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Objective Auditory processing disorder (APD) tests, based on the deviation of results from standard benchmarks, can distinguish children suspected of having APD. Some of these tests directly relate to the ability to discriminate sound pitch, while others may be indirectly affected. Accordingly, this study investigates the impact of pitch discrimination-based rehabilitation on diagnostic indices of APD tests. Materials & Methods In this study, we selected 19 children suspected of APD who were identified based on tests of pitch pattern, dichotic digits, and monaural selective auditory attention as the intervention group. These children received pitch discrimination-based training, for about three months, two to three sessions a week, each session up to 1 h. After completing the rehabilitation phases, diagnostic tests were administered again. We also selected 26 children with similar diagnostic criteria for APD as the control group. No intervention was applied to this group, and after a comparable period to the intervention group, diagnostic tests were re-administered. The results before and after the interventions were compared within the intervention group and with the 26 children in the control group. Results The rehabilitation showed significant improvements in the pitch pattern and monaural selective auditory attention tests. In the monaural selective auditory attention test, significant improvements were observed in both ears (P=0.001). In the pitch pattern test, effective improvements were also observed for both ears (P=0.001). The effects were such that nearly 37% of children suspected of APD, based on the diagnostic criteria used in the study, no longer met the criteria for this disorder. Hence, if the same tests are re-administered to them, these children will be diagnosed as having no auditory processing disorder. Conclusion Discrimination-based rehabilitation impacts the results of APD tests. Accordingly, some children who are classified as suspected auditory processing disorder with such tests, are removed from this subgroup after the intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: The Persian version of the University of Cincinnati Auditory Processing Inventory (P-UCAPI) is used to evaluate auditory processing disorders in Iranian people using six subscales, each focusing on different auditory skills. In this study, we aimed to compare the total score and the subscale scores of the P-UCAPI among three age groups to evaluate the impact of aging on auditory processing. Methods: Participants in three age groups of 20, including 21-39 years (group A), 42-60 years (group B), and 61-80 years (group C) completed the P-UCAPI. One-way ANOVA and Welch's t-test was used to compare the mean scores of each subscale among the three groups. Results: The mean scores of listening and concentrating (p<0.001), understanding speech (p<0.001), attention (p=0.010), and other (p<0.001) were significantly lower in group C compared to group A. The mean scores of listening and concentrating (p=0.001), understanding speech (p<0.001), and other (p<0.001) were significantly lower in group C compared to group B. The mean total score was not significantly different between groups A and B (p=0.333). However, the difference was significant between groups A and C (p<0.001) and between groups B and C (p<0.001). Conclusion: The increase of age affects the auditory processing and generally reduces the auditory performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Identifying sound localization defects in children and using appropriate rehabilitation methods lead to improve their problem to use binaural processing skills to successfully suppress background noise and selectively attend to a particular auditory source. This pilot study aims to design a game for auditory training of children with Spatial Processing Disorder (SPD) in Iran and compare their performance in engagement time and speech recognition in noise with those of normal peers. Methods: The game application was designed based on the spatial separation of target and competing stimuli by applying head-related transfer functions. The child's task was to identify the picture of the target word from among the displayed options. Participants were 24 children with SPD and 27 normal peers aged 7-9 years, who performed the speech recognition tasks using the designed game. Results: The game was fascinating and easy to use for most participants. There was no significant difference in mean engagement time between the two groups. The mean engagement time of participants was significantly different between the two groups in terms of age. The children with SPD obtained lower scores in speech recognition in noise tasks. There was no significant difference in speech recognition scores between girls and boys. Conclusion: The designed game application has the potential for speech recognition innoise training of children with SPD in Iran. It is a fascinating and user-friendly tool for simulating the real-life auditory situations for these children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives This study aimed to determine the prevalence of central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) in elementary school students in Kerman, Iran, during 2018-2019. Materials & Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1369 elementary school students in Kerman. These students were selected by cluster sampling from different areas of Kerman and then screened using the Buffalo Model Questionnaire (BMQ). Based on the data obtained from the questionnaire, normal children were excluded from the study. Then, children with suspected central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) underwent ear exams and were excluded from the study in case of abnormal results in the tympanic membrane examination (rapture- effusion). The remaining subjects underwent peripheral audiometry evaluation, and children with abnormal audiometry were excluded from the study. Finally, the remaining children with suspicious screening results, a normal examination, and normal audiometry underwent a specific test to detect Central auditory processing disorder. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS software. Results One thousand three hundred sixty-nine primary school students with a mean age of 9.15 ±2.63 years enrolled in this study. 52%% of students were male. 8.03% of them had CAPD. A statistically significant relationship was found between the prevalence of CAPD and gender (P<0.001), place of residence (P<0.001), history of middle ear inflammation (P<0.001) and history of head injury. Conclusion The quality of life of these students with CAPD can be improved via timely recognition of CAPD and the provision of appropriate preventive and therapeutic facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the most effective coping mechanism to deal with auditory hallucinations that reduces the frequency of voice-hearing and associated distress. In the present randomized controlled trial, each of the three coping mechanisms of attentional avoidance, attentional focusing, and mindfulness were used in one group and the fourth group was the control group. Method: A total of 64 patients with schizophrenia, categorized in three groups of attentional avoidance, attentional focusing and mindfulness and one control group, were asked to listen to an ambiguous auditory task depending on the type of their coping mechanism. After determining the baseline of distress, the task was performed in duplicate for each group. After playing the auditory task for the first time, participants were asked to rate out the level of their distress and compliance with instructions, and they were asked to estimate the likely number of words they had heard. After the second time, they were asked to note the words they hear during the task and rate out their distress and compliance with instructions again at the end of the task. Results: There was a significant difference between groups in terms of distress with a medium effect size of 0.47. The post hoc analysis revealed that mindfulness group reported less distress compared to the attentional focusing group (P = 0.017) and the control group (P = 0.027). Also, a significant difference existed between groups in terms of the frequency of the identified words, with a moderately strong effect size of 0.59, and a very good statistical power of 0.99. The post hoc analysis showed that attentional avoidance (P = 0.013) and attentional focusing (P = 0.011) groups heard fewer words than the control group. Conclusion: Attention is a good target for treating psychotic patients with auditory hallucinations. Also, manipulation of attention can affect the frequency of auditory hallucinations and associated distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: The Buffalo Model Questionnaire (BMQ) has been proposed for the screening, helping to diagnose and also monitoring the effect of rehabilitation on the improvement of Central Auditory Processing Disorder ((C)APD). In this regard, the applicability and accuracy of Persian-BMQ (P-BMQ) are evaluated by examining the correlation between the results of this questionnaire and the Buffalo model test battery. Methods: Overall, 254 children, normal and with Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) aged between 7–12 years old participated in this cross-sectional study. The questionnaire was completed by the parents of children who were subjected to the Buffalo model test battery evaluations. Results: In the normal group, the highest correlation (0.648) was shown between the Decoding (D) component of the P-BMQ with the Row Staggered Spondaic Word (RSSW) variable. In the SLD group, the highest correlation (0.318) was shown between the Variance-tolerance fading memory (V) component of the P-BMQ and the qualitative Persian version of the Phonemic Sentence Test (P-PST) variable. The highest correlation was considered to be between the D component of the P-BMQ with the Right Competitive word, started in the Left ear (RC-LEF) variable in the SSW test (0.498), and qualitative P-PST variable (0.471); and 0.360 between the V component of the P-BMQ and Persian version of the Speech in Noise with S/N=4 in the Left ear (P-SIN4L) of variable in the P-SIN test. Conclusion: P-BMQ is a useful screening tool complementing the Persian Buffalo model test battery for evaluating auditory processing evaluation in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Theater actors are a subgroup of professional voice users who may present their performances at a high-pressure vocal demand, like loud talking, shouting, or even stage singing. Disturbances in auditory-perceptual or acoustic parameters of voice are commonly experienced by theater actors and are known as a frequent occupational hazard for them. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the relationship between auditory-perceptual and acoustic parameters of the voice in Iranian theater actors. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 45 Iranian theater actors, including 22 females and 23 males, with a meanage of 30.76 ± 7 years. The auditory-perceptual evaluation was performed using the Persian version of the Consensus Auditory- Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V). Acoustic characteristics, including mean fundamental frequency (F0), local shimmer, local jitter, and harmonic-to-noise ratio (HNR), were extracted from the subjects' "speech sample." Correlation analyses were performed to examine the relationship between the measures of auditory-perceptual and acoustic voice characteristics. Results: The overall auditory-perceptual severity was negatively correlated with mean F0 (r = -0.592, P < 0.05) and HNR (r = - 0.324, P < 0.05). Roughness was also negatively correlated with voice mean F0 (r = -0.629, P < 0.05) and HNR (r = -0.322, P < 0.05) and positively correlated with voice local jitter (r = 0.310, P < 0.05). We also found that pitch was negatively correlated with voice mean F0 (r = -0.309, P < 0.05) and positively correlated with voice local jitter (r = 0.292, P = 0.050). Conclusions: Acoustic measures, including F0, HNR, and jitter, correlate with auditory perceptual parameters of the voice quality in Iranian theater actors. These findings highlight the significance of acoustic parameters in assessing voice quality in professional voice users such as theater actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have shown that children with non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (NSCLP) experience auditory processing disorder to some degree. APD can negatively affect communication skills and academic performance. This study aimed to assess important aspects of auditory processing in school-age children with NSCLP. Dichotic digits (DD), gaps in noise (GIN) and monaural selective auditory attention tests (mSAAT) were assessed in school-age children with NSCLP in this study. Mean scores of dichotic digits of the right ear in children with NSCLP was higher than the control group without cleft (p <.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the DD score of the left ear (p =.112). The score of right ear advantage (REA) in the NSCLP group was higher than the control group (p =.002). NSCLP group obtained lower scores in the GIN and mSAAT tests compared to the control group without craniofacial abnormalities (p =.008 for GIN% of the right ear and p <.001 for GIN threshold of both ears, GIN% for left ear and mSAAT scores). The results indicate that some children with NSCLP may suffer from APD to some degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Early detection of auditory processing disorders (APD) is essential for preventing learning and educational problems in school-aged children. It is crucial to take into account the comorbidity with APD, as well. The goal of APD screening is to obtain the basic information about those with auditory disorders to be referred for further evaluation. This study aimed to identify the elementary school students at risk of APD in Tehran, Iran. Methods: Participants were the parents of 536 children selected from 11 elementary schools in four districts of Tehran city. The schools in each district were selected by a random clustering method. The auditory system of students was first evaluated. The parents were then asked to complete the Persian version of the auditory processing domain questionnaire (APDQ). Results: The prevalence of APD was 3.3% in girls and 8.3% in boys and the difference between them was statistically significant (p=0.021). The overall prevalence of APD was 4.6% based on the cut-off points of four APDQ domains, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.6. Conclusion: It is necessary to screen APD in school-aged children to minimize learning and educational problems in them. Moreover, there is a need for developing screening methods to provide timely detection and appropriate intervention for those at risk of APD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Amblyaudia is a diagnostic issue in central auditory processing disorder (CAPD), which is characterized by asymmetry in dichotic listening performance. This disorder negatively affects the academic performance of children by influencing their information processing, reading, attention, etc. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of the dichotic interaural intensity difference (DIID) training on all auditory processing categories of the Buffalo Model using the Persian staggered spondaic word (P-SSW) test. Methods: The study was conducted on 17 children (11 girls and 6 boys) aged 8-12 years old diagnosed with amblyaudia. All children were first evaluated by the P-SSW test, and then participated in 10-12 sessions of the DIID training. The P-SSW test was taken again after completing the training program in order to evaluate the training effect. Results: The paired t-test results showed a significant reduction in the mean scores of decoding (p < 0.001) and tolerance fading memory (p < 0.004) categories as well as the total mean score of P-SSW test after training. The Wilcoxon test also showed the effect of this training on the integration category (p < 0.025). The McNemar test, however, showed no statistically significant effect of the DIID training on the organization category. Conclusion: The DIID training causes significant improvement in some central auditory processing categories of the Buffalo Model, including decoding, tolerance fading memory and integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study was conducted to develop the Persian version of the Phonemic Synthesis Test, evaluate its