy. Conclusion: A hearing-impaired individual must be diagnosed with a hearing disability and prescribed a hearing aid to receive the subsidy. The prevalence of hearing loss was affected by increased hearing disabilities following changes in the hearing aid subsidy and the number of people prescribed hearing aids. Therefore, caution should be exercised when studying hearing loss prevalence over mid-long-term periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to investigate the qualitative characteristics of hearing aid users (satisfaction with the use of hearing aids in everyday life) and to determine if there are any differences compared to published research in the literature. The sample of respondents consisted of 50 users of hearing aids, aged from 20 to 88 years. The sample was chosen by random selection from a previously selected sample of 398 hearing aid users. A special questionnaire was constructed for the research. The first part of the questionnaire consisted of variables: gender, age, type of hearing impairment, percentage of hearing loss, degree of hearing impairment, time of hearing aid use, and brand of hearing aid. The second part consisted of variables for the assessment of satisfaction with the use of hearing aids, that is, 15 statements to which respondents had to express their views on satisfaction with the use of hearing aids. This part of the questionnaire was carried out by surveying. The results showed that the majority of hearing aid users wear the hearing aid regularly, they benefit significantly from the hearing aid and it helps them in communication. They have no significant problems when using and handling the hearing aid. The variables gender, age, and time of hearing aid use had no statistically significant correlations with the applied set of variables (claims). Attitudes of hearing aid users can be an important factor in determining benefit and satisfaction with hearing aids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to develop a temperature sensor system that accurately measures core body temperature from an ear-worn device. Two digital temperature sensors were embedded in a hearing aid shell along the thermal gradient of the ear canal to form a linear heat balance relationship. This relationship was used to determine best fit parameters for estimating body temperature. The predicted body temperatures resulted in intersubject limits of agreement (LOA) of ±0.49 °C over a range of physiologic and ambient temperatures without calibration. The newly developed hearing aid-based temperature sensor system can estimate core body temperature at an accuracy level equal to or better than many devices currently on the market. An accurate, continuously worn, temperature monitoring and tracking device may help provide early detection of illnesses, which could prove especially beneficial during pandemics and in the elderly demographic of hearing aid wearers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Hearing aid (HA) using is an option for enhancing the sound transmission. It effectively improves hearing ability during communication. In Thailand, two-third of hearing impaired persons were elders, while the utilization of an HA was low. This study aims to explore how the decision was made on the use of HA among the hearing impaired elderly. Design/methodology/approach: Mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was used by starting with a retrospective study to identify the prevalence of HA use and influencing factors including demographic and clinical data. Total, 199 elders with moderate to severe hearing impairment were enrolled. Qualitative data collection for thematic analysis was conducted by interviewing 28 participants to reveal elders' subjective reasoning. Findings: It was found that 25.63% of elders used an HA, whereas age, types of health insurance and disability registration were significant influencing factors. Six themes of subjective reasoning emerged including social activities, disability perspective, social support, medical and personnel, rights and accessibility and benefit of HA, which determined the elders' decisions on HA use. Originality/value: This study broadened insights of the elders' decision process on HA use, which was mutually made by both health-care professional and care recipients. The elders themselves would make the final decision. Not only objective indications but also subjective reasoning of users played significant roles on HA acquisition. To enhance HA use among hearing impaired elders, patient engagement in decision-making was crucial while hearing counselling and elimination of reimbursement barriers became essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Several types of hearing aids are available for the rehabilitation of vestibular-schwannoma (VS)-related hearing loss. There is a lack of recently published papers regarding this theme. The aim of the present work is to organize current knowledge. (2) Methods: A review of the literature regarding the topics "vestibular schwannoma", "hearing loss", and "hearing aid" was performed. Nineteen studies were thus considered. (3) Results: Conventional hearing aids, contralateral routing of signal (CROS) aids, bone anchored hearing aids (BAHA), and others are available options for hearing rehabilitation in VS patients. The speech discrimination score (SDS) is considered the best measure to assess candidacy for rehabilitation with hearing aids. The best hearing rehabilitative conditions in VS patients when using conventional hearing aid devices are a mild−moderate hearing loss degree with good word recognition (more than 50% SDS). CROS-Aid and BAHA are reported to be beneficial. CROS-Aid expands on the area of receiving hearing. BAHA aids use direct bone-conduction stimulation. Unfortunately, there are no available studies focused specifically on VS patients that compare CROS and BAHA technologies. (4) Conclusions: Hearing aids, CROS, and BAHA are viable options for rehabilitating hearing impairment in VS, but require an accurate case-by-case audiological evaluation for rehabilitating hearing impairment in VS. Further studies are needed to prove if what is currently known about similar hearing illnesses can be confirmed, particularly in the case of VS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop and validate a new questionnaire, the Kid-SSQ, for the rapid screening of hearing abilities in children with hearing impairment, aged 7–17 years. Methods: The questionnaire was constructed from two existing, validated versions of the 'Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing' - (SSQ) questionnaire (pediatric form and adult short-form). The 12 selected items included auditory aspects from three subscales: speech perception, spatial hearing, and qualities of hearing. This new short form was then validated in 154 children with cochlear implants (100 bilaterally, and 54 unilaterally implanted children). Construct validity was assessed by testing relationships between Kid-SSQ scores and objective clinical parameters (e.g., age at test, pure-tone audiometry-PTA threshold, speech reception threshold-SRT, duration of binaural experience). Results: Completion time was acceptable for use with children (less than 10 min) and the non-response rate was less than 1%. Good internal consistency was obtained (Cronbach's α = 0.78), with a stable internal structure corresponding to the 3 intended subscales. External validity showed the specificity of each subscale: speech subscale scores were significantly predicted (r = 0.32, p < 0.001) by both 2 kHz PTA threshold (β = 0.33, p < 0.001) and SRT (β = − 0.23, p < 0.001). Children with more binaural experience showed significantly higher scores on the spatial subscale than children with less binaural experience (F(1,98) = 5.1, p < 0.03) and the qualities of hearing subscale scores significantly depended on both age and SRT (r = 0.32, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The Kid-SSQ questionnaire is a robust and clinically useful questionnaire for self-assessment of difficulties in various auditory domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote microphones (RMs) enable clearer reception of speech than would be normally achievable when relying on the acoustic sound field at the listener's ear (Hawkins, J Sp Hear Disord 49, 409–418, 1984). They are used in a wide range of environments, with one example being for children in educational settings. The international standards defining the assessment methods of the technical performance of RMs rely on free-field (anechoic) delivery, a rarely met acoustic scenario. Although some work has been offered on more real-world testing (Husstedt et al., Int J Audiol 61, 34–45. 2022), the area remains under-investigated. The electroacoustic performance of five RMs in a low-reverberation room was compared in order to assess just the RM link, rather than measurements at the end of the signal chain, for example, speech intelligibility in human observers. It pilots physical- and electro-acoustic measures to characterize the performance of RMs. The measures are based on those found in the IEC 60118 standards relating to hearing aids, but modified for diffuse-field delivery, as well as adaptive signal processing. Speech intelligibility and quality are assessed by computer models. Noise bands were often processed into irrelevance by adaptive systems that could not be deactivated. Speech-related signals were more successful. The five RMs achieved similar levels of good predicted intelligibility, for each of two background noise levels. The main difference observed was in the transmission delay between microphone and ear. This ranged between 40 and 50 ms in two of the systems, on the upper edge of acceptability necessary for audio-visual synchrony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Few studies have reported on the etiology, severity, or device usage of unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (UHL) compared to bilateral hearing loss. Therefore, this study investigated the characteristics of UHL in adults and children. Methods: We performed a survey using questionnaires for secondary and tertiary otolaryngology institutions. Results: We included 15,981 patients (1549 children and 14,432 adults) from 196 institutions with otolaryngology residency programs and 2844 patients (336 children and 2508 adults) from 27 institutions with board members of the Japan Audiology Society. The latter submitted audiological data. Among children, most diagnoses were made at age 0. Approximately half of them had profound hearing loss, and 37 children (2.2%) used hearing devices. Among adults, the number of cases increased with age, but decreased when people reached their 80s and 90s. More than half of them had moderate hearing loss. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss was the most common cause of UHL of all ages; 4.4% of UHL patients used hearing devices, and most of the device users (98.6%) selected a conventional hearing aid. Conclusions: Hearing aid use is limited in children and adults with UHL in Japan. There could be many candidates with UHL for intervention such as a cochlear implant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tinnitus is prevalent among patients suffering from Single-Sided Deafness (SSD) and Asymmetrical Hearing Loss (AHL). In addition to bothersome tinnitus in the poorer ear, these patients also report issues with understanding speech in noise and sound localization. The conventional treatment options offered to these patients to improve auditory abilities are cochlear implantation, bone conduction devices or Contralateral Routing Of Signal (CROS) hearing aids. It was recently found that the benefit of cochlear implantation for tinnitus associated with AHL/SSD was greater than the other two approaches. It is conceivable that the lack of stimulation provided to the poorer ear in these last approaches explains their modest impact on tinnitus perception. A new technology that combines the ability to reroute the sound from the poorer ear to the good ear (CROS system) while still stimulating the poorer ear with conventional sound amplification has recently been developed: the StereoBiCROS system. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of this new device on tinnitus. Twelve AHL and two SSD patients aged 70.7 ± 7.9 years with tinnitus were fitted with bilateral hearing aids that included 3 programs: Stereophonic, BiCROS and StereoBiCROS (CROS + bilateral amplification). The short-and long-term effect of the approach on tinnitus was assessed using a tinnitus Loudness Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), respectively. Both the VAS and the THI were used before and one month after the hearing aid fitting. Of the 14 patients who used their hearing aids daily (12.6 ± 1.6 h per day) the StereoBiCROS program was the most used program (81.8 ± 20.5% of the time). The average THI total score decreased from 47 (± 22) to 15 (± 16) (p = 0.002) and the VAS-Loudness score decreased from 7 (± 1) to 2 (± 2) (p < 0.001) after the one-month trial period. In conclusion, StereoBiCROS stimulation strategy seems to offer an effective alternative to reduce tinnitus handicap and loudness for patients with AHL/SSD and tinnitus. This effect may be driven by sound amplification of the poorer ear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cartilage-conduction hearing aid (CC-HA) is a new hearing device that is suitable for use in patients with conductive hearing loss. It has been 5 years since the introduction of the CC-HA. Although the number of users has increased, the CC-HA is not yet widely known. This study examines the effects of CC-HA on patients with conductive hearing loss and investigates factors that affect the willingness to use the device by comparing purchasers and non-purchasers of CC-HA in patients with unilateral conductive hearing loss. Eight patients had bilateral conductive hearing loss, and 35 had unilateral conductive hearing loss. Each patient underwent sound field tests and speech audiometry, and the effects of the CC-HA were compared with those of conventional bone conduction hearing aids (BC-HA). In patients with bilateral conductive hearing loss, the CC-HA was non-inferior to BC-HA. The CC-HA improved the hearing thresholds and speech recognition in patients with unilateral conductive hearing loss. Moreover, in patients with unilateral conductive hearing loss, experiencing the effect of wearing the CC-HA under conditions such as putting noise in the better ear could affect patients' willingness to use the CC-HA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of HNO is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: We investigated the relationship between hearing aid or cochlear implant use and self-esteem, quality of life, hearing quality, and speech perception. Methods: Of the 120 participants studied, 29 were cochlear implant users, 26 were hearing aid users, 33 were non-device users with hearing loss, and 32 had normal hearing. Each individual included in the study WHOQOL–BREF Quality-of-Life Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem and Speech, Spatial Perception and Qualities of Hearing Scale was applied. Results: We found that the self-esteem level of the group with hearing loss, but without a device, was significantly lower than that of the group with a cochlear implant/hearing aid. There was a moderately statistically significant relationship between self-esteem, quality of life, speech perception, and hearing quality. Conclusions: Using hearing aid and cochlear implants increases self-esteem among people with hearing impairments. Self-esteem is associated with quality of life, speech perception, and hearing quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hearing loss is the third leading global cause of disability and is associated with poorer quality of life. Hearing aids are often recommended for hearing loss; however, hearing aid uptake and use rates are perpetually low. