Spinal segments do not move together predictably during daily activities

Publication date: Available online 29 October 2018

Source: Gait & Posture

Author(s): Enrica Papi, Anthony M.J. Bull, Alison H. McGregor

Abstract

Background

Considering the thoracic, lumbar spine or whole spine as rigid segments has been the norm until recent studies highlighted the importance of more detailed modelling. A better understanding of the requirement for spine multi-segmental analysis could guide planning of future studies and avoid missing clinically-relevant information.

Research question

This study aims to assess the correlation between adjacent spine segments movement thereby evaluating segmental redundancy in both healthy and participants with low back pain (LBP).

Methods

A 3D motion capture system tracked the movement of upper and lower thoracic and lumbar spine segments in twenty healthy and twenty participants with LBP. Tasks performed included walking, sit-to-stand and lifting, repeated 3 times. 3D angular kinematics were calculated for each spine segment. Segmental redundancy was evaluated through cross-correlation (R_xy) analysis of kinematics time series and correlation of range of motion (R_ROM) of adjacent spine segments.

Results

The upper/lower lumbar pairing showed weak correlations in the LBP group for all tasks and anatomical planes (R_xyrange:0.02-0.36) but moderate and strong correlations during walking (R_xy _frontalplane:0.4) and lifting (R_xy _sagittalplane:0.64) in the healthy group. The lower thoracic/upper lumbar pairing had weak correlations for both groups during lifting and sit-to-stand in the frontal plane and for walking (R_xy:0.01) in the sagittal plane only. The upper/lower thoracic pairing had moderate correlations during sit-to-stand in sagittal and transverse plane in patients with LBP (R_xy _sagittalplane:0.41; R_xy _transverse plane:-0.42) but weak in healthy (R_xy _sagittalplane:0.23; R_xy _transverseplane:-0.34); the contrary was observed during lifting.

The majority of R_ROM values (55/72) demonstrated weak correlations.

Significance

The results suggest that multi-segmental analysis of the spine is necessary if spine movement characteristics are to be fully understood. We cannot establish a priori where redundancy occurs based on healthy data, therefore extra consideration should be made when planning studies with pathological cohorts.

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Spinal segments do not move together predictably during daily activities

Publication date: Available online 29 October 2018

Source: Gait & Posture

Author(s): Enrica Papi, Anthony M.J. Bull, Alison H. McGregor

Abstract

Background

Considering the thoracic, lumbar spine or whole spine as rigid segments has been the norm until recent studies highlighted the importance of more detailed modelling. A better understanding of the requirement for spine multi-segmental analysis could guide planning of future studies and avoid missing clinically-relevant information.

Research question

This study aims to assess the correlation between adjacent spine segments movement thereby evaluating segmental redundancy in both healthy and participants with low back pain (LBP).

Methods

A 3D motion capture system tracked the movement of upper and lower thoracic and lumbar spine segments in twenty healthy and twenty participants with LBP. Tasks performed included walking, sit-to-stand and lifting, repeated 3 times. 3D angular kinematics were calculated for each spine segment. Segmental redundancy was evaluated through cross-correlation (R_xy) analysis of kinematics time series and correlation of range of motion (R_ROM) of adjacent spine segments.

Results

The upper/lower lumbar pairing showed weak correlations in the LBP group for all tasks and anatomical planes (R_xyrange:0.02-0.36) but moderate and strong correlations during walking (R_xy _frontalplane:0.4) and lifting (R_xy _sagittalplane:0.64) in the healthy group. The lower thoracic/upper lumbar pairing had weak correlations for both groups during lifting and sit-to-stand in the frontal plane and for walking (R_xy:0.01) in the sagittal plane only. The upper/lower thoracic pairing had moderate correlations during sit-to-stand in sagittal and transverse plane in patients with LBP (R_xy _sagittalplane:0.41; R_xy _transverse plane:-0.42) but weak in healthy (R_xy _sagittalplane:0.23; R_xy _transverseplane:-0.34); the contrary was observed during lifting.

The majority of R_ROM values (55/72) demonstrated weak correlations.

Significance

The results suggest that multi-segmental analysis of the spine is necessary if spine movement characteristics are to be fully understood. We cannot establish a priori where redundancy occurs based on healthy data, therefore extra consideration should be made when planning studies with pathological cohorts.

