| Related Articles |
JAAA CEU Program.
J Am Acad Audiol. 2017 Feb;28(2):170-171
Authors:
PMID: 28240984 [PubMed - in process]
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Τρίτη 28 Φεβρουαρίου 2017
JAAA CEU Program.
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Validation of a Computer-Administered Version of the Digits-in-Noise Test for Hearing Screening in the United States.
| Related Articles |
Validation of a Computer-Administered Version of the Digits-in-Noise Test for Hearing Screening in the United States.
J Am Acad Audiol. 2017 Feb;28(2):161-169
Authors: Folmer RL, Vachhani J, McMillan GP, Watson C, Kidd GR, Feeney MP
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The sooner people receive treatment for hearing loss (HL), the quicker they are able to recognize speech and to master hearing aid technology. Unfortunately, a majority of people with HL wait until their impairments have progressed from moderate to severe levels before seeking auditory rehabilitation. To increase the number of individuals with HL who pursue and receive auditory rehabilitation, it is necessary to improve methods for identifying and informing these people via widely accessible hearing screening procedures. Screening for HL is the first in a chain of events that must take place to increase the number of patients who enter the hearing health-care system. New methods for hearing screening should be readily accessible through a common medium (e.g., telephone or computer) and should be relatively easy and quick for people to self-administer.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess a digits-in-noise (DIN) hearing screening test that was delivered via personal computer.
RESEARCH DESIGN: Participants completed the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA) questionnaire, audiometric testing in a sound booth, and computerized DIN testing. During the DIN test, sequences of three spoken digits were presented in noise via headphones at varying signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Participants entered each three-digit sequence they heard using an on-screen keypad.
STUDY SAMPLE: Forty adults (16 females, 24 males) participated in the study, of whom 20 had normal hearing and 20 had HL (pure-tone average [PTA] thresholds for 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz >25 dB HL).
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: DIN SNR and PTA data were analyzed and compared for each ear tested. Receiver operating characteristic curves based on these data were plotted. A measure of overall accuracy of a screening test is the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). This measures the average true positive rate across false positives at varying DIN SNR cutoffs. Larger values of the AUC indicate, on average, more accurate screening tests. HHIA responses were analyzed and compared to PTA and DIN SNR results using Pearson correlation statistics.
RESULTS: HHIA scores were positively correlated with audiometric PTA and DIN SNR results (p < 0.001 for all correlations). For an HL criterion of one or more frequencies from 0.25 to 8 kHz >25 dB HL, the AUC for the DIN test was 0.95. When a criterion of hearling level was set at one or more frequencies from 0.25 to 8 kHz >20 dB HL, the AUC for the DIN test was 0.96.
CONCLUSIONS: The computer version of the DIN test demonstrated excellent sensitivity and specificity for our sample of 40 participants. AUC results (≥0.95) suggest that this DIN test administered via computer should be very useful for adult hearing screening.
PMID: 28240983 [PubMed - in process]
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Inner Ear Excitation in Normal and Postmastoidectomy Participants by Fluid Stimulation in the Absence of Air- and Bone-Conduction Mechanisms.
| Related Articles |
Inner Ear Excitation in Normal and Postmastoidectomy Participants by Fluid Stimulation in the Absence of Air- and Bone-Conduction Mechanisms.
J Am Acad Audiol. 2017 Feb;28(2):152-160
Authors: Ronen O, Geal-Dor M, Kaufmann-Yehezkely M, Perez R, Chordekar S, Adelman C, Sohmer H
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hearing can be induced not only by airborne sounds (air conduction [AC]) and by the induction of skull vibrations by a bone vibrator (osseous bone conduction [BC]), but also by inducing vibrations of the soft tissues of the head, neck, and thorax. This hearing mode is called soft tissue conduction (STC) or nonosseous BC.
PURPOSE: This study was designed to gain insight into the mechanism of STC auditory stimulation.
RESEARCH DESIGN: Fluid was applied to the external auditory canal in normal participants and to the mastoidectomy common cavity in post-radical mastoidectomy patients. A rod coupled to a clinical bone vibrator, immersed in the fluid, delivered auditory frequency vibratory stimuli to the fluid. The stimulating rod was in contact with the fluid only. Thresholds were assessed in response to the fluid stimulation.
STUDY SAMPLE: Eight ears in eight normal participants and eight ears in seven post-radical mastoidectomy patients were studied.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Thresholds to AC, BC, and fluid stimulation were assessed. The postmastoidectomy patients were older than the normal participants, with underlying sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Therefore, the thresholds to the fluid stimulation in each participant were corrected by subtracting his BC threshold, which expresses any underlying SNHL.
RESULTS: Hearing thresholds were obtained in each participant, in both groups in response to the fluid stimulation at 1.0 and 2.0 kHz. The fluid thresholds, corrected by subtracting the BC thresholds, did not differ between the groups at 1.0 kHz. However, at 2.0 kHz the corrected fluid thresholds in the mastoidectomy patients were 10 dB lower (better) than in the normal participants.
CONCLUSIONS: Since the corrected fluid thresholds at 1.0 kHz did not differ between the groups, the response to fluid stimulation in the normal participants at least at 1.0 kHz was probably not due to vibrations of the tympanic membrane and of the ossicular chain induced by the fluid stimulation, since these structures were absent in the mastoidectomy patients. In addition, the fluid in the external canal (normal participants) and the absence of the tympanic membrane and the ossicular chain (mastoidectomy patients) induced a conductive hearing loss (threshold elevation to air-conducted sounds coming from the bone vibrator), so that AC mechanisms were probably not involved in the thresholds to the fluid stimulation. In addition, as a result of the acoustic impedance mismatch between the fluid and skull bone, the audio-frequency vibrations induced in the fluid at threshold would probably not lead to vibrations of the bony wall of the meatus, so that hearing by osseous BC is not likely. Therefore, it seems that the thresholds to the fluid stimulation, in the absence of AC and of osseous BC, represent an example of STC, which is an additional mode of auditory stimulation in which the cochlea is activated by fluid pressures transmitted along a series of soft tissues, reaching and exciting the inner ear directly. STC can explain the mechanism of several auditory phenomena.
PMID: 28240982 [PubMed - in process]
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Working Memory, Sleep, and Hearing Problems in Patients with Tinnitus and Hearing Loss Fitted with Hearing Aids.
| Related Articles |
Working Memory, Sleep, and Hearing Problems in Patients with Tinnitus and Hearing Loss Fitted with Hearing Aids.
J Am Acad Audiol. 2017 Feb;28(2):141-151
Authors: Zarenoe R, Hällgren M, Andersson G, Ledin T
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Tinnitus is a common condition and there is a need to evaluate effects of tinnitus management in relation to moderating factors such as degree of hearing loss. As it is possible that tinnitus influences concentration, and thus is likely to disturb cognitive processing, the role of cognitive functioning also needs to be investigated.
PURPOSE: To compare a group of patients with sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus to a control group with only sensorineural hearing loss (and no tinnitus). To investigate working memory, sleep, and hearing problems measured before and after hearing rehabilitation.
RESEARCH DESIGN: A prospective study.
STUDY SAMPLE: The sample consisted of 100 patients, 50 with hearing loss and tinnitus, and 50 controls with hearing loss but no tinnitus. All patients were between 40 and 82 yr old and had a pure-tone average (PTA; average of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) <70 dB HL.
INTERVENTION: Patients were tested before and after rehabilitation with hearing aids with regard to their working memory capacity, sleep quality, hearing problems, speech recognition, and tinnitus annoyance.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Eight patients dropped out of the study. Thus, a total of 92 patients were included for analysis, with 46 in each group. As a consequence of unplanned age and PTA differences between the groups, an age-matched subsample (n = 30 + 30) was selected for further analysis. Tests including the Reading Span, Hearing-in-Noise Test (HINT), Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were administered before and after hearing aid rehabilitation.
RESULTS: There were no between-group differences at baseline in the full sample (n = 92), with the exception of the THI (p < 0.001) and the PSQI (p < 0.002), on which the hearing loss and tinnitus group had significantly higher scores. Pre/post changes were significant for both groups on the Reading Span, and HHIE. However, these improvements were significantly larger for the patients in the hearing loss and tinnitus group on the Reading Span test (p < 0.001) and the PSQI (p < 0.001). Patients with tinnitus and hearing loss also exhibited significantly improved THI scores at follow-up, compared to baseline (p < 0.001). We conducted the same analyses for the age-matched subsample (n = 30 + 30). For the baseline data, only the THI (p < 0.001) and the PSQI (p < 0.015) difference remained significant. With regard to the pre/post changes, we found the same differences in improvement in Reading Span (p < 0.001) and the PSQI (p < 0.015) as in the full sample.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with tinnitus benefited from hearing aid rehabilitation. The observed differences in cognitive function were unexpected, and there were larger score improvements on the Reading Span test in the hearing loss and tinnitus group than in the hearing loss group. Patients with tinnitus and hearing loss may receive extra benefit in terms of cognitive function following hearing aid rehabilitation.
PMID: 28240981 [PubMed - in process]
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Potential Benefits of an Integrated Electric-Acoustic Sound Processor with Children: A Preliminary Report.
| Related Articles |
Potential Benefits of an Integrated Electric-Acoustic Sound Processor with Children: A Preliminary Report.