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a patient-centered counseling aimed at addressing the desire in the patient to change their behavior. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of one-on-one MI sessions on hearing aid use among new adult users. Methods: A multi-center, prospective, randomized patient-blind controlled trial with a pre- and post-tests design. New hearing aid users ≥ 18 years of age will be recruited from Vancouver, Canada. They will be randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. The treatment group will attend a one-on-one MI session hosted by a practicing MI therapist in addition to standard in-person audiological care. The control group will receive standard in-person audiological care. Data is collected at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months' follow-ups. The primary outcomes are data-logged hearing aid use hours and patient-reported outcomes as measured by the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids questionnaire. Associations between intervention and hearing aid use hours and self-reported outcome measures will be assessed. Discussion: This trial is designed to evaluate the efficacy of one-on-one MI in improving hearing aid use in new adult users in the short and long terms. Results will contribute to the evidence on whether MI counseling has an effect on hearing aid use and may guide future clinical practices. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04673565. Registered on 17 December 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ear molds and shells of hearing devices are generally designed using ear impressions. Computed tomography (CT) can provide information concerning ear structure, which can be utilized in computer-aided design to create hearing devices. This study aimed to compare the differences in hearing devices designed using either ear impressions or CT images. The ear chip of a cartilage conduction (CC) hearing device was designed based on the ear impression and CT images of patients with aural atresia. Three patients with bilateral (n = 1) or unilateral (n = 2) aural atresia participated in this study. The aided thresholds and subjective evaluations were compared. There were no serious problems with the use of either device, and no remarkable differences were observed regarding their respective audiological and subjective benefits. Regarding the subjective patient preferences, the hearing aid with the device designed via CT imaging was better in three ears of two patients, whereas the wearing comfort of the transducer was better for the device designed via the ear impression. The subjective evaluation of appearance varied among the cases. Finally, a device that was designed using CT findings was purchased for one patient. CT images can be utilized in computer-aided design to create CC hearing devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent days, one of the most serious health problems in humans is hearing loss. For helping the hearing impairment, the Hearing Aid (HA) system is used, but it may lack in various aspects such as delay, matching error, power consumption, low complexity and unwanted noise. Many techniques were introduced to overcome these issues, but they still have problems. Therefore, this research uses a novel Aquila-based Adaptive Filter (AbAF) for improving the HA system with the optimized parameters of filter. Here, the incorporation of the Aquila optimizer along with the adaptive filter is considered as the key novelty of this present work. The main motive of this proposed model is to filter the noisy features more possible range for improve the HA performance. Hence, the Aquila agent removes the unwanted noise by updating the adaptive processor's filter coefficient and optimizing the filter parameters such as matching error, delay, complexity, and bandwidth and power consumption. Moreover, the suggested model is designed and executed in the MATLAB platform. Finally, the performance parameters were estimated and compared with the past studies to validate the performance improvement. The presented model scored the reduced Matching error as 0.3% and reduced power consumption as 10%, which quite lower than the compared models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The retrospective reporting of users' hearing aid (HA) usage can provide insight into individualized HA usage patterns. Understanding these HA usage patterns can help to provide a tailored solution to meet the usage needs of HA users. This study aims to understand the HA usage pattern in daily-life situations from self-reported data and to examine its relationship to self-reported outcomes. A total of 1537 participants who responded to questions related to situations where they always took off or put on the HAs were included in the study. A latent class analysis was performed to stratify the HA users according to their HA usage