Author Response to Sabour (2018), “Comment on Hall et al. (2017), ‘How to Choose Between Measures of Tinnitus Loudness for Clinical Research? A Report on the Reliability and Validity of an Investigator-Administered Test and a Patient-Reported Measure Using Baseline Data Collected in a Phase IIa Drug Trial’”

Purpose

The authors respond to a letter to the editor (Sabour, 2018) concerning the interpretation of validity in the context of evaluating treatment-related change in tinnitus loudness over time.

Method

The authors refer to several landmark methodological publications and an international standard concerning the validity of patient-reported outcome measurement instruments.

Results

The tinnitus loudness rating performed better against our reported acceptability criteria for (face and convergent) validity than did the tinnitus loudness matching test.

Conclusion

It is important to distinguish between tests that evaluate the validity of measuring treatment-related change over time and tests that quantify the accuracy of diagnosing tinnitus as a case and non-case.

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Comment on Hall et al. (2017), “How to Choose Between Measures of Tinnitus Loudness for Clinical Research? A Report on the Reliability and Validity of an Investigator-Administered Test and a Patient-Reported Measure Using Baseline Data Collected in a Phase IIa Drug Trial”

Purpose

The purpose of this letter, in response to Hall, Mehta, and Fackrell (2017), is to provide important knowledge about methodology and statistical issues in assessing the reliability and validity of an audiologist-administered tinnitus loudness matching test and a patient-reported tinnitus loudness rating.

Method

The author uses reference textbooks and published articles regarding scientific assessment of the validity and reliability of a clinical test to discuss the statistical test and the methodological approach in assessing validity and reliability in clinical research.

Results

Depending on the type of the variable (qualitative or quantitative), well-known statistical tests can be applied to assess reliability and validity. The qualitative variables of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, false positive and false negative rates, likelihood ratio positive and likelihood ratio negative, as well as odds ratio (i.e., ratio of true to false results), are the most appropriate estimates to evaluate validity of a test compared to a gold standard. In the case of quantitative variables, depending on distribution of the variable, Pearson r or Spearman rho can be applied.

Conclusion

Diagnostic accuracy (validity) and diagnostic precision (reliability or agreement) are two completely different methodological issues. Depending on the type of the variable (qualitative or quantitative), well-known statistical tests can be applied to assess validity.

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Author Response to Sabour (2018), “Comment on Hall et al. (2017), ‘How to Choose Between Measures of Tinnitus Loudness for Clinical Research? A Report on the Reliability and Validity of an Investigator-Administered Test and a Patient-Reported Measure Using Baseline Data Collected in a Phase IIa Drug Trial’”

Purpose

The authors respond to a letter to the editor (Sabour, 2018) concerning the interpretation of validity in the context of evaluating treatment-related change in tinnitus loudness over time.

Method

The authors refer to several landmark methodological publications and an international standard concerning the validity of patient-reported outcome measurement instruments.

Results

The tinnitus loudness rating performed better against our reported acceptability criteria for (face and convergent) validity than did the tinnitus loudness matching test.

Conclusion

It is important to distinguish between tests that evaluate the validity of measuring treatment-related change over time and tests that quantify the accuracy of diagnosing tinnitus as a case and non-case.

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Comment on Hall et al. (2017), “How to Choose Between Measures of Tinnitus Loudness for Clinical Research? A Report on the Reliability and Validity of an Investigator-Administered Test and a Patient-Reported Measure Using Baseline Data Collected in a Phase IIa Drug Trial”

Purpose

The purpose of this letter, in response to Hall, Mehta, and Fackrell (2017), is to provide important knowledge about methodology and statistical issues in assessing the reliability and validity of an audiologist-administered tinnitus loudness matching test and a patient-reported tinnitus loudness rating.

Method

The author uses reference textbooks and published articles regarding scientific assessment of the validity and reliability of a clinical test to discuss the statistical test and the methodological approach in assessing validity and reliability in clinical research.

Results

Depending on the type of the variable (qualitative or quantitative), well-known statistical tests can be applied to assess reliability and validity. The qualitative variables of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, false positive and false negative rates, likelihood ratio positive and likelihood ratio negative, as well as odds ratio (i.e., ratio of true to false results), are the most appropriate estimates to evaluate validity of a test compared to a gold standard. In the case of quantitative variables, depending on distribution of the variable, Pearson r or Spearman rho can be applied.

Conclusion

Diagnostic accuracy (validity) and diagnostic precision (reliability or agreement) are two completely different methodological issues. Depending on the type of the variable (qualitative or quantitative), well-known statistical tests can be applied to assess validity.

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Author Response to Sabour (2018), “Comment on Hall et al. (2017), ‘How to Choose Between Measures of Tinnitus Loudness for Clinical Research? A Report on the Reliability and Validity of an Investigator-Administered Test and a Patient-Reported Measure Using Baseline Data Collected in a Phase IIa Drug Trial’”

Purpose

The authors respond to a letter to the editor (Sabour, 2018) concerning the interpretation of validity in the context of evaluating treatment-related change in tinnitus loudness over time.

Method

The authors refer to several landmark methodological publications and an international standard concerning the validity of patient-reported outcome measurement instruments.

