Hearing and Speech Perception for People With Hearing Loss Using Personal Sound Amplification Products

BackgroundHearing loss (HL) is the most common chronic disease and has been linked to negative health outcomes. Hearing aids (HAs) are regarded as the gold standard for HL management, however, the adoption rate of HAs is relatively low for various reasons. With this background, hearing devices, such as personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) received significant attention as an alternative to conventional HAs. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of PSAPs in patients with mild to moderately severe HL.MethodsNineteen patients with mild hearing loss (MHL), 23 with moderate hearing loss (MDHL), and 15 with moderately severe hearing loss (MSHL) participated in the study. Electroacoustic analysis, simulated real-ear measurements (REMs), and three clinical evaluations were implemented.ResultsAll devices satisfied the electroacoustic tolerances. All devices provided sufficient gain for MHL and MDHL audiograms. However, in MSHL audiogram, the gains of PSAPs were insufficient, especially for high frequencies. In terms of clinical evaluations, sound-field audiometry showed significant improvements between aided and unaided thresholds in all groups for all devices (P < 0.001). Significant improvements of word recognition scores were only shown for HAs between aided and unaided conditions. The Korean version of the Hearing In Noise Test did not show any consistent findings for all devices and groups.ConclusionCertain PSAPs are beneficial for improving hearing and speech perception in patients with HL. Well-chosen PSAPs could be an alternative hearing rehabilitation option for these patients.     

某造船企业噪声作业工人纯音测听结果分析

目的：探讨生产性噪声对作业工人听力的影响。方法对某造船企业94名噪声作工人进行在岗期间纯音电测听检查,测听数据进行统计分析。结果听力损失37人(占受检人数的39.36%),其中轻度听力损失36人,中度听力损失1人。听力损失随工龄增加而升高,不同工龄组间听力损失比较有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论听力损失随接触噪工龄的增加呈上升趋势。建议企业加强监督和管理,做好作业工人职业危害宣传教育和个人防护,建立和完善职业健康监护档案,控制职业性噪声聋发生。     

Percutaneous Bone-Anchored Hearing Implant: Is It Clinically Useful in Korean?

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to investigate the clinical effectiveness of Ponto in Korea, a recently released percutaneous bone-anchored hearing implant.Methods16 patients with single-sided deafness (SSD) and mixed or conductive hearing loss who underwent Ponto implantation from December 2018 to September 2020 were enrolled in the study. Puretone audiometry, the Korean version of the Hearing in Noise Test (K-HINT), sound localization test (SLT), and Pupillometry were performed pre- and three months post-operation. Standardized questionnaires, the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE) and Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ), were administered.ResultsThe mean age of subjects was 55.5 (range, 48–67) years. Four males and 12 females participated in the study. The mean puretone average was 73.17 dB hearing level (HL) before surgery and significantly improved to 36.72 dB HL three months after surgery. The mean word recognition score improved from 26.0% to 90.75% after implantation. In the case of K-HINT, there was a significant difference in summation (Z = −2.250, P = 0.024) and head shadow effects (Z = −3.103, P = 0.002). There was no significant difference in root mean square error degree (RMSE) and hemifield identification scores for SLT testing. Pupillometry was performed to measure listening effort and the results revealed that the degree of pupillary dilatation decreased under the condition of quiet, 0 dB signal to noise ratio (SNR) and 3 dB SNR. The total score for HHIE decreased significantly (Z = −3.130, P = 0.002) while the SSQ score increased significantly (Z = −2.216, P = 0.027).ConclusionsThe Ponto bone-anchored hearing system showed significant clinical benefit in Korean patients with conductive and mixed hearing loss and SSD.     