pattern. The results showed distinct usage patterns in the latent classes derived for both scenarios. The demographics, socio-economic indicators, hearing loss, and user-related factors were found to impact HA usage. The results showed that the HA users who reported using the HAs all the time (regular users) had better self-reported HA outcomes than situational users, situational non-users, and non-users. The study explained the underlying distinct HA usage pattern from self-reported questionnaires using latent class analysis. The results emphasized the importance of regular use of HAs for a better self-reported HA outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual Reality (VR) technologies have the potential to be applied in a clinical context to improve training and rehabilitation for individuals with hearing impairment. The introduction of such technologies in clinical audiology is in its infancy and requires devices that can be taken out of laboratory settings as well as a solid collaboration between researchers and clinicians. In this paper, we discuss the state of the art of VR in audiology with applications to measurement and monitoring of hearing loss, rehabilitation, and training, as well as the development of assistive technologies. We review papers that utilize VR delivered through a head-mounted display (HMD) and used individuals with hearing impairment as test subjects, or presented solutions targeted at individuals with hearing impairments, discussing their goals and results, and analyzing how VR can be a useful tool in hearing research. The review shows the potential of VR in testing and training individuals with hearing impairment, as well as the need for more research and applications in this domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Individuals with sensorineural hearing loss can regain some lost auditory function with the help of hearing aids, but it may be insufficient under non - optimal condition. Future research aspect lies in processing strategy and training to enhance effects of auditory training and rehabilitation of patients using hearing aids. So research is done to supplement the rehabilitation process with patient centric education, counseling and auditory training to help the listener compensate for loss of auditory signal and improve communication. Whether age-related hearing loss can be decreased by auditory training along with hearing aid is to be researched as it is not clear from previous scientific works whether the outcome is significantly better than those with hearing aid who have not received training. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the role of auditory training for improvement of auditory perception in aged patients with age-related sensorineural hearing loss using binaural hearing aid. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in Otorhinolaryngology department of Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, Burdwan, a rural based tertiary care hospital in Burdwan for 2 months from June 2022 to July 2022 and 50 aged patients with audiologically proven age related sensorineural hearing loss using hearing aid were included in this study after through history taking and meticulous clinical examination after getting institutional ethics committee clearance. Patients were divided in two groups, 25 in experimental group (with auditory training) and 25 in control group (without auditory training) and result was analyzed. Results: Formal auditory training was able to improve the central auditory skills of hearing aid users. Improvement was noted in an objective neurophysiologic correlate and perceived by patients, as revealed in a selfassessment questionnaire. Conclusion: Formal auditory training in adult hearing aid users promotes: Improvement in auditory skills for sound localization, memory for nonverbal sounds in sequence, auditory closure, and figure-to-ground for verbal sounds. Greater benefits with hearing aids in reverberant and noisy environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To identify factors affecting hearing aid usage in children. Methods: This retrospective study examined 59 hearing-impaired children fitted with hearing aids for at least 6 months. Patients with moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss with complete data-logging information stored in the hearing aid programming file from January 2020 until June 2021 were included. Children with concomitant disabilities were excluded. Data for audiological assessments included hearing assessment, aided hearing thresholds, and aided speech tests. Results: The children's age ranged from 6 months to 6 years. Average daily hearing aid usage was 5.5 hour (h) after 3 months, 7 h after 6 months; and 8.7± 4.7 h as reported by parents. Patient age was positively correlated with data logging at 3 months (r=0.414, p=0.01) and 6 months (r=0.406, p=0.01). Conclusion: We found that children's age, gender, severity of hearing loss, residential location, and parents' educational level had a significant effect on daily hearing aid usage. Whereas, family size and a family history of hearing loss or use of amplification devices had no discernible influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)