Pure-tone Average Of Hearing Thresholds Research Articles

Confirmatory factor analysis of the Tinnitus Impact Questionnaire using data from patients seeking help for tinnitus alone or tinnitus combined with hyperacusis.

A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the Tinnitus Impact Questionnaire (TIQ) was performed. In contrast to commonly used tinnitus questionnaires, the TIQ is intended solely to assess the impact of tinnitus by not including items related to hearing loss or tinnitus loudness. This was a psychometric study based on a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of clinical data. Data were available for 155 new patients who had attended a tinnitus and hyperacusis clinic in the UK within a five-month period and had completed the TIQ. The mean age was 54 years (standard deviation = 14 years). The TIQ demonstrated good internal consistency, with Cronbach's α = 0.84 and McDonald's ω = 0.89. CFA showed that two items of the TIQ had low factor loadings for both one-factor and two-factor models and their scores showed low correlations with scores for other items. Bi-factor analysis gave a better fit, indicated by a relative chi-square (χ2) of 18.5, a Root-Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) of 0.103, a Comparative Fit Index (CFI) of 0.97, a Tucker Lewis Index (TLI) of 0.92, and a Standardized Root-Mean Residual (SPMR) of 0.038. Total TIQ scores were moderately correlated with scores for the Visual Analogue Scale of effect of tinnitus on life and the Screening for Anxiety and Depression-Tinnitus questionnaire, supporting the convergent validity of the TIQ. The TIQ score was not correlated with the pure-tone average hearing threshold, indicating discriminant validity. A multiple-causes multiple-indicator (MIMIC) model showed no influences of age, gender or hearing status on TIQ item scores. The TIQ is an internally consistent tool. CFA suggests a bi-factor model with sufficient unidimensionality to support the use of the overall TIQ score for assessing the impact of tinnitus. TIQ scores are distinct from the impact of hearing impairment among patients who have tinnitus combined with hearing loss.

Relationship Between Hypertension and Hearing Loss: Analysis of the Related Factors.

The impact of hypertension extends to hearing loss, aging, and mental Health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of hearing loss and hearing thresholds at different frequencies in individuals with hypertension. Through a comprehensive analysis, in the present study, it aimed to uncover the contributing factors that underlie hearing loss in this patient cohort, shedding light on the complex relationship between hypertension and auditory impairment. This was a single-center population-based observational study, and clinical, biological, and hospital data were collected from the inpatient ward. In the present study, 517 patients (1034 ears) with or without hypertension were included, and the proportion of patients with hearing loss, mean pure-tone average hearing threshold, low-frequency pure-tone average hearing threshold (LFPTA), medium-frequency pure-tone average hearing threshold (MFPTA) and high-frequency pure-tone average hearing threshold (HFPTA) were evaluated. Risk factors related to hearing loss and hearing threshold were also estimated at different frequencies. The proportion of patients with hearing loss was higher in the hypertensive group than in the nonhypertensive group (P<0.05). After including risk factors for cardiovascular disease that can have an impact on the parameters of hearing and ambulatory blood pressure in the regression model, factors related to hearing loss included the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and the standard deviation of the 24-hour systolic blood pressure (24h-SSD). ACR, 24h-SSD, and day systolic blood pressure (Day SBP) were associated with the mean pure-tone average hearing threshold, LFPTA, MFPTA, and HFPTA. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of ACR + 24h-SSD for hearing loss was 0.873, with a sensitivity of 86.73%, specificity of 90.52%, and a 95% confidence interval of 0.821-0.914. Hypertension is correlated with hearing loss, and the combination of ACR and 24h-SSD demonstrates an improved predictive capacity for hearing loss in hypertensive patients.