J Am Acad Audiol. 2017 Feb;28(2):127-140
Authors: Wolfe J, Neumann S, Schafer E, Marsh M, Wood M, Baker RS
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A number of published studies have demonstrated the benefits of electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS) over conventional electric stimulation for adults with functional low-frequency acoustic hearing and severe-to-profound high-frequency hearing loss. These benefits potentially include better speech recognition in quiet and in noise, better localization, improvements in sound quality, better music appreciation and aptitude, and better pitch recognition. There is, however, a paucity of published reports describing the potential benefits and limitations of EAS for children with functional low-frequency acoustic hearing and severe-to-profound high-frequency hearing loss.
PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to explore the potential benefits of EAS for children.
RESEARCH DESIGN: A repeated measures design was used to evaluate performance differences obtained with EAS stimulation versus acoustic- and electric-only stimulation.
STUDY SAMPLE: Seven users of Cochlear Nucleus Hybrid, Nucleus 24 Freedom, CI512, and CI422 implants were included in the study.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Sentence recognition (assayed using the pediatric version of the AzBio sentence recognition test) was evaluated in quiet and at three fixed signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) (0, +5, and +10 dB). Functional hearing performance was also evaluated with the use of questionnaires, including the comparative version of the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities, the Listening Inventory for Education Revised, and the Children's Home Inventory for Listening Difficulties.
RESULTS: Speech recognition in noise was typically better with EAS compared to participants' performance with acoustic- and electric-only stimulation, particularly when evaluated at the less favorable SNR. Additionally, in real-world situations, children generally preferred to use EAS compared to electric-only stimulation. Also, the participants' classroom teachers observed better hearing performance in the classroom with the use of EAS.
CONCLUSIONS: Use of EAS provided better speech recognition in quiet and in noise when compared to performance obtained with use of acoustic- and electric-only stimulation, and children responded favorably to the use of EAS implemented in an integrated sound processor for real-world use.
PMID: 28240980 [PubMed - in process]
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Does Language Matter When Using a Graphical Method for Calculating the Speech Intelligibility Index?
| Related Articles |
Does Language Matter When Using a Graphical Method for Calculating the Speech Intelligibility Index?
J Am Acad Audiol. 2017 Feb;28(2):119-126
Authors: Jin IK, Kates JM, Arehart KH
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Graphical methods for calculating the speech intelligibility index (SII), such as the count-the-dot audiogram, are useful tools in quantifying how much weighted audibility is restored when amplification is used for individuals with hearing loss. The band-importance function (BIF), which is an important component of the SII, depends on the language. Thus, language may affect the prediction of weighted audibility using the graphical SII.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to apply language-specific BIFs to develop and compare graphical SIIs for English, Korean, and Mandarin.
RESEARCH DESIGN: The graphical SIIs were developed and compared using a research design that applied and analyzed existing datasets.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Language-specific BIFs and dynamic ranges were used to derive graphical SIIs for English, Korean, and Mandarin. SII predictions were compared by calculating the language-specific predictions for the same audiometric configurations.
RESULTS: The graphical SIIs for English, Korean, and Mandarin yielded different unaided and aided predictions for the same audiogram configurations.
CONCLUSIONS: A graphical SII helps patients easily understand their weighted audibility for unaided and aided conditions; thus, it is a useful counseling tool in the clinic. The most accurate graphical SII's will, however, be based on a patient's spoken language.
PMID: 28240979 [PubMed - in process]
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Evaluation of the Self-Fitting Process with a Commercially Available Hearing Aid.
| Related Articles |
Evaluation of the Self-Fitting Process with a Commercially Available Hearing Aid.
J Am Acad Audiol. 2017 Feb;28(2):109-118
Authors: Convery E, Keidser G, Seeto M, McLelland M
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hearing aids and personal sound amplification products that are designed to be self-fitted by the user at home are becoming increasingly available in the online marketplace. While these devices are often marketed as a low-cost alternative to traditional hearing health-care, little is known about people's ability to successfully use and manage them. Previous research into the individual components of a simulated self-fitting procedure has been undertaken, but no study has evaluated performance of the procedure as a whole using a commercial product.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of a group of adults with a hearing loss to set up a pair of commercially available self-fitting hearing aids for their own use and to investigate factors associated with a successful outcome.
RESEARCH DESIGN: An interventional study that used regression analysis to identify potential contributors to the outcome.
STUDY SAMPLE: Forty adults with mild to moderately severe hearing loss participated in the study: 20 current hearing aid users (the "experienced" group) and 20 with no previous amplification experience (the "new" group). Twenty-four participants attended with partners, who were present to offer assistance with the study task as needed.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Participants followed a set of written, illustrated instructions to perform a multistep self-fitting procedure with a commercially available self-fitting hearing aid, with optional assistance from a lay partner. Standardized measures of cognitive function, health literacy, locus of control, hearing aid self-efficacy, and manual dexterity were collected. Statistical analysis was performed to examine the proportion of participants in each group who successfully performed the self-fitting procedure, factors that predicted successful completion of the task, and the contributions of partners to the outcome.
RESULTS: Fifty-five percent of participants were able to successfully perform the self-fitting procedure. Although the same success rate was observed for both experienced and new participants, the majority of the errors relating to the hearing test and the fine-tuning tasks were made by the experienced participants, while all of the errors associated with physically customizing the hearing aids and most of the insertion errors were made by the new participants. Although the majority of partners assisted in the self-fitting task, their contributions did not significantly influence the outcome. Further, no characteristic or combination of characteristics reliably predicted which participants would be successful at the self-fitting task.
CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of participants were able to complete the self-fitting task without error, the provision of knowledgeable support by trained personnel, rather than a fellow layperson, would most certainly increase the proportion of users who are able to achieve success. Refinements to the instructions and the physical design of the hearing aid may also serve to improve the success rate. Further evaluation of the range of self-fitting hearing aids that are now on the market should be undertaken.
PMID: 28240978 [PubMed - in process]
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Build a Better Hearing Assessment and the Patients Will Beat a Path to Your Clinic.
| Related Articles |
Build a Better Hearing Assessment and the Patients Will Beat a Path to Your Clinic.
J Am Acad Audiol. 2017 Feb;28(2):108
Authors: McCaslin DL
PMID: 28240977 [PubMed - in process]
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JAAA CEU Program.
| Related Articles |
JAAA CEU Program.
J Am Acad Audiol. 2017 Feb;28(2):170-171
Authors:
PMID: 28240984 [PubMed - in process]
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Validation of a Computer-Administered Version of the Digits-in-Noise Test for Hearing Screening in the United States.
| Related Articles |
Validation of a Computer-Administered Version of the Digits-in-Noise Test for Hearing Screening in the United States.
J Am Acad Audiol. 2017 Feb;28(2):161-169
Authors: Folmer RL, Vachhani J, McMillan GP, Watson C, Kidd GR, Feeney MP
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The sooner people receive treatment for hearing loss (HL), the quicker they are able to recognize speech and to master hearing aid technology. Unfortunately, a majority of people with HL wait until their impairments have progressed from moderate to severe levels before seeking auditory rehabilitation. To increase the number of individuals with HL who pursue and receive auditory rehabilitation, it is necessary to improve methods for identifying and informing these people via widely accessible hearing screening procedures. Screening for HL is the first in a chain of events that must take place to increase the number of patients who enter the hearing health-care system. New methods for hearing screening should be readily accessible through a common medium (e.g., telephone or computer) and should be relatively easy and quick for people to self-administer.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess a digits-in-noise (DIN) hearing screening test that was delivered via personal computer.
RESEARCH DESIGN: Participants completed the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA) questionnaire, audiometric testing in a sound booth, and computerized DIN testing. During the DIN test, sequences of three spoken digits were presented in noise via headphones at varying signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Participants entered each three-digit sequence they heard using an on-screen keypad.
STUDY SAMPLE: Forty adults (16 females, 24 males) participated in the study, of whom 20 had normal hearing and 20 had HL (pure-tone average [PTA] thresholds for 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz >25 dB HL).
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: DIN SNR and PTA data were analyzed and compared for each ear tested. Receiver operating characteristic curves based on these data were plotted. A measure of overall accuracy of a screening test is the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). This measures the average true positive rate across false positives at varying DIN SNR cutoffs. Larger values of the AUC indicate, on average, more accurate screening tests. HHIA responses were analyzed and compared to PTA and DIN SNR results using Pearson correlation statistics.
RESULTS: HHIA scores were positively correlated with audiometric PTA and DIN SNR results (p < 0.001 for all correlations). For an HL criterion of one or more frequencies from 0.25 to 8 kHz >25 dB HL, the AUC for the DIN test was 0.95. When a criterion of hearling level was set at one or more frequencies from 0.25 to 8 kHz >20 dB HL, the AUC for the DIN test was 0.96.
CONCLUSIONS: The computer version of the DIN test demonstrated excellent sensitivity and specificity for our sample of 40 participants. AUC results (≥0.95) suggest that this DIN test administered via computer should be very useful for adult hearing screening.
PMID: 28240983 [PubMed - in process]
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Inner Ear Excitation in Normal and Postmastoidectomy Participants by Fluid Stimulation in the Absence of Air- and Bone-Conduction Mechanisms.
| Related Articles |
Inner Ear Excitation in Normal and Postmastoidectomy Participants by Fluid Stimulation in the Absence of Air- and Bone-Conduction Mechanisms.
