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Κυριακή 31 Ιανουαρίου 2016
2016 Coding and Reimbursement Update
Dr. Kim Cavitt: Today’s course will cover changes related to CPT as well as to PQRS (Physician Quality Reporting System) for 2016. It is recommended that you download the course handout as a reference as it includes all the codes mentioned in this course, as well as many links to regulations, guidance, and resources. There are no new HCPCS codes that pertain to audiology. 
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Advanced Management of Complex Cases: Children with Multiple Medical Conditions
Cochlear implantation was introduced in the United States as a viable treatment for hearing loss in the 1980s. Originally, the anticipated benefits were awareness of sound and enhancement of speech reading. Therefore, the early candidacy guidelines were very strict. There were concerns that the benefit from a cochlear implant would be limited or potentially be very difficult to measure, so the industry was conservative about who it considered for an implant. Original FDA GuidelinesAt the time of the original Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for the pediatric clinical trials, children 24 months of age and older were considered.
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2016 Coding and Reimbursement Update
Dr. Kim Cavitt: Today’s course will cover changes related to CPT as well as to PQRS (Physician Quality Reporting System) for 2016. It is recommended that you download the course handout as a reference as it includes all the codes mentioned in this course, as well as many links to regulations, guidance, and resources. There are no new HCPCS codes that pertain to audiology.
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Advanced Management of Complex Cases: Children with Multiple Medical Conditions
Cochlear implantation was introduced in the United States as a viable treatment for hearing loss in the 1980s. Originally, the anticipated benefits were awareness of sound and enhancement of speech reading. Therefore, the early candidacy guidelines were very strict. There were concerns that the benefit from a cochlear implant would be limited or potentially be very difficult to measure, so the industry was conservative about who it considered for an implant. Original FDA GuidelinesAt the time of the original Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for the pediatric clinical trials, children 24 months of age and older were considered.
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via IFTTT
2016 Coding and Reimbursement Update
Dr. Kim Cavitt: Today’s course will cover changes related to CPT as well as to PQRS (Physician Quality Reporting System) for 2016. It is recommended that you download the course handout as a reference as it includes all the codes mentioned in this course, as well as many links to regulations, guidance, and resources. There are no new HCPCS codes that pertain to audiology.
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via IFTTT
Advanced Management of Complex Cases: Children with Multiple Medical Conditions
Cochlear implantation was introduced in the United States as a viable treatment for hearing loss in the 1980s. Originally, the anticipated benefits were awareness of sound and enhancement of speech reading. Therefore, the early candidacy guidelines were very strict. There were concerns that the benefit from a cochlear implant would be limited or potentially be very difficult to measure, so the industry was conservative about who it considered for an implant. Original FDA GuidelinesAt the time of the original Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for the pediatric clinical trials, children 24 months of age and older were considered.
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Σάββατο 30 Ιανουαρίου 2016
Tinnitus Talk
If you have ever experienced a constant ringing or hissing sound in the ears, you probably already know how annoying and often debilitating it can be. Although you may not realize it, you are certainly not alone. In fact, approximately one out of every ten adults is affected by tinnitus in some way. The good news is that there is an online forum those who suffer with this condition. Tinnitus Talk Support Forum is more than simply a place to learn about the condition; it is a place to form friendships and get the support you deserve.
Virtually Endless Knowledge at Your Fingertips
One of the best things about Tinnitus Talk is that the website includes a knowledge base that is chock-full of helpful information. Whether you want to learn about how you can get involved in raising awareness and starting a tinnitus fundraiser or simply wish to read about the success stories of others, the range of useful information is virtually endless. Also included in the knowledge base are free downloads of sorts and information about clinical trials.
Get Your Questions Answered by a Real-Live Doctor
Another exceptional component of the online support forum, which makes it a favorite among both tinnitus sufferers and their concerned loved ones, is the vast selection of research articles and information about how to maintain a high quality of life. There is also a place called “Doctors’ Corner”, which allows forum members to receive answers to their questions from doctors who specialize in tinnitus and other ear-related medical conditions.
Discuss Your Tinnitus Experiences With Friends
Although there are a number of different types of tinnitus, Tinnitus Talk is an excellent resource for learning about and discussing them all. Whether you suffer from general tinnitus, pulsatile tinnitus or Hyperacusis and associated ear pain, you are sure to find a plethora of useful information as well as the support you may need to help you get through this time in your life.
Whether you currently have some form of tinnitus or hope to learn more about the condition so you can help one of your family members, Tinnitus Talk is an excellent place to turn. From making friends in the support group to communicating with highly knowledgeable doctors, there is certainly no shortage of ways to arm yourself with the tools and resources you need to move forward with your life. With Tinnitus Talk on your side, there is no need to suffer in silence.
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Bilateral cochlear implants in children: Effects of auditory experience and deprivation on auditory perception
Publication date: Available online 30 January 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Ruth Y. Litovsky, Karen Gordon
Spatial hearing skills are essential for children as they grow, learn and play. They provide critical cues for determining the locations of sources in the environment, and enable segregation of important sources, such as speech, from background maskers or interferers. Spatial hearing depends on availability of monaural cues and binaural cues. The latter result from integration of inputs arriving at the two ears from sounds that vary in location. The binaural system has exquisite mechanisms for capturing differences between the ears in both time of arrival and intensity. The major cues that are thus referred to as being vital for binaural hearing are: interaural differences in time (ITDs) and interaural differences in levels (ILDs). In children with normal hearing (NH), spatial hearing abilities are fairly well developed by age 4-5 years. In contrast, children who are deaf and hear through cochlear implants (CIs) do not have an opportunity to experience normal, binaural acoustic hearing early in life. These children may function by having to utilize auditory cues that are degraded with regard to numerous stimulus features. In recent years there has been a notable increase in the number of children receiving bilateral CIs, and evidence suggests that while having two CIs helps them function better than when listening through a single CI, they generally perform worse than their NH peers. This paper reviews some of the recent work on bilaterally implanted children. The focus is on measures of spatial hearing, including sound localization, release from masking for speech understanding in noise and binaural sensitivity using research processors. Data from behavioral and electrophysiological studies are included, with a focus on the recent work of the authors and their collaborators. The effects of auditory plasticity and deprivation on the emergence of binaural and spatial hearing are discussed along with evidence for reorganized processing from both behavioral and electrophysiological studies. The consequences of both unilateral and bilateral auditory deprivation during development suggest that the relevant set of issues is highly complex with regard to successes and the limitations experienced by children receiving bilateral cochlear implants.
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Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Ruth Y. Litovsky, Karen Gordon
Spatial hearing skills are essential for children as they grow, learn and play. They provide critical cues for determining the locations of sources in the environment, and enable segregation of important sources, such as speech, from background maskers or interferers. Spatial hearing depends on availability of monaural cues and binaural cues. The latter result from integration of inputs arriving at the two ears from sounds that vary in location. The binaural system has exquisite mechanisms for capturing differences between the ears in both time of arrival and intensity. The major cues that are thus referred to as being vital for binaural hearing are: interaural differences in time (ITDs) and interaural differences in levels (ILDs). In children with normal hearing (NH), spatial hearing abilities are fairly well developed by age 4-5 years. In contrast, children who are deaf and hear through cochlear implants (CIs) do not have an opportunity to experience normal, binaural acoustic hearing early in life. These children may function by having to utilize auditory cues that are degraded with regard to numerous stimulus features. In recent years there has been a notable increase in the number of children receiving bilateral CIs, and evidence suggests that while having two CIs helps them function better than when listening through a single CI, they generally perform worse than their NH peers. This paper reviews some of the recent work on bilaterally implanted children. The focus is on measures of spatial hearing, including sound localization, release from masking for speech understanding in noise and binaural sensitivity using research processors. Data from behavioral and electrophysiological studies are included, with a focus on the recent work of the authors and their collaborators. The effects of auditory plasticity and deprivation on the emergence of binaural and spatial hearing are discussed along with evidence for reorganized processing from both behavioral and electrophysiological studies. The consequences of both unilateral and bilateral auditory deprivation during development suggest that the relevant set of issues is highly complex with regard to successes and the limitations experienced by children receiving bilateral cochlear implants.
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Bilateral cochlear implants in children: Effects of auditory experience and deprivation on auditory perception
Publication date: Available online 30 January 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Ruth Y. Litovsky, Karen Gordon
Spatial hearing skills are essential for children as they grow, learn and play. They provide critical cues for determining the locations of sources in the environment, and enable segregation of important sources, such as speech, from background maskers or interferers. Spatial hearing depends on availability of monaural cues and binaural cues. The latter result from integration of inputs arriving at the two ears from sounds that vary in location. The binaural system has exquisite mechanisms for capturing differences between the ears in both time of arrival and intensity. The major cues that are thus referred to as being vital for binaural hearing are: interaural differences in time (ITDs) and interaural differences in levels (ILDs). In children with normal hearing (NH), spatial hearing abilities are fairly well developed by age 4-5 years. In contrast, children who are deaf and hear through cochlear implants (CIs) do not have an opportunity to experience normal, binaural acoustic hearing early in life. These children may function by having to utilize auditory cues that are degraded with regard to numerous stimulus features. In recent years there has been a notable increase in the number of children receiving bilateral CIs, and evidence suggests that while having two CIs helps them function better than when listening through a single CI, they generally perform worse than their NH peers. This paper reviews some of the recent work on bilaterally implanted children. The focus is on measures of spatial hearing, including sound localization, release from masking for speech understanding in noise and binaural sensitivity using research processors. Data from behavioral and electrophysiological studies are included, with a focus on the recent work of the authors and their collaborators. The effects of auditory plasticity and deprivation on the emergence of binaural and spatial hearing are discussed along with evidence for reorganized processing from both behavioral and electrophysiological studies. The consequences of both unilateral and bilateral auditory deprivation during development suggest that the relevant set of issues is highly complex with regard to successes and the limitations experienced by children receiving bilateral cochlear implants.
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Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Ruth Y. Litovsky, Karen Gordon
Spatial hearing skills are essential for children as they grow, learn and play. They provide critical cues for determining the locations of sources in the environment, and enable segregation of important sources, such as speech, from background maskers or interferers. Spatial hearing depends on availability of monaural cues and binaural cues. The latter result from integration of inputs arriving at the two ears from sounds that vary in location. The binaural system has exquisite mechanisms for capturing differences between the ears in both time of arrival and intensity. The major cues that are thus referred to as being vital for binaural hearing are: interaural differences in time (ITDs) and interaural differences in levels (ILDs). In children with normal hearing (NH), spatial hearing abilities are fairly well developed by age 4-5 years. In contrast, children who are deaf and hear through cochlear implants (CIs) do not have an opportunity to experience normal, binaural acoustic hearing early in life. These children may function by having to utilize auditory cues that are degraded with regard to numerous stimulus features. In recent years there has been a notable increase in the number of children receiving bilateral CIs, and evidence suggests that while having two CIs helps them function better than when listening through a single CI, they generally perform worse than their NH peers. This paper reviews some of the recent work on bilaterally implanted children. The focus is on measures of spatial hearing, including sound localization, release from masking for speech understanding in noise and binaural sensitivity using research processors. Data from behavioral and electrophysiological studies are included, with a focus on the recent work of the authors and their collaborators. The effects of auditory plasticity and deprivation on the emergence of binaural and spatial hearing are discussed along with evidence for reorganized processing from both behavioral and electrophysiological studies. The consequences of both unilateral and bilateral auditory deprivation during development suggest that the relevant set of issues is highly complex with regard to successes and the limitations experienced by children receiving bilateral cochlear implants.