Effects of hearing acuity on psychophysiological responses to effortful speech perception

In recent studies, psychophysiological measures have been used as markers of listening effort, but there is limited research on the effect of hearing loss on such measures. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of hearing acuity on physiological responses and subjective measures acquired during different levels of listening demand, and to investigate the relationship between these measures. A total of 125 participants (37 males and 88 females, age range 37-72 years, pure-tone average hearing thresholds at the best ear between -5.0 to 68.8 dB HL and asymmetry between ears between 0.0 and 87.5 dB) completed a listening task. A speech reception threshold (SRT) test was used with target sentences spoken by a female voice masked by male speech. Listening demand was manipulated using three levels of intelligibility: 20% correct speech recognition, 50%, and 80% (IL20%, IL50%, IL80%, respectively). During the task, peak pupil dilation (PPD), heart rate (HR), pre-ejection period (PEP), respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and skin conductance level (SCL) were measured. For each condition, subjective ratings of effort, performance, difficulty, and tendency to give up were also collected. Linear mixed effects models tested the effect of intelligibility level, hearing acuity, hearing asymmetry, and tinnitus complaints on the physiological reactivity (compared to baseline) and subjective measures. PPD and PEP reactivity showed a non-monotonic relationship with intelligibility level, but no such effects were found for HR, RSA, or SCL reactivity. Participants with worse hearing acuity had lower PPD at all intelligibility levels and showed lower PEP baseline levels. Additionally, PPD and SCL reactivity were lower for participants who reported suffering from tinnitus complaints. For IL80%, but not IL50% or IL20%, participants with worse hearing acuity rated their listening effort to be relatively high compared to participants with better hearing. The reactivity of the different physiological measures were not or only weakly correlated with each other. Together, the results suggest that hearing acuity may be associated with altered sympathetic nervous system (re)activity. Research using psychophysiological measures as markers of listening effort to study the effect of hearing acuity on such measures are best served by the use of the PPD and PEP.

Correlation Analysis and Comparison of Adult CE-Chirp ABR Response Threshold and Pure Tone Hearing Threshold.

To study the application of CE-Chirp in the evaluation of hearing impairment in forensic medicine by testing the auditory brainstem response (ABR) in adults using CE-Chirp to analyze the relationship between the V-wave response threshold of CE-Chirp ABR test and the pure tone hearing threshold. Subjects (aged 20-77 with a total of 100 ears) who underwent CE-Chirp ABR test in Changzhou De'an Hospital from January 2018 to June 2019 were selected to obtain the V-wave response threshold, and pure tone air conduction hearing threshold tests were conducted at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 kHz, respectively, to obtain pure tone listening threshold. The differences and statistical differences between the average pure tone hearing threshold and V-wave response threshold were compared in different hearing levels and different age groups. The correlation, differences and statistical differences between the two tests at each frequency were analyzed for all subjects. The linear regression equation for estimating pure tone hearing threshold for all subjects CE-Chirp ABR V-wave response threshold was established, and the feasibility of the equation was tested. There was no statistical significance in the CE-Chirp ABR response threshold and pure tone hearing threshold difference between different hearing level groups and different age groups (P>0.05). There was a good correlation between adult CE-Chirp ABR V-wave response threshold and pure tone hearing threshold with statistical significance (P<0.05), and linear regression analysis showed a significant linear correlation between the two (P<0.05). The use of CE-Chirp ABR V-wave response threshold can be used to evaluate subjects' pure tone hearing threshold under certain conditions, and can be used as an audiological test method for forensic hearing impairment assessment.

Does experience with hearing aid amplification influence electrophysiological measures of speech comprehension?

Objective To explore if experience with hearing aid (HA) amplification affects speech-evoked cortical potentials reflecting comprehension abilities. Design N400 and late positive complex (LPC) responses as well as behavioural response times to congruent and incongruent digit triplets were measured. The digits were presented against stationary speech-shaped noise 10 dB above individually measured speech recognition thresholds. Stimulus presentation was either acoustic (digits 1-3) or first visual (digits 1-2) and then acoustic (digit 3). Study sample Three groups of older participants (N = 3 × 15) with (1) pure-tone average hearing thresholds <25 dB HL from 500-4000 Hz, (2) mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) but no prior HA experience, and (3) mild-to-moderate SNHL and >2 years of HA experience. Groups 2-3 were fitted with test devices in accordance with clinical gain targets. Results No group differences were found in the electrophysiological data. N400 amplitudes were larger and LPC latencies shorter with acoustic presentation. For group 1, behavioural response times were shorter with visual-then-acoustic presentation. Conclusion When speech audibility is ensured, comprehension-related electrophysiological responses appear intact in individuals with mild-to-moderate SNHL, regardless of prior experience with amplified sound. Further research into the effects of audibility versus acclimatisation-related neurophysiological changes is warranted.

