ReSound's Directional Philosophy

Dr. John Nelson: Today I will discuss how ReSound implements directional processing in our hearing aids. We know that directional hearing aids provide a significant benefit in laboratory settings. When conducting studies, we will typically place a listener in an audio sound booth in a controlled listening situation. An example of a controlled listening situation is where a speech signal comes from the front of the listener, and noise comes from the back. This setting does not represent a real-world situation. However, when we perform laboratory studies, we must control them so that we know what we are looking at and we can measure and evaluate the data. Therefore, when we obtain our results, we can go back and analyze what did or did not cause a directional benefit. Additionally, in a laboratory, the speech and noise may be spatially separated (i.e., they are not coming from the same direction). This is also a cue that allows directional hearing aids to work better, because they can focus in on different directions, being able to provide better audibility and better understanding from different situations.

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ReSound's Directional Philosophy

Dr. John Nelson: Today I will discuss how ReSound implements directional processing in our hearing aids. We know that directional hearing aids provide a significant benefit in laboratory settings. When conducting studies, we will typically place a listener in an audio sound booth in a controlled listening situation. An example of a controlled listening situation is where a speech signal comes from the front of the listener, and noise comes from the back. This setting does not represent a real-world situation. However, when we perform laboratory studies, we must control them so that we know what we are looking at and we can measure and evaluate the data. Therefore, when we obtain our results, we can go back and analyze what did or did not cause a directional benefit. Additionally, in a laboratory, the speech and noise may be spatially separated (i.e., they are not coming from the same direction). This is also a cue that allows directional hearing aids to work better, because they can focus in on different directions, being able to provide better audibility and better understanding from different situations.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1QgZOTh
via IFTTT

ReSound's Directional Philosophy

Dr. John Nelson: Today I will discuss how ReSound implements directional processing in our hearing aids. We know that directional hearing aids provide a significant benefit in laboratory settings. When conducting studies, we will typically place a listener in an audio sound booth in a controlled listening situation. An example of a controlled listening situation is where a speech signal comes from the front of the listener, and noise comes from the back. This setting does not represent a real-world situation. However, when we perform laboratory studies, we must control them so that we know what we are looking at and we can measure and evaluate the data. Therefore, when we obtain our results, we can go back and analyze what did or did not cause a directional benefit. Additionally, in a laboratory, the speech and noise may be spatially separated (i.e., they are not coming from the same direction). This is also a cue that allows directional hearing aids to work better, because they can focus in on different directions, being able to provide better audibility and better understanding from different situations.

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Symmetry in vertical ground reaction force is not related to walking and balance difficulties in people with multiple sclerosis

Publication date: Available online 16 April 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Alon Kalron
Analysis of vertical ground reaction force (GRF) symmetry may benefit people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) since it can detect important differences in gait mechanics which have not previously been discussed in the related literature. Therefore, the primary objective of the current study was to determine whether symmetry of the vertical GRF during gait is associated with validated gait and balance tests in PwMS. Additionally, we examined whether the symmetry of the vertical GRF differs between MS fallers, non-fallers and between neurological disability levels. Gait and balance data were collected from 402 PwMS (249 women) with a mean age of 42.1 (S.D=14.1) years. Vertical GRF parameters were obtained using the Zebris FDM-T Treadmill (Zebris Medical GmbH, Germany). Clinical gait and balance tests included the 2 and 6-min Walk Test, Timed Up and Go Test, Timed 25 Foot Walk, Four Square Step Test, Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale questionnaire, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale and the Falls Efficacy Scale International questionnaire. The vertical GRF symmetry index score of the total sample was 3.7 (SD=3.1). In terms of fall status, non-significant differences were observed between the fallers and non-faller groups and between the neurological disability subgroups. Non-significant correlation scores were found between the vertical GRF symmetry index, all clinical walking and balance tests and self-reported questionnaires. We suggest clinicians, especially those involved in physical rehabilitation, accord low priority to this gait phenomenon in the MS population.