Results

The tinnitus loudness rating performed better against our reported acceptability criteria for (face and convergent) validity than did the tinnitus loudness matching test.

Conclusion

It is important to distinguish between tests that evaluate the validity of measuring treatment-related change over time and tests that quantify the accuracy of diagnosing tinnitus as a case and non-case.

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Comment on Hall et al. (2017), “How to Choose Between Measures of Tinnitus Loudness for Clinical Research? A Report on the Reliability and Validity of an Investigator-Administered Test and a Patient-Reported Measure Using Baseline Data Collected in a Phase IIa Drug Trial”

Purpose

The purpose of this letter, in response to Hall, Mehta, and Fackrell (2017), is to provide important knowledge about methodology and statistical issues in assessing the reliability and validity of an audiologist-administered tinnitus loudness matching test and a patient-reported tinnitus loudness rating.

Method

The author uses reference textbooks and published articles regarding scientific assessment of the validity and reliability of a clinical test to discuss the statistical test and the methodological approach in assessing validity and reliability in clinical research.

Results

Depending on the type of the variable (qualitative or quantitative), well-known statistical tests can be applied to assess reliability and validity. The qualitative variables of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, false positive and false negative rates, likelihood ratio positive and likelihood ratio negative, as well as odds ratio (i.e., ratio of true to false results), are the most appropriate estimates to evaluate validity of a test compared to a gold standard. In the case of quantitative variables, depending on distribution of the variable, Pearson r or Spearman rho can be applied.

Conclusion

Diagnostic accuracy (validity) and diagnostic precision (reliability or agreement) are two completely different methodological issues. Depending on the type of the variable (qualitative or quantitative), well-known statistical tests can be applied to assess validity.

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Statistical Methodology for the Analysis of Repeated Duration Data in Behavioral Studies

Purpose

Repeated duration data are frequently used in behavioral studies. Classical linear or log-linear mixed models are often inadequate to analyze such data, because they usually consist of nonnegative and skew-distributed variables. Therefore, we recommend use of a statistical methodology specific to duration data.

Method

We propose a methodology based on Cox mixed models and written under the R language. This semiparametric model is indeed flexible enough to fit duration data. To compare log-linear and Cox mixed models in terms of goodness-of-fit on real data sets, we also provide a procedure based on simulations and quantile–quantile plots.

Results

We present two examples from a data set of speech and gesture interactions, which illustrate the limitations of linear and log-linear mixed models, as compared to Cox models. The linear models are not validated on our data, whereas Cox models are. Moreover, in the second example, the Cox model exhibits a significant effect that the linear model does not.

Conclusions

We provide methods to select the best-fitting models for repeated duration data and to compare statistical methodologies. In this study, we show that Cox models are best suited to the analysis of our data set.

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Pitch and Time Processing in Speech and Tones: The Effects of Musical Training and Attention

Purpose

Musical training is often linked to enhanced auditory discrimination, but the relative roles of pitch and time in music and speech are unclear. Moreover, it is unclear whether pitch and time processing are correlated across individuals and how they may be affected by attention. This study aimed to examine pitch and time processing in speech and tone sequences, taking musical training and attention into account.

Method

Musicians (16) and nonmusicians (16) were asked to detect pitch or timing changes in speech and tone sequences and make a binary response. In some conditions, the participants were focused on 1 aspect of the stimulus (directed attention), and in others, they had to pay attention to all aspects at once (divided attention).

Results

As expected, musicians performed better overall. Performance scores on pitch and time tasks were correlated, as were performance scores for speech and tonal stimuli, but most markedly in musicians. All participants performed better on the directed versus divided attention task, but again, musicians performed better than nonmusicians.

Conclusion

In general, this experiment shows that individuals with a better sense of pitch discrimination also have a better sense of timing discrimination in the auditory domain. In addition, although musicians perform better overall, these results do not support the idea that musicians have an added advantage for divided attention tasks. These findings serve to better understand how musical training and attention affect pitch and time processing in the context of speech and tones and may have applications in special populations.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.5895997

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Acoustic Predictors of Pediatric Dysarthria in Cerebral Palsy

Purpose

The objectives of this study were to identify acoustic characteristics of connected speech that differentiate children with dysarthria secondary to cerebral palsy (CP) from typically developing children and to identify acoustic measures that best detect dysarthria in children with CP.

Method

Twenty 5-year-old children with dysarthria secondary to CP were compared to 20 age- and sex-matched typically developing children on 5 acoustic measures of connected speech. A logistic regression approach was used to derive an acoustic model that best predicted dysarthria status.

Results

Results indicated that children with dysarthria secondary to CP differed from typically developing children on measures of multiple segmental and suprasegmental speech characteristics. An acoustic model containing articulation rate and the F2 range of diphthongs differentiated children with dysarthria from typically developing children with 87.5% accuracy.

Conclusion

This study serves as a first step toward developing an acoustic model that can be used to improve early identification of dysarthria in children with CP.

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Bilingualism and Procedural Learning in Typically Developing Children and Children With Language Impairment

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate whether dual language experience affects procedural learning ability in typically developing children and in children with specific language impairment (SLI).

