High-frequency Hearing Loss Research Articles

Peer Review of “Cross-Modal Sensory Boosting to Improve High-Frequency Hearing Loss: Device Development and Validation”

Peer Review of “Cross-Modal Sensory Boosting to Improve High-Frequency Hearing Loss: Device Development and Validation”

Cross-Modal Sensory Boosting to Improve High-Frequency Hearing Loss: Device Development and Validation.

High-frequency hearing loss is one of the most common problems in the aging population and with those who have a history of exposure to loud noises. This type of hearing loss can be frustrating and disabling, making it difficult to understand speech communication and interact effectively with the world. This study aimed to examine the impact of spatially unique haptic vibrations representing high-frequency phonemes on the self-perceived ability to understand conversations in everyday situations. To address high-frequency hearing loss, a multi-motor wristband was developed that uses machine learning to listen for specific high-frequency phonemes. The wristband vibrates in spatially unique locations to represent which phoneme was present in real time. A total of 16 participants with high-frequency hearing loss were recruited and asked to wear the wristband for 6 weeks. The degree of disability associated with hearing loss was measured weekly using the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB). By the end of the 6-week study, the average APHAB benefit score across all participants reached 12.39 points, from a baseline of 40.32 to a final score of 27.93 (SD 13.11; N=16; P=.002, 2-tailed dependent t test). Those without hearing aids showed a 10.78-point larger improvement in average APHAB benefit score at 6 weeks than those with hearing aids (t14=2.14; P=.10, 2-tailed independent t test). The average benefit score across all participants for ease of communication was 15.44 (SD 13.88; N=16; P<.001, 2-tailed dependent t test). The average benefit score across all participants for background noise was 10.88 (SD 17.54; N=16; P=.03, 2-tailed dependent t test). The average benefit score across all participants for reverberation was 10.84 (SD 16.95; N=16; P=.02, 2-tailed dependent t test). These findings show that vibrotactile sensory substitution delivered by a wristband that produces spatially distinguishable vibrations in correspondence with high-frequency phonemes helps individuals with high-frequency hearing loss improve their perceived understanding of verbal communication. Vibrotactile feedback provides benefits whether or not a person wears hearing aids, albeit in slightly different ways. Finally, individuals with the greatest perceived difficulty understanding speech experienced the greatest amount of perceived benefit from vibrotactile feedback.

Peer Review of “Cross-Modal Sensory Boosting to Improve High-Frequency Hearing Loss: Device Development and Validation”

Peer Review of “Cross-Modal Sensory Boosting to Improve High-Frequency Hearing Loss: Device Development and Validation”

Microalbuminuria and Functional Iron Deficiency are Risk Factors for Hearing Loss in Adolescents.

Renal impairment and some systemic diseases are associated with hearing loss (HL) in adults. However, studies of these relationship in adolescents are rare. The objective of this study was to determine the association between HL and renal or systemic disease in adolescents. Subjects were extracted from the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2011 to 2012. We included adolescents aged 10-19 years old with normal tympanic membrane and those who underwent a physical and laboratory examination and pure tone audiometry. HL, high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL), albuminuria, impaired glomerular filtration rate, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity were evaluated based on the data. Individuals with microalbuminruia (MIA) exhibited higher prevalence of HL (p = 0.003) and HFHL (p = 0.012) than those without MIA. The prevalence of HL and HFHL appeared to increase according to the severity of albuminuria. Additionally, individuals with HL or HFHL showed lower transferrin saturation (TSAT) than individuals without HL (p = 0.002) or HFHL (p = 0.001). And, HFHL was associated with lower ferritin levels (p = 0.017). HL and HFHL were related to MIA (p = 0.004 and p = 0.022, respectively) and TSAT (p = 0.005 and p = 0.011, respectively) after controlling other factors. MIA and TSAT level were independently associated with the HL and HFHL. Since MIA can be easily detected by dipstick test and urine analysis, hearing evaluations for individuals with MIA might be helpful to identify hearing impairments earlier in adolescents. 3 (individual cross-sectional study) Laryngoscope, 134:3329-3334, 2024.

