Editorial Board

Publication date: February 2018
Source:Hearing Research, Volume 358





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Editorial Board

Publication date: February 2018
Source:Hearing Research, Volume 358





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

Editorial Board

Publication date: February 2018
Source:Hearing Research, Volume 358





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Elderly with Heart Failure Have Higher Risk of Hearing Loss, Says Research

​A new study shows evidence of the correlation between heart failure and hearing loss among older adults in the United States. Researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City used data from the 2005-2006 and 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey examined the prevalence and correlation of hearing loss among the elderly with or without heart conditions.

Study authors  Madeline R. Sterling, MD, MPH,  Frank R. Lin, MD, PhD, Deanna P. Jannat-Khah, DrPH, MSPH, Adele M. Goman, PhD, Sandra E. Echeverria, PhD, and Monika M. Safford, in a research letter, wrote that "Hearing loss is common among older adults in the United States and is associated with coronary heart disease and its risk factors. Yet, the prevalence of hearing loss among adults with heart failure (HF) has not been well described."

The study, titled Hearing Loss Among Older Adults with Heart Failure in the United States, revealed that the participants with heart failure were older, with more existing cardiovascular medical conditions, and had a higher disposition to hearing loss compared with those participants without heart failure. The researchers looked into the survey data of adults aged 70 and older and found out that hearing loss among those with heart failure was more common at 74.4 percent compared with the 63.3 percent among those without coronary comorbidity. Results of the examination also showed that participants with heart failure are more likely susceptible to varying degrees of hearing loss.

 "Although hearing loss was more common among adults with HF compared with those without it, HF was not independently associated with hearing loss after accounting for demographic and clinical characteristics," the research authors explained.

The researchers said that further studies on heart failure-hearing loss link among the elder population in the United States may provide more information. "Future studies might examine potential correlates of hearing loss that we were unable to study, including ejection fraction and HF-specific medications like furosemide, which has ototoxic properties."

 

Published: 2/5/2018 8:27:00 AM

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Elderly with Heart Failure Have Higher Risk of Hearing Loss, Says Research

​A new study shows evidence of the correlation between heart failure and hearing loss among older adults in the United States. Researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City used data from the 2005-2006 and 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey examined the prevalence and correlation of hearing loss among the elderly with or without heart conditions.

Study authors  Madeline R. Sterling, MD, MPH,  Frank R. Lin, MD, PhD, Deanna P. Jannat-Khah, DrPH, MSPH, Adele M. Goman, PhD, Sandra E. Echeverria, PhD, and Monika M. Safford, in a research letter, wrote that "Hearing loss is common among older adults in the United States and is associated with coronary heart disease and its risk factors. Yet, the prevalence of hearing loss among adults with heart failure (HF) has not been well described."

The study, titled Hearing Loss Among Older Adults with Heart Failure in the United States, revealed that the participants with heart failure were older, with more existing cardiovascular medical conditions, and had a higher disposition to hearing loss compared with those participants without heart failure. The researchers looked into the survey data of adults aged 70 and older and found out that hearing loss among those with heart failure was more common at 74.4 percent compared with the 63.3 percent among those without coronary comorbidity. Results of the examination also showed that participants with heart failure are more likely susceptible to varying degrees of hearing loss.

 "Although hearing loss was more common among adults with HF compared with those without it, HF was not independently associated with hearing loss after accounting for demographic and clinical characteristics," the research authors explained.

The researchers said that further studies on heart failure-hearing loss link among the elder population in the United States may provide more information. "Future studies might examine potential correlates of hearing loss that we were unable to study, including ejection fraction and HF-specific medications like furosemide, which has ototoxic properties."

 

Published: 2/5/2018 8:27:00 AM

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Elderly with Heart Failure Have Higher Risk of Hearing Loss, Says Research

​A new study shows evidence of the correlation between heart failure and hearing loss among older adults in the United States. Researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City used data from the 2005-2006 and 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey examined the prevalence and correlation of hearing loss among the elderly with or without heart conditions.