Method

We examined procedural learning in monolingual and bilingual school-aged children (ages 8–12 years) with and without SLI. The typically developing children (35 monolinguals, 24 bilinguals) and the children with SLI (17 monolinguals, 10 bilinguals) completed a serial reaction time task.

Results

The typically developing monolinguals and bilinguals exhibited equivalent sequential learning effects, but neither group with SLI exhibited learning of sequential patterns on the serial reaction time task.

Conclusion

Procedural learning does not appear to be modified by language experience, supporting the notion that it is a child-intrinsic language learning mechanism that is minimally malleable to experience.

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Statistical Methodology for the Analysis of Repeated Duration Data in Behavioral Studies

Purpose

Repeated duration data are frequently used in behavioral studies. Classical linear or log-linear mixed models are often inadequate to analyze such data, because they usually consist of nonnegative and skew-distributed variables. Therefore, we recommend use of a statistical methodology specific to duration data.

Method

We propose a methodology based on Cox mixed models and written under the R language. This semiparametric model is indeed flexible enough to fit duration data. To compare log-linear and Cox mixed models in terms of goodness-of-fit on real data sets, we also provide a procedure based on simulations and quantile–quantile plots.

Results

We present two examples from a data set of speech and gesture interactions, which illustrate the limitations of linear and log-linear mixed models, as compared to Cox models. The linear models are not validated on our data, whereas Cox models are. Moreover, in the second example, the Cox model exhibits a significant effect that the linear model does not.

Conclusions

We provide methods to select the best-fitting models for repeated duration data and to compare statistical methodologies. In this study, we show that Cox models are best suited to the analysis of our data set.

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Pitch and Time Processing in Speech and Tones: The Effects of Musical Training and Attention

Purpose

Musical training is often linked to enhanced auditory discrimination, but the relative roles of pitch and time in music and speech are unclear. Moreover, it is unclear whether pitch and time processing are correlated across individuals and how they may be affected by attention. This study aimed to examine pitch and time processing in speech and tone sequences, taking musical training and attention into account.

Method

Musicians (16) and nonmusicians (16) were asked to detect pitch or timing changes in speech and tone sequences and make a binary response. In some conditions, the participants were focused on 1 aspect of the stimulus (directed attention), and in others, they had to pay attention to all aspects at once (divided attention).

Results

As expected, musicians performed better overall. Performance scores on pitch and time tasks were correlated, as were performance scores for speech and tonal stimuli, but most markedly in musicians. All participants performed better on the directed versus divided attention task, but again, musicians performed better than nonmusicians.

Conclusion

In general, this experiment shows that individuals with a better sense of pitch discrimination also have a better sense of timing discrimination in the auditory domain. In addition, although musicians perform better overall, these results do not support the idea that musicians have an added advantage for divided attention tasks. These findings serve to better understand how musical training and attention affect pitch and time processing in the context of speech and tones and may have applications in special populations.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.5895997

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Acoustic Predictors of Pediatric Dysarthria in Cerebral Palsy

Purpose

The objectives of this study were to identify acoustic characteristics of connected speech that differentiate children with dysarthria secondary to cerebral palsy (CP) from typically developing children and to identify acoustic measures that best detect dysarthria in children with CP.

Method

Twenty 5-year-old children with dysarthria secondary to CP were compared to 20 age- and sex-matched typically developing children on 5 acoustic measures of connected speech. A logistic regression approach was used to derive an acoustic model that best predicted dysarthria status.

Results

Results indicated that children with dysarthria secondary to CP differed from typically developing children on measures of multiple segmental and suprasegmental speech characteristics. An acoustic model containing articulation rate and the F2 range of diphthongs differentiated children with dysarthria from typically developing children with 87.5% accuracy.

Conclusion

This study serves as a first step toward developing an acoustic model that can be used to improve early identification of dysarthria in children with CP.

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Bilingualism and Procedural Learning in Typically Developing Children and Children With Language Impairment

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate whether dual language experience affects procedural learning ability in typically developing children and in children with specific language impairment (SLI).

Method

We examined procedural learning in monolingual and bilingual school-aged children (ages 8–12 years) with and without SLI. The typically developing children (35 monolinguals, 24 bilinguals) and the children with SLI (17 monolinguals, 10 bilinguals) completed a serial reaction time task.

Results

The typically developing monolinguals and bilinguals exhibited equivalent sequential learning effects, but neither group with SLI exhibited learning of sequential patterns on the serial reaction time task.

Conclusion

Procedural learning does not appear to be modified by language experience, supporting the notion that it is a child-intrinsic language learning mechanism that is minimally malleable to experience.

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Statistical Methodology for the Analysis of Repeated Duration Data in Behavioral Studies

Purpose

Repeated duration data are frequently used in behavioral studies. Classical linear or log-linear mixed models are often inadequate to analyze such data, because they usually consist of nonnegative and skew-distributed variables. Therefore, we recommend use of a statistical methodology specific to duration data.

Method

We propose a methodology based on Cox mixed models and written under the R language. This semiparametric model is indeed flexible enough to fit duration data. To compare log-linear and Cox mixed models in terms of goodness-of-fit on real data sets, we also provide a procedure based on simulations and quantile–quantile plots.