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Investigating Auditory Spectral and Temporal Resolution Deficits in Children with Reading Difficulties.

Related Articles

Investigating Auditory Spectral and Temporal Resolution Deficits in Children with Reading Difficulties.

J Am Acad Audiol. 2018 Oct 25;:

Authors: Mealings K, Cameron S

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The types of reading difficulties experienced by children are highly heterogeneous in nature, which makes diagnosis and intervention difficult. Over the past 30 years, there has been much debate over the cause of dyslexia. The two most popular theories for phonological deficits in dyslexia are the rate-processing constraint hypothesis, which relates to short timescale processing, and the temporal sampling framework hypothesis, which relates to longer timescale processing.
PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between sublexical (i.e., nonword) reading skills and auditory spectral and temporal resolution patterns in children with reading difficulties using the Phoneme Identification Test (PIT) and the Parsing Syllable Envelopes Test (ParSE). These tests were developed to assess the rate-processing constraint and the temporal sampling framework hypotheses, respectively. We hypothesized that a proportion of children who have sublexical reading difficulties may have an underlying auditory-resolution deficit which may impact their ability to form letter-sound correspondences. We predicted that children's sublexical reading difficulties may not be explained by one theory, but instead that both theories may describe different types of reading difficulties found in different children. We also hypothesized that children with lexical (i.e., irregular word) reading difficulties but intact sublexical reading skills would not show atypical results on PIT or ParSE.
RESEARCH DESIGN: Behavioral experimental clinical study with children who have reading difficulties.
STUDY SAMPLE: Sixteen children with nonword, irregular word, or mixed reading difficulties diagnosed by the Castles and Coltheart Test 2.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Children completed a test battery consisting of a hearing screen and tests of reading, auditory resolution, phonological awareness, attention, spatial auditory processing, auditory memory, and intelligence. Categorization and correlational analyses were conducted.
RESULTS: All four children with a pure sublexical reading deficit also had an auditory-resolution deficit. Four of seven children with a mixed reading deficit had an auditory-resolution deficit. Only one of five children with a lexical reading deficit had an auditory-resolution deficit. Individual children's specific deficits were related to either rate processing (n = 5) or temporal sampling (n = 4), but never both. Children's nonword reading scores were strongly correlated with their performance on the PIT in noise, but not with the PIT in quiet or the ParSE. Children's irregular word scores were not significantly correlated with their performance on the PIT in quiet or in noise, or the ParSE, as hypothesized. Strong correlations were also found between children's nonword scores and their phonological awareness scores.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that neither the rate-processing hypothesis nor the temporal sampling framework is the single cause of reading difficulties in children. Instead, both of these hypotheses are likely to account for different types of reading deficits found in children. This is an important finding as the specific mechanisms driving different reading impairments must be identified to create tools to better diagnose and treat different types of reading difficulties. Further investigation of the PIT and ParSE as potential diagnostic tools for specific auditory-resolution-based reading difficulties in a larger group of children is currently underway.

PMID: 30372414 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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The Mystery of Unexplained Variance-Some Comments on Brenneman et al (2017).

Related Articles

The Mystery of Unexplained Variance-Some Comments on Brenneman et al (2017).

J Am Acad Audiol. 2018 Oct 25;:

Authors: McFarland DJ

PMID: 30372413 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Investigating Auditory Spectral and Temporal Resolution Deficits in Children with Reading Difficulties.

Related Articles

Investigating Auditory Spectral and Temporal Resolution Deficits in Children with Reading Difficulties.

J Am Acad Audiol. 2018 Oct 25;:

Authors: Mealings K, Cameron S

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The types of reading difficulties experienced by children are highly heterogeneous in nature, which makes diagnosis and intervention difficult. Over the past 30 years, there has been much debate over the cause of dyslexia. The two most popular theories for phonological deficits in dyslexia are the rate-processing constraint hypothesis, which relates to short timescale processing, and the temporal sampling framework hypothesis, which relates to longer timescale processing.
PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between sublexical (i.e., nonword) reading skills and auditory spectral and temporal resolution patterns in children with reading difficulties using the Phoneme Identification Test (PIT) and the Parsing Syllable Envelopes Test (ParSE). These tests were developed to assess the rate-processing constraint and the temporal sampling framework hypotheses, respectively. We hypothesized that a proportion of children who have sublexical reading difficulties may have an underlying auditory-resolution deficit which may impact their ability to form letter-sound correspondences. We predicted that children's sublexical reading difficulties may not be explained by one theory, but instead that both theories may describe different types of reading difficulties found in different children. We also hypothesized that children with lexical (i.e., irregular word) reading difficulties but intact sublexical reading skills would not show atypical results on PIT or ParSE.
RESEARCH DESIGN: Behavioral experimental clinical study with children who have reading difficulties.
STUDY SAMPLE: Sixteen children with nonword, irregular word, or mixed reading difficulties diagnosed by the Castles and Coltheart Test 2.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Children completed a test battery consisting of a hearing screen and tests of reading, auditory resolution, phonological awareness, attention, spatial auditory processing, auditory memory, and intelligence. Categorization and correlational analyses were conducted.
RESULTS: All four children with a pure sublexical reading deficit also had an auditory-resolution deficit. Four of seven children with a mixed reading deficit had an auditory-resolution deficit. Only one of five children with a lexical reading deficit had an auditory-resolution deficit. Individual children's specific deficits were related to either rate processing (n = 5) or temporal sampling (n = 4), but never both. Children's nonword reading scores were strongly correlated with their performance on the PIT in noise, but not with the PIT in quiet or the ParSE. Children's irregular word scores were not significantly correlated with their performance on the PIT in quiet or in noise, or the ParSE, as hypothesized. Strong correlations were also found between children's nonword scores and their phonological awareness scores.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that neither the rate-processing hypothesis nor the temporal sampling framework is the single cause of reading difficulties in children. Instead, both of these hypotheses are likely to account for different types of reading deficits found in children. This is an important finding as the specific mechanisms driving different reading impairments must be identified to create tools to better diagnose and treat different types of reading difficulties. Further investigation of the PIT and ParSE as potential diagnostic tools for specific auditory-resolution-based reading difficulties in a larger group of children is currently underway.

PMID: 30372414 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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The Mystery of Unexplained Variance-Some Comments on Brenneman et al (2017).

Related Articles

The Mystery of Unexplained Variance-Some Comments on Brenneman et al (2017).

J Am Acad Audiol. 2018 Oct 25;:

Authors: McFarland DJ

PMID: 30372413 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Measurement of pitch perception as a function of cochlear implant electrode and its effect on speech perception with different frequency allocations.

Measurement of pitch perception as a function of cochlear implant electrode and its effect on speech perception with different frequency allocations.

Int J Audiol. 2018 Oct 27;:1-9

Authors: Grasmeder ML, Verschuur CA, van Besouw RM, Wheatley AMH, Newman TA

Abstract
An experiment was conducted to investigate the possibility that speech perception could be improved for some cochlear implant (CI) users by adjustment of the frequency allocation to the electrodes, following assessment of pitch perception along the electrode array. Thirteen adult CI users with MED-EL devices participated in the study. Pitch perception was assessed for individual CI electrode pairs using the Pitch Contour Test (PCT), giving information on pitch discrimination and pitch ranking for adjacent electrodes. Sentence perception in noise was also assessed with ten different frequency allocations, including the default. Pitch perception was found to be poorer for both discrimination and ranking scores at either end of the electrode array. A significant effect of frequency allocation was found for sentence scores [F(4.24,38.2) = 7.14, p < 0.001] and a significant interaction between sentence score and PCT ranking score for basal electrodes was found [F(4.24,38.2) = 2.95, p = 0.03]. Participants with poorer pitch perception at the basal end had poorer scores for some allocations with greater basal shift. The results suggest that speech perception could be improved for CI users by assessment of pitch perception using the PCT and subsequent adjustment of pitch-related stimulation parameters.

PMID: 30370800 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Measurement of pitch perception as a function of cochlear implant electrode and its effect on speech perception with different frequency allocations.

Measurement of pitch perception as a function of cochlear implant electrode and its effect on speech perception with different frequency allocations.

