Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Preliminary Evaluation of the Spanish Version of the Transgender Voice Questionnaire for Male-to-Female Transsexuals (TVQ MtF)

Publication date: Available online 7 June 2017
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Elena Mora, Alvaro Carrillo, Ana Giribet, Antonio Becerra, M Jesús Lucio, Ignacio Cobeta
ObjectiveThis study aimed to perform translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of the Spanish version of the Transsexual Voice Questionnaire for Male-to-Female Transsexuals (TVQ ^MtF).Study DesignThis is a prospective study.SettingThe study was conducted by the Gender Identity Unit and the Voice Unit of a tertiary hospital referral center for surgical feminization of the voice.Subjects and MethodsThe study had two parts: translation and adaptation of the TVQ ^MtF with the following actions: translation (with authorization and consensus of the authors of the original questionnaire), back-translation, pretesting, and final version; and preliminary study of the psychometric properties (feasibility, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity, discriminant validity, and ceiling and floor effects). Thirty male-to-female transsexual women filled out the questionnaire, and 18 of the 30 filled out the questionnaire approximately 2 weeks after filling it out for the first time.ResultsFeasibility was 100%. Cronbach α was 0.976. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.885. The Spearman correlation coefficient between TVQ ^MtF and the physical component of SF-12 v2 was 0.102 (P value = 0.592) and between TVQ ^MtF and the mental component was −0.263 (P value = 0.161). A ceiling effect was not found. A floor effect was found in two questionnaires (6.7%).ConclusionFeasibility, internal consistency, and reliability outcomes in our study support the validity of the authorized Spanish version of the TVQ ^MtF.



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Vocal Tract Discomfort and Voice-Related Quality of Life in Wind Instrumentalists

Publication date: Available online 7 June 2017
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Juliane Cappellaro, Bárbara Costa Beber
ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate vocal tract discomfort and quality of life in the voice of wind instrumentalists.MethodIt is a cross-sectional study. The sample was composed of 37 musicians of the orchestra of Caxias do Sul city, RS, Brazil. The participants answered a nonstandard questionnaire about demographic and professional information, the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL), the Vocal Tract Discomfort (VTD) scale, and additional items about fatigue after playing the instrument and pain in the cervical muscles. Correlation analyses were performed using Spearman correlation test.ResultsThe most frequent symptoms mentioned by musicians in the VTD, for both frequency and intensity of occurrence, were dryness, ache, irritability, and cervical muscle pain, in addition to the frequency of occurrence of fatigue after playing. The musicians showed high scores in the V-RQOL survey. Several symptoms evaluated by the VTD had a negative correlation with the musicians' years of orchestra membership and with V-RQOL scores.ConclusionSymptoms of vocal tract discomfort are present in wind instrumentalists in low frequency and intensity of occurrence. However, these symptoms affect the musicians' voice-related quality of life, and they occur more in musicians with fewer years of orchestra membership.



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Utility of Laryngeal High-speed Videoendoscopy in Clinical Voice Assessment

Publication date: Available online 7 June 2017
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Stephanie R.C. Zacharias, Dimitar D. Deliyski, Terri Treman Gerlach
ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the utility of laryngeal high-speed videoendoscopy (HSV) as a clinical tool.DesignThis is a prospective study of 151 patients.MethodsA total of 151 adult patients (52 male, 99 female) underwent both videoendoscopy with stroboscopy (videostroboscopy) and HSV examination as part of a routine clinical voice assessment. At the time of the examination, ratings for videostroboscopy were reported in the clinical report. Next, the clinicians reviewed the HSV examination and indicated the changes in ratings of HSV relative to videostroboscopy. Finally, the clinical reports were reviewed by a clinician not involved in data collection or clinical care of the patients and noted differences between videostroboscopy and HSV clinical ratings, and resulting diagnoses were identified and grouped.ResultsRatings of all vibratory features showed change between videostroboscopy and HSV. Mucosal wave and amplitude of vibration showed the largest percentage change, respectively, in 74% and 53% of the reports. They were followed by the features of glottal closure (36%), phase closure (32%), glottal edge (25%), and phase symmetry (21%). Ratings of supraglottic compression and vocal fold vertical level showed the least change between videostroboscopy and HSV. Changes in initial diagnosis owing to the inclusion of HSV were indicated in 7% of the cases.ConclusionsHSV may be an important laryngeal imaging technique for functional assessment of the pathophysiology of certain voice disorders. HSV could enable important refinements in the diagnosis and management of vocal fold pathology.



