High Frequency Hearing Research Articles

A study of cisplatin chemotherapy and hearing loss

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Various medications have been associated with ototoxicity. Platinum containing chemotherapeutic agents are associated with cochleotoxicity, characterized by high frequency hearing loss. Cisplatin and related agents are absorbed by the cochlear hair cells, resulting in ototoxicity through the production of reactive oxygen species.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> About 67 patients, irrespective of the type of cancer, fit to undergo chemotherapy were considered for study after meticulous examination. Audiograms were taken prior to chemotherapy, at the end of each cycle of chemotherapy, and follow-up audiograms at 3 months and 6 months after completion of chemotherapy. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Among 37% of the patients with normal hearing, 10% of the patients developed sensorineural hearing loss after treatment. Among 63% of the patients with prior mild sensorineural hearing loss, 11.8% developed worsening of hearing after completion of treatment.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Audiologic monitoring is important in patients undergoing cisplatin chemotherapy and post- chemotherapy auditory monitoring is essential to rehabilitate the patients with Sensorineural hearing loss.</p>

Establishment of a nomogram for predicting the high frequency hearing loss of workers exposed to noise

Objective: To explore the related influencing factors of high frequency hearing loss (HFHL) in workers exposed to noise and establish a prediction nomogram for HFHL. Methods: A total of 822 workers exposed to noise from 46 enterprises were included. A questionnaire survey and a pure-tone hearing test were conducted for the workers. The data of noise level of the workers exposed was also collected. After single factor analysis of related influencing factors, the multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the final independent influencing factors of HFHL. Finally, a nomogram model was established by R software to achieve individual prediction of HFHL. Results: Among the 822 workers exposed to noise, 166 (20.2%) workers had HFHL. In multivariate Logistic regression analysis, increasing age, men, increasing wearing earphone time, less wearing earplugs, and high noise level were the independent risk factors for HFHL. The C-index of the nomogram model for predicting HFHL was 0.834 (95%CI: 0.748~0.903) . The area under the predictive power curve of nomogram model was 0.834 (95%CI: 0.799~0.869, P<0.001) . Conclusion: Age, sex, wearing earphone time, wearing earplugs, and noise level are independent influence factors for HFHL. The nomogram model is successfully established as a accurate and visible tool for individually predicting the HFHL risk in workers exposed to noise.

The curative effect analysis of 164 tinnitus patients with different types of hearing curve

Objective:To investigate the difference of therapeutic effect of tinnitus patients with different types of hearing curve.Method:Patients with the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the treatment were studied retrospectively.Use the SPSS 20.0 Chinese version of the software to collect data and analysis.The difference was statistically significant when P<0.05.Result:A total of 164 patients were collected, and the most of the hearing curve types was high frequency hearing loss; according to the TEQ scoring and grading method, most tinnitus patients were in the middle severity; The chi-square test showed that there was no significant difference among the patients with different hearing curve types when the first visit,the severity among the groups was evenly distributed. After treatment,there was no significant difference in the effect of last visit and the follow-up between the patients with different hearing curve types.Conclusion：Unlike the sudden deafness, there was no statistically significant difference in the prognosis of tinnitus patients with different types of hearing curve. We can not choose the treatment program or even predict the curative effect according to the hearing curve type.

Reading Comprehension in Quiet and in Noise: Effects on Immediate and Delayed Recall in Relation to Tinnitus and High-Frequency Hearing Thresholds.

A common complaint by people with tinnitus is that they experience that the tinnitus causes attention and concentration problems. Previous studies have examined how tinnitus influences cognitive performance on short and intensive cognitive tasks but without proper control of hearing status. To examine the impact tinnitus and high-frequency hearing thresholds have on reading comprehension in quiet and in background noise. A between-group design with matched control participants. One group of participants with tinnitus (n = 20) and an age and gender matched control group without tinnitus (n = 20) participated. Both groups had normal hearing thresholds (20 dB HL at frequencies 0.125 to 8 kHz). Measurements were made assessing hearing thresholds and immediate and delayed recall using a reading comprehension test in quiet and in noise. All participants completed the Swedish version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and participants with tinnitus also completed the Tinnitus Questionnaire. The groups did not differ in immediate nor delayed recall. Accounting for the effect of age, a significant positive correlation was found between best ear high-frequency pure tone average (HF-PTA; 10000, 12500, and 14000 Hz) and the difference score between immediate and delayed recall in noise. Tinnitus seems to have no effect on immediate and delayed recall in quiet or in background noise when hearing status is controlled for. The detrimental effect of background noise on the processes utilized for efficient encoding into long-term memory is larger in participants with better HF-PTA. More specifically, when reading in noise, participants with better HF-PTA seem to recall less information than participants with poorer HF-PTA.