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Bilateral cochlear implants in children: Effects of auditory experience and deprivation on auditory perception
Publication date: Available online 30 January 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Ruth Y. Litovsky, Karen Gordon
Spatial hearing skills are essential for children as they grow, learn and play. They provide critical cues for determining the locations of sources in the environment, and enable segregation of important sources, such as speech, from background maskers or interferers. Spatial hearing depends on availability of monaural cues and binaural cues. The latter result from integration of inputs arriving at the two ears from sounds that vary in location. The binaural system has exquisite mechanisms for capturing differences between the ears in both time of arrival and intensity. The major cues that are thus referred to as being vital for binaural hearing are: interaural differences in time (ITDs) and interaural differences in levels (ILDs). In children with normal hearing (NH), spatial hearing abilities are fairly well developed by age 4-5 years. In contrast, children who are deaf and hear through cochlear implants (CIs) do not have an opportunity to experience normal, binaural acoustic hearing early in life. These children may function by having to utilize auditory cues that are degraded with regard to numerous stimulus features. In recent years there has been a notable increase in the number of children receiving bilateral CIs, and evidence suggests that while having two CIs helps them function better than when listening through a single CI, they generally perform worse than their NH peers. This paper reviews some of the recent work on bilaterally implanted children. The focus is on measures of spatial hearing, including sound localization, release from masking for speech understanding in noise and binaural sensitivity using research processors. Data from behavioral and electrophysiological studies are included, with a focus on the recent work of the authors and their collaborators. The effects of auditory plasticity and deprivation on the emergence of binaural and spatial hearing are discussed along with evidence for reorganized processing from both behavioral and electrophysiological studies. The consequences of both unilateral and bilateral auditory deprivation during development suggest that the relevant set of issues is highly complex with regard to successes and the limitations experienced by children receiving bilateral cochlear implants.
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Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Ruth Y. Litovsky, Karen Gordon
Spatial hearing skills are essential for children as they grow, learn and play. They provide critical cues for determining the locations of sources in the environment, and enable segregation of important sources, such as speech, from background maskers or interferers. Spatial hearing depends on availability of monaural cues and binaural cues. The latter result from integration of inputs arriving at the two ears from sounds that vary in location. The binaural system has exquisite mechanisms for capturing differences between the ears in both time of arrival and intensity. The major cues that are thus referred to as being vital for binaural hearing are: interaural differences in time (ITDs) and interaural differences in levels (ILDs). In children with normal hearing (NH), spatial hearing abilities are fairly well developed by age 4-5 years. In contrast, children who are deaf and hear through cochlear implants (CIs) do not have an opportunity to experience normal, binaural acoustic hearing early in life. These children may function by having to utilize auditory cues that are degraded with regard to numerous stimulus features. In recent years there has been a notable increase in the number of children receiving bilateral CIs, and evidence suggests that while having two CIs helps them function better than when listening through a single CI, they generally perform worse than their NH peers. This paper reviews some of the recent work on bilaterally implanted children. The focus is on measures of spatial hearing, including sound localization, release from masking for speech understanding in noise and binaural sensitivity using research processors. Data from behavioral and electrophysiological studies are included, with a focus on the recent work of the authors and their collaborators. The effects of auditory plasticity and deprivation on the emergence of binaural and spatial hearing are discussed along with evidence for reorganized processing from both behavioral and electrophysiological studies. The consequences of both unilateral and bilateral auditory deprivation during development suggest that the relevant set of issues is highly complex with regard to successes and the limitations experienced by children receiving bilateral cochlear implants.
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Bilateral cochlear implants in children: Effects of auditory experience and deprivation on auditory perception
Publication date: Available online 30 January 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Ruth Y. Litovsky, Karen Gordon
Spatial hearing skills are essential for children as they grow, learn and play. They provide critical cues for determining the locations of sources in the environment, and enable segregation of important sources, such as speech, from background maskers or interferers. Spatial hearing depends on availability of monaural cues and binaural cues. The latter result from integration of inputs arriving at the two ears from sounds that vary in location. The binaural system has exquisite mechanisms for capturing differences between the ears in both time of arrival and intensity. The major cues that are thus referred to as being vital for binaural hearing are: interaural differences in time (ITDs) and interaural differences in levels (ILDs). In children with normal hearing (NH), spatial hearing abilities are fairly well developed by age 4-5 years. In contrast, children who are deaf and hear through cochlear implants (CIs) do not have an opportunity to experience normal, binaural acoustic hearing early in life. These children may function by having to utilize auditory cues that are degraded with regard to numerous stimulus features. In recent years there has been a notable increase in the number of children receiving bilateral CIs, and evidence suggests that while having two CIs helps them function better than when listening through a single CI, they generally perform worse than their NH peers. This paper reviews some of the recent work on bilaterally implanted children. The focus is on measures of spatial hearing, including sound localization, release from masking for speech understanding in noise and binaural sensitivity using research processors. Data from behavioral and electrophysiological studies are included, with a focus on the recent work of the authors and their collaborators. The effects of auditory plasticity and deprivation on the emergence of binaural and spatial hearing are discussed along with evidence for reorganized processing from both behavioral and electrophysiological studies. The consequences of both unilateral and bilateral auditory deprivation during development suggest that the relevant set of issues is highly complex with regard to successes and the limitations experienced by children receiving bilateral cochlear implants.
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Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Ruth Y. Litovsky, Karen Gordon
Spatial hearing skills are essential for children as they grow, learn and play. They provide critical cues for determining the locations of sources in the environment, and enable segregation of important sources, such as speech, from background maskers or interferers. Spatial hearing depends on availability of monaural cues and binaural cues. The latter result from integration of inputs arriving at the two ears from sounds that vary in location. The binaural system has exquisite mechanisms for capturing differences between the ears in both time of arrival and intensity. The major cues that are thus referred to as being vital for binaural hearing are: interaural differences in time (ITDs) and interaural differences in levels (ILDs). In children with normal hearing (NH), spatial hearing abilities are fairly well developed by age 4-5 years. In contrast, children who are deaf and hear through cochlear implants (CIs) do not have an opportunity to experience normal, binaural acoustic hearing early in life. These children may function by having to utilize auditory cues that are degraded with regard to numerous stimulus features. In recent years there has been a notable increase in the number of children receiving bilateral CIs, and evidence suggests that while having two CIs helps them function better than when listening through a single CI, they generally perform worse than their NH peers. This paper reviews some of the recent work on bilaterally implanted children. The focus is on measures of spatial hearing, including sound localization, release from masking for speech understanding in noise and binaural sensitivity using research processors. Data from behavioral and electrophysiological studies are included, with a focus on the recent work of the authors and their collaborators. The effects of auditory plasticity and deprivation on the emergence of binaural and spatial hearing are discussed along with evidence for reorganized processing from both behavioral and electrophysiological studies. The consequences of both unilateral and bilateral auditory deprivation during development suggest that the relevant set of issues is highly complex with regard to successes and the limitations experienced by children receiving bilateral cochlear implants.
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Bilateral cochlear implants in children: Effects of auditory experience and deprivation on auditory perception
Publication date: Available online 30 January 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Ruth Y. Litovsky, Karen Gordon
Spatial hearing skills are essential for children as they grow, learn and play. They provide critical cues for determining the locations of sources in the environment, and enable segregation of important sources, such as speech, from background maskers or interferers. Spatial hearing depends on availability of monaural cues and binaural cues. The latter result from integration of inputs arriving at the two ears from sounds that vary in location. The binaural system has exquisite mechanisms for capturing differences between the ears in both time of arrival and intensity. The major cues that are thus referred to as being vital for binaural hearing are: interaural differences in time (ITDs) and interaural differences in levels (ILDs). In children with normal hearing (NH), spatial hearing abilities are fairly well developed by age 4-5 years. In contrast, children who are deaf and hear through cochlear implants (CIs) do not have an opportunity to experience normal, binaural acoustic hearing early in life. These children may function by having to utilize auditory cues that are degraded with regard to numerous stimulus features. In recent years there has been a notable increase in the number of children receiving bilateral CIs, and evidence suggests that while having two CIs helps them function better than when listening through a single CI, they generally perform worse than their NH peers. This paper reviews some of the recent work on bilaterally implanted children. The focus is on measures of spatial hearing, including sound localization, release from masking for speech understanding in noise and binaural sensitivity using research processors. Data from behavioral and electrophysiological studies are included, with a focus on the recent work of the authors and their collaborators. The effects of auditory plasticity and deprivation on the emergence of binaural and spatial hearing are discussed along with evidence for reorganized processing from both behavioral and electrophysiological studies. The consequences of both unilateral and bilateral auditory deprivation during development suggest that the relevant set of issues is highly complex with regard to successes and the limitations experienced by children receiving bilateral cochlear implants.
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Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Ruth Y. Litovsky, Karen Gordon
Spatial hearing skills are essential for children as they grow, learn and play. They provide critical cues for determining the locations of sources in the environment, and enable segregation of important sources, such as speech, from background maskers or interferers. Spatial hearing depends on availability of monaural cues and binaural cues. The latter result from integration of inputs arriving at the two ears from sounds that vary in location. The binaural system has exquisite mechanisms for capturing differences between the ears in both time of arrival and intensity. The major cues that are thus referred to as being vital for binaural hearing are: interaural differences in time (ITDs) and interaural differences in levels (ILDs). In children with normal hearing (NH), spatial hearing abilities are fairly well developed by age 4-5 years. In contrast, children who are deaf and hear through cochlear implants (CIs) do not have an opportunity to experience normal, binaural acoustic hearing early in life. These children may function by having to utilize auditory cues that are degraded with regard to numerous stimulus features. In recent years there has been a notable increase in the number of children receiving bilateral CIs, and evidence suggests that while having two CIs helps them function better than when listening through a single CI, they generally perform worse than their NH peers. This paper reviews some of the recent work on bilaterally implanted children. The focus is on measures of spatial hearing, including sound localization, release from masking for speech understanding in noise and binaural sensitivity using research processors. Data from behavioral and electrophysiological studies are included, with a focus on the recent work of the authors and their collaborators. The effects of auditory plasticity and deprivation on the emergence of binaural and spatial hearing are discussed along with evidence for reorganized processing from both behavioral and electrophysiological studies. The consequences of both unilateral and bilateral auditory deprivation during development suggest that the relevant set of issues is highly complex with regard to successes and the limitations experienced by children receiving bilateral cochlear implants.
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Differential effects of suppressors on hazardous sound pressure levels generated by AR-15 rifles: Considerations for recreational shooters, law enforcement, and the military.
Differential effects of suppressors on hazardous sound pressure levels generated by AR-15 rifles: Considerations for recreational shooters, law enforcement, and the military.
Int J Audiol. 2016 Jan 28;:1-13
Authors: Lobarinas E, Scott R, Spankovich C, Le Prell CG
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Firearm discharges produce hazardous levels of impulse noise that can lead to permanent hearing loss. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of suppression, ammunition, and barrel length on AR-15 rifles.
DESIGN: Sound levels were measured left/right of a user's head, and 1-m left of the muzzle, per MIL-STD-1474-D, under both unsuppressed and suppressed conditions.