Results

We present two examples from a data set of speech and gesture interactions, which illustrate the limitations of linear and log-linear mixed models, as compared to Cox models. The linear models are not validated on our data, whereas Cox models are. Moreover, in the second example, the Cox model exhibits a significant effect that the linear model does not.

Conclusions

We provide methods to select the best-fitting models for repeated duration data and to compare statistical methodologies. In this study, we show that Cox models are best suited to the analysis of our data set.

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Pitch and Time Processing in Speech and Tones: The Effects of Musical Training and Attention

Purpose

Musical training is often linked to enhanced auditory discrimination, but the relative roles of pitch and time in music and speech are unclear. Moreover, it is unclear whether pitch and time processing are correlated across individuals and how they may be affected by attention. This study aimed to examine pitch and time processing in speech and tone sequences, taking musical training and attention into account.

Method

Musicians (16) and nonmusicians (16) were asked to detect pitch or timing changes in speech and tone sequences and make a binary response. In some conditions, the participants were focused on 1 aspect of the stimulus (directed attention), and in others, they had to pay attention to all aspects at once (divided attention).

Results

As expected, musicians performed better overall. Performance scores on pitch and time tasks were correlated, as were performance scores for speech and tonal stimuli, but most markedly in musicians. All participants performed better on the directed versus divided attention task, but again, musicians performed better than nonmusicians.

Conclusion

In general, this experiment shows that individuals with a better sense of pitch discrimination also have a better sense of timing discrimination in the auditory domain. In addition, although musicians perform better overall, these results do not support the idea that musicians have an added advantage for divided attention tasks. These findings serve to better understand how musical training and attention affect pitch and time processing in the context of speech and tones and may have applications in special populations.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.5895997

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Acoustic Predictors of Pediatric Dysarthria in Cerebral Palsy

Purpose

The objectives of this study were to identify acoustic characteristics of connected speech that differentiate children with dysarthria secondary to cerebral palsy (CP) from typically developing children and to identify acoustic measures that best detect dysarthria in children with CP.

Method

Twenty 5-year-old children with dysarthria secondary to CP were compared to 20 age- and sex-matched typically developing children on 5 acoustic measures of connected speech. A logistic regression approach was used to derive an acoustic model that best predicted dysarthria status.

Results

Results indicated that children with dysarthria secondary to CP differed from typically developing children on measures of multiple segmental and suprasegmental speech characteristics. An acoustic model containing articulation rate and the F2 range of diphthongs differentiated children with dysarthria from typically developing children with 87.5% accuracy.

Conclusion

This study serves as a first step toward developing an acoustic model that can be used to improve early identification of dysarthria in children with CP.

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Bilingualism and Procedural Learning in Typically Developing Children and Children With Language Impairment

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate whether dual language experience affects procedural learning ability in typically developing children and in children with specific language impairment (SLI).

Method

We examined procedural learning in monolingual and bilingual school-aged children (ages 8–12 years) with and without SLI. The typically developing children (35 monolinguals, 24 bilinguals) and the children with SLI (17 monolinguals, 10 bilinguals) completed a serial reaction time task.

Results

The typically developing monolinguals and bilinguals exhibited equivalent sequential learning effects, but neither group with SLI exhibited learning of sequential patterns on the serial reaction time task.

Conclusion

Procedural learning does not appear to be modified by language experience, supporting the notion that it is a child-intrinsic language learning mechanism that is minimally malleable to experience.

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Management of Recurrent Vestibular Neuritis in a Patient Treated for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Purpose

This clinical report is presented to describe how results of vestibular function testing were considered along with other medical history to develop a management plan that was ultimately successful.

Method

The patient underwent audio-vestibular assessment including comprehensive audiogram, videonystagmography, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential, and postural stability testing.

Results

Results from initial testing were most consistent with uncompensated peripheral vestibular dysfunction affecting the right superior vestibular nerve. These results, considered along with history and symptoms, supported vestibular neuritis. After a second vertigo event, we became concerned about the potential temporal association between the patient's rheumatoid arthritis treatment and symptom onset. It is established that treatment for rheumatoid arthritis can exacerbate latent viral issues, but this has not specifically been reported for vestibular neuritis. There are reports in the literature in which patients successfully used viral suppressant medication to decrease viral activity while they were able to continue benefiting from immunosuppressive therapy. We hypothesized that, if the current patient's vestibular neuritis events were related to her treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, she may also benefit from use of viral suppressant medication while continuing her otherwise successful immunosuppressive intervention.

Conclusions

Patients treated with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are more susceptible to viral issues, and this may include vestibular neuritis. For the current case, identifying this possibility and recommending viral suppressant medication allowed her to continue with successful treatment of rheumatoid arthritis while avoiding additional vertigo events.

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Management of Recurrent Vestibular Neuritis in a Patient Treated for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Purpose

This clinical report is presented to describe how results of vestibular function testing were considered along with other medical history to develop a management plan that was ultimately successful.

Method

The patient underwent audio-vestibular assessment including comprehensive audiogram, videonystagmography, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential, and postural stability testing.