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Development of gait performance and dynamic hip and knee joint loading after containment improving surgery in patients with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease

Publication date: Available online 16 April 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Felix Stief, André Schmidt, Stefanie Adolf, Laura Kremer, Moamer Brkic, Andrea Meurer
Current surgery outcome evaluations in patients with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) are usually based on static radiological changes. The aim of the present study was to assess the development of characteristic gait parameters and passive hip range of motion (ROM) measurements during the postoperative period up to healed stage of the femoral head represented by Stulberg classification. Twelve children (10 male, 2 female) with unilateral diagnosis of LCPD and 19 healthy control subjects at the same age participated in this prospective longitudinal study. Instrumented gait analysis was performed preoperatively, 13.4 (± 1.7), and 28.0 (± 4.4) months postoperatively. At final follow-up, the mean leg length of the involved side was reduced by 1.10 (± 0.53) cm compared to the non-involved side. In addition, a significant reduction in maximum knee flexion (-26%, p=0.037) and knee flexion/extension ROM (-26%, p=0.017) in stance was still present in the patient group compared to controls indicating a “stiff knee gait pattern”. In contrast, the sagittal plane hip parameters, the ipsilateral trunk lean toward the involved stance limb, and the knee and hip joint loading during gait normalized during the postoperative period. The results of the present study should motivate further exploration if patients with LCPD stiffen their knees to compensate for leg length discrepancy. Besides the standard radiological evaluation of the surgery outcome, instrumented gait analysis is a valuable method of recording functional deficits and early recognition of the need for physiotherapeutic treatment or insole supply in patients with LCPD.



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Symmetry in vertical ground reaction force is not related to walking and balance difficulties in people with multiple sclerosis

Publication date: Available online 16 April 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Alon Kalron
Analysis of vertical ground reaction force (GRF) symmetry may benefit people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) since it can detect important differences in gait mechanics which have not previously been discussed in the related literature. Therefore, the primary objective of the current study was to determine whether symmetry of the vertical GRF during gait is associated with validated gait and balance tests in PwMS. Additionally, we examined whether the symmetry of the vertical GRF differs between MS fallers, non-fallers and between neurological disability levels. Gait and balance data were collected from 402 PwMS (249 women) with a mean age of 42.1 (S.D=14.1) years. Vertical GRF parameters were obtained using the Zebris FDM-T Treadmill (Zebris Medical GmbH, Germany). Clinical gait and balance tests included the 2 and 6-min Walk Test, Timed Up and Go Test, Timed 25 Foot Walk, Four Square Step Test, Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale questionnaire, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale and the Falls Efficacy Scale International questionnaire. The vertical GRF symmetry index score of the total sample was 3.7 (SD=3.1). In terms of fall status, non-significant differences were observed between the fallers and non-faller groups and between the neurological disability subgroups. Non-significant correlation scores were found between the vertical GRF symmetry index, all clinical walking and balance tests and self-reported questionnaires. We suggest clinicians, especially those involved in physical rehabilitation, accord low priority to this gait phenomenon in the MS population.



from #Audiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1YBAvl0
via IFTTT

Development of gait performance and dynamic hip and knee joint loading after containment improving surgery in patients with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease

Publication date: Available online 16 April 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Felix Stief, André Schmidt, Stefanie Adolf, Laura Kremer, Moamer Brkic, Andrea Meurer
Current surgery outcome evaluations in patients with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) are usually based on static radiological changes. The aim of the present study was to assess the development of characteristic gait parameters and passive hip range of motion (ROM) measurements during the postoperative period up to healed stage of the femoral head represented by Stulberg classification. Twelve children (10 male, 2 female) with unilateral diagnosis of LCPD and 19 healthy control subjects at the same age participated in this prospective longitudinal study. Instrumented gait analysis was performed preoperatively, 13.4 (± 1.7), and 28.0 (± 4.4) months postoperatively. At final follow-up, the mean leg length of the involved side was reduced by 1.10 (± 0.53) cm compared to the non-involved side. In addition, a significant reduction in maximum knee flexion (-26%, p=0.037) and knee flexion/extension ROM (-26%, p=0.017) in stance was still present in the patient group compared to controls indicating a “stiff knee gait pattern”. In contrast, the sagittal plane hip parameters, the ipsilateral trunk lean toward the involved stance limb, and the knee and hip joint loading during gait normalized during the postoperative period. The results of the present study should motivate further exploration if patients with LCPD stiffen their knees to compensate for leg length discrepancy. Besides the standard radiological evaluation of the surgery outcome, instrumented gait analysis is a valuable method of recording functional deficits and early recognition of the need for physiotherapeutic treatment or insole supply in patients with LCPD.



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