STUDY SAMPLE: Nine commercially available AR-15 rifles and 14 suppressors were used.
RESULTS: Suppressors significantly decreased peak dB SPL at the 1-m location and the left ear location. However, under most rifle/ammunition conditions, levels remained above 140 dB peak SPL near a user's right ear. In a subset of conditions, subsonic ammunition produced values near or below 140 dB peak SPL. Overall suppression ranged from 7-32 dB across conditions.
CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that (1) suppressors reduce discharge levels to 140 dB peak SPL or below in only a subset of AR-15 conditions, (2) shorter barrel length and use of muzzle brake devices can substantially increase exposure level for the user, and (3) there are significant left/right ear sound pressure differences under suppressed conditions as a function of the AR-15 direct impingement design that must be considered during sound measurements to fully evaluate overall efficacy.
PMID: 26821935 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Effects of low speed wind on the recognition/identification and pass-through communication tasks of auditory situation awareness afforded by military hearing protection/enhancement devices and tactical communication and protective systems.
Effects of low speed wind on the recognition/identification and pass-through communication tasks of auditory situation awareness afforded by military hearing protection/enhancement devices and tactical communication and protective systems.
Int J Audiol. 2016 Jan 28;:1-9
Authors: Lee K, Casali JG
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of controlled low-speed wind-noise on the auditory situation awareness performance afforded by military hearing protection/enhancement devices (HPED) and tactical communication and protective systems (TCAPS).
DESIGN: Recognition/identification and pass-through communications tasks were separately conducted under three wind conditions (0, 5, and 10 mph). Subjects wore two in-ear-type TCAPS, one earmuff-type TCAPS, a Combat Arms Earplug in its 'open' or pass-through setting, and an EB-15LE™ electronic earplug. Devices with electronic gain systems were tested under two gain settings: 'unity' and 'max'. Testing without any device (open ear) was conducted as a control.
STUDY SAMPLE: Ten subjects were recruited from the student population at Virginia Tech. Audiometric requirements were 25 dBHL or better at 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz in both ears.
RESULTS: Performance on the interaction of communication task-by-device was significantly different only in 0 mph wind speed. The between-device performance differences varied with azimuthal speaker locations.
CONCLUSIONS: It is evident from this study that stable (non-gusting) wind speeds up to 10 mph did not significantly degrade recognition/identification task performance and pass-through communication performance of the group of HPEDs and TCAPS tested. However, the various devices performed differently as the test sound signal speaker location was varied and it appears that physical as well as electronic features may have contributed to this directional result.
PMID: 26821823 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Differential effects of suppressors on hazardous sound pressure levels generated by AR-15 rifles: Considerations for recreational shooters, law enforcement, and the military.
Differential effects of suppressors on hazardous sound pressure levels generated by AR-15 rifles: Considerations for recreational shooters, law enforcement, and the military.
Int J Audiol. 2016 Jan 28;:1-13
Authors: Lobarinas E, Scott R, Spankovich C, Le Prell CG
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Firearm discharges produce hazardous levels of impulse noise that can lead to permanent hearing loss. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of suppression, ammunition, and barrel length on AR-15 rifles.
DESIGN: Sound levels were measured left/right of a user's head, and 1-m left of the muzzle, per MIL-STD-1474-D, under both unsuppressed and suppressed conditions.
STUDY SAMPLE: Nine commercially available AR-15 rifles and 14 suppressors were used.
RESULTS: Suppressors significantly decreased peak dB SPL at the 1-m location and the left ear location. However, under most rifle/ammunition conditions, levels remained above 140 dB peak SPL near a user's right ear. In a subset of conditions, subsonic ammunition produced values near or below 140 dB peak SPL. Overall suppression ranged from 7-32 dB across conditions.
CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that (1) suppressors reduce discharge levels to 140 dB peak SPL or below in only a subset of AR-15 conditions, (2) shorter barrel length and use of muzzle brake devices can substantially increase exposure level for the user, and (3) there are significant left/right ear sound pressure differences under suppressed conditions as a function of the AR-15 direct impingement design that must be considered during sound measurements to fully evaluate overall efficacy.
PMID: 26821935 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Effects of low speed wind on the recognition/identification and pass-through communication tasks of auditory situation awareness afforded by military hearing protection/enhancement devices and tactical communication and protective systems.
Effects of low speed wind on the recognition/identification and pass-through communication tasks of auditory situation awareness afforded by military hearing protection/enhancement devices and tactical communication and protective systems.
Int J Audiol. 2016 Jan 28;:1-9
Authors: Lee K, Casali JG
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of controlled low-speed wind-noise on the auditory situation awareness performance afforded by military hearing protection/enhancement devices (HPED) and tactical communication and protective systems (TCAPS).
DESIGN: Recognition/identification and pass-through communications tasks were separately conducted under three wind conditions (0, 5, and 10 mph). Subjects wore two in-ear-type TCAPS, one earmuff-type TCAPS, a Combat Arms Earplug in its 'open' or pass-through setting, and an EB-15LE™ electronic earplug. Devices with electronic gain systems were tested under two gain settings: 'unity' and 'max'. Testing without any device (open ear) was conducted as a control.
STUDY SAMPLE: Ten subjects were recruited from the student population at Virginia Tech. Audiometric requirements were 25 dBHL or better at 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz in both ears.
RESULTS: Performance on the interaction of communication task-by-device was significantly different only in 0 mph wind speed. The between-device performance differences varied with azimuthal speaker locations.
CONCLUSIONS: It is evident from this study that stable (non-gusting) wind speeds up to 10 mph did not significantly degrade recognition/identification task performance and pass-through communication performance of the group of HPEDs and TCAPS tested. However, the various devices performed differently as the test sound signal speaker location was varied and it appears that physical as well as electronic features may have contributed to this directional result.
PMID: 26821823 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Differential effects of suppressors on hazardous sound pressure levels generated by AR-15 rifles: Considerations for recreational shooters, law enforcement, and the military.
Differential effects of suppressors on hazardous sound pressure levels generated by AR-15 rifles: Considerations for recreational shooters, law enforcement, and the military.
Int J Audiol. 2016 Jan 28;:1-13
Authors: Lobarinas E, Scott R, Spankovich C, Le Prell CG
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Firearm discharges produce hazardous levels of impulse noise that can lead to permanent hearing loss. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of suppression, ammunition, and barrel length on AR-15 rifles.
DESIGN: Sound levels were measured left/right of a user's head, and 1-m left of the muzzle, per MIL-STD-1474-D, under both unsuppressed and suppressed conditions.
STUDY SAMPLE: Nine commercially available AR-15 rifles and 14 suppressors were used.
RESULTS: Suppressors significantly decreased peak dB SPL at the 1-m location and the left ear location. However, under most rifle/ammunition conditions, levels remained above 140 dB peak SPL near a user's right ear. In a subset of conditions, subsonic ammunition produced values near or below 140 dB peak SPL. Overall suppression ranged from 7-32 dB across conditions.
CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that (1) suppressors reduce discharge levels to 140 dB peak SPL or below in only a subset of AR-15 conditions, (2) shorter barrel length and use of muzzle brake devices can substantially increase exposure level for the user, and (3) there are significant left/right ear sound pressure differences under suppressed conditions as a function of the AR-15 direct impingement design that must be considered during sound measurements to fully evaluate overall efficacy.
PMID: 26821935 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Effects of low speed wind on the recognition/identification and pass-through communication tasks of auditory situation awareness afforded by military hearing protection/enhancement devices and tactical communication and protective systems.
Effects of low speed wind on the recognition/identification and pass-through communication tasks of auditory situation awareness afforded by military hearing protection/enhancement devices and tactical communication and protective systems.
Int J Audiol. 2016 Jan 28;:1-9
Authors: Lee K, Casali JG
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of controlled low-speed wind-noise on the auditory situation awareness performance afforded by military hearing protection/enhancement devices (HPED) and tactical communication and protective systems (TCAPS).
DESIGN: Recognition/identification and pass-through communications tasks were separately conducted under three wind conditions (0, 5, and 10 mph). Subjects wore two in-ear-type TCAPS, one earmuff-type TCAPS, a Combat Arms Earplug in its 'open' or pass-through setting, and an EB-15LE™ electronic earplug. Devices with electronic gain systems were tested under two gain settings: 'unity' and 'max'. Testing without any device (open ear) was conducted as a control.
STUDY SAMPLE: Ten subjects were recruited from the student population at Virginia Tech. Audiometric requirements were 25 dBHL or better at 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz in both ears.
RESULTS: Performance on the interaction of communication task-by-device was significantly different only in 0 mph wind speed. The between-device performance differences varied with azimuthal speaker locations.
CONCLUSIONS: It is evident from this study that stable (non-gusting) wind speeds up to 10 mph did not significantly degrade recognition/identification task performance and pass-through communication performance of the group of HPEDs and TCAPS tested. However, the various devices performed differently as the test sound signal speaker location was varied and it appears that physical as well as electronic features may have contributed to this directional result.
PMID: 26821823 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Differential effects of suppressors on hazardous sound pressure levels generated by AR-15 rifles: Considerations for recreational shooters, law enforcement, and the military.
Differential effects of suppressors on hazardous sound pressure levels generated by AR-15 rifles: Considerations for recreational shooters, law enforcement, and the military.
Int J Audiol. 2016 Jan 28;:1-13
Authors: Lobarinas E, Scott R, Spankovich C, Le Prell CG
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Firearm discharges produce hazardous levels of impulse noise that can lead to permanent hearing loss. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of suppression, ammunition, and barrel length on AR-15 rifles.
DESIGN: Sound levels were measured left/right of a user's head, and 1-m left of the muzzle, per MIL-STD-1474-D, under both unsuppressed and suppressed conditions.
STUDY SAMPLE: Nine commercially available AR-15 rifles and 14 suppressors were used.
RESULTS: Suppressors significantly decreased peak dB SPL at the 1-m location and the left ear location. However, under most rifle/ammunition conditions, levels remained above 140 dB peak SPL near a user's right ear. In a subset of conditions, subsonic ammunition produced values near or below 140 dB peak SPL. Overall suppression ranged from 7-32 dB across conditions.
CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that (1) suppressors reduce discharge levels to 140 dB peak SPL or below in only a subset of AR-15 conditions, (2) shorter barrel length and use of muzzle brake devices can substantially increase exposure level for the user, and (3) there are significant left/right ear sound pressure differences under suppressed conditions as a function of the AR-15 direct impingement design that must be considered during sound measurements to fully evaluate overall efficacy.
PMID: 26821935 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Effects of low speed wind on the recognition/identification and pass-through communication tasks of auditory situation awareness afforded by military hearing protection/enhancement devices and tactical communication and protective systems.
Effects of low speed wind on the recognition/identification and pass-through communication tasks of auditory situation awareness afforded by military hearing protection/enhancement devices and tactical communication and protective systems.
Int J Audiol. 2016 Jan 28;:1-9
Authors: Lee K, Casali JG
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of controlled low-speed wind-noise on the auditory situation awareness performance afforded by military hearing protection/enhancement devices (HPED) and tactical communication and protective systems (TCAPS).
DESIGN: Recognition/identification and pass-through communications tasks were separately conducted under three wind conditions (0, 5, and 10 mph). Subjects wore two in-ear-type TCAPS, one earmuff-type TCAPS, a Combat Arms Earplug in its 'open' or pass-through setting, and an EB-15LE™ electronic earplug. Devices with electronic gain systems were tested under two gain settings: 'unity' and 'max'. Testing without any device (open ear) was conducted as a control.