Usher syndrome: Genetic diagnosis and current therapeutic approaches

Usher Syndrome (USH) is the most common deaf-blind syndrome, affecting approximately 1 in 6000 people in the deaf population. This genetic condition is characterized by a combination of hearing loss (HL), retinitis pigmentosa, and, in some cases, vestibular areflexia. Among the subtypes of USH, USH type 1 is considered the most severe form, presenting profound bilateral congenital deafness, vestibular areflexia, and early onset RP. USH type 2 is the most common form, exhibiting congenital moderate to severe HL for low frequencies and severe to profound HL for high frequencies. Conversely, type 3 is the rarest, initially manifesting mild symptoms during childhood that become more prominent in the first decades of life. The dual impact of USH on both visual and auditory senses significantly impairs patients’ quality of life, restricting their daily activities and interactions with society. To date, 9 genes have been confirmed so far for USH: MYO7A , USH1C , CDH23 , PCDH15 , USH1G , USH2A , ADGRV1 , WHRN and CLRN1 . These genes are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner and encode proteins expressed in the inner ear and retina, leading to functional loss. Although non-genetic methods can assist in patient triage and disease extension evaluation, genetic and molecular tests play a pivotal role in providing genetic counseling, enabling appropriate gene therapy, and facilitating timely cochlear implantation (CI). The CRISPR/Cas9 system and viral-based gene replacement therapy have recently emerged as highly promising techniques for treating USH. Regarding drug therapy, PTC-124 and Nb54 have been identified as promising drug interventions for genetic HL in USH. Simultaneously, CI has proven to be critical in the restoration of hearing. This review aims to summarize the genetic and molecular diagnosis of USH and highlight the importance of early diagnosis in guiding appropriate treatment strategies and improving patient prognosis.

Tinnitus features and masking in patients with normal hearing and with high frequency hearing loss

To access tinnitus features and effectiveness of its masking in relation to sensorineural hearing loss (SHL), gender, age, affected side and tinnitus pitch. 53 patients (32 (60.4%) females and 21 (39.6%) males) aged 20 to 46 years with unilateral chronic tinnitus without any external or middle ear pathology were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent pure tone audiometry, evaluating SHL, tinnitus pitch and tinnitus masking. Pure-tone thresholds were measured at all standard frequencies from 0.25 to 8 kHz, and at 10 kHz, 12.5 kHz, 14 kHz, 16 kHz, and 20 kHz. Normal hearing at the studied frequencies was observed in 24 patients, and 29 patients were found to have SHL. Patients with high-frequency SHL identified tinnitus pitch more often identified tinnitus pitch compared to those with normal hearing (75.9% vs. 45%, respectively; p=0.02). Tinnitus pitch in patients with normal hearing was 8 (6-13) kHz, whereas in all patients with SHL tinnitus pitch was always located in the range of maximum hearing loss and reached 10 (8-12) kHz. The mean tinnitus pitch, which was successfully masked, was 8 Hz, and tinnitus pitches with mean value above 12 kHz were not associated with effective masking (p=0.04). No statistically significant differences were found between the effectiveness of tinnitus masking and the affected side, gender, presence of SHL. The higher tinnitus pitch (above 12 kHz) was more common in younger patients and was associated with less successful masking. Our study included patients of predominantly young age (up to 48 years old), in whom, probably, the factors influencing the tinnitus characteristic differ and have a correlation with anxiety-depressive spectrum disorders prevailing at a younger age. In this regard, further research is needed.

Cardiometabolic diseases according to the type and degree of hearing loss in noise-exposed workers.

This study aimed to determine the association between cardiometabolic diseases, including metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and diabetes, and the type and degree of hearing loss in noise-exposed workers. A total of 237,028 workers underwent air conduction pure tone audiometry in 2015 to assess their health and diagnose cardiometabolic diseases. The study defined metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and diabetes using blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Mid-frequency hearing loss was defined as ≥ 30 dB at 2,000 Hz, whereas high-frequency hearing loss was ≥ 40 dB at 4,000 Hz. The average air conduction hearing thresholds at these frequencies were used to determine hearing loss degrees. The odds ratio (OR) of combined exposure to noise and night-shift work in all cardiometabolic diseases was higher than that of noise exposure alone. The risk of cardiometabolic diseases was dose-response, with higher hearing loss causing higher ORs. The ORs of hypertension compared with the normal group were 1.147 (1.098-1.198), 1.196 (1.127-1.270), and 1.212 (1.124-1.306), and those of diabetes were 1.177 (1.119-1.239), 1.234 (1.154-1.319), and 1.346 (1.241-1.459) for mild, moderate, and moderate-severe hearing loss, respectively. Workers who are exposed to noise tend to demonstrate high risks of hearing loss and cardiometabolic diseases; thus, bio-monitoring of cardiometabolic diseases, as well as auditory observation, is necessary.

