Σάββατο 12 Νοεμβρίου 2016

Tinnitus Habituation For Dummies

Tinnitus is an extremely irritating condition that varies widely in its symptoms. Some people hear loud noises that range from high pitched ringing to lower level humming tones. The most disturbing version of tinnitus is constant and so loud that sufferers sometimes have trouble with their hearing. Other people only notice any noise while trying to fall asleep in the absence of any other environmental sounds.

Doctors pretty much agree that there is no cure for tinnitus, so they prescribe various ways to minimize its effects. Many people find some relief by always having some sort of background noise going. They may choose to listen to music or have the television on whether they are watching any programs or not. Since the silence of nighttime makes the noise of tinnitus more noticeable, using a long-playing CD of nature sounds can be very helpful in masking it.

While there are ways to minimize the irritating noise of tinnitus, most people would much prefer to completely eliminate it. Tinnitus habituation for dummies is a relatively new concept that has helped many sufferers.

Neurological professionals have found that tinnitus can develop as a result of some high stress situation. Many people can relate to this and state that their “noise pollution” diminishes somewhat as their stress level decreases. This concept is central in the tinnitus habituation for dummies approach, and it has helped many people learn to live with the reduced volume of their condition.

Elevated stress is a common problem in our modern world of too many responsibilities and too little time. Once people who have tinnitus realize this connection, they are often able to reduce or eliminate some of the stress producers in their life. The tinnitus habituation for dummies approach emphasizes the need to avoid concentrating on the noise caused by tinnitus and focusing on environmental noise instead.

Some of the most serious cases of tinnitus are caused by extended exposure to loud noise by people who operate farm or construction machinery. This version of tinnitus may be caused by actual damage to the inner ear, and the person experiencing it may not be able to find help through tinnitus habituation for dummies. Some other causes of tinnitus include high blood pressure, certain medications, alcohol consumption and smoking. Some of these causes such as smoking and drinking alcohol can be eliminated, but most medications are necessary and eliminating them can cause more serious health risks.



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Reply to: Psychometric properties of the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI): Assessment in a UK research volunteer population

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Publication date: Available online 12 November 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): J.A. Henry, E. Thielman, T. Zaugg




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Masked speech perception across the adult lifespan: Impact of age and hearing impairment

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Publication date: Available online 12 November 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Tine Goossens, Charlotte Vercammen, Jan Wouters, Astrid van Wieringen
As people grow older, speech perception difficulties become highly prevalent, especially in noisy listening situations. Moreover, it is assumed that speech intelligibility is more affected in the event of background noises that induce a higher cognitive load, i.e., noises that result in informational versus energetic masking. There is ample evidence showing that speech perception problems in aging persons are partly due to hearing impairment and partly due to age-related declines in cognition and suprathreshold auditory processing. In order to develop effective rehabilitation strategies, it is indispensable to know how these different degrading factors act upon speech perception. This implies disentangling effects of hearing impairment versus age and examining the interplay between both factors in different background noises of everyday settings. To that end, we investigated open-set sentence identification in six participant groups: a young (20–30 years), middle-aged (50–60 years), and older cohort (70–80 years), each including persons who had normal audiometric thresholds up to at least 4 kHz, on the one hand, and persons who were diagnosed with elevated audiometric thresholds, on the other hand. All participants were screened for (mild) cognitive impairment. We applied stationary and amplitude modulated speech-weighted noise, which are two types of energetic maskers, and unintelligible speech, which causes informational masking in addition to energetic masking. By means of these different background noises, we could look into speech perception performance in listening situations with a low and high cognitive load, respectively. Our results indicate that, even when audiometric thresholds are within normal limits up to 4 kHz, irrespective of threshold elevations at higher frequencies, and there is no indication of even mild cognitive impairment, masked speech perception declines by middle age and decreases further on to older age. The impact of hearing impairment is as detrimental for young and middle-aged as it is for older adults. When the background noise becomes cognitively more demanding, there is a larger decline in speech perception, due to age or hearing impairment. Hearing impairment seems to be the main factor underlying speech perception problems in background noises that cause energetic masking. However, in the event of informational masking, which induces a higher cognitive load, age appears to explain a significant part of the communicative impairment as well. We suggest that the degrading effect of age is mediated by deficiencies in temporal processing and central executive functions. This study may contribute to the improvement of auditory rehabilitation programs aiming to prevent aging persons from missing out on conversations, which, in turn, will improve their quality of life.