STUDY SAMPLE: Ten subjects were recruited from the student population at Virginia Tech. Audiometric requirements were 25 dBHL or better at 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz in both ears.
RESULTS: Performance on the interaction of communication task-by-device was significantly different only in 0 mph wind speed. The between-device performance differences varied with azimuthal speaker locations.
CONCLUSIONS: It is evident from this study that stable (non-gusting) wind speeds up to 10 mph did not significantly degrade recognition/identification task performance and pass-through communication performance of the group of HPEDs and TCAPS tested. However, the various devices performed differently as the test sound signal speaker location was varied and it appears that physical as well as electronic features may have contributed to this directional result.
PMID: 26821823 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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The auditory phenotype of children harboring mutations in the prestin gene.
The auditory phenotype of children harboring mutations in the prestin gene.
Acta Otolaryngol. 2016 Jan 29;:1-5
Authors: Matsunaga T, Morimoto N
Abstract
Conclusion Auditory phenotypes of two children harboring prestin gene mutations were congenital or pre-lingual onset, moderate to profound, slowly progressive or non-progressive, and audiograms with either flat configuration or prominently elevated thresholds at middle and high frequencies. Objectives Despite the essential role of the prestin gene in hearing, only one mutation in two families and a missense variant in a family had been reported previously before our study reporting another family. The purpose of this study was to characterize auditory phenotypes in children recently found to harbor novel mutations in the prestin gene. Methods The subjects were two sisters with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss who were compound heterozygotes for c.209G > A (p.W70X) and c.390A > C (p.R130S) mutations in the prestin gene. Clinical history and auditory test results were collected and analyzed. Results Hearing loss was present from birth in the younger sister and occurred before 6 years of age in the elder sister. The degree of hearing loss was profound in the elder sister with little progression, and moderate in the younger sister with no progression. The audiogram of the elder sister showed prominently elevated thresholds at middle and high frequencies, while that of the younger sister demonstrated a flat configuration.
PMID: 26824437 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Exome sequencing identifies a mutation in TMC1 as a novel cause of autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss.
Exome sequencing identifies a mutation in TMC1 as a novel cause of autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss.
J Transl Med. 2016;14(1):29
Authors: Hu J, Liu F, Xia W, Hao L, Lan J, Zhu Z, Ye J, Ma D, Ma Z
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) is highly heterogeneous, and mutations in the gene encoding transmembrane channel-like 1 (TMC1) have been implicated in its development. To date, 35 homozygous mutations in TMC1, identified in over 60 families worldwide, have been shown to be associated with ARNSHL. However, few of these mutations were detected in the Chinese population. In this study, we describe a pathogenic missense mutation located in the T5-T6 domain of TMC1 in a three-generation Chinese family with 14 members.
METHODS: Whole exome sequencing was performed using samples from one unaffected individual and two affected individuals to systematically search for deafness susceptibility genes. Candidate mutations and cosegregation of the phenotype were verified by polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing in all of the family members.
RESULTS: We identified a novel TMC1 mutation in exon 20, c.1979C>T, p.P660L, which segregated with prelingual autosomal recessive sensorineural hearing loss.
CONCLUSIONS: We found a new missense mutation in the T5-T6 domain of TMC1, which is highly conserved in many species. These data support the potential conserved role of p.P660L in human TMC1 function.
PMID: 26822030 [PubMed - in process]
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Cochlear Implantation in a Patient With Pfeiffer Syndrome and Temporal Bone Vascular Anomalies.
Objective: Pfeiffer syndrome is a rare craniosynostotic disorder resulting in premature bony fusion of the skull, which can result in abnormal temporal bone and vascular anatomy and hearing loss. Cochlear implantation in these patients requires thoughtful surgical planning given the potential for limited access to the cochlea because of subcutaneous or intratemporal vasculature. Herein, we present a patient with Pfeiffer syndrome who underwent successful cochlear implantation using preoperative Doppler ultrasound to identify large extracranial venous anatomy followed by a modified transcanal surgical approach. Patients: An adult female patient with Pfeiffer syndrome. Intervention(s): Preoperative axial computed tomography, catheter angiography, Doppler ultrasound, and right side cochlear implant. Main Outcome Measure(s): Surgical feasibility and audiometric outcomes including aided thresholds and word recognition score. Results: Successful cochlear implantation was performed via a modified transcanal approach with blind sac closure of the external auditory meatus. Full electrode insertion was obtained through a round window approach. No extracranial or intratemporal vessels were encountered during surgery. Conclusion: Patients with significant craniosynostoses and vascular malformations of the temporal bone can undergo successful cochlear implantation. Careful preoperative planning with high-resolution CT, MRA, and MRV, and/or traditional catheter angiography can assist in determining surgical feasibility and minimizing risk. We recommend preoperative Doppler ultrasound of abnormal extracranial vessels to assist in safe placement of incisions and hardware. Copyright (C) 2016 by Otology & Neurotology, Inc. Image copyright (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health/Anatomical Chart Company
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Hearing Preservation Outcomes With a Mid-Scala Electrode in Cochlear Implantation.
Objective: To evaluate hearing preservation (HP) outcomes in adult cochlear implant recipients with a mid-scala electrode. Setting: Tertiary academic center. Patients: Adult patients implanted with a mid-scala electrode between May 2013 and July 2015. Interventions: Cochlear implantation. Main Outcome Measure(s): Age, sex, surgical approach, residual hearing changes post cochlear implantation, HP rates using different published classifications, and speech perception scores. Results: Fifty ears for 47 patients (mean age, 58.2 yr; range, 23-86) were implanted with the electrode. Recognizing that not all patients were true HP candidates and/or underwent generally accepted HP surgical techniques, 39 ears had preoperative low-frequency hearing (audiometric threshold 0.05). Conclusion: The mid-scala electrode evaluated allows preservation of low-frequency hearing in patients undergoing cochlear implantation at rates and degrees of preservation close to other reports in the cochlear implant literature. Copyright (C) 2016 by Otology & Neurotology, Inc. Image copyright (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health/Anatomical Chart Company
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A Comparative Review of Osseointegration Failure Between Osseointegrated Bone Conduction Device Models in Pediatric Patients.
Objective: Compare rates of osseointegration failure (OIF) between system 2 (200 series) and system 3 (BI300) osseointegrated bone conduction device (OCBD) models. Study Design: Case series with chart review. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: Pediatric patients who were implanted with either system 2 or system 3 OCBD between May 2009 and July 2014 at Arkansas Children's Hospital. Interventions: Implantation with either system 2 or system 3 OCBD using 3- and 4-mm implants with 5.5- and 8.5-mm abutments (system 2) or 6- and 9-mm abutments (system 3). Main Outcome Measures: OIF with resulting loss of flange-fixture. Results: OIF occurred in 28.6% (14/49) of implanted fixtures in system 2 compared with 8.0% (2/25) of implanted fixtures in system 3 (p = 0.042). The average time to complication for system 2 was 13 months compared with 3 months for system 3. The causes of OIF in system 2 were trauma (n = 4), chronic soft tissue disease (n = 5), or idiopathic in nature (n = 5). System 3 failures were both because of trauma. Using the combined cohorts, the average age of patients who experienced OIF was 8.7 years, compared with 11.4 years in patients without OIF (p = 0.047). There was no difference in OIF among 3-mm and 4-mm screws (p = 0.876), linear and flap technique (p = 0.375), or surgeons (p = 0.211). Conclusion: System 3 OCBD showed a significantly reduced rate of OIF compared with system 2 in our study. Modification to the system 2 implant resulted in improved rate of OIF. Younger age was independently associated with a higher rate of OIF when evaluating both systems. Copyright (C) 2016 by Otology & Neurotology, Inc. Image copyright (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health/Anatomical Chart Company
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Impaired Perception of Sensory Consonance and Dissonance in Cochlear Implant Users.
Hypothesis: In light of previous research demonstrating poor pitch perception in cochlear implant (CI) users, we hypothesized that the presence of consonant versus dissonant chord accompaniment in real-world musical stimuli would not impact subjective assessment of degree of pleasantness in CI users. Background: Consonance/dissonance are perceptual features of harmony resulting from pitch relationships between simultaneously presented musical notes. Generally, consonant sounds are perceived as pleasant and dissonant ones as unpleasant. CI users exhibit impairments in pitch perception, making music listening difficult and often unenjoyable. To our knowledge, consonance/dissonance perception has not been studied in the CI population. Methods: Twelve novel melodies were created for this study. By altering the harmonic structures of the accompanying chords, we created three permutations of varying dissonance for each melody (36 stimuli in all). Ten CI users and 12 NH listeners provided Likert scale ratings from -5 (very unpleasant) to +5 (very pleasant) for each of the stimuli. Results: A two-way ANOVA showed main effects for Dissonance Level and Subject Type as well as a two-way interaction between the two. Pairwise comparisons indicated that NH stimuli pleasantness ratings decreased with increasing dissonance, whereas CI ratings did not. NH pleasantness ratings were consistently lower than CI ratings. Conclusion: For CI users, consonant versus dissonant chord accompaniment had no significant impact on whether a melody was considered pleasant or unpleasant. This finding may be partially responsible for the decreased enjoyment of many CI users during music perception and is another manifestation of impaired pitch perception in CI users. Copyright (C) 2016 by Otology & Neurotology, Inc. Image copyright (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health/Anatomical Chart Company
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Παρασκευή 29 Ιανουαρίου 2016
Is Hearing Loss Associated with Poorer Health in Older Adults Who Might Benefit from Hearing Screening?.
Objectives: Hearing screening programs may benefit adults with unacknowledged or unaddressed hearing loss, but there is limited evidence regarding whether such programs are effective at improving health outcomes. The objective was to determine if poorer audiometric hearing thresholds are associated with poorer cognition, social isolation, burden of physical or mental health, inactivity due to poor physical or mental health, depression, and overnight hospitalizations among older American adults with unacknowledged or unaddressed hearing loss. Design: The authors performed a cross-sectional population-based analysis of older American adults with normal hearing or unacknowledged or unaddressed hearing loss. Data was obtained from the 1999 to 2010 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants with a pure-tone average (PTA in the better hearing ear of thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) > 25 dB HL who self-reported their hearing ability to be "good" or "excellent" were categorized as having "unacknowledged" hearing loss. Those who had a PTA > 25 dB HL and who self-reported hearing problems but had never had a hearing test or worn a hearing aid were categorized as having "unaddressed" hearing loss. Multivariate regression was performed to account for confounding due to demographic and health variables. Results: A 10 dB increase in PTA was associated with a 52% increased odds of social isolation among 60- to 69-year-olds in multivariate analyses (p = 0.001). The average Digit Symbol Substitution Test score dropped by 2.14 points per 10 dB increase in PTA (p = 0.03), a magnitude equivalent to the drop expected for 3.9 years of chronological aging. PTA was not associated significantly with falls, hospitalizations, burden of physical or mental health, or depression, or social isolation among those aged 70 years or older in these samples. Conclusion: Unacknowledged or unaddressed hearing loss was associated with a significantly increased risk of social isolation among 60- to 69-year-olds but not those 70 years or older. It was also associated with lower cognitive scores on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test among 60- to 69-year-olds. This study differs from prior studies by focusing specifically on older adults who have unacknowledged or unaddressed hearing loss because they are the most likely to benefit from pure-tone hearing screening. The finding of associations between hearing loss and measures of social isolation and cognition in these specific samples extends previous findings on unrestricted samples of older adults including those who had already acknowledged hearing problems. Future randomized controlled trials measuring the effectiveness of adult hearing screening programs should measure whether interventions have an effect on these measures in those who have unacknowledged or unaddressed pure-tone hearing loss. Copyright (C) 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Is Hearing Loss Associated with Poorer Health in Older Adults Who Might Benefit from Hearing Screening?.