Association between nineteen dietary fatty acids and hearing thresholds: findings from a nationwide survey

IntroductionHearing loss is a prevalent health concern, and dietary factors, such as fatty acid intake, may play a role in its development. The current study aimed to investigate the association between the intake of dietary fatty acids and hearing thresholds among U.S. adults.MethodsThe researchers examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), including 7,623 participants with available dietary fatty acid intake and audiometry data. Dietary fatty acid intake was assessed using dietary recalls, and hearing thresholds were measured using pure-tone audiometry. Multivariate linear regression models and smoothing curve fitting were utilized to explore the associations between dietary fatty acid intake and hearing thresholds, adjusting for relevant covariates.ResultsThis study reveals a direct association between both low and high frequency pure tone average (PTA) hearing thresholds and the dietary intake of total saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Conversely, the intake of total monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) demonstrates an inverted U-shaped correlation with low-frequency and high-frequency PTA hearing thresholds, having inflection points at 11.91 (energy (%)) and 10.88 (energy (%)), respectively.ConclusionDietary intake of certain fatty acids may influence hearing thresholds in adults.

Conductive Hearing Loss Estimated From Wideband Acoustic Immittance Measurements in Ears With Otitis Media With Effusion.

Previous work has shown that wideband acoustic immittance (WAI) is sensitive to the volume of effusion present in ears with otitis media with effusion (OME). Prior work also demonstrates that the volume of the effusion appears to drive, or at least play a significant role in, how much conductive hearing loss (CHL) a child has due to a given episode of OME. Given this association, the goal of this work was to determine how well CHL could be estimated directly from WAI in ears with OME. Sixty-three ears from a previously published study on OME (ages 9 months to 11 years, 2 months) were grouped based on effusion volume (full, partial, or clear) determined during tympanostomy tube placement surgery and compared with age-matched normal control ears. Audiometric thresholds were obtained for a subset of the 34 ears distributed across the four groups. An electrical-analog model of ear-canal acoustics and middle-ear mechanics was fit to the measured WAI from individual ears. Initial estimates of CHL were derived from either (1) average absorbance or (2) the model component thought to represent damping in the ossicular chain. The analog model produced good fits for all effusion-volume groups. The two initial CHL estimates were both well correlated (87% and 81%) with the pure-tone average hearing thresholds used to define the CHL. However, in roughly a third of the ears (11/34), the estimate based on damping was too large by nearly a factor of two. This observation motivated improved CHL estimates. Our CHL estimation method can estimate behavioral audiometric thresholds (CHL) within a margin of error that is small enough to be clinically meaningful. The importance of this finding is increased by the challenges associated with behavioral audiometric testing in pediatric populations, where OME is the most common. In addition, the discovery of two clusters in the damping-related CHL estimate suggests the possible existence of two distinctly different types of ears: pressure detectors and power detectors.

Urinary pyrethroid metabolite and hearing threshold shifts of adults in the United States: A cross-sectional study.