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An integrated model of pitch perception incorporating place and temporal pitch codes with application to cochlear implant research

S03785955.gif

Publication date: Available online 12 November 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Nafise Erfanian Saeedi, Peter J. Blamey, Anthony N. Burkitt, David B. Grayden
Although the neural mechanisms underlying pitch perception are not yet fully understood, there is general agreement that place and temporal representations of pitch are both used by the auditory system. This paper describes a neural network model of pitch perception that integrates both codes of pitch and explores the contributions of, and the interactions between, the two representations in simulated pitch ranking trials in normal and cochlear implant hearing. The model can replicate various psychophysical observations including the perception of the missing fundamental pitch and sensitivity to pitch interval sizes. As a case study, the model was used to investigate the efficiency of pitch perception cues in a novel sound processing scheme, Stimulation based on Auditory Modelling (SAM), that aims to improve pitch perception in cochlear implant hearing. Results showed that enhancement of the pitch perception cues would lead to better pitch ranking scores in the integrated model only if the place and temporal pitch cues were consistent.



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Reply to: Psychometric properties of the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI): Assessment in a UK research volunteer population

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Publication date: Available online 12 November 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): J.A. Henry, E. Thielman, T. Zaugg




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Masked speech perception across the adult lifespan: Impact of age and hearing impairment

S03785955.gif

Publication date: Available online 12 November 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Tine Goossens, Charlotte Vercammen, Jan Wouters, Astrid van Wieringen
As people grow older, speech perception difficulties become highly prevalent, especially in noisy listening situations. Moreover, it is assumed that speech intelligibility is more affected in the event of background noises that induce a higher cognitive load, i.e., noises that result in informational versus energetic masking. There is ample evidence showing that speech perception problems in aging persons are partly due to hearing impairment and partly due to age-related declines in cognition and suprathreshold auditory processing. In order to develop effective rehabilitation strategies, it is indispensable to know how these different degrading factors act upon speech perception. This implies disentangling effects of hearing impairment versus age and examining the interplay between both factors in different background noises of everyday settings. To that end, we investigated open-set sentence identification in six participant groups: a young (20–30 years), middle-aged (50–60 years), and older cohort (70–80 years), each including persons who had normal audiometric thresholds up to at least 4 kHz, on the one hand, and persons who were diagnosed with elevated audiometric thresholds, on the other hand. All participants were screened for (mild) cognitive impairment. We applied stationary and amplitude modulated speech-weighted noise, which are two types of energetic maskers, and unintelligible speech, which causes informational masking in addition to energetic masking. By means of these different background noises, we could look into speech perception performance in listening situations with a low and high cognitive load, respectively. Our results indicate that, even when audiometric thresholds are within normal limits up to 4 kHz, irrespective of threshold elevations at higher frequencies, and there is no indication of even mild cognitive impairment, masked speech perception declines by middle age and decreases further on to older age. The impact of hearing impairment is as detrimental for young and middle-aged as it is for older adults. When the background noise becomes cognitively more demanding, there is a larger decline in speech perception, due to age or hearing impairment. Hearing impairment seems to be the main factor underlying speech perception problems in background noises that cause energetic masking. However, in the event of informational masking, which induces a higher cognitive load, age appears to explain a significant part of the communicative impairment as well. We suggest that the degrading effect of age is mediated by deficiencies in temporal processing and central executive functions. This study may contribute to the improvement of auditory rehabilitation programs aiming to prevent aging persons from missing out on conversations, which, in turn, will improve their quality of life.



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An integrated model of pitch perception incorporating place and temporal pitch codes with application to cochlear implant research

S03785955.gif

Publication date: Available online 12 November 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Nafise Erfanian Saeedi, Peter J. Blamey, Anthony N. Burkitt, David B. Grayden
Although the neural mechanisms underlying pitch perception are not yet fully understood, there is general agreement that place and temporal representations of pitch are both used by the auditory system. This paper describes a neural network model of pitch perception that integrates both codes of pitch and explores the contributions of, and the interactions between, the two representations in simulated pitch ranking trials in normal and cochlear implant hearing. The model can replicate various psychophysical observations including the perception of the missing fundamental pitch and sensitivity to pitch interval sizes. As a case study, the model was used to investigate the efficiency of pitch perception cues in a novel sound processing scheme, Stimulation based on Auditory Modelling (SAM), that aims to improve pitch perception in cochlear implant hearing. Results showed that enhancement of the pitch perception cues would lead to better pitch ranking scores in the integrated model only if the place and temporal pitch cues were consistent.



