语速对正常青年人可接受噪声级的影响

目的：研究语速是否对可接受噪声级（acceptable noise level,ANL）测试产生影响。方法选取国家普通话水平测试用朗读作品的音频材料,制作出0．8、1和1．2倍语速的 ANL 测试材料,对58名听力正常的青年人进行3种语速测试材料的 ANL 测试,分别获得最舒适响度级（most comfortable loudness,MCL）,最大背景噪声级（background noise level,BNL）,并根据 ANL＝MCL—BNL 计算出 ANL 值,进行统计学分析。结果0．8、1和1．2倍语速条件下 ANL 值分别为2．88±3．81、2．76±3．76、3．16±3．72 dB HL,三种语速下的 MCL、BNL、ANL 值差异无统计学意义（P＞0．05）,0．8、1和1．2倍语速条件下 MCL 与 ANL 均无相关关系（P＞0．05）,BNL 与 ANL均呈负相关（P＜0．01）。结论本研究发现三种语速 ANL 测试材料的语速并不影响 ANL 值;个体接受背景噪声的能力越强,其 ANL 值越小。     

可接受噪声级测试临床应用可行性探讨

目的探讨普通话可接受噪声级测试中给予受试者不同测试指令对结果的影响。方法将12名听力正常（听阈≤15dB HL）年轻人随机等分成两组,每组6人,A组先采用测试方法一（受试者接受口头测试指令,指令内容因测试者对英文指令的不同理解而不同）,半小时后再采用测试方法二（受试者接受预先指定的完全一致书面测试指令）,分别测试各对象普通话可接受噪声级值,B组测试方法则反之,比较两种测试方法测得的12名受试者的平均可接受噪声级（acceptable noise level ,ANL）、平均最舒适响度级（most comfortable level ,MCL）和平均可接受最大背景噪声级（background noise level ,BNL）。结果A、B组12名受试者两种测试方法所测得ANL值为7．51±6．61、8．29±6．54dBSPL;MCL值分别为83．58±8．57、85．41±8．89dBSPL,BNL值分别为78．92±10．56、77．13±7．91dBSPL,两种测试方法所得MCL、BNL、ANL值之间差异无统计学意义（P＞0．05）。方法一所得ANL值范围为-6．40～17．10dBSPL,方法二所得ANL值范围为2．50～20．12dBSPL。不同个体在同一测试所得ANL值差异较大,同一个体前后两次测试所得ANL值差异无统计学意义（P＞0．05）。结论不同的测试指令对普通话可接受噪声级值并无直接影响,测试者可根据对英文指令的理解进行ANL测试。     

音乐测试材料在可接受噪声级测试中的应用

目的 探讨音乐测试材料在可接受噪声级(acceptable noise level,ANL)测试中应用的可行性.方法 选取国家普通话水平测试用短文朗读作品、普通话音乐、伴奏音乐三种音频材料,制作成ANL测试材料,背景噪声采用目前国际上通用的多人谈话的语频噪声(babble噪声),对40例听力正常青年进行ANL测试并分析结果.结果 普通话短文测试材料、普通话音乐测试材料和伴奏音乐测试材料下得到的最舒适响度级(most comfortable loudness,MCL)分别为39.10±7.43、43.85±9.53、44.10±10.83 dB HL;最大背景噪声级(background noise level,BNL)分别为37.91±8.65、44.52±11.23、43.65±12.89 dBHL;ANL值(MCL-BNL)分别为0.98±4.90、-0.90土3.78、0.45±4.65 dB.普通话音乐测试材料和伴奏音乐测试材料下的MCL值和BNL值均高于普通话短文测试材料(P＜0.05),但普通话音乐测试材料与伴奏音乐测试材料下的MCL值、BNL值均无统计学差异(P＞0.05),三种测试材料之间的ANL值均无统计学差异(P＞0.05).结论 音乐测试材料可应用于可接受噪声级测试;在音乐测试材料下MCL值和BNL值更高,提示正常人对音乐的接受度更高,音乐测试材料有无歌词对ANL测试结果没有影响.     

