Auditory Performance Research Articles

Attentional Inhibition Ability Predicts Neural Representation During Challenging Auditory Streaming.

Focusing on a single source within a complex auditory scene is challenging. M/EEG-based auditory attention detection (AAD) allows to detect which stream an individual is attending to within a set of multiple concurrent streams. The high interindividual variability in the auditory attention detection performance often is attributed to physiological factors and signal-to-noise ratio of neural data. We hypothesize that executive functions-in particular sustained attention, working memory, and attentional inhibition-may partly explain the variability in auditory attention detection performance, because they support the cognitive processes required when listening to complex auditory scenes. We chose a particularly challenging auditory scene by presenting dichotically polyphonic classical piano excerpts that lasted 1min each. Two different excerpts were presented simultaneously, one in each ear. Forty-one participants, with different degrees of musical expertise, listened to these complex auditory scenes focusing on one ear while we recorded the EEG. Participants also completed several tasks assessing executive functions. As expected, EEG-based auditory attention detection was greater for attended than unattended stimuli. Importantly, attentional inhibition ability did explain 6% of the reconstruction accuracy and 8% of the classification accuracy. No other executive function was a significant predictor of reconstruction or classification accuracies. No clear effect of musical expertise was found on reconstruction and classification performance. In conclusion, cognitive factors seem to impact the robustness of the neural auditory representation and hence the performance of EEG-based decoding approaches. Taking advantage of this relation could be useful to improve next-generation hearing aids.

Effect of comorbid allergic diseases on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and sleep: A cross-sectional study.

Recent studies have shown a close relationship between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and allergic diseases in children. Regrettably, few studies have investigated the effect of comorbid allergies on ADHD symptoms and sleep, in particular, it is unclear whether comorbid allergic conditions further exacerbate sleep problems in children with ADHD. To investigate the effect of comorbid allergic on symptoms and sleep in children with ADHD. This was a cross-sectional study, 222 ADHD children (aged 6-14 years) were enrolled in, of whom 93 had allergic diseases and 129 without allergic diseases. Collected all ADHD symptom severity and functional impairment scales, including: Swanson, Nolan and Pelham (SNAP) scale, Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA-CPT), Conners Parents Symptom questionnaire (PSQ) and Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale-Parent Form (WFIRS-P). Every guardian of children diagnosed with ADHD is required to complete the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). Compared to ADHD children without allergic diseases, we observed significantly higher hyperactivity and impulsivity scores on the SNAP-IV, higher hyperactivity index and impulsivity index on the PSQ, and higher risky activities on the WFIRS-P in ADHD children with comorbid allergic diseases (all p < 0.05). CSHQ total score and sleep disordered breathing were particularly prominent in ADHD children with comorbid allergic diseases (all p < 0.05), and changes in CSHQ correlate with ADHD symptoms and functional impairment. Further analyses revealed that ADHD symptoms and sleep did not worsen with increasing number of comorbid allergic diseases (all p > 0.05). The primary influence on ADHD symptoms and sleep was the type of allergic diseases, where food allergies predominantly influence ADHD symptoms, including attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity disorder (all p < 0.05); allergic rhinitis notably impacts parasomnias, sleep disordered breathing (all p < 0.05); and allergic asthma significantly affects sleep anxiety, daytime sleepiness, and sleep disordered breathing in children with ADHD (all p < 0.05). The presence of comorbid allergic diseases affects both the hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms of ADHD and sleep disordered breathing, predominantly influenced by the type of the allergic diseases.

The Effect of Contralateral Routing of Signal Devices on the Quality of Life of Unilateral Cochlear Implant Recipients and Their Frequent Communication Partners.