Hearing loss (HL) is a global health problem with a high prevalence and profound socioeconomic impact. Pyrethroids are one of the most commonly used insecticides. Although previous studies have reported the relationship between pyrethroids and neurotoxicity, little is known about the effect of pyrethroid exposure on the auditory system among the general population. This study is aimed to investigate the association of pyrethroid exposure with hearing threshold shifts of adults in the United States. A total of 726 adults, aged from 20 to 69 years from the 2011–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data were included in the study. Urinary 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), a general pyrethroid metabolite, was used as a biomarker for pyrethroid exposure. HL was defined as a pure-tone average (PTA) at 0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz ≥ 20 dB in the better ear. Analyses by using multivariate linear regressions were conducted to explore the associations of urinary 3-PBA with PTA hearing threshold shifts. There were no statistically significant correlations between Ln-transformed 3-PBA and either low-frequency or high-frequency hearing thresholds after adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education level, firearm noise exposure, occupational noise exposure, recreational noise exposure, serum cotinine, BMI, hypertension, and diabetes. However, associations of 3-PBA with both low-frequency and high-frequency hearing thresholds depended on age (P interaction < 0.0396 and 0.0017, respectively). Positive associations between Ln-transformed 3-PBA and both low-frequency and high-frequency hearing thresholds were observed in participants aged 20–39 years after adjusting confounders (β = 1.53, 95% CI: 0.04–3.01, and β = 3.14, 95% CI: 0.99–5.29, respectively) with the highest tertile (≥ 0.884 μg/g creatinine) of 3-PBA compared with the lowest tertile (< 0.407 μg/g creatinine). The possibility of interaction between 3-PBA and age on the hearing threshold shifts indicated that pyrethroid insecticides were prone to be more toxic to auditory system in younger adults than in older ones. Further studies will be required to confirm these findings.

Effects of erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus on elderly hearing-impaired patients: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial

We aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of Hericium erinaceus (HE) on hearing degeneration. By a double-blind, randomized, clinical trial, all 80 hearing-impaired patients aged 50–79 were randomly divided into the two groups, which received HE mycelia (2000 mg/day) and placebo boluses for eight months, respectively. A student’s t-test was used to evaluate the differences of the average pure tone hearing threshold of all, low, and high frequencies (PTA-all, PTA-low, and PTA-high); speech recognition threshold (SRT); speech discrimination score (SDS); and serum concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophic growth factor (NGF) between the two study groups. Subgroup analysis by age showed that PTA-high-Right, PTA-all-Left, PTA-high-Left, SRT-Right, SRT-Left, and NGF were significantly different between the two groups among patients aged ≧ 65. HE mycelia treatment could ameliorate hearing loss, especially for high frequencies and speech recognition, and increase NGF in patients aged ≧ 65.

Cognitive, physical, and mental profiles of older adults with misplaced self-evaluation of hearing loss

Background: Although inconsistency between objective and subjective hearing loss among older adults has been suggested, a systematic examination of the cognitive and physical functioning among such older adults is lacking. Our objective was to assess the cognitive, physical, and mental profiles associated with the discrepancy. Methods: The auditory acuity of 696 community-dwelling older adults was evaluated using a pure-tone average of hearing thresholds at 1.0 and 4.0 kHz in the better-hearing ear. Participants were then stratified as follows: normal hearing ≤ 25 dB, mild loss >25 dB and ≤40 dB, and moderate loss >40 dB and ≤70 dB. Global cognition, gait speed, and depressive symptoms were also assessed. Results: Among older adults, 63.5% of those with mild hearing loss and 22.2% of those with moderate hearing loss did not recognize hearing difficulties. Significantly lower cognition and gait performance were observed in those with moderate hearing loss without subjective hearing loss (i.e., overestimation of hearing acuity) than in those with subjective hearing loss. Furthermore, older adults with subjective hearing loss showed a higher tendency toward depression than those without subjective hearing loss, irrespective of objective hearing loss. Conclusions: Our results suggest that failure to recognize a high level of age-related hearing loss may be related to impaired cognition and gait performance among older adults. Subjective hearing loss may indicate a tendency toward depression.