Occupational Noise Exposure, Bilateral High-Frequency Hearing Loss, and Blood Pressure.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between occupational noise exposure and blood pressure using self-reported occupational exposure and bilateral high-frequency hearing loss. This study included 4548 participants aged 20 to 69 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999 to 2004. On the basis of self-reported exposure status, participants were divided into the current, former, or never exposed groups. Bilateral high-frequency hearing loss was defined as the average high-frequency hearing threshold at least 25 dB in both ears. The currently exposed participants had slightly increased diastolic blood pressure compared with those never exposed. Among previously exposed participants, those with bilateral high-frequency hearing loss had increased systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and the prevalence of hypertension compared with those with normal high-frequency hearing. Although there were some significant results, the evidence was not consistent to support the associations between occupational noise exposure and blood pressure.

Investigation and analysis of tinnitus in diabetic patients

Objective:To analyze the influencing factors of tinnitus in diabetic patients and the correlation between hearing loss and tinnitus.Method:Participants were patients with diabetes. Subjects were tested for hearing function and tinnitus symptoms by questionnaire and pure tone audiometry.Result:①112 patients (55 were men and 57 were women) were affected by tinnitus symptoms in 255 patients with diabetes，there were no significant differences between the number of male patients and female patients(P=0.278).②The incidence of tinnitus increased with age (≤30 year: 40%, 31-40 year :25%, 41-50 year: 27%, 51-60 year: 43%, >60 year: 55%),and there was significant differences in the number of patients among different age (P=0.001).③The incidence of tinnitus was no significant difference in diabetes patients with different educational level (P=0.648).④Totally 83 subjects who complained hearing impairment were tested for hearing loss by pure tone audiometry, while 113 (66%) of 172 subjects who insisted their hearing were normal had hearing loss. Of the subjects with normal hearing but tinnitus, 72% had hearing loss and 62% of patients without tinnitus actually had hearing loss.⑤There were statistically significant in patients with diabetes between the incidence of tinnitus and low/intermediate frequency hearing loss or high frequency hearing loss.Conclusion:The incidence of tinnitus symptoms is increased in patients with diabetes mellitus, which may be related to the age, the incidence of hearing loss,however, may be irrelevant to gender and educational level. Diabetic patients with tinnitus symptoms should be tested as soon as possible to achieve early intervention.

Research progress in imaging of large vestibular aqueduct syndrome

Large vestibular aqueduct syndrome is one of the common non-syndromic hearing impairment. It is one of the most common inner ear abnormalities that cause hearing loss in children.The main performance is gradual or fluctuant hearing loss, from basic normal to extremely severe. Frequently seen in high frequencies hearing loss. The air-bone conduction gaps present in pure tone audiometry test with low frequencies. There were some inducements of intracranial pressure increases before premorbid. Some patients could be accompanied by vertigo or instability. So far, there was still no effective way to terminate the patient deafness progress.If there was no effective intervention,the speech developmental delay of children were an inevitable trend,greatly affect their normal social communication learning ability. So, early diagnosis was critical. Imaging examination was the golden criterion for the diagnosis of LAVS.Characteristic audiological performance and gene diagnosis can be the basis of the further diagnosed. Because the structure and anatomical location of vestibular aqueduct is small and deep, normal imaging examination is difficult to display its morphology and structure,so,for a long time, it did not work very well. Until the advent of High-resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, there was a breakthrough and a deeper understanding of the fine structure with inner ear. We reviewed the latest progress of large vestibular aqueduct syndrome imaging studies.