Unilateral cochlear implant (CI) recipients with limited hearing in the contralateral ear are deprived of the advantages of binaural hearing. To address speech recognition challenges arising from the head shadow effect, a contralateral routing of signal (CROS) device can be used; however, less is known of the broader impact of a CROS device on an individual's quality of life (QoL) or that of their frequent communication partners (FCPs). This preliminary study aimed to evaluate the impact of CROS on speech recognition in noise and its influence on the QoL of unilateral CI recipients and their FCPs. This preliminary study enrolled seven adult unilateral CI recipients and their FCPs. All CI recipients were fitted with CROS devices during their initial appointments. Speech recognition testing was conducted in noise with and without the CROS device in a sound booth before a take-home trial. Participants used the CROS devices for approximately 1 year, with device fitting occurring before and continuing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants completed two QoL questionnaires, the Auditory Performance and Satisfaction Scale for Single-Sided Deafness (APS-SSD) and the Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire (NCIQ), twice: once prior to CROS device use and once after the take-home trial. Additionally, the FCPs of each CI recipient completed the Significant Other Scale of Hearing Disability (SOS-HEAR) Questionnaire twice, once before and once after extended CROS device use. When noise was directed toward the CI ear and speech toward the non-CI ear, speech recognition improved by 32% with the CROS device (p = .001). CI recipients reported significant median improvement in the "general" domain of the APS-SSD after the take-home trial (Wilcoxon Z = 12.0, p < .05). FCPs reported a significant median reduction in concerns related to their partner's hearing when the CI recipient used the CROS device (Wilcoxon Z = 2.0, p < .05). This preliminary study demonstrates the benefit of CROS devices for unilateral CI recipients in noisy environments. Additionally, it highlights the positive impact of CROS devices on the QoL of both CI recipients and their FCPs. These findings emphasize the importance of considering CROS devices as a valuable solution for unilateral CI recipients to enhance their hearing experience, overall well-being, and that of their FCPs.

Long-Term Auditory and Speech Outcomes of Cochlear Implantation in Children with IP-I Malformation.

This study aimed to investigate the long-term auditory and speech outcomes in children with Incomplete Partition Type I (IP-I) who underwent cochlear implantation (CI) and compared their progress to implanted children with normal cochlea. This study tracked 17 children with IP-Ι for an average of 3.5 years post-implantation. A control group with normal cochlea was also tracked. Regular assessments, including aided hearing threshold, categories of auditory performance (CAP), and speech intelligibility rating (SIR), were conducted every 6 months for the first 2 years post-CI and annually thereafter. Speech recognition was tested for children who could cooperate with it. The aided hearing threshold of IP-I children had improved significantly from 90.51 dB HL before CI to 47.02 dB HL in the sixth-month post-CI, and it had further improved to 26.27 dB HL after more than 48 months post-CI. Meanwhile, their median CAP scores had improved from 0 to 6.5 and median SIR scores from 1 to 4 over the same period. There was no significant difference in the improvement of mean aided hearing thresholds over time between the IP-I and control groups postoperation. However, IP-I children showed slower progress in CAP and SIR scores and had lower recognition rates for monosyllabic and disyllabic words compared with the control group. Children with IP-Ι showed continuous but slower improvement in auditory and speech capabilities post-CI compared to those with normal cochlea. Their speech recognition ability was also inferior. III Laryngoscope, 2025.

Audiologic Outcomes After Cochlear Implantation in Prelingually Deaf Children Who Have Combined Anomalies or Disabilities.

To evaluate the audiologic outcomes after cochlear implantation (CI) in prelingually deaf children with comorbid disorders. Retrospective study. Tertiary care academic center. We enrolled 85 deaf children (111 ears) with comorbid disorders who underwent CI surgery. We selected the most common comorbid disorder and compared the categories of auditory performance (CAP) scores of each comorbidity group with those of the control group. Combined cochlear anomalies were also evaluated using temporal bone computed tomography. The most common comorbid disorder was CHARGE syndrome (n = 17), followed by developmental delay (n = 13), valvular heart disease (including septal defect) (n = 13), Waardenburg syndrome (n = 8), Down syndrome (n = 6), cerebral palsy (n = 5), and cryptorchidism (n = 5). The CAP scores differed significantly between all the groups and the control group after 6 months (p < 0.001). The differences in the CHARGE syndrome (p = 0.004), cerebral palsy (p = 0.001), and Down syndrome (p = 0.004) groups remained significant 2 years after CI. When comparing the presence or absence of anomalies within the syndromic and nonsyndromic groups, significantly poorer outcomes exist when cochlear anomalies with absent modiolus or cochlear nerve deficits were observed, regardless of the presence of syndromic disorders. Compared with those in the control group, the CAP scores in the group with coexisting disabilities increased over time, but their final scores were relatively lower. Combined disabilities as well as the absent modiolus and cochlear nerve deficit may be clinical markers for poor CAP scores.

