Hearing Aids Research Articles

Age-related hearing loss and "hearables": An agenda for moral considerations.

Rapid advances in digital hearing technologies, also known as hearables, are expected to disrupt the direct-to-consumer health market. For older adults with higher incidence of hearing loss, such disruption could reduce hearing problems, increase accessibility to hearing aids, and mitigate related stigmas. This paper delves into the intersection of disruptive innovation and hearables within the realm of biomedical ethics. Through a comprehensive exploration, we shed light on the ethical implications surrounding hearables. By critically evaluating the key ethical advantages and drawbacks, we find that no single concern presents an insurmountable a priori objection to hearables. We conclude with some ideas to maximize the benefits of hearables and further promote opportunities for equitable hearing health.

Preparation and characterization of neural stem cell-loaded conductive hydrogel cochlear implant electrode coatings

Sensorineural deafness is a hearing impairment resulting from damage to the auditory nerve or inner ear hair cells. Currently, cochlear implants (CIs) are widely used as hearing aids for sensorineural deafness patients. A fundamental limitation of cochlear implants (CIs) is that spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) cannot be replenished. This greatly restricts the rehabilitation of sensorineural deafness. Additionally, the insertion of CIs can cause secondary cochlear damage, worsening the condition of the patients' cochlear. Therefore, a new type of neural stem cells (NSCs) loaded graphene oxide-polyaniline/GelMA (GO-PAni/GelMA) conductive hydrogel electrode for cochlear implant was fabricated via in-situ radical polymerization and cyclic UV curing technique. On the one hand, the hydrogel electrode, as a direct contact layer, helps to avoid the physical hurt for cochlear. On the other hand, NSCs were supplemented via the hydrogel carrier and neuronal differentiation was induced by electrical stimulation, which was validated by the experimental results of immunofluorescence, Phalloidin Staining and RT-qPCR. Furthermore, based on RNA sequencing and transcriptome analysis, we hypothesized that the neuronal differentiation of NSCs was adjusted by the calcium signaling pathway and GABAergic synapse. Overall, our cell loading conductive hydrogel electrode may be an effective solution to sensorineural deafness. The revelation of the mechanism of neuronal differentiation promoted by electrical stimulation provides a basis for further sensorineural deafness treatment using conductive hydrogel CI electrode.

Predicting the intelligibility of Mandarin Chinese with manipulated and intact tonal information for normal-hearing listeners.

Objective indices for predicting speech intelligibility offer a quick and convenient alternative to behavioral measures of speech intelligibility. However, most such indices are designed for a specific language, such as English, and they do not take adequate account of tonal information in speech when applied to languages like Mandarin Chinese (hereafter called Mandarin) for which the patterns of fundamental frequency (F0) variation play an important role in distinguishing speech sounds with similar phonetic content. To address this, two experiments with normal-hearing listeners were conducted examining: (1) The impact of manipulations of tonal information on the intelligibility of Mandarin sentences presented in speech-shaped noise (SSN) at several signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs); (2) The intelligibility of Mandarin sentences with intact tonal information presented in SSN, pink noise, and babble at several SNRs. The outcomes were not correctly predicted by the Hearing Aid Speech Perception Index (HASPI-V1). A new intelligibility metric was developed that used one acoustic feature from HASPI-V1 plus Hilbert time envelope and temporal fine structure information from multiple frequency bands. For the new metric, the Pearson correlation between obtained and predicted intelligibility was 0.923 and the root mean square error was 0.119. The new metric provides a potential tool for evaluating Mandarin intelligibility.

The Role of Hearing Aids in Improving Dual-Task Gait Performance in Older Adults With Presbycusis: A Cognitive and Motor Analysis.

