Sensation Level Research Articles

The Aesthetic Pass: Beauty and the End of Analysis

This essay reads Jacques Lacan’s 1967 “Proposition on the Analyst of the School” from the perspectives of the metapsychology that upholds the Pass at the École freudienne du Québec and of aesthetic acts in Andy Goldsworthy’s ephemeral works. Specifically, it examines the aesthetic act as a possible path for the unbound drive upon traversing castration. It argues that the Pass is, specifically, a transindividual act of solidarity with desire that extends its ethics and efficacy beyond both the institutional frameworks of psychoanalysis and the control of cultures and civilizations. The essay relates Freud’s thoughts on transience and beauty to the end of analysis and concludes with a reading of Marceline Desbordes-Valmore’s “Les Roses de Saadi” to contend that the transmission of the Pass occurs on the level of sensation to attain, beyond cultural particularities, desire as the common cause of humanity.

Long Term Effectiveness of ESWT in Plantar Fasciitis in Amateur Runners

Shock wave therapy is one of the modern methods of treatment used to treat diseases of muscles, tendons, and entheses in orthopedics, as well as in sports medicine. The therapy is increasingly used in the treatment of plantar fasciitis-a disease that is very difficult and burdensome to treat. Where basic conservative treatment for heel spurs fails, the only alternative consists of excision of the bone outgrowth, and shock wave therapy: a modern, minimally invasive, and relatively safe method. The aim of the study was to determine the long-term effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the treatment of painful ailments occurring in the course of plantar fasciitis in amateur runners. The study includes a group of 39 men and women, aged 34-64 (mean age 54.05 ± 8.16), suffering from chronic pain in one or both feet, occurring in the course of plantar fasciitis. The patients had to meet five criteria to qualify for the study. The group was divided into two subgroups: those who had not undergone other physiotherapeutic procedures prior to the extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT-alone; 23 people), and those who had received other procedures (ESWT-plus; 16 people). The therapy was performed using extracorporeal shock wave (ESWT). No local anesthesia was used. The effectiveness of the extracorporeal shock wave therapy was evaluated using the visual analogue scale of pain (VAS), Modified Laitinen Pain Index Questionnaire, the AOFAS scale (American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society), and a survey questionnaire consisting of 10 questions concerning metrics and subjective assessment of the effects of therapy. The interview was conducted before ESWT, and again five years later. The use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy reduced the intensity and frequency of pain, and improved daily and recreational activity. Moreover, a reduction in the level of pain sensation on the VAS scale and pain symptoms during walking was demonstrated. More favorable results were obtained in the ESWT-plus group; however, the first effects were observed later than in the ESWT-alone group. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is an effective form of therapy for amateur runners. It reduces pain associated with plantar fasciitis that amateur runners may experience at rest, while walking, and during daily and recreational activity.

The use of electrodermal activity in pulpal diagnosis and dental pain assessment.

To explore whether electrodermal activity (EDA) can serve as a complementary tool for pulpal diagnosis (Aim 1) and an objective metric to assess dental pain before and after local anaesthesia (Aim 2). A total of 53 subjects (189 teeth) and 14 subjects (14 teeth) were recruited for Aim 1 and Aim 2, respectively. We recorded EDA using commercially available devices, PowerLab and Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) Amplifier, in conjunction with cold and electric pulp testing (EPT). Participants rated their level of sensation on a 0-10 visual analogue scale (VAS) after each test. We recorded EPT-stimulated EDA activity before and after the administration of local anaesthesia for participants who required root canal treatment (RCT) due to painful pulpitis. The raw data were converted to the time-varying index of sympathetic activity (TVSymp), a sensitive and specific parameter of EDA. Statistical analysis was performed using Python 3.6 and its Scikit-post hoc library. Electrodermal activity was upregulated by the stimuli of cold and EPT testing in the normal pulp. TVSymp signals were significantly increased in vital pulp compared to necrotic pulp by both cold test and EPT. Teeth that exhibited intensive sensitivity to cold with or without lingering pain had increased peak numbers of TVSymp than teeth with mild sensation to cold. Pre- and post-anaesthesia EDA activity and VAS scores were recorded in patients with painful pulpitis. Post-anaesthesia EDA signals were significantly lower compared to pre-anaesthesia levels. Approximately 71% of patients (10 of 14 patients) experienced no pain during treatment and reported VAS score of 0 or 1. The majority of patients (10 of 14) showed a reduction of TVSymp after the administration of anaesthesia. Two of three patients who experienced increased pain during RCT (post-treatment VAS > pre-treatment VAS) exhibited increased post-anaesthesia TVSymp. Our data show promising results for using EDA in pulpal diagnosis and for assessing dental pain. Whilst our testing was limited to subjects who had adequate communication skills, our future goal is to be able to use this technology to aid in the endodontic diagnosis of patients who have limited communication ability.