Association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamins D2 and D3 with hearing loss in US adults: analysis from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015-2016.

Hearing loss (HL) is increasingly recognized as a significant global public health issue, and research on its relationship with vitamin D levels has gained wider attention. However, the association between serum biomarkers 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 (25(OH)D2) and D3 (25(OH)D3) with different types of HL remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential association of serum 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 with HL in US adults. A sample of 3,684 individuals aged 20-69 years from the 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination (NHANES) was analyzed in this study. HL was defined as a pure tone average > 25 dB in either ear at low frequencies (500, 1,000, 2000 Hz), speech frequencies (500, 1,000, 2000, 4,000 Hz), and high frequencies (3,000, 4,000, 6,000, 8,000 Hz). Logistic regression was employed to examine the association between serum 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 and HL. The study population was then stratified by age, gender, race, and education level to analyze potential differences between adults in different subgroups. In the multivariate analysis, it was found that serum 25(OH)D2 was independently associated with low-frequency hearing loss (LFHL) (OR: 1.012 [95% CI, 1.005-1.020]) and speech-frequency hearing loss (SFHL) (OR: 1.011 [95% CI, 1.003-1.018]). Restrictive cubic spline analysis demonstrated a linear dose-response relationship between serum 25(OH)D2 levels and LFHL (p for linearity <0.001), as well as SFHL (p for linearity = 0.001). Conversely, an L-shaped association was observed between serum 25(OH)D3 levels and both LFHL (p for nonlinearity = 0.014) and SFHL (p for nonlinearity = 0.025), with threshold values identified at 35.3 and 36.5 nmol/L, respectively. Higher levels of serum 25(OH)D3 were associated with a lower probability of high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL) (OR: 0.994 [95% CI, 0.989-0.999]), with a threshold value identified at 53.9 nmol/L. Furthermore, a significant interaction between diabetes and serum 25(OH)D2 in LFHL was revealed through subgroup analysis (p = 0.041). In the non-diabetic population, serum 25(OH)D2 maintained its association with LFHL. Our findings suggested a positive association between serum 25(OH)D2 concentrations and both LFHL and SFHL in the studied cohort. Additionally, an L-shaped relationship was found between serum 25(OH)D3 and LFHL and SFHL, and higher levels of serum 25(OH)D3 were identified to be associated with a lower risk of HFHL.

Splicing mutations of GSDME cause late-onset non-syndromic hearing loss

Objective:To dentify the genetic and audiological characteristics of families affected by late-onset hearing loss due to GSDMEgene mutations, aiming to explore clinical characteristics and pathogenic mechanisms for providing genetic counseling and intervention guidance. Methods:Six families with late-onset hearing loss from the Chinese Deafness Genome Project were included. Audiological tests, including pure-tone audiometry, acoustic immittance, speech recognition scores, auditory brainstem response, and distortion product otoacoustic emission, were applied to evaluate the hearing levels of patients. Combining with medical history and physical examination to analyze the phenotypic differences between the probands and their family members. Next-generation sequencing was used to identify pathogenic genes in probands, and validations were performed on their relatives by Sanger sequencing. Pathogenicity analysis was performed according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Guidelines. Meanwhile, the pathogenic mechanisms of GSDME-related hearing loss were explored combining with domestic and international research progress. Results:Among the six families with late-onset hearing loss, a total of 30 individuals performed hearing loss. The onset of hearing loss in these families ranged from 10 to 50 years（mean age: 27.88±9.74 years）. In the study, four splicing mutations of the GSDME were identified, including two novel variants: c. 991－7C>G and c. 1183+1G>T. Significantly, the c. 991－7C>G was a de novo variant. The others were previously reported variants: c. 991-1G>C and c. 991-15_991-13del, the latter was identified in three families. Genotype-phenotype correlation analysis revealed that probands with the c. 991－7C>G and c. 1183+1G>T performed a predominantly high-frequency hearing loss. The three families carrying the same mutation exhibited varying degrees of hearing loss, with an annual rate of hearing deterioration exceeding 0.94 dB HL/year. Furthermore, follow-up of interventions showed that four of six probands received intervention（66.67%）, but the results of intervention varied. Conclusion:The study analyzed six families with late-onset non-syndromic hearing loss linked to GSDME mutations, identifying four splicing variants. Notably, c. 991－7C>G is the first reported de novo variant of GSDME globally. Audiological analysis revealed that the age of onset generally exceeded 10 years,with variable effectiveness of interventions.