Cognitive decline is a common challenge faced by older individuals with presbycusis; their performance on dual-task (DT) activities is generally lower compared to those without hearing loss. However, the influence of hearing aids on nonauditory cognitive decline in this population remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the effect of hearing aids on nonauditory DT performance in older adults with presbycusis. This study included older people with presbycusis who used hearing aids (P&HA group), those with presbycusis who did not use hearing aids (PoHA group), and a control group of healthy adults. Forward and backward digit span tests and timed up and go test (TUG) were administered to all individuals. TUG and motor and cognitive (forward and backward digit span) tasks were applied simultaneously to evaluate the participants' DT performance. The study comprised 60 individuals with presbycusis (19 females, 41 males; mean age: 73.23±6.49years) and 30 healthy adults (15 females, 15 males; mean age: 35.93±8.57years). Healthy adults performed better than the P&HA and PoHA groups in all the administered tests (p<0.05). There was a moderate negative relationship between the severity of hearing loss and the forward and backward digit span test performances (p<0.05). The P&HA group performed better than the PoHA group on the DT cognitive forward and backward digit span tests. The use of hearing aids and their proper fitting are important not only for improving communication skills and reducing listening effort but also for supporting nonauditory cognitive functions, minimizing the risk of falls during DT activities, and enhancing the overall quality of life.

Over the counter hearing aids self-fitting using the Gaussian Process Classification

IntroductionTo provide better access to hearing aids and lower the devices' costs for patients with mild to moderate hearing loss, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changed its rules for hearing aid distribution, making them available to consumers over-the-counter without the supervision, involvement, or prescription of a licensed health care professional. While this regulation provides some patients direct access to hearing aids, the hearing aid fitting creates challenges for the patients and the hearing aid providers. OTC hearing aids should be programmable outside of a clinical setting. This study demonstrates that the self-fitting of hearing aids does not differ significantly from and is non-inferior to the fitting of the device by a licensed audiologist.MethodHearing aid and patient performance after fitting the device by the patient (self-fitting) and a certified audiologist (clinical fitting) were compared in a laboratory setting and a field trial. The laboratory session used a repeated-measures design to assess the reliability and validity of the self-fitting method. A 7–14 days of wear time was used for the field study. The outcome measures for the laboratory session were the differences in acoustical real-ear aided response (REAR). For the wear-time trial, the outcome was the clinical self-report measure of benefit (Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit, APHAB). The benefit of the hearing aid was tested after the self-fitting and the clinical fitting of the hearing aid with a speech-in-noise test (QucikSIN).ResultsThe test outcomes showed no statistically significant differences between repeated self-fitting and clinical fitting of the hearing aids. The hearing aid self-fitting was non-inferior to the clinical fitting.DiscussionIt is important to emphasize that the results and conclusion obtained in this study strictly relate to the specific self-fitting process using the Gaussian Process. Many other potential methods for fitting hearing aids exist and future field studies are required to compare the efficacy of the self-fitting methods.

Adaptation of the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) in Hindi

PurposeThe specific objectives of this study were as follows: (1) to translate and adapt the English version of the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) into Hindi, (2) to present data obtained from the hearing aid users, (3) and to investigate the effect of different factors on effective hearing aid use using the Hindi version of the IOI-HA.MethodThe English version of IOI-HA was translated to Hindi by three native Hindi speakers who were proficient in both Hindi and English and had Hindi as their first language. The Hindi version of IOI-HA along with a demographic questionnaire was given to 100 experienced hearing aid users who were literate and more than 18 years of age.ResultsThe findings indicated 53% of individuals utilize their hearing aids for over 8 h daily, while 46% use them for 4 to 8 h a day. A greater number of participants experienced benefits from wearing their hearing aids, suggesting their overall effectiveness for users. Also, 64% of people said their HA was fulfilling their expectations. Sixty-seven percent of participants said life has become quite a lot better with HA usage. The results revealed that age, gender, and type of hearing loss showed no significant association with any test item.ConclusionThe Hindi version of the IOI-HA has proven to be a valuable self-assessment tool for hearing aid users. It aids clinicians and audiological practitioners in comprehending the challenges faced by users and can offer guidance for counseling and assessing the benefits derived from hearing aids.