Моделі психофізіологічних показників кваліфікованих дзюдоїстів

Purpose: on the basis of the developed models of psychophysiological indicators, to establish evaluation criteria of sensorimotor reactions and specific perceptions for qualified judokas. Material and methods. The following methods were used: analysis of scientific and methodological information and the Internet, generalization of best practical experience; psychophysiological research methods; methods of mathematical statistics. 18 qualified judokas (10 athletes from KMSU and 8 athletes from MSU), aged 21,00±1,29 years, took part in the research. Assessment of psychophysiological indicators was carried out using a complex of tests developed for tablet personal computers. For the convenience of the research, all tests were divided into three groups: assessment of simple sensorimotor reactions; assessment of complex sensorimotor reactions; assessment of specific perceptions. Results: the analysis of scientific and methodical literature, the Internet and the generalization of best practical experience made it possible to establish that training and competitive activities in martial arts contribute to the formation of a whole complex of specific reactions and perceptions in athletes. It is based on the threshold of perception of stimuli, which are composed of different sensory systems. The main role is played by the levels of muscle-motor, visual, vestibular and auditory sensations. The higher the level of sportsmanship of the athlete, the higher the level of importance of psychophysiological functions to achieve a competitive result. In the course of the study, the results of psychophysiological indicators were obtained in the following tests: «Simple motor skills and resistance to distracting factors», «Simple visual-motor reaction», «Simple auditory-motor reaction», «Reaction of choosing from static objects», «Reaction of discrimination», «Reaction to a moving object», «Reaction of selection from dynamic objects», «Evaluation of the sense of tempo», «Evaluation of accuracy and speed when reproducing a given line», «Evaluation of perception of a change in size object»). Conclusions. Based on the obtained results, models of psychophysiological indicators were developed, which made it possible to establish evaluation criteria of sensorimotor reactions and specific perceptions for qualified judokas. It was established that the specifics of the competitive activity of martial artists leaves its mark on the level of development of the leading psychophysiological qualities that ensure high sports achievements in the chosen type of martial arts. Keywords: modeling, psychophysiological indicators, judo, qualified athletes.

Evaluation of pain in patients undergoing fixed dental appliance

Introduction: Pain is experienced by patients during various fixed orthodontic procedures such as placement of separators, insertion of arch wire and its activations, orthopedic appliances such as headgear, and debonding of the appliance. This study was formulated with the background that the level of pain sensation differs between conventional metal and ceramic brackets, arch wire being the same pain is an important aspect of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL). Understanding how patients' pain experiences during their treatment affect their quality of life (QOL) is important and the absence of pain/discomfort is important for achieving a high QOL. Aim and Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between pain and OHRQOL among patients wearing fixed orthodontic appliances and to evaluate whether patient motivation and counseling had an effect on the pain and discomfort. Materials and methods: The data collection was done , the obtained data were tabulated and entered in the MS excel sheet. Data collection were imported to SPSS, variable definition process was done using tables and graphical illustration.

Pilot study on the role of somatic modulation in hyperacusis.

Hyperacusis is a reduced tolerance to sounds that often co-occurs with tinnitus. Both symptoms have convergent as well as divergent characteristics. Somatic modulation, changes in pitch or loudness during certain movements, is common in patients with a primary complaint of tinnitus. However, thus far, this is not documented in patients with hyperacusis. This study aimed to examine the influence of somatic manoeuvres on the perception of external sounds in patients with a primary complaint of hyperacusis. In this prospective cross-sectional pilot study, 18 patients with a primary complaint of hyperacusis were recruited at the Tinnitus Treatment and Research Center Antwerp (TINTRA). While patients listened to a 1kHz broadband noise of 30dB sensation level, six neck manoeuvres (flexion, extension, lateroflexion left/right, traction and compression), three jaw manoeuvres (protrusion, laterotrusion left/right) and one placebo manoeuvre (hand on head) were performed. The primary outcome measure was the change in the perception of the presented sound in terms of loudness and intrusiveness between baseline and each modulation measured by a visual analogue scale (VAS). No overall significant changes were found; however, individual results indicated that five patients presented a clinically relevant change of more than three points out of ten on VAS in terms of hyperacusis after at least one of the executed somatic manoeuvres. This pilot study did not demonstrate an overall significant change in hyperacusis after somatic manoeuvres but does not rule out the possibility of somatic modulation in some hyperacusis patients. The protocol of this prospective cross-sectional pilot study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov with registration number NCT04693819.

