The First Step to Early Intervention Following Diagnosis: Communication in Pediatric Hearing Aid Orientation Sessions

Purpose

This preliminary study aimed to explore communication processes and information exchange in pediatric hearing aid orientation (HAO) sessions. Effective information exchange in such sessions is crucial to support appropriate hearing aid use.

Method

Using a qualitative sociolinguistic framework, we recorded and analyzed 5 HAO sessions between 2 audiologists and 5 caregivers of children who had just been fitted with hearing aids. We also conducted semistructured interviews with the audiologists and caregivers and analyzed these using content analysis.

Results

By necessity, audiologists provide a significant amount of information about hearing aids to caregivers in HAO sessions. Although caregivers in our study recalled and understood certain points such as the importance of not getting the hearing aids wet, crucial information about insertion and cleaning was often not recalled. Some caregivers misunderstood how the hearing aids would assist their child.

Conclusions

Caregivers need time to practice and absorb the information given, particularly given the emotional aspects associated with the diagnosis and “switch-on.” There is a need to revisit approaches to information giving, which align with the ongoing early intervention process. We offer some suggestions for improving HAO sessions and information giving about hearing aids.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_AJA-17-0027/2665918/The-First-Step-to-Early-Intervention-Following
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Factors Associated With Depression in Patients With Tinnitus and Hyperacusis

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to assess factors associated with depression for patients with tinnitus and hyperacusis.

Method

Data were gathered from the records of 620 consecutive patients who sought help concerning their tinnitus or hyperacusis from an audiology clinic in the United Kingdom.

Results

One third of the patients had borderline abnormal or abnormal scores on the Depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D). Linear regression models showed that HADS-D scores were related to scores for tinnitus handicap, tinnitus loudness, and uncomfortable loudness levels. Mediation analyses showed that (a) the influence of tinnitus handicap scores on HADS-D scores was mainly mediated via the effects of insomnia, hyperacusis, and anxiety; (b) the influence of tinnitus loudness scores on HADS-D scores was fully mediated via the effects of tinnitus handicap, insomnia, hyperacusis handicap, and anxiety; (c) and the small influence of uncomfortable loudness levels on HADS-D scores was fully mediated by hyperacusis handicap and anxiety.

Conclusion

Those involved in the management of patients with tinnitus and/or hyperacusis should use a wide range of instruments to assess the full impact of tinnitus on a patient's life and should be prepared to refer a patient for treatment for depression, especially when the patient has anxiety, hyperacusis, and/or insomnia.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_AJA-17-0008/2665914/Factors-Associated-With-Depression-in-Patients
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Enhanced Identification of Long Versus Short Voice Onset Time Consonant–Vowel Syllables in a Dichotic Listening Task

Purpose

This study investigated the influence of voice onset time (VOT) on the perception of consonant–vowel (CV) signals during a dichotic listening (DL) task.

Method

Sixty-two young adults with normal hearing were tested with the English language version of the Hugdahl Dichotic CV (DCV) Test. They were asked to identify 1 CV syllable during 3 DL conditions: free recall (report the syllable heard most clearly), forced right (report the syllable in the right ear), and forced left (report the syllable in the left ear). Averages for number and percent correct syllables were recorded under each condition and across the entire test.

Results

All subjects demonstrated an overall right-ear advantage (REA) when scores from all 3 listening conditions were averaged. The REA occurred for all VOT pairings except when the long VOT was presented to the left ear, whereas the short VOT was presented to the right ear when subjects produced an average left-ear advantage. The left-ear advantage overcame the structural advantage of the right ear even when subjects were directed to attend to the right ear. This result was consistent with findings of earlier studies done with Norwegian and Australian subjects.

Conclusions

Listeners' REA may be overcome by interaural temporal differences that favor processing in the listener's nondominant ear during the DCV test. Balanced VOT conditions across the DCV test prevent this effect from producing an overall bias toward the left ear, but clinical DL tests with consonant–vowel–consonant words should be examined for effects of the long VOT on laterality of performance.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_AJA-17-0031/2665916/Enhanced-Identification-of-Long-Versus-Short-Voice
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The First Step to Early Intervention Following Diagnosis: Communication in Pediatric Hearing Aid Orientation Sessions

Purpose

This preliminary study aimed to explore communication processes and information exchange in pediatric hearing aid orientation (HAO) sessions. Effective information exchange in such sessions is crucial to support appropriate hearing aid use.

