Tinnitus Relief From Japan 2014

Tinnitus is the medical condition of ringing in the ears. Although millions of people, including Beethoven, have suffered from this condition, medical science has not found a cure. Medications and treatments are available that provide some relief, but the current best hope is tinnitus relief from Japan 2014

Causes of Tinnitus

Causes of tinnitus include the following:

• Excessive Exposure to Loud Sounds
• Blockages in the Ear
• Aspirin and Some Antibiotics
• Some Underlying Diseases
• Reconnections Occurring in the Brain

While some underlying diseases may cause tinnitus, there is no evidence that tinnitus leads to any disease.

Tailor-Made Notched Sound Therapy

Researchers for tinnitus relief from Japan 2014 have discovered a way to reduce the volume of tinnitus in some patients. When the volume is reduced, the patients experience less pain and annoyance. Patients may choose their favorite music or white noises for their therapy.

• Music TherapyIn music therapy, patients choose their favorite music to listen to as the audionotch lowers the volume. Computers or mp3 players may be used to play the selections.
• White Noise Therapy

There are various sounds from which to choose. The autumn wind, kitchen sink, city sweeper and others are easily imagined. Pink noise, brown noise, and others must be heard before the patient can make a decision. The audionotch works as it does in music therapy.

Using the AudioNotich

The audionotch is used as follows:

• >Tune
  The tinnitus frequency is different in every person. The tuner matches the frequency of the tinnitus tone.
• Create
  When the frequency is tuned, the patients upload their favorite music or use the selected white noise.
• Listen

Listen to the selection about an hour each day. There should be a reduction in volume in several days, but continued use lowers the volume more. Patients can determine the effectiveness of their treatment.

Who Benefits from Therapy?

Since the treatment depends on a tuned frequency, some people may not be able to match the available frequencies. Also, people with more than moderate hearing loss cannot benefit from these treatments

Conclusion

Although tinnitus relief from Japan 2014 has offered real hope for tinnitus sufferers, the results are not fully known. As with any treatment, people respond differently. Continued research may discover a cure.

 

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Software for real-time localization of baleen whale calls using directional sonobuoys: A case study on Antarctic blue whales

Directional frequency analysis and recording (DIFAR) sonobuoys can allow real-time acoustic localization of baleen whales for underwater tracking and remote sensing, but limited availability of hardware and software has prevented wider usage. These software limitations were addressed by developing a module in the open-source software PAMGuard. A case study is presented demonstrating that this software provides greater efficiency and accessibility than previous methods for detecting, localizing, and tracking Antarctic blue whales in real time. Additionally, this software can easily be extended to track other low and mid frequency sounds including those from other cetaceans, pinnipeds, icebergs, shipping, and seismic airguns.

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The import of within-listener variability to understanding the precedence effect

The purpose of this study was to gather behavioral data concerning the precedence effect as manifested by the localization-dominance of the leading elements of compound stimuli. This investigation was motivated by recent findings of Shackleton and Palmer [(2006). J. Assoc. Res. Otolaryngol. 7, 425–442], who measured the electro-physiological responses of single units in the inferior colliculus of the guinea pig. The neural data from Shackleton and Palmer indicated that processing of binaural cues like those relevant to understanding localization dominance is greatly affected by internal, neural noise. In order to evaluate the generality of their physiological results to human perception, the present study measured localization dominance so that behavioral responses within and across sets of samples (i.e., tokens) of frozen noises could be compared. Conceptually consistent with Shackleton and Palmer's neural data, the variability of perceived intracranial lateral positions produced by repeated presentations of the same tokens of noise was greater than the variability of intracranial lateral positions measured across different tokens of noise. This was true for each of the four individual listeners and for each of the 72 stimulus conditions studied. Thus, measured either neuro-physiologically (Shackleton and Palmer, 2006) or behaviorally (this study), the import of within-listener variability appears to be a general, intrinsic aspect of binauralinformation processing.

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Quantification of the effects of audible rattle and source type on the human response to environmental vibration

The present research quantifies the influence of source type and the presence of audible vibration-induced rattle on annoyance caused by vibration in residential environments. The sources of vibration considered are railway and the construction of a light rail system. Data were measured in the United Kingdom using a socio-vibration survey (N = 1281). These data are analyzed using ordinal logit models to produce exposure-response relationships describing community annoyance as a function of vibration exposure. The influence of source type and the presence of audible vibration-induced rattle on annoyance are investigated using dummy variable analysis, and quantified using odds–ratios and community tolerance levels. It is concluded that the sample population is more likely to express higher levels of annoyance if the vibration source is construction compared to railway, and if vibration-induced rattle is audible.