The impact of using FM systems on phonemic awareness in children with central auditory processing disorders (APD).

&lt;b&gt;Introduction:&lt;/b&gt; Central auditory processing disorders (APD) in a neuropsychological context refer to difficulties in recognizing, interpreting, and processing sound information by the brain. They can manifest as difficulties in speech comprehension, sound localization, sound memory, or difficulties in sound analysis.&lt;b&gt;Aim:&lt;/b&gt; To present the impact of using FM systems on phonemic awareness in children with APD.&lt;b&gt;Materials and methods:&lt;/b&gt; The 120 patients (aged 8 to 9 years) were divided into equal 30-member randomized groups, with half of them being boys and the other half being girls. In Group I, an FM system was administered to both ears; in Group II - to the right ear; in Group III - to the left ear; and in Group IV (control group) the FM system was not implemented.&lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; In each of the studied groups where FM systems were utilized, an improvement in phonemic hearing was noted after two weeks of using the FM system. After 12-13 months, the group of patients wearing the FM system unilaterally on the right ear achieved the greatest improvement in perceiving phonemic oppositions.&lt;b&gt;Discussion:&lt;/b&gt; The use of FM systems in school settings enhances a child's functioning in the classroom, allowing for better understanding and processing of information presented during lessons. It may not be necessary to use two FM receivers to benefit from improvements in auditory memory performance.&lt;b&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/b&gt; The incorporation of FM systems along with other elements of comprehensive therapies that patients with APD should receive offers hope for effective rehabilitation for children with APD, enabling them to no longer be unjustly perceived as less capable, inattentive, distracted, or lazy.

Evaluation of a personalized auditory-cognitive training on the improvement of speech understanding in noise in cochlear implanted patients

Objective The cochlear implant is a commonly used implantable device for the auditory rehabilitation of severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The effectiveness of the implant, depends on many factors, including intensive auditory training, which is crucial. Intelligibility in a noisy environment is a current issue and poses a major difficulty for implanted patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the improvement in auditory performance in noise among cochlear implant patients who underwent personalized auditory-cognitive training for speech understanding tasks in noise. Design This was a prospective study involving cochlear implanted patients divided into two groups. One group underwent auditory training in a noisy environment at home for 2 months (G1) while the other group served as a control (G0). A test of intelligibility performance in noise was conducted at inclusion and two months later. Results 52 patients were included in the study. The trained group, G1, showed a significant improvement with an increase of 4.8 dB in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) between the two tests (P < 0.01). There was no significant improvement in the control group (G0) (P = 0.756). Conclusions This study demonstrated a significantly positive impact of personalized auditory training in a noisy environment for cochlear implant patients.

Exploring the Hearing Improvement and Parental Stress in Children with Hearing Loss Using Hearing Aids or Cochlear Implants

Objectives: This study aims to describe the stress levels experienced by parents of children with hearing loss who use conventional hearing aids or cochlear implants, and to assess the correlation between parental stress and the auditory skills acquired by the children. Methods: The study was conducted at the Policlinic “Gaetano Martino” in Messina, evaluating data from 42 pairs of parents of children using hearing aids or cochlear implants. Parents completed the LittlEARS Auditory Questionnaire (LEAQ) and the Parental Stress Scale (PSS) 18 months after the initial device (hearing aid or cochlear implant) had been activated. Additionally, information was collected regarding the presence of peripartum issues (including preterm birth) or associated conditions, congenital hearing loss, the total number of children in the family, and the number of children with hearing loss in the family. Results: Significant differences were found in the months to effective stimulation (p = 0.026), the age of the children at the time of the survey (p = 0.024) and the PSS score (p = 0.029). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression revealed significant correlations between LEAQ scores and both the months to effective stimulation and the age of the children at the time of the survey; univariate and multivariate linear regression revealed significant correlations between PSS scores and the type of device, months to effective stimulation, age of the children at the time of the survey, peripartum issues, and the number of children. A Spearman correlation showed a positive relationship between LEAQ and age of the children at the time of the survey, and a negative correlation between the PSS scores and the age of the children at the time of the survey. Conclusions: Parents of children with cochlear implants reported higher stress levels than those with children using hearing aids, although auditory performance was comparable between groups. Improved auditory performance was associated with reduced parental stress. The PSS and LEAQ are effective tools used in clinical practice for assessing parental stress and tracking auditory recovery, respectively.

