Children's performance on multidimensionally scored time-compressed sentential stimuli

Normative data were obtained for 96 children with normal auditory and language abilities in grades 2, 4, and 6 when presented monaurally with time-compressed (TC) sentences and 1st- and 2nd-order sentential approximations at 32 db re SRT. Oral responses were taped and multidimensionally scored in order to sensitize the test. Consistent with previous reports of normative data at other age levels, performance became poorer for 0 to either 40 or 60% TC (there was a negligible difference between the latter), was better for normal sentences than for sentential approximations, and improved slightly in the higher grades.     

健听成人言语呼吸声学参数的特征研究

目的 通过分析健听成人言语呼吸声学参数的特征,得到健听成人呼吸声学参数测量的取值标准,并讨论其临床含义.方法 测量言语呼吸声学参数--最长发声时间(MPT),用Phonation声学分析仪对其进行声学分析,记录基频范围、基频标准差、基频微扰等指标;分析性别对不同声学指标的影响,并得出相应的参考范围.结果 ①成年男女MPT的基频范围无显著差异(P>0.05),基频范围参考标准为34.55±16.74 Hz.②成年男女MPT的基频标准差无显著差异(P﹥0.05),基频标准差参考标准为3.43±1.37 Hz.③成年男女MPT的基频抖动存在极显著性差异(P<0.01),成年男性MPT的基频微扰参考标准为0.03±0.019 Hz,成年女性MPT的基频微扰参考标准为0.02±0.006 Hz.结论 基频范围、基频标准差及基频抖动均可作为言语呼吸参数测量的取值标准,其临床含义有待进一步证明.     

听力正常成年人同时多频听觉稳态诱发反应研究

目的　了解正常听力成人同时多频听觉稳态诱发反应的特性。方法　 32名受试者 (6 4耳 ) ,年龄 2 2～ 32岁 ,平均 2 8.3岁 ,男 12名 ,女 2 0名 ,双耳纯音听阈测试各频率听阈在 2 0dB以内。以载波频率为 0 .5、1、2和 4kHz的纯音 ,调制频率分别为 77、85、93和 10 1Hz(左耳 )以及 79、87、95、10 3Hz(右耳 )的调幅声作为测试信号 ,双耳 8个频率同时给声刺激 ,同时自动判定并记录反应。各载波频率的阈值、反应幅度等数据采用SPSS统计软件分析。结果　①同时多频听觉稳态诱发反应阈高于纯音听阈 7～ 19dB。②反应阈经双因素方差分析 (侧别×频率 ) ,左右耳之间无显著性差异 (F =1.94 2 ;μ 1,179;P =0 .16 5 ) ,但各频率之间有显著性差异 (F =31.2 5 4 ;μ 3,179;P =0 .0 0 0 ) ,各频率反应阈均值之间进一步的两两比较显示 0 .5kHz反应阈与其它频率之间存在显著性差异。③以 6 0dBSPL作为分析强度 ,男女受试者在各个频率的反应幅度的差异经双因素方差分析 (性别×频率 )有显著性差异 (F =2 .94 8;μ 3,175 ;P =0 .0 34) ,0 .5kHz反应幅度最低 ,4kHz最高。性别之间有显著性差异 (F =16 .4 90 ;μ 1,175 ;P=0 .0 0 0 ) ,男性反应幅度高于女性。④各频率不同状态下背景噪声的差异经双因素方差分析 ,提示清醒状     

Children's perception of time-compressed speech on two measures of speech discrimination.

Time-compressed versions of the WIPI and PB-K 50 speech discrimination measures were presented at two sensation levels to 60 children divided into three age-groups of 20 each. Results showed that average intelligibility scores increased as a function of increasing age and sensation level and decreased with increasing amounts of time compression. The PB-K 50 measure was found to be more difficult than the WIPI for each age-group under each condition of time compression and sensation level. The several factors under study were found to interact. The results are discussed relative to open- versus closed-message set response tasks and the implications for audiological diagnoses of children with central auditory processing problems.     

汉语单音节测听表在北京听力正常人群中的复测信度评估

目的 评价22张等价的单音节测听表在正常人群中的复测信度,以利于采用该言语测听材料时得出合理可靠的结论.方法 招募北京22名18～30岁耳科正常人,在10 dB HLSpeech强度下,以拉丁方实验设计方案,依次进行22张单音节表的识别率测试.间隔6～35天,在完全相同的条件下重新进行第二轮次的识别率测试.结果 两轮测试的识别率分别为74.0%±12.2%和72.4%±10.3%,经配对t检验显示P=0.000152.逐表汇总两轮测试得分的差值,统计该差值在22名受试者中的标准差为9.3%,转化成95%置信度下的临界差值(critical difference)为18.3%.两轮测试得分的相关系数为0.684.结论 正常人使用该套单音节测听表进行有关言语工程的评价研究时,同一受试者前后两次识别率之差只有高于18.3%时,方可认为处置有效.     