可接受噪声级测试在单、双耳佩戴助听器效果评估中的应用

目的 通过比较双侧中重度听力损失患者在单、双耳助听下的可接受噪声级(acceptable noise level,ANL),探讨ANL对助听器验配及预测助听效果的作用.方法 选取15例双侧中重度听力损失患者,分别测得双耳未助听、左耳助听、右耳助听和双耳助听状态下的最舒适响度级(most comfortable levels,MCL)、最大背景噪声级(background noise level,BNL),并计算得到ANL值(ANL=MCL-BNL),对结果进行统计学分析.结果 15例受试者双耳未助听、左耳助听、右耳助听及双耳助听四种状态下测得的ANL值分别为18.87±5.26、12.60±2.47、12.00±2.90、5.13±1.25 dB S/N;MCL值分别为80.40±9.28、63.73±5.15、62.27±5.36、61.80±6.05 dB HL;BNL值分别为61.67±6.14、51.13±3.94、50.27±4.50、56.67±5.16 dB HL;左耳助听与右耳助听下的ANL值差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);单、双耳助听下与未助听的ANL值差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05);双耳助听状态下ANL值显著低于单耳助听(P<0.05).结论 ANL值较低耳更利于助听器验配,佩戴助听器能有效提高听障患者对噪声的接受能力,并且双耳佩戴助听器的效果明显优于单耳.     

普通话可接受噪声级测试材料的开发与等价性评估

目的 开发普通话版可接受噪声级(acceptable noise level,ANL)测试材料.方法 从小学、初中和高中语文教材中选取3篇难易程度不同的短文材料;选取31例听力言语正常人分别进行3种材料的ANL测试,获得3种材料下的最舒适响度级(most comfortable loudness,MCL)、最大背景噪声...     

可接受噪声级测试在助听器效果评估中的初步应用

目的探讨可接受噪声级(acceptable noise level,ANL)测试在普通话听障人群助听器效果评估中的应用。方法选取佩带助听器3个月~3年的中度到中重度听障者37例,根据助听器使用情况将其分为全天使用助听器组、部分时间使用组和拒绝使用组;利用前期经过等价性评估的普通话可接受噪声级测试材料,对三组人群依次进行裸耳和助听下的ANL测试、日常生活助听器满意度问卷(the satisfaction with amplification in daily life,SADL)评估,分析三组ANL值和SADL得分的差异。结果①37例听障者个体自身裸耳和助听下最舒适响度级(most comfortable level,MCL)、背景噪声级(background noise level,BNL)值差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),而ANL值差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);②全天使用助听器组裸耳下ANL值明显低于部分时间和拒绝使用助听器组(P<0.05);③全天使用助听器组SADL量表得分高于部分时间使用和拒绝使用助听器组(P<0.05),后两组人群间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);④Pearson相关分析显示:裸耳ANL值与听障者性别、年龄均无相关性(P>0.05),与气导平均听阈存在较弱相关性(r=0.460,P=0.004)。结论可接受噪声级测试可反映个体耐受噪声能力的大小,可初步利用其来预估助听器选配效果。     

高频陡降型听损患者助听前后ANL的研究

目的探讨可接受噪声级(acceptable noise level,ANL)测试是否适用于评估高频陡降型听力损失人群的助听器选配效果。方法选取佩戴助听器半年以上的20位高频陡降型的听障患者,对其进行裸耳和助听后的ANL测试、助听情况下的Speechmap测试,通过软件SPSS19.0分析对比助听前后的ANL值和真耳分析的测试结果,比较其差异性,评估助听器效果,得出结果。结果 (1)20位听障者在裸耳状态时最舒适响度级(most comfortable level,MCL)为80.70±8.05d B HL,助听情况下MCL为65.80±9.03d B HL,具有统计学意义;裸耳状态下背景噪声级(back-ground noise level,BNL)值为73.75±7.16d B HL,助听后BNL值为59.25±6.93d B HL,该结果具有统计学意义(P<0.001),而助听前后ANL值分别为6.95±4.20 d B HL和6.55±4.21 d B HL,该结果无统计学意义(P<0.05),表明患者ANL值与配戴助听器与否无相关性;(2)助听后Speechmap得分验证了裸耳ANL值小于7d B HL时,助听效果很好;但裸耳ANL值大于7d B HL时患者Speechmap得分偏低,助听效果不好。结论通过测试裸耳的可接受噪声级(ANL值)可以较为准确地预测高频陡降型听力损失患者选配助听器的效果,并对此类患者是否选配助听器进行指导。     