International survey of bimodal hearing and bilateral cochlear implant service provision for adults

Objectives As cochlear implant (CI) criteria widen, more candidates with usable residual hearing are being considered for a CI. Unlike children, adults mostly receive only one implant. The aim of this survey was to determine bimodal-hearing and bilateral CI service provision for adults around the world. This survey offers the backdrop against which future clinical practice and service delivery can be considered. Methods CI professionals from across the world were invited to participate in an international multicentre survey. The online questionnaire was circulated to CI professionals in 75 countries. There were 64 respondents, representing 25 countries across five world regions. Results In this sample, adult CI users most had unilateral CI (74.5%) and only 25.5% were bilateral CI users. Some 54% of unilateral CI users used a hearing aid (HA) in the non-implanted ear. Funding for a second implant or HA was not well supported for adult unilateral CI users, and there was no clear practice guidance for fitting and maintaining the contralateral HA in most regions. Conclusions CI professionals recognised the value of fitting contralateral HAs at CI services, with audiology departments and private HA dispensers playing an ongoing role in general maintenance and support.

Real and Virtual Lecture Rooms: Validation of a Virtual Reality System for the Perceptual Assessment of Room Acoustical Quality

Enhancing the acoustical quality in learning environments is necessary, especially for hearing aid (HA) users. When in-field evaluations cannot be performed, virtual reality (VR) can be adopted for acoustical quality assessments of existing and new buildings, contributing to the acquisition of subjective impressions in lab settings. To ensure an accurate spatial reproduction of the sound field in VR for HA users, multi-speaker-based systems can be employed to auralize a given environment. However, most systems require a lot of effort due to cost, size, and construction. This work deals with the validation of a VR-system based on a 16-speaker-array synced with a VR headset, arranged to be easily replicated in small non-anechoic spaces and suitable for HA users. Both objective and subjective validations are performed against a real university lecture room of 800 m3 and with 2.3 s of reverberation time at mid-frequencies. Comparisons of binaural and monoaural room acoustic parameters are performed between measurements in the real lecture room and its lab reproduction. To validate the audiovisual experience, 32 normal-hearing subjects were administered the Igroup Presence Questionnaire (IPQ) on the overall sense of perceived presence. The outcomes confirm that the system is a promising and feasible tool to predict the perceived acoustical quality of a room.

Combined Effect of Noise Reduction, FBS-Based Spectral Splitting, and Dynamic Range Compression of Speech Signal on Source Localization in Binaural Hearing Aids

Localizing sound sources in three spatial dimensions (azimuth, elevation, and distance) is critical for human hearing comfort. It relies on two binaural cues: interaural time difference (ITD) and interaural level difference (ILD). Cochlear or auditory nerve injury can result in sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Hearing aids enable people with sensorineural hearing loss to converse more effectively and hear better. However, there is an apprehension that the binaural hearing aids may degrade the localization cues, thus affecting the source localization. In response to this concern, the current study investigates how the binaural hearing aid algorithm affects source localization by adopting a cascaded structure of noise reduction technique (wiener filter) followed by filter bank summation (FBS) based spectral splitting and dynamic range compression for binaural dichotic presentation. Listening tests for seven different azimuth angles (-90⁰, -60⁰, -30⁰, 0⁰, 30⁰, 60⁰, and - 90⁰) were conducted on six listeners with normal hearing under different signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions as well as on six subjects with mild bilateral sensorineural hearing impairment. Test stimuli included background glass-breaking sound and broadband noise for participants with normal hearing. In an experiment with hearing-impaired subjects, the glass-breaking sound served as one of the test stimuli. The result showed that these binaural hearing aid algorithms had no adverse effects on localization ability.