J Am Acad Audiol. 2017 Feb;28(2):152-160
Authors: Ronen O, Geal-Dor M, Kaufmann-Yehezkely M, Perez R, Chordekar S, Adelman C, Sohmer H
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hearing can be induced not only by airborne sounds (air conduction [AC]) and by the induction of skull vibrations by a bone vibrator (osseous bone conduction [BC]), but also by inducing vibrations of the soft tissues of the head, neck, and thorax. This hearing mode is called soft tissue conduction (STC) or nonosseous BC.
PURPOSE: This study was designed to gain insight into the mechanism of STC auditory stimulation.
RESEARCH DESIGN: Fluid was applied to the external auditory canal in normal participants and to the mastoidectomy common cavity in post-radical mastoidectomy patients. A rod coupled to a clinical bone vibrator, immersed in the fluid, delivered auditory frequency vibratory stimuli to the fluid. The stimulating rod was in contact with the fluid only. Thresholds were assessed in response to the fluid stimulation.
STUDY SAMPLE: Eight ears in eight normal participants and eight ears in seven post-radical mastoidectomy patients were studied.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Thresholds to AC, BC, and fluid stimulation were assessed. The postmastoidectomy patients were older than the normal participants, with underlying sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Therefore, the thresholds to the fluid stimulation in each participant were corrected by subtracting his BC threshold, which expresses any underlying SNHL.
RESULTS: Hearing thresholds were obtained in each participant, in both groups in response to the fluid stimulation at 1.0 and 2.0 kHz. The fluid thresholds, corrected by subtracting the BC thresholds, did not differ between the groups at 1.0 kHz. However, at 2.0 kHz the corrected fluid thresholds in the mastoidectomy patients were 10 dB lower (better) than in the normal participants.
CONCLUSIONS: Since the corrected fluid thresholds at 1.0 kHz did not differ between the groups, the response to fluid stimulation in the normal participants at least at 1.0 kHz was probably not due to vibrations of the tympanic membrane and of the ossicular chain induced by the fluid stimulation, since these structures were absent in the mastoidectomy patients. In addition, the fluid in the external canal (normal participants) and the absence of the tympanic membrane and the ossicular chain (mastoidectomy patients) induced a conductive hearing loss (threshold elevation to air-conducted sounds coming from the bone vibrator), so that AC mechanisms were probably not involved in the thresholds to the fluid stimulation. In addition, as a result of the acoustic impedance mismatch between the fluid and skull bone, the audio-frequency vibrations induced in the fluid at threshold would probably not lead to vibrations of the bony wall of the meatus, so that hearing by osseous BC is not likely. Therefore, it seems that the thresholds to the fluid stimulation, in the absence of AC and of osseous BC, represent an example of STC, which is an additional mode of auditory stimulation in which the cochlea is activated by fluid pressures transmitted along a series of soft tissues, reaching and exciting the inner ear directly. STC can explain the mechanism of several auditory phenomena.
PMID: 28240982 [PubMed - in process]
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Working Memory, Sleep, and Hearing Problems in Patients with Tinnitus and Hearing Loss Fitted with Hearing Aids.
| Related Articles |
Working Memory, Sleep, and Hearing Problems in Patients with Tinnitus and Hearing Loss Fitted with Hearing Aids.
J Am Acad Audiol. 2017 Feb;28(2):141-151
Authors: Zarenoe R, Hällgren M, Andersson G, Ledin T
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Tinnitus is a common condition and there is a need to evaluate effects of tinnitus management in relation to moderating factors such as degree of hearing loss. As it is possible that tinnitus influences concentration, and thus is likely to disturb cognitive processing, the role of cognitive functioning also needs to be investigated.
PURPOSE: To compare a group of patients with sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus to a control group with only sensorineural hearing loss (and no tinnitus). To investigate working memory, sleep, and hearing problems measured before and after hearing rehabilitation.
RESEARCH DESIGN: A prospective study.
STUDY SAMPLE: The sample consisted of 100 patients, 50 with hearing loss and tinnitus, and 50 controls with hearing loss but no tinnitus. All patients were between 40 and 82 yr old and had a pure-tone average (PTA; average of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) <70 dB HL.
INTERVENTION: Patients were tested before and after rehabilitation with hearing aids with regard to their working memory capacity, sleep quality, hearing problems, speech recognition, and tinnitus annoyance.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Eight patients dropped out of the study. Thus, a total of 92 patients were included for analysis, with 46 in each group. As a consequence of unplanned age and PTA differences between the groups, an age-matched subsample (n = 30 + 30) was selected for further analysis. Tests including the Reading Span, Hearing-in-Noise Test (HINT), Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were administered before and after hearing aid rehabilitation.
RESULTS: There were no between-group differences at baseline in the full sample (n = 92), with the exception of the THI (p < 0.001) and the PSQI (p < 0.002), on which the hearing loss and tinnitus group had significantly higher scores. Pre/post changes were significant for both groups on the Reading Span, and HHIE. However, these improvements were significantly larger for the patients in the hearing loss and tinnitus group on the Reading Span test (p < 0.001) and the PSQI (p < 0.001). Patients with tinnitus and hearing loss also exhibited significantly improved THI scores at follow-up, compared to baseline (p < 0.001). We conducted the same analyses for the age-matched subsample (n = 30 + 30). For the baseline data, only the THI (p < 0.001) and the PSQI (p < 0.015) difference remained significant. With regard to the pre/post changes, we found the same differences in improvement in Reading Span (p < 0.001) and the PSQI (p < 0.015) as in the full sample.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with tinnitus benefited from hearing aid rehabilitation. The observed differences in cognitive function were unexpected, and there were larger score improvements on the Reading Span test in the hearing loss and tinnitus group than in the hearing loss group. Patients with tinnitus and hearing loss may receive extra benefit in terms of cognitive function following hearing aid rehabilitation.
PMID: 28240981 [PubMed - in process]
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Potential Benefits of an Integrated Electric-Acoustic Sound Processor with Children: A Preliminary Report.
| Related Articles |
Potential Benefits of an Integrated Electric-Acoustic Sound Processor with Children: A Preliminary Report.
J Am Acad Audiol. 2017 Feb;28(2):127-140
Authors: Wolfe J, Neumann S, Schafer E, Marsh M, Wood M, Baker RS
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A number of published studies have demonstrated the benefits of electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS) over conventional electric stimulation for adults with functional low-frequency acoustic hearing and severe-to-profound high-frequency hearing loss. These benefits potentially include better speech recognition in quiet and in noise, better localization, improvements in sound quality, better music appreciation and aptitude, and better pitch recognition. There is, however, a paucity of published reports describing the potential benefits and limitations of EAS for children with functional low-frequency acoustic hearing and severe-to-profound high-frequency hearing loss.
PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to explore the potential benefits of EAS for children.
RESEARCH DESIGN: A repeated measures design was used to evaluate performance differences obtained with EAS stimulation versus acoustic- and electric-only stimulation.
STUDY SAMPLE: Seven users of Cochlear Nucleus Hybrid, Nucleus 24 Freedom, CI512, and CI422 implants were included in the study.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Sentence recognition (assayed using the pediatric version of the AzBio sentence recognition test) was evaluated in quiet and at three fixed signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) (0, +5, and +10 dB). Functional hearing performance was also evaluated with the use of questionnaires, including the comparative version of the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities, the Listening Inventory for Education Revised, and the Children's Home Inventory for Listening Difficulties.
RESULTS: Speech recognition in noise was typically better with EAS compared to participants' performance with acoustic- and electric-only stimulation, particularly when evaluated at the less favorable SNR. Additionally, in real-world situations, children generally preferred to use EAS compared to electric-only stimulation. Also, the participants' classroom teachers observed better hearing performance in the classroom with the use of EAS.
CONCLUSIONS: Use of EAS provided better speech recognition in quiet and in noise when compared to performance obtained with use of acoustic- and electric-only stimulation, and children responded favorably to the use of EAS implemented in an integrated sound processor for real-world use.
PMID: 28240980 [PubMed - in process]
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Does Language Matter When Using a Graphical Method for Calculating the Speech Intelligibility Index?
| Related Articles |
Does Language Matter When Using a Graphical Method for Calculating the Speech Intelligibility Index?
J Am Acad Audiol. 2017 Feb;28(2):119-126
Authors: Jin IK, Kates JM, Arehart KH
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Graphical methods for calculating the speech intelligibility index (SII), such as the count-the-dot audiogram, are useful tools in quantifying how much weighted audibility is restored when amplification is used for individuals with hearing loss. The band-importance function (BIF), which is an important component of the SII, depends on the language. Thus, language may affect the prediction of weighted audibility using the graphical SII.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to apply language-specific BIFs to develop and compare graphical SIIs for English, Korean, and Mandarin.
RESEARCH DESIGN: The graphical SIIs were developed and compared using a research design that applied and analyzed existing datasets.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Language-specific BIFs and dynamic ranges were used to derive graphical SIIs for English, Korean, and Mandarin. SII predictions were compared by calculating the language-specific predictions for the same audiometric configurations.