Int J Audiol. 2018 Oct 27;:1-9

Authors: Grasmeder ML, Verschuur CA, van Besouw RM, Wheatley AMH, Newman TA

Abstract
An experiment was conducted to investigate the possibility that speech perception could be improved for some cochlear implant (CI) users by adjustment of the frequency allocation to the electrodes, following assessment of pitch perception along the electrode array. Thirteen adult CI users with MED-EL devices participated in the study. Pitch perception was assessed for individual CI electrode pairs using the Pitch Contour Test (PCT), giving information on pitch discrimination and pitch ranking for adjacent electrodes. Sentence perception in noise was also assessed with ten different frequency allocations, including the default. Pitch perception was found to be poorer for both discrimination and ranking scores at either end of the electrode array. A significant effect of frequency allocation was found for sentence scores [F(4.24,38.2) = 7.14, p < 0.001] and a significant interaction between sentence score and PCT ranking score for basal electrodes was found [F(4.24,38.2) = 2.95, p = 0.03]. Participants with poorer pitch perception at the basal end had poorer scores for some allocations with greater basal shift. The results suggest that speech perception could be improved for CI users by assessment of pitch perception using the PCT and subsequent adjustment of pitch-related stimulation parameters.

PMID: 30370800 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Measurement of pitch perception as a function of cochlear implant electrode and its effect on speech perception with different frequency allocations.

Measurement of pitch perception as a function of cochlear implant electrode and its effect on speech perception with different frequency allocations.

Int J Audiol. 2018 Oct 27;:1-9

Authors: Grasmeder ML, Verschuur CA, van Besouw RM, Wheatley AMH, Newman TA

Abstract
An experiment was conducted to investigate the possibility that speech perception could be improved for some cochlear implant (CI) users by adjustment of the frequency allocation to the electrodes, following assessment of pitch perception along the electrode array. Thirteen adult CI users with MED-EL devices participated in the study. Pitch perception was assessed for individual CI electrode pairs using the Pitch Contour Test (PCT), giving information on pitch discrimination and pitch ranking for adjacent electrodes. Sentence perception in noise was also assessed with ten different frequency allocations, including the default. Pitch perception was found to be poorer for both discrimination and ranking scores at either end of the electrode array. A significant effect of frequency allocation was found for sentence scores [F(4.24,38.2) = 7.14, p < 0.001] and a significant interaction between sentence score and PCT ranking score for basal electrodes was found [F(4.24,38.2) = 2.95, p = 0.03]. Participants with poorer pitch perception at the basal end had poorer scores for some allocations with greater basal shift. The results suggest that speech perception could be improved for CI users by assessment of pitch perception using the PCT and subsequent adjustment of pitch-related stimulation parameters.

PMID: 30370800 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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via IFTTT

Measurement of pitch perception as a function of cochlear implant electrode and its effect on speech perception with different frequency allocations.

Measurement of pitch perception as a function of cochlear implant electrode and its effect on speech perception with different frequency allocations.

Int J Audiol. 2018 Oct 27;:1-9

Authors: Grasmeder ML, Verschuur CA, van Besouw RM, Wheatley AMH, Newman TA

Abstract
An experiment was conducted to investigate the possibility that speech perception could be improved for some cochlear implant (CI) users by adjustment of the frequency allocation to the electrodes, following assessment of pitch perception along the electrode array. Thirteen adult CI users with MED-EL devices participated in the study. Pitch perception was assessed for individual CI electrode pairs using the Pitch Contour Test (PCT), giving information on pitch discrimination and pitch ranking for adjacent electrodes. Sentence perception in noise was also assessed with ten different frequency allocations, including the default. Pitch perception was found to be poorer for both discrimination and ranking scores at either end of the electrode array. A significant effect of frequency allocation was found for sentence scores [F(4.24,38.2) = 7.14, p < 0.001] and a significant interaction between sentence score and PCT ranking score for basal electrodes was found [F(4.24,38.2) = 2.95, p = 0.03]. Participants with poorer pitch perception at the basal end had poorer scores for some allocations with greater basal shift. The results suggest that speech perception could be improved for CI users by assessment of pitch perception using the PCT and subsequent adjustment of pitch-related stimulation parameters.

PMID: 30370800 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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The effects of electrical stimulation of the peripheral vestibular system on neurochemical release in the rat striatum.

The effects of electrical stimulation of the peripheral vestibular system on neurochemical release in the rat striatum.