Abnormal white and gray matter functional connectivity is associated with cognitive dysfunction in presbycusis.

Presbycusis is characterized by high-frequency hearing loss and is closely associated with cognitive decline. Previous studies have observed functional reorganization of gray matter in presbycusis, but the information transmission between gray matter and white matter remains ill-defined. Using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated differences in functional connectivity (GM-GM, WM-WM, and GM-WM) between 60 patients with presbycusis and 57 healthy controls. Subsequently, we examined the correlation between these connectivity differences with high-frequency hearing loss as well as cognitive impairment. Our results revealed significant alterations in functional connectivity involving the body of the corpus callosum, posterior limbs of the internal capsule, retrolenticular region of the internal capsule, and the gray matter regions in presbycusis. Notably, disrupted functional connectivity was observed between the body of the corpus callosum and ventral anterior cingulate cortex in presbycusis, which was associated with impaired attention. Additionally, enhanced functional connectivity was found in presbycusis between the internal capsule and the ventral auditory processing stream, which was related to impaired cognition in multiple domains. These two patterns of altered functional connectivity between gray matter and white matter may involve both bottom-up and top-down regulation of cognitive function. These findings provide novel insights into understanding cognitive compensation and resource redistribution mechanisms in presbycusis.

RNA-seq analysis highlights DNA replication and DNA repair associated with early-onset hearing loss in the cochlea of DBA/2J mice

AimsAge-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a significant health concern, and DBA/2J (D2) and C57BL/6 (B6) mouse strains serve as valuable models for its study. B6 mice, harboring a homozygous ahl allele in Cdh23, manifest high-frequency hearing loss at 3 months. In contrast, D2 mice, carrying the R109H variant of the Fascin-2 gene (Fscn2), experience early-onset hearing loss by 3 weeks. Yet, the underlying molecular mechanisms driving early-onset hearing loss in D2 mice remain elusive. This study aimed to identify novel genes and regulatory pathways as therapeutic targets for early deafness. Main methodsThis study employs RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) to analyze cochlear mRNA expression at two different ages in D2 and B6 mice, respectively. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are uniquely associated with D2 mice by Venn diagram analysis. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network is further constructed, followed by module analysis utilizing MCODE. Enrichment analysis of GO and KEGG pathways revealed biological functions and molecular pathways. The PPI network and VarElect analysis are conducted for genes within these pathways, facilitating the identification of pivotal genes based on scoring criteria. Subsequently, five genes are meticulously selected and validated through qRT-PCR. Key findingsNotably, 1181 DEGs are uniquely associated with D2 mice by Venn diagram analysis. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses shed light on distinctive pathways in D2 mice, encompassing DNA replication, mismatch repair, base excision repair, and nucleotide excision repair, which are associated with apoptosis. Five genes involved in these pathways were finally selected and validated by qRT-PCR. Their down-regulation with age is consistent with RNA-seq result. SignificanceOur study underscores the potential implication of down-regulated genes associated with DNA replication and DNA damage repair in the early-onset hearing loss observed in D2 mice.

Interactions Between Slopes of Residual Hearing and Frequency Maps in Simulated Bimodal and Electric-Acoustic Stimulation Hearing.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of residual hearing slopes and cochlear implant frequency map settings on bimodal and electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS) benefits in speech perception. Adults with normal hearing were recruited for simulated bimodal and EAS hearing. Sentence perception was measured unilaterally and bilaterally. For the acoustic stimulation, three slopes of high-frequency hearing loss were created using low-pass filters with a cutoff frequency of 500 Hz: steep (96 dB/octave), medium (48 dB/octave), and shallow (24 dB/octave). For the electric stimulation, an eight-channel sinewave vocoder was used with an output frequency range (1000-7938 Hz) with three input frequency ranges to create frequency maps, overlap (188-7938 Hz), meet (500-7938 Hz), and gap (750-7938 Hz), relative to the cutoff frequency in the acoustic stimulation. The largest bimodal/EAS benefit occurred with the shallow slope, and the smallest occurred with the steep slope. The effects of the slopes on bimodal/EAS benefit were greatest with the meet or gap map and the least with the overlap map. EAS benefit was greater than bimodal benefit at higher signal-to-noise ratios regardless of frequency map. The results indicate that correlation between bimodal/EAS benefit and residual hearing could potentially improve if slopes were considered. The optimal frequency map differed with different slopes, suggesting that the slopes of residual hearing should be carefully considered in fitting bimodal and EAS hearing. EAS hearing provided greater benefit over bimodal hearing, suggesting that spectrotemporal integration was better within one ear (i.e., EAS) than across ears (i.e., bimodal).