Method

Using a qualitative sociolinguistic framework, we recorded and analyzed 5 HAO sessions between 2 audiologists and 5 caregivers of children who had just been fitted with hearing aids. We also conducted semistructured interviews with the audiologists and caregivers and analyzed these using content analysis.

Results

By necessity, audiologists provide a significant amount of information about hearing aids to caregivers in HAO sessions. Although caregivers in our study recalled and understood certain points such as the importance of not getting the hearing aids wet, crucial information about insertion and cleaning was often not recalled. Some caregivers misunderstood how the hearing aids would assist their child.

Conclusions

Caregivers need time to practice and absorb the information given, particularly given the emotional aspects associated with the diagnosis and “switch-on.” There is a need to revisit approaches to information giving, which align with the ongoing early intervention process. We offer some suggestions for improving HAO sessions and information giving about hearing aids.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_AJA-17-0027/2665918/The-First-Step-to-Early-Intervention-Following
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Factors Associated With Depression in Patients With Tinnitus and Hyperacusis

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to assess factors associated with depression for patients with tinnitus and hyperacusis.

Method

Data were gathered from the records of 620 consecutive patients who sought help concerning their tinnitus or hyperacusis from an audiology clinic in the United Kingdom.

Results

One third of the patients had borderline abnormal or abnormal scores on the Depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D). Linear regression models showed that HADS-D scores were related to scores for tinnitus handicap, tinnitus loudness, and uncomfortable loudness levels. Mediation analyses showed that (a) the influence of tinnitus handicap scores on HADS-D scores was mainly mediated via the effects of insomnia, hyperacusis, and anxiety; (b) the influence of tinnitus loudness scores on HADS-D scores was fully mediated via the effects of tinnitus handicap, insomnia, hyperacusis handicap, and anxiety; (c) and the small influence of uncomfortable loudness levels on HADS-D scores was fully mediated by hyperacusis handicap and anxiety.

Conclusion

Those involved in the management of patients with tinnitus and/or hyperacusis should use a wide range of instruments to assess the full impact of tinnitus on a patient's life and should be prepared to refer a patient for treatment for depression, especially when the patient has anxiety, hyperacusis, and/or insomnia.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_AJA-17-0008/2665914/Factors-Associated-With-Depression-in-Patients
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Enhanced Identification of Long Versus Short Voice Onset Time Consonant–Vowel Syllables in a Dichotic Listening Task

Purpose

This study investigated the influence of voice onset time (VOT) on the perception of consonant–vowel (CV) signals during a dichotic listening (DL) task.

Method

Sixty-two young adults with normal hearing were tested with the English language version of the Hugdahl Dichotic CV (DCV) Test. They were asked to identify 1 CV syllable during 3 DL conditions: free recall (report the syllable heard most clearly), forced right (report the syllable in the right ear), and forced left (report the syllable in the left ear). Averages for number and percent correct syllables were recorded under each condition and across the entire test.

Results

All subjects demonstrated an overall right-ear advantage (REA) when scores from all 3 listening conditions were averaged. The REA occurred for all VOT pairings except when the long VOT was presented to the left ear, whereas the short VOT was presented to the right ear when subjects produced an average left-ear advantage. The left-ear advantage overcame the structural advantage of the right ear even when subjects were directed to attend to the right ear. This result was consistent with findings of earlier studies done with Norwegian and Australian subjects.

Conclusions

Listeners' REA may be overcome by interaural temporal differences that favor processing in the listener's nondominant ear during the DCV test. Balanced VOT conditions across the DCV test prevent this effect from producing an overall bias toward the left ear, but clinical DL tests with consonant–vowel–consonant words should be examined for effects of the long VOT on laterality of performance.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_AJA-17-0031/2665916/Enhanced-Identification-of-Long-Versus-Short-Voice
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The First Step to Early Intervention Following Diagnosis: Communication in Pediatric Hearing Aid Orientation Sessions

Purpose

This preliminary study aimed to explore communication processes and information exchange in pediatric hearing aid orientation (HAO) sessions. Effective information exchange in such sessions is crucial to support appropriate hearing aid use.

Method

Using a qualitative sociolinguistic framework, we recorded and analyzed 5 HAO sessions between 2 audiologists and 5 caregivers of children who had just been fitted with hearing aids. We also conducted semistructured interviews with the audiologists and caregivers and analyzed these using content analysis.