Psychometric evaluation of the tinnitus impact questionnaire using patients seeking help for tinnitus or tinnitus with hyperacusis

Objective To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Tinnitus Impact Questionnaire (TIQ), whose questions focus on assessing the impact of tinnitus on the patient’s day to day activities, mood, and sleep, and not on hearing difficulties. Design This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Study sample Data were included for 172 adult patients who attended a tinnitus and hyperacusis clinic in the UK within a six-month period and who had completed the TIQ. Results Two items whose scores were very highly correlated with those for other items were removed, leaving seven items. Exploratory factor analysis suggested a single factor for the TIQ. A multiple causes multiple indicator model showed significant but very small direct effects of age on TIQ scores for two items, after adjustment for gender. The TIQ had excellent internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha = 0.89. The total TIQ score was moderately to strongly correlated with scores for the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Screening for Anxiety and Depression-Tinnitus questionnaire, Hyperacusis Questionnaire, and Hyperacusis Impact Questionnaire, indicating convergent validity. The TIQ score was weakly correlated with the pure-tone average hearing threshold, indicating discriminant validity. Conclusions The TIQ is a brief, valid and internally consistent questionnaire for assessing the impact of tinnitus.

Tinnitus assessment: Chinese version of the Tinnitus Primary Function Questionnaire.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the Chinese Version of the Tinnitus Primary Function Questionnaire (TPFQ). One hundred and sixteen patients who had been suffering from tinnitus for over 3 months were included in this study. Those tinnitus patients were administered the TPFQ, the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Additionally, the magnitude estimate of tinnitus loudness, pure tone audiogram, and tinnitus matching was obtained. The factor structure was measured using the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test. The internal consistency was examined using Cronbach's α coefficient. The relationships between the TPFQ scores and other measurements were compared using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. The Cronbach's α of the 20-item version of TPFQ was 0.94, and that of the 12-item version of TPFQ was 0.92. Both the 20-and 12-item versions of TPFQ were significantly correlated with magnitude estimation of tinnitus loudness, THI, PSQI, BDI, and BAI. The average pure tone hearing threshold was significantly correlated with the hearing subscale. The 20-and 12-item Chinese versions of TPFQ are reliable and valid measures of tinnitus. The TPFQ can be applied to the assessment and management of tinnitus among the Chinese-speaking population.

Exploring the Association of Leukocyte Telomere Length and Hearing Threshold Shifts of Adults in the United States.

BackgroundAlthough telomere length has a significant relationship with various age-related diseases, studies on its relationship with hearing status in adults are limited and equivocal. This study investigated the associations between mean telomere length (MTL) and low-, speech-, and high-frequency hearing threshold shifts of adults in the United States.MethodsA total of 2,027 adults, aged 20-69 years, from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES, 1999–2002) were included in the analytic sample. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction method was used for the MTL assay, and MTL was expressed using the telomere-to-single copy gene (T/S) ratio. Hearing loss was defined as a pure-tone average (PTA) for the better ear at ≥ 20 dB HL at frequencies 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 Hz. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses and smooth curve fittings were conducted to evaluate the correlation between MTL and low-, speech-, and high-frequency hearing levels.ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 40.60 ± 12.76 years, including 952 men (weighted, 48.67%) and 303 (weighted, 12.88%) participants with hearing loss. After adjusting for potential confounders in the multivariate linear regression model, the relationship between MTL and hearing thresholds was not statistically significant. Smooth curve fittings indicated a non-linear relationship between MTL and high-frequency PTA hearing threshold shifts. MTL was inversely related to high-frequency PTA to the turning point (T/S ratio = 0.82) (adjusted β−21.45, 95% CI −37.28, −5.62; P = 0.008). When the T/S ratio exceeded0.82, MTL was not associated with high-frequency PTA (adjusted β0.18, 95% CI −2.21, 2.57; P = 0.8809).ConclusionOur findings revealed that MTL was associated with high-frequency PTA hearing threshold shifts of adults in the United States in a non-linear manner.

Subclinical Atherosclerosis Could Increase the Risk of Hearing Impairment in Males: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Survey of the Kailuan Study.

