Using individual differences to assess modulation-processing mechanisms and age effects

Publication date: Available online 1 November 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Nihaad Paraouty, Christian Lorenzi
This study used a correlational approach to clarify the mechanisms involved in modulation coding. Amplitude-modulation (AM) and frequency-modulation (FM) detection thresholds (AMDTs and FMDTs, respectively) were assessed for 70 normal-hearing listeners. In order to increase between-listeners variability in peripheral coding, participants with a wide range of age (20-70 years) were included. AMDTs and FMDTs were measured at a 5-Hz rate, using a 500-Hz sinusoidal carrier. FMDTs were also measured in the presence of an interfering AM to discourage the use of temporal-envelope cues. The results showed that AMDTs were significantly correlated with FMDTs, but not with FMDTs measured with interfering AM. FMDTs with and without interfering AM were significantly correlated with each other. This pattern of correlation proved to be robust, providing additional evidence that for low carrier frequencies, (i) low-rate AM and FM detection is based on a common code using temporal-envelope cues and (ii) low-rate FM detection is based on an additional code using cues distinct from temporal-envelope. The analyses also showed that age was correlated with FMDTs only. However, no significant difference was found when comparing the various correlations with age. Hence, the effects of age on modulation sensitivity remain unclear.



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Spatial and non-spatial multisensory cueing in unilateral cochlear implant users

Publication date: Available online 31 October 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Francesco Pavani, Marta Venturini, Francesca Baruffaldi, Luca Artesini, Francesca Bonfioli, Giuseppe Nicolò Frau, Wieske van Zoest
In the present study we examined the integrity of spatial and non-spatial multisensory cueing (MSC) mechanisms in unilateral CI users. We tested 17 unilateral CI users and 17 age-matched normal hearing (NH) controls in an elevation-discrimination task for visual targets delivered at peripheral locations. Visual targets were presented alone (visual-only condition) or together with abrupt sounds that matched or did not match the location of the visual targets (audio-visual conditions). All participants were also tested in simple pointing to free-field sounds task, to obtain a basic measure of their spatial hearing ability in the naturalistic environment in which the experiment was conducted. Hearing controls were tested both in binaural and monaural conditions. NH controls showed spatial MSC benefits (i.e., faster discrimination for visual targets that matched sound cues) both in the binaural and in the monaural hearing conditions. In addition, they showed non-spatial MSC benefits (i.e., faster discrimination responses in audio-visual conditions compared to visual-only conditions, regardless of sound cue location) in the monaural condition. Monaural CI users showed no spatial MSC benefits, but retained non-spatial MSC benefits comparable to that observed in NH controls tested monaurally. The absence of spatial MSC in CI users likely reflects the poor spatial hearing ability measured in these participants. These findings reveal the importance of studying the impact of CI re-afferentation beyond auditory processing alone, addressing in particular the fundamental mechanisms that serves orienting of multisensory attention in the environment.



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Using individual differences to assess modulation-processing mechanisms and age effects

Publication date: Available online 1 November 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Nihaad Paraouty, Christian Lorenzi
This study used a correlational approach to clarify the mechanisms involved in modulation coding. Amplitude-modulation (AM) and frequency-modulation (FM) detection thresholds (AMDTs and FMDTs, respectively) were assessed for 70 normal-hearing listeners. In order to increase between-listeners variability in peripheral coding, participants with a wide range of age (20-70 years) were included. AMDTs and FMDTs were measured at a 5-Hz rate, using a 500-Hz sinusoidal carrier. FMDTs were also measured in the presence of an interfering AM to discourage the use of temporal-envelope cues. The results showed that AMDTs were significantly correlated with FMDTs, but not with FMDTs measured with interfering AM. FMDTs with and without interfering AM were significantly correlated with each other. This pattern of correlation proved to be robust, providing additional evidence that for low carrier frequencies, (i) low-rate AM and FM detection is based on a common code using temporal-envelope cues and (ii) low-rate FM detection is based on an additional code using cues distinct from temporal-envelope. The analyses also showed that age was correlated with FMDTs only. However, no significant difference was found when comparing the various correlations with age. Hence, the effects of age on modulation sensitivity remain unclear.