RESULTS: The graphical SIIs for English, Korean, and Mandarin yielded different unaided and aided predictions for the same audiogram configurations.
CONCLUSIONS: A graphical SII helps patients easily understand their weighted audibility for unaided and aided conditions; thus, it is a useful counseling tool in the clinic. The most accurate graphical SII's will, however, be based on a patient's spoken language.
PMID: 28240979 [PubMed - in process]
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Evaluation of the Self-Fitting Process with a Commercially Available Hearing Aid.
| Related Articles |
Evaluation of the Self-Fitting Process with a Commercially Available Hearing Aid.
J Am Acad Audiol. 2017 Feb;28(2):109-118
Authors: Convery E, Keidser G, Seeto M, McLelland M
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hearing aids and personal sound amplification products that are designed to be self-fitted by the user at home are becoming increasingly available in the online marketplace. While these devices are often marketed as a low-cost alternative to traditional hearing health-care, little is known about people's ability to successfully use and manage them. Previous research into the individual components of a simulated self-fitting procedure has been undertaken, but no study has evaluated performance of the procedure as a whole using a commercial product.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of a group of adults with a hearing loss to set up a pair of commercially available self-fitting hearing aids for their own use and to investigate factors associated with a successful outcome.
RESEARCH DESIGN: An interventional study that used regression analysis to identify potential contributors to the outcome.
STUDY SAMPLE: Forty adults with mild to moderately severe hearing loss participated in the study: 20 current hearing aid users (the "experienced" group) and 20 with no previous amplification experience (the "new" group). Twenty-four participants attended with partners, who were present to offer assistance with the study task as needed.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Participants followed a set of written, illustrated instructions to perform a multistep self-fitting procedure with a commercially available self-fitting hearing aid, with optional assistance from a lay partner. Standardized measures of cognitive function, health literacy, locus of control, hearing aid self-efficacy, and manual dexterity were collected. Statistical analysis was performed to examine the proportion of participants in each group who successfully performed the self-fitting procedure, factors that predicted successful completion of the task, and the contributions of partners to the outcome.
RESULTS: Fifty-five percent of participants were able to successfully perform the self-fitting procedure. Although the same success rate was observed for both experienced and new participants, the majority of the errors relating to the hearing test and the fine-tuning tasks were made by the experienced participants, while all of the errors associated with physically customizing the hearing aids and most of the insertion errors were made by the new participants. Although the majority of partners assisted in the self-fitting task, their contributions did not significantly influence the outcome. Further, no characteristic or combination of characteristics reliably predicted which participants would be successful at the self-fitting task.
CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of participants were able to complete the self-fitting task without error, the provision of knowledgeable support by trained personnel, rather than a fellow layperson, would most certainly increase the proportion of users who are able to achieve success. Refinements to the instructions and the physical design of the hearing aid may also serve to improve the success rate. Further evaluation of the range of self-fitting hearing aids that are now on the market should be undertaken.
PMID: 28240978 [PubMed - in process]
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Build a Better Hearing Assessment and the Patients Will Beat a Path to Your Clinic.
| Related Articles |
Build a Better Hearing Assessment and the Patients Will Beat a Path to Your Clinic.
J Am Acad Audiol. 2017 Feb;28(2):108
Authors: McCaslin DL
PMID: 28240977 [PubMed - in process]
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Associate Professor Henrike Blumenfeld’s Lab and Local Somali Community Organization Help Seniors Learn English!
Henrike Blumenfeld
“A unique English as a Second Language (ESL) curriculum has been developed by San Diego State University faculty and students to improve the communication skills of seniors with limited English proficiency.
Henrike Blumenfeld is leading the effort through her Bilingualism and Cognition Lab. The ESL curriculum consists of thematically organized binders with visual cues and an iPad app that has been translated into Somali.”
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Associate Professor Henrike Blumenfeld’s Lab and Local Somali Community Organization Help Seniors Learn English!
Henrike Blumenfeld
“A unique English as a Second Language (ESL) curriculum has been developed by San Diego State University faculty and students to improve the communication skills of seniors with limited English proficiency.
Henrike Blumenfeld is leading the effort through her Bilingualism and Cognition Lab. The ESL curriculum consists of thematically organized binders with visual cues and an iPad app that has been translated into Somali.”
from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2lU6Rf0
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Associate Professor Henrike Blumenfeld’s Lab and Local Somali Community Organization Help Seniors Learn English!
Henrike Blumenfeld
“A unique English as a Second Language (ESL) curriculum has been developed by San Diego State University faculty and students to improve the communication skills of seniors with limited English proficiency.
Henrike Blumenfeld is leading the effort through her Bilingualism and Cognition Lab. The ESL curriculum consists of thematically organized binders with visual cues and an iPad app that has been translated into Somali.”
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The Impact of Clinical History on the Threshold Estimation of Auditory Brainstem Response Results for Infants
Purpose
This study assesses the impact of patient clinical history on audiologists' performance when interpreting auditory brainstem response (ABR) results.
Method
Fourteen audiologists' accuracy in estimating hearing threshold for 16 infants through interpretation of ABR traces was compared on 2 occasions at least 5 months apart. On the 1st occasion, ABR traces were presented to the audiologists with no clinical information except for the age of the child. On the 2nd occasion, audiologists were given a full clinical history for the ABR cases.
Results
The addition of clinical history information had no statistically significant impact on sensitivity, specificity, or accuracy of diagnosis. Although the mean numbers of true-negative and true-positive diagnoses were higher when audiologists were given clinical information, the difference was again not statistically significant.
Conclusion
This study suggests that if there are circumstances in which case material is incomplete or unavailable, audiologists have no cause for concern regarding the accuracy of their interpretation of ABR traces. In a clinical manner, this may help audiologists with large caseloads or audiologists who need to provide a diagnosis of hearing loss in a short time by allowing them to focus on conducting ABR without the need for case history information.from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2l8JGQR
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The Quantal Larynx: The Stable Regions of Laryngeal Biomechanics and Implications for Speech Production
Purpose
Recent proposals suggest that (a) the high dimensionality of speech motor control may be reduced via modular neuromuscular organization that takes advantage of intrinsic biomechanical regions of stability and (b) computational modeling provides a means to study whether and how such modularization works. In this study, the focus is on the larynx, a structure that is fundamental to speech production because of its role in phonation and numerous articulatory functions.
Method
A 3-dimensional model of the larynx was created using the ArtiSynth platform (http://ift.tt/2lPoHkZ). This model was used to simulate laryngeal articulatory states, including inspiration, glottal fricative, modal prephonation, plain glottal stop, vocal–ventricular stop, and aryepiglotto–epiglottal stop and fricative.
Results
Speech-relevant laryngeal biomechanics is rich with “quantal” or highly stable regions within muscle activation space.
Conclusions
Quantal laryngeal biomechanics complement a modular view of speech control and have implications for the articulatory–biomechanical grounding of numerous phonetic and phonological phenomena.from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2lTsbRI
via IFTTT
The Impact of Clinical History on the Threshold Estimation of Auditory Brainstem Response Results for Infants
Purpose
This study assesses the impact of patient clinical history on audiologists' performance when interpreting auditory brainstem response (ABR) results.
Method
Fourteen audiologists' accuracy in estimating hearing threshold for 16 infants through interpretation of ABR traces was compared on 2 occasions at least 5 months apart. On the 1st occasion, ABR traces were presented to the audiologists with no clinical information except for the age of the child. On the 2nd occasion, audiologists were given a full clinical history for the ABR cases.
Results
The addition of clinical history information had no statistically significant impact on sensitivity, specificity, or accuracy of diagnosis. Although the mean numbers of true-negative and true-positive diagnoses were higher when audiologists were given clinical information, the difference was again not statistically significant.
Conclusion
This study suggests that if there are circumstances in which case material is incomplete or unavailable, audiologists have no cause for concern regarding the accuracy of their interpretation of ABR traces. In a clinical manner, this may help audiologists with large caseloads or audiologists who need to provide a diagnosis of hearing loss in a short time by allowing them to focus on conducting ABR without the need for case history information.from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2l8JGQR
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The Quantal Larynx: The Stable Regions of Laryngeal Biomechanics and Implications for Speech Production
Purpose
Recent proposals suggest that (a) the high dimensionality of speech motor control may be reduced via modular neuromuscular organization that takes advantage of intrinsic biomechanical regions of stability and (b) computational modeling provides a means to study whether and how such modularization works. In this study, the focus is on the larynx, a structure that is fundamental to speech production because of its role in phonation and numerous articulatory functions.
Method
A 3-dimensional model of the larynx was created using the ArtiSynth platform (http://ift.tt/2lPoHkZ). This model was used to simulate laryngeal articulatory states, including inspiration, glottal fricative, modal prephonation, plain glottal stop, vocal–ventricular stop, and aryepiglotto–epiglottal stop and fricative.
Results
Speech-relevant laryngeal biomechanics is rich with “quantal” or highly stable regions within muscle activation space.
Conclusions
Quantal laryngeal biomechanics complement a modular view of speech control and have implications for the articulatory–biomechanical grounding of numerous phonetic and phonological phenomena.from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2lTsbRI
via IFTTT
The Impact of Clinical History on the Threshold Estimation of Auditory Brainstem Response Results for Infants
Purpose
This study assesses the impact of patient clinical history on audiologists' performance when interpreting auditory brainstem response (ABR) results.