Evaluating Hearing Loss in Patients Undergoing Second Line Anti Tubercular Treatment

To estimate the prevalence of Sensorineural hearing loss and evaluate the severity of hearing impairment in patients undergoing second line injectable antitubercular treatment. To study the effects of duration of treatment, dose schedule and demographic factors which aggravates anti TB drug induced ototoxicity. Design-prospective and retrospective study Setting-ENT & TB clinic at our hospital and TB Hospital of Subject-18-50 year age , diagnosed MDR or XDR TB Method-baseline puretone audiometry was done of all patients. all patients divided in 3 group depending on aminoacid (amikacin , kanamycin, capreomycin). Follow up PTA was done at 3rd month, 6th month and 6 month after stopping treatment 35.48% of Group 1 (kanamycin) patients show High frequency hearing loss and 16% of patient have both high and low frequency hearing loss High frequency hearing loss 21% of Group 2 (amikacin) patients show High frequency hearing loss and 5% of patient have both high and low frequency hearing loss 20% of Group 3 (capreomycin) patients show High frequency hearing loss with no patient resulted low frequency loss Patients treated FOR MDR-TB develop significant adverse effects. Clinicians must consider risk benefit analysis during treatment as ototoxicity of injectable aminoglycoside ATT is permanent. Early detection of hearing loss through pure tone audiometry helps preventing and progression of hearing loss without compromising the treatment.

Time course and clinical characterization of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity after treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a South East Asian population.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the clinical course of hearing loss in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and the clinical factors affecting its severity. The time course of hearing loss in patients with NPC was assessed using threshold shift from baseline and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade. In the chemoradiotherapy (CRT) groups, the threshold shift was significantly higher from 3 months at 4 kHz (P = 2.30 × 10-9 , concurrent CRT only) but not within 2 years posttreatment in the radiotherapy (RT) group. The CRT groups had worse CTCAE grades than the RT group (percentage of latest CTCAE grade ≥1: 64.9% vs 29.0%, respectively). Cumulative cisplatin dose and cochlear RT dose significantly affects threshold shifts, especially at high frequencies. Although cisplatin led to high frequency hearing impairment from about 3 months posttreatment, RT conferred no significant hearing impairment in the first 2 years.

ASSOCIATION OF HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN 60 WITH NOISE-INDUCED HEARING IMPAIRMENT AND ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC ABNORMALITIES AMONG WORKERS OCCUPATIONALLY-EXPOSED TO NOISE

Introduction: Heat Shock Protein 60 (HSP 60) and other heat shock proteins play an important role in cellular survival under stressful conditions. HSP 60 participates in the course of many cardiovascular diseases. Exposure to severe noise can results in induction of heat shock proteins (HSPs). Aim of Work: to explore a possible association between HSP 60 and both noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities among workers occupationally exposed to noise. Material and methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted on 35 workers exposed to noise at work and 42 individuals as a control group. Pure-tone audiometry was carried out to all participants. ECG recordings and measurements of HSP 60 levels in serum were also performed to the exposed and the control using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Results: Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were found on comparing exposed workers and control group as regards HSP 60 levels, ECG abnormalities and NIHL in low and high frequencies. A comparison between HSP 60 levels with ECG abnormality among the exposed workers revealed a statistically non-significant difference (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, statistically highly significant differences were found on comparing HSP 60 levels in the normal hearing exposed workers with each of the NIHL subgroups as regards low frequency hearing loss (P < 0.01) and high frequency hearing loss (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The study revealed an association between serum HSP 60 levels and NIHL, but no association was found between serum HSP60 and ECG abnormalities among workers occupationally exposed to noise.

The Effect of a High-Frequency-Hearing-Threshold Weighted Value on the Diagnosis of Occupational-Noise-Induced Deafness