Results

Results from initial testing were most consistent with uncompensated peripheral vestibular dysfunction affecting the right superior vestibular nerve. These results, considered along with history and symptoms, supported vestibular neuritis. After a second vertigo event, we became concerned about the potential temporal association between the patient's rheumatoid arthritis treatment and symptom onset. It is established that treatment for rheumatoid arthritis can exacerbate latent viral issues, but this has not specifically been reported for vestibular neuritis. There are reports in the literature in which patients successfully used viral suppressant medication to decrease viral activity while they were able to continue benefiting from immunosuppressive therapy. We hypothesized that, if the current patient's vestibular neuritis events were related to her treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, she may also benefit from use of viral suppressant medication while continuing her otherwise successful immunosuppressive intervention.

Conclusions

Patients treated with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are more susceptible to viral issues, and this may include vestibular neuritis. For the current case, identifying this possibility and recommending viral suppressant medication allowed her to continue with successful treatment of rheumatoid arthritis while avoiding additional vertigo events.

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Management of Recurrent Vestibular Neuritis in a Patient Treated for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Purpose

This clinical report is presented to describe how results of vestibular function testing were considered along with other medical history to develop a management plan that was ultimately successful.

Method

The patient underwent audio-vestibular assessment including comprehensive audiogram, videonystagmography, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential, and postural stability testing.

Results

Results from initial testing were most consistent with uncompensated peripheral vestibular dysfunction affecting the right superior vestibular nerve. These results, considered along with history and symptoms, supported vestibular neuritis. After a second vertigo event, we became concerned about the potential temporal association between the patient's rheumatoid arthritis treatment and symptom onset. It is established that treatment for rheumatoid arthritis can exacerbate latent viral issues, but this has not specifically been reported for vestibular neuritis. There are reports in the literature in which patients successfully used viral suppressant medication to decrease viral activity while they were able to continue benefiting from immunosuppressive therapy. We hypothesized that, if the current patient's vestibular neuritis events were related to her treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, she may also benefit from use of viral suppressant medication while continuing her otherwise successful immunosuppressive intervention.

Conclusions

Patients treated with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are more susceptible to viral issues, and this may include vestibular neuritis. For the current case, identifying this possibility and recommending viral suppressant medication allowed her to continue with successful treatment of rheumatoid arthritis while avoiding additional vertigo events.

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Cross-Linguistic Cognate Production in Spanish–English Bilingual Children With and Without Specific Language Impairment

Purpose

Bilinguals tend to produce cognates (e.g., telephone in English and teléfono in Spanish) more accurately than they produce noncognates (table/mesa). We tested whether the same holds for bilingual children with specific language impairment (SLI).

Method

Participants included Spanish–English bilingual children (aged 5;0 to 9;11 [years;months]), 25 with SLI and 92 without, who had comparable language experience. Cognate and noncognate items were taken from English and Spanish versions of the Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test (Brownell, 2000, 2001).

Results

Although bilingual children with language impairment named fewer items correctly overall, they accurately named cognates more often than noncognates, as did typically developing children. Independent of language ability, accurate naming of a cognate in one language strongly predicted accurate naming in the other language.

Conclusion

Language impairment appears unrelated to the mechanism that produces a cognate advantage in naming accuracy. Given that correct performance for a difficult word in one language is associated with knowing its cognate in another, cognates may be particularly viable targets for language intervention in bilingual children with SLI.

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Cross-Linguistic Cognate Production in Spanish–English Bilingual Children With and Without Specific Language Impairment

Purpose

Bilinguals tend to produce cognates (e.g., telephone in English and teléfono in Spanish) more accurately than they produce noncognates (table/mesa). We tested whether the same holds for bilingual children with specific language impairment (SLI).

Method

Participants included Spanish–English bilingual children (aged 5;0 to 9;11 [years;months]), 25 with SLI and 92 without, who had comparable language experience. Cognate and noncognate items were taken from English and Spanish versions of the Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test (Brownell, 2000, 2001).

Results

Although bilingual children with language impairment named fewer items correctly overall, they accurately named cognates more often than noncognates, as did typically developing children. Independent of language ability, accurate naming of a cognate in one language strongly predicted accurate naming in the other language.

Conclusion

Language impairment appears unrelated to the mechanism that produces a cognate advantage in naming accuracy. Given that correct performance for a difficult word in one language is associated with knowing its cognate in another, cognates may be particularly viable targets for language intervention in bilingual children with SLI.

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Cross-Linguistic Cognate Production in Spanish–English Bilingual Children With and Without Specific Language Impairment

Purpose

Bilinguals tend to produce cognates (e.g., telephone in English and teléfono in Spanish) more accurately than they produce noncognates (table/mesa). We tested whether the same holds for bilingual children with specific language impairment (SLI).

Method

Participants included Spanish–English bilingual children (aged 5;0 to 9;11 [years;months]), 25 with SLI and 92 without, who had comparable language experience. Cognate and noncognate items were taken from English and Spanish versions of the Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test (Brownell, 2000, 2001).

Results

Although bilingual children with language impairment named fewer items correctly overall, they accurately named cognates more often than noncognates, as did typically developing children. Independent of language ability, accurate naming of a cognate in one language strongly predicted accurate naming in the other language.