Method
Fourteen audiologists' accuracy in estimating hearing threshold for 16 infants through interpretation of ABR traces was compared on 2 occasions at least 5 months apart. On the 1st occasion, ABR traces were presented to the audiologists with no clinical information except for the age of the child. On the 2nd occasion, audiologists were given a full clinical history for the ABR cases.
Results
The addition of clinical history information had no statistically significant impact on sensitivity, specificity, or accuracy of diagnosis. Although the mean numbers of true-negative and true-positive diagnoses were higher when audiologists were given clinical information, the difference was again not statistically significant.
Conclusion
This study suggests that if there are circumstances in which case material is incomplete or unavailable, audiologists have no cause for concern regarding the accuracy of their interpretation of ABR traces. In a clinical manner, this may help audiologists with large caseloads or audiologists who need to provide a diagnosis of hearing loss in a short time by allowing them to focus on conducting ABR without the need for case history information.from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2l8JGQR
via IFTTT
The Quantal Larynx: The Stable Regions of Laryngeal Biomechanics and Implications for Speech Production
Purpose
Recent proposals suggest that (a) the high dimensionality of speech motor control may be reduced via modular neuromuscular organization that takes advantage of intrinsic biomechanical regions of stability and (b) computational modeling provides a means to study whether and how such modularization works. In this study, the focus is on the larynx, a structure that is fundamental to speech production because of its role in phonation and numerous articulatory functions.
Method
A 3-dimensional model of the larynx was created using the ArtiSynth platform (http://ift.tt/2lPoHkZ). This model was used to simulate laryngeal articulatory states, including inspiration, glottal fricative, modal prephonation, plain glottal stop, vocal–ventricular stop, and aryepiglotto–epiglottal stop and fricative.
Results
Speech-relevant laryngeal biomechanics is rich with “quantal” or highly stable regions within muscle activation space.
Conclusions
Quantal laryngeal biomechanics complement a modular view of speech control and have implications for the articulatory–biomechanical grounding of numerous phonetic and phonological phenomena.from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2lTsbRI
via IFTTT
Reducing gait speed affects axial coordination of walking turns
Publication date: Available online 27 February 2017
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Caroline Forsell, David Conradsson, Caroline Paquette, Erika Franzén
Turning is a common feature of daily life and dynamic coordination of the axial body segments is a cornerstone for safe and efficient turning. Although slow walking speed is a common trait of old age and neurological disorders, little is known about the effect of walking speed on axial coordination during walking turns. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of walking speed on axial coordination during walking turns in healthy elderly adults. Seventeen healthy elderly adults randomly performed 180° left and right turns while walking in their self-selected comfortable pace and in a slow pace speed. Turning velocity, spatiotemporal gait parameters (step length and step time), angular rotations and angular velocity of the head and pelvis, head-pelvis separation (i.e. the angular difference in degrees between the rotation of the head and pelvis) and head-pelvis velocity were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. During slow walking, turning velocity was 15% lower accompanied by shorter step length and longer step time compared to comfortable walking. Reducing walking speed also led to a decrease in the amplitude and velocity of the axial rotation of the head and pelvis as well as a reduced head-pelvis separation and angular velocity. This study demonstrates that axial coordination during turning is speed dependent as evidenced by a more ‘en bloc’ movement pattern (i.e. less separation between axial segments) at reduced speeds in healthy older adults. This emphasizes the need for matching speed when comparing groups with diverse walking speeds to differentiate changes due to speed from changes due to disease.
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Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Caroline Forsell, David Conradsson, Caroline Paquette, Erika Franzén
Turning is a common feature of daily life and dynamic coordination of the axial body segments is a cornerstone for safe and efficient turning. Although slow walking speed is a common trait of old age and neurological disorders, little is known about the effect of walking speed on axial coordination during walking turns. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of walking speed on axial coordination during walking turns in healthy elderly adults. Seventeen healthy elderly adults randomly performed 180° left and right turns while walking in their self-selected comfortable pace and in a slow pace speed. Turning velocity, spatiotemporal gait parameters (step length and step time), angular rotations and angular velocity of the head and pelvis, head-pelvis separation (i.e. the angular difference in degrees between the rotation of the head and pelvis) and head-pelvis velocity were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. During slow walking, turning velocity was 15% lower accompanied by shorter step length and longer step time compared to comfortable walking. Reducing walking speed also led to a decrease in the amplitude and velocity of the axial rotation of the head and pelvis as well as a reduced head-pelvis separation and angular velocity. This study demonstrates that axial coordination during turning is speed dependent as evidenced by a more ‘en bloc’ movement pattern (i.e. less separation between axial segments) at reduced speeds in healthy older adults. This emphasizes the need for matching speed when comparing groups with diverse walking speeds to differentiate changes due to speed from changes due to disease.
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Energy cost during walking in association with age and body height in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy
Publication date: Available online 27 February 2017
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Eline A.M. Bolster, Astrid C.J. Balemans, Merel-Anne Brehm, Annemieke Buizer, Annet J. Dallmeijer
AimThis cross-sectional study into children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) aimed to assess the association of gross energy cost (EC), net EC and net nondimensional (NN) EC during walking with age and body height, compared to typically developing (TD) peers.MethodData was collected in 128 children and adolescents with CP (mean age 11y9mo; GMFCS I,n=48; II,n=56; III, n=24) and in 63 TD peers (mean age 12y5mo). Energy cost was assessed by measuring the oxygen consumption during over-ground walking at comfortable speed. Outcome measures derived from the assessment included the gross and net EC, and NN EC. Differences between the groups in the association between gross, net and NN EC with age and body height, were investigated with regression analyses and interaction effects (p<0.05).ResultsInteraction effects for age and body height by group were not significant, indicating similar associations for gross, net and NN EC with age or body height among groups. The models showed a significant decline for gross, net and NN EC with increasing age per year (respectively −0.201Jkg−1·m−1; −0.073Jkg−1m−1; −0.007) and body height per cm (respectively −0.057Jkg−1m−1; −0.021Jkg−1m−1; −0.002).InterpretationDespite higher gross and net EC values for CP compared to TD participants , similar declines in EC outcomes can be expected with growth for children and adolescents aged 4-22 years with CP. All energy cost outcomes showed a decline with growth, indicating that correcting for this decline is required when evaluating changes in gross EC, and, to a lesser extent, in net and NN EC in response to treatment or from natural course over time.
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Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Eline A.M. Bolster, Astrid C.J. Balemans, Merel-Anne Brehm, Annemieke Buizer, Annet J. Dallmeijer
AimThis cross-sectional study into children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) aimed to assess the association of gross energy cost (EC), net EC and net nondimensional (NN) EC during walking with age and body height, compared to typically developing (TD) peers.MethodData was collected in 128 children and adolescents with CP (mean age 11y9mo; GMFCS I,n=48; II,n=56; III, n=24) and in 63 TD peers (mean age 12y5mo). Energy cost was assessed by measuring the oxygen consumption during over-ground walking at comfortable speed. Outcome measures derived from the assessment included the gross and net EC, and NN EC. Differences between the groups in the association between gross, net and NN EC with age and body height, were investigated with regression analyses and interaction effects (p<0.05).ResultsInteraction effects for age and body height by group were not significant, indicating similar associations for gross, net and NN EC with age or body height among groups. The models showed a significant decline for gross, net and NN EC with increasing age per year (respectively −0.201Jkg−1·m−1; −0.073Jkg−1m−1; −0.007) and body height per cm (respectively −0.057Jkg−1m−1; −0.021Jkg−1m−1; −0.002).InterpretationDespite higher gross and net EC values for CP compared to TD participants , similar declines in EC outcomes can be expected with growth for children and adolescents aged 4-22 years with CP. All energy cost outcomes showed a decline with growth, indicating that correcting for this decline is required when evaluating changes in gross EC, and, to a lesser extent, in net and NN EC in response to treatment or from natural course over time.
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Metric learning for Parkinsonian identification from IMU gait measurements
Publication date: Available online 27 February 2017
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Fabio Cuzzolin, Michael Sapienza, Patrick Esser, Suman Saha, Miss Marloes Franssen, Johnny Collett, Helen Dawes
Diagnosis of people with mild Parkinson's symptoms is difficult. Nevertheless, variations in gait pattern can be utilised to this purpose, when measured via Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). Human gait, however, possesses a high degree of variability across individuals, and is subject to numerous nuisance factors. Therefore, off-the-shelf Machine Learning techniques may fail to classify it with the accuracy required in clinical trials.In this paper we propose a novel framework in which IMU gait measurement sequences sampled during a 10 metre walk are first encoded as hidden Markov models (HMMs) to extract their dynamics and provide a fixed-length representation. Given sufficient training samples, the distance between HMMs which optimises classification performance is learned and employed in a classical Nearest Neighbour classifier. Our tests demonstrate how this technique achieves accuracy of 85.51% over a 156 people with Parkinson's with a representative range of severity and 424 typically developed adults, which is the top performance achieved so far over a cohort of such size, based on single measurement outcomes. The method displays the potential for further improvement and a wider application to distinguish other conditions.