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Spatial and non-spatial multisensory cueing in unilateral cochlear implant users

Publication date: Available online 31 October 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Francesco Pavani, Marta Venturini, Francesca Baruffaldi, Luca Artesini, Francesca Bonfioli, Giuseppe Nicolò Frau, Wieske van Zoest
In the present study we examined the integrity of spatial and non-spatial multisensory cueing (MSC) mechanisms in unilateral CI users. We tested 17 unilateral CI users and 17 age-matched normal hearing (NH) controls in an elevation-discrimination task for visual targets delivered at peripheral locations. Visual targets were presented alone (visual-only condition) or together with abrupt sounds that matched or did not match the location of the visual targets (audio-visual conditions). All participants were also tested in simple pointing to free-field sounds task, to obtain a basic measure of their spatial hearing ability in the naturalistic environment in which the experiment was conducted. Hearing controls were tested both in binaural and monaural conditions. NH controls showed spatial MSC benefits (i.e., faster discrimination for visual targets that matched sound cues) both in the binaural and in the monaural hearing conditions. In addition, they showed non-spatial MSC benefits (i.e., faster discrimination responses in audio-visual conditions compared to visual-only conditions, regardless of sound cue location) in the monaural condition. Monaural CI users showed no spatial MSC benefits, but retained non-spatial MSC benefits comparable to that observed in NH controls tested monaurally. The absence of spatial MSC in CI users likely reflects the poor spatial hearing ability measured in these participants. These findings reveal the importance of studying the impact of CI re-afferentation beyond auditory processing alone, addressing in particular the fundamental mechanisms that serves orienting of multisensory attention in the environment.



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Using individual differences to assess modulation-processing mechanisms and age effects

Publication date: Available online 1 November 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Nihaad Paraouty, Christian Lorenzi
This study used a correlational approach to clarify the mechanisms involved in modulation coding. Amplitude-modulation (AM) and frequency-modulation (FM) detection thresholds (AMDTs and FMDTs, respectively) were assessed for 70 normal-hearing listeners. In order to increase between-listeners variability in peripheral coding, participants with a wide range of age (20-70 years) were included. AMDTs and FMDTs were measured at a 5-Hz rate, using a 500-Hz sinusoidal carrier. FMDTs were also measured in the presence of an interfering AM to discourage the use of temporal-envelope cues. The results showed that AMDTs were significantly correlated with FMDTs, but not with FMDTs measured with interfering AM. FMDTs with and without interfering AM were significantly correlated with each other. This pattern of correlation proved to be robust, providing additional evidence that for low carrier frequencies, (i) low-rate AM and FM detection is based on a common code using temporal-envelope cues and (ii) low-rate FM detection is based on an additional code using cues distinct from temporal-envelope. The analyses also showed that age was correlated with FMDTs only. However, no significant difference was found when comparing the various correlations with age. Hence, the effects of age on modulation sensitivity remain unclear.



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Spatial and non-spatial multisensory cueing in unilateral cochlear implant users

Publication date: Available online 31 October 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Francesco Pavani, Marta Venturini, Francesca Baruffaldi, Luca Artesini, Francesca Bonfioli, Giuseppe Nicolò Frau, Wieske van Zoest
In the present study we examined the integrity of spatial and non-spatial multisensory cueing (MSC) mechanisms in unilateral CI users. We tested 17 unilateral CI users and 17 age-matched normal hearing (NH) controls in an elevation-discrimination task for visual targets delivered at peripheral locations. Visual targets were presented alone (visual-only condition) or together with abrupt sounds that matched or did not match the location of the visual targets (audio-visual conditions). All participants were also tested in simple pointing to free-field sounds task, to obtain a basic measure of their spatial hearing ability in the naturalistic environment in which the experiment was conducted. Hearing controls were tested both in binaural and monaural conditions. NH controls showed spatial MSC benefits (i.e., faster discrimination for visual targets that matched sound cues) both in the binaural and in the monaural hearing conditions. In addition, they showed non-spatial MSC benefits (i.e., faster discrimination responses in audio-visual conditions compared to visual-only conditions, regardless of sound cue location) in the monaural condition. Monaural CI users showed no spatial MSC benefits, but retained non-spatial MSC benefits comparable to that observed in NH controls tested monaurally. The absence of spatial MSC in CI users likely reflects the poor spatial hearing ability measured in these participants. These findings reveal the importance of studying the impact of CI re-afferentation beyond auditory processing alone, addressing in particular the fundamental mechanisms that serves orienting of multisensory attention in the environment.