Results

By necessity, audiologists provide a significant amount of information about hearing aids to caregivers in HAO sessions. Although caregivers in our study recalled and understood certain points such as the importance of not getting the hearing aids wet, crucial information about insertion and cleaning was often not recalled. Some caregivers misunderstood how the hearing aids would assist their child.

Conclusions

Caregivers need time to practice and absorb the information given, particularly given the emotional aspects associated with the diagnosis and “switch-on.” There is a need to revisit approaches to information giving, which align with the ongoing early intervention process. We offer some suggestions for improving HAO sessions and information giving about hearing aids.

from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_AJA-17-0027/2665918/The-First-Step-to-Early-Intervention-Following
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Factors Associated With Depression in Patients With Tinnitus and Hyperacusis

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to assess factors associated with depression for patients with tinnitus and hyperacusis.

Method

Data were gathered from the records of 620 consecutive patients who sought help concerning their tinnitus or hyperacusis from an audiology clinic in the United Kingdom.

Results

One third of the patients had borderline abnormal or abnormal scores on the Depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D). Linear regression models showed that HADS-D scores were related to scores for tinnitus handicap, tinnitus loudness, and uncomfortable loudness levels. Mediation analyses showed that (a) the influence of tinnitus handicap scores on HADS-D scores was mainly mediated via the effects of insomnia, hyperacusis, and anxiety; (b) the influence of tinnitus loudness scores on HADS-D scores was fully mediated via the effects of tinnitus handicap, insomnia, hyperacusis handicap, and anxiety; (c) and the small influence of uncomfortable loudness levels on HADS-D scores was fully mediated by hyperacusis handicap and anxiety.

Conclusion

Those involved in the management of patients with tinnitus and/or hyperacusis should use a wide range of instruments to assess the full impact of tinnitus on a patient's life and should be prepared to refer a patient for treatment for depression, especially when the patient has anxiety, hyperacusis, and/or insomnia.

from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_AJA-17-0008/2665914/Factors-Associated-With-Depression-in-Patients
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Enhanced Identification of Long Versus Short Voice Onset Time Consonant–Vowel Syllables in a Dichotic Listening Task

Purpose

This study investigated the influence of voice onset time (VOT) on the perception of consonant–vowel (CV) signals during a dichotic listening (DL) task.

Method

Sixty-two young adults with normal hearing were tested with the English language version of the Hugdahl Dichotic CV (DCV) Test. They were asked to identify 1 CV syllable during 3 DL conditions: free recall (report the syllable heard most clearly), forced right (report the syllable in the right ear), and forced left (report the syllable in the left ear). Averages for number and percent correct syllables were recorded under each condition and across the entire test.

Results

All subjects demonstrated an overall right-ear advantage (REA) when scores from all 3 listening conditions were averaged. The REA occurred for all VOT pairings except when the long VOT was presented to the left ear, whereas the short VOT was presented to the right ear when subjects produced an average left-ear advantage. The left-ear advantage overcame the structural advantage of the right ear even when subjects were directed to attend to the right ear. This result was consistent with findings of earlier studies done with Norwegian and Australian subjects.

Conclusions

Listeners' REA may be overcome by interaural temporal differences that favor processing in the listener's nondominant ear during the DCV test. Balanced VOT conditions across the DCV test prevent this effect from producing an overall bias toward the left ear, but clinical DL tests with consonant–vowel–consonant words should be examined for effects of the long VOT on laterality of performance.

from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_AJA-17-0031/2665916/Enhanced-Identification-of-Long-Versus-Short-Voice
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Conceptual Scoring and Classification Accuracy of Vocabulary Testing in Bilingual Children

Purpose

This study examined the effects of single-language and conceptual scoring on the vocabulary performance of bilingual children with and without specific language impairment. We assessed classification accuracy across 3 scoring methods.

Method

Participants included Spanish–English bilingual children (N = 247) aged 5;1 (years;months) to 11;1 with and without specific language impairment. Children completed the English and bilingual versions of the Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test–Third Edition (Brownell, 2000a, 2001). Six scores, 2 representing monolingual scores in English and Spanish and 4 conceptual scores, were derived. The conceptual scores included within-test conceptual scores, which credited language responses in the other language during test administration, and across-test conceptual scores, which we compiled by examining responses across independent administrations of the test in each language.