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Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Fabio Cuzzolin, Michael Sapienza, Patrick Esser, Suman Saha, Miss Marloes Franssen, Johnny Collett, Helen Dawes
Diagnosis of people with mild Parkinson's symptoms is difficult. Nevertheless, variations in gait pattern can be utilised to this purpose, when measured via Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). Human gait, however, possesses a high degree of variability across individuals, and is subject to numerous nuisance factors. Therefore, off-the-shelf Machine Learning techniques may fail to classify it with the accuracy required in clinical trials.In this paper we propose a novel framework in which IMU gait measurement sequences sampled during a 10 metre walk are first encoded as hidden Markov models (HMMs) to extract their dynamics and provide a fixed-length representation. Given sufficient training samples, the distance between HMMs which optimises classification performance is learned and employed in a classical Nearest Neighbour classifier. Our tests demonstrate how this technique achieves accuracy of 85.51% over a 156 people with Parkinson's with a representative range of severity and 424 typically developed adults, which is the top performance achieved so far over a cohort of such size, based on single measurement outcomes. The method displays the potential for further improvement and a wider application to distinguish other conditions.
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Reducing gait speed affects axial coordination of walking turns
Publication date: Available online 27 February 2017
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Caroline Forsell, David Conradsson, Caroline Paquette, Erika Franzén
Turning is a common feature of daily life and dynamic coordination of the axial body segments is a cornerstone for safe and efficient turning. Although slow walking speed is a common trait of old age and neurological disorders, little is known about the effect of walking speed on axial coordination during walking turns. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of walking speed on axial coordination during walking turns in healthy elderly adults. Seventeen healthy elderly adults randomly performed 180° left and right turns while walking in their self-selected comfortable pace and in a slow pace speed. Turning velocity, spatiotemporal gait parameters (step length and step time), angular rotations and angular velocity of the head and pelvis, head-pelvis separation (i.e. the angular difference in degrees between the rotation of the head and pelvis) and head-pelvis velocity were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. During slow walking, turning velocity was 15% lower accompanied by shorter step length and longer step time compared to comfortable walking. Reducing walking speed also led to a decrease in the amplitude and velocity of the axial rotation of the head and pelvis as well as a reduced head-pelvis separation and angular velocity. This study demonstrates that axial coordination during turning is speed dependent as evidenced by a more ‘en bloc’ movement pattern (i.e. less separation between axial segments) at reduced speeds in healthy older adults. This emphasizes the need for matching speed when comparing groups with diverse walking speeds to differentiate changes due to speed from changes due to disease.
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via IFTTT
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Caroline Forsell, David Conradsson, Caroline Paquette, Erika Franzén
Turning is a common feature of daily life and dynamic coordination of the axial body segments is a cornerstone for safe and efficient turning. Although slow walking speed is a common trait of old age and neurological disorders, little is known about the effect of walking speed on axial coordination during walking turns. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of walking speed on axial coordination during walking turns in healthy elderly adults. Seventeen healthy elderly adults randomly performed 180° left and right turns while walking in their self-selected comfortable pace and in a slow pace speed. Turning velocity, spatiotemporal gait parameters (step length and step time), angular rotations and angular velocity of the head and pelvis, head-pelvis separation (i.e. the angular difference in degrees between the rotation of the head and pelvis) and head-pelvis velocity were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. During slow walking, turning velocity was 15% lower accompanied by shorter step length and longer step time compared to comfortable walking. Reducing walking speed also led to a decrease in the amplitude and velocity of the axial rotation of the head and pelvis as well as a reduced head-pelvis separation and angular velocity. This study demonstrates that axial coordination during turning is speed dependent as evidenced by a more ‘en bloc’ movement pattern (i.e. less separation between axial segments) at reduced speeds in healthy older adults. This emphasizes the need for matching speed when comparing groups with diverse walking speeds to differentiate changes due to speed from changes due to disease.
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Energy cost during walking in association with age and body height in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy
Publication date: Available online 27 February 2017
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Eline A.M. Bolster, Astrid C.J. Balemans, Merel-Anne Brehm, Annemieke Buizer, Annet J. Dallmeijer
AimThis cross-sectional study into children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) aimed to assess the association of gross energy cost (EC), net EC and net nondimensional (NN) EC during walking with age and body height, compared to typically developing (TD) peers.MethodData was collected in 128 children and adolescents with CP (mean age 11y9mo; GMFCS I,n=48; II,n=56; III, n=24) and in 63 TD peers (mean age 12y5mo). Energy cost was assessed by measuring the oxygen consumption during over-ground walking at comfortable speed. Outcome measures derived from the assessment included the gross and net EC, and NN EC. Differences between the groups in the association between gross, net and NN EC with age and body height, were investigated with regression analyses and interaction effects (p<0.05).ResultsInteraction effects for age and body height by group were not significant, indicating similar associations for gross, net and NN EC with age or body height among groups. The models showed a significant decline for gross, net and NN EC with increasing age per year (respectively −0.201Jkg−1·m−1; −0.073Jkg−1m−1; −0.007) and body height per cm (respectively −0.057Jkg−1m−1; −0.021Jkg−1m−1; −0.002).InterpretationDespite higher gross and net EC values for CP compared to TD participants , similar declines in EC outcomes can be expected with growth for children and adolescents aged 4-22 years with CP. All energy cost outcomes showed a decline with growth, indicating that correcting for this decline is required when evaluating changes in gross EC, and, to a lesser extent, in net and NN EC in response to treatment or from natural course over time.
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via IFTTT
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Eline A.M. Bolster, Astrid C.J. Balemans, Merel-Anne Brehm, Annemieke Buizer, Annet J. Dallmeijer
AimThis cross-sectional study into children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) aimed to assess the association of gross energy cost (EC), net EC and net nondimensional (NN) EC during walking with age and body height, compared to typically developing (TD) peers.MethodData was collected in 128 children and adolescents with CP (mean age 11y9mo; GMFCS I,n=48; II,n=56; III, n=24) and in 63 TD peers (mean age 12y5mo). Energy cost was assessed by measuring the oxygen consumption during over-ground walking at comfortable speed. Outcome measures derived from the assessment included the gross and net EC, and NN EC. Differences between the groups in the association between gross, net and NN EC with age and body height, were investigated with regression analyses and interaction effects (p<0.05).ResultsInteraction effects for age and body height by group were not significant, indicating similar associations for gross, net and NN EC with age or body height among groups. The models showed a significant decline for gross, net and NN EC with increasing age per year (respectively −0.201Jkg−1·m−1; −0.073Jkg−1m−1; −0.007) and body height per cm (respectively −0.057Jkg−1m−1; −0.021Jkg−1m−1; −0.002).InterpretationDespite higher gross and net EC values for CP compared to TD participants , similar declines in EC outcomes can be expected with growth for children and adolescents aged 4-22 years with CP. All energy cost outcomes showed a decline with growth, indicating that correcting for this decline is required when evaluating changes in gross EC, and, to a lesser extent, in net and NN EC in response to treatment or from natural course over time.
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Metric learning for Parkinsonian identification from IMU gait measurements
Publication date: Available online 27 February 2017
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Fabio Cuzzolin, Michael Sapienza, Patrick Esser, Suman Saha, Miss Marloes Franssen, Johnny Collett, Helen Dawes
Diagnosis of people with mild Parkinson's symptoms is difficult. Nevertheless, variations in gait pattern can be utilised to this purpose, when measured via Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). Human gait, however, possesses a high degree of variability across individuals, and is subject to numerous nuisance factors. Therefore, off-the-shelf Machine Learning techniques may fail to classify it with the accuracy required in clinical trials.In this paper we propose a novel framework in which IMU gait measurement sequences sampled during a 10 metre walk are first encoded as hidden Markov models (HMMs) to extract their dynamics and provide a fixed-length representation. Given sufficient training samples, the distance between HMMs which optimises classification performance is learned and employed in a classical Nearest Neighbour classifier. Our tests demonstrate how this technique achieves accuracy of 85.51% over a 156 people with Parkinson's with a representative range of severity and 424 typically developed adults, which is the top performance achieved so far over a cohort of such size, based on single measurement outcomes. The method displays the potential for further improvement and a wider application to distinguish other conditions.
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via IFTTT
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Fabio Cuzzolin, Michael Sapienza, Patrick Esser, Suman Saha, Miss Marloes Franssen, Johnny Collett, Helen Dawes
Diagnosis of people with mild Parkinson's symptoms is difficult. Nevertheless, variations in gait pattern can be utilised to this purpose, when measured via Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). Human gait, however, possesses a high degree of variability across individuals, and is subject to numerous nuisance factors. Therefore, off-the-shelf Machine Learning techniques may fail to classify it with the accuracy required in clinical trials.In this paper we propose a novel framework in which IMU gait measurement sequences sampled during a 10 metre walk are first encoded as hidden Markov models (HMMs) to extract their dynamics and provide a fixed-length representation. Given sufficient training samples, the distance between HMMs which optimises classification performance is learned and employed in a classical Nearest Neighbour classifier. Our tests demonstrate how this technique achieves accuracy of 85.51% over a 156 people with Parkinson's with a representative range of severity and 424 typically developed adults, which is the top performance achieved so far over a cohort of such size, based on single measurement outcomes. The method displays the potential for further improvement and a wider application to distinguish other conditions.
