MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'Trends in Amplification' source. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:01:22 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5549818&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22194313%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Limb CJ PMID: 22194313 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5549818 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:36:02 +0100 5549818 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5549817&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22194314%26dopt%3DAbstract This article provides a brief overview of EBP and CPGs, including a discussion of the barriers to implementing CPGs into clinical practice. It then offers a discussion of how an integrated KT process combined with a community of practice (CoP) might facilitate the development and dissemination of evidence for clinical audiology practice. Finally, a project that uses the knowledge-to-action (KTA) framework for the development of outcome measures in pediatric audiology is introduced. PMID: 22194314 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5549817 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:36:02 +0100 5549817 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5549816&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22194315%26dopt%3DAbstract This article provides results of an evaluation of the individual components of the University of Western Ontario Pediatric Audiological Monitoring Protocol (UWO PedAMP) version 1.0 by the audiologists associated with the Network of Pediatric Audiologists of Canada. It also provides information regarding barriers and facilitators to implementing outcome measures in clinical practice. Results indicate that when compared to the Parents' Evaluation of Aural/Oral Performance of Children (PEACH) Diary, audiologists found the PEACH Rating Scale to be a more clinically feasible evaluation tool to implement in practice from a time, task, and consistency of use perspective. Results also indicate that the LittlEARS(®) Auditory Questionnaire could be used to evaluate the auditory development and perf... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5549816 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:36:02 +0100 5549816 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5549815&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22194316%26dopt%3DAbstract This study proposed and evaluated a guideline for outcome evaluation for infants and children with hearing loss who wear hearing aids. The University of Western Ontario Pediatric Audiological Monitoring Protocol (UWO PedAMP) was developed following a critical review of pediatric outcome evaluation tools and was systematically examined by the Network of Pediatric Audiologists of Canada. It consists of tools to gather clinical process outcomes as well as functional caregiver reports. The UWO PedAMP was administered to a clinical population of infants and children with hearing aids. Sixty-eight children were administered the functional outcome evaluation tools (i.e., caregiver reports) a total of 133 times. Clinical process outcomes of hearing aid verification (e.g., real-ear-to-coupler diffe... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5549815 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:36:02 +0100 5549815 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5549814&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22200734%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, the management of such tasks was investigated. Eighty older, urban-dwelling, hearing-impaired adults in a developed country were asked to follow a set of written, illustrated instructions to assemble two slim-fit behind-the-ear hearing aids. Participants were allowed to access assistance with the task from an accompanying partner. A range of personal and audiometric variables was measured through the use of structured questionnaires and standardized tests of health literacy, cognitive function, and manual dexterity. The results showed that 99% of participants were able to complete the hearing aid assembly task, either on their own or with assistance. Health literacy, or the ability to read and understand health-related text, and gender most strongly influenced participants' ... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5549814 Mon, 26 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5549814 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5534531&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22143874%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Boymans M, Dreschler WA Abstract Two methods of fine tuning the initial settings of hearing aids were compared: An audiologist-driven approach-using real ear measurements and a patient-driven fine-tuning approach-using feedback from real-life situations. The patient-driven fine tuning was conducted by employing the Amplifit(®) II system using audiovideo clips. The audiologist-driven fine tuning was based on the NAL-NL1 prescription rule. Both settings were compared using the same hearing aids in two 6-week trial periods following a randomized blinded cross-over design. After each trial period, the settings were evaluated by insertion-gain measurements. Performance was evaluated by speech tests in quiet, in noise, and in time-reversed speech, presented at 0° and with spat... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5534531 Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5534531 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5534530&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22155784%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Poost-Foroosh L, Jennings MB, Shaw L, Meston CN, Cheesman MF Abstract The influence of client-clinician interactions has not been emphasized in hearing health care, despite the extensive evidence of the impact of the provider-patient interaction on health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to identify factors in the client-clinician interaction that may influence hearing aid adoption. Thirteen adults who had received a hearing aid recommendation within the previous 3 months and 10 audiologists participated in a study to generate, sort, and rate the importance of factors in client-clinician interaction that may influence the hearing aid purchase decision. A concept mapping approach was used to define meaningful clusters of factors. Quantitative analysis and qualitative... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5534530 Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5534530 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5534532&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22143873%26dopt%3DAbstract This article details the self-fitting concept and its potential application in both developing and developed countries. Potential advantages and disadvantages of such a device are discussed, and considerations for further investigations into the concept are presented. Overall, the concept is considered technologically viable with the main challenges anticipated to be development of clear, simple user instructions and a delivery model that ensures reliable supplies of instant-fit ear tips and batteries. PMID: 22143873 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5534532 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5534532 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5419968&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22079900%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Convery E, Keidser G, Hartley L Abstract A self-fitting hearing aid is a personal amplification device that is designed to be assembled, programmed, and fine-tuned by the user, without the need for additional equipment or professional support. A written description of the device was presented to 80 older adults with a hearing impairment, all of whom were residents of an urban area in a developed country. In response to a structured questionnaire, the majority of participants reported that the self-fitting hearing aid concept was a good idea (83%), would be of personal benefit (60%), and could be managed independently by the user (90%). Overall, half of the participant group agreed with all three statements. Two were uncertain about the concept, but none of the participants... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5419968 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5419968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5419991&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22072599%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Glyde H, Hickson L, Cameron S, Dillon H Abstract Difficulty understanding speech in background noise, even with amplification to restore audibility, is a common problem for hearing-impaired individuals and is especially frequent in older adults. Despite the debilitating nature of the problem the cause is not yet completely clear. This review considers the role of spatial processing ability in understanding speech in noise, highlights the potential impact of disordered spatial processing, and attempts to establish if aging leads to reduced spatial processing ability. Evidence supporting and opposing the hypothesis that spatial processing is disordered among the aging population is presented. With a few notable exceptions, spatial processing ability was shown to be reduced i... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5419991 Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5419991 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5419994&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22068223%26dopt%3DAbstract This article considers the possible supporting role of innovative hearing instrument technologies in the provision of affordable hearing health care services in developing countries and highlights the need for research that considers the requirements of the majority of the world population in need of hearing instrument provision. PMID: 22068223 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5419994 Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5419994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5419993&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22068224%26dopt%3DAbstract Conclusion: It was possible to level the ground between different hearing devices, so to speak. This will allow future research to evaluate the sound quality of nonlinear signal processing features. PMID: 22068224 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5419993 Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5419993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5175801&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21873343%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bagatto MP, Moodie ST, Seewald RC, Bartlett DJ, Scollie SD Abstract Outcome evaluation is an important stage in the pediatric hearing aid fitting process, however a systematic way of evaluating outcome in the pediatric audiology population is lacking. This is in part due to the need for an evidence-based outcome evaluation guideline for infants and children with hearing loss who wear hearing aids. As part of the development of a guideline, a critical review of the existing pediatric audiology outcome evaluation tools was conducted. Subjective outcome evaluation tools that measure auditory-related behaviors in children from birth to 6 years of age were critically appraised using a published grading system (Andresen, 2000). Of the tools that exist, 12 were appraised because ... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5175801 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5175801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960947&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21676999%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vorländer M The conditions of sound fields used in research, especially testing and fitting of hearing aids, are usually simplified or reduced to fundamental physical fields, such as the free or the diffuse sound field. The concepts of such ideal conditions are easily introduced in theoretical and experimental investigations and in models for directional microphones, for example. When it comes to real-world application of hearing aids, however, the field conditions are more complex with regard to specific stationary and transient properties in room transfer functions and the corresponding impulse responses and binaural parameters. Sound fields can be categorized in outdoor rural and urban and indoor environments. Furthermore, sound fields in closed spaces of various sizes and... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960947 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4960947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4863242&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21606047%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rönnberg J, Rudner M, Lunner T Stuart Gatehouse was one of the pioneers of cognitive hearing science. The ease of language understanding (ELU) model (Rönnberg) is one example of a cognitive hearing science model where the interplay between memory systems and signal processing is emphasized. The mismatch notion is central to ELU and concerns how phonological information derived from the signal, matches/mismatches phonological representations inlexicaland semantic long-termmemory (LTM). When signals match, processing is rapid, automatic and implicit, and lexical activation proceeds smoothly. Given a mismatch, lexical activation fails, and working or short-term memory (WM/STM) is assumed to be invoked to engage in explicit repair strategies to disambiguate what was said in the ... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4863242 Sat, 21 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4863242 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4863241&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21606048%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kuhn M, Heman-Ackah SE, Shaikh JA, Roehm PC Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is commonly encountered in audiologic and otolaryngologic practice. SSNHL is most commonly defined as sensorineural hearing loss of 30dB or greater over at least three contiguous audiometric frequencies occurring within a 72-hr period. Although the differential for SSNHL is vast, for the majority of patients an etiologic factor is not identified. Treatment for SSNHL of known etiology is directed toward that agent, with poor hearing outcomes characteristic for discoverable etiologies that cause inner ear hair cell loss. Steroid therapy is the current mainstay of treatment of idiopathic SSNHL in the United States. The prognosis for hearing recovery for idiopathic SSNHL is dependent on a number ... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4863241 Sat, 21 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4863241 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4643297&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21406420%26dopt%3DAbstract This study provides information about patient perceptions, experiences, and understanding of the potential difficulties of a bimodal fitting that may assist clinicians in pre- and postimplant counseling. PMID: 21406420 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4643297 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4643297 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4472923&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21307006%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Aydelott J, Leech R, Crinion J It is widely accepted that hearing loss increases markedly with age, beginning in the fourth decade ISO 7029 (2000). Age-related hearing loss is typified by high-frequency threshold elevation and associated reductions in speech perception because speech sounds, especially consonants, become inaudible. Nevertheless, older adults often report additional and progressive difficulties in the perception and comprehension of speech, often highlighted in adverse listening conditions that exceed those reported by younger adults with a similar degree of high-frequency hearing loss (Dubno, Dirks, & Morgan) leading to communication difficulties and social isolation (Weinstein & Ventry). Some of the age-related decline in speech perception can be acco... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4472923 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4472923 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4251606&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21131635%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zhang M During electrocochleography, that is, ECochG or ECoG, a recording electrode can be placed in the ear canal lateral to the tympanic membrane. We designed a concha electrode to record both sinusoidal waveforms of cochlear microphonics (CMs) and auditory brainstem responses (ABRs). The amplitudes of CM waveforms and Wave I or compound action potentials (CAPs) recorded at the concha were greater than those recorded at the mastoid but slightly lower than those recorded at the ear canal. Wave V amplitudes recorded at the concha were greater than those recorded at the ear canal but lower than those recorded at the mastoid. There was not a significant difference between the amplitudes recorded at the concha and at the ear canal. For CM and Wave I or CAP, the latency recorded a... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4251606 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4251606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4220335&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21109549%26dopt%3DAbstract Discussion and conclusion: Whereas research of the last 28 years yielded valuable information regarding relevant and irrelevant factors in hearing aid health care, there are still many relevant issues that have never been investigated in controlled studies. These are discussed. PMID: 21109549 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4220335 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 10:25:04 +0100 4220335 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4220334&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21109550%26dopt%3DAbstract This study aims at investigating the utility and importance of several hearing-aid features as assessed by hearing-aid acousticians. For this purpose, eight different hearing-aid features with three levels each are addressed in a discrete-choice experiment. Preferences for systematically varied combinations of the features are assessed with 143 acousticians, using an adaptive conjoint analysis conducted via the Internet. Based on the preference data, utility and importance of the features are calculated. Highest utility and importance are found for noise cancellation and directional microphones. Outcome of these two features do not differ significantly. In contrast, data management functions, that is, self-learning options, show lowest importance. Though the acousticians' professional expe... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4220334 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 10:25:04 +0100 4220334 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4220333&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21109551%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kim I, Yang E, Donnelly PJ, Limb CJ The capacity for internal rhythmic clocking involves a relationship between perceived auditory input and subsequent cognitive processing by which isochronous auditory stimuli induce a temporal beat expectancy in a listener. Although rhythm perception has previously been examined in cochlear implant (CI) users through various tasks based primarily on rhythm pattern identification, such tasks may not have been sufficiently nuanced to detect defects in internal rhythmic clocking, which requires temporal integration on a scale of milliseconds. The present study investigated the preservation of such rhythmic clocking in CI participants through a task requiring detection of isochronicity in the final beat of a four-beat series presented at differe... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4220333 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 10:25:04 +0100 4220333 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4005950&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20870664%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mukerji S, Windsor AM, Lee DJ The middle ear muscle (MEM) reflex is one of two major descending systems to the auditory periphery. There are two middle ear muscles (MEMs): the stapedius and the tensor tympani. In man, the stapedius contracts in response to intense low frequency acoustic stimuli, exerting forces perpendicular to the stapes superstructure, increasing middle ear impedance and attenuating the intensity of sound energy reaching the inner ear (cochlea). The tensor tympani is believed to contract in response to self-generated noise (chewing, swallowing) and nonauditory stimuli. The MEM reflex pathways begin with sound presented to the ear. Transduction of sound occurs in the cochlea, resulting in an action potential that is transmitted along the auditory nerve to the... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4005950 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4005950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3891054&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20724353%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Limb CJ PMID: 20724353 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3891054 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 06:24:03 +0100 3891054 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3891053&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20724354%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ferreira Bento R, Pires Penteado S Hearing loss is a common health issue that affects nearly 10% of the world population as indicated by many international studies. The hearing impaired typically experience more frustration, anxiety, irritability, depression, and disorientation than those with normal hearing levels. The standard rehabilitation tool for hearing impairment is an electronic hearing aid whose main components are transducers (microphone and receiver) and a digital signal processor. These electronic components are manufactured by supply chain rather than by hearing aid manufacturers. Manufacturers can use custom-designed components or generic off-the-shelf components. These electronic components are available as application-specific or off-the-shelf products, with t... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3891053 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 06:24:03 +0100 3891053 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3891052&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20724355%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Anderson S, Kraus N Numerous factors contribute to understanding speech in noisy listening environments. There is a clinical need for objective biological assessment of auditory factors that contribute to the ability to hear speech in noise, factors that are free from the demands of attention and memory. Subcortical processing of complex sounds such as speech (auditory brainstem responses to speech and other complex stimuli [cABRs]) reflects the integrity of auditory function. Because cABRs physically resemble the evoking acoustic stimulus, they can provide objective indices of the neural transcription of specific acoustic elements (e.g., temporal, spectral) important for hearing speech. As with brainstem responses to clicks and tones, cABRs are clinically viable in individual... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3891052 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 06:24:03 +0100 3891052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3891051&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20724356%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Arenberg Bierer J Cochlear implants are highly successful neural prostheses for persons with severe or profound hearing loss who gain little benefit from hearing aid amplification. Although implants are capable of providing important spectral and temporal cues for speech perception, performance on speech tests is variable across listeners. Psychophysical measures obtained from individual implant subjects can also be highly variable across implant channels. This review discusses evidence that such variability reflects deviations in the electrode-neuron interface, which refers to an implant channel's ability to effectively stimulate the auditory nerve. It is proposed that focused electrical stimulation is ideally suited to assess channel-to-channel irregularities in the electrod... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3891051 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 06:24:03 +0100 3891051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3891050&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20724357%26dopt%3DAbstract We describe five lines of research that are converging to support the view that Cued Speech can enhance speech perception in individuals with cochlear implants. PMID: 20724357 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3891050 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 06:24:03 +0100 3891050 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3891049&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20724358%26dopt%3DAbstract This article describes how the set of standard audiograms has been developed. This set of standard audiogram has been derived by a vector quantization analysis method on a database of 28,244 audiograms. Using this analysis method, sets of typical audiograms have been obtained of sizes 12 and 60. It turned out that the smaller set could not be used for selecting audiograms as sloping audiograms were absent. Therefore, the larger set has been analyzed to provide seven standard audiograms for flat and moderately sloping hearing loss and three standard audiograms for steep hearing loss. PMID: 20724358 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3891049 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 06:24:03 +0100 3891049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3590763&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20483813%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cosetti M, Roland JT Since the advent of cochlear implantation, candidacy criteria have slowly broadened to include increasingly younger patients. Spurred by evidence demonstrating both perioperative safety and significantly increased speech and language benefit with early auditory intervention, children younger than 12 months of age are now being successfully implanted at many centers. This review highlights the unique challenges involved in cochlear implantation in the very young child, specifically diagnosis and certainty of testing, anesthetic risk, surgical technique, intraoperative testing and postoperative programming, long-term safety, development of receptive and expressive language, and outcomes of speech perception. Overall, the current body of literature indicates ... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3590763 Mon, 24 May 2010 04:15:03 +0100 3590763 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3556859&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20457725%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kreisman BM, Mazevski AG, Schum DJ, Sockalingam R This investigation examined whether speech intelligibility in noise can be improved using a new, binaural broadband hearing instrument system. Participants were 36 adults with symmetrical, sensorineural hearing loss (18 experienced hearing instrument users and 18 without prior experience). Participants were fit binaurally in a planned comparison, randomized crossover design study with binaural broadband hearing instruments and advanced digital hearing instruments. Following an adjustment period with each device, participants underwent two speech-in-noise tests: the QuickSIN and the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT). Results suggested significantly better performance on the QuickSIN and the HINT measures with the binaural broadband h... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3556859 Sun, 09 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3556859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3556858&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20457726%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Johnson EE, Ricketts TA The purpose of the study was to develop and examine a list of potential variables that may account for variability in the dispensing rates of four common hearing aid features. A total of 29 potential variables were identified and placed into the following categories: (1) characteristics of the audiologist, (2) characteristics of the hearing aids dispensed by the audiologist, (3) characteristics of the audiologist's patient population, and (4) evidence-based practice grades of recommendation for each feature. The potentially associative variables then were examined using regression analyses from the responses of 257 audiologists to a dispensing practice survey. There was a direct relation between price and level of hearing aid technology with the frequen... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3556858 Sun, 09 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3556858 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2782708&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19737798%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Limb C PMID: 19737798 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2782708 Sun, 06 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2782708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2745888&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19713209%26dopt%3DAbstract This article describes how such a filter can be generated using the windowing method, and the principle is demonstrated in a real ear.The approach requires communication between the real-ear measurement and hearing aid programming software.A finite impulse response filter with group delay just over 2 ms matched insertion gain to target values within the acceptable tolerance defined by British Society of Audiology guidelines. PMID: 19713209 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2745888 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2745888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2745887&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19713210%26dopt%3DAbstract This study evaluated one aspect of treatment that might be modified, that having to do with bilateral implants and bimodal stimulation. A total of 58 children with at least one implant were tested at 42 months of age on four language measures spanning a continuum from basic to generative in nature. When children were grouped by the kind of stimulation they had at 42 months (one implant, bilateral implants, or bimodal stimulation), no differences across groups were observed. This was true even when groups were constrained to only children who had at least 12 months to acclimatize to their stimulation configuration. However, when children were grouped according to whether or not they had spent any time with bimodal stimulation (either consistently since their first implant or as an interlude... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2745887 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2745887 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2524506&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19447763%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Runge-Samuelson CL Overcoming issues related to abnormally high neural synchrony in response to electrical stimulation is one aspect in improving hearing with a cochlear implant. Desynchronization of electrical stimuli have shown benefits in neural encoding of electrical signals and improvements in psychophysical tasks. In the present study, 10 participants with either CII or HiRes 90k Advanced Bionics devices were tested for the effects of desynchronizing constant-amplitude high-rate (5,000 Hz) pulse trains on electrode discrimination of sinusoidal stimuli (1,000 Hz). When averaged across the sinusoidal dynamic range, overall improvements in electrode discrimination with high-rate pulses were found for 8 of 10 participants. This effect was significant for the group (p = .003)... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2524506 Sun, 31 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2524506 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2524505&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19447764%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Simpson A Frequency-lowering technology has been around for decades. The primary aim--namely, that of providing high-frequency information to those with severe high-frequency hearing loss--addresses a clinical need most conventional hearing devices are still unable to provide. Early studies with frequency-lowering technology reported mostly unfavorable results, and the devices never gained clinical popularity. However, as hearing aid (HA) technology becomes ever more sophisticated, it is appropriate to reconsider whether frequency-lowering HAs should be an amplification choice in those with high-frequency hearing loss. Recent research is yielding promise with people who wear frequency-lowering devices showing improved speech perception. Questions remain regarding patient candi... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2524505 Sun, 31 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2524505 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2524504&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19447765%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Uchanski RM, Davidson LS, Quadrizius S, Reeder R, Cadieux J, Kettel J, Chole RA Advances in technology and expanding candidacy guidelines have motivated many clinics to consider children with precipitously sloping high-frequency hearing loss as candidates for cochlear implants (CIs). A case study is presented of a pediatric CI patient whose hearing thresholds were preserved within 10 dB of preimplant levels (125-750 Hz) after receiving a fully inserted 31.5-mm electrode array at one ear. The primary goal of this study was to explore the possible benefit of using both a hearing aid (HA) and a CI at one ear while using a HA at the opposite ear. The authors find that although the use of bilateral hearing aids with a CI may only provide a slight benefit, careful attention must be ... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2524504 Sun, 31 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2524504 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2524503&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19447766%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Friedland DR, Runge-Samuelson C Recent advances in cochlear implant technology have focused renewed attention on the preservation of residual hearing. The focus on preservation of residual hearing is driven by the concept of electroacoustic stimulation. This option depends on the insertion of a short cochlear implant electrode into the basal region of the cochlea while preserving native function in the apical region. The desire to preserve residual hearing has led to the development of the soft-surgery cochlear implantation technique. Here, the authors evaluate its various components. Avoiding entry of blood into the cochlea and the use of hyaluronate seem to be reasonably supported, whereas the use of topical steroids is unlikely to be beneficial. The site of entry into the c... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2524503 Sun, 31 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2524503 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2090157&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19126551%26dopt%3DAbstract This study examined the subjective benefit obtained from automatically generated captions during telephone-speech comprehension in the presence of babble noise. Short stories were presented by telephone either with or without captions that were generated offline by an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system. To simulate online ASR, the word accuracy (WA) level of the captions was 60% or 70% and the text was presented delayed to the speech. After each test, the hearing impaired participants (n = 20) completed the NASA-Task Load Index and several rating scales evaluating the support from the captions. Participants indicated that using the erroneous text in speech comprehension was difficult and the reported task load did not differ between the audio + text and audio-only conditions. In a f... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2090157 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2090157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2047446&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19074452%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Reed CM, Braida L, Zurek P A critical review of studies of temporal resolution in listeners with cochlear hearing impairment is presented with the aim of assessing evidence for suprathreshold deficits. Particular attention is paid to the roles of variables-such as stimulus audibility, overall stimulus level, and participant's age-which may complicate the interpretation of experimental findings in comparing the performance of hearing-impaired (HI) and normal-hearing (NH) listeners. On certain temporal tasks (e.g., gap detection), the performance of HI listeners appears to be degraded relative to that of NH listeners when compared at equal SPL (sound pressure level). For other temporal tasks (e.g., forward masking), HI performance is degraded relative to that of NH listeners whe... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2047446 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2047446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1969198&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19010794%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Marrone N, Mason CR, Kidd G The benefit of wearing hearing aids in multitalker, reverberant listening environments was evaluated in a study of speech-on-speech masking with two groups of listeners with hearing loss (younger/older). Listeners selectively attended a known spatial location in two room conditions (low/high reverberation) and identified target speech in the presence of two competing talkers that were either colocated or symmetrically spatially separated from the target. The amount of spatial release from masking (SRM) with bilateral aids was similar to that when listening unaided at or near an equivalent sensation level and was negatively correlated with the amount of hearing loss. When using a single aid, SRM was reduced and was related to the level of the stimulu... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1969198 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:19:37 +0100 1969198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1926639&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18974202%26dopt%3DAbstract This article reviews how normal- hearing listeners cope in such settings, especially how they focus attention on a source of interest. Results of experiments with normal-hearing listeners suggest that the ability to selectively attend depends on the ability to analyze the acoustic scene and to form perceptual auditory objects properly. Unfortunately, sound features important for auditory object formation may not be robustly encoded in the auditory periphery of HL listeners. In turn, impaired auditory object formation may interfere with the ability to filter out competing sound sources. Peripheral degradations are also likely to reduce the salience of higher-order auditory cues such as location, pitch, and timbre, which enable normal-hearing listeners to select a desired sound source out of... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1926639 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1926639 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1926638&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18974203%26dopt%3DAbstract This article reviews some basic aspects of pitch coding in the normal auditory system and explores the implications for pitch perception in people with hearing impairments and cochlear implants. Data from normal-hearing listeners suggest that the low-frequency, low-numbered harmonics within complex tones are of prime importance in pitch perception and in the perceptual segregation of competing sounds. The poorer frequency selectivity experienced by many hearing-impaired listeners leads to less access to individual harmonics, and the coding schemes currently employed in cochlear implants provide little or no representation of individual harmonics. These deficits in the coding of harmonic sounds may underlie some of the difficulties experienced by people with hearing loss and cochlear implan... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1926638 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1926638 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1926637&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18974204%26dopt%3DAbstract This article introduces the T-F masking concept and reviews T-F masking algorithms that separate target speech from either monaural or binaural mixtures, as well as microphone-array recordings. The review emphasizes techniques that are promising for hearing aid design. This article also surveys recent studies that evaluate the perceptual effects of T-F masking techniques, particularly their effectiveness in improving human speech recognition in noise. An assessment is made of the potential benefits of T-F masking methods for the hearing impaired in light of the processing constraints of hearing aids. Finally, several issues pertinent to T-F masking are discussed. PMID: 18974204 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1926637 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1926637 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1701160&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18694879%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Munro KJ Changes in the sensory environment modify our sensory experience and may result in experience-related or learning-induced reorganization within the central nervous system. Hearing aids change the sensory environment by stimulating a deprived auditory system; therefore, they may be capable of inducing changes within the central auditory system. Examples of studies that have shown hearing aid induced perceptual and/or physiological changes in the adult human auditory system are discussed. Evidence in the perceptual domain is provided by studies that have investigated (a) speech perception, (b) intensity discrimination, and (c) loudness perception. Evidence in the physiological domain is provided by studies that have investigated acoustic reflex thresholds and event-rela... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1701160 Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:10:05 +0100 1701160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1671705&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18664499%26dopt%3DAbstract This article focuses on therapeutic sound, which can involve three objectives: (a) producing a sense of relief from tinnitus-associated stress (using soothing sound); (b) passively diverting attention away from tinnitus by reducing contrast between tinnitus and the acoustic environment (using background sound); and (c) actively diverting attention away from tinnitus (using interesting sound). Each of these goals can be accomplished using three different types of sound-broadly categorized as environmental sound, music, and speech-resulting in nine combinations of uses of sound and types of sound to manage tinnitus. The authors explain the uses and types of sound, how they can be combined, and how the different combinations are used with Progressive Audiologic Tinnitus Management. They also ... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1671705 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1671705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1639374&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18635586%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Noble W The various forms of treatment for tinnitus that have been tested in properly controlled trials can be classified as pharmacological, acoustic-physical, and psychological. In clinical trials, no pharmacological agent has been shown to have lasting effect on the presence or severity of tinnitus, although there are promising signs in an animal model. Acoustic devices do not seem to influence tinnitus, although appropriately fitted hearing aids may slightly reduce its prominence. Of physical treatments, cortical implantation may hold some promise of being effective for tinnitus suppression in selected cases. A psychological treatment that has emerged as consistently beneficial is cognitive-behavior therapy in terms of affecting overall wellbeing and reducing level of tinn... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1639374 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1639374 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1637921&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18632767%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Levine RA, Nam EC, Melcher J A new tinnitus syndrome is described: high-pitched, cardiac-synchronous tinnitus, whose pulsations are suppressed by strong contractions or compressions of the neck and jaw muscles (somatic testing). 14 cases, 6 non-lateralized and 8 unilateral, are reported. In the non-lateralized cases, onset was bilateral. In the one intermittent case, while her tinnitus was absent her pulsatile tinnitus could be induced by somatic testing. No etiology was found from physical examination, imaging, or ancillary testing. Because these cases of pulsatile tinnitus can be both induced and suppressed by activation of the somatosensory system of the head or upper lateral neck, we propose that this syndrome is occurring from (a) cardiac synchronous somatosensory activat... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1637921 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1637921 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1635130&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18628281%26dopt%3DAbstract This article provides an overview of PATM and focuses on the procedures that make up the Level 2 Audiologic Evaluation. The evaluation is conducted to assess the potential need for medical, audiologic (hearing loss, tinnitus, hyperacusis), and/or mental health services. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Hearing Handicap Inventory, and Tinnitus and Hearing Survey are used to differentiate effects of tinnitus and hearing loss. If indicated, patients are interviewed with the Tinnitus-Impact Screening Interview. Patients requiring amplification receive hearing aids. Often, management of hearing loss at Level 2 addresses any problems that were attributed to the tinnitus, which obviates further tinnitus-specific intervention. PMID: 18628281 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends ... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1635130 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1635130 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1616358&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18614554%26dopt%3DAbstract This article describes the underlying principles behind this approach. It also summarizes evidence for clinical efficacy from controlled clinical studies and from a private practice clinical setting, where it has been shown to provide consistently positive outcomes for patients meeting suitability criteria. PMID: 18614554 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1616358 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1616358 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1582175&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18599500%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Meikle MB, Stewart BJ, Griest SE, Henry JA Over the past two decades, recognition has grown that measures for evaluating treatment outcomes must be designed specifically to have high responsiveness. With that in mind, four major types of tinnitus measures are reviewed, including psychoacoustic measures, self-report questionnaires concerning functional effects of tinnitus, various rating scales, and global outcome measures. Nine commonly used tinnitus questionnaires, developed in the period 1980-2000, are reviewed. Because of many similarities between tinnitus and pain, comparisons between pain and tinnitus measures are discussed, and recommendations that have been made for developing a core set of measures to evaluate treatment-related changes in pain are presented as providin... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1582175 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1582175 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543764&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18567587%26dopt%3DAbstract This article describes his life and career. PMID: 18567587 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543764 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1543764 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543763&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18567588%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Haggard M Stuart Gatehouse worked in the MRC Institute of Hearing Research Scottish Section for 29 years until his untimely death in 2007. The former director records a personal appreciation but also an explanation, for those who did not know him well, of the mixture of qualities that made him an outstanding applied scientist. PMID: 18567588 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543763 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1543763 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543762&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18567589%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Van Tasell DJ, Levitt H The international contributions of Stuart Gatehouse are reviewed in three areas: as a scientist, as an advisor to health policy makers, and as a participant in international conferences. He was able, as no other auditory scientist of his time, to bridge the gap between scientific and clinical research. His ability to apply sound scientific principles to issues of clinical importance was most apparent in his work in three main areas of his research: acclimatization to amplified speech, auditory disability and hearing aid benefit, and candidature for linear and nonlinear signal processing. PMID: 18567589 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543762 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1543762 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543761&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18567590%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Munro KJ Changes in the sensory environment modify our sensory experience and may result in experience-related or learning-induced reorganization within the central nervous system. Hearing aids change the sensory environment by stimulating a deprived auditory system; therefore, they may be capable of inducing changes within the central auditory system. Examples of studies that have shown hearing aid induced perceptual and/or physiological changes in the adult human auditory system are discussed. Evidence in the perceptual domain is provided by studies that have investigated (a) speech perception, (b) intensity discrimination, and (c) loudness perception. Evidence in the physiological domain is provided by studies that have investigated acoustic reflex thresholds and event-rela... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543761 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1543761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543760&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18567591%26dopt%3DAbstract This article describes the distinction between, and relative merits of, slow and fast compression systems. A study of Gatehouse and coworkers leads to the following conclusions: (a) The benefit from compression is greatest among individuals who experience a wide range of sound levels within short periods of time, (b) slow compression generally leads to higher listening comfort than fast compression, (c) the benefit from fast compression varies across individuals, and those with high cognitive ability are able to benefit from fast compression to take advantage of temporal dips in a background sound. It is argued that listening in the dips depends on the ability to process the temporal fine structure of sounds. It is proposed that a test of the ability to process temporal fine structure migh... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543760 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1543760 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543759&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18567592%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Noble W Analyses are made of three problem areas in the realm of hearing disorder and its management, all of which are cogently informed by self-assessment: (a) prosthetic technology and the auditory ecology, (b) dimensions of benefit from amplification, and (c) dimensions of disability. Technology and ecology addresses the matter of "fitness for purpose" of different prosthetic schemes, moderated by people's hearing and listening environments (ecologies) and by what they bring to the task of hearing and listening. Dimensions of benefit covers what is achievable with prevailing technology, and also what people are aware of and identify as their needs. Dimensions of disability examines what has been recently learned about the range of hearing functions that need attending to in... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543759 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1543759 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543758&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18567593%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Smith P, Mack A, Davis A Large potential benefits have been suggested for an assess-and-fit approach to hearing health care, particularly using open canal fittings. However, the clinical effectiveness has not previously been evaluated, nor has the efficiency of this approach in a National Health Service setting. These two outcomes were measured in a variety of clinical settings in the United Kingdom. Twelve services in England and Wales participated, and 540 people with hearing problems, not previously referred for assessment, were included. Of these, 68% (n = 369) were suitable and had hearing aids fitted to NAL NL1 during the assess-and-fit visit using either open ear tips, or Comply ear tips. The Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile was used to compare patients fitted with o... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543758 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1543758 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543757&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18567594%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Arlinger S, Gatehouse S, Kiessling J, Naylor G, Verschuure H, Wouters J Binaural hearing provides advantages over monaural in several ways, particularly in difficult listening situations. For a person with bilateral hearing loss, the bilateral fitting of hearing aids thus seems like a natural choice. However, surprisingly few studies have been reported in which the additional benefit of bilateral versus unilateral hearing aid use has been investigated based on real-life experiences. Therefore, a project has been designed to address this issue and to find tools to identify people for whom the drawbacks would outweigh the advantages of bilateral fitting. A project following this design is likely to provide reliable evidence concerning differences in benefit between unilateral an... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543757 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1543757 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543756&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18567595%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gatehouse S, Akeroyd MA In a complex listening situation such as a multiperson conversation, the demands on an individual's attention are considerable: There will often be many sounds occurring simultaneously, with continual changes in source and direction. A laboratory analog of this was designed to measure the benefit that helping attention (by visual cueing) would have on word identification. These words were presented unpredictably but were sometimes cued with a temporal cue or a temporal-and-spatial cue. Two groups of hearing-impaired, older-adult listeners participated, 57 unaided and 19 aided. There was a small effect of cueing: The cues gave a 2% benefit in word identification. A variety of subsidiary measures were collected, including the Test of Everyday Attention an... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543756 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1543756 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1231975&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18270174%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tharpe AM Since the early 1980s, audiologists have become increasingly aware of the potential effect of even mild degrees of hearing loss on the psychoeducational and psychosocial outcomes of children. This review describes some of the key research findings during the past several decades that have led us to our current thinking about unilateral and mild bilateral hearing loss in children. The first section addresses unilateral hearing loss. This is followed by a review of the literature on mild bilateral hearing loss. Specifically, the issues addressed include the significance of permanent mild degrees of hearing loss on children's psychoeducational and psychosocial development and the speech, language, and auditory characteristics of children with mild degrees of hearing los... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1231975 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:11:21 +0100 1231975 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1231974&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18270175%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tharpe AM, Sladen DP Children with permanent unilateral or mild bilateral hearing loss have been a focus of concern by audiologists, educators, and physicians for at least 2 decades. These children are known to be at risk for psychoeducational difficulties. However, despite this concern, little has been learned about the causative factors of these hearing losses and how those factors might be contributing to child development. This review of known causes of permanent unilateral and mild bilateral hearing loss in children is meant to draw attention to the importance of the search for etiologic factors. That is, the identification of the hearing loss should not signal the end of the diagnostic process but, rather, the beginning of a search for causation. With the combined effort... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1231974 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:11:21 +0100 1231974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1231973&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18270176%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ross DS, Holstrum WJ, Gaffney M, Green D, Oyler RF, Gravel JS More than 90% of newborns in the United States are now being screened for hearing loss. A large fraction of cases of unilateral hearing loss and mild bilateral hearing loss are not currently identified through newborn hearing screening. This is of concern because a preponderance of research has demonstrated that unilateral hearing loss and mild bilateral hearing loss can lead to developmental delays and educational problems for some children. To help address this probable underidentification of unilateral hearing loss and mild bilateral hearing loss among infants and children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program and the Marion Downs Hearing Center convened ... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1231973 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:11:21 +0100 1231973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1231972&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18270177%26dopt%3DAbstract This article presents suggestions for intervention and future research that were developed by participants of the 2005 National Workshop on Mild and Unilateral Hearing Loss. PMID: 18270177 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1231972 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:11:21 +0100 1231972 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1231971&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18270178%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: McKay S, Gravel JS, Tharpe AM Children with minimal or mild bilateral hearing loss and unilateral hearing loss are at higher risk for academic, speech-language, and social-emotional difficulties than their normal hearing peers. The choice to fit infants with moderate or greater degrees of bilateral hearing loss has been standard practice for most clinicians, but for those with minimal or mild bilateral hearing loss or unilateral hearing loss, the fitting of hearing technology must be based on limited data. Evidence does not yet exist to support all the management decisions that an audiologist must make upon identifying an infant with minimal or mild bilateral hearing loss or unilateral hearing loss. It is not yet known which children are at the greatest risk for educational pr... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1231971 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:11:21 +0100 1231971 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1231970&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18270179%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: PMID: 18270179 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1231970 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:11:21 +0100 1231970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1101676&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18080391%26dopt%3DAbstract This article focuses on the current state of the science related to audiologic rehabilitation of individuals with dual sensory impairment, with an emphasis on considerations for provision of appropriate hearing assistive technology for this population. A substantial increase in the number of older adults is predicted in the coming years, many of whom will have significant age-related impairments in hearing and vision. Thus, hearing care professionals will be called on increasingly to attend to the special needs of people with dual sensory impairments to ensure maximal quality of life and independence for these individuals. Access to sound is critical for individuals who live with compromises in both vision and hearing. Hearing assistive technology may improve not only their speech percepti... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1101676 Sat, 01 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1101676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1031194&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18003864%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Marcus Bernstein C PMID: 18003864 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1031194 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:52:46 +0100 1031194 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1031193&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18003865%26dopt%3DAbstract This article provides an overview of some of the problems and possible solutions surrounding the neglected issue of combined vision and hearing deficits. The subject is treated by considering each subpopulation, ranging from those who have no residual vision or hearing to those with mild coexisting vision and hearing losses. An attempt is made to relate the different types of visual deficit to the likely problems encountered in real-life activities, such as communication and travel, among individuals who also have a hearing impairment. The assessment and appropriate referral of patients with these combined deficits is discussed, including the interpretation of visual test results and the importance of factors other than standard visual acuity. Speculation is offered on potential strategies... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1031193 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:52:46 +0100 1031193 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1031192&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18003866%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hyvärinen L Visual assessment of deaf persons presents a challenge to the ophthalmologist and the optometrist. At the time they want to measure visual function, the interpreter uses visual communication, competing for the patient's attention. Important rules of good assessment of visual functioning include taking turns and giving the interpreter sufficient time to convey the questions related to each test. This has implications for audiologists working with this population as well. Communication should be tailored to the varying needs of people who may have long-standing deafness and good sign language, may have lost their hearing at an advanced age and have limited or no sign language, or may be young persons or children who have congenital or progressive loss of hearing... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1031192 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:52:46 +0100 1031192 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1031191&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18003867%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tye-Murray N, Sommers M, Spehar B Much evidence suggests that the mental lexicon is organized into auditory neighborhoods, with words that are phonologically similar belonging to the same neighborhood. In this investigation, we considered the existence of visual neighborhoods. When a receiver watches someone speak a word, a neighborhood of homophenes (ie, words that look alike on the face, such as pat and bat) is activated. The simultaneous activation of a word's auditory and visual neighborhoods may, in part, account for why individuals recognize speech better in an auditory-visual condition than what would be predicted by their performance in audition-only and vision-only conditions. A word test was administered to 3 groups of participants in audition-only, vision-only, and ... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1031191 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:52:46 +0100 1031191 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1031190&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18003868%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Saunders GH, Echt KV Dual sensory impairment (DSI) refers to the presence of both hearing loss and vision loss. The occurrence of DSI is particularly prevalent among the aging population, with studies showing between 9% and 21% of adults older than 70 years having some degree of DSI. Despite this, there is little direction regarding recommended clinical practice and rehabilitation of individuals with DSI. It is assumed that the problems encountered by individuals with DSI are considerably greater than the effects of vision impairment or hearing impairment alone, because when these two sensory impairments are combined, the individual is seriously deprived of compensatory strategies that make use of the nonimpaired sense. In this article, the literature available regarding DSI i... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1031190 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:52:46 +0100 1031190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1031189&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18003869%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Simon HJ, Levitt H Our sensory systems are remarkable in several respects. They are extremely sensitive, they each perform more than one function, and they interact in a complementary way, thereby providing a high degree of redundancy that is particularly helpful should one or more sensory systems be impaired. In this article, the problem of dual hearing and vision loss is addressed. A brief description is provided on the use of auditory cues in vision loss, the use of visual cues in hearing loss, and the additional difficulties encountered when both sensory systems are impaired. A major focus of this article is the use of sound localization by normal hearing, hearing impaired, and blind individuals and the special problem of sound localization in people with dual sensory loss... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1031189 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:52:46 +0100 1031189 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1031188&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18003870%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Brennan M, Bally SJ Concurrent losses of hearing and vision function, or dual sensory loss, affect a large number of individuals of all ages and particularly older adults. Dual sensory loss may present at any age as a result of genetic defect, accident, injury, disease, or environmental insult; however, most persons develop this condition as a result of age-related disease processes that rarely result in total deafness or blindness. This condition has wide-ranging implications for physical and psychological functioning and quality of life. In this article, we review the prevalence and causes of dual impairment and its effects on functioning for both individuals affected and their families. We examine psychosocial coping and adaptation to this condition using biopsychosocial-sp... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1031188 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:52:46 +0100 1031188 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1031187&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18003871%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Xin Luo , Fu QJ, Galvin JJ The present study investigated the ability of normal-hearing listeners and cochlear implant users to recognize vocal emotions. Sentences were produced by 1 male and 1 female talker according to 5 target emotions: angry, anxious, happy, sad, and neutral. Overall amplitude differences between the stimuli were either preserved or normalized. In experiment 1, vocal emotion recognition was measured in normal-hearing and cochlear implant listeners; cochlear implant subjects were tested using their clinically assigned processors. When overall amplitude cues were preserved, normal-hearing listeners achieved near-perfect performance, whereas listeners with cochlear implant recognized less than half of the target emotions. Removing the overall amplitude cues s... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1031187 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:52:46 +0100 1031187 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853699&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17709572%26dopt%3DAbstract This article will review recent advances in the telemetry of the electrically evoked compound action potential that have made these measurements simple and routine procedures in most cases. The distribution of the electrical stimulus itself sampled by "electrical field imaging" reveals general patterns of current flow in the normal cochlea and gross abnormalities in individual patients; models have been developed to derive more subtle insights from an individual electrical field imaging. Finally, some thoughts are given to the extended application of telemetry, for example, in monitoring the neural responses or in combination with other treatments of the deaf ear. PMID: 17709572 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853699 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 853699 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853698&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17709573%26dopt%3DAbstract This article addresses the question of whether better binaural hearing can be achieved with binaural/bimodal fitting (combining a cochlear implant and a hearing aid in opposite ears) or bilateral implantation. In the first part of this article, the rationale for providing binaural hearing is examined. In the second part, the literature on the relative efficacy of binaural/bimodal fitting and bilateral implantation is reviewed. Most studies on comparing either mode of bilateral stimulation with unilateral implantation reported some binaural benefits in some test conditions on average but revealed that some individuals benefited, whereas others did not. There were no controlled comparisons between binaural/bimodal fitting and bilateral implantation and no evidence to support the efficacy of ... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853698 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 853698 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853697&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17709574%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fu QJ, Galvin JJ Learning electrically stimulated speech patterns can be a new and difficult experience for cochlear implant (CI) recipients. Recent studies have shown that most implant recipients at least partially adapt to these new patterns via passive, daily-listening experiences. Gradually introducing a speech processor parameter (eg, the degree of spectral mismatch) may provide for more complete and less stressful adaptation. Although the implant device restores hearing sensation and the continued use of the implant provides some degree of adaptation, active auditory rehabilitation may be necessary to maximize the benefit of implantation for CI recipients. Currently, there are scant resources for auditory rehabilitation for adult, postlingually deafened CI recipients. We... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853697 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 853697 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853705&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17494873%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Boothroyd A Adult aural rehabilitation is here defined holistically as the reduction of hearing-loss-induced deficits of function, activity, participation, and quality of life through a combination of sensory management, instruction, perceptual training, and counseling. There is a tendency for audiologists to focus on sensory management, aural rehabilitation being seen as something done by someone else after the provision of hearing aids or cochlear implants. Effective sensory management may, by itself, lead to improved activity, participation, and quality of life, but there is no guarantee that these outcomes will be automatic or optimal. In fact, there is often a disconnect between clinical measures of assisted auditory function and self-assessed benefit. Costs associated wi... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853705 Fri, 01 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 853705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853704&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17494874%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chisolm TH, Noe CM, McArdle R, Abrams H Hearing assistive technologies include listening, alerting, and/or signaling devices that use auditory, visual, and/or tactile modalities to augment communication and/or facilitate awareness of environmental sounds. The importance of hearing assistive technologies in the management of adults with hearing loss was recently acknowledged in an evidence-based clinical practice guideline developed by the American Academy of Audiology. Most currently available evidence for hearing assistive technology use by adults focuses on frequency-modulated (FM) technology. Previous research is reviewed that demonstrates the efficacy of FM devices for adults in terms of laboratory measures of speech understanding in noise. Also reviewed are the outcomes f... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853704 Fri, 01 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 853704 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853703&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17494875%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Harkins J, Tucker P An Internet survey of individuals with hearing loss was conducted to determine their use of assistive listening devices for face-to-face conversation and, while part of an audience, their satisfaction with assistive listening devices, their interest in the concept of a universal assistive listening device receiver, and their interest in receiving audiologic information and services through the Internet. The 423 respondents who used assistive listening devices found them to be of significant benefit across a range of listening situations. Most respondents were open to the idea of purchasing a personal device that could work both with hearing aids and a range of transmission media. Probably because of the sampling bias inherent in an Internet survey, responde... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853703 Fri, 01 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 853703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853702&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17494876%26dopt%3DAbstract This article reviews these programs and outlines the similarities and differences in their design. Another promising area of aural rehabilitation research is the use of pharmaceuticals in the rehabilitation process. The results from a study of the effect of d-amphetamine in conjunction with intensive aural rehabilitation with cochlear implant patients are also described. PMID: 17494876 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853702 Fri, 01 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 853702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853701&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17494877%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Preminger JE The purpose of this review is to describe the psychosocial effects of hearing loss, review the literature that has attempted to measure the psychosocial benefits of group audiologic rehabilitation programs, and offer suggestions for the design of future studies. The psychosocial aspects of hearing loss are multidimensional and may include the emotional, cognitive, interpersonal, behavioral, and physical responses to hearing loss. As a result of the stigma of hearing loss, individuals may isolate themselves, avoid social interactions, and/or bluff their way through communication breakdowns. Participation in group audiologic rehabilitation programs is a straightforward way to deal with the stigma and the loss of social identity associated with hearing loss, and thes... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853701 Fri, 01 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 853701 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853700&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17494878%26dopt%3DAbstract This article describes a new training program at Gallaudet University that aims to prepare peer mentors to work under the supervision of hearing-health professionals in the area of aural rehabilitation (AR). The paucity of AR programs for consumers with hearing loss in the United States has been documented. The peer mentor training program is an attempt to harness the energies, skills, and knowledge of people with hearing loss; to expand them through a program of academic and experiential learning; and to put them to work in audiologic practices and other hearing-health care settings in order to improve the quality and quantity of AR available to consumers. A peer mentor training curriculum is described, and the current status of the educational program is reported. Initial anecdotal evide... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853700 Fri, 01 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 853700 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853708&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17301334%26dopt%3DAbstract This article provides the author's perspective on the development of digital hearing aids and how digital signal processing approaches have led to changes in hearing aid design. Major landmarks in the evolution of digital technology are identified, and their impact on the development of digital hearing aids is discussed. Differences between analog and digital approaches to signal processing in hearing aids are identified. PMID: 17301334 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853708 Thu, 01 Mar 2007 05:00:00 +0100 853708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853707&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17301335%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ross M Recent developments in hearing aids are reviewed in the context of the author's personal experience as an audiologist and as a hearing aid wearer. The need for evidence of benefit specific to digital signal processing in hearing aids is stressed, as well as addressing cost-benefit ratios in view of the high cost of digital hearing aids. PMID: 17301335 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853707 Thu, 01 Mar 2007 05:00:00 +0100 853707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853706&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17301336%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Edwards B Hearing aids have advanced significantly over the past decade, primarily due to the maturing of digital technology. The next decade should see an even greater number of innovations to hearing aid technology, and this article attempts to predict in which areas the new developments will occur. Both incremental and radical innovations in digital hearing aids will be driven by research advances in the following fields: (1) wireless technology, (2) digital chip technology, (3) hearing science, and (4) cognitive science. The opportunities and limitations for each of these areas will be discussed. Additionally, emerging trends such as connectivity and individualization will also drive new technology, and these are discussed within the context of the areas given here. PM... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853706 Thu, 01 Mar 2007 05:00:00 +0100 853706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853710&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17172547%26dopt%3DAbstract This article presents the development of Cochlear's implant systems, with an overview of the first 3 generations, and details of the Freedom system: the CI24RE receiver-stimulator, the Contour Advance electrode, the modular Freedom processor, the available speech coding strategies, the input processing options of Smart Sound to improve the signal before coding as electrical signals, and the programming software. Preliminary results from multicenter studies with the Freedom system are reported, demonstrating better levels of performance compared with the previous systems. The final section presents the most recent implant reliability data, with the early findings at 18 months showing improved reliability of the Freedom implant compared with the earlier Nucleus 3 System. Also reported are so... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853710 Fri, 01 Dec 2006 05:00:00 +0100 853710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853709&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17172548%26dopt%3DAbstract This article describes the research and development activities at MED-EL, which make possible the implementation of new speech-coding strategies as well as the application of acoustic and electric stimulation via a combined speech processor in MED-EL devices. Research on benefits from bilateral cochlear implantation and electric-acoustic stimulation are also reviewed. Finally, the potential of drug delivery systems is considered as a way to improve cochlear implant outcomes, and results from preliminary evaluations of a hybrid cochlear implant system with drug delivery capabilities are reported. PMID: 17172548 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853709 Fri, 01 Dec 2006 05:00:00 +0100 853709 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853713&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D16959734%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Souza PE, Tremblay KL Clinicians have long been aware of the range of performance variability with hearing aids. Despite improvements in technology, there remain many instances of well-selected and appropriately fitted hearing aids whereby the user reports minimal improvement in speech understanding. This review presents a multistage framework for understanding how a hearing aid affects performance. Six stages are considered: (1) acoustic content of the signal, (2) modification of the signal by the hearing aid, (3) interaction between sound at the output of the hearing aid and the listener's ear, (4) integrity of the auditory system, (5) coding of available acoustic cues by the listener's auditory system, and (6) correct identification of the speech sound. Within this framewor... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853713 Fri, 01 Sep 2006 04:00:00 +0100 853713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853712&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D16959735%26dopt%3DAbstract This study investigated how depth variations in the tip of the probe tube affected spectral measures of speech recorded in the external ear canal. Consonant-vowel nonsense syllables were recorded with a probe tube microphone system in 10 adult participants with normal middle ear function. Recordings were made with the probe tube tip placed 1 mm, 5 mm, and 10 mm beyond the medial tip of a custom earmold. The effect of probe depth was evaluated on spectral levels (one-third octave and one- twelfth octave band). Extending the probe tube 10 mm past the medial tip of the earmold gave the most accurate results, with relatively lower sound levels for either the 1-mm or 5-mm insertion depth. In general, the effect of insertion depth was minimal at frequencies below 3 to 4 kHz, although this varied... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853712 Fri, 01 Sep 2006 04:00:00 +0100 853712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853711&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D16959736%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tremblay KL, Kalstein L, Billings CJ, Souza PE Hearing aids help compensate for disorders of the ear by amplifying sound; however, their effectiveness also depends on the central auditory system's ability to represent and integrate spectral and temporal information delivered by the hearing aid. The authors report that the neural detection of time-varying acoustic cues contained in speech can be recorded in adult hearing aid users using the acoustic change complex (ACC). Seven adults (50-76 years) with mild to severe sensorineural hearing participated in the study. When presented with 2 identifiable consonant-vowel (CV) syllables ("shee" and "see"), the neural detection of CV transitions (as indicated by the presence of a P1-N1-P2 response) was different for each speech sound. ... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853711 Fri, 01 Sep 2006 04:00:00 +0100 853711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853716&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D16959731%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bentler R, Chiou LK Digital noise reduction schemes are being used in most hearing aids currently marketed. Unlike the earlier analog schemes, these manufacturer-specific algorithms are developed to acoustically analyze the incoming signal and alter the gain/output characteristics according to their predetermined rules. Although most are modulation-based schemes (ie, differentiating speech from noise based on temporal characteristics), spectral subtraction techniques are being applied as well. The purpose of this article is to overview these schemes in terms of their differences and similarities. PMID: 16959731 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853716 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 04:00:00 +0100 853716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853715&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D16959732%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, 22 adults were fitted with 16-channel wide-dynamic-range compression hearing aids containing DNR processing. The DNR includes both modulation-based and Wiener-filter-type algorithms working simultaneously. Both speech intelligibility and acceptable noise level (ANL) were assessed using the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) with DNR on and DNR off. The ANL was also assessed without hearing aids. The results showed a significant mean improvement for the ANL (4.2 dB) for the DNR-on condition when compared to DNR-off condition. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between the magnitude of ANL improvement (relative to DNR on) and the DNR-off ANL. There was no significant mean improvement for the HINT for the DNR on condition, and on an individual basis, the HINT score did not... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853715 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 04:00:00 +0100 853715 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853714&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D16959733%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Palmer CV, Bentler R, Mueller HG Hearing aid users report difficulties using their hearing aids in noisy environments. Problems include understanding speech, loudness discomfort, and annoyance with background noise. Digital noise reduction algorithms have been promoted as a method to solve speech understanding and comfort in noise problems. Research has failed to find improved speech understanding in noise. Little is known about how digital noise reduction affects noise annoyance and aversiveness. The goals of this investigation were to determine how a specific digital noise reduction system affects hearing aid users' perception of noise annoyance and aversiveness and to compare their perceptions to those of normal-hearing listeners. Ratings of noise annoyance and of aversiven... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853714 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 04:00:00 +0100 853714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853718&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D16528428%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kricos PB The number and proportion of older adults in the United States population is increasing, and more clinical audiologists will be called upon to deliver hearing care to the approximately 35% to 50% of them who experience hearing difficulties. In recent years, the characteristics and sources of receptive communication difficulties in older individuals have been investigated by hearing scientists, cognitive psychologists, and audiologists. It is becoming increasingly apparent that cognitive compromises and psychoacoustic auditory processing disorders associated with aging may contribute to communication difficulties in this population. This paper presents an overview of best practices, based on our current knowledge base, for clinical management of older individuals with... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853718 Sun, 01 Jan 2006 05:00:00 +0100 853718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853717&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D16528429%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pichora-Fuller MK, Singh G Recent advances in research and clinical practice concerning aging and auditory communication have been driven by questions about age-related differences in peripheral hearing, central auditory processing, and cognitive processing. A "site-of-lesion'' view based on anatomic levels inspired research to test competing hypotheses about the contributions of changes at these three levels of the nervous system. A "processing'' view based on psychologic functions inspired research to test alternative hypotheses about how lower-level sensory processes and higher-level cognitive processes interact. In the present paper, we suggest that these two views can begin to be unified following the example set by the cognitive neuroscience of aging. The early pioneers ... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853717 Sun, 01 Jan 2006 05:00:00 +0100 853717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853728&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D15920648%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rance G Auditory neuropathy/dys-synchrony is a form of hearing impairment in which cochlear outer hair cell function is spared but neural transmission in the auditory pathway is disordered. This condition, or group of conditions with a common physiologic profile, accounts for approximately 7% of permanent childhood hearing loss and a significant (but as yet undetermined) proportion of adult impairment. This paper presents an overview of the mechanisms underlying auditory neuropathy/dys-synchrony-type hearing loss and the clinical profile for affected patients. In particular it examines the perceptual consequences of auditory neuropathy/dys-synchrony, which are quite different from those associated with sensorineural hearing loss, and considers currently available, and future m... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853728 Sat, 01 Jan 2005 05:00:00 +0100 853728 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853727&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D16012704%26dopt%3DAbstract This article provides an overview of dynamic-range compression in digital hearing aids. Digital technology is becoming increasingly common in hearing aids, particularly because of the processing flexibility it offers and the opportunity to create more-effective devices. The focus of the paper is on the algorithms used to build digital compression systems. Of the various approaches that can be used to design a digital hearing aid, this paper considers broadband compression, multi-channel filter banks, a frequency-domain compressor using the FFT, the side-branch design that separates the filtering operation from the frequency analysis, and the frequency-warped version of the side-branch approach that modifies the analysis frequency spacing to more closely match auditory perception. Examples ... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853727 Sat, 01 Jan 2005 05:00:00 +0100 853727 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853726&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D16012705%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Blamey PJ Adaptive dynamic range optimization (ADRO) is an amplification strategy that uses digital signal processing techniques to improve the audibility, comfort, and intelligibility of sounds for people who use cochlear implants and/or hearing aids. The strategy uses statistical analysis to select the most information-rich section of the input dynamic range in multiple-frequency channels. Fuzzy logic rules control the gain in each frequency channel so that the selected section of the dynamic range is presented at an audible and comfortable level. The ADRO processing thus adaptively optimizes the dynamic range of the signal in multiple-frequency channels. Clinical studies show that ADRO can be fitted easily to all degrees of hearing loss for hearing aids and cochlear implant... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853726 Sat, 01 Jan 2005 05:00:00 +0100 853726 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853725&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D16244757%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Abrams HB, Chisolm TH, McArdle R Health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) instruments measure the impact of a disorder and treatment on several attributes that are thought to constitute the self-perceived health status of an individual. This tutorial reviews the conceptual framework of HRQoL, including the challenges associated with defining and measuring HRQoL, specifically as it applies to audiologic care. A relatively new instrument, the World Health Organization-Disability Assessment Schedule II, will be discussed as a potentially valuable instrument to measure the impact of hearing loss and hearing aid intervention on self-perceived HRQoL. PMID: 16244757 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853725 Sat, 01 Jan 2005 05:00:00 +0100 853725 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853724&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D16244758%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chisolm TH, Abrams HB, McArdle R, Wilson RH, Doyle PJ The World Health Organization's (WHO) Disability Assessment Scale II (WHO-DAS II) is a generic health-status instrument firmly grounded in the WHO's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (WHO-ICF). As such, it assesses functioning for six domains: communication, mobility, self-care, interpersonal, life activities, and participation. Domain scores aggregate to a total score. Because the WHO-DAS II contains questions relevant to hearing and communication, it has good face validity for use as an outcome measure for audiologic intervention. The purpose of the present study was to determine the psychometric properties of the WHO-DAS II on a sample of individuals with adult-onset hearing loss, includi... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853724 Sat, 01 Jan 2005 05:00:00 +0100 853724 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853723&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D16244759%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: McArdle R, Chisolm TH, Abrams HB, Wilson RH, Doyle PJ The World Health Organization's Disability Assessment Scale II (WHO-DAS II) is a generic health-status instrument that provides six domain scores and a total, aggregate score. Two of the domain scores, communication and participation, and the total score, have good validity, internal-consistency reliability, and test-retest stability in individuals with adult-onset hearing loss. As such, these two domain scores and the total WHO-DAS II score may be useful as generic outcome measures to assess the effectiveness of hearing aid intervention for this population. Before the use of the WHO-DAS II in hearing aid clinical trials, however, the responsiveness of the instrument and the short- and long-term outcomes to hearing aid inte... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853723 Sat, 01 Jan 2005 05:00:00 +0100 853723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853722&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D16424943%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hornsby B PMID: 16424943 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853722 Sat, 01 Jan 2005 05:00:00 +0100 853722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853721&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D16424944%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Seewald R, Moodie S, Scollie S, Bagatto M The Desired Sensation Level (DSL) Method was originally developed in the early 1980s to provide clinicians with a systematic, science-based approach to pediatric hearing instrument fitting that ensures audibility of amplified speech by accounting for factors that are uniquely associated with the provision of amplification to infants and young children who have hearing loss. This review identifies and describes several of the primary factors that have been considered in the development of the DSL Method. Specifically, the issues discussed relate to: (1) the definition and measurement of relevant acoustic, electroacoustic and audiometric variables; (2) how the external ear acoustics of infants and young children are accounted for in the ... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853721 Sat, 01 Jan 2005 05:00:00 +0100 853721 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853720&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D16424945%26dopt%3DAbstract This article concludes with case examples that illustrate key differences between the DSL v4.1 and DSL v5.0 prescriptions. PMID: 16424945 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853720 Sat, 01 Jan 2005 05:00:00 +0100 853720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853719&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D16424946%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bagatto M, Moodie S, Scollie S, Seewald R, Moodie S, Pumford J, Liu KP A discussion of the protocols used particularly in the clinical application of the Desired Sensation Level (DSL) Method is presented in this chapter. In the first section, the measurement and application of acoustic transforms is described in terms of their importance in the assessment phase of the amplification fitting process. Specifically, the implications of individual ear canal acoustics and their impact on accurately defining hearing thresholds are discussed. Detailed information about the statistical strength of the real-ear-to-coupler difference (RECD) measurement and how to obtain the measure in young infants is also provided. In addition, the findings of a study that examined the relationship betw... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853719 Sat, 01 Jan 2005 05:00:00 +0100 853719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853733&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D15247993%26dopt%3DAbstract This report also forecasts clinical and research trends related to presurgical evaluation, fitting protocols, signal processing, and postsurgical rehabilitation in cochlear implants. Finally, a future landscape in amplification is presented that requires a unique, yet complementary, contribution from hearing aids, middle ear implants, and cochlear implants to achieve a total solution to the entire spectrum of hearing loss treatment and management. PMID: 15247993 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853733 Thu, 01 Jan 2004 05:00:00 +0100 853733 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853732&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D15497032%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chasin M, Russo FA Historically, the primary concern for hearing aid design and fitting is optimization for speech inputs. However, increasingly other types of inputs are being investigated and this is certainly the case for music. Whether the hearing aid wearer is a musician or merely someone who likes to listen to music, the electronic and electro-acoustic parameters described can be optimized for music as well as for speech. That is, a hearing aid optimally set for music can be optimally set for speech, even though the converse is not necessarily true. Similarities and differences between speech and music as inputs to a hearing aid are described. Many of these lead to the specification of a set of optimal electro-acoustic characteristics. Parameters such as the peak input-l... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853732 Thu, 01 Jan 2004 05:00:00 +0100 853732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853731&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D15497033%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: McDermott HJ The acceptance of cochlear implantation as an effective and safe treatment for deafness has increased steadily over the past quarter century. The earliest devices were the first implanted prostheses found to be successful in compensating partially for lost sensory function by direct electrical stimulation of nerves. Initially, the main intention was to provide limited auditory sensations to people with profound or total sensorineural hearing impairment in both ears. Although the first cochlear implants aimed to provide patients with little more than awareness of environmental sounds and some cues to assist visual speech-reading, the technology has advanced rapidly. Currently, most people with modern cochlear implant systems can understand speech using the device a... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853731 Thu, 01 Jan 2004 05:00:00 +0100 853731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853730&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D15678225%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chung K This review discusses the challenges in hearing aid design and fitting and the recent developments in advanced signal processing technologies to meet these challenges. The first part of the review discusses the basic concepts and the building blocks of digital signal processing algorithms, namely, the signal detection and analysis unit, the decision rules, and the time constants involved in the execution of the decision. In addition, mechanisms and the differences in the implementation of various strategies used to reduce the negative effects of noise are discussed. These technologies include the microphone technologies that take advantage of the spatial differences between speech and noise and the noise reduction algorithms that take advantage of the spectral differen... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853730 Thu, 01 Jan 2004 05:00:00 +0100 853730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853729&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D15735871%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chung K This is the second part of a review on the challenges and recent developments in hearing aids. Feedback and the occlusion effect pose great challenges in hearing aid design and usage. Yet, conventional solutions to feedback and the occlusion effect often create a dilemma: the solution to one often leads to the other. This review discusses the advanced signal processing strategies to reduce feedback and some new approaches to reduce the occlusion effect. Specifically, the causes of three types of feedback (acoustic, mechanical, and electromagnetic) are discussed. The strategies currently used to reduce acoustic feedback (i.e., adaptive feedback reduction algorithms using adaptive gain reduction, notch filtering, and phase cancellation strategies) and the design of new r... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853729 Thu, 01 Jan 2004 05:00:00 +0100 853729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853740&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D15004644%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ching TY, Dillon H This paper focuses on how the acoustical differences between the ear canals of adults and children affect amplification requirements and describes efficient strategies to allow for these differences when prescribing and verifying amplification. We will first summarize the problem for hearing assessment and then describe how adult-equivalent hearing loss can be calculated to circumvent this problem. Example cases demonstrate manual calculation and automatic derivation by using the NAL-NL1 software. The advantage of using real-ear aided gain prescriptions rather than real-ear insertion gain prescriptions for young children is explained. The practical benefit of deriving coupler gain targets to achieve the required real-ear aided gain by using individually meas... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853740 Wed, 01 Jan 2003 05:00:00 +0100 853740 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853739&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D15004645%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Marcoux A, Hansen M Considerable effort has recently been dedicated towards early detection of hearing loss in infants. The goal is to subsequently fit hearing aids to hearing-impaired infants so that they can develop speech and language as early and as well as possible. The responsibility of the audiologist is to provide the child with the optimal amplification from the hearing aid. This paper gives an overview of aspects involved in correctly assessing the hearing loss and optimally fitting and verifying the performance of the child's hearing aids. Special emphasis is directed towards differences that exist between children and adults, and how these differences can be considered during a pediatric fitting. We suggest a stringent terminology that can help avoid ambiguous term... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853739 Wed, 01 Jan 2003 05:00:00 +0100 853739 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853738&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D15004646%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Seewald RC, Scollie SD Hearing instrument fitting with infants and young children differs in several important ways relative to the fitting process with adults. In developing the Desired Sensation Level method, we have attempted to account for those factors that are uniquely associated with pediatric hearing instrument fitting. Within this article we describe how the external ear acoustics of infants and young children have been systematically accounted for in developing the Desired Sensation Level method. Specific evidence-based procedures that can be applied with infants and young children for the purposes of audiometric assessment, electroacoustic selection, and verification of hearing instrument performance are described. PMID: 15004646 [PubMed] (Source: Trends in Ampl... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853738 Wed, 01 Jan 2003 05:00:00 +0100 853738 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853737&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D15004647%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Humes LE Following a brief tutorial on the application of factor analysis to hearing aid outcome measures, three studies of hearing aid outcome measures in elderly adults are presented and analyzed. Two of the studies were completed at Indiana University (IU-1 and IU-2), and one was a collaborative multisite study by the Veterans Administration and the National Institute of Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD/VA). IU-1 measured hearing aid outcome in 173 elderly wearers of single-channel, linear, in-the-ear hearing aids with output-limiting compression, whereas IU-2 obtained the same extensive set of outcome measures from 53 elderly wearers of two-channel, wide-dynamic-range compression, in-the-canal hearing aids. In the NIDCD/VA study, 333 to 338 participants wo... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853737 Wed, 01 Jan 2003 05:00:00 +0100 853737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853736&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D15004648%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kuk F, Ludvigsen C The aided threshold (and functional gain) has been discussed in the context of linear hearing aids since the early 1960s. The use of nonlinear hearing aids, however, could change the meaningfulness of this verification tool because of their unique characteristics. The interpretation of the aided threshold (and functional gain) as it pertains to linear and nonlinear hearing aids is reviewed. Also discussed are the ideas of an optimal aided threshold, factors that may affect its magnitude, and a comparison between functional gain and insertion gain measures. Finally, how to improve the accuracy of the aided thresholds (and functional gain) through the use of in-situ unaided threshold measurements is discussed. PMID: 15004648 [PubMed] (Source: Trends in Amp... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853736 Wed, 01 Jan 2003 05:00:00 +0100 853736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853735&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D15004649%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fabry DA This paper addresses the issue of initial verification of hearing aid gain and output for nonlinear hearing aids. Specifically, "urban legend" has it that nonlinear hearing aids with digital noise reduction circuitry may not be accurately measured using functional gain and/or probe microphone measures. Discussed are the advantages and disadvantages of both measurement strategies, and how they may be used to "acoustically match" hearing aids to individual patients. An evaluation protocol that employs both optimal aided thresholds and probe microphone measurements to assess gain, output, and audibility in hearing-impaired patients. PMID: 15004649 [PubMed] (Source: Trends in Amplification) Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853735 Wed, 01 Jan 2003 05:00:00 +0100 853735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853734&cid=s_36133_161_f&fid=36133&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D15004650%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wong LL, Hickson L, McPherson B Hearing aid satisfaction is a pleasurable emotional experience as an outcome of an evaluation of performance. Many tools have been designed to measure the degree of satisfaction overall, or along the dimensions of cost, appearance, acoustic benefit, comfort, and service. Various studies have used these tools to examine the relationships between satisfaction and other factors. Findings are not always consistent across studies, but in general, hearing aid satisfaction has been found to be related to experience, expectation, personality and attitude, usage, type of hearing aids, sound quality, listening situations, and problems in hearing aid use. Inconsistent findings across studies and difficulties in evaluating the underlying relationships are p... Trends in Amplification journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853734 Wed, 01 Jan 2003 05:00:00 +0100 853734