Conclusion

Language impairment appears unrelated to the mechanism that produces a cognate advantage in naming accuracy. Given that correct performance for a difficult word in one language is associated with knowing its cognate in another, cognates may be particularly viable targets for language intervention in bilingual children with SLI.

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The Cuban Medical Crisis

From late 2016 through August 2017, U.S. government personnel serving on diplomatic assignment in Havana, Cuba, reported neurological symptoms associated with exposure to “auditory and sensory phenomena.”  The report of a “sonic attack” was pervasive in the media, despite such a weapon being physically unlikely.  A recent communication published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) provides an overview of findings from 21 individuals exposed to the “auditory and sensory phenomena” including tests of cognitive function, mood, balance, hearing, and vision.

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Undernutrition in Early Childhood may Lead to Hearing Loss

A newly published study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that undernutrition during early childhood is a risk factor for hearing loss in early adulthood.

From 2006-2008, researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health carried out a study in Sarlahi, Nepal as a follow-up health and nutritional status assessment to an earlier project called Nepal Nutrition Intervention Project-1 (NNPIS-1), which was a cluster-randomized vitamin A supplementation trial for pre-school age children conducted between 1989 and 1991.

When asked about the reason behind the study, lead author Susan Emmett, MD, MPH said, "There are over a billion people living with hearing loss worldwide, and 80 percent are in low- and middle-income countries. With the tremendous lifelong impact of hearing loss on school achievement, economic outcomes, and overall health, it is essential to better understand why hearing loss is more common in low resource settings and what we can do to prevent it from happening in the first place."

The participants of the 2006-2008 research were 2193 young adults, with age range from 16 to 23, who were former participants of NNPIS-1. The results reveal that of the total number of participants, 5.93 percent exhibited hearing loss.

According to the paper titled "Early Childhood undernutrition increases risk of hearing loss in young adulthood in rural Nepal," early childhood malnutrition—wasting, stunting, being underweight—are associated with hearing loss. Participants who were malnourished during their early childhood were at higher risk for hearing impairment in their young adulthood. These undernutrition-hearing loss associations remained relevant even with research adjustments for age, sex, and multiple indicators of socioeconomic status, for abnormal tympanometry, and for cerumen impaction. The authors suggest that the association between preschool undernutrition and early adulthood hearing loss may have been a result of utero nutritional exposures or malnutrition that extends from fetal life through the preschool years.

“This study describes a new pathway for hearing loss prevention,” Emmett told The Hearing Journal. “We have identified nutritional risk factors and a window of opportunity, from fetal development through early childhood, to reduce the risk of later-life hearing loss. The results have implications for much of the Gangetic floodplain of South Asia, home to nearly 1 billion people and a region where undernutrition continues to be a problem.”

Published: 2/20/2018 8:11:00 AM

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Undernutrition in Early Childhood may Lead to Hearing Loss

A newly published study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that undernutrition during early childhood is a risk factor for hearing loss in early adulthood.

From 2006-2008, researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health carried out a study in Sarlahi, Nepal as a follow-up health and nutritional status assessment to an earlier project called Nepal Nutrition Intervention Project-1 (NNPIS-1), which was a cluster-randomized vitamin A supplementation trial for pre-school age children conducted between 1989 and 1991.

When asked about the reason behind the study, lead author Susan Emmett, MD, MPH said, "There are over a billion people living with hearing loss worldwide, and 80 percent are in low- and middle-income countries. With the tremendous lifelong impact of hearing loss on school achievement, economic outcomes, and overall health, it is essential to better understand why hearing loss is more common in low resource settings and what we can do to prevent it from happening in the first place."

The participants of the 2006-2008 research were 2193 young adults, with age range from 16 to 23, who were former participants of NNPIS-1. The results reveal that of the total number of participants, 5.93 percent exhibited hearing loss.

According to the paper titled "Early Childhood undernutrition increases risk of hearing loss in young adulthood in rural Nepal," early childhood malnutrition—wasting, stunting, being underweight—are associated with hearing loss. Participants who were malnourished during their early childhood were at higher risk for hearing impairment in their young adulthood. These undernutrition-hearing loss associations remained relevant even with research adjustments for age, sex, and multiple indicators of socioeconomic status, for abnormal tympanometry, and for cerumen impaction. The authors suggest that the association between preschool undernutrition and early adulthood hearing loss may have been a result of utero nutritional exposures or malnutrition that extends from fetal life through the preschool years.

“This study describes a new pathway for hearing loss prevention,” Emmett told The Hearing Journal. “We have identified nutritional risk factors and a window of opportunity, from fetal development through early childhood, to reduce the risk of later-life hearing loss. The results have implications for much of the Gangetic floodplain of South Asia, home to nearly 1 billion people and a region where undernutrition continues to be a problem.”

Published: 2/20/2018 8:11:00 AM

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Undernutrition in Early Childhood may Lead to Hearing Loss

A newly published study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that undernutrition during early childhood is a risk factor for hearing loss in early adulthood.

From 2006-2008, researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health carried out a study in Sarlahi, Nepal as a follow-up health and nutritional status assessment to an earlier project called Nepal Nutrition Intervention Project-1 (NNPIS-1), which was a cluster-randomized vitamin A supplementation trial for pre-school age children conducted between 1989 and 1991.