PLoS One. 2018;13(10):e0205869

Authors: Stiles L, Zheng Y, Smith PF

Abstract
For over a century, it has been speculated that the vestibular system transmits information about self-motion to the striatum. There have been inconsistent reports of such a connection, and interest in the subject has been increased by the experimental use of galvanic vestibular stimulation in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease patients. Nonetheless, there are few data available on the effects of vestibular stimulation on neurochemical changes in the striatum. We used in vivo microdialysis to analyse changes in the extracellular levels of amino acids and monoamines in the rat striatum, following electrical vestibular stimulation. Stimulation caused a significant decrease in serine and threonine, compared to the no-stimulation controls (P ≤ 0.005 and P ≤ 0.01, respectively). The ratio of DOPAC:dopamine, decreased on the ipsilateral side following stimulation (P ≤ 0.005). There was a significant treatment x side x intensity interaction for taurine levels (P ≤ 0.002), due to a decrease on the contralateral side in stimulated animals, which varied as a function of current. These results show that peripheral vestibular stimulation causes some neurochemical changes in the striatum and support the view that activaton of the vestibular system exerts effects on the function of the striatum.

PMID: 30372453 [PubMed - in process]

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Spinal Surgery With Electrically Evoked Potential Monitoring and Monopolar Electrocautery: Is Prior Removal of a Cochlear Implant Necessary?

Spinal Surgery With Electrically Evoked Potential Monitoring and Monopolar Electrocautery: Is Prior Removal of a Cochlear Implant Necessary?

Otol Neurotol. 2018 Oct 26;:

Authors: Studer D, Stieger C, Reichlin CJ, Terrier A, Allum JHJ

Abstract
: Transcranial electric stimulation to generate motor evoked potentials in lower limb muscles is the standard technique used to monitor spinal cord efferent pathways during surgical correction for spinal deformities. Monopolar electrical cauterization is also used by default in the thoracic and lumbar area of the spine during this kind of surgery to prevent major blood loss. Owing to the high levels of current used, both techniques are considered contraindicative if the patient has a cochlear implant (CI). Here, we present a CI patient who underwent corrective spinal fusion surgery for a severe kyphoscoliotic spinal deformity on whom both techniques were used without any negative effects on the CI function. A major improvement in sagittal body balance was achieved with no loss in implant-aided hearing levels. These results add to reports that CI manufactures should review their evidence underlying recommendations that transcranial electric stimulation and upper thoracic monopolar electrical cauterization are high risk for CI users, possibly initiating verification studies.This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal. https://ift.tt/OBJ4xP.

PMID: 30371634 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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via IFTTT

The effects of electrical stimulation of the peripheral vestibular system on neurochemical release in the rat striatum.

The effects of electrical stimulation of the peripheral vestibular system on neurochemical release in the rat striatum.

PLoS One. 2018;13(10):e0205869

Authors: Stiles L, Zheng Y, Smith PF

Abstract
For over a century, it has been speculated that the vestibular system transmits information about self-motion to the striatum. There have been inconsistent reports of such a connection, and interest in the subject has been increased by the experimental use of galvanic vestibular stimulation in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease patients. Nonetheless, there are few data available on the effects of vestibular stimulation on neurochemical changes in the striatum. We used in vivo microdialysis to analyse changes in the extracellular levels of amino acids and monoamines in the rat striatum, following electrical vestibular stimulation. Stimulation caused a significant decrease in serine and threonine, compared to the no-stimulation controls (P ≤ 0.005 and P ≤ 0.01, respectively). The ratio of DOPAC:dopamine, decreased on the ipsilateral side following stimulation (P ≤ 0.005). There was a significant treatment x side x intensity interaction for taurine levels (P ≤ 0.002), due to a decrease on the contralateral side in stimulated animals, which varied as a function of current. These results show that peripheral vestibular stimulation causes some neurochemical changes in the striatum and support the view that activaton of the vestibular system exerts effects on the function of the striatum.

PMID: 30372453 [PubMed - in process]

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Spinal Surgery With Electrically Evoked Potential Monitoring and Monopolar Electrocautery: Is Prior Removal of a Cochlear Implant Necessary?