Objective: In order to provide a theoretical basis for the revision of the current diagnostic criteria for occupational noise-induced deafness (ONID), we evaluated the degree of ONID by analyzing different high-frequency-hearing- threshold-weighted values (HFTWVs). Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the diagnosis of patients with ONID from January 2016 to January 2017 in Guangdong province, China. Based on 3 hearing tests (each interval between the tests was greater than 3 days), the minimum threshold value of each frequency was obtained using the 2007 edition’s diagnostic criteria for ONID. The speech frequency and the HFTWVs were analyzed based on age, noise exposure, and diagnostic classi-fication using SPSS21.0. Results: 168 patients in total were involved in this study, 154 males and 14 females, and the average age was 41.18 ± 6.07. The diagnosis rate was increased by the weighted value of the high frequencies and was more than the mean value of the pure speech frequency (MVPSF). The diagnosis rate for the weighted 4 kHz frequency level increased by 13.69% (χ2 = 9.880, P = 0.002), the weighted 6 kHz level increased by 15.47% (χ2 = 9.985, P = 0.002), and the weighted 4 kHz + 6 kHz level increased by 15.47% (χ2 = 9.985, P = 0.002). The differences were all statistically significant. The diagnostic rate of the different thresholds showed no obvious difference between the genders. The age groups were divided into less than or equal to 40 years old (group A) and 40 - 50 years old (group B). There were several groups with a high frequency: high frequency weighted 4 kHz ( group A χ2 = 3.380, P = 0.050; group B χ2 = 4.054, P = 0.032), high frequency weighted 6 kHz (group A χ2 = 6.362, P = 0.012; group B χ2 = 4.054, P = 0.032), weighted 4 kHz + 6 kHz (group A χ2 = 6.362 P = 0.012; B χ2 = 4.054, P = 0.032) than those of MVPSF in the same group on ONID diagnosis rate. The differences between the groups were statistically significant. There was no significant difference between the age groups (χ2 = 2.265, P = 0.944). The better ear’s (the smaller hearing threshold weighted value) MVPSF and the weighted values for the different high frequencies were examined in light of the number of working years; the group that was exposed to noise for more than 10 years had significantly higher values than those of the average thresholds of each frequency band in the groups with 3 - 5 years of exposure (F = 2.271, P = 0.001) and 6 - 10 years of exposure (F = 1.563, P = 0.046). The differences were statistically significant. The different HFTWVs were higher than those of the MVPSF values, and the high frequency weighted 4 kHz + 6 kHz level showed the greatest difference, with an average increase of 2.83 dB. The diagnostic rate that included the weighted high frequency values was higher for the mild, moderate, and severe cases than those patients who were only screened with the pure frequency tests. The results of the comparisons of the diagnosis rates for mild ONID were as follows: the weighted 3 kHz high frequency level (χ2 = 3.117, P = 0.077) had no significant difference, but the weighted 4 kHz level (χ2 = 10.835, P = 0.001), 6 kHz level (χ2 = 9.985, P = 0.002), 3 kHz + 4 kHz level (χ2 = 6.315, P = 0.012), 3 kHz + 6 kHz level (χ2 = 6.315, P = 0.012), 4 kHz + 6 kHz level (χ2 = 9.985, P = 0.002), and 3 kHz + 4 kHz + 6 kHz level (χ2 = 7.667, P = 0.002) were significantly higher than the diagnosis rate of the mean value of the PSF. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups for the moderate and severe grades (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Different HFTWVs increase the diagnostic rate of ONID. The weighted 4 kHz, 6 kHz, and 4 kHz + 6 kHz high frequency values greatly affected the diagnostic results, and the weighted 4 kHz + 6 kHz high frequency hearing threshold value has the maximum the effect on the ONID diagnosis results.

An effective frame-based high frequency speech transposition by using neural network

This paper investigate design methodology and performance of neural network based frequency transposition algorithm for hearing aid users. High frequency hearing loss associated with hearing disabled person is promising issue for research. Frequency compression and frequency transposition schemes are key solution to overcome high frequency hearing loss. Neural approach to frequency transposition makes algorithm more sensitive, accurate and specific towards processing. The proposed neural network frequency transposition (NNFT) algorithm is based on framing of speech into feature vector for NN with comprehensive training and processing. The parameter to set in NNFT algorithm was calculated by evaluative study. Using these algorithm Marathi alphabets, words, confusing words are efficiently classified. Classification will improve acceptance and rejection rate for FT processing. Validation and testing result of algorithm shows improvement in sensitivity, accuracy, specificity of NNFT method compared to FT method.

The connexin 30 A88V mutant reduces cochlear gap junction expression and confers long-term protection against hearing loss.

Mutations in the genes that encode the gap junction proteins connexin 26 (Cx26, encoded by GJB2) and Cx30 (GJB6) are the leading cause of hereditary hearing loss. That said, the Cx30 p.Ala88Val (A88V) mutant causes Clouston syndrome, but not hearing loss. Here, we report that the Cx30-A88V mutant, despite being toxic to inner ear-derived HEI-OC1 cells, conferred remarkable long-term protection against age-related high frequency hearing loss in Cx30A88V/A88V mice. During early development, there were no overt structural differences in the cochlea between genotypes, including a normal complement of hair cells; however, the supporting cell Cx30 gap junction plaques in mutant mice were reduced in size. In adulthood, Cx30A88V/A88V mutant mice had a reduction of cochlear Cx30 mRNA and protein, yet a full complement of hair cells. Conversely, the age-related high frequency hearing loss in Cx30+/+ and Cx30+/A88V mice was due to extensive loss of outer hair cells. Our data suggest that the Cx30-A88V mutant confers long-term hearing protection and prevention of hair cell death, possibly via a feedback mechanism that leads to the reduction of total Cx30 gap junction expression in the cochlea.