正常听力青年噪声耐受性与非恢复性睡眠的相关性研究

目的探讨听力正常青年噪声耐受性与非恢复性睡眠之间的相关性。方法对54例(女30例,男24例)听力正常青年进行可接受噪声级(acceptable noise level,ANL)测试,分别获得最舒适响度级(most comfortable level,MCL)和最大背景噪声级(background noise level,BNL),根据ANL=MCL-BNL计算出ANL值,并进行非恢复性睡眠问卷(non-restorative sleep scale,NRSS)填写,问卷分为4个维度,维度1、2、3、4分别反映主观的睡眠后恢复感、身体症状、白天的功能状态及情绪症状,得分越低说明非恢复性睡眠对个体的负向影响越大;分别获得NRSS 4个维度的得分及总分,分析ANL测试结果与NRSS得分间的相关性。结果54例听力正常青年的ANL平均值为-0.76±3.55 dB HL,MCL平均值为47.61±8.25 dB HL,BNL平均值为48.26±8.41 dB HL,非恢复性睡眠问卷平均总得分为43.04±6.09分,维度1、2、3、4平均得分分别为10.33±2.29、15.78±3.54、9.98±2.17及6.69±1.87分。ANL水平与非恢复性睡眠问卷总得分、维度3、维度4得分间呈显著负相关(P<0.05),而与维度1、维度2得分间无相关性。结论非恢复性睡眠程度与个体的噪声耐受性成正相关,噪声耐受性越高(ANL值越低),非恢复性睡眠问卷得分越高,醒后自觉清醒度越高。     

20例Med—EL Combi 40＋人工耳蜗术后电极阻抗和检测阈值及最大舒适阈值变化的观察

目的：观察Med—ELCombi40＋人工耳蜗植入后电极阻抗、检测阈值（THR）、最大舒适阈（MCL）、动态范围的变化规律,分析其内在联系,探讨其对术后调机的指导意义。方法：回顾性分析连续的20例植入Med—ELCombi40＋人工耳蜗患儿,对术中、术后1、3、6、12、24、36个月的电极阻抗值,以及对应时间点的THR、MCL值、动态范围进行分析,探讨其变化规律及相关性。结果：总体而言,各电极阻抗值术中检测最低,术后1个月时电阻较术中有明显升高（P〈0．01）,术后3个月时电阻略有下降（P〈0．01）,随后蜗顶组和中间组电极电阻基本趋于平稳,但蜗底的电极电阻呈逐年升高。各电极通道THR值基本随术后时间延长逐渐增高（P〈0．05）,MCL值术后早期呈显著上升（P〈0．05）,但第2年起趋于平稳。蜗底组电极的动态范围术后早期呈上升,但1年后出现下降趋势。各组电极电荷量术后3个月升高显著（P〈0．05）,术后1年起趋于稳定（P〉0．05）。电极电阻与动态范围的相关性较THR值、MCL值高,且呈负相关。术后3个月、6个月时的电极电阻与术后3年时的动态范围呈强负相关,均以蜗顶组最明显（r=-0．618,r=-0．636,均P〈0．01）。结论：电极电阻的变化规律会因电极的位置不同而异,测定电极阻抗值能有效评估人工耳蜗刺激电极状态;术后电极THR、MCL值与电极电阻的关联性小,可能受众多因素影响所致,但电极的动态范围与电阻呈负相关;术后3个月或6个月时的电极电阻具有预测动态范围大小的意义。     

变应性鼻炎小鼠鼻黏膜中半乳糖凝集素3和9的表达

目的探讨小鼠鼻黏膜内半乳糖凝集素3（galectin-3）和半乳糖凝集素9（galectin-9）的表达水平及其与变应性鼻炎的关系。方法20只BALB／c小鼠随机分为变应性鼻炎组（AR组）和对照组，每组10只。AR组分别于第1天和第14天腹腔注射含卵清蛋白10μg及氢氧化铝2mg的生理盐水悬液0．1ml，第21天起鼻腔给予1％卵清蛋白局部激发，持续7d；对照组用生理盐水代替卵清蛋白。通过免疫组织化学染色和逆转录-聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）检测鼻黏膜中galectin．3和galectin-9的表达，同时采用酶联免疫吸附测定法（ELISA）检测外周血中自细胞介素4（IL-4）、白细胞介素5（IL-5）及γ干扰素（IFN-γ）的表达。结果AR组和对照组均有galectin-3和galectin-9蛋白及mRNA的表达，AR组表达强度高于对照组，差异具有统计学意义（t值分别为11．18、9．261、7．667和6．971，P值均〈0．05）。与对照组相比，AR组小鼠外周血中IL-4和IL-5含量均有不同程度的增高（t值分别为7．202和8．121，p值均〈0．05），而IFN-γ含量则下降（t=-11．94，p〈0．05）。galectin3和galectin9mRNA的表达强度与外周血中IL-4、IL-5的含量呈正相关（r值分别为0．667、0．847、0．720及0．736，P值均〈0．05），与IFN-γ含量呈负相关（r值分别为-0．528和-0．817，P值均〈0．05）。结论galectin3和galectin9可能在变应性鼻炎的发病过程中发挥一定作用。     