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Concert halls with strong and lateral sound increase the emotional impact of orchestra music

An audience's auditory experience during a thrilling and emotive live symphony concert is an intertwined combination of the music and the acoustic response of the concert hall. Music in itself is known to elicit emotional pleasure, and at best, listening to music may evoke concrete psychophysiological responses. Certain concert halls have gained a reputation for superior acoustics, but despite the continuous research by a multitude of objective and subjective studies on room acoustics, the fundamental reason for the appreciation of some concert halls remains elusive. This study demonstrates that room acousticeffects contribute to the overall emotional experience of a musical performance. In two listening tests, the subjects listen to identical orchestra performances rendered in the acoustics of several concert halls. The emotional excitation during listening is measured in the first experiment, and in the second test, the subjects assess the experienced subjective impact by paired comparisons. The results showed that the sound of some traditional rectangular halls provides greater psychophysiological responses and subjective impact. These findings provide a quintessential explanation for these halls' success and reveal the overall significance of room acoustics for emotional experience in music performance.

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Understanding frequency-compressed Mandarin sentences: Role of vowels

Frequency compression (FC) is an effective alternative to conventional amplification for patients with severe-to-profound middle- and high-frequency hearing loss and with some residual low frequency hearing. The present work investigated the underlying factors accounting for the intelligibility of FC-processed speech. Eighteen normal-hearing participants listened to FC-processed Mandarin sentences, and testing conditions included two compression strategies (i.e., linear and nonlinear), four degrees of compression, and two segmental conditions (i.e., vowel-center and vowel-onset). Results showed that the nonlinear strategy outperformed the linear strategy in enhancing the intelligibility of FC-processed sentences. A small frequency range of source compression region involved a lesser degree of compression, and favored a higher intelligibility score. Vowel segments carried a large amount of intelligibility information contained in nonlinearly frequency-compressed sentences, but could not fully account for the intelligibility improvement from nonlinear frequency-compression. The intelligibility benefit of FC-processed Mandarin sentences may be partially attributed to the additional F1-F2 transitional spectral envelope cue provided by nonlinear FC with the F1-included spectral region preserved.

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Software for real-time localization of baleen whale calls using directional sonobuoys: A case study on Antarctic blue whales

Directional frequency analysis and recording (DIFAR) sonobuoys can allow real-time acoustic localization of baleen whales for underwater tracking and remote sensing, but limited availability of hardware and software has prevented wider usage. These software limitations were addressed by developing a module in the open-source software PAMGuard. A case study is presented demonstrating that this software provides greater efficiency and accessibility than previous methods for detecting, localizing, and tracking Antarctic blue whales in real time. Additionally, this software can easily be extended to track other low and mid frequency sounds including those from other cetaceans, pinnipeds, icebergs, shipping, and seismic airguns.

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The Effect of Stimulus Intensity and Carrier Frequency on Auditory Middle- and Long-Latency Evoked Potentials Using a Steady-State-Response Approach

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to measure magnitude changes of auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) and respective transient middle- and long-latency responses as a function of stimulus intensity and carrier frequency. The literature lacks clear consensus, including relationship to loudness.

Method

A cohort of 48 adults with normal hearing was examined from a companion study (Tlumak, Durrant, & Delgado, 2015) on effects of aging. ASSRs were elicited by repeated tone-burst stimuli presented at rates of 40 and 0.75 Hz at 3 frequencies and 5 levels of stimulus intensity. The design also permitted scrutiny of any gender bias to the results.

Results

Similar to derived transient response findings, ASSR magnitude (harmonic sum) systematically increased with intensity. Input–output function only at 0.75 Hz approximated a log–log linear function. However, slopes fell well below that of doubling of loudness per 10 dB SPL. Results failed to demonstrate significance as a function of carrier frequency and gender for both repetition rates.

Conclusion

Effects of stimulus intensity, carrier frequency, and gender on ASSRs were similar to those of their transient counterparts. Findings remain disappointing for objective loudness estimation. Results suggest only a clear linkage to the long-latency response and the 0.75-Hz magnitude but require careful consideration of limitations/underlying mechanisms when measuring loudness-related effects.

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Relating Hearing Aid Use to Social and Emotional Loneliness in Older Adults

Purpose

Hearing loss is a risk factor for social isolation and loneliness. We investigated the buffering effects of hearing aid use on perceived social and emotional loneliness.

Method

Forty older adults participated. Prior to and following the hearing aid fitting, participants completed the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (De Jong Gierveld & Kamphuis, 1985); a change in feelings of loneliness following hearing aid use was the outcome indicator.

Results

There was a significant decline in perceptions of loneliness following 4 to 6 weeks of hearing aid use. A dose effect emerged with persons with moderate-to-severe hearing loss experiencing the greatest reduction in perceived loneliness with hearing aid use.

Conclusion

Associated with poorer health status and higher consumption of health care services, perceived loneliness is a challenge to treat. Hearing aid use appears to be a buffer against the experience of loneliness.

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The Effect of Stimulus Intensity and Carrier Frequency on Auditory Middle- and Long-Latency Evoked Potentials Using a Steady-State-Response Approach

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to measure magnitude changes of auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) and respective transient middle- and long-latency responses as a function of stimulus intensity and carrier frequency. The literature lacks clear consensus, including relationship to loudness.

Method

A cohort of 48 adults with normal hearing was examined from a companion study (Tlumak, Durrant, & Delgado, 2015) on effects of aging. ASSRs were elicited by repeated tone-burst stimuli presented at rates of 40 and 0.75 Hz at 3 frequencies and 5 levels of stimulus intensity. The design also permitted scrutiny of any gender bias to the results.