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A Training Model for Improving Journalists' Voice

Publication date: Available online 7 June 2017
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Emma Rodero, Celia Diaz-Rodriguez, Olatz Larrea
Voice education is a crucial aspect for professionals (journalists, teachers, politicians, actors, etc.) who use their voices as a working tool. The main concerns about such education are that, first, there is little awareness of the importance of voice education, and second there is little research devoted to it. The consequences of this lack of training are indeed visible in professionals who suffer voice pathologies or work with little effectiveness. This study seeks to overcome this deficiency by proposing a training model tested with a control group and a pilot study. Speech samples from a group of experimental participants—journalism students—were collected before and after a training course designed to improve their main vocal and prosodic features. These samples were contrasted with a control group without training. Results indicated significant differences in all tested voice elements (breathing, articulation, loudness, pitch, jitter, speech rate, pauses, and stress) except for shimmer and harmonics. The participants were able to enhance their main vocal and prosodic elements, and therefore their expressiveness maintaining optimal vocal hygiene.



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Aerodynamic Patterns in Patients With Voice Disorders: A Retrospective Study

Publication date: Available online 7 June 2017
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Marina Gilman, Brian Petty, Carissa Maira, Madeleine Pethan, Lijia Wang, Edie R. Hapner, Michael M. Johns
ObjectiveA recently published retrospective chart review of aerodynamic profiles of women with primary muscle tension dysphonia by Gillespie et al (2013) identified various relationships between mean airflow rate (MFR) and estimated subglottal pressure (est-Psub). The current retrospective study expanded the diagnostic categories to include all voice disorders referred for voice therapy. Three research questions were proposed: (1) Are there differences in the MFR and the est-Psub compared with the normal control group? (2) Within the disordered population, are there different variations in the pairing of MFR and est-Psub? (3) If these variations exist, are they diagnosis specific?MethodsA retrospective chart review of patients seen for acoustic and aerodynamic voice assessment at the Emory Voice Center between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014, were examined for aerodynamic measures of est-Psub and MFR; of these, 192 met the inclusion criteria. Simple t test, two-step cluster analysis, and analysis of variance, as well as Tukey multiple comparisons, were performed using R and SPSS.ResultsMean est-Psub was significantly greater in the group with voice disorder than in the control group (P value < 0.001). However, no statistical significance was found when comparing the MFR with the control group (P value <0.59). Nine possible pairings of MFR and est-Psub were found. Sufficient evidence was not found to detect significant differences in these pairings across diagnostic groups.ConclusionWith regard to the rate and interrelationships of MFR and est-Psub, the findings of this study are similar to those of Gillespie et al, that is, MFR and est-Psub are not determinate of diagnosis.



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Effects of Vertical Glottal Duct Length on Intraglottal Pressures and Phonation Threshold Pressure in the Uniform Glottis

Publication date: Available online 7 June 2017
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Sheng Li, Ronald C. Scherer, Lewis P. Fulcher, Xianbo Wang, Lijun Qiu, Mingxi Wan, Supin Wang
According to Titze's 1988 derivations for phonation threshold pressure (PTP), there are a number of important variables that PTP depends upon. A primary one is the vertical glottal duct length T: PTP decreases if T is increased. Changing the length of T, however, may have a significant effect on other variables that PTP depends upon. This study examined the effects of lengthening the vertical uniform glottal duct on the transglottal and intraglottal pressures, and the derived transglottal pressure coefficients, for five glottal diameters (0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08, and 0.16 cm) and three transglottal pressures (500, 1000, and 1500 Pa) for the uniform glottis by using the computational fluid dynamics code Fluent (for laminar, incompressible, two-dimensional flow). The results suggest the following: A longer vertical glottal duct length increases the intraglottal and transglottal pressures, and more so for smaller glottal diameters, and increases the transglottal pressure coefficient. In addition, unlike the transglottal pressure coefficient, the glottal entrance pressure coefficient is highly dependent on the vertical glottal duct length only for lower flows and Reynolds numbers, but is relatively independent of duct length, glottal diameter, and transglottal pressure above a flow value of approximately 50 cm³/s, suggesting that the entrance pressure coefficient is a relatively local phenomenon. These results suggest that the vertical glottal duct length and its effects need to be taken into consideration for vocal fold modeling, aeroacoustics purposes, and the estimation of PTP.