The effect of speech presentation level on acceptance of background noise in listeners with normal hearing

A method has been established to measure the maximum acceptable background noise level (BNL) for a listener, while listening to speech at the most comfortable listening level (MCL). The acceptable noise level (ANL) is the difference between BNL and MCL. In the present study, the ANL procedure was used to measure acceptance of noise, first, in the presence of speech at MCL and, then, for speech presented at much lower and higher levels in listeners with normal hearing. This study used the term ANL to describe the results obtained at MCL and also at other speech presentation levels. The mean ANL at MCL was 15.5 dB, which is comparable to results obtained by previous investigators. ANL increases systematically with speech presentation level. Mean ANLs ranged from 10.6 dB when speech was presented at 20 dB HL to 24.6 dB when speech was presented at 76 dB HL. The results indicated that the acceptance of noise depends significantly on speech presentation level.     

Effects of reverberation on acceptable noise level measurements in younger and older adults

Acceptable noise level (ANL) test materials were digitally modified to create five reverberant conditions by applying different values of reverberation time (RT) to a non-reverberant condition (RT = 0, 0.4, 0.7, 1.2, and 2 s). Two groups of 12 subjects participated: younger individuals (22–29 years, M = 24.3) and older adults (50–69 years, M = 57.5). Mean hearing threshold levels (250 to 8000 Hz) for both groups were 30 dB HL or better. Most comfortable listening level (MCL) and background noise level (BNL) measurements were completed in each reverberant condition, and from these measurements, ANLs were calculated. Significant main effects for age and reverberation were not found for ANL or MCL. These results suggest that reverberation does not affect the amount of background noise individuals are willing to accept, or the level of speech individuals choose as the MCL. These results can be used by clinical audiologists to counsel patients regarding the use of communication strategies. Additionally, these results can be used to support previous findings that ANL is not related to the intelligibility of the speech signal.     

The influence of listener's gender on the acceptance of background noise

The acceptance of background noise can be assessed by having participants select the maximum background noise level (BNL) to which they are willing to listen while following speech at their most comfortable listening level (MCL). The difference between the selected BNL and MCL is the acceptable noise level (ANL). Preliminary investigations have revealed large between-participant ANL differences that are not related to age, hearing status, preference for background noise, or uncomfortable listening level. This study investigated listener's gender as a possible factor contributing to these between-participant differences. Comfortable listening levels for speech and accepted levels of speech-babble background noise were obtained binaurally, via the sound field, from 50 (25 male, 25 female) young, acoustically naive adults with normal hearing sensitivity. Results indicate that, although males had higher comfortable listening levels and accepted higher levels of background noise than females, ANL values were not different between males and females.     

Effects of reverberation on acceptable noise level measurements in younger and older adults

Abstract

Acceptable noise level (ANL) test materials were digitally modified to create five reverberant conditions by applying different values of reverberation time (RT) to a non-reverberant condition (RT = 0, 0.4, 0.7, 1.2, and 2 s). Two groups of 12 subjects participated: younger individuals (22–29 years, M = 24.3) and older adults (50–69 years, M = 57.5). Mean hearing threshold levels (250 to 8000 Hz) for both groups were 30 dB HL or better. Most comfortable listening level (MCL) and background noise level (BNL) measurements were completed in each reverberant condition, and from these measurements, ANLs were calculated. Significant main effects for age and reverberation were not found for ANL or MCL. These results suggest that reverberation does not affect the amount of background noise individuals are willing to accept, or the level of speech individuals choose as the MCL. These results can be used by clinical audiologists to counsel patients regarding the use of communication strategies. Additionally, these results can be used to support previous findings that ANL is not related to the intelligibility of the speech signal.