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Electrically Evoked Medial Olivocochlear Efferent Effects on Stimulus Frequency Otoacoustic Emissions in Guinea Pigs

Abstract

Stimulus frequency otoacoustic emissions (SFOAEs) are produced by cochlear irregularities reflecting energy from the peak region of the traveling wave (TW). Activation of medial olivocochlear (MOC) efferents reduces cochlear amplification and otoacoustic emissions (OAEs). In other OAEs, MOC activation can produce enhancements. The extent of MOC enhancements of SFOAEs has not been previously studied. In anesthetized guinea pigs, we electrically stimulated MOC fibers and recorded their effects on SFOAEs. MOC stimulation mostly inhibited SFOAEs but sometimes enhanced them. Some enhancements were not near response dips and therefore cannot be explained by a reduction of wavelet cancelations. MOC stimulation always inhibited auditory-nerve compound action potentials showing that cochlear-amplifier gain was not increased. We propose that some SFOAE enhancements arise because shocks excite only a small number of MOC fibers that inhibit a few scattered outer hair cells thereby changing (perhaps increasing) cochlear irregularities and SFOAE amplitudes. Contralateral sound activation is expected to excite approximately one third of MOC efferents and may also change cochlear irregularities. Some papers suggest that large SFOAE components originate far basal of the TW peak, basal of the region that receives cochlear amplification. Using a time-frequency analysis, we separated SFOAEs into components with different latencies. At all SFOAE latencies, most SFOAE components were inhibited by MOC stimulation, but some were enhanced. The MOC inhibition of short-latency SFOAE components is consistent with these components being produced in the cochlear-amplified region near the TW peak.

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Step initiation interferes with working memory in nondisabled patients with the earliest multiple sclerosis–A dual-task study

Publication date: Available online 31 October 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): G. Jakob Brecl, T. Remšak, S. Jazbec Šega, A. Ledinek Horvat, U. Rot
Balance and cognition are affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). Cognitive-motor interference (CMI) is important for balance impairment in MS, however little is known about CMI at the earliest stages of the disease. Step initiation (SI) with anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) has been linked to postural instability and falls in subjects with MS, therefore we aimed to assess CMI between SI and the two storage systems of working memory in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (presented as optic neuritis − ON) suggestive of MS. Twenty patients with normal/near normal visual acuity and 20 age-, weight-, height-, sex- and education-matched control subjects were included. APAs were studied using center of pressure measures in three conditions: SI alone, SI+Brooks’ spatial- and SI+2-back verbal working memory task. Decrements (% change) in performance on cognitive tasks and in APA parameters were calculated. CMI was assessed combining the two decrements scores. Performance on both cognitive tasks was more affected by dual-tasking in patients compared to healthy subjects. In both groups APA parameters were not influenced by dual-tasking. CMI was higher in patients compared to healthy subjects. Our results suggest that the disease affects CMI in its earliest stages. Since both cognitive tasks were similarly affected by dual-tasking in patients and controls central executive seems to play the major role in CMI between SI and working memory. Patients prioritizing motor over cognitive task for balance maintenance suggests reduced divided attention capacity as a cause of increased CMI in the earliest MS.