Auditory brainstem response thresholds and functional hearing: implications for cochlear implant candidacy.

This study assessed the relevance of auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds in evaluating cochlear implantation (CI) candidacy by studying their correlation with functional hearing in patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). In this retrospective study, we examined correlations between ABR thresholds, speech perception scores in quiet and pure-tone audiometry in 191 adults. We compared these correlations between individuals with different degrees of SNHL to discern differences in potential CI candidates and individual with less severe SNHL. A significant negative correlation was found between ABR thresholds and unaided speech perception scores at 70 dB SPL (R = -0.397, Pcorr<0.0001). For patients scoring 50% or higher on speech audiometry, a significant correlation was observed (R = -0.604, Pcorr<0.004), but not for those scoring less than 50% (R = -0.168, Pcorr=0.084). In the subgroup with ABR thresholds better than 60 dB nHL, a moderate correlation was observed (R = -0.575, Pcorr = 0.032), which was not significant in patients with ABR thresholds of 60 dB nHL or worse (R = -0.175, Pcorr = 0.084). In patients with severe hearing loss (speech perception <50% or ABR thresholds ≥60 dB nHL), the ABR threshold does not correlate with speech perception, limiting its clinical validity for functional auditory performance or CI candidacy evaluation.

Reliability of connectivity for the assessment of hearing perception in cochlear implant recipients

Objective The cochlear implant (CI) is the gold standard treatment for profound hearing loss with insufficient hearing aid benefit. Using regular words and sentences as verbal stimuli showed a ceiling effect in patients with optimal perceptual abilities. The objectives of the study were: (1) to evaluate the reliability of auditory perception through connectivity, comparing it to the regular audiometry in soundbooth and (2) to analyse the use of logatomes to better assess the perceptual abilities of high-performing patients. Design and study sample Cross sectional analytic study Study sample A total of 32 CI patients with high auditory performances underwent pure-tone and speech audiometry in two methods: (1) in an audiometric booth and (2) via direct streaming to the processor using a connectivity system. Correlation and concordance analyses were performed. Results Pure-tone audiometry showed a low correlation between the two methods. Speech audiometry revealed a high correlation at 30 dB HL but a low concordance between the two instruments. The evaluation through connectivity showed better results in pure-tone and speech audiometry than those of regular audiometry in soundbooth. The use of logatomes was useful for discriminating patients with better performances. Conclusions Connectivity might be considered a useful additional method to assess the performance of CI recipients.

The impact of cochlear implants on speech and language outcomes in pre-lingually deafened Arabic-speaking children: a systematic review.

Cochlear implants have been proven to improve speech and language in children with severe-to-profound hearing loss. This review examines speech and language outcomes in prelingual Arabic-speaking children using cochlear implants. A systematic search for articles was performed in PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) using search strings developed from topic keywords. The initial search identified 247 articles from the databases, but only 8 studies were included in the review. Auditory performance was found to improve, particularly sound and speech detection, as observed in the post-implantation assessments. Speech perception improved with an increased ability to discriminate speech sounds and comprehend conversations without lip-reading. Moreover, word recognition and auditory integration improved as well as speech production skills in terms of vocabulary use, consonant articulation, and word combinations. Likewise, speech intelligibility results were positive, with several children showing better speech intelligibility post-cochlear implantation. Following CI, auditory skills, speech perception, speech production, listening skills, and speech intelligibility improved. Cochlear implants are a promising solution to reduce the effects of hearing loss in this population.

Hearing implants in pediatrics with cochlear nerve deficiency: an updated systematic review.

Cochlear nerve deficiency (CND) accounts for about one-third of congenital hearing loss cases and presents several challenges during management. Currently, cochlear implant (CI) and auditory brainstem implants (ABI) represent the primary management options for CND. However, robust evidence on the outcomes of different CND management approaches remains limited. Therefore, this systematic review seeks to update and assess the effectiveness of various CND management approaches. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CENTRAL databases. We conducted an online bibliographic search across these databases. We included both interventional and observational studies evaluating CND management outcomes. Of the 25 studies included, there were retrospective chart reviews, prospective observational studies, and one phase I clinical trial. Most studies focused on children with cochlear nerve aplasia or hypoplasia, with one study including patients with CHARGE syndrome. The mean age at the time of operation ranged from 0.5 to 4.5 years. Tools like the categories of auditory performance (CAP), speech intelligibility rating (SIR), and speech perception category (SPC) were commonly employed. CI outcomes were reported in 17 studies, while ABI outcomes were reported in 4 studies. The study found that the outcomes of both interventions were variable across the included studies. While CI is feasible and an option in children with CND, its overall effectiveness is limited in some cases like cochlear nerve aplasia. Conversely, ABI appears to be a promising alternative with better auditory, speech, and learning outcomes.