psychometric properties and generate normative data. Design: Test development, including the optimisation of materials, determining content and face validities and assessing the psychometric properties. Study samples: Overall, 425 subjects participated in this study in three different stages. Ten experts participated in the content validity assessment stage. The face validity was determined by taking the views of 17 subjects, including children diagnosed with APD, normal children and experts. The psychometric properties were evaluated with 395 normal children aged 7 to 11, divided into five age groups. All the participants were retested after four weeks for evaluating the test-retest reliability. Results: The results revealed the strong content and face validity of the test. No significant differences were observed between the genders. Significant differences were observed in the quantitative and qualitative scores among the age groups. The Spearman correlation coefficient showed that the scores of the test and retest were strongly and positively correlated (r > 0.9). The findings showed many similarities with the data reported in the original American English Phonemic Synthesis Test. Conclusions: The Persian Phonemic Synthesis Test is a reliable and valid test for auditory processing assessments in Persian-speaking children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations in the GJB2 gene are a main cause of autosomal‐recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) in many populations. Previous studies have estimated the average frequency of GJB2 mutations to be ∼16% in Iran, but would vary among different ethnic groups. Here, we have taken together and reviewed results from our two previous publications and data from searching other published mutation reports to provide a comprehensive collection of data for GJB2 mutations and HL in central Iran. In all, 332 unrelated families were included and analyzed for the prevalence and type of the GJB2 gene mutations. In total, the frequency of GJB2 mutations was found to be 16% in the central provinces, which is significantly higher than those identified in southern populations of Iran. Also, c.35delG was the most frequent mutation in the related population. The present study suggests that mutations in the GJB2 gene, especially c.35delG, are important causes of HL in central Iran and can be used as a basis of genetic counseling and clinical guidelines in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Dichotic listening disorders occur secondary to interhemispheric transfer dysfunction. Central processing tests such as staggered spondaic words (SSW) and dichotic digits test (DDT) are recommended for the evaluation of dichotic listening in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The present study aimed to evaluate dichotic listening in subjects with MS by SSW and DDT. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 45 patients with MS, including 20 males (mean ± SD age: 35.95 ± 5.73 y) and 25 females (mean ± SD age: 37.40 ± 6.1 y) and their data were collected by the Persian version of SSW (P-SSW) and DDT. The results compared to 45 normal subjects age- and gendermatched as the control group. Results: In patients with MS, P-SSW quantitative and qualitative errors (except for Sm2 and reversals), errors were significantly more than the control group (p = 0.001). Right and left ear scores in DDT for the patients with MS were significantly lower, and right ear advantage was significantly higher than that in the control group (p = 0.001). The results also showed a significant correlation between the test of PSSW and DDT in the left ear. Conclusion: The present study showed that patients with MS have lower performance in dichotic listening and binaural processing than normal peers. Identification of binaural processing deficit in patients with MS may lead to early rehabilitation and improving their function by facilitating auditory processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Time compressed speech test is one of the most useful monaural tests for evaluation of central auditory processing disorder. For developing the time compressed sentences test, the compression rate of the sentences must be set so that the average speech comprehension score is about 90% in normal individuals and can challenge central auditory processing system sufficiently so subjects with auditory processing disorders could be identified. Therefore, the aim of the present study was finding the appropriate compression rate for developing compressed sentences test in Persian. Method: Initially, two 10-sentence lists were prepared based on the experts' opinion and were compressed by the amount of 60, 65, 70, 75 and 80% using Praat software. Compressed sentences were tested on twelve 18-25 year-old normal individuals and the speech comprehension score in different compression rates was compared and the compression rate in which the average score was approximately 90% was reported as an appropriate compression rate for developing time compressed sentences test in Persian. Results: 70% compression rate was able to create an average score of 95.27% (± 3.31) and 93.6% (± 7.17) in the right and left ear, respectively. Conclusion: Results showed that the compression rate of 70% was appropriate rate for developing the test in the Persian language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Sometimes there is no hearing impairment, but it is possible to have an auditory disorder. This is known as a central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). Speech