Study authors  Madeline R. Sterling, MD, MPH,  Frank R. Lin, MD, PhD, Deanna P. Jannat-Khah, DrPH, MSPH, Adele M. Goman, PhD, Sandra E. Echeverria, PhD, and Monika M. Safford, in a research letter, wrote that "Hearing loss is common among older adults in the United States and is associated with coronary heart disease and its risk factors. Yet, the prevalence of hearing loss among adults with heart failure (HF) has not been well described."

The study, titled Hearing Loss Among Older Adults with Heart Failure in the United States, revealed that the participants with heart failure were older, with more existing cardiovascular medical conditions, and had a higher disposition to hearing loss compared with those participants without heart failure. The researchers looked into the survey data of adults aged 70 and older and found out that hearing loss among those with heart failure was more common at 74.4 percent compared with the 63.3 percent among those without coronary comorbidity. Results of the examination also showed that participants with heart failure are more likely susceptible to varying degrees of hearing loss.

 "Although hearing loss was more common among adults with HF compared with those without it, HF was not independently associated with hearing loss after accounting for demographic and clinical characteristics," the research authors explained.

The researchers said that further studies on heart failure-hearing loss link among the elder population in the United States may provide more information. "Future studies might examine potential correlates of hearing loss that we were unable to study, including ejection fraction and HF-specific medications like furosemide, which has ototoxic properties."

 

Published: 2/5/2018 8:27:00 AM

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Spatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics of gait initiation across a wide speed range

Publication date: Available online 5 February 2018
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Ben Stansfield, Katy Hawkins, Sarah Adams, Doireann Church
BackgroundGait initiation can be performed at a range of speeds. Those with disability tend to use a slower speed compared to those without disability. In assessing the spatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics of gait initiation it is therefore important to consider the effects of speed on outcomes.Research QuestionWhat is the effect of speed of performance on spatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics of gait initiation?MethodsSpatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics were measured across a wide range of speeds from very slow to very fast (normalised initiating leg (swing or SW limb) step speed 0.1-0.5) for 20 health adults (10 men/10 women, 22-44 years) using three-dimensional motion analysis of the first two steps of gait.ResultsMixed linear modelling of 295 walking trials indicated differences between individuals, sexes and strong non-linear relationships between normalised initiating leg step speed and cadence and step lengths (R² > 0.5). Particular characteristics of joint kinematics (maxima and minima for both initiating (SW) and contralateral limb (stance or ST limb)) demonstrated significant non-linear (squared, cubic and power law) changes with speed. Moderate to strong relationships were identified for sagittal plane pelvis, hip and knee kinematics as well as hip adduction (0.3 < R² < 0.7).SignificanceGait initiation spatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics were quantified across the maximum range of speeds achievable, providing comprehensive characterisation of changes with speed. Significant, non-linear changes with speed were identified, suggesting different strategies are employed to modify speed at low and high speeds. The highlighted changes with speed illustrate the importance of taking speed into account when comparing outcomes between healthy adults and those with pathology.



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Spatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics of gait initiation across a wide speed range

Publication date: Available online 5 February 2018
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Ben Stansfield, Katy Hawkins, Sarah Adams, Doireann Church
BackgroundGait initiation can be performed at a range of speeds. Those with disability tend to use a slower speed compared to those without disability. In assessing the spatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics of gait initiation it is therefore important to consider the effects of speed on outcomes.Research QuestionWhat is the effect of speed of performance on spatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics of gait initiation?MethodsSpatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics were measured across a wide range of speeds from very slow to very fast (normalised initiating leg (swing or SW limb) step speed 0.1-0.5) for 20 health adults (10 men/10 women, 22-44 years) using three-dimensional motion analysis of the first two steps of gait.ResultsMixed linear modelling of 295 walking trials indicated differences between individuals, sexes and strong non-linear relationships between normalised initiating leg step speed and cadence and step lengths (R² > 0.5). Particular characteristics of joint kinematics (maxima and minima for both initiating (SW) and contralateral limb (stance or ST limb)) demonstrated significant non-linear (squared, cubic and power law) changes with speed. Moderate to strong relationships were identified for sagittal plane pelvis, hip and knee kinematics as well as hip adduction (0.3 < R² < 0.7).SignificanceGait initiation spatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics were quantified across the maximum range of speeds achievable, providing comprehensive characterisation of changes with speed. Significant, non-linear changes with speed were identified, suggesting different strategies are employed to modify speed at low and high speeds. The highlighted changes with speed illustrate the importance of taking speed into account when comparing outcomes between healthy adults and those with pathology.