ObjectiveThe relationship between subclinical atherosclerosis and hearing impairment (HI) has not been widely considered. Brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a good indicator of muscular artery elasticity and could be a feasible method to screen for subclinical atherosclerosis. Our study aimed to elucidate the relationship between baPWV and HI.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was based on the Kailuan cohort. All participants completed a standardized questionnaire and underwent physical examinations and laboratory assessments at recruitment. Since 2010, some participants received additional baPWV testing during follow-up visits, and some who were exposed to occupational hazards such as noise received a pure-tone average hearing threshold (PTA) test after 2014. Male subjects with a complete physical examination, baPWV, and PTA data were recruited for this study. HI was defined as PTA > 25 dB. Multivariate linear and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between baPWV and PTA or HI.ResultsAmong 11,141 subjects, the age range was 18–65 years, with mean age of 43.3 ± 8.9 years, the average PTA was 20.54 ± 10.40 dB, and the detection rate of HI was 1,821/11,141 (16.3%). Subjects were divided into four subgroups according to baPWV quartile. As the baPWV quartile increased, age, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, total cholesterol, high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, PTA, and proportions of subjects reporting smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, and diabetes increased significantly (p < 0.05 for trend). The odds of HI were higher in the fourth quartile group [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.33, 95% CI: 1.10–1.62] than in the first quartile group. For every 100 m/s increase in baPWV, the PTA increased by 13 dB (95% CI: 4–23). When we divided the subjects into young (5,478 subjects; age range 22–44 years; mean age 35.6 ± 5.5 years) or non-young subgroups (5,663 subjects; age range 45–65 years; mean age 50.7 ± 3.7 years) based on a cut-off age of 45 years, the aOR of the fourth quartile group increased to 2.65 (95% CI: 1.68–4.19), and the PTA increment increased to 18 dB (95% CI: 10–27) for every 100 m/s increase in baPWV in the young subgroup. However, this relationship became statistically insignificant in the non-young subgroup.ConclusionOur study revealed the quantitative relationship between baPWV and HI in the Kailuan cohort subjects, although the results are not universally consistent in different populations.

Time to Noise-Induced Hearing Loss among Different Type of Shift Work among Steel Workers: A Survival Study.

Background:There have been few reports on relationships between Shift Work (SW) and time to Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). This research explores the relation between SW and time to NIHL among male workers.Methods:Between 1990 and 2015, this historical cohort study was conducted. Two different definitions events (Low Frequency Hearing (LFH) and High Frequency Hearing (HFH)) of NIHL An average pure-tone hearing threshold was thresholds at 1, 1.5 and 2 kHz for LFH(un-normal>20) and 4, 6 and 8 kHz for HFH (un-normal>20) for Air (AC) and Bone (BC) conduction, in both ears, respectively. In this study Kaplan–Meier and Multilevel Cox Model in addition R version 3.2.1 and MLWiN software used to analysis data. P-values less than 0.05 are considered to be statistically significantResults:There were 6632 male workers in the research survey (mean age=35(±5)). Among these subjects, 2678 (40%),278 (4%) and 3676 (56%) were Day Workers (DW), Weekly Rotating Shift workers (WRS) and Routinely Rotating Shift workers (RRS), respectively. The result of this study showed more hazard risk of ear problem in LFH (Hazard=1.55 with 95% CI= (1.06–1.39)) and HFH (Hazard=1.08 with 95% CI= (1.04–1.13)) in RRS rather than day workers. In WRS group ear problem has been seen just in LFH (Hazard=1.55 with 95% CI= (1.2–2.0)).Conclusion:The findings of the 15-year historical cohort study generally support a relationship between SW and time to NIHL. Therefore, more actions in the field of noise control, greater use of safety devices as well as increased staff training on the use of safety devices recommended for shift worker.

Gait and Age-Related Hearing Loss Interactions on Global Cognition and Falls.