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Reducing gait speed affects axial coordination of walking turns
Publication date: Available online 27 February 2017
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Caroline Forsell, David Conradsson, Caroline Paquette, Erika Franzén
Turning is a common feature of daily life and dynamic coordination of the axial body segments is a cornerstone for safe and efficient turning. Although slow walking speed is a common trait of old age and neurological disorders, little is known about the effect of walking speed on axial coordination during walking turns. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of walking speed on axial coordination during walking turns in healthy elderly adults. Seventeen healthy elderly adults randomly performed 180° left and right turns while walking in their self-selected comfortable pace and in a slow pace speed. Turning velocity, spatiotemporal gait parameters (step length and step time), angular rotations and angular velocity of the head and pelvis, head-pelvis separation (i.e. the angular difference in degrees between the rotation of the head and pelvis) and head-pelvis velocity were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. During slow walking, turning velocity was 15% lower accompanied by shorter step length and longer step time compared to comfortable walking. Reducing walking speed also led to a decrease in the amplitude and velocity of the axial rotation of the head and pelvis as well as a reduced head-pelvis separation and angular velocity. This study demonstrates that axial coordination during turning is speed dependent as evidenced by a more ‘en bloc’ movement pattern (i.e. less separation between axial segments) at reduced speeds in healthy older adults. This emphasizes the need for matching speed when comparing groups with diverse walking speeds to differentiate changes due to speed from changes due to disease.
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Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Caroline Forsell, David Conradsson, Caroline Paquette, Erika Franzén
Turning is a common feature of daily life and dynamic coordination of the axial body segments is a cornerstone for safe and efficient turning. Although slow walking speed is a common trait of old age and neurological disorders, little is known about the effect of walking speed on axial coordination during walking turns. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of walking speed on axial coordination during walking turns in healthy elderly adults. Seventeen healthy elderly adults randomly performed 180° left and right turns while walking in their self-selected comfortable pace and in a slow pace speed. Turning velocity, spatiotemporal gait parameters (step length and step time), angular rotations and angular velocity of the head and pelvis, head-pelvis separation (i.e. the angular difference in degrees between the rotation of the head and pelvis) and head-pelvis velocity were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. During slow walking, turning velocity was 15% lower accompanied by shorter step length and longer step time compared to comfortable walking. Reducing walking speed also led to a decrease in the amplitude and velocity of the axial rotation of the head and pelvis as well as a reduced head-pelvis separation and angular velocity. This study demonstrates that axial coordination during turning is speed dependent as evidenced by a more ‘en bloc’ movement pattern (i.e. less separation between axial segments) at reduced speeds in healthy older adults. This emphasizes the need for matching speed when comparing groups with diverse walking speeds to differentiate changes due to speed from changes due to disease.
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Energy cost during walking in association with age and body height in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy
Publication date: Available online 27 February 2017
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Eline A.M. Bolster, Astrid C.J. Balemans, Merel-Anne Brehm, Annemieke Buizer, Annet J. Dallmeijer
AimThis cross-sectional study into children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) aimed to assess the association of gross energy cost (EC), net EC and net nondimensional (NN) EC during walking with age and body height, compared to typically developing (TD) peers.MethodData was collected in 128 children and adolescents with CP (mean age 11y9mo; GMFCS I,n=48; II,n=56; III, n=24) and in 63 TD peers (mean age 12y5mo). Energy cost was assessed by measuring the oxygen consumption during over-ground walking at comfortable speed. Outcome measures derived from the assessment included the gross and net EC, and NN EC. Differences between the groups in the association between gross, net and NN EC with age and body height, were investigated with regression analyses and interaction effects (p<0.05).ResultsInteraction effects for age and body height by group were not significant, indicating similar associations for gross, net and NN EC with age or body height among groups. The models showed a significant decline for gross, net and NN EC with increasing age per year (respectively −0.201Jkg−1·m−1; −0.073Jkg−1m−1; −0.007) and body height per cm (respectively −0.057Jkg−1m−1; −0.021Jkg−1m−1; −0.002).InterpretationDespite higher gross and net EC values for CP compared to TD participants , similar declines in EC outcomes can be expected with growth for children and adolescents aged 4-22 years with CP. All energy cost outcomes showed a decline with growth, indicating that correcting for this decline is required when evaluating changes in gross EC, and, to a lesser extent, in net and NN EC in response to treatment or from natural course over time.
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Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Eline A.M. Bolster, Astrid C.J. Balemans, Merel-Anne Brehm, Annemieke Buizer, Annet J. Dallmeijer
AimThis cross-sectional study into children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) aimed to assess the association of gross energy cost (EC), net EC and net nondimensional (NN) EC during walking with age and body height, compared to typically developing (TD) peers.MethodData was collected in 128 children and adolescents with CP (mean age 11y9mo; GMFCS I,n=48; II,n=56; III, n=24) and in 63 TD peers (mean age 12y5mo). Energy cost was assessed by measuring the oxygen consumption during over-ground walking at comfortable speed. Outcome measures derived from the assessment included the gross and net EC, and NN EC. Differences between the groups in the association between gross, net and NN EC with age and body height, were investigated with regression analyses and interaction effects (p<0.05).ResultsInteraction effects for age and body height by group were not significant, indicating similar associations for gross, net and NN EC with age or body height among groups. The models showed a significant decline for gross, net and NN EC with increasing age per year (respectively −0.201Jkg−1·m−1; −0.073Jkg−1m−1; −0.007) and body height per cm (respectively −0.057Jkg−1m−1; −0.021Jkg−1m−1; −0.002).InterpretationDespite higher gross and net EC values for CP compared to TD participants , similar declines in EC outcomes can be expected with growth for children and adolescents aged 4-22 years with CP. All energy cost outcomes showed a decline with growth, indicating that correcting for this decline is required when evaluating changes in gross EC, and, to a lesser extent, in net and NN EC in response to treatment or from natural course over time.
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Metric learning for Parkinsonian identification from IMU gait measurements
Publication date: Available online 27 February 2017
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Fabio Cuzzolin, Michael Sapienza, Patrick Esser, Suman Saha, Miss Marloes Franssen, Johnny Collett, Helen Dawes
Diagnosis of people with mild Parkinson's symptoms is difficult. Nevertheless, variations in gait pattern can be utilised to this purpose, when measured via Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). Human gait, however, possesses a high degree of variability across individuals, and is subject to numerous nuisance factors. Therefore, off-the-shelf Machine Learning techniques may fail to classify it with the accuracy required in clinical trials.In this paper we propose a novel framework in which IMU gait measurement sequences sampled during a 10 metre walk are first encoded as hidden Markov models (HMMs) to extract their dynamics and provide a fixed-length representation. Given sufficient training samples, the distance between HMMs which optimises classification performance is learned and employed in a classical Nearest Neighbour classifier. Our tests demonstrate how this technique achieves accuracy of 85.51% over a 156 people with Parkinson's with a representative range of severity and 424 typically developed adults, which is the top performance achieved so far over a cohort of such size, based on single measurement outcomes. The method displays the potential for further improvement and a wider application to distinguish other conditions.
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Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Fabio Cuzzolin, Michael Sapienza, Patrick Esser, Suman Saha, Miss Marloes Franssen, Johnny Collett, Helen Dawes
Diagnosis of people with mild Parkinson's symptoms is difficult. Nevertheless, variations in gait pattern can be utilised to this purpose, when measured via Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). Human gait, however, possesses a high degree of variability across individuals, and is subject to numerous nuisance factors. Therefore, off-the-shelf Machine Learning techniques may fail to classify it with the accuracy required in clinical trials.In this paper we propose a novel framework in which IMU gait measurement sequences sampled during a 10 metre walk are first encoded as hidden Markov models (HMMs) to extract their dynamics and provide a fixed-length representation. Given sufficient training samples, the distance between HMMs which optimises classification performance is learned and employed in a classical Nearest Neighbour classifier. Our tests demonstrate how this technique achieves accuracy of 85.51% over a 156 people with Parkinson's with a representative range of severity and 424 typically developed adults, which is the top performance achieved so far over a cohort of such size, based on single measurement outcomes. The method displays the potential for further improvement and a wider application to distinguish other conditions.
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Oculopharyngeal Weakness, Hypophrenia, Deafness, and Impaired Vision: A Novel Autosomal Dominant Myopathy with Rimmed Vacuoles.
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Oculopharyngeal Weakness, Hypophrenia, Deafness, and Impaired Vision: A Novel Autosomal Dominant Myopathy with Rimmed Vacuoles.
Chin Med J (Engl). 2016 Aug 05;129(15):1805-10
Authors: Chen T, Lu XH, Wang HF, Ban R, Liu HX, Shi Q, Wang Q, Yin X, Pu CQ
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Myopathies with rimmed vacuoles are a heterogeneous group of muscle disorders with progressive muscle weakness and varied clinical manifestations but similar features in muscle biopsies. Here, we describe a novel autosomal dominant myopathy with rimmed vacuoles in a large family with 11 patients of three generations affected.
METHODS: A clinical study including family history, obstetric, pediatric, and development history was recorded. Clinical examinations including physical examination, electromyography (EMG), serum creatine kinase (CK), bone X-rays, and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed in this family. Open muscle biopsies were performed on the proband and his mother. To find the causative gene, the whole-exome sequencing was carried out.