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

Spatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics of gait initiation across a wide speed range

Publication date: Available online 5 February 2018
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Ben Stansfield, Katy Hawkins, Sarah Adams, Doireann Church
BackgroundGait initiation can be performed at a range of speeds. Those with disability tend to use a slower speed compared to those without disability. In assessing the spatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics of gait initiation it is therefore important to consider the effects of speed on outcomes.Research QuestionWhat is the effect of speed of performance on spatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics of gait initiation?MethodsSpatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics were measured across a wide range of speeds from very slow to very fast (normalised initiating leg (swing or SW limb) step speed 0.1-0.5) for 20 health adults (10 men/10 women, 22-44 years) using three-dimensional motion analysis of the first two steps of gait.ResultsMixed linear modelling of 295 walking trials indicated differences between individuals, sexes and strong non-linear relationships between normalised initiating leg step speed and cadence and step lengths (R² > 0.5). Particular characteristics of joint kinematics (maxima and minima for both initiating (SW) and contralateral limb (stance or ST limb)) demonstrated significant non-linear (squared, cubic and power law) changes with speed. Moderate to strong relationships were identified for sagittal plane pelvis, hip and knee kinematics as well as hip adduction (0.3 < R² < 0.7).SignificanceGait initiation spatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics were quantified across the maximum range of speeds achievable, providing comprehensive characterisation of changes with speed. Significant, non-linear changes with speed were identified, suggesting different strategies are employed to modify speed at low and high speeds. The highlighted changes with speed illustrate the importance of taking speed into account when comparing outcomes between healthy adults and those with pathology.



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Eargo Combines Better Sound and Easy Controls in New Hearing Aid

Eargo has introduced Eargo Max, which offers a more advanced sound quality and personalized control for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. The rechargeable and invisible hearing aid is designed with an all-new chipset and operating system for maximum audio fidelity and noise reduction. It's is also supplied with Eargo's patent-pending Flexi Domes, which eliminate feedback and increase gain while preserving speech clarity. Eargo Max comes with sound profile memory and voice indicators, so it remembers your preferred sound profile and gently speaks them to you when you change them. 

The new hearing aid is available for purchase on Eargo's website or by phone at 1-800-61-EARGO. It is regularly priced at $2,500, but is currently available at an introductory rate of $2,250. Financing is available for as low as $104 a month. Each purchase of the hearing aid comes with a 45-day money back guarantee, one-year warranty, and ongoing support from Eargo's licensed hearing professionals. Eargo Max is currently only available in the United States. 

Published: 2/2/2018 8:28:00 AM

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UCSF & iHEARu Calling on HEARos to Help Map Noise Levels in Bay Area

Seeking a quiet cafe to discuss business or chat with a friend? The new iHEARu mobile app can help.
The iHEARu mobile app uses crowd-sourcing to help individuals find locations with noise levels that suit your needs. Whether seeking a quiet eatery or lively bar with loud music, the iHEARu GPS will help you find it. By combining decibel data gathered from smartphone users in real-life environments, iHEARu provides the data to change the world…one ear-friendly place at a time.
Founded and inspired by world-renowned neuroscientists and audiologists from the University of Washington Dr. Kelly Tremblay and Dr. Charles Limb of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), the iHEARu app helps people collect decibel data in public spaces. The iHEARu team has partnered with the UCSF Sound and Music Perception Lab, headed by Dr. Limb, to help San Francisco's hearing-challenged community find ear-friendly places to visit. The team is calling on all citizen scientists to join the movement by downloading the free app and taking data readings across the city. For each data reading during Restaurant Week (January 22–31), the iHEARu team will make a contribution to the Hearing Loss Association of America and CHEFSGIVING.
Why create an ear-friendly movement? Consider: 