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Comparison of lower limb and trunk kinematics between markerless and marker-based motion capture systems

Publication date: Available online 31 October 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Margaret A. Perrott, Tania Pizzari, Jill Cook, Jodie A. McClelland
Three dimensional (3-D) motion capture systems are used by researchers and clinicians to analyze the kinematics of human movement. Traditional marker based systems are time consuming and limit the size of studies. Markerless 3-D systems are quicker to use but the differences between data captured in each system is unclear.AimTo examine the relationship of kinematic data captured by marker based and markerless motion capture systems.MethodsMovement was assessed in two tests: a simple knee flexion test and single leg squat with a marker based protocol (Vicon) and a markerless protocol (Organic Motion).ResultsThere was no significant difference between protocols in knee flexion angle (p=0.33). In single leg squat there was no significant difference in 9 of 13 clinically relevant joint angles in the change in angle from the start to the peak of squat. There were significant differences in the angle at the peak of the squat for 9 of 13 joint angles.DiscussionThis study provides evidence that a marker-based and a markerless protocol report similar ranges of change in angle from the start of a squat to peak squat in the pelvis and lower limb in single leg squat. Specific joint angles should not be compared between protocols.



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Gait initiation is impaired in subjects with Parkinson’s disease in the OFF state: evidence from the analysis of the anticipatory postural adjustments through wearable inertial sensors

Publication date: Available online 31 October 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Gianluca Bonora, Martina Mancini, Ilaria Carpinella, Lorenzo Chiari, Fay B Horak, Maurizio Ferrarin
People with Parkinson’s disease (PD) typically demonstrate impaired anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) that shift the body center of mass forward (imbalance) and over the stance leg (unloading) prior to gait initiation. APAs are known to be smallest when people with PD are in their OFF-medication state compared to ON-medication or healthy controls. The aim of this pilot study is to validate a previously developed method for the assessment of gait initiation on PD patients in OFF state with body-worn, inertial sensors. Ten subjects with mild-to-moderate idiopathic PD and twelve healthy controls of similar age performed three gait initiation trials. The spatio-temporal parameters of APAs were extracted from three wearable sensors, placed on the shins and on the lower back, and validated with two force plates. Temporal parameters extracted from sensors and force plates, as well as the trunk medio-lateral acceleration and the correspondent displacement of the center of pressure, were significantly correlated. Subjects with PD showed hypometric adjustments in the medio-lateral direction (p-value<0.003) and increased duration of the unloading phase (p-value=0.04). The unloading phase was significantly longer than the imbalance (p-value=0.003) only in subjects with PD. The validity of the method of quantifying APAs from inertial sensors was confirmed in PD subjects by comparison with force plates. Sensitivity in discriminating PD patients from healthy controls was proven by both spatial and temporal parameters. Objective measures of gait initiation deficits with wearable technology provides valuable instrument for the assessment of gait initiation in clinical environments.



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Step initiation interferes with working memory in nondisabled patients with the earliest multiple sclerosis–A dual-task study

Publication date: Available online 31 October 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): G. Jakob Brecl, T. Remšak, S. Jazbec Šega, A. Ledinek Horvat, U. Rot
Balance and cognition are affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). Cognitive-motor interference (CMI) is important for balance impairment in MS, however little is known about CMI at the earliest stages of the disease. Step initiation (SI) with anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) has been linked to postural instability and falls in subjects with MS, therefore we aimed to assess CMI between SI and the two storage systems of working memory in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (presented as optic neuritis − ON) suggestive of MS. Twenty patients with normal/near normal visual acuity and 20 age-, weight-, height-, sex- and education-matched control subjects were included. APAs were studied using center of pressure measures in three conditions: SI alone, SI+Brooks’ spatial- and SI+2-back verbal working memory task. Decrements (% change) in performance on cognitive tasks and in APA parameters were calculated. CMI was assessed combining the two decrements scores. Performance on both cognitive tasks was more affected by dual-tasking in patients compared to healthy subjects. In both groups APA parameters were not influenced by dual-tasking. CMI was higher in patients compared to healthy subjects. Our results suggest that the disease affects CMI in its earliest stages. Since both cognitive tasks were similarly affected by dual-tasking in patients and controls central executive seems to play the major role in CMI between SI and working memory. Patients prioritizing motor over cognitive task for balance maintenance suggests reduced divided attention capacity as a cause of increased CMI in the earliest MS.