When asked about the reason behind the study, lead author Susan Emmett, MD, MPH said, "There are over a billion people living with hearing loss worldwide, and 80 percent are in low- and middle-income countries. With the tremendous lifelong impact of hearing loss on school achievement, economic outcomes, and overall health, it is essential to better understand why hearing loss is more common in low resource settings and what we can do to prevent it from happening in the first place."

The participants of the 2006-2008 research were 2193 young adults, with age range from 16 to 23, who were former participants of NNPIS-1. The results reveal that of the total number of participants, 5.93 percent exhibited hearing loss.

According to the paper titled "Early Childhood undernutrition increases risk of hearing loss in young adulthood in rural Nepal," early childhood malnutrition—wasting, stunting, being underweight—are associated with hearing loss. Participants who were malnourished during their early childhood were at higher risk for hearing impairment in their young adulthood. These undernutrition-hearing loss associations remained relevant even with research adjustments for age, sex, and multiple indicators of socioeconomic status, for abnormal tympanometry, and for cerumen impaction. The authors suggest that the association between preschool undernutrition and early adulthood hearing loss may have been a result of utero nutritional exposures or malnutrition that extends from fetal life through the preschool years.

“This study describes a new pathway for hearing loss prevention,” Emmett told The Hearing Journal. “We have identified nutritional risk factors and a window of opportunity, from fetal development through early childhood, to reduce the risk of later-life hearing loss. The results have implications for much of the Gangetic floodplain of South Asia, home to nearly 1 billion people and a region where undernutrition continues to be a problem.”

Published: 2/20/2018 8:11:00 AM

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A Trend in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Data from a Population-Based Study

This is the first study reporting on the incidence and clinical aspects of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in South Korea. Using Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service data from 2011 to 2015, the monthly incidence of unilateral SSNHL and incidence according to patients’ sex, age, and month of diagnosis were investigated. The monthly incidence of unilateral SSNHL increased over the 5-year study period, with a mean annual incidence of 17.76 cases/ 100,000 of the population. The incidence increased with age, with most patients presenting in their 60s. There was a slight female preponderance, with a male-to-female ratio of 1: 1.35. Most new patients were diagnosed in October, and the fewest in January. In conclusion, this large-scale study indicates that unilateral SSNHL has a higher incidence among the elderly, women, and in autumn (i.e., along with colder weather).
Audiol Neurotol 2017;22:311–316

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Evaluation of factors that affect hip moment impulse during gait: A systematic review

Publication date: Available online 19 February 2018
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Takuma Inai, Tomoya Takabayashi, Mutsuaki Edama, Masayoshi Kubo
BackgroundDecreasing the daily cumulative hip moments in the frontal and sagittal planes may lower the risk of hip osteoarthritis. Therefore, it may be important to evaluate factors that affect hip moment impulse during gait.Research questionIt is unclear what factors affect hip moment impulse during gait. This systematic review aimed to evaluate different factors that affect hip moment impulse during gait in healthy adults and patients with hip osteoarthritis.MethodsFour databases (Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and PEDro) were searched up to August 2017 to identify studies that examined hip moment impulse during gait. Data extracted for analysis included the sample size, age, height, body mass, type of intervention, and main findings.ResultsAfter screening, 10 of the 975 studies identified were included in our analysis. Several factors, including a rocker bottom shoe, FitFlop™ sandals, ankle push-off, posture, stride length, body-weight unloading, a rollator, walking poles, and a knee brace, were reviewed. The main findings were as follows: increasing ankle push-off decreased both the hip flexion and extension moment impulses; body-weight unloading decreased both the hip extension and adduction moment impulses; the FitFlop™ sandal increased the sum of the hip flexion and extension moment impulses; long strides increased the hip extension moment impulse; and the use of a knee brace increased hip flexion moment impulse. Of note, none of the eligible studies included patients with hip osteoarthritis.SignificanceThe hip moment impulses can be modified by person-specific factors (ankle push-off and long strides) and external factors (body-weight unloading and use of the FitFlop™ sandals and a knee brace). Effects on the progression of hip osteoarthritis remain to be evaluated.



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Evaluation of factors that affect hip moment impulse during gait: A systematic review

Publication date: Available online 19 February 2018
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Takuma Inai, Tomoya Takabayashi, Mutsuaki Edama, Masayoshi Kubo
BackgroundDecreasing the daily cumulative hip moments in the frontal and sagittal planes may lower the risk of hip osteoarthritis. Therefore, it may be important to evaluate factors that affect hip moment impulse during gait.Research questionIt is unclear what factors affect hip moment impulse during gait. This systematic review aimed to evaluate different factors that affect hip moment impulse during gait in healthy adults and patients with hip osteoarthritis.MethodsFour databases (Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and PEDro) were searched up to August 2017 to identify studies that examined hip moment impulse during gait. Data extracted for analysis included the sample size, age, height, body mass, type of intervention, and main findings.ResultsAfter screening, 10 of the 975 studies identified were included in our analysis. Several factors, including a rocker bottom shoe, FitFlop™ sandals, ankle push-off, posture, stride length, body-weight unloading, a rollator, walking poles, and a knee brace, were reviewed. The main findings were as follows: increasing ankle push-off decreased both the hip flexion and extension moment impulses; body-weight unloading decreased both the hip extension and adduction moment impulses; the FitFlop™ sandal increased the sum of the hip flexion and extension moment impulses; long strides increased the hip extension moment impulse; and the use of a knee brace increased hip flexion moment impulse. Of note, none of the eligible studies included patients with hip osteoarthritis.SignificanceThe hip moment impulses can be modified by person-specific factors (ankle push-off and long strides) and external factors (body-weight unloading and use of the FitFlop™ sandals and a knee brace). Effects on the progression of hip osteoarthritis remain to be evaluated.