The effect of homogenous versus heterogeneous stimuli on the confrontation-naming performance of aphasics

The effect of semantic grouping on confrontation-naming performances of 16 fluent and 10 nonfluent aphasics was examined. Subjects were tested under two testing conditions: 1) homogeneous stimuli within one semantic category and 2) heterogeneous stimuli from several semantic categories. Both the response latencies and the number of correct responses were considered, as well as the types of naming errors produced. Performances of the aphasics were not uniformly facilitated in one naming condition over the other. Some of the individual patients, however, did appear to display performance discrepancies between the two conditions. Clinical and theoretical implications of these results are discussed.     

Dichotic performance in elderly Italians with Italian stop consonant-vowel stimuli

Dichotic listening tests were carried out at various interaural onset asynchronies (from 0 to 500 ms) on normal-hearing young and elderly subjects using a free recall method. The stimuli were Italian stop consonant and vowel syllables computer-edited to reduce prevoicing of the consonant and vowel syllables from the original 100-120 ms to 30 ms. Results suggest that right-ear advantage is uninfluenced by age, despite a significantly lower total dichotic performance and abnormal lag effect in the older group.     

A TEOAE screening protocol based on linear click stimuli: performance and scoring criteria.

In order to improve the quality of current TEOAE recording methodologies, we have conducted a comparison of TEOAE neonatal recordings acquired with linear protocols using click stimuli of 68 dB SPL and non-linear protocols using the ILO default stimulus values. From a theoretical standpoint it was expected that the linear recordings would generate responses characterized by higher S/N ratios due to the fact that the stimulus sequence contains four clicks of the same intensity and polarity. The project included recordings from 1,416 neonatal ears (age 48 h). The TEOAE data were compared in terms of correlation, response amplitude, noise, corrected response and S/N ratio in the 1.0-, 2.0-, 3.0-, 4.0- and 5.0-kHz bands, using a paired t-test criterion. We found that windowed (4-14 ms) responses evoked by a linear TEOAE protocol generated superior S/N estimates in the 2.0-, 3.0-, 4.0- and 5.0-kHz TEOAE bands, in addition to superior correlation estimates, and demonstrated lower levels of noise. Clear-cut scoring criteria were established for the S/N ratios at 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 kHz, by constructing one-sided distribution-free tolerance boundaries.     

A preliminary study on time-compressed speech recognition in noise among teenage students who use personal listening devices

Objective: To compare speech perception obtained with different time compression rates in teenagers that do or do not use personal listening devices (PLDs).

Design: Teenagers in a high school were recruited to complete questionnaires reporting their recreational noise exposure using PLDs. The dose of individual recreational noise exposure was calculated. The individuals with the most and least doses of recreational noise were selected and grouped into PLD users and non-PLD users. Normal rate and time-compressed (60% and 70%) speech recognition in quiet and noisy conditions was measured.

Study sample: PLD user and non-PLD user group each included 20 participants.

Results: ANOVA analysis showed that the effect of group, background, compression rate, and interactions between any two factors are significant. Post hoc analysis showed that the speech recognition scores with normal rate in quiet and noise and those obtained from time-compressed speech in the quiet condition were not significantly different between PLD users and non-PLD users. However, differences in the time-compressed speech recognition scores (60% and 70%) in noisy conditions between the two groups were statistically significant.

Conclusions: The fast-speed speech recognition in noise decreased significantly in PLD users compared with that in non-PLD users selected by extreme entertainment exposure.     

听障儿童与健听儿童韵律词重音声学特征的比较研究

目的探讨听障儿童与健听儿童韵律词重音声学特征的异同。方法分别对健听儿童和听障儿童（重音异常组,重音正常组）重音音节的音强、音长、音高进行比较分析。结果①重音异常组韵律词前后字的平均基频增量总体小于重音正常组与健听儿童;②重音异常组韵律词的重音与非重音音节的平均强度（mean syllable intensity,MSI)、相对时长（syllable duration,SD)差异总体显著,平均基频（mean syllable F0,MSF0）差异总体不显著;③重音正常组句中韵律词的重音与非重音音节的MSF0差异显著,而单独韵律词的MSI、SD、MSF0差异总体显著。结论①与健听儿童相比,重音异常组听障儿童表现韵律词重音的声学参数为音强和音长,重音正常组听障儿童则为音高;②听障儿童韵律词单独出现时与在句中出现时的重音情况不同。     