Recovery From Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Association With Cardiovascular Disease Risk.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) disease severity and recovery. A retrospective medical chart review was performed on 90 patients (n = 48 men; Mage = 59.8 years, SD = 15.8) evaluated for ISSNHL. Major CVD risk factors (current tobacco smoking, diabetes, total cholesterol ≥ 240 mg/dl or treatment, and hypertension [systolic blood pressure [BP]/diastolic BP ≥ 140/ ≥ 90 mmHg or treatment]) determined two CVD risk groups: lower (no major risk factors) and higher (one or more risk factors). Two pure-tone averages (PTAs) were computed: PTA0.5,1,2 and PTA3,4,6,8. Complete recovery of ISSNHL was defined as PTAinitial - PTAfollow-up ≥ 10 dB. Logistic regression estimated the odds of ISSNHL recovery by CVD risk status adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, noise exposure, and treatment. Most patients (67.8%) had one or more CVD risk factors. Severity of initial low- and high-frequency hearing loss was similar between CVD risk groups. Recovery was 53.2% for PTA0.5,1,2 and 32.9% for PTA3,4,6,8. With multivariable adjustment, current/former smoking was associated with lower odds of PTA0.5,1,2 recovery (OR = 0.27; 95% CI [0.08, 0.92]). Neither higher CVD risk status nor individual CVD risk factors had a significant association with recovery. For every one-unit increase in Framingham Risk Score, odds of PTA3,4,6,8 recovery were 0.95 times lower (95% CI [0.90, 1.00]) after accounting for age, sex, body mass index, noise exposure, and treatment/time-to-treatment grouping (p = .056). The prognosis of low-frequency ISSNHL recovery is worse among current/former smokers than nonsmokers. Other CVD risk factors and aggregate risk are not significantly related to recovery.

Blood biomarkers and lifestyle factors in dementia prevention

AbstractBackgroundAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with preclinical period that may begin more than 15‐20 years before onset without any clinical symptoms. Risk factors for intervention include obesity in middle age, lack of exercise, hypertension in middle age, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and hearing loss in middle age. Our research indicated that plasma proteins, such as apoA1, transthyretin, and complement C3, may serve as potential biomarkers for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, we analyzed the associations between risk and protective factors and these plasma protein levels to establish a risk assessment method for dementia.MethodIn present study, we measured blood biomarkers, including apoA1, transthyretin, and complement C3, in 1,736 subjects. We collected medical data from annual health examinations and clinical records of the participants. Additionally, lifestyle questionnaires were incorporated into the research.ResultOur analyses revealed that the risk values in the composite score indicated by the three blood biomarkers were higher in those with a history of dementia and diabetes than in those without a history of dementia and diabetes. The odds ratios (OR) for MCI were 5.27 (CI: 2.14‐13.2) and 1.59 (CI: 1.04‐2.45), respectively. Smoking exhibited a high‐risk value (OR: 1.87, CI: 1.15‐3.01), while smoking cessation led to higher apoA1 levels than in those who continued to smoke. Utilizing the composite score as an index, we analyzed factors that increase or decrease the composite score based on the receipt diagnosis history, health checkup data, and lifestyle questionnaires. We found that the high‐risk group in the composite score was associated with low HDL cholesterol (OR 0.94), high HbA1c (OR 1.6), and right high frequency hearing loss (OR 2.97). Furthermore, we identified several protective factors against MCI, including regular walking and strong physical exercise, drinking 100% fruit and vegetable juices, and avoiding sweetened beverages, and eating sashimi and miso soup.ConclusionOur findings suggest that a firm commitment to lifestyle‐related disease treatment and high‐impact exercise from middle age can help prevent dementia. Additionally, the blood test we used may be useful in presenting specific methods of dementia prevention and evaluating their effectiveness.

Clinical Features of Non-Lateralized Tinnitus.