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Evaluation of factors that affect hip moment impulse during gait: A systematic review

Publication date: Available online 19 February 2018
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Takuma Inai, Tomoya Takabayashi, Mutsuaki Edama, Masayoshi Kubo
BackgroundDecreasing the daily cumulative hip moments in the frontal and sagittal planes may lower the risk of hip osteoarthritis. Therefore, it may be important to evaluate factors that affect hip moment impulse during gait.Research questionIt is unclear what factors affect hip moment impulse during gait. This systematic review aimed to evaluate different factors that affect hip moment impulse during gait in healthy adults and patients with hip osteoarthritis.MethodsFour databases (Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and PEDro) were searched up to August 2017 to identify studies that examined hip moment impulse during gait. Data extracted for analysis included the sample size, age, height, body mass, type of intervention, and main findings.ResultsAfter screening, 10 of the 975 studies identified were included in our analysis. Several factors, including a rocker bottom shoe, FitFlop™ sandals, ankle push-off, posture, stride length, body-weight unloading, a rollator, walking poles, and a knee brace, were reviewed. The main findings were as follows: increasing ankle push-off decreased both the hip flexion and extension moment impulses; body-weight unloading decreased both the hip extension and adduction moment impulses; the FitFlop™ sandal increased the sum of the hip flexion and extension moment impulses; long strides increased the hip extension moment impulse; and the use of a knee brace increased hip flexion moment impulse. Of note, none of the eligible studies included patients with hip osteoarthritis.SignificanceThe hip moment impulses can be modified by person-specific factors (ankle push-off and long strides) and external factors (body-weight unloading and use of the FitFlop™ sandals and a knee brace). Effects on the progression of hip osteoarthritis remain to be evaluated.



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Starkey Introduces Its Smartest, Smallest Rechargeable Hearing Aid

​After unveiling it at the Starkey's Hearing Innovation Expo in Las Vegas, Starkey's (https://www.starkey.com/) new Muse iQ Rechargeable hearing aid is now available to consumers through their network of hearing professionals and audiologists. The Muse iQ Rechargeable hearing aid is Starkey's smallest over-the-ear hearing aid to date. Built on Starkey's Synergy platform and Acuity OS operating system, the new hearing aid offers 30 hours of use with streaming, and fast, full-day charging in less than three hours. It also comes with a convenient, transportable charging case for 15-minute and "weekend" charges. This wireless hearing aid features telecoil and a CROS rechargeable system for individuals with single-sided hearing loss. Unlike other lithium-ion rechargeable hearing aids, the Muse iQ Rechargeable offers a user-friendly on/off switch. 

Published: 2/16/2018 3:18:00 PM

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Starkey Introduces Its Smartest, Smallest Rechargeable Hearing Aid

​After unveiling it at the Starkey's Hearing Innovation Expo in Las Vegas, Starkey's (https://www.starkey.com/) new Muse iQ Rechargeable hearing aid is now available to consumers through their network of hearing professionals and audiologists. The Muse iQ Rechargeable hearing aid is Starkey's smallest over-the-ear hearing aid to date. Built on Starkey's Synergy platform and Acuity OS operating system, the new hearing aid offers 30 hours of use with streaming, and fast, full-day charging in less than three hours. It also comes with a convenient, transportable charging case for 15-minute and "weekend" charges. This wireless hearing aid features telecoil and a CROS rechargeable system for individuals with single-sided hearing loss. Unlike other lithium-ion rechargeable hearing aids, the Muse iQ Rechargeable offers a user-friendly on/off switch. 

Published: 2/16/2018 3:18:00 PM

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Starkey Introduces Its Smartest, Smallest Rechargeable Hearing Aid

​After unveiling it at the Starkey's Hearing Innovation Expo in Las Vegas, Starkey's (https://www.starkey.com/) new Muse iQ Rechargeable hearing aid is now available to consumers through their network of hearing professionals and audiologists. The Muse iQ Rechargeable hearing aid is Starkey's smallest over-the-ear hearing aid to date. Built on Starkey's Synergy platform and Acuity OS operating system, the new hearing aid offers 30 hours of use with streaming, and fast, full-day charging in less than three hours. It also comes with a convenient, transportable charging case for 15-minute and "weekend" charges. This wireless hearing aid features telecoil and a CROS rechargeable system for individuals with single-sided hearing loss. Unlike other lithium-ion rechargeable hearing aids, the Muse iQ Rechargeable offers a user-friendly on/off switch. 

Published: 2/16/2018 3:18:00 PM

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