柯氏音信号与体位关系的初步探讨

目的:探讨人体在不同体位状况下,柯氏音(korotkoff sound)信号时域特征及其差异,初步揭示柯氏音信号携带的生理信息,进而深入研究柯氏音数字化分析在心血管疾病诊断中的生理价值.方法:采集10位受试者不同体位的柯氏音信号,并对信号的时域参数进行分析,统计学处理.结果:同一受试者不同体位时柯氏音信号时域参数具有显著性差异,不同受试者试验结果相似.结论:柯氏音信号携带有丰富的生理信息,能够表征不同体位下心血管系统输出的差异,对其进行数字化分析研究具有重要价值.     

The correlation coefficient and the goodness of fit in source localization of noise recorded by magnetoencephalography

Summary We recorded magnetic field activity to evaluate the specificity of the correlation coefficient and the goodness of fit in source localization. Magnetic noise was recorded (bandpass 1–200 Hz) with a 37-channel magnetometer with and without a subject present in a magnetically shielded room. After averaging of the recorded epochs, the data were subjected to a single equivalent current dipole algorithm. The correlation coefficient and the goodnesses of fit were computed for each dipole fit. The number of high correlations and high goodnesses of fit was determined. In recordings without a subject present the averaged original data never achieved a correlation higher than 0.70 and a goodness of fit higher than 0.85. After more restrictive filtering (bandpass 1–20 Hz) there was a significant increase for both correlation and goodness of fit. In recordings with a subject present (but not receiving external stimulation) the correlation and the goodness of fit for the averaged original data reached 0.96 and 0.97; after filtering, both measures reached values greater than or equal to 0.99. The results of this study indicate that both the correlation coefficient and the goodness of fit lack the specificity to distinguish stimulus-related brain activity from background noise.The authors thank Biomagnetic Technologies, Inc., San Diego, CA, for equipment support, and Susanne Honma, R.T. and Mary Mantle, R.EEG T. for technical assistance. Dr. Siedenberg was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

EEG versus MEG localization accuracy: Theory and experiment

Summary We first review the theoretical and computer modelling studies concerning localization accuracy of EEG and MEG, both separately and together; the source is here a dipole. The results show that, of the three causes of localization errors, noise and head modelling errors have about the same effect on EEG and MEG localization accuracies, while the results for measurement placement errors are inconclusive. Thus, these results to date show no significant superiority of MEG over EEG localization accuracy. Secondly, we review the experimental findings, where there are again localization accuracy studies of EEG and MEG both separately and together. The most significant EEG-only study was due to dipoles implanted in the heads of patients, and produced an average localization error of 20 mm. Various MEG-only studies gave an average error of 2–3 mm in saline spheres and 4–8 mm in saline-filled skulls. In the one study where EEG and MEG localization were directly compared in the same actual head, again using dipoles implanted in patients, the average EEG and MEG errors of localization were 10 and 8 mm respectively. The MEG error was later confirmed by a similar (but MEG-only) experiment in another study, using a more elaborate MEG system. In summary, both theory and experiment suggests that the MEG offers no significant advantage over the EEG in the task of localizing a dipole source. The main use of the MEG, therefore, should be based on the proven feature that the MEG signal from a radial source is highly suppressed, allowing it to complement the EEG in selecting between competing source configurations. A secondary useful feature is that it handles source modelling errors differently than does the EEG, allowing it to help clarify non-dipolar extended sources.This work was supported by grants RO1NS26433, RO1NS19558 and RO1NS22703 from the National Institutes of Health.     

A novel real-time noise reduction system for the assessment of evoked otoacoustic emissions

A novel noise reduction method and apparatus to be used in connection with the measurement of evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAE) are presented. The noise reduction method is based on an adaptive noise canceller and requires a noise-only reference microphone placed in the vicinity of the OAE-probe. The method was implemented in real time on a custom built digital signal processing system using an Analog Devices ADSP-2181 digital signal processor. The system interfaces seamlessly with a commercial EOAE acquisition system. Results of a series of experiments show than noise reductions of 7–8 dB can be reached.     