Objectives: Hearing screening programs may benefit adults with unacknowledged or unaddressed hearing loss, but there is limited evidence regarding whether such programs are effective at improving health outcomes. The objective was to determine if poorer audiometric hearing thresholds are associated with poorer cognition, social isolation, burden of physical or mental health, inactivity due to poor physical or mental health, depression, and overnight hospitalizations among older American adults with unacknowledged or unaddressed hearing loss. Design: The authors performed a cross-sectional population-based analysis of older American adults with normal hearing or unacknowledged or unaddressed hearing loss. Data was obtained from the 1999 to 2010 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants with a pure-tone average (PTA in the better hearing ear of thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) > 25 dB HL who self-reported their hearing ability to be "good" or "excellent" were categorized as having "unacknowledged" hearing loss. Those who had a PTA > 25 dB HL and who self-reported hearing problems but had never had a hearing test or worn a hearing aid were categorized as having "unaddressed" hearing loss. Multivariate regression was performed to account for confounding due to demographic and health variables. Results: A 10 dB increase in PTA was associated with a 52% increased odds of social isolation among 60- to 69-year-olds in multivariate analyses (p = 0.001). The average Digit Symbol Substitution Test score dropped by 2.14 points per 10 dB increase in PTA (p = 0.03), a magnitude equivalent to the drop expected for 3.9 years of chronological aging. PTA was not associated significantly with falls, hospitalizations, burden of physical or mental health, or depression, or social isolation among those aged 70 years or older in these samples. Conclusion: Unacknowledged or unaddressed hearing loss was associated with a significantly increased risk of social isolation among 60- to 69-year-olds but not those 70 years or older. It was also associated with lower cognitive scores on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test among 60- to 69-year-olds. This study differs from prior studies by focusing specifically on older adults who have unacknowledged or unaddressed hearing loss because they are the most likely to benefit from pure-tone hearing screening. The finding of associations between hearing loss and measures of social isolation and cognition in these specific samples extends previous findings on unrestricted samples of older adults including those who had already acknowledged hearing problems. Future randomized controlled trials measuring the effectiveness of adult hearing screening programs should measure whether interventions have an effect on these measures in those who have unacknowledged or unaddressed pure-tone hearing loss. Copyright (C) 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Is Hearing Loss Associated with Poorer Health in Older Adults Who Might Benefit from Hearing Screening?.
Objectives: Hearing screening programs may benefit adults with unacknowledged or unaddressed hearing loss, but there is limited evidence regarding whether such programs are effective at improving health outcomes. The objective was to determine if poorer audiometric hearing thresholds are associated with poorer cognition, social isolation, burden of physical or mental health, inactivity due to poor physical or mental health, depression, and overnight hospitalizations among older American adults with unacknowledged or unaddressed hearing loss. Design: The authors performed a cross-sectional population-based analysis of older American adults with normal hearing or unacknowledged or unaddressed hearing loss. Data was obtained from the 1999 to 2010 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants with a pure-tone average (PTA in the better hearing ear of thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) > 25 dB HL who self-reported their hearing ability to be "good" or "excellent" were categorized as having "unacknowledged" hearing loss. Those who had a PTA > 25 dB HL and who self-reported hearing problems but had never had a hearing test or worn a hearing aid were categorized as having "unaddressed" hearing loss. Multivariate regression was performed to account for confounding due to demographic and health variables. Results: A 10 dB increase in PTA was associated with a 52% increased odds of social isolation among 60- to 69-year-olds in multivariate analyses (p = 0.001). The average Digit Symbol Substitution Test score dropped by 2.14 points per 10 dB increase in PTA (p = 0.03), a magnitude equivalent to the drop expected for 3.9 years of chronological aging. PTA was not associated significantly with falls, hospitalizations, burden of physical or mental health, or depression, or social isolation among those aged 70 years or older in these samples. Conclusion: Unacknowledged or unaddressed hearing loss was associated with a significantly increased risk of social isolation among 60- to 69-year-olds but not those 70 years or older. It was also associated with lower cognitive scores on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test among 60- to 69-year-olds. This study differs from prior studies by focusing specifically on older adults who have unacknowledged or unaddressed hearing loss because they are the most likely to benefit from pure-tone hearing screening. The finding of associations between hearing loss and measures of social isolation and cognition in these specific samples extends previous findings on unrestricted samples of older adults including those who had already acknowledged hearing problems. Future randomized controlled trials measuring the effectiveness of adult hearing screening programs should measure whether interventions have an effect on these measures in those who have unacknowledged or unaddressed pure-tone hearing loss. Copyright (C) 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Decoding four different sound-categories in the auditory cortex using functional near-infrared spectroscopy
Publication date: Available online 29 January 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Keum-Shik Hong, Hendrik Santosa
The ability of the auditory cortex in the brain to distinguish different sounds is important in daily life. This study investigated whether activations in the auditory cortex caused by different sounds can be distinguished using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The hemodynamic responses (HRs) in both hemispheres using fNIRS were measured in 18 subjects while exposing them to four sound categories (English-speech, non-English-speech, annoying sounds, and nature sounds). As features for classifying the different signals, the mean, slope, and skewness of the oxy-hemoglobin (HbO) signal were used. With regard to the language-related stimuli, the HRs evoked by understandable speech (English) were observed in a broader brain region than were those evoked by non-English speech. Also, the magnitudes of the HbO signals evoked by English-speech were higher than those of non-English speech. The ratio of the peak values of non-English and English speech was 72.5%. Also, the brain region evoked by annoying sounds was wider than that by nature sounds. However, the signal strength for nature sounds was stronger than that for annoying sounds. Finally, for brain-computer interface (BCI) purposes, the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers were applied to the four sound categories. The overall classification performance for the left hemisphere was higher than that for the right hemisphere. Therefore, for decoding of auditory commands, the left hemisphere is recommended. Also, in two-class classification, the annoying vs. nature sounds comparison provides a higher classification accuracy than the English vs. non-English speech comparison. Finally, LDA performs better than SVM.
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Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Keum-Shik Hong, Hendrik Santosa
The ability of the auditory cortex in the brain to distinguish different sounds is important in daily life. This study investigated whether activations in the auditory cortex caused by different sounds can be distinguished using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The hemodynamic responses (HRs) in both hemispheres using fNIRS were measured in 18 subjects while exposing them to four sound categories (English-speech, non-English-speech, annoying sounds, and nature sounds). As features for classifying the different signals, the mean, slope, and skewness of the oxy-hemoglobin (HbO) signal were used. With regard to the language-related stimuli, the HRs evoked by understandable speech (English) were observed in a broader brain region than were those evoked by non-English speech. Also, the magnitudes of the HbO signals evoked by English-speech were higher than those of non-English speech. The ratio of the peak values of non-English and English speech was 72.5%. Also, the brain region evoked by annoying sounds was wider than that by nature sounds. However, the signal strength for nature sounds was stronger than that for annoying sounds. Finally, for brain-computer interface (BCI) purposes, the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers were applied to the four sound categories. The overall classification performance for the left hemisphere was higher than that for the right hemisphere. Therefore, for decoding of auditory commands, the left hemisphere is recommended. Also, in two-class classification, the annoying vs. nature sounds comparison provides a higher classification accuracy than the English vs. non-English speech comparison. Finally, LDA performs better than SVM.
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Decoding four different sound-categories in the auditory cortex using functional near-infrared spectroscopy
Publication date: Available online 29 January 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Keum-Shik Hong, Hendrik Santosa
The ability of the auditory cortex in the brain to distinguish different sounds is important in daily life. This study investigated whether activations in the auditory cortex caused by different sounds can be distinguished using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The hemodynamic responses (HRs) in both hemispheres using fNIRS were measured in 18 subjects while exposing them to four sound categories (English-speech, non-English-speech, annoying sounds, and nature sounds). As features for classifying the different signals, the mean, slope, and skewness of the oxy-hemoglobin (HbO) signal were used. With regard to the language-related stimuli, the HRs evoked by understandable speech (English) were observed in a broader brain region than were those evoked by non-English speech. Also, the magnitudes of the HbO signals evoked by English-speech were higher than those of non-English speech. The ratio of the peak values of non-English and English speech was 72.5%. Also, the brain region evoked by annoying sounds was wider than that by nature sounds. However, the signal strength for nature sounds was stronger than that for annoying sounds. Finally, for brain-computer interface (BCI) purposes, the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers were applied to the four sound categories. The overall classification performance for the left hemisphere was higher than that for the right hemisphere. Therefore, for decoding of auditory commands, the left hemisphere is recommended. Also, in two-class classification, the annoying vs. nature sounds comparison provides a higher classification accuracy than the English vs. non-English speech comparison. Finally, LDA performs better than SVM.
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Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Keum-Shik Hong, Hendrik Santosa
The ability of the auditory cortex in the brain to distinguish different sounds is important in daily life. This study investigated whether activations in the auditory cortex caused by different sounds can be distinguished using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The hemodynamic responses (HRs) in both hemispheres using fNIRS were measured in 18 subjects while exposing them to four sound categories (English-speech, non-English-speech, annoying sounds, and nature sounds). As features for classifying the different signals, the mean, slope, and skewness of the oxy-hemoglobin (HbO) signal were used. With regard to the language-related stimuli, the HRs evoked by understandable speech (English) were observed in a broader brain region than were those evoked by non-English speech. Also, the magnitudes of the HbO signals evoked by English-speech were higher than those of non-English speech. The ratio of the peak values of non-English and English speech was 72.5%. Also, the brain region evoked by annoying sounds was wider than that by nature sounds. However, the signal strength for nature sounds was stronger than that for annoying sounds. Finally, for brain-computer interface (BCI) purposes, the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers were applied to the four sound categories. The overall classification performance for the left hemisphere was higher than that for the right hemisphere. Therefore, for decoding of auditory commands, the left hemisphere is recommended. Also, in two-class classification, the annoying vs. nature sounds comparison provides a higher classification accuracy than the English vs. non-English speech comparison. Finally, LDA performs better than SVM.