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Reply to: Psychometric properties of the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI): Assessment in a UK research volunteer population

alertIcon.gif

Publication date: Available online 12 November 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): J.A. Henry, E. Thielman, T. Zaugg




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Masked speech perception across the adult lifespan: Impact of age and hearing impairment

S03785955.gif

Publication date: Available online 12 November 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Tine Goossens, Charlotte Vercammen, Jan Wouters, Astrid van Wieringen
As people grow older, speech perception difficulties become highly prevalent, especially in noisy listening situations. Moreover, it is assumed that speech intelligibility is more affected in the event of background noises that induce a higher cognitive load, i.e., noises that result in informational versus energetic masking. There is ample evidence showing that speech perception problems in aging persons are partly due to hearing impairment and partly due to age-related declines in cognition and suprathreshold auditory processing. In order to develop effective rehabilitation strategies, it is indispensable to know how these different degrading factors act upon speech perception. This implies disentangling effects of hearing impairment versus age and examining the interplay between both factors in different background noises of everyday settings. To that end, we investigated open-set sentence identification in six participant groups: a young (20–30 years), middle-aged (50–60 years), and older cohort (70–80 years), each including persons who had normal audiometric thresholds up to at least 4 kHz, on the one hand, and persons who were diagnosed with elevated audiometric thresholds, on the other hand. All participants were screened for (mild) cognitive impairment. We applied stationary and amplitude modulated speech-weighted noise, which are two types of energetic maskers, and unintelligible speech, which causes informational masking in addition to energetic masking. By means of these different background noises, we could look into speech perception performance in listening situations with a low and high cognitive load, respectively. Our results indicate that, even when audiometric thresholds are within normal limits up to 4 kHz, irrespective of threshold elevations at higher frequencies, and there is no indication of even mild cognitive impairment, masked speech perception declines by middle age and decreases further on to older age. The impact of hearing impairment is as detrimental for young and middle-aged as it is for older adults. When the background noise becomes cognitively more demanding, there is a larger decline in speech perception, due to age or hearing impairment. Hearing impairment seems to be the main factor underlying speech perception problems in background noises that cause energetic masking. However, in the event of informational masking, which induces a higher cognitive load, age appears to explain a significant part of the communicative impairment as well. We suggest that the degrading effect of age is mediated by deficiencies in temporal processing and central executive functions. This study may contribute to the improvement of auditory rehabilitation programs aiming to prevent aging persons from missing out on conversations, which, in turn, will improve their quality of life.



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An integrated model of pitch perception incorporating place and temporal pitch codes with application to cochlear implant research

S03785955.gif

Publication date: Available online 12 November 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Nafise Erfanian Saeedi, Peter J. Blamey, Anthony N. Burkitt, David B. Grayden
Although the neural mechanisms underlying pitch perception are not yet fully understood, there is general agreement that place and temporal representations of pitch are both used by the auditory system. This paper describes a neural network model of pitch perception that integrates both codes of pitch and explores the contributions of, and the interactions between, the two representations in simulated pitch ranking trials in normal and cochlear implant hearing. The model can replicate various psychophysical observations including the perception of the missing fundamental pitch and sensitivity to pitch interval sizes. As a case study, the model was used to investigate the efficiency of pitch perception cues in a novel sound processing scheme, Stimulation based on Auditory Modelling (SAM), that aims to improve pitch perception in cochlear implant hearing. Results showed that enhancement of the pitch perception cues would lead to better pitch ranking scores in the integrated model only if the place and temporal pitch cues were consistent.



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Erratum.

Related Articles

Erratum.

Int J Audiol. 2016 Nov 11;:1

Authors:

PMID: 27835041 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]



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Erratum.

Related Articles

Erratum.

Int J Audiol. 2016 Nov 11;:1

Authors:

PMID: 27835041 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]



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Erratum.

Related Articles

Erratum.

Int J Audiol. 2016 Nov 11;:1

Authors:

PMID: 27835041 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]



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Erratum.

Related Articles

Erratum.