• Over 20% of the U.S. population (48M) have some hearing loss
• Approximately 1 in 3 people older than 65 have disabling hearing loss.
• According to a 2010 census, this means that over 13.6% of San Francisco's population is suffering with disabling hearing loss!
• With over 17M visitors to the San Francisco area, that means over 3.5M will come to the city as hearing-challenged visitors.

The app can be downloaded for FREE via the App Store or Google Play. Learn more about iHearu from Dr. Tremblay's article .

Published: 1/31/2018 12:41:00 PM

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Deaf Children with Cochlear Implants Learn Words Faster

A recently published study, "Establishing a mental lexicon with cochlear implants: an ERP study with young children," conducted by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI CBS) in Leipzig and the University Medical Centre Dresden, reported that hearing-impaired children with cochlear implants (CI) pick up words faster compared with normal-hearing children. The study aimed to examine the lexical-semantic development of profoundly hearing-impaired and deaf children with CI using the N400 effect, which is an event-related potential (ERP) that reflects semantic processing, as its marker.

The study briefly explains that natural hearing is different from hearing through CI: the implant yields only limited frequency discrimination and dynamic range resulting in more hearing difficulty in hearing especially in noisy environments. The research points out that—especially in cases of children with congenital or acquired sensorineural deafness— infants' brains develop without any auditory input for a considerable amount of time. This means that even with implantation at about 12 months, which is considered as early implantation, congenitally hearing-impaired children will only have their first auditory input experience at a time when children with normal hearing will already have explored language to an extent that allows them to produce their first words.

Test subjects were 36 hearing-impaired children with bilateral CIs. However, due to excessive artefacts, six were excluded from further analysis. 13 subjects had severe hearing loss with some residual hearing prior to implantation; the remaining 19 had congenital bilateral deafness. Following their cochlear implantation, the children underwent a rehabilitation program where they received bimonthly fitting of the speech processor and multidisciplinary speech and language therapy for up to three years. Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were performed 12, 18 and 24 months after first implant activation.

Niki Vavatzanidis, one of the authors of the research, in a press release from Max Planck Institute, said "We observed that when deaf children get their implants, they learn words faster than those with normal hearing. Consequently, they build up certain word pools faster."  Study leader Angela D. Friederici, head of MPI CBS, further explained that "children with cochlear implants could help us understand the general processes of language acquisition and determine which single steps are age-dependent."

Published: 1/30/2018 8:38:00 AM

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Eargo Combines Better Sound and Easy Controls in New Hearing Aid

Eargo has introduced Eargo Max, which offers a more advanced sound quality and personalized control for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. The rechargeable and invisible hearing aid is designed with an all-new chipset and operating system for maximum audio fidelity and noise reduction. It's is also supplied with Eargo's patent-pending Flexi Domes, which eliminate feedback and increase gain while preserving speech clarity. Eargo Max comes with sound profile memory and voice indicators, so it remembers your preferred sound profile and gently speaks them to you when you change them. 

The new hearing aid is available for purchase on Eargo's website or by phone at 1-800-61-EARGO. It is regularly priced at $2,500, but is currently available at an introductory rate of $2,250. Financing is available for as low as $104 a month. Each purchase of the hearing aid comes with a 45-day money back guarantee, one-year warranty, and ongoing support from Eargo's licensed hearing professionals. Eargo Max is currently only available in the United States. 