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Comparison of lower limb and trunk kinematics between markerless and marker-based motion capture systems

Publication date: Available online 31 October 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Margaret A. Perrott, Tania Pizzari, Jill Cook, Jodie A. McClelland
Three dimensional (3-D) motion capture systems are used by researchers and clinicians to analyze the kinematics of human movement. Traditional marker based systems are time consuming and limit the size of studies. Markerless 3-D systems are quicker to use but the differences between data captured in each system is unclear.AimTo examine the relationship of kinematic data captured by marker based and markerless motion capture systems.MethodsMovement was assessed in two tests: a simple knee flexion test and single leg squat with a marker based protocol (Vicon) and a markerless protocol (Organic Motion).ResultsThere was no significant difference between protocols in knee flexion angle (p=0.33). In single leg squat there was no significant difference in 9 of 13 clinically relevant joint angles in the change in angle from the start to the peak of squat. There were significant differences in the angle at the peak of the squat for 9 of 13 joint angles.DiscussionThis study provides evidence that a marker-based and a markerless protocol report similar ranges of change in angle from the start of a squat to peak squat in the pelvis and lower limb in single leg squat. Specific joint angles should not be compared between protocols.



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Gait initiation is impaired in subjects with Parkinson’s disease in the OFF state: evidence from the analysis of the anticipatory postural adjustments through wearable inertial sensors

Publication date: Available online 31 October 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Gianluca Bonora, Martina Mancini, Ilaria Carpinella, Lorenzo Chiari, Fay B Horak, Maurizio Ferrarin
People with Parkinson’s disease (PD) typically demonstrate impaired anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) that shift the body center of mass forward (imbalance) and over the stance leg (unloading) prior to gait initiation. APAs are known to be smallest when people with PD are in their OFF-medication state compared to ON-medication or healthy controls. The aim of this pilot study is to validate a previously developed method for the assessment of gait initiation on PD patients in OFF state with body-worn, inertial sensors. Ten subjects with mild-to-moderate idiopathic PD and twelve healthy controls of similar age performed three gait initiation trials. The spatio-temporal parameters of APAs were extracted from three wearable sensors, placed on the shins and on the lower back, and validated with two force plates. Temporal parameters extracted from sensors and force plates, as well as the trunk medio-lateral acceleration and the correspondent displacement of the center of pressure, were significantly correlated. Subjects with PD showed hypometric adjustments in the medio-lateral direction (p-value<0.003) and increased duration of the unloading phase (p-value=0.04). The unloading phase was significantly longer than the imbalance (p-value=0.003) only in subjects with PD. The validity of the method of quantifying APAs from inertial sensors was confirmed in PD subjects by comparison with force plates. Sensitivity in discriminating PD patients from healthy controls was proven by both spatial and temporal parameters. Objective measures of gait initiation deficits with wearable technology provides valuable instrument for the assessment of gait initiation in clinical environments.



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Step initiation interferes with working memory in nondisabled patients with the earliest multiple sclerosis–A dual-task study

Publication date: Available online 31 October 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): G. Jakob Brecl, T. Remšak, S. Jazbec Šega, A. Ledinek Horvat, U. Rot
Balance and cognition are affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). Cognitive-motor interference (CMI) is important for balance impairment in MS, however little is known about CMI at the earliest stages of the disease. Step initiation (SI) with anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) has been linked to postural instability and falls in subjects with MS, therefore we aimed to assess CMI between SI and the two storage systems of working memory in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (presented as optic neuritis − ON) suggestive of MS. Twenty patients with normal/near normal visual acuity and 20 age-, weight-, height-, sex- and education-matched control subjects were included. APAs were studied using center of pressure measures in three conditions: SI alone, SI+Brooks’ spatial- and SI+2-back verbal working memory task. Decrements (% change) in performance on cognitive tasks and in APA parameters were calculated. CMI was assessed combining the two decrements scores. Performance on both cognitive tasks was more affected by dual-tasking in patients compared to healthy subjects. In both groups APA parameters were not influenced by dual-tasking. CMI was higher in patients compared to healthy subjects. Our results suggest that the disease affects CMI in its earliest stages. Since both cognitive tasks were similarly affected by dual-tasking in patients and controls central executive seems to play the major role in CMI between SI and working memory. Patients prioritizing motor over cognitive task for balance maintenance suggests reduced divided attention capacity as a cause of increased CMI in the earliest MS.