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Association of blood pressure variability with orthostatic intolerance symptoms

by Jun-Sang Sunwoo, Tae-Won Yang, Do-Yong Kim, Jung-Ah Lim, Tae-Joon Kim, Jung-Ick Byun, Jangsup Moon, Soon-Tae Lee, Keun-Hwa Jung, Kyung-Il Park, Ki-Young Jung, Manho Kim, Sang Kun Lee, Kon Chu

The short-term blood pressure variability (BPV) reflects autonomic regulatory mechanisms. However, the influence of BPV in orthostatic intolerance (OI) is unknown. Herein, we assessed BPV profiles in patients with OI and determined their association with orthostatic symptoms. In this cross-sectional study, we prospectively enrolled 126 patients presenting with OI at the Seoul National University Hospital from December 2014 to August 2016. Among them, those with other neurological diseases (n = 8) and insufficient BP measurements (n = 15) were excluded. The degree of OI symptoms were measured using the self-administered orthostatic intolerance questionnaire (OIQ). All patients underwent ambulatory BP monitoring and we calculated the standard deviation and coefficient of variation as a measure of BPV. The mean age was 48.6 years and the average of the total OIQ score was 11.6. The severe OI group had higher BPV values than the mild group, although mean BP profiles did not differ significantly. Correlation analysis demonstrated that the orthostatic symptoms were positively correlated with diastolic BPV for the total and awake periods. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that diastolic BPV (B = 0.46, p = 0.031) and current smoking (B = 4.687, p = 0.018) were independent factors for higher OI symptom scores after adjusting for covariates. The results of the current study demonstrated that a positive correlation exists between BPV and OI symptoms. Further studies are required to confirm the present findings and understand the neural mechanisms contributing to the excessive BPV in patients with OI.

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Comparison in three dimensional gait kinematics between young and older adults on land and in shallow water

Publication date: September 2017
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 57
Author(s): Khalid Abdul Jabbar, Shigetada Kudo, Kee Wee Goh, Ming Rong Goh
This study investigated in three-dimensional space, firstly whether the aquatic medium and secondly ageing, had any effect on the lower limb's joint angles during aquatic-based gait. Three-dimensional joint kinematics of the lower limb of 51 healthy male participants [25 young group (24.6±4.9 years, 172.1±5.5cm, 69.8±10.3kg) and 26 older group (58.5±5.1 years, 167.9±5.1cm, 70.8±12.1kg)] were quantified during land and shallow water walking. Participants walked at their self-selected comfortable speed in both mediums. The results suggested that the properties of water – hydrodynamic drag, and buoyancy – affected the gait kinematics for both groups. Both age groups used more of their hip flexion in the aquatic environment to help them propel forward instead of using the ankle plantarflexion. The effect of age during the aquatic-based gait was identified in ankle adduction angle and knee abduction/adduction angle at initial contact. Only the older group elicited a significantly smaller ankle adduction angle during the aquatic-based gait when compared to the land-based gait. Only the young group elicited a significantly larger knee abduction/adduction angle at initial contact during the aquatic-based gait when compared to the land-based gait. These findings can facilitate professionals in the area of aquatic rehabilitation to better customise aquatic-based walking exercise programmes to suit their client's specific needs.



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Comparison in three dimensional gait kinematics between young and older adults on land and in shallow water