Published: 2/2/2018 8:28:00 AM

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via IFTTT

UCSF & iHEARu Calling on HEARos to Help Map Noise Levels in Bay Area

Seeking a quiet cafe to discuss business or chat with a friend? The new iHEARu mobile app can help.
The iHEARu mobile app uses crowd-sourcing to help individuals find locations with noise levels that suit your needs. Whether seeking a quiet eatery or lively bar with loud music, the iHEARu GPS will help you find it. By combining decibel data gathered from smartphone users in real-life environments, iHEARu provides the data to change the world…one ear-friendly place at a time.
Founded and inspired by world-renowned neuroscientists and audiologists from the University of Washington Dr. Kelly Tremblay and Dr. Charles Limb of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), the iHEARu app helps people collect decibel data in public spaces. The iHEARu team has partnered with the UCSF Sound and Music Perception Lab, headed by Dr. Limb, to help San Francisco's hearing-challenged community find ear-friendly places to visit. The team is calling on all citizen scientists to join the movement by downloading the free app and taking data readings across the city. For each data reading during Restaurant Week (January 22–31), the iHEARu team will make a contribution to the Hearing Loss Association of America and CHEFSGIVING.
Why create an ear-friendly movement? Consider: 

• Over 20% of the U.S. population (48M) have some hearing loss
• Approximately 1 in 3 people older than 65 have disabling hearing loss.
• According to a 2010 census, this means that over 13.6% of San Francisco's population is suffering with disabling hearing loss!
• With over 17M visitors to the San Francisco area, that means over 3.5M will come to the city as hearing-challenged visitors.

The app can be downloaded for FREE via the App Store or Google Play. Learn more about iHearu from Dr. Tremblay's article .

Published: 1/31/2018 12:41:00 PM

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Deaf Children with Cochlear Implants Learn Words Faster

A recently published study, "Establishing a mental lexicon with cochlear implants: an ERP study with young children," conducted by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI CBS) in Leipzig and the University Medical Centre Dresden, reported that hearing-impaired children with cochlear implants (CI) pick up words faster compared with normal-hearing children. The study aimed to examine the lexical-semantic development of profoundly hearing-impaired and deaf children with CI using the N400 effect, which is an event-related potential (ERP) that reflects semantic processing, as its marker.

The study briefly explains that natural hearing is different from hearing through CI: the implant yields only limited frequency discrimination and dynamic range resulting in more hearing difficulty in hearing especially in noisy environments. The research points out that—especially in cases of children with congenital or acquired sensorineural deafness— infants' brains develop without any auditory input for a considerable amount of time. This means that even with implantation at about 12 months, which is considered as early implantation, congenitally hearing-impaired children will only have their first auditory input experience at a time when children with normal hearing will already have explored language to an extent that allows them to produce their first words.

Test subjects were 36 hearing-impaired children with bilateral CIs. However, due to excessive artefacts, six were excluded from further analysis. 13 subjects had severe hearing loss with some residual hearing prior to implantation; the remaining 19 had congenital bilateral deafness. Following their cochlear implantation, the children underwent a rehabilitation program where they received bimonthly fitting of the speech processor and multidisciplinary speech and language therapy for up to three years. Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were performed 12, 18 and 24 months after first implant activation.

Niki Vavatzanidis, one of the authors of the research, in a press release from Max Planck Institute, said "We observed that when deaf children get their implants, they learn words faster than those with normal hearing. Consequently, they build up certain word pools faster."  Study leader Angela D. Friederici, head of MPI CBS, further explained that "children with cochlear implants could help us understand the general processes of language acquisition and determine which single steps are age-dependent."

Published: 1/30/2018 8:38:00 AM

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

Eargo Combines Better Sound and Easy Controls in New Hearing Aid

Eargo has introduced Eargo Max, which offers a more advanced sound quality and personalized control for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. The rechargeable and invisible hearing aid is designed with an all-new chipset and operating system for maximum audio fidelity and noise reduction. It's is also supplied with Eargo's patent-pending Flexi Domes, which eliminate feedback and increase gain while preserving speech clarity. Eargo Max comes with sound profile memory and voice indicators, so it remembers your preferred sound profile and gently speaks them to you when you change them. 

