Search

Objective To develop a protocol and a clinical tool to assess the audiological needs of younger and older adults with hearing loss. Design A needs assessment protocol was developed based on recommendations of an expert panel, existing literature, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, client-centered care and goal setting. The protocol was reviewed by the expert panel. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with clinical audiologists to validate its content and explore its clinical applicability. A clinical tool was developed to make the administration of the protocol more uniform. Study sample 15 experts and 14 clinical audiologists. Results Feedback received from the participants (experts and clinicians) supported the content validity of the needs assessment protocol and clinical tool. The topics covered within the protocol and tool include: Audiological needs (activity limitations, participation restrictions, environmental factors), Living conditions (social networks, living environment), Personal factors, Discussion with the client to define the intervention plan, and Recommendations. Conclusions A protocol and a clinical tool were developed to help audiologists and clients undertake a comprehensive audiological needs assessment. The content validity of the protocol and tool were demonstrated. Their use can facilitate the delivery of a client-centered assessment using a uniform and comprehensive approach.

Objective: To develop a web-based application for a colour pattern memory recognition task as the secondary task of a dual-task paradigm and to compare the listening effort required by adolescents ...

An empirical optical model for estimating the concentration of suspended particulate matter (CSPM) was developed in the upper part of the Saint Lawrence Estuary based on remote sensing reflectance (Rrs) measurements corresponding to medium-resolution imaging spectrometer (MERIS) spectral channels 7 and 9 (i.e., wavelengths centered at 665 and 708 nm, respectively). Sensitivity of CSPM estimates to changes in mineral content of suspended particulates was investigated based on simulated Rrs values. For June 2012 measurements, CSPM varied with values following a power-type relationship (y = 235.7 x8.321, r2 = 0.7, N = 10). In addition, numerical experiments and analysis of regression type II showed that exponent parameter of this biogeo-optical model decreased as suspended particulates become more enriched in organic matter.

Implementation of the chronic care model (CCM) is associated with improved outcomes for patients. It follows that any proposed policy or implementation plan that maps highly onto the CCM is more likely to lead to improved outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare long-term condition (LTC) policy documents and audiology quality standard documents with the CCM and to highlight the need for further research in service implementation and clinical outcome.We carried out a keyword-in-context content analysis of relevant documents.Documents relating to health department policy on LTCs, audiology service improvement initiatives in England and the CCM.This analysis shows that current audiology implementation documents in England map poorly onto the CCM compared to health policy documents relating to the management of LTCs. The biggest discrepancies occur in self-management support, delivery system design, and decision support. These elements are supported by the best evidence of potential improvements in clinical outcome.Our content analysis of audiology service quality improvement documents in England suggests they compare poorly to some elements of the CCM. We discuss the implications this might have for future research.

Using a dual task paradigm, two experiments were conducted to: (1) quantify the listening effort that young and older adults expend to recognize speech in noise when presented under audio-only (Experiment 1) and audiovisual conditions (Experiment 2) and, (2) determine the influence visual cues have on listening effort. Listening effort refers to the attentional and cognitive resources required to understand speech.All participants performed a closed-set word recognition task and tactile pattern recognition task separately and concurrently. Accuracy and reaction time data were collected. The criterion for single task word recognition performance was set to 80% correct across experiments and across age groups.For each experiment, 25 young and 25 older adults with normal hearing and normal (or corrected normal) vision participated.Under equated performance conditions, older adults expended more listening effort than young adults with both audio-only and audiovisually presented speech. Furthermore, the processing demands of audiovisual speech recognition were greater than audio-only speech recognition for all participants.These results suggest that while visual cues can improve audiovisual speech recognition, they can also place an extra demand on processing resources with performance consequences for the word and tactile tasks under dual task conditions.

The objective of this study was to investigate whether the speech perception problems in noise of children with auditory processing disorder (APD) stem from an auditory or a higher order dysfunction.A repeated measures design comparing the sentence key word recognition scores of children with APD and a control group was used. Four sentence lists from the Test de phrases dans le bruit (TPB) were presented with a babble masker at four different signal-to-noise ratios. The TPB is a Canadian French adaptation of the speech perception in noise test.Ten participants between 9-12 years with APD participated in this study, as well as ten age- and gender-matched children with no sign of APD.Group analyses revealed that children with APD had poorer overall sentence key word recognition scores than the control group. Analysis of the difference scores between the high and low predictability sentences indicated that the benefit derived from linguistic context is similar between the groups. However, individual patterns of results revealed different profiles within the APD group.Further study using a larger sample is warranted to deepen our understanding of the nature of APD and identify characteristic profiles to enable better tailoring of therapeutic programs.