dichotic tasks are useful tools to evaluate CAPD, but there is almost no tool to assess this for Azeri people in their native language. The aim of this study was to evaluate central auditory processing of Azeri participants by Azeri dichotic digit test (ADDT). Materials & Methods Participants were 52 normal Iranian Azeri students (mean age 23.27± 4.71; 26 females, 26 males) in the Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran in 2016. They were chosen by convenient sampling. ADDT was constructed and administered in free recall conditions along with a Persian dichotic digit test (PDDT). After two to four weeks, reliability was performed. Results The mean of the right ear score of PDDT and ADDT was 98.90% and 99.09%, respectively. ADDT was reliable in almost all scores. There was no significant difference in performance between men and women in any score of both tests (P>0.05). The results showed a significant difference between both ears' scores in PDDT (P<0.02) as well as in ADDT (P=0.00). The right ear advantage was seen in both tests. Conclusion All participants performed significantly better on digits presented in the right ear than the left ear in both tests. Central auditory processing of Azeri participants for Azeri is similar to that for Persian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ConclusionThe study results indicate that children with a history of otitis media with effusion (OME) suffer from auditory processing disorder to some degree. The findings support the hypothesis that fluctuating hearing loss may affect central auditory processing during critical periods. ObjectivesEvidence suggests that prolonged OME in children can result in an auditory processing disorder, presumably because hearing has been disrupted during an important developmental period. A lack of auditory stimulation leads to the abnormal development of the hearing pathways in the brain. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of OME on binaural auditory function and auditory temporal processing. MethodIn the present study, the dichotic digit test (DDT) was used for binaural hearing, and the gap in noise (GIN) test was used to evaluate temporal hearing processing. ResultsThe average values of GIN differed significantly between children with a history of OME and normal controls (p < 0.001). The mean values of the DDT score were significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.002). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background and Aims: The dichotic listening subtest is considered as an important component of the test battery for auditory processing assessment in both children and adults. A randomized dichotic digits test (RDDT) was created to compensate for sensitivity weakness of double digits when detecting abnormal ear asymmetry during dichotic listening. The aim of this study was the development and initial evaluation of the Persian randomized dichotic digits test. Method: Persian digits 1-10 (except for the bisyllabic digit, 4) uttered by a native Persian language speaker were recorded in a studio. After alignment of intensity and temporal characteristics of digit waveforms, lists 1 and 2 of the RDDT were reproduced. List 1 of the test was administered at 55 dBHL on 50 right-handed normal hearing individuals (with an equal sex ratio) in the age group of 18-25 years and hearing thresholds of 15 dBHL or better in audiometric frequencies. Results: Mean (standard deviation) percent-correct score for right and left ears and right ear advantage of the subjects was 94.3 (5.3), 84.8 (7.7), and 9.5 (7.0) percent, respectively. Sixty percent of the subjects showed normal results and unilateral and bilateral deficits were seen in 24 percent and 16 percent, respectively. Conclusion: It seems the Persian version of RDDT is the same as the original test as it is able to test ear asymmetry, unilateral and bilateral deficits in dichotic listening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the present study, we investigate the prevalence of the GJB2 gene mutations, and deletions in the GJB6 gene, namely del (GJB6‐D13S1830) and del (GJB6‐D13S1854), in patients with autosomal recessive non‐syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) from the central region of Iran. Methods: One hundred and thirty‐one unrelated ARNSHL cases from the central part of Iran were recruited. Among them, 81% (106 cases) had at least two affected relatives. Coding and noncoding regions of the GJB2 gene were sequenced. Multiplex PCR was used for analysis of del (GJB6‐D13S1830) and del (GJB6‐D13S1854) deletions in GJB6. Results: The GJB2 variants were found in 16.79% (22/131) of the patients. The pathogenic variants were 21/131 (16.03%). The nonpathogenic variants were 1/131 (0. 07%). Allele frequency of the c.35delG as the pathogenic variant was the most common with 59.52% (25/42). The remaining pathogenic variants were c.235delC, p.T8M, p.R32H, p.R143Q, p.R143W, c‐23+1G>A. The only nonpathogenic variant was polymorphism p.V27I. Further segregation analysis showed that variant of p.R143Q might have incomplete penetrance. None of the patients had targeted deletions in the GJB6 gene. Conclusion: In comparison with reports from other areas of Iran, c.35delG demonstrates the highest frequency within the central region (accounting for 57.14% of cases), probably resulting from the founder effect and consanguineous marriage. The pathology of ARNSHL in such patients could be attributed to defects in Connexin 26 encoded by GJB2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]