The new hearing aid is available for purchase on Eargo's website or by phone at 1-800-61-EARGO. It is regularly priced at $2,500, but is currently available at an introductory rate of $2,250. Financing is available for as low as $104 a month. Each purchase of the hearing aid comes with a 45-day money back guarantee, one-year warranty, and ongoing support from Eargo's licensed hearing professionals. Eargo Max is currently only available in the United States. 

Published: 2/2/2018 8:28:00 AM

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

UCSF & iHEARu Calling on HEARos to Help Map Noise Levels in Bay Area

Seeking a quiet cafe to discuss business or chat with a friend? The new iHEARu mobile app can help.
The iHEARu mobile app uses crowd-sourcing to help individuals find locations with noise levels that suit your needs. Whether seeking a quiet eatery or lively bar with loud music, the iHEARu GPS will help you find it. By combining decibel data gathered from smartphone users in real-life environments, iHEARu provides the data to change the world…one ear-friendly place at a time.
Founded and inspired by world-renowned neuroscientists and audiologists from the University of Washington Dr. Kelly Tremblay and Dr. Charles Limb of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), the iHEARu app helps people collect decibel data in public spaces. The iHEARu team has partnered with the UCSF Sound and Music Perception Lab, headed by Dr. Limb, to help San Francisco's hearing-challenged community find ear-friendly places to visit. The team is calling on all citizen scientists to join the movement by downloading the free app and taking data readings across the city. For each data reading during Restaurant Week (January 22–31), the iHEARu team will make a contribution to the Hearing Loss Association of America and CHEFSGIVING.
Why create an ear-friendly movement? Consider: 

• Over 20% of the U.S. population (48M) have some hearing loss
• Approximately 1 in 3 people older than 65 have disabling hearing loss.
• According to a 2010 census, this means that over 13.6% of San Francisco's population is suffering with disabling hearing loss!
• With over 17M visitors to the San Francisco area, that means over 3.5M will come to the city as hearing-challenged visitors.

The app can be downloaded for FREE via the App Store or Google Play. Learn more about iHearu from Dr. Tremblay's article .

Published: 1/31/2018 12:41:00 PM

from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2sbB3Jq
via IFTTT

Deaf Children with Cochlear Implants Learn Words Faster

A recently published study, "Establishing a mental lexicon with cochlear implants: an ERP study with young children," conducted by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI CBS) in Leipzig and the University Medical Centre Dresden, reported that hearing-impaired children with cochlear implants (CI) pick up words faster compared with normal-hearing children. The study aimed to examine the lexical-semantic development of profoundly hearing-impaired and deaf children with CI using the N400 effect, which is an event-related potential (ERP) that reflects semantic processing, as its marker.

The study briefly explains that natural hearing is different from hearing through CI: the implant yields only limited frequency discrimination and dynamic range resulting in more hearing difficulty in hearing especially in noisy environments. The research points out that—especially in cases of children with congenital or acquired sensorineural deafness— infants' brains develop without any auditory input for a considerable amount of time. This means that even with implantation at about 12 months, which is considered as early implantation, congenitally hearing-impaired children will only have their first auditory input experience at a time when children with normal hearing will already have explored language to an extent that allows them to produce their first words.

Test subjects were 36 hearing-impaired children with bilateral CIs. However, due to excessive artefacts, six were excluded from further analysis. 13 subjects had severe hearing loss with some residual hearing prior to implantation; the remaining 19 had congenital bilateral deafness. Following their cochlear implantation, the children underwent a rehabilitation program where they received bimonthly fitting of the speech processor and multidisciplinary speech and language therapy for up to three years. Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were performed 12, 18 and 24 months after first implant activation.

Niki Vavatzanidis, one of the authors of the research, in a press release from Max Planck Institute, said "We observed that when deaf children get their implants, they learn words faster than those with normal hearing. Consequently, they build up certain word pools faster."  Study leader Angela D. Friederici, head of MPI CBS, further explained that "children with cochlear implants could help us understand the general processes of language acquisition and determine which single steps are age-dependent."

Published: 1/30/2018 8:38:00 AM

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