Results

Across-test conceptual scoring resulted in the highest scores and better overall classification, sensitivity, and specificity than within-test conceptual scoring. Both were superior to monolingual scoring; however, none of the methods achieved minimum standards of 80% accuracy in sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusions

Results suggest that bilingual children are not always able to readily access their other language in confrontation naming tasks. Priming or inhibition may play a role in test performance. Across-test conceptual scoring yielded the highest classification accuracy but did not meet minimum standards.

from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_LSHSS-16-0081/2665925/Conceptual-Scoring-and-Classification-Accuracy-of
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Percent Grammatical Responses as a General Outcome Measure: Initial Validity

Purpose

This report investigated the validity of using percent grammatical responses (PGR) as a measure for assessing grammaticality. To establish construct validity, we computed the correlation of PGR with another measure of grammar skills and with an unrelated skill area. To establish concurrent validity for PGR, we computed the correlation of PGR with a previously validated measure of grammaticality, percent grammatical utterances (PGU), and examined the extent to which PGR and PGU agreed upon pass/fail decisions for children.

Method

Participants included 79 3-year-olds from mostly middle socioeconomic status homes. Language samples were elicited by asking children to describe 15 pictures in response to 4 questions per picture. To calculate PGU, children's responses to all 4 questions were segmented into communication units, and each communication unit was evaluated for grammatical errors. To calculate PGR, the entire response to just the first question was evaluated for grammatical errors.

Results

PGR scores significantly correlated with a standardized test of grammar (r = .70), but not with a measure of vocabulary (i.e., type–token ratio; r = .11). In addition, PGR scores were significantly correlated with PGU scores (r = .88). Agreement between PGR and PGU was 92% for pass decisions and 94% for fail decisions.

Conclusions

The current study establishes the construct validity of PGR as a measure of grammar and supports the use of PGR as a measure to assess grammaticality.

from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_LSHSS-16-0070/2665928/Percent-Grammatical-Responses-as-a-General-Outcome
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Conceptual Scoring and Classification Accuracy of Vocabulary Testing in Bilingual Children

Purpose

This study examined the effects of single-language and conceptual scoring on the vocabulary performance of bilingual children with and without specific language impairment. We assessed classification accuracy across 3 scoring methods.

Method

Participants included Spanish–English bilingual children (N = 247) aged 5;1 (years;months) to 11;1 with and without specific language impairment. Children completed the English and bilingual versions of the Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test–Third Edition (Brownell, 2000a, 2001). Six scores, 2 representing monolingual scores in English and Spanish and 4 conceptual scores, were derived. The conceptual scores included within-test conceptual scores, which credited language responses in the other language during test administration, and across-test conceptual scores, which we compiled by examining responses across independent administrations of the test in each language.

Results

Across-test conceptual scoring resulted in the highest scores and better overall classification, sensitivity, and specificity than within-test conceptual scoring. Both were superior to monolingual scoring; however, none of the methods achieved minimum standards of 80% accuracy in sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusions

Results suggest that bilingual children are not always able to readily access their other language in confrontation naming tasks. Priming or inhibition may play a role in test performance. Across-test conceptual scoring yielded the highest classification accuracy but did not meet minimum standards.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_LSHSS-16-0081/2665925/Conceptual-Scoring-and-Classification-Accuracy-of
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Percent Grammatical Responses as a General Outcome Measure: Initial Validity

Purpose

This report investigated the validity of using percent grammatical responses (PGR) as a measure for assessing grammaticality. To establish construct validity, we computed the correlation of PGR with another measure of grammar skills and with an unrelated skill area. To establish concurrent validity for PGR, we computed the correlation of PGR with a previously validated measure of grammaticality, percent grammatical utterances (PGU), and examined the extent to which PGR and PGU agreed upon pass/fail decisions for children.

Method

Participants included 79 3-year-olds from mostly middle socioeconomic status homes. Language samples were elicited by asking children to describe 15 pictures in response to 4 questions per picture. To calculate PGU, children's responses to all 4 questions were segmented into communication units, and each communication unit was evaluated for grammatical errors. To calculate PGR, the entire response to just the first question was evaluated for grammatical errors.

Results

PGR scores significantly correlated with a standardized test of grammar (r = .70), but not with a measure of vocabulary (i.e., type–token ratio; r = .11). In addition, PGR scores were significantly correlated with PGU scores (r = .88). Agreement between PGR and PGU was 92% for pass decisions and 94% for fail decisions.