Noise exposure and hearing status among call center operators.

Introduction:The overall objective of the study was to assess noise exposure and audiometric hearing threshold levels (HTLs) in call center operators.Materials and Methods:Standard pure-tone audiometry and extended high-frequency audiometry were performed in 78 participants, aged 19 to 44 years (mean ± standard deviation: 28.1 ± 6.3 years), employed up to 12 years (2.7 ± 2.9 years) at one call center. All participants were also inquired about their communication headset usage habits, hearing-related symptoms, and risk factors for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Noise exposure under headsets was evaluated using the microphone in a real ear technique as specified by ISO 11904-1:2002. The background noise prevailing in offices was also measured according to ISO 9612:2009.Results and Discussion:A personal daily noise exposure level calculated by combining headset and nonheadset work activities ranged from 68 to 79 dBA (74.7 ± 2.5 dBA). Majority (92.3%) of study participants had normal hearing in both ears (mean HTL in the frequency range of 0.25–8 kHz ≤20 dB HL). However, their HTLs in the frequency range of 0.25 to 8 kHz were worse than the expected median values for equivalent highly screened otologically normal population, whereas above 8 kHz were comparable (9–11.2 kHz) or better (12.5 kHz). High-frequency hearing loss (mean HTLs at 3, 4, and 6 kHz >20 dB HL) and speech-frequency hearing loss (mean HTLs at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz >20 dB HL) were noted in 8.3% and 6.4% of ears, respectively. High-frequency notches were found in 15.4% of analyzed audiograms. Moreover, some of call center operators reported hearing-related symptoms.Conclusions:Further studies are needed before firm conclusions concerning the risk of NIHL in this professional group can be drawn.

High-frequency conductive hearing loss as a diagnostic test for incomplete ossicular discontinuity in non-cholesteatomatous chronic suppurative otitis media.

Chronic suppurative otitis media, with or without cholesteatoma, may lead to erosion of the ossicles and discontinuity of the ossicular chain. In incomplete ossicular discontinuity (IOD), partial erosion of the ossicles occurs, but some sound transmission is noted throughout the ossicular chain. High-frequency conductive hearing loss (HfCHL) has been considered a hallmark of incomplete ossicular discontinuity. This study aims to evaluate the use of HfCHL as a preoperative predictor of IOD in patients with non-cholesteatomatous chronic suppurative otitis media. The HfCHL test was defined as the preoperative air-bone gap (ABG) at 4 kHz minus the average of the ABG at 0.25 and 0.5 kHz. The test was applied in 328 patients before surgery and compared to intraoperative findings as the gold standard. At surgery, 201 (61.3%) patients had an intact ossicular chain, 44 (13.4%) had a complete ossicular discontinuity, and 83 (25.3%) exhibited an IOD. The best cutoff level was calculated as 10 dB. The HfCHL test to diagnose IOD had a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 92% with a post-test probability of 78% and a likelihood ratio of 10.2. We concluded that the HfCHL test is highly effective in predicting IOD in patients with non-cholesteatomatous chronic suppurative otitis media and that it should be used routinely as a screening test prior to surgery.

Research protocol: Cisplatin-associated ototoxicity amongst patients receiving cancer chemotherapy and the feasibility of an audiological monitoring program

BackgroundCisplatin is an anti-cancer chemotherapy drug classified as an alkylating agent. It is used for the treatment of a variety of cancers such as cervical, breast, stomach, prostate, bladder and oesophageal, to name a few. However due to its expansive toxicity profile, patients receiving cisplatin can experience high frequency hearing loss, a side effect known as ototoxicity. The dearth of information on the extent and severity of cisplatin-associated ototoxicity in South Africa prevents the implementation of a context-specific audiological monitoring programme.MethodsThis study aims to determine the extent and severity of ototoxicity amongst patients with cervical cancer, receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy and hence the feasibility of an ototoxicity monitoring program in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A concurrent mixed methods design will be employed in the study. This longitudinal study will involve interviewing oncology nurses, oncologists, pharmacists and audiologists to assess the level of awareness to ototoxicity, as well as conducting diagnostic audiological evaluations at regular intervals on 78 patients with cervical cancer to ascertain the progression of hearing loss during and after chemotherapy. The feasibility of the monitoring program will be assessed as a parallel process to the audiological evaluations, where patient outcomes and cost implications to the patient and the health sector will be considered. Data will be subjected to statistical analyses so as to strengthen knowledge in the field and inform appropriate policies, and healthcare providers.DiscussionThis study is the first longitudinal study in South Africa to determine the ototoxic effects of cisplatin therapy on patients diagnosed with cervical cancer. Thus, the results generated from this study is likely to bring novel information to the fore using an evidence-based approach that will influence policy and clinical practice which can vastly improve the quality of life of patients undergoing chemotherapy. Mitigation of any further loss in the quality of life of affected patients is of paramount importance and the data generated from this project can lay the basis for further effective dialogue towards policy formulation on an ototoxic monitoring programme and the resultant strengthening of health systems in limited resource settings.