Spinal Surgery With Electrically Evoked Potential Monitoring and Monopolar Electrocautery: Is Prior Removal of a Cochlear Implant Necessary?

Otol Neurotol. 2018 Oct 26;:

Authors: Studer D, Stieger C, Reichlin CJ, Terrier A, Allum JHJ

Abstract
: Transcranial electric stimulation to generate motor evoked potentials in lower limb muscles is the standard technique used to monitor spinal cord efferent pathways during surgical correction for spinal deformities. Monopolar electrical cauterization is also used by default in the thoracic and lumbar area of the spine during this kind of surgery to prevent major blood loss. Owing to the high levels of current used, both techniques are considered contraindicative if the patient has a cochlear implant (CI). Here, we present a CI patient who underwent corrective spinal fusion surgery for a severe kyphoscoliotic spinal deformity on whom both techniques were used without any negative effects on the CI function. A major improvement in sagittal body balance was achieved with no loss in implant-aided hearing levels. These results add to reports that CI manufactures should review their evidence underlying recommendations that transcranial electric stimulation and upper thoracic monopolar electrical cauterization are high risk for CI users, possibly initiating verification studies.This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal. https://ift.tt/OBJ4xP.

PMID: 30371634 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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New Research Show Benefits of Person-Centered Hearing Care Tools

Since 2016, the Ida Institute Research Committee has awarded research grants to projects that investigate the outcomes of using Ida Institute methods and tools and develop evidence to show the effect of person-centered hearing care. The first grant recipients have now submitted their reports. Their findings add to a growing body of evidence that demonstrates the value of Ida Institute methods and tools and the use of person-centered care in clinical practice.

Living Well Tool Creates Patient-Centered Framework

Project: Researchers explored the way audiologists convey information about communication and hearing loss management in appointments with adults with hearing loss and their communication partners.

Ida Tool: Living Well  idainstitute.com/tools/living_well

The study found that using the Ida Living Well tool shifted the emphasis in appointments away from difficulties of living with hearing loss to more positive and proactive communication and lifestyle decisions.

The audiologists who participated in the study found that the Living Well tool was a helpful, easy-to-use tool, particularly at the start of the session where it provided context that helped to determine client goals. Clients described the Living Well tool as a good starting point for appointments that allowed them to fast-track discussion and spend valuable time on one-on-one problem solving with the clinician. Researchers concluded that the tool enabled them to move the appointment focus beyond the deficit model in audiological rehabilitation to more positive aspects of hearing loss management, such as social engagement and successful communication.

Lead Researcher: Dr. Nerina Scarinci, The University of Queensland  
Co-Investigators: Dr. Carly Meyer, The University of Queensland, Dr. Katie Ekberg, The University of Queensland and Dr. Christopher Lind, Flinders University

Readiness for Rehabilitation

Project: Researchers examined how incorporating the Ida Motivation Tools into initial assessment appointments with adult clients can help audiologists better identify clients' readiness for hearing rehabilitation.

Ida Tools: Motivation tools idainstitute.com/tools/motivation_tools
Audiologists in the study who used the tools improved their ability to identify their clients' stages in the patient journey and successfully solicited clients' readiness for rehabilitation and potential concerns regarding hearing aids. The findings emphasized the importance of the discussion that is initiated by using the tools and not relying solely on the clients' scores. Evaluating only on the client's scores can lead practitioners to over-estimate clients' readiness. These study findings support the overall aim of the Motivational Tools as "conversation starters" and reinforced the need for audiologists to actively listen to clients' responses.

Lead Researcher: Dr. Katie Ekberg, The University of Queensland

Co-Investigator: Dr. Caitlin Barr, The University of Melbourne

Ototoxic Hearing Loss Among Childhood Cancer Survivors

Project: Researchers explored the support needs of childhood cancer survivors and their parents during the hearing rehabilitation process.

Parents whose children acquire hearing loss through cancer treatment must deal with the stress of both cancer and hearing loss. Many of the children will need hearing aids and special support to help their language and speech skills develop. Their parents will need support to provide an environment that encourages listening, speech and language skills.