Conclusions

The current study establishes the construct validity of PGR as a measure of grammar and supports the use of PGR as a measure to assess grammaticality.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_LSHSS-16-0070/2665928/Percent-Grammatical-Responses-as-a-General-Outcome
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Conceptual Scoring and Classification Accuracy of Vocabulary Testing in Bilingual Children

Purpose

This study examined the effects of single-language and conceptual scoring on the vocabulary performance of bilingual children with and without specific language impairment. We assessed classification accuracy across 3 scoring methods.

Method

Participants included Spanish–English bilingual children (N = 247) aged 5;1 (years;months) to 11;1 with and without specific language impairment. Children completed the English and bilingual versions of the Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test–Third Edition (Brownell, 2000a, 2001). Six scores, 2 representing monolingual scores in English and Spanish and 4 conceptual scores, were derived. The conceptual scores included within-test conceptual scores, which credited language responses in the other language during test administration, and across-test conceptual scores, which we compiled by examining responses across independent administrations of the test in each language.

Results

Across-test conceptual scoring resulted in the highest scores and better overall classification, sensitivity, and specificity than within-test conceptual scoring. Both were superior to monolingual scoring; however, none of the methods achieved minimum standards of 80% accuracy in sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusions

Results suggest that bilingual children are not always able to readily access their other language in confrontation naming tasks. Priming or inhibition may play a role in test performance. Across-test conceptual scoring yielded the highest classification accuracy but did not meet minimum standards.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_LSHSS-16-0081/2665925/Conceptual-Scoring-and-Classification-Accuracy-of
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Percent Grammatical Responses as a General Outcome Measure: Initial Validity

Purpose

This report investigated the validity of using percent grammatical responses (PGR) as a measure for assessing grammaticality. To establish construct validity, we computed the correlation of PGR with another measure of grammar skills and with an unrelated skill area. To establish concurrent validity for PGR, we computed the correlation of PGR with a previously validated measure of grammaticality, percent grammatical utterances (PGU), and examined the extent to which PGR and PGU agreed upon pass/fail decisions for children.

Method

Participants included 79 3-year-olds from mostly middle socioeconomic status homes. Language samples were elicited by asking children to describe 15 pictures in response to 4 questions per picture. To calculate PGU, children's responses to all 4 questions were segmented into communication units, and each communication unit was evaluated for grammatical errors. To calculate PGR, the entire response to just the first question was evaluated for grammatical errors.

Results

PGR scores significantly correlated with a standardized test of grammar (r = .70), but not with a measure of vocabulary (i.e., type–token ratio; r = .11). In addition, PGR scores were significantly correlated with PGU scores (r = .88). Agreement between PGR and PGU was 92% for pass decisions and 94% for fail decisions.

Conclusions

The current study establishes the construct validity of PGR as a measure of grammar and supports the use of PGR as a measure to assess grammaticality.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_LSHSS-16-0070/2665928/Percent-Grammatical-Responses-as-a-General-Outcome
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Sentence-Level Movements in Parkinson's Disease: Loud, Clear, and Slow Speech

Purpose

To further understand the effect of Parkinson's disease (PD) on articulatory movements in speech and to expand our knowledge of therapeutic treatment strategies, this study examined movements of the jaw, tongue blade, and tongue dorsum during sentence production with respect to speech intelligibility and compared the effect of varying speaking styles on these articulatory movements.

Method

Twenty-one speakers with PD and 20 healthy controls produced 3 sentences under normal, loud, clear, and slow speaking conditions. Speech intelligibility was rated for each speaker. A 3-dimensional electromagnetic articulograph tracked movements of the articulators. Measures included articulatory working spaces, ranges along the first principal component, average speeds, and sentence durations.

Results

Speakers with PD demonstrated significantly smaller jaw movements as well as shorter than normal sentence durations. Between-speaker variation in movement size of the jaw, tongue blade, and tongue dorsum was associated with speech intelligibility. Analysis of speaking conditions revealed similar patterns of change in movement measures across groups and articulators: larger than normal movement sizes and faster speeds for loud speech, increased movement sizes for clear speech, and larger than normal movement sizes and slower speeds for slow speech.

Conclusions

Sentence-level measures of articulatory movements are sensitive to both disease-related changes in PD and speaking-style manipulations.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_JSLHR-S-17-0075/2665924/SentenceLevel-Movements-in-Parkinsons-Disease-Loud
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False Belief Development in Children Who Are Hard of Hearing Compared With Peers With Normal Hearing

Purpose

This study investigates false belief (FB) understanding in children who are hard of hearing (CHH) compared with children with normal hearing (CNH) at ages 5 and 6 years and at 2nd grade. Research with this population has theoretical significance, given that the early auditory–linguistic experiences of CHH are less restricted compared with children who are deaf but not as complete as those of CNH.