Computer Means of Visual Control of Pronunciation in the Work of a Special Teacher

The work of a speech therapist of any qualification and direction is a piece–by–piece product, in which the secrets of success depend on a combination of methodological ingenuity and flexibility with rigid thoroughness and exactingness. At the same time, it is believed that the use of technical means in the success of such work cannot be decisive, since the main product of this work is based on the subjective feelings of the patient, the diversity of which cannot be measured by objective means. The production of sound reproduction, the development of the mechanisms of voice formation, propaedeutic exercises and articulatory gymnastics rely mainly on tactile sensations in the speech–forming organs. Optical monitoring of the state of the speech organs is classically carried out in the form of exercises in front of a speech therapy mirror. However, in recent years, the modern rapid development of technology allows the speech therapist to work not at the level of the patient's subjective sensations, but on the basis of more objective computer methods for evaluating the speech produced and corrective exercises.

Speech-Evoked Envelope Following Responses in Children and Adults.

Envelope following responses (EFRs) could be useful for objectively evaluating audibility of speech in children who are unable to participate in routine clinical tests. However, relative to adults, the characteristics of EFRs elicited by frequency-specific speech and their utility in predicting audibility in children are unknown. EFRs were elicited by the first (F1) and second and higher formants (F2+) of male-spoken vowels /u/ and /i/ and by fricatives /ʃ/ and /s/ in the token /suʃi/ presented at 15, 35, 55, 65, and 75 dB SPL. The F1, F2+, and fricatives were low-, mid-, and high-frequency dominant, respectively. EFRs were recorded between the vertex and the nape from twenty-three 6- to 17-year-old children and 21 young adults with normal hearing. Sensation levels of stimuli were estimated based on behavioral thresholds. In children, amplitude decreased with age for /ʃ/-elicited EFRs but remained stable for low- and mid-frequency stimuli. As a group, EFR amplitude and phase coherence did not differ from that of adults. EFR sensitivity (proportion of audible stimuli detected) and specificity (proportion of inaudible stimuli not detected) did not vary between children and adults. Consistent with previous work, EFR sensitivity increased with stimulus frequency and level. The type of statistical indicator used for EFR detection did not influence accuracy in children. Adultlike EFRs in 6- to 17-year-old typically developing children suggest mature envelope encoding for low- and mid-frequency stimuli. EFR sensitivity and specificity in children, when considering a wide range of stimulus levels and audibility, are ~77% and ~92%, respectively. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.21136171.

Neural effects of viewing children's faces on mental fatigue: a magnetoencephalography study.

We examined whether the recovery from fatigue could be facilitated by viewing the children's faces. Seventeen healthy mothers with child or children over 6 years old participated in our experiment. After performing a 2-back task for 40min, they viewed the pictures of children's and adult's faces in the target and control conditions, respectively. The target and control conditions were performed on the separate days in a two-crossover design. Neural activity caused by viewing the children's faces was recorded using magnetoencephalography and electrocardiography was performed to assess the index of heart rate variability (low-frequency component power/high-frequency component power ratio, LF/HF) reflecting fatigue. The subjective level of mental fatigue sensation and LF/HF ratio was decreased after viewing the children's faces and the overactivation of the visual cortex caused by performing the 2-back task, assessed by the alteration of alpha band power in the visual cortex, was attenuated by viewing the children's faces, suggesting that viewing the children's faces affected the time course of mental fatigue after performing the 2-back task.

Validation of Male Talker Recordings of the Spanish Pediatric Speech Recognition Threshold Test and the Spanish Pediatric Picture Identification Test.

The purpose of this study was to validate recordings of the Spanish Pediatric Speech Recognition Threshold (SPSRT) test and Spanish Pediatric Picture Identification Test (SPPIT) for Spanish-speaking children using a native, bilingual Spanish-English male talker of Castilian peninsular dialect from Spain. Seventy native Spanish-speaking children from a variety of countries participated. Fifty-eight participants had normal hearing, and the remaining 12 had mild hearing loss in at least one ear. Male talker recordings of the SPSRT and SPPIT were administered to obtain baseline validation data. Participants listened to the stimuli and pointed to the appropriate item on the picture boards that represented the word they heard. Mean SRTs were within 5 dB of mean pure-tone averages resulting in a positive correlation. Performance-intensity functions for the SPPIT showed minimal significant differences across the three test lists, and performance increased as the sensation level increased. The male talker recordings of the SPSRT and SPPIT are valid speech perception picture-pointing assessments that can be used with Spanish-speaking children. The recordings present the Spanish target word while simultaneously presenting the English interpretation for ease of scoring.