We aimed to analyze and confirm the clinical features of patients with non-lateralized tinnitus and to identify clues that can be used in their management. Data from 469 patients who visited a university hospital complaining of tinnitus between March 2020 and December 2021 were reviewed. The patients' medical histories, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and numerical rating scale scores on tinnitus awareness, annoyance, loudness, and effect on life, audiological profiles, and quantitative electroencephalography findings were documented. Forty-nine (10.4%) patients had non-lateralized tinnitus. They were older and had a shorter duration of symptoms (13.91 ± 34.16 months) than patients with bilateral tinnitus (duration: 39.15 ± 80.82 months) (P -lt; .05). The accompanying symptoms, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores, and numerical rating scale scores were not significantly different between the 2 groups (P -gt; .05). Patients with non-lateralized tinnitus had worse hearing at 12 kHz on the left side than those with unilateral tinnitus. Hearing asymmetry was least common in non-lateralized tinnitus (n=11/49, 10.4%), followed by bilateral tinnitus (n=54/198, 42.2%) and unilateral tinnitus (n=97/222, 47.3%) (P-lt; .001). Regarding quantitative electroencephalography, there were significant differences in the absolute power of the theta, alpha, beta, gamma, and total frequency bands based on tinnitus lateralization (P -lt; .001). Non-lateralized tinnitus can be perceived in elderly patients with symmetric and extended high-frequency hearing loss before habituation is achieved at an early stage of tinnitus. However, there was no difference in the questionnaire scores and accompanying symptoms; therefore, it may not be worth managing non-lateralized tinnitus separately from tinnitus in the ear.

Cognitive Screening and Hearing Assessment in Patients With Chronic Tinnitus.

The study aimed to assess the relationship of tinnitus with hyperacusis with cognitive impairment as indicated by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tool. This multicenter cross-sectional study included individuals with chronic tinnitus from the "Unification of Treatments and Interventions for Tinnitus Patients" (UNITI) database. Participants were recruited from four different tertiary clinical centers located in Athens and Granada (Mediterranean group), as well as Berlin and Regensburg (German group). In total, 380 individuals with a diagnosis of non-pulsatile chronic tinnitus (permanent and constant tinnitus lasting more than 6 months) and no evidence of severe cognitive impairment (MoCA score >22) were enrolled. The evaluation utilized the following tools: MoCA, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Hyperacusis Questionnaire (GÜF), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the European School for Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research Screening Questionnaire. MoCA scores differed between German and Mediterranean individuals (P<0.01), necessitating separate analyses for each group. In both cohorts, MoCA scores were significantly associated with education level, age, hearing threshold at 8 kHz, and THI. Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed between PHQ-9 scores and both THI and GÜF (P<0.01 for both Germans and those from the Mediterranean). Our data suggest an association between tinnitus handicap, high-frequency hearing loss, and mild cognitive impairment. Additionally, PHQ-9 scores were associated with tinnitus and hyperacusis scores, independent of hearing loss thresholds.

Cochlear-Implant Simulated Signal Degradation Exacerbates Listening Effort in Older Listeners.

Individuals with cochlear implants (CIs) often report that listening requires high levels of effort. Listening effort can increase with decreasing spectral resolution, which occurs when listening with a CI, and can also increase with age. What is not clear is whether these factors interact; older CI listeners potentially experience even higher listening effort with greater signal degradation than younger CI listeners. This study used pupillometry as a physiological index of listening effort to examine whether age, spectral resolution, and their interaction affect listening effort in a simulation of CI listening. Fifteen younger normal-hearing listeners (ages 18 to 31 years) and 15 older normal-hearing listeners (ages 65 to 75 years) participated in this experiment; they had normal hearing thresholds from 0.25 to 4 kHz. Participants repeated sentences presented in quiet that were either unprocessed or vocoded, simulating CI listening. Stimuli frequency spectra were limited to below 4 kHz (to control for effects of age-related high-frequency hearing loss), and spectral resolution was decreased by decreasing the number of vocoder channels, with 32-, 16-, and 8-channel conditions. Behavioral speech recognition scores and pupil dilation were recorded during this task. In addition, cognitive measures of working memory and processing speed were obtained to examine if individual differences in these measures predicted changes in pupil dilation. For trials where the sentence was recalled correctly, there was a significant interaction between age and spectral resolution, with significantly greater pupil dilation in the older normal-hearing listeners for the 8- and 32-channel vocoded conditions. Cognitive measures did not predict pupil dilation. There was a significant interaction between age and spectral resolution, such that older listeners appear to exert relatively higher listening effort than younger listeners when the signal is highly degraded, with the largest effects observed in the eight-channel condition. The clinical implication is that older listeners may be at higher risk for increased listening effort with a CI.