In the study, parents, teachers, and audiologists all described the intense emotional demands on both parents and children. They also noted a frequent misunderstanding by parents of the far-reaching impact of hearing loss on their child's wellbeing. Both teachers and audiologists acknowledged the families' need for support of all kinds, but primarily social-emotional support to facilitate family adjustment. The researchers determined that audiologists and teachers of deaf and hard-of-hearing children need both person-centered and family-centered awareness and skills and are well positioned to provide limited but important support through collaboration and consistency.

Lead Researcher: Dr. Janet Jamieson, The University of British Columbia

Co-Investigators: Beth Brooks, MSc RAUD and Dr. Marla Buchanan, The University of
British Columbia

Visit the Ida Institute website for more information on the grant and previous receipeints.

Published: 10/29/2018 1:48:00 PM

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New Research Show Benefits of Person-Centered Hearing Care Tools

Since 2016, the Ida Institute Research Committee has awarded research grants to projects that investigate the outcomes of using Ida Institute methods and tools and develop evidence to show the effect of person-centered hearing care. The first grant recipients have now submitted their reports. Their findings add to a growing body of evidence that demonstrates the value of Ida Institute methods and tools and the use of person-centered care in clinical practice.

Living Well Tool Creates Patient-Centered Framework

Project: Researchers explored the way audiologists convey information about communication and hearing loss management in appointments with adults with hearing loss and their communication partners.

Ida Tool: Living Well  idainstitute.com/tools/living_well

The study found that using the Ida Living Well tool shifted the emphasis in appointments away from difficulties of living with hearing loss to more positive and proactive communication and lifestyle decisions.

The audiologists who participated in the study found that the Living Well tool was a helpful, easy-to-use tool, particularly at the start of the session where it provided context that helped to determine client goals. Clients described the Living Well tool as a good starting point for appointments that allowed them to fast-track discussion and spend valuable time on one-on-one problem solving with the clinician. Researchers concluded that the tool enabled them to move the appointment focus beyond the deficit model in audiological rehabilitation to more positive aspects of hearing loss management, such as social engagement and successful communication.

Lead Researcher: Dr. Nerina Scarinci, The University of Queensland  
Co-Investigators: Dr. Carly Meyer, The University of Queensland, Dr. Katie Ekberg, The University of Queensland and Dr. Christopher Lind, Flinders University

Readiness for Rehabilitation

Project: Researchers examined how incorporating the Ida Motivation Tools into initial assessment appointments with adult clients can help audiologists better identify clients' readiness for hearing rehabilitation.

Ida Tools: Motivation tools idainstitute.com/tools/motivation_tools
Audiologists in the study who used the tools improved their ability to identify their clients' stages in the patient journey and successfully solicited clients' readiness for rehabilitation and potential concerns regarding hearing aids. The findings emphasized the importance of the discussion that is initiated by using the tools and not relying solely on the clients' scores. Evaluating only on the client's scores can lead practitioners to over-estimate clients' readiness. These study findings support the overall aim of the Motivational Tools as "conversation starters" and reinforced the need for audiologists to actively listen to clients' responses.

Lead Researcher: Dr. Katie Ekberg, The University of Queensland

Co-Investigator: Dr. Caitlin Barr, The University of Melbourne

Ototoxic Hearing Loss Among Childhood Cancer Survivors

Project: Researchers explored the support needs of childhood cancer survivors and their parents during the hearing rehabilitation process.

Parents whose children acquire hearing loss through cancer treatment must deal with the stress of both cancer and hearing loss. Many of the children will need hearing aids and special support to help their language and speech skills develop. Their parents will need support to provide an environment that encourages listening, speech and language skills.

In the study, parents, teachers, and audiologists all described the intense emotional demands on both parents and children. They also noted a frequent misunderstanding by parents of the far-reaching impact of hearing loss on their child's wellbeing. Both teachers and audiologists acknowledged the families' need for support of all kinds, but primarily social-emotional support to facilitate family adjustment. The researchers determined that audiologists and teachers of deaf and hard-of-hearing children need both person-centered and family-centered awareness and skills and are well positioned to provide limited but important support through collaboration and consistency.

Lead Researcher: Dr. Janet Jamieson, The University of British Columbia

Co-Investigators: Beth Brooks, MSc RAUD and Dr. Marla Buchanan, The University of
British Columbia

Visit the Ida Institute website for more information on the grant and previous receipeints.

Published: 10/29/2018 1:48:00 PM

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