Stigma Experience in Patients With Vitiligo: A Comprehensive Study in a Skin Hospital

Vitiligo is the most common cause of skin depigmentation, which relates to a wide range of psychological disorders. Stigma is defined as a negative attitude towards oneself that results from one's perception of being different from the general population. In this study, we have evaluated the quality of life and stigmatization degree among vitiligo patients. In this cross-sectional study, 323 patients with vitiligo referred to Razi Hospital, Tehran, Iran, were evaluated. All patients were asked to fill out a questionnaire containing age, gender, marital status, educational level, employment status, duration of vitiligo, location of lesions, history of underlying diseases, history of previous treatments, as well as history of depression or suicide. Quality of life and stigmatization among patients were assessed by DLQI (dermatology life quality index) and FSQ (feeling stigmatization questionnaire) questionnaires. The prevalence of moderate and severe stigmatization were 49.8 % and 13.3%, respectively. Women were significantly more stigmatized than men. The presence of vitiligo lesions on the face, hands, or forearms, previous topical and oral treatments, and prior depressive disorders were significantly associated with an increased sense of stigma. Patients with thigh or trunk lesions faced less stigmatization. Additionally, stigmatization was meaningfully related to the level of quality of life impairment. In the present study, 63% of patients with vitiligo experienced moderate to severe stigmatization levels related to gender, lesion site, history of prior treatments, and depression. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between the level of stigma sensation and the life quality disturbance.

Modulation masking produced by a low-frequency pure tone

An intense low-frequency tone can affect the perception of amplitude modulation (AM) applied to a high-frequency carrier. Here, thresholds for detecting AM of a 3000-Hz carrier were measured in the presence of a 50-Hz pure tone at 91 dB SPL. When the carrier was presented at 20 dB sensation level (SL), the thresholds were higher than in the absence of the 50-Hz tone, increased when the AM frequency was increased from 20 to 100 Hz, and did not show a maximum near 50 Hz, as would be expected if the effect of the 50-Hz tone resulted from modulation detection interference. When the AM frequency was fixed at 50 Hz, the AM detection thresholds showed a minimum when the phase of the AM was 90° ahead of the phase of the 50-Hz tone (denoted Δφ = 90°) and a maximum for Δφ = 270°. To assess the role of the outer hair cells (OHCs), AM detection thresholds were measured as a function of Δφ using SLs of 20 and 50 dB for normal-hearing participants and 20 dB for hearing-impaired participants. It was assumed that the latter would have impaired OHC function. The pattern of the results was similar across SLs and groups: AM detection thresholds were 8–10 dB lower for Δφ = 90° than for Δφ = 270° in all cases. This suggests that the OHCs do not play a large role in these effects and supports the idea that the low-frequency tone biases the responses of inner hair cells tuned to high frequencies.

Methods of coping with neoplastic disease in men with non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer

AbstractOnly limited data evaluating coping methods in patients with bladder cancer are available in the literature. Also, it is unclear how the mental status of these patients affects their stress coping strategies. The aim of the study was to evaluate the stress coping strategies in patients with non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and to assess the impact of sociodemographic factors, presence of anxiety and depressive symptoms and degree of sexual satisfaction on stress coping strategies. This prospective cohort study included 100 male patients qualified for control cystoscopy who underwent at least one transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURB) procedure in the past for NMIBC and at least one control cystoscopy. The minimal follow‐up period after primary TURB was 1 year. The MiniCOPE, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire were used. The questionnaires were completed anonymously before cystoscopy in a room that provided privacy. Majority patients with NMIBC chosen adaptive strategies, with ‘accepting’ and ‘seeking emotional support’ being the most common. The choice of strategy was influenced by the severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as the level of sexual satisfaction and pain sensations. Also, sociodemographic variables, such as marriage status, progeniture or the level of education played a role in strategy selection. The results of this study indicate that patients with NMIBC choose adaptive stress coping strategies. It also provides a better understanding of the impact of various aspects of mental health in patients with NMIBC on coping with stress. Each patient treated for NMIBC should undergo appropriate psychological and sociodemographic evaluation, which will allow easier identification of patients at high risk of treatment and postoperative surveillance discontinuation.