Study of the behavior of TORP middle ear prostheses of various lengths by the finite element method

Advancements in audiology and medical engineering have sparked growing interest in enhancing titanium implants used for middle ear repair. In our study, we employed a numerical simulation model of the middle ear to investigate how the TORP prosthesis behaves under an acoustic pressure of 90 dB across a frequency range from 250 to 8000 Hz. Additionally, we varied the prosthesis length, utilizing three different lengths, and modified the prosthesis design to assess its mechanical impact. Our findings indicate that changes in prosthesis length do not significantly alter outcomes for patients. Moreover, these variations do not pose any danger or compromise the auditory performance of patients, emphasizing the safety and efficacy of TORP prostheses in middle ear repair.

Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status and Basic Auditory Processing in Young Adults.

The current study aimed at investigating the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and basic auditory processing in young adults with normal hearing. Specifically, we sought to determine whether SES metrics, including parental education, parental occupation, and individual education attainment, influenced performance on tasks of basic auditory processing. Secondarily, we also aimed at understanding the interactive effects of SES and working memory on basic auditory processing. A total of 38 young adults were included in the study. Self-reported SES measures were recorded through Likert scales, and auditory processing measures included tests for temporal fine structure (TFS) and spectrotemporal sensitivity (STS). Pearson correlation analyses were conducted to probe the relationships between SES indicators and auditory processing performance. Multiple linear regressions were conducted to understand the interactive effects of SES and working memory on auditory processing performance. The analysis revealed no significant correlation between SES measures and basic auditory processing performance across TFS and STS tasks. Furthermore, analysis investigating the interaction between SES and working memory also yielded nonsignificant results. These findings indicate that, within this specific age cohort, SES information may not be indispensable for assessing basic auditory processing. Our study suggests that SES may not significantly influence basic auditory processing in young adults with normal hearing. However, further research with larger sample sizes and longitudinal designs is warranted to confirm these findings and explore potential age-related differences in the impact of SES on auditory processing across the lifespan.

Investigating the relationship between manual dexterity and auditory spatial processing

BackgroundManual dexterity, referring to fine motor skills and hand–eye coordination, has been suggested to influence various cognitive processes, including attention. Attention has been shown to be strongly related to auditory spatial processing, which primarily involves the perception and interpretation of sound locations in the environment. This study aimed to investigate the potential association between manual dexterity and auditory spatial processing abilities.MethodA total of 30 participants, aged 19–25 years (mean age: 22.06 ± 1.85 years), were assessed for handedness using the Edinburgh Handedness Questionnaire (EHQ). They were divided into 2 groups: 15 right-handed (RH) and 15 left-handed (LH) individuals based on their EHQ scores. The virtual auditory space identification (VASI) test was administered for the assessment of auditory spatial skills. It consists of presenting a series of virtually presented sounds from 8 azimuths (0°, R45°, R90°, R135°, 180°, L90°, L135°, and L45°) randomly through TDH HDA 200 headphones. Correct responses and biased responses along with their corresponding reaction times were calculated.ResultsResults revealed that although the RH group displayed a slightly stronger leftward bias in both degrees of error and reaction compared to the LH group and vice-versa, these differences were not statistically significant.ConclusionThe study concluded that there is little to no association between handedness and an individual’s auditory spatial ability. The absence of a significant difference in auditory spatial performance between RH and LH individuals may contribute to more inclusive and equitable approaches in fields where auditory spatial abilities are important.Trial registrationSH/IRB/RP/08. Registered 12 January 2023.

Measuring Speech Intelligibility with Romanian Synthetic Unpredictable Sentences in Normal Hearing.