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Comparison of lower limb and trunk kinematics between markerless and marker-based motion capture systems

Publication date: Available online 31 October 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Margaret A. Perrott, Tania Pizzari, Jill Cook, Jodie A. McClelland
Three dimensional (3-D) motion capture systems are used by researchers and clinicians to analyze the kinematics of human movement. Traditional marker based systems are time consuming and limit the size of studies. Markerless 3-D systems are quicker to use but the differences between data captured in each system is unclear.AimTo examine the relationship of kinematic data captured by marker based and markerless motion capture systems.MethodsMovement was assessed in two tests: a simple knee flexion test and single leg squat with a marker based protocol (Vicon) and a markerless protocol (Organic Motion).ResultsThere was no significant difference between protocols in knee flexion angle (p=0.33). In single leg squat there was no significant difference in 9 of 13 clinically relevant joint angles in the change in angle from the start to the peak of squat. There were significant differences in the angle at the peak of the squat for 9 of 13 joint angles.DiscussionThis study provides evidence that a marker-based and a markerless protocol report similar ranges of change in angle from the start of a squat to peak squat in the pelvis and lower limb in single leg squat. Specific joint angles should not be compared between protocols.



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Gait initiation is impaired in subjects with Parkinson’s disease in the OFF state: evidence from the analysis of the anticipatory postural adjustments through wearable inertial sensors

Publication date: Available online 31 October 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Gianluca Bonora, Martina Mancini, Ilaria Carpinella, Lorenzo Chiari, Fay B Horak, Maurizio Ferrarin
People with Parkinson’s disease (PD) typically demonstrate impaired anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) that shift the body center of mass forward (imbalance) and over the stance leg (unloading) prior to gait initiation. APAs are known to be smallest when people with PD are in their OFF-medication state compared to ON-medication or healthy controls. The aim of this pilot study is to validate a previously developed method for the assessment of gait initiation on PD patients in OFF state with body-worn, inertial sensors. Ten subjects with mild-to-moderate idiopathic PD and twelve healthy controls of similar age performed three gait initiation trials. The spatio-temporal parameters of APAs were extracted from three wearable sensors, placed on the shins and on the lower back, and validated with two force plates. Temporal parameters extracted from sensors and force plates, as well as the trunk medio-lateral acceleration and the correspondent displacement of the center of pressure, were significantly correlated. Subjects with PD showed hypometric adjustments in the medio-lateral direction (p-value<0.003) and increased duration of the unloading phase (p-value=0.04). The unloading phase was significantly longer than the imbalance (p-value=0.003) only in subjects with PD. The validity of the method of quantifying APAs from inertial sensors was confirmed in PD subjects by comparison with force plates. Sensitivity in discriminating PD patients from healthy controls was proven by both spatial and temporal parameters. Objective measures of gait initiation deficits with wearable technology provides valuable instrument for the assessment of gait initiation in clinical environments.



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Primary epidermoid cysts of the mastoid: clinical and treatment implications.

Related Articles

Primary epidermoid cysts of the mastoid: clinical and treatment implications.

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2016 Apr;273(4):1055-9

Authors: Syed MI, Plodpai Y, Khoo SG, Rutka JA

Abstract
Epidermoid cysts of the temporal bone are extremely rare and such lesions arising in isolation within the mastoid bone have never been reported in literature. We report and describe the first two unique cases of primary epidermoid cysts arising in the mastoid bone. Of the two cases, one presented with progressive headache and imbalance and the other with unilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Both cases needed CT and MRI scans and needed surgical management. We review the clinical presentations, histology, pathogenesis, radiological findings and management of these challenging cases. The diagnosis of an epidermoid cyst is based on clinical presentation, physical examination and especially the radiological, histological and intraoperative findings. Total removal of the lesion along with its capsule is recommended to prevent recurrence and to allow for a good long-term prognosis.