Speech understanding is improved when the observer can both see and hear the talker. This study compared the effects of reduced visual acuity on auditory-visual (AV) speech-recognition in noise among younger and older adults. Two groups of participants performed a closed-set sentence-recognition task in one auditory-alone (A-alone) condition and under three AV conditions: normal visual acuity (6/6), and with blurred vision to simulate a 6/30 and 6/60 visual impairment. The results showed that (1) the addition of visual speech cues improved speech-perception relative to the A-alone condition, (2) under the AV conditions, performance declined as the amount of blurring increased, (3) even under the AV condition that simulated a visual acuity of 6/60, the speech recognition scores were significantly higher than those obtained under the A-alone condition, and (4) generally, younger adults obtained higher scores than older adults under all conditions. Our results demonstrate the benefits of visual cues to enhance speech understanding even when visual acuity is not optimal.

The aim of this study was to investigate cortical activation in response to binaural stimulus presentations in an individual (FX) with a circumscribed traumatic hemorrhagic lesion of the right inferior colliculus. FX and control subjects were exposed to complex sounds while undergoing a functional magnetic resonance imaging assessment. Whereas normally-hearing individuals show well-balanced bilateral activation patterns in response to binaural auditory stimulation, the same stimuli produced stronger activation in the left hemisphere in FX. Combined with previous data, these findings reinforce the notion that the inferior colliculus is an essential auditory relay and that its loss cannot be significantly compensated.

People with an acquired hearing loss often have difficulty adjusting to a first hearing aid. Studies have shown that audiological counselling can facilitate adjustment to a first hearing aid. Because of its interactive nature, the internet could be a valuable tool to gain information about the experiences of the new hearing aid user and to address the needs for audiological counselling. An internet-based audiological counselling programme in the form of daily e-mails during the first month after the hearing aid fitting was offered to three new hearing aid users. The data, qualitative in nature, were comprised of the content of the e-mails and of in-depth interviews with the participants and their audiologist, and were analysed according to grounded theory. Overall, the internet-based audiological counselling programme provided rich descriptions of the experiences of the participants and reinforced positive adjustment behaviours experienced by them.

The objective of this study was to describe and better understand the factors that influence the use of assistance technologies by older adults who have a hearing loss. We were interested in adopting a methodological approach that would provide an in-depth account of individual experiences related to the use of these technologies. A qualitative research design was therefore selected. Audio-recorded interviews were conducted with ten individuals who were 65 years of age or older and were current successful assistance technology users. Thematic analysis was used to draw meaning from the interview transcripts. The results suggest that successful use of these assistance technologies involves the recognition of hearing difficulties, an awareness that technological solutions exist, consultation for and acquisition of devices, and adapting to device use and modified behaviour. These four landmarks seem to be crucial stages when people either move toward successful assistance technology use or are discouraged fro...

A research program was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of an audiovisual-FM system as a speechreading aid. The present study investigated the effects of the distance between the talker and the speechreader on a visual-speech perception task. Sentences were recorded simultaneously with a conventional Hi8 mm video camera, and with the microcamera of an audiovisual-FM system. The recordings were obtained from two talkers at three different distances: 1.83 m, 3.66 m, and 7.32 m. Sixteen subjects completed a visual-keyword recognition task. The main results of the investigation were as follows: For the recordings obtained with the conventional video camera, there was a significant decrease in speechreading performance as the distance between the talker and the camera increased.For the recordings obtained with the microcamera of the audiovisual-FM system, there were no differences in speechreading as a function of the test distances.The findings of the investigation confirm that in a classroom setting the u...

This article addresses one specific aspect of treatment evaluation research, namely the dependent variables used to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment programs provided in audiological rehabilitation. First, some underlying principles that should guide the design of all treatment evaluation research are presented. Second, issues specifically related to the selection of outcome measures are discussed. It is argued that treatment effectiveness research should incorporate individualized outcome measures. That is, a unique set of outcome measures should be identified for each of the persons who participate in the treatment program. Further, each outcome measure should make it possible to document changes related to each participant's involvement in the specific activity identified in the objective of the intervention program. Finally, other types of dependent variables that should be considered when conducting treatment effectiveness research are discussed. Specifically, information should be collected to identify all the factors that either facilitated or constituted an obstacle to the implementation of the treatment program or the successful attainment of the targeted goal of the program. Also, information should be obtained to describe the impacts and consequences of the intervention program.