Speech sound errors in adolescents with congenital hearing loss

Children with hearing impairment (HI) often have vowel and consonant errors. Speech-language pathologists need this information to correct articulation errors. Despite the prevalence of research on speech sound error patterns in hearing aid users, there is a lack of literature in the adolescent group. The present study aimed to investigate the common speech sound errors in HI adolescents from the Malayalam-speaking community who have severe to profound hearing loss and are digital hearing aid users. A total of 15 monolingual Malayalam-speaking children between the ages of 9 and 16 years were recruited who had been diagnosed with speech sound disorders secondary to congenital hearing impairment. The minimum language age for inclusion in the study was over three years. Articulatory error analysis was performed for all consonants and vowels of the Malayalam language, and frequently produced vowel and consonant errors were included in the SODA and PMV analyses. The consonants frequently produced speech sound errors and no vowel errors were found. The most commonly produced consonant errors were fricatives, trills, laterals, velars, and alveolars. Substitution and omission errors were the most common type of error. Place and manner errors were more common than other types of errors. The results of this study may help parents and rehabilitation professionals to understand the common errors that persist even after intensive intervention. It may also be a useful guide for AAC therapists and speech-language pathologists in setting appropriate speech production goals for adolescents with HI.

Intersecting Pathways: Understanding Dementia, Hearing Loss, and Health Disparities

Abstract Background Dementia is a major public health concern, affecting care dependency and disability in older ages. In Europe, around 14.1 million people live with dementia, a number that is expected to increase to 15.9 million by 2040. Hearing loss (HL), followed by education, has been proposed as the most important modifiable risk factor for dementia. This study aims to investigate how sex, educational attainment and HL intersect to influence dementia-free life expectancy (DemFLE) in older adults. Methods Using population register data covering all Finnish residents aged 50 years or older from 2010 to 2019, we apply discrete-time multistate Markov models. Transition probabilities between states, such as HL and dementia, are estimated with multinomial logit models stratified by sex and education. Multistate life tables are used to compute sex- and education-specific DemFLE. Results We identified 316,361 individuals with a diagnosis of dementia and 317,115 individuals with a diagnosis of HL, representing 1,449,873 and 2,738,970 person-years respectively. 14% of individuals with HL were eventually diagnosed with dementia, compared to only 8% of individuals without HL. We hypothesise that DemFLE will vary significantly by sex and education, with additional modulation by the presence of HL. Specifically, we expect that the presence of HL will further reduce DemFLE, and that the magnitude of this reduction will be relatively greater among those with lower educational attainment. Conclusions This study contributes to the emerging literature on the impact of hearing loss on dementia. While both dementia and hearing loss are irreversible health conditions, hearing loss can be managed by hearing aids. If we find evidence that hearing loss is associated with different levels of risk of dementia by educational attainment, it would suggest avenues for effective interventions and public health policies to ensure more equal ageing processes in the population. Key messages • Hearing loss may intersect with education and sex in the risk of dementia, providing evidence for the importance of addressing hearing health inequalities in dementia prevention efforts. • Understanding the interactions between hearing loss, education and sex can inform policies to promote healthy ageing and reduce the burden of dementia on individuals and health systems.

A Retrospective Study of the Adverse Events Associated With Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids in the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) Database

A Retrospective Study of the Adverse Events Associated With Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids in the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) Database

Exploring adult hearing aid user experiences: meaning extraction methods, content patterns, and associations with demographic and outcome variables

Objective Employing automated language analysis, specifically Meaning Extraction Method (MEM) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), to identify key factors in open-text responses about hearing aid experiences. Design Exploratory, cross-sectional design, using an online questionnaire. Responses to a single open-ended question were analysed using MEM, PCA, regression, and correlation analyses. Study sample Participants (n = 538) included adult hearing aid users sampled from the Hearing Tracker website community and Lexie Hearing user databases in the United States. Results The MEM-derived items revealed six factors related to hearing aid experiences: (1) life change, (2) social situation, (3) quality of life, (4) impact and speech understanding, (5) communication and interaction, and (6) music and environmental sounds. IOI-HA item 3 had the most statistically significant correlations with PCA factors. Quantile regression revealed that factors one and two significantly predicted the IOI-HA total score. Positive correlations were observed between self-reported hearing difficulty and factors one, four, and five, as well as between factor one and general health and factor two and physical activity. Conclusion Natural language analysis of open-ended textual responses can offer valuable insights into hearing aid users’ experiences. Future studies should aim to refine this methodology to enhance clinical relevance and generalisability.

Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Versus Traditional Hearing Aids in Patients With Mild-to-Moderate Hearing Loss: Protocol for a Noninferiority Randomized Controlled Trial.

With the aging of society, the prevalence of hearing loss (HL) is increasing. Currently, approximately 5% of the global population has HL, and this number is projected to reach 7 million by 2050. Although hearing aids (HAs) are the primary treatment for HL, their use is limited by barriers such as high costs and social stigma. To address these limitations, over-the-counter (OTC) HAs have been introduced, but their effectiveness and drawbacks require further investigation. This study aims to conduct a noninferiority randomized controlled trial comparing OTC HAs with traditional HAs to assess the clinical effectiveness of OTC HAs. We designed a noninferiority randomized controlled trial comparing OTC HAs and traditional HAs in adults with mild-to-moderate HL. A total of 64 participants (32 per group) will be recruited. Randomization will be performed using block randomization (block sizes of 2 or 4) with an equal allocation ratio. The study will include 2 types of HAs: an OTC HA (Jabra Enhance Pro) and a traditional HA (LiNX Quattro LE561-DRW) by GN ReSound A/S. OTC HAs will be self-fitted using a smartphone app, while traditional HAs will be fitted by a licensed audiologist using the National Acoustics Laboratories-Non-Linear Prescription, second generation. Assessments, including functional gain, real-ear measurement, speech audiometry, and questionnaires, will be conducted at 6-month intervals over the course of 3 visits. Statistical analysis will compare the 2 outcomes, focusing on functional gain, to determine noninferiority. This study is scheduled to begin in August 2024 and has not yet recruited any participants. The study will be conducted over 2 years, from August 2024 to July 2026. Each participant will have 2 follow-up visits at 6-month intervals, making the total follow-up period 1 year. Since 2022, the introduction of OTC HAs has revolutionized access to these devices. Researchers, clinicians, and the general public are keen to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of OTC HAs, as more individuals will likely use them for HL. This increased usage will provide valuable real-world data to understand the benefits and limitations of OTC HAs. Monitoring the outcomes and user feedback will provide insights into their effectiveness and impact on hearing rehabilitation. PRR1-10.2196/59894.

Risk factors for treatment-related sensorineural hearing loss and hearing aid use in medulloblastoma patients: an observational cohort study.

This study aimed to analyze treatment-related risk factors for sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and an indication for hearing aids (IHA) in medulloblastoma patients after craniospinal radiotherapy (CSRT) and platin-based chemotherapy (PCth). Atotal of 58patients (116 ears) with medulloblastoma and clinically non-relevant pre-treatment hearing thresholds were included. Cranial radiotherapy and PCth were applied sequentially according to the HIT 2000 study protocol or post-study recommendations, the NOA-07 protocol, or the PNET (primitive neuroectodermal tumor) 5MB therapy protocol. Audiological outcomes up to amaximum post-therapeutic follow-up of 4years were assessed. The incidence, post-treatment progression, and time-to-onset of SNHL, defined as Muenster classification grade ≥MS2b, were evaluated. Risk factors for IHA were analyzed separately. While 39patients received conventionally fractionated RT (CFRT; group1), 19patients received hyperfractionated RT (HFRT; group2). Over amedian follow-up of 40months, 69.2% of ears in group1 experienced SNHL ≥MS2b compared to 89.5% in group2 (p = 0.017). In multivariable Cox regressions analysis, younger age and increased mean cochlear radiation dose calculated as the equivalent dose in 2‑Gy fractions (EQD2) were associated with time-to-onset of SNHL ≥MS2b (p = 0.019 and p = 0.023, respectively) and IHA (p < 0.001 and p = 0.016, respectively). Tomotherapy and supine positioning were associated with alower risk for IHA in univariable modelling only (p = 0.048 and p = 0.027, respectively). Young age and cochlear EQD2 Dmean ≥40 Gy are significant risk factors for the incidence, degree, and time-to-event of SNHL as well as for IHA in medulloblastoma patients.