Egocentric and allocentric localization during induced motion

This research examined motor measures of the apparent egocentric location and perceptual measures of the apparent allocentric location of a target that was being seen to undergo induced motion (IM). In Experiments 1 and 3, subjects fixated a stationary dot (IM target) while a rectangular surround stimulus (inducing stimulus) oscillated horizontally. The inducing stimulus motion caused the IM target to appear to move in the opposite direction. In Experiment 1, two dots (flashed targets) were flashed above and below the IM target when the surround had reached its leftmost or rightmost displacement from the subject’s midline. Subjects pointed open-loop at either the apparent egocentric location of the IM target or at the bottom of the two flashed targets. On separate trials, subjects made judgments of the Vernier alignment of the IM target with the flashed targets at the endpoints of the surround’s oscillation. The pointing responses were displaced in the direction of the previously seen IM for the IM target and to a lesser degree for the bottom flashed target. However, the allocentric Vernier judgments demonstrated no perceptual displacement of the IM target relative to the flashed targets. Thus, IM results in a dissociation of egocentric location measures from allocentric location measures. In Experiment 2, pointing and Vernier measures were obtained with stationary horizontally displaced surrounds and there was no dissociation of egocentric location measures from allocentric location measures. These results indicate that the Roelofs effect did not produce the pattern of results in Experiment 1. In Experiment 3, pointing and Vernier measures were obtained when the surround was at the midpoint of an oscillation. In this case, egocentric pointing responses were displaced in the direction of surround motion (opposite IM) for the IM target and to a greater degree for the bottom flashed target. However, there was no apparent displacement of the IM target relative to the flashed targets in the allocentric Vernier judgments. Therefore, in Experiment 3 egocentric location measures were again dissociated from allocentric location measures. The results of this experiment also demonstrate that IM does not generate an allocentric displacement illusion analogous to the “flash-lag” effect.

Advances in environmental and occupational diseases 2003

The past year has seen a welcome increase in the number of articles published in the Journal on environmental and occupational disorders. Some of the major themes have been risk factors for allergic sensitization, the measurement and containment of domestic allergens (especially cockroach but also house dust mite), and risk factors for occupational allergy and asthma. Some important articles were also presented on mechanisms of occupational and environmental asthma.     

Electrical noise from PVC-membranes

Summary Voltage fluctuations were measured across a polyvinylchloride (PVC)-membrane, acting as a constraint between two identical aqueous salt solutions. Membranes with de-resistances between about 2 and 10 megohms. cm² were studied in solutions of KCl between 0.01 and 0.10 moles per liter.Positive and negative currents between 10 and 100 nanoamps per square centimeter of membrane were passed. The noise was measured in the frequency range between 1.5 and 150 hertz. The spectral density of the noise power, in excess of that measured at equilibrium, was found to be proportional to the mean power being dissipated in the membrane, and inversely proportional to frequency.     

Sound localisation during illusory self-rotation

Auditory elevation localisation was investigated under conditions of illusory self-rotation (i.e., vection) induced by movement of wide-field visual stimuli around participants’ z-axes. Contrary to previous findings which suggest that auditory cues to sound-source elevation are discounted during vection, we found little evidence that vection affects judgements of source elevation. Our results indicate that the percept of auditory space during vection is generally consistent with the available head-centered auditory cues to source elevation. Auditory information about the head-centered location of a source appears to be integrated, without modification, with visual information about head motion to determine the perceived exocentric location of the source.     