Effects of standardized optokinetic stimuli on standing stability

BACKGROUND: Human standing stability is ensured by means of a sensory-motor control system. Proprioceptivity is most important among sensory afferences. At this time, less is known about the effect of standardized visual stimuli on motor programs towards support of body stability. These investigations were performed with special consideration for different strains on bunions and heels of both feet. METHODS: 42 healthy individuals (averaged age 29.6 years) were investigated with relaxed standing on the static force platform of Portable Multiplate System P. M. S. with optokinetic stimuli in horizontal, vertical and torsional direction (speed 80 degrees/s). Conducted by computer-analysis, the stability index, varying foot-pressure on heels and bunions, Fourier spectral analysis, and weight distribution index were counted. The eye movements were controlled with help of the PENG device. RESULTS: The optokinetic stimulations led to partial statistically significant impairments of stability particularly with torsional stimuli, yet notably improved stability with left stripes pattern. The sensory conflict between visual and other sensory inputs led to a statistically significant shift of sway frequencies to the higher ranges. On stimulation, the distribution of pressure to the feet changed. The preponderance to rest on the left side was equalized. The heels were considerably strained more with visual stimuli in all directions. Individuals felt more agreeable, toward stripes vertically directed while torsionally directed stripes elicited particular strain. CONCLUSION: Sensory conflicts between visual and other sensory inputs for maintaining the upright body position were found to impair the stability. Nevertheless these conflicts were partially compensated by motor programs more straining to the heels.     

Effects of external stimuli on spontaneous otoacoustic emissions

The behavior of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) is affected by external stimuli. A series of experiments was conducted with 25 normal-hearing subjects to explore multiple and bilateral SOAEs, frequency and amplitude drift of SOAEs, suppression functions and existence regions for distortion products generated by the interaction of SOAEs and external tones.     

Effects of noise on NST and NU 6 stimuli

This study determined how normal-hearing listeners' performance on a nonsense syllable test (NST) was affected by three noise competitors, and how these responses differed from those on the standard NU 6 meaningful word test. Twenty young adult listeners heard the stimuli via earphones and provided verbal responses to the NST and NU 6 items in competition with: white noise, multitalker noise, and white noise which was amplitude modulated by the multitalker noise, each at a 0 dB signal-to-noise ratio. Responses were scored on a whole-word (all-or-none) basis. Statistical analyses revealed that listeners' performance was always poorer on the NST than on the NU 6 regardless of competitor type; and that scores were better in the multitalker noise followed by white noise and amplitude modulated white noise. These data and those from earlier studies indicate that the NST is sufficiently difficult in quiet that it may not warrant testing in noise.     

Attention effects on distortion-product otoacoustic emissions with contralateral speech stimuli

This study investigated the effect of selective attention on the distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) level through the use of environmentally meaningful, contralateral auditory stimuli. Four different conditions were used for measurement: quiet, contralateral noise, contralateral speech (unattended), and contralateral speech (attended). A statistically significant suppression effect for both the noise and speech conditions was found. However, there was no support for an auditory selective attention effect on the distortion-product amplitude.     

The influence of vegetative stimuli on the human nasal mucous membrane

Measuring probes were inserted into the inferior nasal meatus in humans to record the effects of certain defined vegetative stimuli on the cavernous state and the temperature of the mucous membrane. An unilateral carotis compression induces a bilateral reactivity of the mucous membrane in the sense of a sympathicus stimulus. An unilateral bulbus pressure causes a bilateral reaction of the mucous membrane opposite to that of carotis compression. Blocking of the stellate ganglion produces a tonus reduction of the nervus sympathicus as was also found in animal experiments by other authors. Trigeminus stimulation induces a swelling of the nasal mucous membrane, whereas a voluntary breathing stop causes decongestion. Facial blushing, the only undefined and involuntary stimulus, is followed by an unswelling and a decrease of mucous membrane temperature. The results of our investigations are in agreement with analogous animal experiments. This is not surprising as man has a vegetative nervous system which is essentially unchanged from the beginning of evolutionary development. Only blushing is an expression of a reaction behaviour characteristic of human beings only.     

Preliminary study on vestibular-evoked myogenic potential induced by bone-conducted stimuli.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between vestibular-evoked myogenic potential evoked by air-conducted stimuli (A-VEMP) and those evoked by bone-conducted stimuli (B-VEMP). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University Hospital. PATIENTS: To determine the optimum stimulus conditions for B-VEMP, 40 ears of 20 healthy volunteers were used. To compare results of A-VEMP and B-VEMP, 60 ears of 30 healthy volunteers and 70 ears of 35 patients with unilateral vestibular disorder without conductive hearing loss were used. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: A-VEMP and B-VEMP were measured. Both examinations involved evaluation of the interaural ratio (IAR) of the p13-n23 peak-to-peak amplitude. To compare the relationship between A-VEMP and B-VEMP in healthy subjects and patients with unilateral vestibular disorder. RESULTS: The optimum stimulus for B-VEMP seemed to be a tone-burst sound with 8-ms duration at 250 Hz. In all healthy subjects, both A-VEMP and B-VEMP could be recorded. The mean IAR of B-VEMP (0.5 +/- 21.0%) was not significantly different from that of A-VEMP (0.2 +/- 19.4%). In patients with unilateral vestibular disorder, B-VEMP could not be detected in 10 ears in which A-VEMP also could not be detected. The IAR of A-VEMP was strongly correlated with that of B-VEMP (correlation coefficient, 0.98). CONCLUSION: The results of B-VEMP were almost the same as those for A-VEMP, at least, for patients without conductive hearing loss.