Int J Audiol. 2016 Nov 11;:1

Authors:

PMID: 27835041 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]



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Real-time feedback to improve gait in children with cerebral palsy

Publication date: Available online 11 November 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Linda van Gelder, Adam T.C. Booth, Ingrid van de Port, Annemieke I. Buizer, Jaap Harlaar, Marjolein M. van der Krogt
Real-time feedback may be useful for enhancing information gained from clinical gait analysis of children with cerebral palsy (CP). It may also be effective in functional gait training, however, it is not known if children with CP can adapt gait in response to real-time feedback of kinematic parameters. Sixteen children with cerebral palsy (age 6–16; GMFCS I–III), walking with a flexed-knee gait pattern, walked on an instrumented treadmill with virtual reality in three conditions: regular walking without feedback (NF), feedback on hip angle (FH) and feedback on knee angle (FK). Clinically relevant gait parameters were calculated and the gait profile score (GPS) was used as a measure of overall gait changes between conditions. All children, except one, were able to improve hip and/or knee extension during gait in response to feedback, with nine achieving a clinically relevant improvement. Peak hip extension improved significantly by 5.1±5.9° (NF: 8.9±12.8°, FH: 3.8±10.4°, p=0.01). Peak knee extension improved significantly by 7.7±7.1° (NF: 22.2±12.0°, FK: 14.5±12.7°, p<0.01). GPS did not change between conditions due to increased deviations in other gait parameters. Responders to feedback were shown to have worse initial gait as measured by GPS (p=0.005) and functional selectivity score (p=0.049). In conclusion, ambulatory children with CP show adaptability in gait and are able to respond to real-time feedback, resulting in significant and clinically relevant improvements in peak hip and knee extension. These findings show the potential of real-time feedback as a tool for functional gait training and advanced gait analysis in CP.



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3D Multi-segment foot kinematics in children: A developmental study in typically developing boys

Publication date: Available online 11 November 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Kevin Deschamps, Filip Staes, Kathelijne Peerlinck, Kristel Van Geet, Cedric Hermans, Matricali Giovanni Arnoldo, Sebastien Lobet
BackgroundThe relationship between age and 3D rotations objectivized with multisegment foot models has not been quantified until now. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate the relationship between age and multi-segment foot kinematics in a cross-sectional database.MethodsBarefoot multi-segment foot kinematics of thirty two typically developing boys, aged 6–20 years, were captured with the Rizzoli Multi-segment Foot Model. One-dimensional statistical parametric mapping linear regression was used to examine the relationship between age and 3D inter-segment rotations of the dominant leg during the full gait cycle.ResultsAge was significantly correlated with sagittal plane kinematics of the midfoot and the calcaneus-metatarsus inter-segment angle (p<0.0125). Age was also correlated with the transverse plane kinematics of the calcaneus-metatarsus angle (p<0.0001).ConclusionGait labs should consider age related differences and variability if optimal decision making is pursued. It remains unclear if this is of interest for all foot models, however, the current study highlights that this is of particular relevance for foot models which incorporate a separate midfoot segment.



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Real-time feedback to improve gait in children with cerebral palsy

Publication date: Available online 11 November 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Linda van Gelder, Adam T.C. Booth, Ingrid van de Port, Annemieke I. Buizer, Jaap Harlaar, Marjolein M. van der Krogt
Real-time feedback may be useful for enhancing information gained from clinical gait analysis of children with cerebral palsy (CP). It may also be effective in functional gait training, however, it is not known if children with CP can adapt gait in response to real-time feedback of kinematic parameters. Sixteen children with cerebral palsy (age 6–16; GMFCS I–III), walking with a flexed-knee gait pattern, walked on an instrumented treadmill with virtual reality in three conditions: regular walking without feedback (NF), feedback on hip angle (FH) and feedback on knee angle (FK). Clinically relevant gait parameters were calculated and the gait profile score (GPS) was used as a measure of overall gait changes between conditions. All children, except one, were able to improve hip and/or knee extension during gait in response to feedback, with nine achieving a clinically relevant improvement. Peak hip extension improved significantly by 5.1±5.9° (NF: 8.9±12.8°, FH: 3.8±10.4°, p=0.01). Peak knee extension improved significantly by 7.7±7.1° (NF: 22.2±12.0°, FK: 14.5±12.7°, p<0.01). GPS did not change between conditions due to increased deviations in other gait parameters. Responders to feedback were shown to have worse initial gait as measured by GPS (p=0.005) and functional selectivity score (p=0.049). In conclusion, ambulatory children with CP show adaptability in gait and are able to respond to real-time feedback, resulting in significant and clinically relevant improvements in peak hip and knee extension. These findings show the potential of real-time feedback as a tool for functional gait training and advanced gait analysis in CP.