FEATURES OF MIRROR VISUAL FEEDBACK APPLICATION FOR PATIENTS WITH PHANTOM LIMB PAIN IN THE PRESENCE OF ATYPICAL PHANTOM POSITION

One of the most interesting methods of neurorehabilitation is Mirror Visual Feedback (MVF). Despite the widespread information about effectiveness of MVF, specialists who have previously used this method but have not achieved positive results when working with patients, have many questions about the specific features of its application. Objective. The aim of our study was evaluation of the MVF effectiveness for reducing the severity of phantom pain in an amputated limb in the presence of atypical phantom location. Material and Methods: The study involved 29 patients with phantom limb pain. The severity of pain and quality of life were assessed. Results: It was found that the effectiveness of the MVF depends on some important factors, such as a discrepancy between the location of the phantom at the level of sensations and in reflection, duration and severity of the pain syndrome. Conclusions. An important factor in the successful results of the MVF application is assessment of the initial position of the phantom and ability to change its position in space at the sensory level. A decrease in the severity of phantom pain can create in the long-term the illusion that the patient has adapted to the problem. The timing and frequency of the MVF course should be selected individually, depending on the duration, severity of phantom pain and patient fatigue. It is assumed that the use of MVF in the early period after amputation prevents the development of phantom pain, which requires further research in this direction.

Correlation between clinical characteristics and tinnitus severity in tinnitus patients of different sexes: an analytic retrospective study.

This study aimed to explore whether sex is influences tinnitus severity and whether the risk factors for tinnitus severity are the same in tinnitus patients of different sexes. This was a retrospective study of data from 1427 patients complaining of tinnitus in a local hospital otolaryngology clinic from November 2019 to January 2022. All patients were interviewed and assessed by otoscopy, pure-tone audiometry, tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), visual analogue scale (VAS), and tinnitus refinement test. THI values were higher in females than in males (P = 0.00). Types of tinnitus sounds (OR 0.667, P = 0.000) and degree of hearing loss (OR 1.318, P = 0.000) were risk factors for tinnitus severity in males. Types of tinnitus sounds (OR 0.789, P = 0.005), sensation level (OR 1.023, P = 0.037), tinnitus types (OR 1.163, P = 0.041), tinnitus location (OR 1.198, P = 0.026), and the degree of hearing loss (OR 1.303, P = 0.000) were risk factors for tinnitus severity in females. Sex was an influencing factor for tinnitus severity. There were different risk factors for the tinnitus severity in different sexes. The risk factors for tinnitus severity differed according to sex in tinnitus patients, and the risk factors for tinnitus severity were greater in women than in men. These findings add to the literature on sex differences in tinnitus and suggest that medical and psychological screening of affected individuals and customized tinnitus treatment for each individual with tinnitus are needed. ChiCTR2200057958, 2022/3/24 (retrospectively registered trials).

The Exhausted in Samuel Beckett’s Endgame (1957)

This article explores the philosophical implications of Samuel Beckett’s dramatic work and his encounter with Gilles Deleuze at the level of sensations and thoughts. In Endgame, Beckett’s tragic vision of human existence resonates with Deleuze’s perception of the subject’s exhaustion and situatedness in a clinical state. The subject suffers from physiological and logical exhaustion. Beckett exhausts the space to dramatise the subject’s existential struggle and the limitations of his will within the absurd confines in (post)modernity. Thus, the exhausted seated person has no potentialities to construct other possibilities of a livable world.

Conformity of the Real-Ear Aided Response With the Target Response From the Desired Sensation Level V5 Formula

Objectives: Real-ear measurements are critical in children for hearing aid fitting. This study aimed to evaluate the conformity of measured and predicted real-ear aided response of prescribed formula of desired sensation level (DSL) version 5, (Pediatric form) in children aged 4 to 7 years. Since there is limited information about the effect of degrees of hearing loss, ethnicity, gender, and ear on this conformity, the present study investigated the influence of the mentioned factors, too. Methods: This study was conducted on 92 children aged 4-7 years (37 girls and 55 boys) with moderate to profound hearing loss. After auditory evaluations, the children’s hearing aids were fitted based on the DSL formula. Then, the hearing aid output was measured with a real-ear measurement system, and the difference between predicted and measured curves were compared. Results: This study showed a significant difference between the predicted values and the measured ones at three intensity level inputs (50, 65, and 80 dB SPL) and a frequency range of 0.5 to 6 kHz for both ears (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between predicted and measured values curves (predicted-measured) regarding the effects of the hearing loss degrees, gender, ethnicity, and ear (right or left) (P>0.05). Discussion: According to the difference observed between the predicted and measured curves, especially at the frequencies of 6 and 4 kHz, it is essential to conduct real-ear measurements in children.