Audiological and Subjective Benefits in a Child with Microtia and Atresia After Sequential Bilateral Implantation with Active Bone Conduction Devices: A Case Study

Background: With bilateral hearing loss, the main problems for the patient are speech understanding in noise and, especially in asymmetrical hearing loss, an inability to correctly localize sound sources. There are multiple methods of treatment and rehabilitation for people with conductive hearing loss, and one of them is to use an active bone conduction implant. This case study is designed to evaluate the auditory benefits and sound localization accuracy with active bilateral bone conduction implants—in comparison to unilateral ones—in a patient with congenital bilateral conductive hearing loss caused by a congenital malformation. We assess subjective and audiological benefits (functional, directional hearing, speech comprehension in quiet and noise). Case report: This study describes the results in a 15-year-old patient with bilateral congenital malformation of the outer ears and associated conductive hearing loss who was treated with two Bonebridge active bone conduction implants. Speech recognition ability, hearing thresholds, and sound localization were tested under three conditions: unaided, unilateral on the right-side, and bilateral on both sides. The patient filled in an Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit questionnaire (APHAB) to evaluate limitations in daily life caused by hearing impairment. The results show an improvement in free-field hearing thresholds and the ability to discriminate speech, both in quiet and in noise after implantation. Subjectively, the patient had significantly fewer problems with two implants than with one (or with no implant) in terms of hearing in everyday situations. Conclusions: Unilateral use of the Bonebridge device in a patient with congenital bilateral conductive hearing loss did not provide full benefits. However, bilateral implantation improved speech understanding in noise and sound localization.

Enhancing Situational Awareness with VAS-Compass Net for the Recognition of Directional Vehicle Alert Sounds.

People with hearing impairments often face increased risks related to traffic accidents due to their reduced ability to perceive surrounding sounds. Given the cost and usage limitations of traditional hearing aids and cochlear implants, this study aims to develop a sound alert assistance system (SAAS) to enhance situational awareness and improve travel safety for people with hearing impairments. We proposed the VAS-Compass Net (Vehicle Alert Sound-Compass Net), which integrates three lightweight convolutional neural networks: EfficientNet-lite0, MobileNetV3-Small, and GhostNet. Through employing a fuzzy ranking ensemble technique, our proposed model can identify different categories of vehicle alert sounds and directions of sound sources on an edge computing device. The experimental dataset consisted of images derived from the sounds of approaching police cars, ambulances, fire trucks, and car horns from various directions. The audio signals were converted into spectrogram images and Mel-frequency cepstral coefficient images, and they were fused into a complete image using image stitching techniques. We successfully deployed our proposed model on a Raspberry Pi 5 microcomputer, paired with a customized smartwatch to realize an SAAS. Our experimental results demonstrated that VAS-Compass Net achieved an accuracy of 84.38% based on server-based computing and an accuracy of 83.01% based on edge computing. Our proposed SAAS has the potential to significantly enhance the situational awareness, alertness, and safety of people with hearing impairments on the road.

Beyond the cochlea: exploring the multifaceted nature of hearing loss in primary mitochondrial diseases

Abstract Primary mitochondrial diseases, with diverse systemic manifestations, often present with auditory impairments due to mitochondrial dysfunction. This study provides an in-depth exploration of auditory deficits in primary mitochondrial diseases, highlighting the impact of various pathogenic variants on both cochlea and neural/central auditory functions. An observational study involving 72 adults with primary mitochondrial diseases was conducted. Participants underwent extensive audiological evaluations including Pure-Tone Audiometry, Tympanometry, Acoustic Reflex Thresholds, Quick Speech-in-Noise Test, Listening in Spatialized Noise-Sentences test, Auditory-evoked Brainstem Responses, and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions. Multivariate Analysis of Covariance and logistic regression analyses assessed the influence of various pathogenic DNA variants, accounting for age, cognitive status via the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and disease severity through the Newcastle Mitochondrial Disease Adult Scale. Participants with the pathogenic m.3243A&amp;gt;G/T variants (m.3243A&amp;gt;G n=40; m.3243A&amp;gt;T n=1) exhibited significant elevations in Pure-Tone Audiometry thresholds, especially at high frequencies, suggesting cochlea involvement. Notably, the Listening in Spatialized Noise-Sentences test showed significant spatial processing deficits in the m.3243A&amp;gt;G/T group, possibly indicating a unique mutation-specific impact on central auditory processing. Auditory-evoked Brainstem Responses results highlighted a higher likelihood of auditory brainstem response abnormalities in this group, further substantiating neural/central auditory pathway involvement. This study emphasises the heterogeneous nature of hearing impairment in primary mitochondrial diseases, with a genotype-phenotype correlation, particularly in the m.3243A&amp;gt;G/T group. These insights advocate for personalised, genotype-specific auditory assessments and targeted management strategies. Conventional hearing aids and cochlear implants are ineffective for those with central auditory dysfunctions related to mitochondrial mutations. There is an urgent need for innovative rehabilitation strategies catering for both cochlear and neural/central auditory pathways.