PMID: 25958160 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Primary epidermoid cysts of the mastoid: clinical and treatment implications.

Related Articles

Primary epidermoid cysts of the mastoid: clinical and treatment implications.

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2016 Apr;273(4):1055-9

Authors: Syed MI, Plodpai Y, Khoo SG, Rutka JA

Abstract
Epidermoid cysts of the temporal bone are extremely rare and such lesions arising in isolation within the mastoid bone have never been reported in literature. We report and describe the first two unique cases of primary epidermoid cysts arising in the mastoid bone. Of the two cases, one presented with progressive headache and imbalance and the other with unilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Both cases needed CT and MRI scans and needed surgical management. We review the clinical presentations, histology, pathogenesis, radiological findings and management of these challenging cases. The diagnosis of an epidermoid cyst is based on clinical presentation, physical examination and especially the radiological, histological and intraoperative findings. Total removal of the lesion along with its capsule is recommended to prevent recurrence and to allow for a good long-term prognosis.

PMID: 25958160 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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APEX/SPIN: a free test platform to measure speech intelligibility.

APEX/SPIN: a free test platform to measure speech intelligibility.

Int J Audiol. 2016 Oct 31;:1-7

Authors: Francart T, Hofmann M, Vanthornhout J, Van Deun L, van Wieringen A, Wouters J

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Measuring speech intelligibility in quiet and noise is important in clinical practice and research. An easy-to-use free software platform for conducting speech tests is presented, called APEX/SPIN.
DESIGN: The APEX/SPIN platform allows the use of any speech material in combination with any noise. A graphical user interface provides control over a large range of parameters, such as number of loudspeakers, signal-to-noise ratio and parameters of the procedure. An easy-to-use graphical interface is provided for calibration and storage of calibration values. To validate the platform, perception of words in quiet and sentences in noise were measured both with APEX/SPIN and with an audiometer and CD player, which is a conventional setup in current clinical practice.
STUDY SAMPLE: Five normal-hearing listeners participated in the experimental evaluation.
RESULTS: Speech perception results were similar for the APEX/SPIN platform and conventional procedures.
CONCLUSIONS: APEX/SPIN is a freely available and open source platform that allows the administration of all kinds of custom speech perception tests and procedures.

PMID: 27796135 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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APEX/SPIN: a free test platform to measure speech intelligibility.

APEX/SPIN: a free test platform to measure speech intelligibility.

Int J Audiol. 2016 Oct 31;:1-7

Authors: Francart T, Hofmann M, Vanthornhout J, Van Deun L, van Wieringen A, Wouters J

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Measuring speech intelligibility in quiet and noise is important in clinical practice and research. An easy-to-use free software platform for conducting speech tests is presented, called APEX/SPIN.
DESIGN: The APEX/SPIN platform allows the use of any speech material in combination with any noise. A graphical user interface provides control over a large range of parameters, such as number of loudspeakers, signal-to-noise ratio and parameters of the procedure. An easy-to-use graphical interface is provided for calibration and storage of calibration values. To validate the platform, perception of words in quiet and sentences in noise were measured both with APEX/SPIN and with an audiometer and CD player, which is a conventional setup in current clinical practice.
STUDY SAMPLE: Five normal-hearing listeners participated in the experimental evaluation.
RESULTS: Speech perception results were similar for the APEX/SPIN platform and conventional procedures.
CONCLUSIONS: APEX/SPIN is a freely available and open source platform that allows the administration of all kinds of custom speech perception tests and procedures.

PMID: 27796135 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Can routine office-based audiometry predict cochlear implant evaluation results?

Can routine office-based audiometry predict cochlear implant evaluation results?