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Decoding four different sound-categories in the auditory cortex using functional near-infrared spectroscopy
Publication date: Available online 29 January 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Keum-Shik Hong, Hendrik Santosa
The ability of the auditory cortex in the brain to distinguish different sounds is important in daily life. This study investigated whether activations in the auditory cortex caused by different sounds can be distinguished using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The hemodynamic responses (HRs) in both hemispheres using fNIRS were measured in 18 subjects while exposing them to four sound categories (English-speech, non-English-speech, annoying sounds, and nature sounds). As features for classifying the different signals, the mean, slope, and skewness of the oxy-hemoglobin (HbO) signal were used. With regard to the language-related stimuli, the HRs evoked by understandable speech (English) were observed in a broader brain region than were those evoked by non-English speech. Also, the magnitudes of the HbO signals evoked by English-speech were higher than those of non-English speech. The ratio of the peak values of non-English and English speech was 72.5%. Also, the brain region evoked by annoying sounds was wider than that by nature sounds. However, the signal strength for nature sounds was stronger than that for annoying sounds. Finally, for brain-computer interface (BCI) purposes, the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers were applied to the four sound categories. The overall classification performance for the left hemisphere was higher than that for the right hemisphere. Therefore, for decoding of auditory commands, the left hemisphere is recommended. Also, in two-class classification, the annoying vs. nature sounds comparison provides a higher classification accuracy than the English vs. non-English speech comparison. Finally, LDA performs better than SVM.
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Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Keum-Shik Hong, Hendrik Santosa
The ability of the auditory cortex in the brain to distinguish different sounds is important in daily life. This study investigated whether activations in the auditory cortex caused by different sounds can be distinguished using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The hemodynamic responses (HRs) in both hemispheres using fNIRS were measured in 18 subjects while exposing them to four sound categories (English-speech, non-English-speech, annoying sounds, and nature sounds). As features for classifying the different signals, the mean, slope, and skewness of the oxy-hemoglobin (HbO) signal were used. With regard to the language-related stimuli, the HRs evoked by understandable speech (English) were observed in a broader brain region than were those evoked by non-English speech. Also, the magnitudes of the HbO signals evoked by English-speech were higher than those of non-English speech. The ratio of the peak values of non-English and English speech was 72.5%. Also, the brain region evoked by annoying sounds was wider than that by nature sounds. However, the signal strength for nature sounds was stronger than that for annoying sounds. Finally, for brain-computer interface (BCI) purposes, the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers were applied to the four sound categories. The overall classification performance for the left hemisphere was higher than that for the right hemisphere. Therefore, for decoding of auditory commands, the left hemisphere is recommended. Also, in two-class classification, the annoying vs. nature sounds comparison provides a higher classification accuracy than the English vs. non-English speech comparison. Finally, LDA performs better than SVM.
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Decoding four different sound-categories in the auditory cortex using functional near-infrared spectroscopy
Publication date: Available online 29 January 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Keum-Shik Hong, Hendrik Santosa
The ability of the auditory cortex in the brain to distinguish different sounds is important in daily life. This study investigated whether activations in the auditory cortex caused by different sounds can be distinguished using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The hemodynamic responses (HRs) in both hemispheres using fNIRS were measured in 18 subjects while exposing them to four sound categories (English-speech, non-English-speech, annoying sounds, and nature sounds). As features for classifying the different signals, the mean, slope, and skewness of the oxy-hemoglobin (HbO) signal were used. With regard to the language-related stimuli, the HRs evoked by understandable speech (English) were observed in a broader brain region than were those evoked by non-English speech. Also, the magnitudes of the HbO signals evoked by English-speech were higher than those of non-English speech. The ratio of the peak values of non-English and English speech was 72.5%. Also, the brain region evoked by annoying sounds was wider than that by nature sounds. However, the signal strength for nature sounds was stronger than that for annoying sounds. Finally, for brain-computer interface (BCI) purposes, the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers were applied to the four sound categories. The overall classification performance for the left hemisphere was higher than that for the right hemisphere. Therefore, for decoding of auditory commands, the left hemisphere is recommended. Also, in two-class classification, the annoying vs. nature sounds comparison provides a higher classification accuracy than the English vs. non-English speech comparison. Finally, LDA performs better than SVM.
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Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Keum-Shik Hong, Hendrik Santosa
The ability of the auditory cortex in the brain to distinguish different sounds is important in daily life. This study investigated whether activations in the auditory cortex caused by different sounds can be distinguished using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The hemodynamic responses (HRs) in both hemispheres using fNIRS were measured in 18 subjects while exposing them to four sound categories (English-speech, non-English-speech, annoying sounds, and nature sounds). As features for classifying the different signals, the mean, slope, and skewness of the oxy-hemoglobin (HbO) signal were used. With regard to the language-related stimuli, the HRs evoked by understandable speech (English) were observed in a broader brain region than were those evoked by non-English speech. Also, the magnitudes of the HbO signals evoked by English-speech were higher than those of non-English speech. The ratio of the peak values of non-English and English speech was 72.5%. Also, the brain region evoked by annoying sounds was wider than that by nature sounds. However, the signal strength for nature sounds was stronger than that for annoying sounds. Finally, for brain-computer interface (BCI) purposes, the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers were applied to the four sound categories. The overall classification performance for the left hemisphere was higher than that for the right hemisphere. Therefore, for decoding of auditory commands, the left hemisphere is recommended. Also, in two-class classification, the annoying vs. nature sounds comparison provides a higher classification accuracy than the English vs. non-English speech comparison. Finally, LDA performs better than SVM.
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Decoding four different sound-categories in the auditory cortex using functional near-infrared spectroscopy
Publication date: Available online 29 January 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Keum-Shik Hong, Hendrik Santosa
The ability of the auditory cortex in the brain to distinguish different sounds is important in daily life. This study investigated whether activations in the auditory cortex caused by different sounds can be distinguished using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The hemodynamic responses (HRs) in both hemispheres using fNIRS were measured in 18 subjects while exposing them to four sound categories (English-speech, non-English-speech, annoying sounds, and nature sounds). As features for classifying the different signals, the mean, slope, and skewness of the oxy-hemoglobin (HbO) signal were used. With regard to the language-related stimuli, the HRs evoked by understandable speech (English) were observed in a broader brain region than were those evoked by non-English speech. Also, the magnitudes of the HbO signals evoked by English-speech were higher than those of non-English speech. The ratio of the peak values of non-English and English speech was 72.5%. Also, the brain region evoked by annoying sounds was wider than that by nature sounds. However, the signal strength for nature sounds was stronger than that for annoying sounds. Finally, for brain-computer interface (BCI) purposes, the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers were applied to the four sound categories. The overall classification performance for the left hemisphere was higher than that for the right hemisphere. Therefore, for decoding of auditory commands, the left hemisphere is recommended. Also, in two-class classification, the annoying vs. nature sounds comparison provides a higher classification accuracy than the English vs. non-English speech comparison. Finally, LDA performs better than SVM.
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Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Keum-Shik Hong, Hendrik Santosa
The ability of the auditory cortex in the brain to distinguish different sounds is important in daily life. This study investigated whether activations in the auditory cortex caused by different sounds can be distinguished using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The hemodynamic responses (HRs) in both hemispheres using fNIRS were measured in 18 subjects while exposing them to four sound categories (English-speech, non-English-speech, annoying sounds, and nature sounds). As features for classifying the different signals, the mean, slope, and skewness of the oxy-hemoglobin (HbO) signal were used. With regard to the language-related stimuli, the HRs evoked by understandable speech (English) were observed in a broader brain region than were those evoked by non-English speech. Also, the magnitudes of the HbO signals evoked by English-speech were higher than those of non-English speech. The ratio of the peak values of non-English and English speech was 72.5%. Also, the brain region evoked by annoying sounds was wider than that by nature sounds. However, the signal strength for nature sounds was stronger than that for annoying sounds. Finally, for brain-computer interface (BCI) purposes, the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers were applied to the four sound categories. The overall classification performance for the left hemisphere was higher than that for the right hemisphere. Therefore, for decoding of auditory commands, the left hemisphere is recommended. Also, in two-class classification, the annoying vs. nature sounds comparison provides a higher classification accuracy than the English vs. non-English speech comparison. Finally, LDA performs better than SVM.
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Brain's 'amplifier' compensates for lost inner ear function
Researchers from Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School have described, for the first time, the adult brain's ability to compensate for a near-complete loss of auditory nerve fibers that...
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Brain's 'amplifier' compensates for lost inner ear function
Researchers from Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School have described, for the first time, the adult brain's ability to compensate for a near-complete loss of auditory nerve fibers that...
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A Challenging Form of Non-autoimmune Insulin-Dependent Diabetes in a Wolfram Syndrome Patient with a Novel Sequence Variant.
A Challenging Form of Non-autoimmune Insulin-Dependent Diabetes in a Wolfram Syndrome Patient with a Novel Sequence Variant.
J Diabetes Metab. 2015 Jun;6(7):1-5
Authors: Paris LP, Usui Y, Serino J, Sá J, Friedlander M
Abstract
Wolfram syndrome type 1 is a rare, autosomal recessive, neurodegenerative disorder that is diagnosed when insulin-dependent diabetes of non-auto-immune origin and optic atrophy are concomitantly present. Wolfram syndrome is also designated by DIDMOAD that stands for its most frequent manifestations: diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and deafness. With disease progression, patients also commonly develop severe neurological and genito-urinary tract abnormalities. When compared to the general type 1 diabetic population, patients with Wolfram Syndrome have been reported to have a form of diabetes that is more easily controlled and with less microvascular complications, such as diabetic retinopathy. We report a case of Wolfram syndrome in a 16-year-old male patient who presented with progressive optic atrophy and severe diabetes with very challenging glycemic control despite intensive therapy since diagnosis at the age of 6. Despite inadequate metabolic control he did not develop any diabetic microvascular complications during the 10-year follow-up period. To further investigate potential causes for this metabolic idiosyncrasy, we performed genetic analyses that revealed a novel combination of homozygous sequence variants that are likely the cause of the syndrome in this family. The identified genotype included a novel sequence variant in the Wolfram syndrome type 1 gene along with a previously described one, which had initially been associated with isolated low frequency sensorineural hearing loss (LFSNHL). Interestingly, our patient did not show any abnormal findings with audiometry testing.
PMID: 26819810 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Identification of a recurrent mitochondrial mutation in a Japanese family with palmoplantar keratoderma, nail dystrophy, and deafness.
| Related Articles |
Identification of a recurrent mitochondrial mutation in a Japanese family with palmoplantar keratoderma, nail dystrophy, and deafness.
Eur J Dermatol. 2015 Jan-Feb;25(1):79-81
Authors: Hayashi R, Fujiwara H, Morishita M, Ito M, Shimomura Y
PMID: 25513986 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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MEKK4 Signaling Regulates Sensory Cell Development and Function in the Mouse Inner Ear.
MEKK4 Signaling Regulates Sensory Cell Development and Function in the Mouse Inner Ear.
J Neurosci. 2016 Jan 27;36(4):1347-61
Authors: Haque K, Pandey AK, Zheng HW, Riazuddin S, Sha SH, Puligilla C
Abstract
UNLABELLED: Mechanosensory hair cells (HCs) residing in the inner ear are critical for hearing and balance. Precise coordination of proliferation, sensory specification, and differentiation during development is essential to ensure the correct patterning of HCs in the cochlear and vestibular epithelium. Recent studies have revealed that FGF20 signaling is vital for proper HC differentiation. However, the mechanisms by which FGF20 signaling promotes HC differentiation remain unknown. Here, we show that mitogen-activated protein 3 kinase 4 (MEKK4) expression is highly regulated during inner ear development and is critical to normal cytoarchitecture and function. Mice homozygous for a kinase-inactive MEKK4 mutation exhibit significant hearing loss. Lack of MEKK4 activity in vivo also leads to a significant reduction in the number of cochlear and vestibular HCs, suggesting that MEKK4 activity is essential for overall development of HCs within the inner ear. Furthermore, we show that loss of FGF20 signaling in vivo inhibits MEKK4 activity, whereas gain of Fgf20 function stimulates MEKK4 expression, suggesting that Fgf20 modulates MEKK4 activity to regulate cellular differentiation. Finally, we demonstrate, for the first time, that MEKK4 acts as a critical node to integrate FGF20-FGFR1 signaling responses to specifically influence HC development and that FGFR1 signaling through activation of MEKK4 is necessary for outer hair cell differentiation. Collectively, this study provides compelling evidence of an essential role for MEKK4 in inner ear morphogenesis and identifies the requirement of MEKK4 expression in regulating the specific response of FGFR1 during HC development and FGF20/FGFR1 signaling activated MEKK4 for normal sensory cell differentiation.
SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Sensory hair cells (HCs) are the mechanoreceptors within the inner ear responsible for our sense of hearing. HCs are formed before birth, and mammals lack the ability to restore the sensory deficits associated with their loss. In this study, we show, for the first time, that MEKK4 signaling is essential for the development of normal cytoarchitecture and hearing function as MEKK4 signaling-deficient mice exhibit a significant reduction of HCs and a hearing loss. We also identify MEKK4 as a critical hub kinase for FGF20-FGFR1 signaling to induce HC differentiation in the mammalian cochlea. These results reveal a new paradigm in the regulation of HC differentiation and provide significant new insights into the mechanism of Fgf signaling governing HC formation.
PMID: 26818521 [PubMed - in process]
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MEKK4 Signaling Regulates Sensory Cell Development and Function in the Mouse Inner Ear.
MEKK4 Signaling Regulates Sensory Cell Development and Function in the Mouse Inner Ear.
J Neurosci. 2016 Jan 27;36(4):1347-61
Authors: Haque K, Pandey AK, Zheng HW, Riazuddin S, Sha SH, Puligilla C
Abstract
UNLABELLED: Mechanosensory hair cells (HCs) residing in the inner ear are critical for hearing and balance. Precise coordination of proliferation, sensory specification, and differentiation during development is essential to ensure the correct patterning of HCs in the cochlear and vestibular epithelium. Recent studies have revealed that FGF20 signaling is vital for proper HC differentiation. However, the mechanisms by which FGF20 signaling promotes HC differentiation remain unknown. Here, we show that mitogen-activated protein 3 kinase 4 (MEKK4) expression is highly regulated during inner ear development and is critical to normal cytoarchitecture and function. Mice homozygous for a kinase-inactive MEKK4 mutation exhibit significant hearing loss. Lack of MEKK4 activity in vivo also leads to a significant reduction in the number of cochlear and vestibular HCs, suggesting that MEKK4 activity is essential for overall development of HCs within the inner ear. Furthermore, we show that loss of FGF20 signaling in vivo inhibits MEKK4 activity, whereas gain of Fgf20 function stimulates MEKK4 expression, suggesting that Fgf20 modulates MEKK4 activity to regulate cellular differentiation. Finally, we demonstrate, for the first time, that MEKK4 acts as a critical node to integrate FGF20-FGFR1 signaling responses to specifically influence HC development and that FGFR1 signaling through activation of MEKK4 is necessary for outer hair cell differentiation. Collectively, this study provides compelling evidence of an essential role for MEKK4 in inner ear morphogenesis and identifies the requirement of MEKK4 expression in regulating the specific response of FGFR1 during HC development and FGF20/FGFR1 signaling activated MEKK4 for normal sensory cell differentiation.
SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Sensory hair cells (HCs) are the mechanoreceptors within the inner ear responsible for our sense of hearing. HCs are formed before birth, and mammals lack the ability to restore the sensory deficits associated with their loss. In this study, we show, for the first time, that MEKK4 signaling is essential for the development of normal cytoarchitecture and hearing function as MEKK4 signaling-deficient mice exhibit a significant reduction of HCs and a hearing loss. We also identify MEKK4 as a critical hub kinase for FGF20-FGFR1 signaling to induce HC differentiation in the mammalian cochlea. These results reveal a new paradigm in the regulation of HC differentiation and provide significant new insights into the mechanism of Fgf signaling governing HC formation.
PMID: 26818521 [PubMed - in process]
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Πέμπτη 28 Ιανουαρίου 2016
Differential effects of suppressors on hazardous sound pressure levels generated by AR-15 rifles: Considerations for recreational shooters, law enforcement, and the military
10.3109/14992027.2015.1122241<br/>Edward Lobarinas
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Effects of low speed wind on the recognition/identification and pass-through communication tasks of auditory situation awareness afforded by military hearing protection/enhancement devices and tactical communication and protective systems
10.3109/14992027.2015.1129073<br/>Kichol Lee
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Differential effects of suppressors on hazardous sound pressure levels generated by AR-15 rifles: Considerations for recreational shooters, law enforcement, and the military
10.3109/14992027.2015.1122241<br/>Edward Lobarinas
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Effects of low speed wind on the recognition/identification and pass-through communication tasks of auditory situation awareness afforded by military hearing protection/enhancement devices and tactical communication and protective systems
10.3109/14992027.2015.1129073<br/>Kichol Lee
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Differential effects of suppressors on hazardous sound pressure levels generated by AR-15 rifles: Considerations for recreational shooters, law enforcement, and the military
10.3109/14992027.2015.1122241<br/>Edward Lobarinas
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Effects of low speed wind on the recognition/identification and pass-through communication tasks of auditory situation awareness afforded by military hearing protection/enhancement devices and tactical communication and protective systems
10.3109/14992027.2015.1129073<br/>Kichol Lee
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Differential effects of suppressors on hazardous sound pressure levels generated by AR-15 rifles: Considerations for recreational shooters, law enforcement, and the military
10.3109/14992027.2015.1122241<br/>Edward Lobarinas
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Effects of low speed wind on the recognition/identification and pass-through communication tasks of auditory situation awareness afforded by military hearing protection/enhancement devices and tactical communication and protective systems
10.3109/14992027.2015.1129073<br/>Kichol Lee
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Differential effects of suppressors on hazardous sound pressure levels generated by AR-15 rifles: Considerations for recreational shooters, law enforcement, and the military
10.3109/14992027.2015.1122241<br/>Edward Lobarinas
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Effects of low speed wind on the recognition/identification and pass-through communication tasks of auditory situation awareness afforded by military hearing protection/enhancement devices and tactical communication and protective systems
10.3109/14992027.2015.1129073<br/>Kichol Lee
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Parent Reports of Young Spanish–English Bilingual Children's Productive Vocabulary: A Development and Validation Study
Purpose
This 2-phase study aims to extend research on parent report measures of children's productive vocabulary by investigating the development (n = 38) of the Spanish Vocabulary Extension and validity (n = 194) of the 100-item Spanish and English MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories Toddler Short Forms and Upward Extension (Fenson et al., 2000, 2007; Jackson-Maldonado, Marchman, & Fernald, 2013) and the Spanish Vocabulary Extension for use with parents from low-income homes and their 24- to 48-month-old Spanish–English bilingual children.
Method
Study participants were drawn from Early Head Start and Head Start collaborative programs in the Northeastern United States in which English was the primary language used in the classroom. All families reported Spanish or Spanish–English as their home language(s). The MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories as well as the researcher-designed Spanish Vocabulary Extension were used as measures of children's English and Spanish productive vocabularies.
Results
Findings revealed the forms' concurrent and discriminant validity, on the basis of standardized measures of vocabulary, as measures of productive vocabulary for this growing bilingual population.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that parent reports, including our researcher-designed form, represent a valid, cost-effective mechanism for vocabulary monitoring purposes in early childhood education settings.from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1OAFY8d
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Factors Affecting Early Services for Children Who Are Hard of Hearing
Purpose
To describe factors affecting early intervention (EI) for children who are hard of hearing, we analyzed (a) service setting(s) and the relationship of setting to families' frequency of participation, and (b) provider preparation, caseload composition, and experience in relation to comfort with skills that support spoken language for children who are deaf and hard of hearing (CDHH).
Method
Participants included 122 EI professionals who completed an online questionnaire annually and 131 parents who participated in annual telephone interviews.
Results
Most families received EI in the home. Family participation in this setting was significantly higher than in services provided elsewhere. EI professionals were primarily teachers of CDHH or speech-language pathologists. Caseload composition was correlated moderately to strongly with most provider comfort levels. Level of preparation to support spoken language weakly to moderately correlated with provider comfort with 18 specific skills.
Conclusions
Results suggest family involvement is highest when EI is home-based, which supports the need for EI in the home whenever possible. Access to hands-on experience with this population, reflected in a high percentage of CDHH on providers' current caseloads, contributed to professional comfort. Specialized preparation made a modest contribution to comfort level.from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1TCLAR4
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Do Live Versus Audio-Recorded Narrative Stimuli Influence Young Children's Narrative Comprehension and Retell Quality?
Purpose
The primary aim of the present study was to examine whether different ways of presenting narrative stimuli (i.e., live narrative stimuli versus audio-recorded narrative stimuli) influence children's performances on narrative comprehension and oral-retell quality.
Method
Children in kindergarten (n = 54), second grade (n = 74), and fourth grade (n = 65) were matched on their performance on a standardized oral-language comprehension task and then were randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 conditions that differed in how narrative stimuli were presented to children: live narrative stimuli and audio-recorded narrative stimuli.
Results
Kindergartners and 2nd graders in the live condition had higher mean performance on narrative comprehension, with effect sizes of .43 and .39, respectively, after accounting for age, gender, and school. No differences were found in narrative comprehension for children in 4th grade. Children's oral-retell quality did not differ as a function of condition in any grade.
Conclusion
These results suggest that how narrative stimuli are presented to children (i.e., live versus audio-recorded narrative stimuli) may affect children's narrative comprehension, particularly for young children in kindergarten and Grade 2. Implications for assessment and instruction are discussed.from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1OAF4bL
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Voice Disorder Management Competencies: A Survey of School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists in Nebraska
Purpose
The purpose of this survey was to determine the self-perceived competence levels in voice disorders of practicing school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and identify correlated variables.
Method
Participants were 153 master's level, school-based SLPs with a Nebraska teaching certificate and/or licensure who completed a survey, including demographic information and a 25-item voice disorders competency checklist.
Results
Findings indicated school-based SLPs did not feel particularly competent in their ability to assess and treat students with voice disorders. Only 1 response mean was higher than a “moderately competent” level. All other item means were at or below this level. Four correlations indicated positive associations with SLPs' overall self-perceived competence levels: number of continuing education activities related to voice disorders, number of clients with voice disorders in the last 3 months, percentage of time spent with clients who have voice disorders, and feelings of preparation in the area of voice disorders immediately after academic program completion. Informal comparisons to medically based SLP respondents (n = 22) were included.
Conclusion
School-based SLPs' competence perceptions with voice disorders are consistent with the minimal levels of competence reported for other underserved or low-incidence populations. Pursuing continuing education in voice disorders is recommended at the same time as access to the population becomes available.from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1QcZieP
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School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists' Knowledge and Perceptions of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Bullying
Purpose
The purpose of the current investigation was to examine speech-language pathologists' (SLPs') knowledge and perceptions of bullying, with an emphasis on autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Method
A 46-item, web-based survey was used to address the purposes of this investigation. Participants were recruited through e-mail and electronic mailing lists for American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) special interest divisions 1 (Language, Learning, and Education) and 16 (School-Based Issues). Also, an embedded link to the survey was posted on the ASHA Community website and ASHA Facebook page.