RESULTS: Disease onset was from adolescence to adulthood, but the affected patients of the third generation presented an earlier onset and more severe clinical manifestations than the older generations. Clinical features were characterized as dysarthria, dysphagia, external ophthalmoplegia, limb weakness, hypophrenia, deafness, and impaired vision. However, not every patient manifested all symptoms. Serum CK was mildly elevated and EMG indicated a myopathic pattern. Brain MRI showed cerebellum and brain stem mildly atrophy. Rimmed vacuoles and inclusion bodies were observed in muscle biopsy. The whole-exome sequencing was performed, but the causative gene has not been found.
CONCLUSIONS: We reported a novel autosomal dominant myopathy with rimmed vacuoles characterized by dysarthria, dysphagia, external ophthalmoplegia, limb weakness, hypophrenia, deafness, and impaired vision, but the causative gene has not been found and needs further study.
PMID: 27453229 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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A Partial Calcium-Free Linker Confers Flexibility to Inner-Ear Protocadherin-15.
| Related Articles |
A Partial Calcium-Free Linker Confers Flexibility to Inner-Ear Protocadherin-15.
Structure. 2017 Feb 20;:
Authors: Powers RE, Gaudet R, Sotomayor M
Abstract
Tip links of the inner ear are protein filaments essential for hearing and balance. Two atypical cadherins, cadherin-23 and protocadherin-15, interact in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner to form tip links. The largely unknown structure and mechanics of these proteins are integral to understanding how tip links pull on ion channels to initiate sensory perception. Protocadherin-15 has 11 extracellular cadherin (EC) repeats. Its EC3-4 linker lacks several of the canonical Ca(2+)-binding residues, and contains an aspartate-to-alanine polymorphism (D414A) under positive selection in East Asian populations. We present structures of protocadherin-15 EC3-5 featuring two Ca(2+)-binding linker regions: canonical EC4-5 linker binding three Ca(2+) ions, and non-canonical EC3-4 linker binding only two Ca(2+) ions. Our structures and biochemical assays reveal little difference between the D414 and D414A variants. Simulations predict that the partial Ca(2+)-free EC3-4 linker exhibits increased flexural flexibility without compromised mechanical strength, providing insight into the dynamics of tip links and other atypical cadherins.
PMID: 28238533 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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A Partial Calcium-Free Linker Confers Flexibility to Inner-Ear Protocadherin-15.
| Related Articles |
A Partial Calcium-Free Linker Confers Flexibility to Inner-Ear Protocadherin-15.
Structure. 2017 Feb 20;:
Authors: Powers RE, Gaudet R, Sotomayor M
Abstract
Tip links of the inner ear are protein filaments essential for hearing and balance. Two atypical cadherins, cadherin-23 and protocadherin-15, interact in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner to form tip links. The largely unknown structure and mechanics of these proteins are integral to understanding how tip links pull on ion channels to initiate sensory perception. Protocadherin-15 has 11 extracellular cadherin (EC) repeats. Its EC3-4 linker lacks several of the canonical Ca(2+)-binding residues, and contains an aspartate-to-alanine polymorphism (D414A) under positive selection in East Asian populations. We present structures of protocadherin-15 EC3-5 featuring two Ca(2+)-binding linker regions: canonical EC4-5 linker binding three Ca(2+) ions, and non-canonical EC3-4 linker binding only two Ca(2+) ions. Our structures and biochemical assays reveal little difference between the D414 and D414A variants. Simulations predict that the partial Ca(2+)-free EC3-4 linker exhibits increased flexural flexibility without compromised mechanical strength, providing insight into the dynamics of tip links and other atypical cadherins.
PMID: 28238533 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Effectiveness of a Short Voice Training Program for Teachers: A Preliminary Study
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Juana Muñoz López, Andrés Catena, Alicia Montes, Maria Elena Castillo
BackgroundUsing their voices in inappropriate working conditions causes teachers to misuse their voices, because in order to be heard they need to force their voices.ObjectiveThis preliminary study examines the effects of a short-term voice training program aimed at teachers.MethodsThe pre- and posttraining evaluations consisted of acoustic, perceptual (GRBAS [grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and strain]), aerodynamic, and subjective measurements (VHI-10).ResultsThe results indicate that the voice performance of teachers improves after 25 hours of training. Specifically, significant changes are observed at the acoustic level, in fundamental frequency (F0) and in frequency perturbation measures (Jitter, PPQ [pitch perturbation quotient]), as well as in subjective voice assessment using the Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10), in both the physical subscale (VHI-P) and the total score (VHI-T).ConclusionsThis study confirms the effectiveness of the training program and discusses the most sensitive measures for evaluating the short-term effect of the change.
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Tinnitus Cure Found
Many people are wondering whether there has been a tinnitus cure found. Unfortunately, as of yet, no tinnitus cure exists. The good news is that there have been clinical trials done on new tinnitus treatments. Many of these new treatments seem promising.
New Treatments for Tinnitus
Ear Injection
There is a new gel that has been tested in medical centers in the United States and United Kingdom. The gel, which is AM-101, is designed to be injected into the ear three times a day for five days a week. There was a study done at Antwerp University Hospital, which is located in Belgium.
The study involved 248 patients who were between the ages of 16 and 68. They were given either a placebo or gel. The study lasted for 90 days. The results of the study showed that 57 percent of the subjects who took the gel noticed an improvement in their tinnitus symptoms. That is why this gel may be an option for people who are wondering whether there has been a tinnitus cure found. Researchers believe that the gel works by healing damaged nerve cells.
Pill
There is a new pill called AUT00063 that is being tested in the United Kingdom. It may not only treat tinnitus, but it may also stop hearing loss. The pill has a protein called Kv3. Scientists believe that one of the reasons that hearing problems occur is because Kv3 levels decline as one gets older. There has been a clinical trial conducted that involved 150 patients who suffered from tinnitus for six to 18 months. The results of the study showed that the pill can significantly improve tinnitus symptoms.
However, larger studies need to be conducted in order to test the effectiveness of this drug. Researchers are hoping that this drug will be available by year 2020.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Many people who are wondering there has been a tinnitus cure found have turned to vagus nerve stimulation. This treatment has already been approved for conditions like epilepsy and depression. Vagus nerve stimulation involves delivering electrical nerve pulses to the neck.
A small clinical trial has shown that 44 percent of the patients experienced relief from tinnitus. All of the subjects had suffered from tinnitus for at least one year. They had also failed to get relief with other treatments, such as medications and audio treatments. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved vagus nerve stimulation for tinnitus yet.
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Indexing cortical entrainment to natural speech at the phonemic level: Methodological considerations for applied research
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Giovanni M. Di Liberto, Edmund C. Lalor
Speech is central to human life. As such, any delay or impairment in receptive speech processing can have a profoundly negative impact on the social and professional life of a person. Thus, being able to assess the integrity of speech processing in different populations is an important goal. Current standardized assessment is mostly based on psychometric measures that do not capture the full extent of a person’s speech processing abilities and that are difficult to administer in some subjects groups. A potential alternative to these tests would be to derive “direct”, objective measures of speech processing from cortical activity. One such approach was recently introduced and showed that it is possible to use electroencephalography (EEG) to index cortical processing at the level of phonemes from responses to continuous natural speech. However, a large amount of data was required for such analyses. This limits the usefulness of this approach for assessing speech processing in particular cohorts for whom data collection is difficult. Here, we used EEG data from 10 subjects to assess whether measures reflecting phoneme-level processing could be reliably obtained using only 10 minutes of recording time from each subject. This was done successfully using a generic modeling approach wherein the data from a training group composed of 9 subjects were combined to derive robust predictions of the EEG signal for new subjects. This allowed the derivation of indices of cortical activity at the level of phonemes and the disambiguation of responses to specific phonetic features (e.g., stop, plosive, and nasal consonants) with limited data. This objective approach has the potential to complement psychometric measures of speech processing in a wide variety of subjects.
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Indexing cortical entrainment to natural speech at the phonemic level: Methodological considerations for applied research
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Giovanni M. Di Liberto, Edmund C. Lalor
Speech is central to human life. As such, any delay or impairment in receptive speech processing can have a profoundly negative impact on the social and professional life of a person. Thus, being able to assess the integrity of speech processing in different populations is an important goal. Current standardized assessment is mostly based on psychometric measures that do not capture the full extent of a person’s speech processing abilities and that are difficult to administer in some subjects groups. A potential alternative to these tests would be to derive “direct”, objective measures of speech processing from cortical activity. One such approach was recently introduced and showed that it is possible to use electroencephalography (EEG) to index cortical processing at the level of phonemes from responses to continuous natural speech. However, a large amount of data was required for such analyses. This limits the usefulness of this approach for assessing speech processing in particular cohorts for whom data collection is difficult. Here, we used EEG data from 10 subjects to assess whether measures reflecting phoneme-level processing could be reliably obtained using only 10 minutes of recording time from each subject. This was done successfully using a generic modeling approach wherein the data from a training group composed of 9 subjects were combined to derive robust predictions of the EEG signal for new subjects. This allowed the derivation of indices of cortical activity at the level of phonemes and the disambiguation of responses to specific phonetic features (e.g., stop, plosive, and nasal consonants) with limited data. This objective approach has the potential to complement psychometric measures of speech processing in a wide variety of subjects.
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