Analysis of Predisposing Factors for Hearing Loss in Adults

We aimed to estimate the effects of various risk factors on hearing level in Korean adults, using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We examined data from 13,369 participants collected between 2009 and 2011. Average hearing thresholds at low (0.5, 1, and 2 kHz) and high frequencies (3, 4, and 6 kHz), were investigated in accordance with various known risk factors via multiple regression analysis featuring complex sampling. We additionally evaluated data from 4,810 participants who completed a questionnaire concerned with different types of noise exposure. Low body mass index, absence of hyperlipidemia, history of diabetes mellitus, low incomes, low educational status, and smoking were associated with elevated low frequency hearing thresholds. In addition, male sex, low body mass index, absence of hyperlipidemia, low income, low educational status, smoking, and heavy alcohol consumption were associated with elevated high frequency hearing thresholds. Participants with a history of earphone use in noisy circumstances demonstrated hearing thresholds which were 1.024 dB (95% CI: 0.176 to 1.871; P = 0.018) higher, at low-frequencies, compared to participants without a history of earphone use. Our study suggests that low BMI, absence of hyperlipidemia, low household income, and low educational status are related with hearing loss in Korean adults. Male sex, smoking, and heavy alcohol use are related with high frequency hearing loss. A history of earphone use in noisy circumstances is also related with hearing loss.

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Independent phenotype of binuclear hepatocytes and cellular localization of UbD

Mice fed DDC (0.1%) for 10 weeks, and then withdrawn from the drug for 1 month, retain the ability to form Mallory-Denk bodies (MDBs) when the drug is refed for 7 days. The number of liver cells that form MDBs increased and partially replaced normal liver cells, at the end of 7 days of refeeding DDC. The MDBs that formed were associated with increased expression of UbD (also called FAT10) in the Mallory-Denk body forming cells. UbD is over expressed in 70% of human HCCs, but its cellular localization is not well established. UbD belongs to the UbL family (ubiquitin-like), and can be linked to others proteins with their 2 C-terminal glycine to lysine. By Western Blot, UbD was found to be covalently linked with proteins. We performed immunohistochemistry on tissue from mouse liver and found that UbD was located in the cytoplasm and in one or two nuclei of the same hepatocyte. However, in primary cell culture, UbD formed speckles within the cytoplasm of the liver cell. A similar pattern of cytoplasmic localization was observed in the Hepa 1-6 cell lines, which over expressed UbD fused with GFP at the C-Terminal. The localization and the control of UbD localization remain unclear. The identification of proteins that interact with UbD and the post translational modification of UbD would help to determine the regulation of this localization and function.     

Dipole source localization of MEG by BP neural networks

Summary The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness of BP neural networks for source localization of MEG. Since the performance of this method does not depend on the complexity of brain parameters and source models, a homogeneous brain model and a single current dipole source are assumed for convenience. Localization accuracy was examined in relation to the configuration and scale of the network. As a result, average error for position and moment estimations was within 2%, while the maximum error was about 5%. It was therefore concluded that the neural network method was useful for MEG source localization, though some improvements are still necessary.     

局限性痫样波无创性偶极子定位研究

目的：探讨偶极子定位方法（DLM）对局限性痫样波定位的准确性。方法：①将一人工偶极子放置于用来模似人头的球形模型中，随意变动位置，并描记球表面电位，DLM定位与实际位置比较。②选择局限性痫样波发放者22例，头皮脑电图描记，DLM定位以三维图形显示偶极子的空间位置，其中的17例进行影象学检查，对二者结果进行对比分析。结果：①模型实验DLM定位与人工偶极子实际位置一致，但有向球中心靠拢趋势；②22例DLM限局性痫样波定位均以三维图形显示其空间位置，17例位于常规脑电图所描述的病变范围内，但更为局限。行影像学检查的17例中，7例具有局限性病灶，有3例DLM定位与之一致。结论：①偶极子定位软件适宜于局限性病灶定位；②对于痫样波DLM定位优于影像学定位，DLM作为常规脑电图的一种辅助手段可将局限性痫样波更准确地定位于某一三维空间位置。     

Expression and localization of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins in normal human tissues

The family of inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins can suppress apoptosis induced by a variety of triggers. Among the IAPs, cIAP1, cIAP2, and XIAP have been characterized as inhibitors of specific caspases, and their expression, together with that of survivin, has been shown in several studies to play a role as tumor marker and prognostic factor for the survival of patients with cancer. Although survivin is usually not expressed in normal adult tissues, cIAP1, cIAP2, and XIAP have been found broadly expressed at messenger RNA level within normal cells. Here, we report an immunohistochemical study in a comprehensive panel of normal human tissues, and we confirm at the protein level the wide expression of IAPs. These results are consistent with a physiological role of IAPs in normal cells. Moreover, we show that IAPs' expression levels and localization patterns differ depending on the cell lineage. The variable subcellular localization of the IAPs within different cell types suggests that compartmentalization may contribute to regulate their function. The physiological role of these proteins should be further investigated to help tailor IAP-targeted therapeutic strategies for patients with cancer and circumvent possible side effects.     