The Otoacoustic Emissions in the Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening: An Update on the European Data (2004 to 2024)

Background: The reported data on European universal neonatal hearing screening (UNHS) practices tend to be scarce, despite the fact that the European Union project, EUScreen, collected unofficial data from 38 collaborating European institutions. The objectives of this systematic review were as follows: (a) to identify the most recent (in a 20-year span) literature information about UNHS programs in Europe and (b) to provide data on the procedures used to assess the population, the intervention policies, and on the estimated prevalence of congenital hearing loss with emphasis on the bilateral hearing loss cases. Methods: Queries were conducted via the Pubmed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases for the time period of 2004–2024. The Mesh terms used were “OAE”, “Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening”, “congenital hearing loss” and “well babies”. Only research articles and review papers of European origin were considered good candidates. The standard English language filter was not used, in order to identify information from non-English-speaking scientific communities and groups. Results: Very few data and reports were identified in the literature search. Eleven manuscripts were identified corresponding to eight UNHS programs. Except in Poland, most of the data refer to regional and not national programs. The screening coverage estimates of all programs exceed 90%; infants were mostly assessed by a three-stage protocol (TEOAE + TEOAE + AABR), followed by a clinical ABR test. The average prevalence (i.e., from well babies AND NICU infants) of bilateral hearing loss ranged from 0.5 to 20.94 per 1000 (Zurich sample). Infants presenting unilateral or bilateral hearing losses were first rehabilitated by hearing aids and consequently (&gt;15 mo) by cochlear implants. Conclusions: Even though UNHS programs are well-established clinical practices in the European States, the amount of information in the literature about these programs is surprising low. The existing data in the timespan 2004–2024 corroborate the international UNHS data in terms of coverage and bilateral hearing loss prevalence, but there is a strong need to supplement the existing information with the latest developments, especially in the area of hearing loss rehabilitation.

Understanding the sound environments of young children: potential implications for radio aid use

ABSTRACT The objectives of this study were to describe, analyse and compare the sound environments to which deaf and typically hearing children between 3 and 18 months are typically exposed, and identify issues to support the development of guidelines for the use of radio aids in this age group. Thirty parents of children aged 3–18 months (14 deaf children and 16 who were typically hearing) took part. An online survey was devised for this study and was intended to capture the “soundscape” (sounds in the environment) to which both deaf and typically hearing children between 3 and 18 months were usually exposed in their everyday lives at multiple points during the day. The purpose of the survey was to map everyday routine experiences and interactions with their families to assess auditory access and environmental awareness or unawareness. Conceptual content analysis was used to evaluate participant descriptions of sound environments. Differences in child awareness of sound and distances between children and their parents were also analysed. Results showed that both deaf and typically hearing children experience rich and complex soundscapes with plenty of opportunities for learning about the world. Parents of deaf children changed their child’s sound environment compared to parents of typically hearing children, particularly at home, in order to provide easier listening conditions. However, deaf children were often in noisy environments where hearing aids or cochlear implants alone were unlikely to be providing good access to speech and other salient sounds, and radio aids may be beneficial in these circumstances.