Publication date: September 2017
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 57
Author(s): Khalid Abdul Jabbar, Shigetada Kudo, Kee Wee Goh, Ming Rong Goh
This study investigated in three-dimensional space, firstly whether the aquatic medium and secondly ageing, had any effect on the lower limb's joint angles during aquatic-based gait. Three-dimensional joint kinematics of the lower limb of 51 healthy male participants [25 young group (24.6±4.9 years, 172.1±5.5cm, 69.8±10.3kg) and 26 older group (58.5±5.1 years, 167.9±5.1cm, 70.8±12.1kg)] were quantified during land and shallow water walking. Participants walked at their self-selected comfortable speed in both mediums. The results suggested that the properties of water – hydrodynamic drag, and buoyancy – affected the gait kinematics for both groups. Both age groups used more of their hip flexion in the aquatic environment to help them propel forward instead of using the ankle plantarflexion. The effect of age during the aquatic-based gait was identified in ankle adduction angle and knee abduction/adduction angle at initial contact. Only the older group elicited a significantly smaller ankle adduction angle during the aquatic-based gait when compared to the land-based gait. Only the young group elicited a significantly larger knee abduction/adduction angle at initial contact during the aquatic-based gait when compared to the land-based gait. These findings can facilitate professionals in the area of aquatic rehabilitation to better customise aquatic-based walking exercise programmes to suit their client's specific needs.



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Comparison in three dimensional gait kinematics between young and older adults on land and in shallow water

Publication date: September 2017
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 57
Author(s): Khalid Abdul Jabbar, Shigetada Kudo, Kee Wee Goh, Ming Rong Goh
This study investigated in three-dimensional space, firstly whether the aquatic medium and secondly ageing, had any effect on the lower limb's joint angles during aquatic-based gait. Three-dimensional joint kinematics of the lower limb of 51 healthy male participants [25 young group (24.6±4.9 years, 172.1±5.5cm, 69.8±10.3kg) and 26 older group (58.5±5.1 years, 167.9±5.1cm, 70.8±12.1kg)] were quantified during land and shallow water walking. Participants walked at their self-selected comfortable speed in both mediums. The results suggested that the properties of water – hydrodynamic drag, and buoyancy – affected the gait kinematics for both groups. Both age groups used more of their hip flexion in the aquatic environment to help them propel forward instead of using the ankle plantarflexion. The effect of age during the aquatic-based gait was identified in ankle adduction angle and knee abduction/adduction angle at initial contact. Only the older group elicited a significantly smaller ankle adduction angle during the aquatic-based gait when compared to the land-based gait. Only the young group elicited a significantly larger knee abduction/adduction angle at initial contact during the aquatic-based gait when compared to the land-based gait. These findings can facilitate professionals in the area of aquatic rehabilitation to better customise aquatic-based walking exercise programmes to suit their client's specific needs.



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Laboratory evaluation of an optimised internet-based speech-in-noise test for occupational high-frequency hearing loss screening: Occupational Earcheck

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Laboratory evaluation of an optimised internet-based speech-in-noise test for occupational high-frequency hearing loss screening: Occupational Earcheck

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Evidence for Auditory-Motor Impairment in Individuals With Hyperfunctional Voice Disorders

Purpose

The vocal auditory-motor control of individuals with hyperfunctional voice disorders was examined using a sensorimotor adaptation paradigm.

Method

Nine individuals with hyperfunctional voice disorders and 9 individuals with typical voices produced sustained vowels over 160 trials in 2 separate conditions: (a) while experiencing gradual upward perturbations in the fundamental frequency (f_o) of their auditory feedback (shift-up) and (b) under no auditory perturbation (control). The shift-up condition consisted of 4 ordered (fixed) phases: baseline (no perturbation), ramp (gradual increases in heard f_o), hold (a consistently higher heard f_o), and after-effect (no perturbation). Adaptive responses were defined as the difference in produced f_o during control and shift-up conditions.

Results

Adaptive responses were significantly different between groups. Individuals with typical voices generally showed compensatory adaptive responses, with decreased f_o during the ramp and hold phases. Conversely, many individuals with hyperfunctional voice disorders instead displayed the opposite effect by following the direction of the perturbation. When f_o was experimentally increased, speakers further increased their f_o.

Conclusion

Results indicate that some individuals diagnosed with hyperfunctional voice disorders have disrupted auditory-motor control, suggesting atypical neurological function. These findings may eventually allow for the development of new interventions for hyperfunctional voice disorders.

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Evidence for Auditory-Motor Impairment in Individuals With Hyperfunctional Voice Disorders

Purpose

The vocal auditory-motor control of individuals with hyperfunctional voice disorders was examined using a sensorimotor adaptation paradigm.