Subcortical Auditory Processing and Speech Perception in Noise Among Individuals With and Without Extended High-Frequency Hearing Loss.

The significance of extended high-frequency (EHF) hearing (> 8 kHz) is not well understood so far. In this study, we aimed to understand the relationship between EHF hearing loss (EHFHL) and speech perception in noise (SPIN) and the associated physiological signatures using the speech-evoked frequency-following response (sFFR). Sixteen young adults with EHFHL and 16 age- and sex-matched individuals with normal hearing participated in the study. SPIN performance in right speech-right noise, left speech-left noise, and binaural listening conditions was evaluated using the Turkish Matrix Test. Additionally, subcortical auditory processing was assessed by recording sFFRs elicited by 40-ms /da/ stimuli. Individuals with EHFHL demonstrated poorer SPIN performances in all listening conditions (p < .01). Longer latencies were observed in the V (onset) and O (offset) peaks in these individuals (p ≤ .01). However, only the V/A peak amplitude was found to be significantly reduced in individuals with EHFHL (p < .01). Our findings highlight the importance of EHF hearing and suggest that EHF hearing should be considered among the key elements in SPIN. Individuals with EHFHL show a tendency toward weaker subcortical auditory processing, which likely contributes to their poorer SPIN performance. Thus, routine assessment of EHF hearing should be implemented in clinical settings, alongside the evaluation of standard audiometric frequencies (0.25-8 kHz).

Magnitude of extended high frequency hearing loss associated with auditory related tinnitus distress, when controlling for magnitude of hearing loss at standard frequenciesa).

Impaired thresholds at extended high frequencies (EHF) are tightly linked to the prevalence of tinnitus, but little is known about how EHF status relates to tinnitus characteristics. In the present study, 93 individuals with tinnitus underwent standard (from 0.125 to 8 kHz) and EHF (from 10 to 16 kHz) audiometry and indicated their degree of tinnitus distress by completing the tinnitus functional index and their perceived tinnitus loudness by using a numeric rating scale. Partial correlation analyses indicated that the magnitude of EHF loss was significantly associated with degree of auditory related tinnitus distress (r = 0.343, p < 0.001) when controlling for pure tone average at standard frequencies and compensating for multiple testing. It is concluded that EHF status is related specifically to auditory related tinnitus distress, but not to intrusive-, sense of control-, cognitive-, sleep-, relaxation-, quality of life-, emotional-related tinnitus distress, total tinnitus distress, or perceived tinnitus loudness.

MiRNA-92a-3p mediated the association between occupational noise exposure and blood pressure among Chinese adults

Evidence on the association between occupational noise exposure and blood pressure is inconsistent, and the underlying mechanism remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the association between occupational noise exposure and blood pressure, and explore the potential role of miRNAs in the association. A total of 894 subjects from two companies in Wuhan, China were included. Occupational noise exposure was assessed using cumulative noise exposure (CNE), and six candidate plasma miRNAs (miR-92a-3p, miR-21-5p, miR-200a-3p, miR-200b-3p, miR-200c-3p, and miR-1-3p) which were not only associated with blood pressure/hypertension but also related to oxidative stress were selected according to previous studies and tested. A linear dose-response relationship was found between occupational noise exposure and blood pressure, including systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Each 1-unit increase in CNE levels was significantly associated with a 0.130 (95 % confidence interval [CI] = 0.026, 0.234) unit increase in SBP and a 0.141 (95 % CI = 0.063, 0.219) unit increase in DBP. However, the association between occupational noise and hypertension is not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In the meanwhile, occupational noise exposure was negatively associated with miRNA-92a-3p (β = −0.019, 95 % CI = −0.032, −0.006) and miRNA-21-5p (β = −0.031, 95 % CI = −0.052, −0.010), and miRNA-92a-3p mediated 24.66 % of the association between occupational noise exposure and DBP. In addition, bilateral high-frequency hearing loss was not only positively associated with occupational noise exposure (OR = 1.974, 95 % CI = 1.084, 3.702) but also DBP (β = 2.546, 95 % CI = 0.160, 4.932). Our study suggests that occupational noise exposure is positively associated with SBP and DBP, and miRNA-92a-3p partially mediate the association between occupational noise exposure and DBP.