Method

Participants included CHH and CNH who had completed FB tasks as part of a larger multicenter, longitudinal study on outcomes of children with mild-to-severe hearing loss. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal data were analyzed.

Results

At age 5 years, CHH demonstrated significant delays in FB understanding relative to CNH. Both hearing status and spoken-language abilities contributed to FB performance in 5-year-olds. A subgroup of CHH showed protracted delays at 6 years, suggesting that some CHH are at risk for longer term delays in FB understanding. By 2nd grade, performance on 1st- and 2nd-order FBs did not differ between CHH and CNH.

Conclusions

Preschool-age CHH are at risk for delays in understanding others' beliefs, which has consequences for their social interactions and pragmatic communication. Research related to FB in children with hearing loss has the potential to inform our understanding of mechanisms that support social–cognitive development, including the roles of language and conversational access.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_JSLHR-L-17-0121/2665922/False-Belief-Development-in-Children-Who-Are-Hard
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Sentence-Level Movements in Parkinson's Disease: Loud, Clear, and Slow Speech

Purpose

To further understand the effect of Parkinson's disease (PD) on articulatory movements in speech and to expand our knowledge of therapeutic treatment strategies, this study examined movements of the jaw, tongue blade, and tongue dorsum during sentence production with respect to speech intelligibility and compared the effect of varying speaking styles on these articulatory movements.

Method

Twenty-one speakers with PD and 20 healthy controls produced 3 sentences under normal, loud, clear, and slow speaking conditions. Speech intelligibility was rated for each speaker. A 3-dimensional electromagnetic articulograph tracked movements of the articulators. Measures included articulatory working spaces, ranges along the first principal component, average speeds, and sentence durations.

Results

Speakers with PD demonstrated significantly smaller jaw movements as well as shorter than normal sentence durations. Between-speaker variation in movement size of the jaw, tongue blade, and tongue dorsum was associated with speech intelligibility. Analysis of speaking conditions revealed similar patterns of change in movement measures across groups and articulators: larger than normal movement sizes and faster speeds for loud speech, increased movement sizes for clear speech, and larger than normal movement sizes and slower speeds for slow speech.

Conclusions

Sentence-level measures of articulatory movements are sensitive to both disease-related changes in PD and speaking-style manipulations.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_JSLHR-S-17-0075/2665924/SentenceLevel-Movements-in-Parkinsons-Disease-Loud
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False Belief Development in Children Who Are Hard of Hearing Compared With Peers With Normal Hearing

Purpose

This study investigates false belief (FB) understanding in children who are hard of hearing (CHH) compared with children with normal hearing (CNH) at ages 5 and 6 years and at 2nd grade. Research with this population has theoretical significance, given that the early auditory–linguistic experiences of CHH are less restricted compared with children who are deaf but not as complete as those of CNH.

Method

Participants included CHH and CNH who had completed FB tasks as part of a larger multicenter, longitudinal study on outcomes of children with mild-to-severe hearing loss. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal data were analyzed.

Results

At age 5 years, CHH demonstrated significant delays in FB understanding relative to CNH. Both hearing status and spoken-language abilities contributed to FB performance in 5-year-olds. A subgroup of CHH showed protracted delays at 6 years, suggesting that some CHH are at risk for longer term delays in FB understanding. By 2nd grade, performance on 1st- and 2nd-order FBs did not differ between CHH and CNH.

Conclusions

Preschool-age CHH are at risk for delays in understanding others' beliefs, which has consequences for their social interactions and pragmatic communication. Research related to FB in children with hearing loss has the potential to inform our understanding of mechanisms that support social–cognitive development, including the roles of language and conversational access.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_JSLHR-L-17-0121/2665922/False-Belief-Development-in-Children-Who-Are-Hard
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Sentence-Level Movements in Parkinson's Disease: Loud, Clear, and Slow Speech

Purpose

To further understand the effect of Parkinson's disease (PD) on articulatory movements in speech and to expand our knowledge of therapeutic treatment strategies, this study examined movements of the jaw, tongue blade, and tongue dorsum during sentence production with respect to speech intelligibility and compared the effect of varying speaking styles on these articulatory movements.