Method

Nine individuals with hyperfunctional voice disorders and 9 individuals with typical voices produced sustained vowels over 160 trials in 2 separate conditions: (a) while experiencing gradual upward perturbations in the fundamental frequency (f_o) of their auditory feedback (shift-up) and (b) under no auditory perturbation (control). The shift-up condition consisted of 4 ordered (fixed) phases: baseline (no perturbation), ramp (gradual increases in heard f_o), hold (a consistently higher heard f_o), and after-effect (no perturbation). Adaptive responses were defined as the difference in produced f_o during control and shift-up conditions.

Results

Adaptive responses were significantly different between groups. Individuals with typical voices generally showed compensatory adaptive responses, with decreased f_o during the ramp and hold phases. Conversely, many individuals with hyperfunctional voice disorders instead displayed the opposite effect by following the direction of the perturbation. When f_o was experimentally increased, speakers further increased their f_o.

Conclusion

Results indicate that some individuals diagnosed with hyperfunctional voice disorders have disrupted auditory-motor control, suggesting atypical neurological function. These findings may eventually allow for the development of new interventions for hyperfunctional voice disorders.

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Evidence for Auditory-Motor Impairment in Individuals With Hyperfunctional Voice Disorders

Purpose

The vocal auditory-motor control of individuals with hyperfunctional voice disorders was examined using a sensorimotor adaptation paradigm.

Method

Nine individuals with hyperfunctional voice disorders and 9 individuals with typical voices produced sustained vowels over 160 trials in 2 separate conditions: (a) while experiencing gradual upward perturbations in the fundamental frequency (f_o) of their auditory feedback (shift-up) and (b) under no auditory perturbation (control). The shift-up condition consisted of 4 ordered (fixed) phases: baseline (no perturbation), ramp (gradual increases in heard f_o), hold (a consistently higher heard f_o), and after-effect (no perturbation). Adaptive responses were defined as the difference in produced f_o during control and shift-up conditions.

Results

Adaptive responses were significantly different between groups. Individuals with typical voices generally showed compensatory adaptive responses, with decreased f_o during the ramp and hold phases. Conversely, many individuals with hyperfunctional voice disorders instead displayed the opposite effect by following the direction of the perturbation. When f_o was experimentally increased, speakers further increased their f_o.

Conclusion

Results indicate that some individuals diagnosed with hyperfunctional voice disorders have disrupted auditory-motor control, suggesting atypical neurological function. These findings may eventually allow for the development of new interventions for hyperfunctional voice disorders.

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Etiological and epidemiological factors in hearing-impaired students in Van, East of Turkey: A case series.

Etiological and epidemiological factors in hearing-impaired students in Van, East of Turkey: A case series.

J Pak Med Assoc. 2017 Jun;67(6):951-953

Authors: Kiroglu AF, Ari M, Bozan N, Parlak M, Cankaya H

Abstract
The aim of the present case series was to investigate the causes of hearing loss in the children studying at a primary School for the deaf in Van Province, Turkey. The present series included 95 children with sensorineural hearing loss. Otoscopic and ophthalmological examinations, pure-tone audiometry, and tympanometry were performed for each patient. Measles IgG, rubella IgG, cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG, toxoplasma IgG, herpes simplex virus (HSV) Type I (HSV-I) IgG, HSV Type II (HSV-II) IgG, and Mycoplasma pneumonia IgG were evaluated in serum samples. Temporal bone anomalies were analyzed on temporal bone computed tomography (CT). A total of 7 radiologically distinct inner ear malformations were detected in 19 children. Twelve children were detected with various fundus pathologies. The most common cause of hearing loss was family-related factors (52%). In conclusion, the etiological and epidemiological factors were consistent with those reported in the literature.

PMID: 28585603 [PubMed - in process]

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ASSESSMENT OF UNIVERSAL NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING AND INTERVENTION IN SHANGHAI, CHINA.

ASSESSMENT OF UNIVERSAL NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING AND INTERVENTION IN SHANGHAI, CHINA.

Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2017 Jun 06;:1-9

Authors: Chen X, Yuan M, Lu J, Zhang Q, Sun M, Chang F

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) and intervention program in Shanghai, China.
METHODS: This study included the quantitative analyses of the UNHS-Shanghai database in 2002-12 and qualitative assessment of the program. The Otoacoustic Emissions and the Automated Auditory Brainstem Evoked Responses tests were conducted in screening. The costs and benefits were calculated based on the number of participants in each stage. The short-term and long-term periods were defined as from birth to 15 years of age or to death (82-year-olds), respectively. Sensitivity analyses were conducted.
RESULTS: A total 1,574,380 newborns were included, representing 93.6 percent of all eligible babies in Shanghai during the study period. The prevalence of newborn hearing loss was 1.66‰. The short-term/long-term program costs were ¥488.5 million (US$75.52 million)/¥1.08 billion (US$167.12 million), and the short-term/long-term program benefit was ¥980.1 million (US$151.53 million)/¥8.13 billion (US$1.26 billion). The program benefit was greater than its cost if the proportion of hearing-loss children enrolled in regular schools was no less than 41.4 percent of all hearing impaired children, as well as if the wage growth rate ranged from 3 percent to 8 percent. Qualitative results also suggested that stakeholders strongly supported this program.
CONCLUSIONS: The universal newborn hearing screening and intervention program in Shanghai is justified in terms of the resource input in the long run, although there is still room for further improvement with respect to educational rehabilitation and a better infrastructure system.

PMID: 28583223 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Laboratory evaluation of an optimised internet-based speech-in-noise test for occupational high-frequency hearing loss screening: Occupational Earcheck

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Laboratory evaluation of an optimised internet-based speech-in-noise test for occupational high-frequency hearing loss screening: Occupational Earcheck

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Morphometric evaluation of facial and vestibulocochlear nerves using magnetic resonance imaging: comparison of Menière's disease ears with normal hearing ears.

Morphometric evaluation of facial and vestibulocochlear nerves using magnetic resonance imaging: comparison of Menière's disease ears with normal hearing ears.

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2017 Jun 05;:

Authors: Henneberger A, Ertl-Wagner B, Reiser M, Gürkov R, Flatz W

Abstract
Loss of neural structures (such as hair cells or neurones within the spiral ganglion) has been proposed to be involved in Menière's disease (MD) (Spoendlin et al. Acta oto-laryngologica Supplementum 499:1-21, 1; Merchant et al. Eur Arch Oto-Rhino-Laryngol Off J Eur Feder Oto-Rhino-Laryngol Soc (EUFOS) Affil German Soc Oto-Rhino-Laryngol Head Neck Surg 252(2):63-75, 2; Tsuji et al. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol Suppl 81:26-31, 3; Kariya, Otol Neurotol Off Publ Am Otol Soc Am Neurotol Soc Eur Acad Otol Neurotol 28(8):1063-1068, 4; Megerian Laryngoscope 115(9):1525-1535, 5) but this has yet to be confirmed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate morphometric changes of VIIth and VIIIth cranial nerve in MD. MD is characterized by episodic vertigo, tinnitus, fluctuating hearing loss, and aural fullness. The exact pathophysiological mechanisms involved such as viral infections, autoimmune processes, genetic predisposition, cellular apoptosis, and oxidative stress are still not clear. Using a T2-weighted 3D-GE "constructive interference in steady state" (CISS) 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence, we evaluated the properties of the VIIth and VIIIth cranial nerves as they passed from the cerebellopontine angle to the inner ear modiolus. 21 patients with MD were examined along with 39 normal controls. Bidirectional nerve diameters and cross-sectional areas (CSA) were measured in a transverse plane. The comparison of study and control group showed statistically significant (P < 0.000595 after Bonferroni correction) differences between the CSA measurements. The facial, cochlear, superior vestibular, and inferior vestibular nerves (FN, CN, SVN, IVN) of MD patients were significantly larger than those of the control group, both on the MD-affected side and on the healthy side. Thus for example, the cochlear nerve CSA measurements were 0.69 ± 0.14 mm(2) (P < 0.0001) in the affected ears of the unilateral MD group, 0.70 ± 0.12 mm(2) (P < 0.0001) in the affected ears of the cohort including the bilateral MD group, 0.71 ± 0.13 mm(2) (P < 0.0001) in the non-affected ears of the MD patients, as compared to 0.46 ± 0.14 mm(2) in the control group. The perpendicular nerve diameters were found to vary according to site of measurement and type of measurement used. For example a statistically significant enlargement of the short diameter measurements of the SVN at the level of the meatus was found, but not of long diameter measurements at the same site. Although cellular death would theoretically be expected to lead to a decreased nerve thickness, our data showed a swelling of cranial nerves VII and VIII within the study group compared to our normal hearing control group. The similar reaction of the facial nerve supports mediator-based theories of MD pathophysiology.