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3D Multi-segment foot kinematics in children: A developmental study in typically developing boys

Publication date: Available online 11 November 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Kevin Deschamps, Filip Staes, Kathelijne Peerlinck, Kristel Van Geet, Cedric Hermans, Matricali Giovanni Arnoldo, Sebastien Lobet
BackgroundThe relationship between age and 3D rotations objectivized with multisegment foot models has not been quantified until now. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate the relationship between age and multi-segment foot kinematics in a cross-sectional database.MethodsBarefoot multi-segment foot kinematics of thirty two typically developing boys, aged 6–20 years, were captured with the Rizzoli Multi-segment Foot Model. One-dimensional statistical parametric mapping linear regression was used to examine the relationship between age and 3D inter-segment rotations of the dominant leg during the full gait cycle.ResultsAge was significantly correlated with sagittal plane kinematics of the midfoot and the calcaneus-metatarsus inter-segment angle (p<0.0125). Age was also correlated with the transverse plane kinematics of the calcaneus-metatarsus angle (p<0.0001).ConclusionGait labs should consider age related differences and variability if optimal decision making is pursued. It remains unclear if this is of interest for all foot models, however, the current study highlights that this is of particular relevance for foot models which incorporate a separate midfoot segment.



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Real-time feedback to improve gait in children with cerebral palsy

Publication date: Available online 11 November 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Linda van Gelder, Adam T.C. Booth, Ingrid van de Port, Annemieke I. Buizer, Jaap Harlaar, Marjolein M. van der Krogt
Real-time feedback may be useful for enhancing information gained from clinical gait analysis of children with cerebral palsy (CP). It may also be effective in functional gait training, however, it is not known if children with CP can adapt gait in response to real-time feedback of kinematic parameters. Sixteen children with cerebral palsy (age 6–16; GMFCS I–III), walking with a flexed-knee gait pattern, walked on an instrumented treadmill with virtual reality in three conditions: regular walking without feedback (NF), feedback on hip angle (FH) and feedback on knee angle (FK). Clinically relevant gait parameters were calculated and the gait profile score (GPS) was used as a measure of overall gait changes between conditions. All children, except one, were able to improve hip and/or knee extension during gait in response to feedback, with nine achieving a clinically relevant improvement. Peak hip extension improved significantly by 5.1±5.9° (NF: 8.9±12.8°, FH: 3.8±10.4°, p=0.01). Peak knee extension improved significantly by 7.7±7.1° (NF: 22.2±12.0°, FK: 14.5±12.7°, p<0.01). GPS did not change between conditions due to increased deviations in other gait parameters. Responders to feedback were shown to have worse initial gait as measured by GPS (p=0.005) and functional selectivity score (p=0.049). In conclusion, ambulatory children with CP show adaptability in gait and are able to respond to real-time feedback, resulting in significant and clinically relevant improvements in peak hip and knee extension. These findings show the potential of real-time feedback as a tool for functional gait training and advanced gait analysis in CP.



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3D Multi-segment foot kinematics in children: A developmental study in typically developing boys

Publication date: Available online 11 November 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Kevin Deschamps, Filip Staes, Kathelijne Peerlinck, Kristel Van Geet, Cedric Hermans, Matricali Giovanni Arnoldo, Sebastien Lobet
BackgroundThe relationship between age and 3D rotations objectivized with multisegment foot models has not been quantified until now. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate the relationship between age and multi-segment foot kinematics in a cross-sectional database.MethodsBarefoot multi-segment foot kinematics of thirty two typically developing boys, aged 6–20 years, were captured with the Rizzoli Multi-segment Foot Model. One-dimensional statistical parametric mapping linear regression was used to examine the relationship between age and 3D inter-segment rotations of the dominant leg during the full gait cycle.ResultsAge was significantly correlated with sagittal plane kinematics of the midfoot and the calcaneus-metatarsus inter-segment angle (p<0.0125). Age was also correlated with the transverse plane kinematics of the calcaneus-metatarsus angle (p<0.0001).ConclusionGait labs should consider age related differences and variability if optimal decision making is pursued. It remains unclear if this is of interest for all foot models, however, the current study highlights that this is of particular relevance for foot models which incorporate a separate midfoot segment.



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