Method

Twenty-one speakers with PD and 20 healthy controls produced 3 sentences under normal, loud, clear, and slow speaking conditions. Speech intelligibility was rated for each speaker. A 3-dimensional electromagnetic articulograph tracked movements of the articulators. Measures included articulatory working spaces, ranges along the first principal component, average speeds, and sentence durations.

Results

Speakers with PD demonstrated significantly smaller jaw movements as well as shorter than normal sentence durations. Between-speaker variation in movement size of the jaw, tongue blade, and tongue dorsum was associated with speech intelligibility. Analysis of speaking conditions revealed similar patterns of change in movement measures across groups and articulators: larger than normal movement sizes and faster speeds for loud speech, increased movement sizes for clear speech, and larger than normal movement sizes and slower speeds for slow speech.

Conclusions

Sentence-level measures of articulatory movements are sensitive to both disease-related changes in PD and speaking-style manipulations.

from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_JSLHR-S-17-0075/2665924/SentenceLevel-Movements-in-Parkinsons-Disease-Loud
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False Belief Development in Children Who Are Hard of Hearing Compared With Peers With Normal Hearing

Purpose

This study investigates false belief (FB) understanding in children who are hard of hearing (CHH) compared with children with normal hearing (CNH) at ages 5 and 6 years and at 2nd grade. Research with this population has theoretical significance, given that the early auditory–linguistic experiences of CHH are less restricted compared with children who are deaf but not as complete as those of CNH.

Method

Participants included CHH and CNH who had completed FB tasks as part of a larger multicenter, longitudinal study on outcomes of children with mild-to-severe hearing loss. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal data were analyzed.

Results

At age 5 years, CHH demonstrated significant delays in FB understanding relative to CNH. Both hearing status and spoken-language abilities contributed to FB performance in 5-year-olds. A subgroup of CHH showed protracted delays at 6 years, suggesting that some CHH are at risk for longer term delays in FB understanding. By 2nd grade, performance on 1st- and 2nd-order FBs did not differ between CHH and CNH.

Conclusions

Preschool-age CHH are at risk for delays in understanding others' beliefs, which has consequences for their social interactions and pragmatic communication. Research related to FB in children with hearing loss has the potential to inform our understanding of mechanisms that support social–cognitive development, including the roles of language and conversational access.

from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://article/doi/10.1044/2017_JSLHR-L-17-0121/2665922/False-Belief-Development-in-Children-Who-Are-Hard
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Mutations in TUBB4B Cause a Distinctive Sensorineural Disease.

Mutations in TUBB4B Cause a Distinctive Sensorineural Disease.

Am J Hum Genet. 2017 Nov 22;:

Authors: Luscan R, Mechaussier S, Paul A, Tian G, Gérard X, Defoort-Dellhemmes S, Loundon N, Audo I, Bonnin S, LeGargasson JF, Dumont J, Goudin N, Garfa-Traoré M, Bras M, Pouliet A, Bessières B, Boddaert N, Sahel JA, Lyonnet S, Kaplan J, Cowan NJ, Rozet JM, Marlin S, Perrault I

Abstract
Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a neurodegenerative disease of photoreceptor cells that causes blindness within the first year of life. It occasionally occurs in syndromic metabolic diseases and plurisystemic ciliopathies. Using exome sequencing in a multiplex family and three simplex case subjects with an atypical association of LCA with early-onset hearing loss, we identified two heterozygous mutations affecting Arg391 in β-tubulin 4B isotype-encoding (TUBB4B). Inspection of the atomic structure of the microtubule (MT) protofilament reveals that the β-tubulin Arg391 residue contributes to a binding pocket that interacts with α-tubulin contained in the longitudinally adjacent αβ-heterodimer, consistent with a role in maintaining MT stability. Functional analysis in cultured cells overexpressing FLAG-tagged wild-type or mutant TUBB4B as well as in primary skin-derived fibroblasts showed that the mutant TUBB4B is able to fold, form αβ-heterodimers, and co-assemble into the endogenous MT lattice. However, the dynamics of growing MTs were consistently altered, showing that the mutations have a significant dampening impact on normal MT growth. Our findings provide a link between sensorineural disease and anomalies in MT behavior and describe a syndromic LCA unrelated to ciliary dysfunction.

PMID: 29198720 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Whole exome sequencing identifies TRIOBP pathogenic variants as a cause of post-lingual bilateral moderate-to-severe sensorineural hearing loss.