Results
Participants demonstrated knowledge of many aspects of bullying research; however, they demonstrated weaknesses in others. All respondents agreed that SLPs should intervene in moments of bullying, but not all indicated that they feel comfortable intervening. Few participants indicated that their school district implemented antibullying campaigns specific to children with special needs, such as ASD.
Conclusions
As recognized experts in working with children with communication deficits, including individuals with ASD, SLPs have the opportunity to play a key role in antibullying efforts. Results revealed, however, that school-based SLPs may benefit from more information on bullying in order to understand the nature, context, and extent of this issue, as well as ways in which to respond to bullying when it is observed.from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1K8By9J
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Parent Reports of Young Spanish–English Bilingual Children's Productive Vocabulary: A Development and Validation Study
Purpose
This 2-phase study aims to extend research on parent report measures of children's productive vocabulary by investigating the development (n = 38) of the Spanish Vocabulary Extension and validity (n = 194) of the 100-item Spanish and English MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories Toddler Short Forms and Upward Extension (Fenson et al., 2000, 2007; Jackson-Maldonado, Marchman, & Fernald, 2013) and the Spanish Vocabulary Extension for use with parents from low-income homes and their 24- to 48-month-old Spanish–English bilingual children.
Method
Study participants were drawn from Early Head Start and Head Start collaborative programs in the Northeastern United States in which English was the primary language used in the classroom. All families reported Spanish or Spanish–English as their home language(s). The MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories as well as the researcher-designed Spanish Vocabulary Extension were used as measures of children's English and Spanish productive vocabularies.
Results
Findings revealed the forms' concurrent and discriminant validity, on the basis of standardized measures of vocabulary, as measures of productive vocabulary for this growing bilingual population.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that parent reports, including our researcher-designed form, represent a valid, cost-effective mechanism for vocabulary monitoring purposes in early childhood education settings.from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1OAFY8d
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Toddlers' Verb Lexicon Diversity and Grammatical Outcomes
Purpose
The goals of this study were to quantify longitudinal expectations for verb lexicon growth and to determine whether verb lexicon measures were better predictors of later grammatical outcomes than noun lexicon measures.
Method
Longitudinal parent-report measures from the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory (Fenson et al., 2007) from ages 21 to 30 months from an archival database were used to model growth in common noun and verb lexicon size for 45 typically developing toddlers. Communicative Development Inventory growth coefficients and 24-month measures of lexical diversity from spontaneous language samples were used to predict 30-month grammatical outcomes on the Index of Productive Syntax (Scarborough, 1990).
Results
Average verb growth was characterized by 50.57 verbs at 24 months, with linear growth of 8.29 verbs per month and deceleration overall. Children with small verb lexicons or slow linear growth at 24 months accelerated during this developmental period. Verb lexicon measures were better predictors of grammatical outcomes than noun lexicon measures, accounting for 47.8% of the variance in Index of Productive Syntax scores. Lexical verb diversity in spontaneous speech emerged as the single best predictor.
Conclusion
Measures of verb lexicon size and diversity should be included as part of early language assessment to guide clinical decision making with young children at risk for language impairment.from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1lGj8l6
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Factors Affecting Early Services for Children Who Are Hard of Hearing
Purpose
To describe factors affecting early intervention (EI) for children who are hard of hearing, we analyzed (a) service setting(s) and the relationship of setting to families' frequency of participation, and (b) provider preparation, caseload composition, and experience in relation to comfort with skills that support spoken language for children who are deaf and hard of hearing (CDHH).
Method
Participants included 122 EI professionals who completed an online questionnaire annually and 131 parents who participated in annual telephone interviews.
Results
Most families received EI in the home. Family participation in this setting was significantly higher than in services provided elsewhere. EI professionals were primarily teachers of CDHH or speech-language pathologists. Caseload composition was correlated moderately to strongly with most provider comfort levels. Level of preparation to support spoken language weakly to moderately correlated with provider comfort with 18 specific skills.
Conclusions
Results suggest family involvement is highest when EI is home-based, which supports the need for EI in the home whenever possible. Access to hands-on experience with this population, reflected in a high percentage of CDHH on providers' current caseloads, contributed to professional comfort. Specialized preparation made a modest contribution to comfort level.from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1TCLAR4
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A Comparison of High and Low Dosages of a Component of Milieu Teaching Strategies for Two Preschool-Age Learners With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Purpose
The intersection of treatment intensity and communication intervention is an emerging area of investigation. Milieu teaching (MT) approaches for teaching communication skills to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a substantial evidence base (see Goldstein, 2002). However, a relatively small percentage (37.8%) of MT studies have fully detailed the parameters that are required to determine treatment intensity (Parker-McGowan et al., 2014). This study compared the effect of two dosages of the modeling component of milieu teaching on acquisition and maintenance of new vocabulary for two preschoolers with ASD.
Method
Low- and high-dosage conditions were compared within an adapted alternating treatments design. Participants were two preschool-age children with ASD.
Results
Results suggested a functional relationship between dose of MT models and acquisition of vocabulary items. For 1 participant, a high-dose application yielded more efficient acquisition. For the second participant, a low-dose application yielded more efficient acquisition.
Conclusion
The results of this study highlight the influence of individual differences in ostensibly similar persons and response to intervention. The need for better quantifying dosage parameters and examining the relationship between dosage and intervention approaches for preschool-age learners with ASD is discussed.from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1Pe7iup
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Do Live Versus Audio-Recorded Narrative Stimuli Influence Young Children's Narrative Comprehension and Retell Quality?
Purpose
The primary aim of the present study was to examine whether different ways of presenting narrative stimuli (i.e., live narrative stimuli versus audio-recorded narrative stimuli) influence children's performances on narrative comprehension and oral-retell quality.
Method
Children in kindergarten (n = 54), second grade (n = 74), and fourth grade (n = 65) were matched on their performance on a standardized oral-language comprehension task and then were randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 conditions that differed in how narrative stimuli were presented to children: live narrative stimuli and audio-recorded narrative stimuli.
Results
Kindergartners and 2nd graders in the live condition had higher mean performance on narrative comprehension, with effect sizes of .43 and .39, respectively, after accounting for age, gender, and school. No differences were found in narrative comprehension for children in 4th grade. Children's oral-retell quality did not differ as a function of condition in any grade.
Conclusion
These results suggest that how narrative stimuli are presented to children (i.e., live versus audio-recorded narrative stimuli) may affect children's narrative comprehension, particularly for young children in kindergarten and Grade 2. Implications for assessment and instruction are discussed.from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1OAF4bL
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Voice Disorder Management Competencies: A Survey of School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists in Nebraska
Purpose
The purpose of this survey was to determine the self-perceived competence levels in voice disorders of practicing school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and identify correlated variables.
Method
Participants were 153 master's level, school-based SLPs with a Nebraska teaching certificate and/or licensure who completed a survey, including demographic information and a 25-item voice disorders competency checklist.
Results
Findings indicated school-based SLPs did not feel particularly competent in their ability to assess and treat students with voice disorders. Only 1 response mean was higher than a “moderately competent” level. All other item means were at or below this level. Four correlations indicated positive associations with SLPs' overall self-perceived competence levels: number of continuing education activities related to voice disorders, number of clients with voice disorders in the last 3 months, percentage of time spent with clients who have voice disorders, and feelings of preparation in the area of voice disorders immediately after academic program completion. Informal comparisons to medically based SLP respondents (n = 22) were included.
Conclusion
School-based SLPs' competence perceptions with voice disorders are consistent with the minimal levels of competence reported for other underserved or low-incidence populations. Pursuing continuing education in voice disorders is recommended at the same time as access to the population becomes available.from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1QcZieP
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School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists' Knowledge and Perceptions of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Bullying
Purpose
The purpose of the current investigation was to examine speech-language pathologists' (SLPs') knowledge and perceptions of bullying, with an emphasis on autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Method
A 46-item, web-based survey was used to address the purposes of this investigation. Participants were recruited through e-mail and electronic mailing lists for American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) special interest divisions 1 (Language, Learning, and Education) and 16 (School-Based Issues). Also, an embedded link to the survey was posted on the ASHA Community website and ASHA Facebook page.
Results
Participants demonstrated knowledge of many aspects of bullying research; however, they demonstrated weaknesses in others. All respondents agreed that SLPs should intervene in moments of bullying, but not all indicated that they feel comfortable intervening. Few participants indicated that their school district implemented antibullying campaigns specific to children with special needs, such as ASD.
Conclusions
As recognized experts in working with children with communication deficits, including individuals with ASD, SLPs have the opportunity to play a key role in antibullying efforts. Results revealed, however, that school-based SLPs may benefit from more information on bullying in order to understand the nature, context, and extent of this issue, as well as ways in which to respond to bullying when it is observed.from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1K8By9J
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Toddlers' Verb Lexicon Diversity and Grammatical Outcomes
Purpose
The goals of this study were to quantify longitudinal expectations for verb lexicon growth and to determine whether verb lexicon measures were better predictors of later grammatical outcomes than noun lexicon measures.
Method
Longitudinal parent-report measures from the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory (Fenson et al., 2007) from ages 21 to 30 months from an archival database were used to model growth in common noun and verb lexicon size for 45 typically developing toddlers. Communicative Development Inventory growth coefficients and 24-month measures of lexical diversity from spontaneous language samples were used to predict 30-month grammatical outcomes on the Index of Productive Syntax (Scarborough, 1990).
Results
Average verb growth was characterized by 50.57 verbs at 24 months, with linear growth of 8.29 verbs per month and deceleration overall. Children with small verb lexicons or slow linear growth at 24 months accelerated during this developmental period. Verb lexicon measures were better predictors of grammatical outcomes than noun lexicon measures, accounting for 47.8% of the variance in Index of Productive Syntax scores. Lexical verb diversity in spontaneous speech emerged as the single best predictor.
Conclusion
Measures of verb lexicon size and diversity should be included as part of early language assessment to guide clinical decision making with young children at risk for language impairment.from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1lGj8l6
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A Comparison of High and Low Dosages of a Component of Milieu Teaching Strategies for Two Preschool-Age Learners With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Purpose
The intersection of treatment intensity and communication intervention is an emerging area of investigation. Milieu teaching (MT) approaches for teaching communication skills to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a substantial evidence base (see Goldstein, 2002). However, a relatively small percentage (37.8%) of MT studies have fully detailed the parameters that are required to determine treatment intensity (Parker-McGowan et al., 2014). This study compared the effect of two dosages of the modeling component of milieu teaching on acquisition and maintenance of new vocabulary for two preschoolers with ASD.
Method
Low- and high-dosage conditions were compared within an adapted alternating treatments design. Participants were two preschool-age children with ASD.
Results
Results suggested a functional relationship between dose of MT models and acquisition of vocabulary items. For 1 participant, a high-dose application yielded more efficient acquisition. For the second participant, a low-dose application yielded more efficient acquisition.
Conclusion
The results of this study highlight the influence of individual differences in ostensibly similar persons and response to intervention. The need for better quantifying dosage parameters and examining the relationship between dosage and intervention approaches for preschool-age learners with ASD is discussed.from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1Pe7iup
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