A brief and efficient stimulus set to create the inverted U-shaped relationship between rhythmic complexity and the sensation of groove.

When listening to music, we often feel a strong desire to move our body in relation to the pulse of the rhythm. In music psychology, this desire to move is described by the term groove. Previous research suggests that the sensation of groove is strongest when a rhythm is moderately complex, i.e., when the rhythm hits the sweet spot between being too simple to be engaging and too complex to be interpretable. This means that the relationship between rhythmic complexity and the sensation of groove can be described by an inverted U-shape (Matthews 2019). Here, we recreate this inverted U-shape with a stimulus set that was reduced from 54 to only nine rhythms. Thereby, we provide an efficient toolkit for future studies to induce and measure different levels of groove sensations. Pleasure and movement induction in relation to rhythmic complexity are emerging topics in music cognition and neuroscience. Investigating the sensation of groove is important for understanding the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying motor timing and reward processes in the general population, and in patients with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and motor impairment after stroke. The experimental manipulation of groove also provides new approaches for research on social bonding in interpersonal movement interactions that feature music. Our brief stimulus set facilitates future research on these topics by enabling the creation of efficient and concise paradigms.

Outdoor Wind Comfort and Adaptation in a Cold Region

The outdoor wind comfort is important for evaluations of the urban wind environment. The existing wind comfort criteria are based on the correlations between wind parameters, human activity levels, and wind comfort level categories. These criteria vary among different climates and regions, and they are influenced by meteorological parameters and human wind adaptation. In this study, an outdoor wind comfort questionnaire survey was conducted and meteorological measurements were collected in Xi’an, which is located in the cold region of China. The square and lake side were chosen as the test sites. The mean wind sensation vote (MWSV) and wind speed of neutral wind sensation were used as indexes to analyze the correlation between outdoor wind comfort and human wind adaptation. The results showed that the wind sensation level was generally moderate. At −1 < MWSV < 1, the fluctuations in the wind speed had little effect on the wind sensation, but when MWSV > 1 or MWSV < −1, the degree of discomfort increased as the absolute value of MWSV increased. When the wind speed exceeded 1 m/s, the amount of clothing insulation was greatly increased. The metabolic rate fluctuated between 1.5 met and 2 met. Expectations that the wind speed in the winter would be less than 1.05 m/s were greater than expectations that the wind speed would be more than 1.05 m/s in the summer, and people generally adapted to a low wind environment with wind speeds below 1 m/s. The acceptable wind ranges for more than 90% of participants at the square and lake side were (0 m/s, 2.02 m/s) and (0.01 m/s, 2.86 m/s). This study provides support for the revision of outdoor wind comfort standards and a methodological basis for outdoor wind comfort research at the same latitude throughout the world.

Comparing the Effect of Digital Noise Reduction Technique on Frequency Gain of Behind-the-Ear Digital Hearing Aids

Background and Aim: Background noise as a serious challenge mainly affects the speech perception in people with hearing loss. One of the methods used to control noise is digital noise reduction (DNR) technique. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of DNR program (activated and deactivated) on the frequency gain of basic and advanced behind-the-ear (BTE) Oticon hearing aids, using different DNR strategies to reduce background noise. Methods: Two behind-the-ear Oticon hearing aids (Opn1 S105 and GetP) were used in this study. The Affinity 2.0 test box was first used to measure their DNR (off/on) gains using the national acoustic laboratories-non linear2 (NAL-NL2) and desired sensation level multi-stage [input/output] (DSLm[I/O]) formulas at sound pressure levels of 45, 65 and 85 dB SPL at a frequency range of 250-8000 Hz for three hearing loss (HL) patterns using the international speech test signal and broad band noise. Results: There was a significant difference in DNR performance between the Opn1 S105 and GetP models for all three HL patterns at 45 and 65 dB SPL and most frequencies. Conclusion: The DNR performance of advanced and basic hearing aids is different for different HLs at 45 and 65 dB SPL and most frequencies. The performance of advanced hearing aids is significant using the DSLm[I/O] formula at most frequencies. Keywords: Digital noise reduction; international speech test signal; frequency response; broad band noise