Laryngoscope. 2016 Oct 31;:

Authors: Gubbels SP, Gartrell BC, Ploch JL, Hanson KD

Abstract
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Determining cochlear implant candidacy requires a specific sentence-level testing paradigm in best-aided conditions. Our objective was to determine if findings on routine audiometry could predict the results of a formal cochlear implant candidacy evaluation. We hypothesize that findings on routine audiometry will accurately predict cochlear implant evaluation results in the majority of candidates.
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, observational, diagnostic study.
METHODS: The charts of all adult patients who were evaluated for implant candidacy at a tertiary care center from June 2008 through June 2013 were included. Routine, unaided audiologic measures (pure-tone hearing thresholds and recorded monosyllabic word recognition testing) were then correlated with best-aided sentence-level discrimination testing (using either the Hearing in Noise Test or AzBio sentences test).
RESULTS: The degree of hearing loss at 250 to 4,000 Hz and monosyllabic word recognition scores significantly correlated with sentence-level word discrimination test results. Extrapolating from this association, we found that 86% of patients with monosyllabic word recognition scores at or below 32% (or 44% for patients with private insurance) would meet candidacy requirements for cochlear implantation.
CONCLUSIONS: Routine audiometric findings can be used to identify patients who are likely to meet cochlear implant candidacy upon formal testing. For example, patients with pure-tone thresholds (250, 500, 1,000 Hz) of ≥75 dB and/or a monosyllabic word recognition test score of ≤40% have a high likelihood of meeting candidacy criteria. Utilization of these predictive patterns during routine audiometric evaluation may assist hearing health professionals in deciding when to refer patients for a formal cochlear implant evaluation.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 2016.

PMID: 27797418 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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APEX/SPIN: a free test platform to measure speech intelligibility.

APEX/SPIN: a free test platform to measure speech intelligibility.

Int J Audiol. 2016 Oct 31;:1-7

Authors: Francart T, Hofmann M, Vanthornhout J, Van Deun L, van Wieringen A, Wouters J

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Measuring speech intelligibility in quiet and noise is important in clinical practice and research. An easy-to-use free software platform for conducting speech tests is presented, called APEX/SPIN.
DESIGN: The APEX/SPIN platform allows the use of any speech material in combination with any noise. A graphical user interface provides control over a large range of parameters, such as number of loudspeakers, signal-to-noise ratio and parameters of the procedure. An easy-to-use graphical interface is provided for calibration and storage of calibration values. To validate the platform, perception of words in quiet and sentences in noise were measured both with APEX/SPIN and with an audiometer and CD player, which is a conventional setup in current clinical practice.
STUDY SAMPLE: Five normal-hearing listeners participated in the experimental evaluation.
RESULTS: Speech perception results were similar for the APEX/SPIN platform and conventional procedures.
CONCLUSIONS: APEX/SPIN is a freely available and open source platform that allows the administration of all kinds of custom speech perception tests and procedures.

PMID: 27796135 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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APEX/SPIN: a free test platform to measure speech intelligibility.

APEX/SPIN: a free test platform to measure speech intelligibility.

Int J Audiol. 2016 Oct 31;:1-7

Authors: Francart T, Hofmann M, Vanthornhout J, Van Deun L, van Wieringen A, Wouters J

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Measuring speech intelligibility in quiet and noise is important in clinical practice and research. An easy-to-use free software platform for conducting speech tests is presented, called APEX/SPIN.
DESIGN: The APEX/SPIN platform allows the use of any speech material in combination with any noise. A graphical user interface provides control over a large range of parameters, such as number of loudspeakers, signal-to-noise ratio and parameters of the procedure. An easy-to-use graphical interface is provided for calibration and storage of calibration values. To validate the platform, perception of words in quiet and sentences in noise were measured both with APEX/SPIN and with an audiometer and CD player, which is a conventional setup in current clinical practice.
STUDY SAMPLE: Five normal-hearing listeners participated in the experimental evaluation.
RESULTS: Speech perception results were similar for the APEX/SPIN platform and conventional procedures.
CONCLUSIONS: APEX/SPIN is a freely available and open source platform that allows the administration of all kinds of custom speech perception tests and procedures.

PMID: 27796135 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2fcGuME
via IFTTT

APEX/SPIN: a free test platform to measure speech intelligibility

.


from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2euJPHc
via IFTTT

APEX/SPIN: a free test platform to measure speech intelligibility

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2euJPHc
via IFTTT

APEX/SPIN: a free test platform to measure speech intelligibility

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2euJPHc
via IFTTT