Sumario

Se modificaron digitalmente materiales de prueba de niveles aceptables de ruido (ANL) para crear cinco condiciones de reverberación, aplicando diferentes valores de tiempo de reverberación (RT) a una condición no reverberante (RT = 0, 0.4, 0.7, 1.2, y 2 s). Participaron dos grupos de 12 sujetos: jóvenes (22–29 años, M = 24.3) y adultos mayores (50–69 años, M = 57.5). La media de los umbrales auditivos (250 a 8000 Hz) en ambos grupos fue de 30 dB HL o mejor. El mejor nivel confortable de audición (MCL) y las mediciones del nivel de ruido de fondo (BNL) se completaron en cada condición de reverberación y de estas mediciones, se calcularon los ANL. No se encontraron efectos significativos por edad y reverberación para el ANL o el MCL. Estos resultados sugieren que la reverberación no afecta la cantidad de ruido de fondo que los individuos stán dispuestos a aceptar ni el nivel de lenguaje que seleccionan como el MCL. Estos resultados pueden ser usados por los audiólogos clínicos para aconsejar a los pacientes en relación con el uso de estrategias comunicativas. Adicionalmente, pueden usarse para apoyar hallazgos previos en cuanto a que los ANL no se relacionan con la inteligibilidad de las señales del habla.     

Development and evaluation of the Mandarin speech signal content on the acceptable noise level test in listeners with normal hearing in mainland China

Abstract

Objective: To develop and evaluate the Mandarin speech signal content on the acceptable noise level (ANL) test in listeners with normal hearing in mainland China. Design: The Mandarin ANL tests were conducted using three different sets of Mandarin running speech materials which were chosen from textbooks for primary school, secondary school, and high school, respectively. For each discourse, two ANL measurements were obtained and averaged for each experimental condition using ANL test procedures. Study sample: Thirty-one normal-hearing listeners participated in this study. Results: There were significant differences for ANLs among the normal-hearing listeners, but no differences were found for MCLs and ANLs for the three sets of test materials. The Pearson correlations suggested significant correlations between MCL and ANL among the three test materials; also the results showed that the correlation coefficient between MCL-ANL of the primary material was much better than other two materials. Conclusions: (1) The contents of different Mandarin running speeches may not affect the acceptable noise level in Mandarin normal-hearing listeners; (2) The running speech selected from the primary school ought to be used as the Mandarin acceptable noise level test material to evaluate the outcomes of hearing aid fitting.

Sumario

Objetivo: Desarrollar y evaluar el contenido de la señal de lenguaje en mandarín con la Prueba de Nivel de Ruido Aceptable (ANL), en sujetos con audición normal de China continental. Diseño: Las pruebas de ANL en mandarín fueron conducidas usando tres diferentes tipos de contenidos provenientes de materiales de lenguaje en mandarín escogidos de libros de texto para la escuela primaria, secundaria y preparatoria, respectivamente. Para cada discurso, se obtuvieron dos mediciones de ANL y se promediaron para cada condición experimental, usando los procedimientos de la prueba de ANL. Muestra del Estudio: Participaron en el estudio treinta y un sujetos con audición normal. Resultados: Existieron diferencias significativas de ANL entre los sujetos con audición normal, pero no se encontraron diferencias en el MCL y ANL de los tres materiales. Las correlaciones de Pearson sugirieron correlaciones significativas entre el MCL y ANL de los tres materiales; también los resultados mostraron que el coeficiente de correlación entre MCL-ANL del material de primaria fue mucho mejor que con los otros dos materiales. Conclusiones: (1) el contenido de los diferentes discursos en mandarín puede no afectar el nivel aceptable de ruido en oyentes de mandarín con audición normal; (2) el discurso seleccionado de la escuela primaria debería ser utilizado como el material de prueba en mandarín con un nivel aceptable de ruido, para evaluar los resultados de la adaptación de auxiliares auditivos.     

The effect of repeated measurements and working memory on the most comfortable level in the ANL test

Abstract

Objective: To study the effect of a large number of repetitions on the most comfortable level (MCL) when doing the acceptable noise level (ANL) test, and explore if MCL variability is related to central cognitive processes. Design: Twelve MCL repetitions were measured within the ANL test using interleaved methodology during one session using a non-semantic version. Phonological (PWM) and visuospatial working memory (VSWM) was measured. Study sample: Thirty-two normal-hearing adults. Results: Repeated measures ANOVA, intraclass correlations, and the coefficient of repeatability (CR) were used to assess the repeatability. Repeated measures ANOVA and CR indicated poor agreement between the two first repetitions. After excluding the first repetition, analyses showed that the MCL in the ANL test is reliable. A negative association was found between PWM and MCL variability indicating that subjects with higher PWM show less variability. Conclusions: The findings suggest that, after excluding the first repetition, the MCL in the ANL test is reliable. A single repetition of the MCL in the ANL test should be avoided. If an interleaved methodology is used, a single ANL repetition should be added prior to the actual testing. The findings also suggest that MCL variability is associated to PWM but not VSWM.