PMID: 28584970 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Noise trauma induced behavioral gap detection deficits correlate with reorganization of excitatory and inhibitory local circuits in the inferior colliculus and are prevented by acoustic enrichment.

Noise trauma induced behavioral gap detection deficits correlate with reorganization of excitatory and inhibitory local circuits in the inferior colliculus and are prevented by acoustic enrichment.

J Neurosci. 2017 Jun 05;:

Authors: Sturm JJ, Zhang-Hooks YX, Roos H, Nguyen T, Kandler K

Abstract
Hearing loss leads to a host of cellular and synaptic changes in auditory brain areas, which are thought to give rise to auditory perception deficits such as temporal processing impairments, hyperacusis, or tinnitus. However, little is known about possible changes in synaptic circuit connectivity that may underlie these hearing deficits. Here, we show that mild hearing loss as a result of brief noise exposure leads to a pronounced reorganization of local excitatory and inhibitory circuits in the mouse inferior colliculus. The exact nature of these reorganizations correlated with the presence or absence of the animals' impairments in detecting brief sound gaps, a commonly used behavioral sign for tinnitus in animal models. Mice with gap detection deficits showed a shift in the balance of synaptic excitation and inhibition that was present in both glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons, whereas mice without gap detection deficits showed stable excitation-inhibition balances. Acoustic enrichment with moderate intensity, pulsed white noise immediately following noise trauma prevented both circuit reorganization and gap detection deficits raising the possibility of using acoustic enrichment immediately after cochlear damage to prevent or alleviate the emergence central auditory processing deficits.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTNoise overexposure is a major cause of central auditory processing disorders including tinnitus, yet the changes in synaptic connectivity underlying these disorders remain poorly understood. Here we find that brief noise overexposure leads to distinct reorganizations of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs onto glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons, and that the nature of these reorganizations correlates with animals' impairments in detecting brief sound gaps, which is often considered a sign of tinnitus. Acoustic enrichment immediately following noise trauma prevents circuit reorganizations as well as gap detection deficits, highlighting the potential for using sound therapy soon after cochlear damage to prevent the development of central processing deficits.

PMID: 28583912 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Laboratory evaluation of an optimised internet-based speech-in-noise test for occupational high-frequency hearing loss screening: Occupational Earcheck

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Morphometric evaluation of facial and vestibulocochlear nerves using magnetic resonance imaging: comparison of Menière's disease ears with normal hearing ears.

Morphometric evaluation of facial and vestibulocochlear nerves using magnetic resonance imaging: comparison of Menière's disease ears with normal hearing ears.

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2017 Jun 05;:

Authors: Henneberger A, Ertl-Wagner B, Reiser M, Gürkov R, Flatz W

Abstract
Loss of neural structures (such as hair cells or neurones within the spiral ganglion) has been proposed to be involved in Menière's disease (MD) (Spoendlin et al. Acta oto-laryngologica Supplementum 499:1-21, 1; Merchant et al. Eur Arch Oto-Rhino-Laryngol Off J Eur Feder Oto-Rhino-Laryngol Soc (EUFOS) Affil German Soc Oto-Rhino-Laryngol Head Neck Surg 252(2):63-75, 2; Tsuji et al. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol Suppl 81:26-31, 3; Kariya, Otol Neurotol Off Publ Am Otol Soc Am Neurotol Soc Eur Acad Otol Neurotol 28(8):1063-1068, 4; Megerian Laryngoscope 115(9):1525-1535, 5) but this has yet to be confirmed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate morphometric changes of VIIth and VIIIth cranial nerve in MD. MD is characterized by episodic vertigo, tinnitus, fluctuating hearing loss, and aural fullness. The exact pathophysiological mechanisms involved such as viral infections, autoimmune processes, genetic predisposition, cellular apoptosis, and oxidative stress are still not clear. Using a T2-weighted 3D-GE "constructive interference in steady state" (CISS) 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence, we evaluated the properties of the VIIth and VIIIth cranial nerves as they passed from the cerebellopontine angle to the inner ear modiolus. 21 patients with MD were examined along with 39 normal controls. Bidirectional nerve diameters and cross-sectional areas (CSA) were measured in a transverse plane. The comparison of study and control group showed statistically significant (P < 0.000595 after Bonferroni correction) differences between the CSA measurements. The facial, cochlear, superior vestibular, and inferior vestibular nerves (FN, CN, SVN, IVN) of MD patients were significantly larger than those of the control group, both on the MD-affected side and on the healthy side. Thus for example, the cochlear nerve CSA measurements were 0.69 ± 0.14 mm(2) (P < 0.0001) in the affected ears of the unilateral MD group, 0.70 ± 0.12 mm(2) (P < 0.0001) in the affected ears of the cohort including the bilateral MD group, 0.71 ± 0.13 mm(2) (P < 0.0001) in the non-affected ears of the MD patients, as compared to 0.46 ± 0.14 mm(2) in the control group. The perpendicular nerve diameters were found to vary according to site of measurement and type of measurement used. For example a statistically significant enlargement of the short diameter measurements of the SVN at the level of the meatus was found, but not of long diameter measurements at the same site. Although cellular death would theoretically be expected to lead to a decreased nerve thickness, our data showed a swelling of cranial nerves VII and VIII within the study group compared to our normal hearing control group. The similar reaction of the facial nerve supports mediator-based theories of MD pathophysiology.

PMID: 28584970 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Noise trauma induced behavioral gap detection deficits correlate with reorganization of excitatory and inhibitory local circuits in the inferior colliculus and are prevented by acoustic enrichment.

Noise trauma induced behavioral gap detection deficits correlate with reorganization of excitatory and inhibitory local circuits in the inferior colliculus and are prevented by acoustic enrichment.

J Neurosci. 2017 Jun 05;:

Authors: Sturm JJ, Zhang-Hooks YX, Roos H, Nguyen T, Kandler K

Abstract
Hearing loss leads to a host of cellular and synaptic changes in auditory brain areas, which are thought to give rise to auditory perception deficits such as temporal processing impairments, hyperacusis, or tinnitus. However, little is known about possible changes in synaptic circuit connectivity that may underlie these hearing deficits. Here, we show that mild hearing loss as a result of brief noise exposure leads to a pronounced reorganization of local excitatory and inhibitory circuits in the mouse inferior colliculus. The exact nature of these reorganizations correlated with the presence or absence of the animals' impairments in detecting brief sound gaps, a commonly used behavioral sign for tinnitus in animal models. Mice with gap detection deficits showed a shift in the balance of synaptic excitation and inhibition that was present in both glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons, whereas mice without gap detection deficits showed stable excitation-inhibition balances. Acoustic enrichment with moderate intensity, pulsed white noise immediately following noise trauma prevented both circuit reorganization and gap detection deficits raising the possibility of using acoustic enrichment immediately after cochlear damage to prevent or alleviate the emergence central auditory processing deficits.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTNoise overexposure is a major cause of central auditory processing disorders including tinnitus, yet the changes in synaptic connectivity underlying these disorders remain poorly understood. Here we find that brief noise overexposure leads to distinct reorganizations of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs onto glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons, and that the nature of these reorganizations correlates with animals' impairments in detecting brief sound gaps, which is often considered a sign of tinnitus. Acoustic enrichment immediately following noise trauma prevents circuit reorganizations as well as gap detection deficits, highlighting the potential for using sound therapy soon after cochlear damage to prevent the development of central processing deficits.

PMID: 28583912 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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White noise after loud noise prevents hearing deficits in mice

Mild hearing loss from exposure to less than one hour of loud noise leads to a reorganization of circuits in a key midbrain structure of the auditory system in mice, finds new research published in...

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White noise after loud noise prevents hearing deficits in mice

Mild hearing loss from exposure to less than one hour of loud noise leads to a reorganization of circuits in a key midbrain structure of the auditory system in mice, finds new research published in...

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White noise after loud noise prevents hearing deficits in mice

Mild hearing loss from exposure to less than one hour of loud noise leads to a reorganization of circuits in a key midbrain structure of the auditory system in mice, finds new research published in...

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2r0yEQw
via IFTTT