Daytime noise and subsequent night sleep in man

Summary The effects of daytime noise on recovery processes during subsequent undisturbed night sleep were studied in six healthy men (21–27 years), exposed to 80 dB (A) pink noise 8 h per day for 2 days. Sleep EEG, ECG, and respiration were recorded in the laboratory for five consecutive nights: two baseline nights, two nights following noise stimulation, and again one baseline night. Additionally questionnaire data were collected, reflecting a subjective impairment of the recovery function of sleep after noise exposure. EEG sleep data of the first post-noise night showed an increase in slow wave sleep with a simultaneous decrease in stage 2 sleep. During the second post-noise night these changes were less prominent. Three subjects additionally showed an instability in the sleep course coinciding with elevated heart and respiration rates. However, altogether the autonomic parameters were not clearly affected by the noise exposure. The findings support the assumption that strong daytime noise may interfere with subsequent sleep processes.Part of this work was presented at the Sixth European Congress of Sleep Research, Zürich, Switzerland 1982     

A Modeling Study of Notch Noise Responses of Type III Units in the Gerbil Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus

A computational model of the neural circuitry of the gerbil dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN), based on the MacGregor’s neuromime model, was used to simulate type III unit (P-cell) responses to notch noise stimuli. The DCN patch model is based on a previous computational model of the cat DCN [Hancock, K. E., and H. F. Voigt. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 27:73–87, 1999]. According to the experimental study of Parsons et al. [Ann. Biomed. Eng. 29:887–896, 2001], the responses of gerbil DCN type III units to notch noise stimuli are similar to those of cat DCN type IV units, which are thought to be spectral notch detectors. This suggests that type III units in the gerbil DCN may serve as spectral notch detectors. In this modeling study, a simplified notch noise response plot—spike discharge rate vs. notch cutoff frequency plot—was used to compare model responses to the experimental results. Parameter estimation and sensitivity analysis of three connection parameters within the DCN patch have been studied and shows the model is robust, providing reasonable fits to the experimental data from 14 of 15 type III units examined [work supported by a grant from NIDCD, Boston University’s Biomedical Engineering department and Hearing Research Center].Originaly published Online First February 9, 2006, DOI: . This article was originally published online in an uncorrected form. The corrected article is reprinted in its entirety here.     

A Modeling Study of Notch Noise Responses of Type III Units in the Gerbil Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus

A computational model of the neural circuitry of the gerbil dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN), based on the MacGregor's neuromime model, was used to simulate type III unit (P-cell) responses to notch noise stimuli. The DCN patch model is based on a previous computational model of the cat DCN [Hancock, K. E., and H. F. Voigt. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 27:73–87, 1999]. According to the experimental study of Parsons et al. [Ann. Biomed. Eng. 29:887–896, 2001], the responses of gerbil DCN type III units to notch noise stimuli are similar to those of cat DCN type IV units, which are thought to be spectral notch detectors. This suggests that type III units in the gerbil DCN may serve as spectral notch detectors. In this modeling study, a simplified notch noise response plot—spike discharge rate vs. notch cutoff frequency plot—was used to compare model responses to the experimental results. Parameter estimation and sensitivity analysis of three connection parameters within the DCN patch have been studied and shows the model is robust, providing reasonable fits to the experimental data from 14 of 15 type III units examined [work supported by a grant from NIDCD, Boston University's Biomedical Engineering department and Hearing Research Center].An erratum to this article can be found at