Whole exome sequencing identifies TRIOBP pathogenic variants as a cause of post-lingual bilateral moderate-to-severe sensorineural hearing loss.

BMC Med Genet. 2017 Dec 02;18(1):142

Authors: Pollak A, Lechowicz U, Murcia Pieńkowski VA, Stawiński P, Kosińska J, Skarżyński H, Ołdak M, Płoski R

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Implementation of whole exome sequencing has provided unique opportunity for a wide screening of causative variants in genetically heterogeneous diseases, including nonsyndromic hearing impairment. TRIOBP in the inner ear is responsible for proper structure and function of stereocilia and is necessary for sound transduction.
METHODS: Whole exome sequencing followed by Sanger sequencing was conducted on patients derived from Polish hearing loss family.
RESULTS: Based on whole exome analysis, we identified two TRIOBP pathogenic variants (c.802_805delCAGG, p.Gln268Leufs*610 and c.5014G>T, p.Gly1672*, the first of which was novel) causative of nonsyndromic, peri- to postlingual, moderate-to-severe hearing loss in three siblings from a Polish family. Typically, TRIOBP pathogenic variants lead to prelingual, severe-to-profound hearing loss, thus the onset and degree of hearing impairment in our patients represent a distinct phenotypic manifestation caused by TRIOBP variants. The pathogenic variant p.Gln268Leufs*610 disrupts the TRIOBP-4 and TRIOBP-5 isoforms (both expressed exclusively in the inner ear and retina) whereas the second pathogenic variant c.514G>T, p.Gly1672* affects only TRIOBP-5.
CONCLUSIONS: The onset and degree of hearing impairment, characteristic for our patients, represent a unique phenotypic manifestation caused by TRIOBP pathogenic variants. Although TRIOBP alterations are not a frequent cause of hearing impairment, this gene should be thoroughly analyzed especially in patients with a postlingual hearing loss. A delayed onset of hearing impairment due to TRIOBP pathogenic variants creates a potential therapeutic window for future targeted therapies.

PMID: 29197352 [PubMed - in process]

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Chronic Infantile Neurological Cutaneous and Articular (CINCA) syndrome: a review.

Related Articles

Chronic Infantile Neurological Cutaneous and Articular (CINCA) syndrome: a review.

Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2016 12 07;11(1):167

Authors: Finetti M, Omenetti A, Federici S, Caorsi R, Gattorno M

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The Chronic Infantile Neurological Cutaneous and Articular (CINCA, or Neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease NOMID) is a rare autoinflammatory disease identified in 1987 by Prieur et al., typically characterized by the triad of skin rash, arthropathy and central nervous system manifestations. It represents the most severe phenotype of the cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS).
CLINICAL DESCRIPTION AND ETIOLOGY: The syndrome is due to autosomal dominant gain of function mutations in NLRP3, which encodes a key component of the innate immunity that regulates the activation and secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β. From the first days of life, patients display an urticarial rash in association with chronic inflammation with a typical facies featured by frontal bossing and saddle back nose. The CNS manifestations include chronic aseptic meningitis leading to brain atrophy, mental delay and sensorineural hearing loss. Chronic polyarthritis and alteration of the growth cartilage also may be present. CINCA/NOMID diagnosis is made clinically, based on the presence of characteristic features. The detection of NLRP3 mutations is diagnostic in 65-70% of cases. Indeed, up to 40% of affected patients are negative for germline NLRP3 mutations and several subjects are carriers of somatic mosaicism. Due to the pivotal role of Cryopyrin in the control of Caspase-1 activation and the massive secretion of active IL-1β observed in cryopyrin-mutated individuals, anti-IL1 treatment represents the standard therapy.
CONCLUSION: Prognosis of CINCA/NOMID syndrome has been changed by the availability of anti-IL1 drugs. Nowadays, the use of anti-IL-1 drugs has sensibly reduced the risk of developing main complications such as severe intellectual disability, hearing-loss and amyloidosis, if treatment is started early on.

PMID: 27927236 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Bleeding from the ear: Causes and treatments

Bleeding from the ear can be very alarming for a person. Many things can cause someone to bleed from the ear, including some emergency situations.

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Bleeding from the ear: Causes and treatments

Bleeding from the ear can be very alarming for a person. Many things can cause someone to bleed from the ear, including some emergency situations.

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Bleeding from the ear: Causes and treatments

Bleeding from the ear can be very alarming for a person. Many things can cause someone to bleed from the ear, including some emergency situations.

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