Results

Similar to derived transient response findings, ASSR magnitude (harmonic sum) systematically increased with intensity. Input–output function only at 0.75 Hz approximated a log–log linear function. However, slopes fell well below that of doubling of loudness per 10 dB SPL. Results failed to demonstrate significance as a function of carrier frequency and gender for both repetition rates.

Conclusion

Effects of stimulus intensity, carrier frequency, and gender on ASSRs were similar to those of their transient counterparts. Findings remain disappointing for objective loudness estimation. Results suggest only a clear linkage to the long-latency response and the 0.75-Hz magnitude but require careful consideration of limitations/underlying mechanisms when measuring loudness-related effects.

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Relating Hearing Aid Use to Social and Emotional Loneliness in Older Adults

Purpose

Hearing loss is a risk factor for social isolation and loneliness. We investigated the buffering effects of hearing aid use on perceived social and emotional loneliness.

Method

Forty older adults participated. Prior to and following the hearing aid fitting, participants completed the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (De Jong Gierveld & Kamphuis, 1985); a change in feelings of loneliness following hearing aid use was the outcome indicator.

Results

There was a significant decline in perceptions of loneliness following 4 to 6 weeks of hearing aid use. A dose effect emerged with persons with moderate-to-severe hearing loss experiencing the greatest reduction in perceived loneliness with hearing aid use.

Conclusion

Associated with poorer health status and higher consumption of health care services, perceived loneliness is a challenge to treat. Hearing aid use appears to be a buffer against the experience of loneliness.

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The Effect of Stimulus Intensity and Carrier Frequency on Auditory Middle- and Long-Latency Evoked Potentials Using a Steady-State-Response Approach

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to measure magnitude changes of auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) and respective transient middle- and long-latency responses as a function of stimulus intensity and carrier frequency. The literature lacks clear consensus, including relationship to loudness.

Method

A cohort of 48 adults with normal hearing was examined from a companion study (Tlumak, Durrant, & Delgado, 2015) on effects of aging. ASSRs were elicited by repeated tone-burst stimuli presented at rates of 40 and 0.75 Hz at 3 frequencies and 5 levels of stimulus intensity. The design also permitted scrutiny of any gender bias to the results.

Results

Similar to derived transient response findings, ASSR magnitude (harmonic sum) systematically increased with intensity. Input–output function only at 0.75 Hz approximated a log–log linear function. However, slopes fell well below that of doubling of loudness per 10 dB SPL. Results failed to demonstrate significance as a function of carrier frequency and gender for both repetition rates.

Conclusion

Effects of stimulus intensity, carrier frequency, and gender on ASSRs were similar to those of their transient counterparts. Findings remain disappointing for objective loudness estimation. Results suggest only a clear linkage to the long-latency response and the 0.75-Hz magnitude but require careful consideration of limitations/underlying mechanisms when measuring loudness-related effects.

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Relating Hearing Aid Use to Social and Emotional Loneliness in Older Adults

Purpose

Hearing loss is a risk factor for social isolation and loneliness. We investigated the buffering effects of hearing aid use on perceived social and emotional loneliness.

Method

Forty older adults participated. Prior to and following the hearing aid fitting, participants completed the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (De Jong Gierveld & Kamphuis, 1985); a change in feelings of loneliness following hearing aid use was the outcome indicator.

Results

There was a significant decline in perceptions of loneliness following 4 to 6 weeks of hearing aid use. A dose effect emerged with persons with moderate-to-severe hearing loss experiencing the greatest reduction in perceived loneliness with hearing aid use.

Conclusion

Associated with poorer health status and higher consumption of health care services, perceived loneliness is a challenge to treat. Hearing aid use appears to be a buffer against the experience of loneliness.

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Further delineation of facioaudiosymphalangism syndrome: Description of a family with a novel NOG mutation and without hearing loss.

Further delineation of facioaudiosymphalangism syndrome: Description of a family with a novel NOG mutation and without hearing loss.

Am J Med Genet A. 2016 Mar 20;

Authors: Bayat A, Fijalkowski I, Andersen T, Azhar Abdulmunem S, van den Ende J, Van Hul W

Abstract
Mutations in the NOG gene give rise to a wide range of clinical phenotypes. Noggin, the protein encoded by this gene is a secreted modulator of multiple pathways involved in both bone and joint development. Proximal symphalangism is commonly observed in patients bearing mutations in this gene, however secondary symptomes are often found including typical facies with hemicylindrical nose with bulbous tip, hyperopia, reduced mobility of multiple joints, hearing loss due to stapes fixation, and recurrent pain from affected joints. With large variation of the phenotype both within and between affected families careful delineation of the genotype-phenotype correlation is needed. In this work we describe a Danish family suffering from SYNS1 due to a novel NOG gene mutation (C230Y). We provide detailed clinical description of the family members presenting rare phenotype of the shoulders shared by affected individuals but no hearing loss, further adding to the phenotypic variability of the syndrome. With these findings we broaden the understanding of NOG-related-symphalangism spectrum disorder. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID: 26994744 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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