Understanding speech in background noise is a challenging task for listeners with normal hearing and even more so for individuals with hearing impairments. The primary objective of this study was to develop Romanian speech material in noise to assess speech perception in diverse auditory populations, including individuals with normal hearing and those with various types of hearing loss. The goal was to create a versatile tool that can be used in different configurations and expanded for future studies examining auditory performance across various populations and rehabilitation methods. This study outlines the development of Romanian speech material for speech-in-noise testing, initially presented to normal-hearing listeners to establish baseline data. The material consisted of unpredictable sentences, each with a fixed syntactic structure, generated using speech synthesis from all Romanian phonemes. A total of 50 words were selected and organized into 15 lists, each containing 10 sentences, with five words per sentence. Two evaluation methods were applied in two sessions to 20 normal-hearing volunteers. The first method was an adaptive speech-in-noise recognition test designed to assess the speech recognition threshold (SRT) by adjusting the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) based on individual performance. The intelligibility of the lists was further assessed at the sentence level to evaluate the training effect. The second method was used to obtain normative data for the SRT, defined as the SNR at which a subject correctly recognizes 50% of the speech material, as well as for the slope, which refers to the steepness of the psychometric function derived from threshold recognition scores measured at three fixed SNRs (-10 dB, -7 dB, and -4 dB) during the measurement phase. The adaptive method showed that the training effect was established after two lists and remained consistent across both sessions. During the measurement phase, the fixed SNR method yielded a mean SRT50 of -7.38 dB with a slope of 11.39%. These results provide reliable and comparable data, supporting the validity of the material for both general population testing and future clinical applications. This study demonstrates that the newly developed Romanian speech material is effective for evaluating speech recognition abilities in noise. The training phase successfully mitigated initial unfamiliarity with the material, ensuring that the results reflect realistic auditory performance. The obtained SRT and slope values provide valuable normative data for future auditory assessments. Due to its flexible design, the material can be further developed and extended to accommodate various auditory rehabilitation methods and diverse populations in future studies.

Investigating the efficacy of ergothioneine to delay cognitive decline in mild cognitively impaired subjects: A pilot study.

Dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease, is a major healthcare challenge in ageing societies. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of a dietary compound, ergothioneine, in delaying cognitive decline in older individuals. Nineteen subjects aged 60 or above with mild cognitive impairment were recruited for this double-blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03641404, registration date: 19/08/2018). Subjects received either ergothioneine (25 mg per capsule) or a placebo, taken 3 times a week for one year. The whole blood profile, markers of renal and liver functions, neurocognitive performance, plasma levels of ergothioneine and its metabolites, and plasma biomarkers related to neurodegeneration were measured across the study. Ergothioneine intake did not alter clinical safety markers (blood counts, kidney and liver function) throughout the study, further validating its safety for human consumption. Subjects receiving ergothioneine demonstrated improved performance in assessment of learning ability and stabilized plasma levels of neurofilament light chain, compared with the placebo group, which saw no improvement in cognitive assessments and a significant increase in neurofilament light chain levels. Prolonged intake of ergothioneine showed no toxicity in elderly people. Enhanced Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test performance and stabilized neurofilament light chain levels suggest improvements in memory and learning abilities and a deceleration of neuronal damage, respectively. Our results add to existing data that ergothioneine is safe for extended consumption and may hold the potential to delay cognitive decline in elderly adults.

Audiological performance and subjective satisfaction of the ADHEAR system in experienced pediatric users with unilateral microtia and aural atresia.