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is considered a risk factor for cognitive impairment and falls. The association may be modulated by gait performance because ARHL is related to mobility decline, which strongly contributes to cognitive impairment and falls. We investigated the interactive effects of gait and ARHL on global cognition and falls among older adults. Retrospective cohort study. The auditory acuity of 810 community-dwelling older adults was measured using a pure-tone average of hearing thresholds at 1,000 and 4,000 Hz in the better-hearing ear. Participants were then stratified as follows: normal hearing, ≤25 dB; mild hearing loss (HL), >25 and ≤40 dB; and moderate to severe HL, >40 dB. Gait speed was assessed as an indicator of gait performance and fall occurrence within the previous year. Global cognition was determined using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. A total of 320 (39.5%) and 233 (28.8%) participants had mild and moderate to severe HL, respectively. Hierarchical multiple and logistic regression analyses showed interactions between gait performance and moderate hearing loss on both global cognition and the occurrence of falls. Specifically, older adults with moderate hearing loss who walked slowly showed lower MoCA scores and a higher incidence of falls, whereas those with decent gait speed did not show such a tendency. Our results suggest that poor gait performance might modulate the effects of ARHL, leading to cognitive decline and falls. Poor cognitive performance and falls may be prevalent in older adults with ARHL, especially in those with slower gait and moderate hearing loss. 3 Laryngoscope, 132:857-863, 2022.

The efficacy of modified mini-mental state examination in patients with severe to profound hearing loss

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of modified mini-mental state examination（MMSE） in elderly patients with severe to profound hearing loss. Methods:A total of 24 elderly patients with severe to profound hearing loss from April to June 2019 were involved. Severe to profound hearing loss was defined by a pure-tone average of hearing thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz in the better-hearing ear. Modified and original MMSE was completed for the patients at first visit. Two weeks later, they all return hospital and MMSE were carried out by the other method. The aggregate score and subitem score of MMSE by modified and original instrument were analyzed. The degree of cognitive impairment evaluated by two methods were compared. Results:Among the 24 patients, the mean MMSE score by routine method and improved method were 10.88±9.70 and 25.29±3.70（P<0.01）. The average score of sub-items of MMSE with routine method and improved method are as follows: orientation 3.21±4.03 vs 8.71±1.92（P<0.01）, registration 1.04±1.33 vs 2.79±0.51（P<0.01）, attention and calculation 1.63±2.02 vs 4.00±1.41（P<0.01）, recall 0.79±1.14 vs 2.50±0.72（P<0.01）, language 4.21±2.11 vs 7.29±1.33（P<0.01）. Compared with the routine method, the degree of cognitive impairment getting better in 83.3% patients with improved method, meanwhile, 16.7% of the patients remain the same and no deterioration. Conclusion:The routine method of MMSE should be improved to seek the real cognitive state of the patients with severe to profound hearing loss.

Importance of personality and coping expectancy on patient-reported hearing disability, quality of life and distress level: a study of patients referred to an audiology service

PurposeAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), hearing loss (HL) affects up to 15% of the world’s adult population. Coping and personality are hypothesized to underlie quality of life (QoL) and distress scores. We aimed to study the importance of personality and coping in persons with HL for self-reported hearing disability, QoL, and distress.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was carried out, including one hundred and fifty-eight adults seeking hearing aids. Pure-tone average hearing thresholds (PTA) were determined for each ear. A revised version of the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) served as a measure of self-reported hearing disability. Further, the generic part of the European Organization for Research and Treatment (EORTC) QoL questionnaire and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) (distress measure) were answered. Levels of neuroticism and the Theoretically Originated Measure of the Cognitive Activation Theory of Stress (TOMCATS) coping expectancy were determined.ResultsHearing disability was determined by PTA (better ear) and level of neuroticism. Distress and QoL were determined by neuroticism and coping.ConclusionMore neuroticism was associated with worse outcome for the variables hearing disability, distress, and QoL. Helplessness and hopelessness were associated with worse hearing disability, increased distress, and lowered QoL. Patient reported hearing disability was also associated with PTA (better ear). There is a need to investigate further the associations between hearing disability and QoL to psychosocial parameters.

Factors and Communication Impact of Unilateral Hearing Loss in U.S. Adults

Factors and Communication Impact of Unilateral Hearing Loss in U.S. Adults

Hearing loss patterns throughout life: Insights from Japan

Hearing loss patterns throughout life: Insights from Japan