Patterns of Extended High-frequency Hearing Loss Following Stapes Surgery.

Thresholds in the extended high-frequency (EHF) range (> 8 kHz) often worsen after otherwise successful stapedectomy. The aims of this study were to document the prevalence of hearing loss from 0.25 to 16 kHz after stapedectomy and the relative rates of transient and permanent EHF hearing loss. Prospective, observational, longitudinal. Tertiary referral center. Thirty-nine patients who underwent 44 primary or revision stapes surgeries. Hearing thresholds were measured at 0.25 to 16 kHz preoperatively, and at approximately 1 week, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Average threshold changes in bands of frequencies (0.25-1, 2-8, 9-11.2, 12.5-16 kHz) and the percentage of patients with a change in the highest frequency at which a hearing threshold could be measured were evaluated at each assessment. A mean hearing loss was documented in the EHF range at all postoperative assessments. There was a decrease in the highest frequency at which a hearing threshold was measureable in 77% of patients at the first postoperative assessment, and despite some improvement over time, in 50% of patients 12 months postoperatively. There is a significant incidence of EHF loss after stapedectomy. Although partial recovery often occurs, more than half of patients retain an EHF hearing loss 12 months postoperatively. As hearing loss in the EHF range is more common than loss at 4 kHz, EHF measurements may be a more sensitive model to compare surgical factors and evaluate pharmacologic interventions.

A Novel Communication Value Task Demonstrates Evidence of Response Bias in Cases with Presbyacusis

Decision-making about the expected value of an experience or behavior can explain hearing health behaviors in older adults with hearing loss. Forty-four middle-aged to older adults (68.45 ± 7.73 years) performed a task in which they were asked to decide whether information from a surgeon or an administrative assistant would be important to their health in hypothetical communication scenarios across visual signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). Participants also could choose to view the briefly presented sentences multiple times. The number of these effortful attempts to read the stimuli served as a measure of demand for information to make a health importance decision. Participants with poorer high frequency hearing more frequently decided that information was important to their health compared to participants with better high frequency hearing. This appeared to reflect a response bias because participants with high frequency hearing loss demonstrated shorter response latencies when they rated the sentences as important to their health. However, elevated high frequency hearing thresholds did not predict demand for information to make a health importance decision. The results highlight the utility of a performance-based measure to characterize effort and expected value from performing tasks in older adults with hearing loss.

Cardiac and renal dysfunction is associated with progressive hearing loss in patients with Fabry disease.

BackgroundFabry disease (FD) is an X-linked recessive hereditary lysosomal storage disorder which results in the accumulation of globotriaosylceramid (Gb3) in tissues of kidney and heart as well as central and peripheral nervous system.Besides prominent renal and cardiac organ involvement, cochlear symptoms like high-frequency hearing loss and tinnitus are frequently found with yet no comprehensive data available in the literature.ObjectiveTo examine hearing loss in patients with FD depending on cardiac and renal function.Material and methodsSingle-center study with 68 FD patients enrolled between 2012 and 2016 at the Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery of the University of Würzburg. Every subject underwent an oto-rhino-laryngological examination as well as behavioral, electrophysiological and electroacoustical audiological testing. High-frequency thresholds were evaluated by using a modified PTA6 (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8) and HF-PTA (6, 8 kHz). Renal function was measured by eGFR, cardiac impairment was graduated by NYHA class.ResultsSensorineural hearing loss was detected in 58.8% of the cohort, which occurred typically in sudden episodes and affected especially high frequencies. Hearing loss is asymmetric, beginning unilaterally and affecting the contralateral ear later. Tinnitus was reported by 41.2%. Renal and cardiac impairment influenced the severity of hearing loss (p < 0.05).ConclusionsHigh frequency hearing loss is a common problem in patients with FD. Although not life-threatening, it can seriously reduce quality of life and should be taken into account in diagnosis and therapy. Optimized extensive hearing assessment including higher frequency thresholds should be used.