Despite the reported auditory deficits and developmental challenges in children with unilateral microtia and aural atresia (UMAA), there remains a lack of consensus on early intervention with bone conduction hearing aids (BCHAs) to restore binaural hearing due to the uncertain clinical benefits and intolerability of the conventional devices. Previous studies investigating the auditory benefits under binaural hearing condition were limited and demonstrated controversial opinions in heterogenous patient groups with various devices. Our study aimed to evaluate the audiological performance, including monoaural and binaural hearing, and subjective satisfaction of the ADHEAR system, a novel adhesive BCHA, in experienced pediatric users with UMAA. Twelve children, with a mean age of 9.08 years and previous experience using the ADHEAR system averaging 2.76 years, were included in our final analysis. Auditory performance of monoaural hearing with the affected ears was assessed by sound-field audiometry, speech recognition threshold (SRT), word recognition score (WRS) in quiet and noise. Auditory performance of binaural hearing was assessed by SRT in quiet and noise, along with a virtual sound localization test. Subjective satisfaction was measured with questionnaires. Monoaural hearing of the affected ears improved in sound-field audiometry (by 18.44dB HL), SRT (by 17.08dB HL) and WRS (by 27.00% in quiet and 30.50% in noise). Binaural hearing improved in SRT in quiet (by 1.17dB HL), remained no significant difference in noise and enhanced in sound localization test (reduction of RMS error by 5.96°). The questionnaires indicate satisfying experiences despite skin reactions encountered. In children with UMAA under long-term and routine use of the ADHEAR system reveals not only enhancement of audiological performance in the affected ears but also demonstrates potential benefits in speech recognition and sound localization under binaural hearing condition. Users generally expressed satisfaction with the device, while skin reaction is more noticeable in humid subtropical climate.

Investigating Adult Learners’ Perceptual and Phonolexical Representations of Novel Phonological Contrasts

Previous studies have shown that language learners’ auditory word recognition behavior provides evidence for independent contributions of perceptual and phonolexical representations, and learners’ patterns of auditory word recognition have been characterized as resulting from “fuzziness” or “imprecision” associated with these representations. More recently, it has been argued that representational “fuzziness” may in fact take various forms (e.g., neutralized, precise, ambiguous). The purpose of the present study is to further build on this line of work by elaborating additional logically possible scenarios by crossing larger sets of logically possible types of perceptual and phonolexical representational precision/imprecision, as an exercise in exploring the empirical and theoretical implications of our characterizations of representational fuzziness in language learners. We collect new empirical data for the purpose of demonstrating how we might evaluate auditory word recognition performance relative to this fuller set of predicted scenarios. We computed the set of hypothesized scenarios by crossing possible perceptual and lexical representations. We crossed four possible perceptual representations (NeutralizedC + NeutralizedV, NeutralizedC + PreciseV, PreciseC + NeutralizedV, or PreciseC + PreciseV) and six possible phonolexical representations (Neutralized, Ambiguous, Not X, Precise, Fuzzy Word, or Word Length), for a total of 24 scenarios, each accompanied by a set of predictions with respect to accuracy on an auditory word–picture matching test. We interpret the group and individual performance relative to these scenarios with the ultimate aim of better understanding the implications of our assumptions about the nature of perceptual and phonolexical representations relative to observed patterns of learner behavior. Our hope is that in computing this factorial typology of logically possible scenarios and demonstrating a starting point for how we might empirically evaluate its predictions, we set the stage for future research to refine the hypothesis space through empirical studies of auditory word processing in language learners.

Evaluation of the Peripheral and Central Auditory Systems in Children and Adolescents Before and After COVID-19 Infection.

This study aimed to investigate the impacts of COVID-19 on the peripheral and central auditory systems of children and adolescents following the acute COVID-19 phase based on behavioral, electroacoustic, and electrophysiological audiological assessments. This is a primary, prospective, observational, and cross-sectional study of 23 children aged 8 to 15 years who acquired confirmed COVID-19 and who, before infection, had not had any auditory complaints or school complications. The results were compared with pre-pandemic data collected from a similar group of 23 children who had normal peripheral and central hearing and good school performance. Each participant answered a questionnaire about child development, school, and health history and underwent tests including pure-tone audiometry and high-frequency audiometry, imitanciometry, transient evoked otoacoustic emissions, and distortion product otoacoustic emissions. They also received tests of Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials, Long Latency Auditory Evoked Potentials, Dichotic Digits Test, Sentence Identification Test, Dichotic Consonant-Vowel Test, Frequency Pattern Test, and Gaps-In-Noise Test. Significant differences were observed between the groups, with the study group showing worse thresholds compared to the control group at both standard audiometric frequencies and at higher frequencies, although both groups were still within normal limits (p ≤ 0.05). In addition, the study group had a higher prevalence of absent responses, as identified by otoacoustic emissions and acoustic reflexes. In terms of central auditory performance, the study group showed ABRs with significantly longer latencies of waves I, III, and V compared to the control group. The study group also performed less well on the Dichotic Digits and Pediatric Speech Identification tests. COVID-19 appears to alter the auditory system, both peripherally at the level of the outer hair cells and more centrally.