Study the impacts of diagnosis on occupational noise-induced deafness after bring into the different high frequency hearing threshold weighted value

Objective: Study of the results and the degree on occupational noise-induced deafness in-to the different high frequency hearing threshold weighted value, in order to provide theoretical basis for the re-vision of diagnostic criteria on occupational noise-induced deafness. Methods: A retrospective study was con-ducted to investigate the cases on the diagnosis of occupational noise-induced deafness in Guangdong province hospital for occupational disease prevention and treatment from January 2016 to January 2017. Based on the re-sults of the 3 hearing test for each test interval greater than 3 days in the hospital, the best threshold of each frequency was obtained, and based on the diagnostic criteria of occupational noise deafness in 2007 edition, Chi square test, t test and variance analysis were used to measure SPSS21.0 data, their differences are tested among the means of speech frequency and the high frequency weighted value into different age group, noise ex-posure group, and diagnostic classification between different dimensions. Results: 1. There were totally 168 cases in accordance with the study plan, male 154 cases, female 14 cases, the average age was 41.18 ±6.07 years old. 2. The diagnosis rate was increased into the weighted value of different high frequency than the mean value of pure speech frequency, the weighted 4 kHz frequency increased by 13.69% (χ(2)=9.880, P=0.002) , 6 kHz increased by 15.47% (χ(2)=9.985, P=0.002) and 4 kHz+6 kHz increased by15.47% (χ(2)=9.985, P=0.002) , the difference was statistically significant. The diagnostic rate of different high threshold had no obvious differ-ence between the genders. 3. The age groups were divided into less than or equal to 40years old group (A group) and 40-50 years old group (group B) , there were higher the diagnostic rate between high frequency weighted 4 kHz (A group χ(2)=3.380, P=0.050; B group χ(2)=4.054, P=0.032) , weighted 6 kHz (A group χ(2)=6.362, P=0.012; B group χ(2)=4.054, P=0.032) , high frequency weighted 4 kHz+6 kHz (A group χ(2)=6.362, P=0.012; B group χ(2)=4.054, P=0.032) than those of speech frequency average value in the same group on oc-cupational noise-induced deafness diagnosis rate, the difference was statistically significant. There was no sig-nificant difference between age groups (χ(2)=2.265, P=0.944) . 4. The better ear's mean value of pure speech fre-quency and the weighted values into different high frequency of working years on each group were compared, working years more than 10 years group was significantly higher than that of average thresholds of each frequen-cy band in 3-5 group (F=2.271, P=0.001) , 6-10 group (F=1.563, P=0.046) , the difference was statistically significant. The different high frequency weighted values were higher than those of the mean value of pure speech frequency, and the high frequency weighted 4 kHz+6 kHz had the highest frequency difference, with an average increase of 2.83 dB. 5. The diagnostic rate into weighted different high frequency was higher in the mild, moderate and severe grades than in the pure speech frequency. In the comparison of diagnosis for mild occupational noise-induced deafness, in addition to the weighted 3 kHz high frequency (χ(2)=3.117, P=0.077) had no significant difference, the weighted 4 kHz (χ(2)=10.835, P=0.001) , 6 kHz (χ(2)=9.985, P=0.002) , 3 kHz+4 kHz (χ(2)=6.315, P=0.012) , 3 kHz+6 kHz (χ(2)=6.315, P=0.012) , 4 kHz+6 kHz (χ(2)=9.985, P=0.002) , 3 kHz+4 kHz+6 kHz (χ(2)=7.667, P=0.002) were significantly higher than the diagnosis rate of the mean value of pure speech frequency. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the moderate and se-vere grades (P>0.05) . Conclusion: Bring into different high frequency hearing threshold weighted value in-creases the diagnostic rate of occupational noise-induced deafness, the weighted 4 kHz, 6 kHz and 4 kHz+ 6 kHz high frequency value affects the result greatly, and the weighted 4 kHz+6 kHz high frequency hearing threshold value is maximum the effect on occupational noise-induced deafness diagnosis.