Shaojie Fu, Lang Huang, Xi Zhong, Shibiao Su, Xiang Li, Qifan Huang, Bing Xia, Jiawei Zhu, Meibian Zhang
{"title":"Association between personal attenuation rating with types of earplugs and noise exposure levels in a textile factory in China.","authors":"Shaojie Fu, Lang Huang, Xi Zhong, Shibiao Su, Xiang Li, Qifan Huang, Bing Xia, Jiawei Zhu, Meibian Zhang","doi":"10.1080/14992027.2024.2396028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2024.2396028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the effects of earplug type and noise exposure level on textile workers' personal attenuation rating (PAR).</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Initial and follow-up visits were conducted at a 17-month interval. At each visit, a baseline HPD fit test was performed using either a 3M foam or pre-molded earplug, as chosen by the workers. Workers who failed to meet targeted levels were trained and retested. Once they failed again, the other earplug was selected, and training was provided until they achieved the PAR target.</p><p><strong>Study sample: </strong>192 textile workers into three noise exposure level groups (low, medium, high).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The median baseline PAR was 10 dB at the initial visits and 13 dB at the follow-up visits, and obtained by foam earplug users was 20 dB, which was higher than that obtained by pre-molded earplug users [12 dB (95% CI, 10-15 dB)]. The highest median baseline PAR was obtained by the high noise level group, followed by the median and low noise level groups. Training significantly increased the PAR.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Multiple types of earplugs need to be offered to workers to deal with individual differences in attenuation, preferences, and exposure levels. Training and stricter compliance policies can improve HPD use and fitting, contributing to better hearing health.</p>","PeriodicalId":13759,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142464501","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dominique Poelarends, Sophia E Kramer, Cas Smits, Paul Merkus
{"title":"The prevalence of patient-reported cognitive complaints and dementia risk factors in the audiology clinic.","authors":"Dominique Poelarends, Sophia E Kramer, Cas Smits, Paul Merkus","doi":"10.1080/14992027.2024.2406882","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2024.2406882","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hearing-dementia research mainly focuses on determining the causal direction of this association. Little is known about the prevalence of cognitive problems in a representative audiology patient population.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To examine the occurrence of self-reported cognitive complaints (SCC) and dementia risk factors (RF) in an audiology patient population.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Patients visiting audiology clinics (<i>n</i> = 1100, 51% female and avg. age 61yrs) were administered an online intake tool based on the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health. Domains extracted for analyses were memory and concentration (SCC) and loneliness, depression, sleep and vision (dementia RF) and self-reported hearing problems (SHP). Prevalence rates and associations with demographic variables and SHP were examined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>SCC were highly prevalent, with over half of the patients reporting memory or concentration problems. Regarding dementia RF, 68% reported sleeping problems and > 50% reported sadness, anxiety or depressed mood. SHP correlated significantly with self-reported memory problems, loneliness, and vision problems.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This descriptive cohort-study suggests a high risk of cognitive issues within the audiology clinic population, indicated by the high prevalence of SCC and some dementia RF. Our findings underscore the importance of considering closer cooperation between care pathways like audiology and neurology and use of a holistic patient-centered approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":13759,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142464509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amanda J Hall, Briony Dillon, Helen Pryce, Marette Ambler, Kate Hanvey
{"title":"A qualitative exploration of the assessment process to cochlear implantation for children with hearing loss.","authors":"Amanda J Hall, Briony Dillon, Helen Pryce, Marette Ambler, Kate Hanvey","doi":"10.1080/14992027.2024.2400328","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2024.2400328","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To explore the process of paediatric cochlear implant assessment, from referral to implantation, from the perspective of parents, cochlear implant professionals, and through observations of clinics.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Qualitative approach, using grounded theory methodology.</p><p><strong>Study sample: </strong>Twelve families with children under 5 years with permanent hearing loss referred for a cochlear implant or received an implant in the past year, and six professionals who refer or assess children for cochlear implants. Data collection involved interviews and ethnographic observations of assessment clinics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The core theme derived from interview and observation data related to the work of the cochlear implant assessment for families. The relationship between the work generated by the assessment process and capacity of parents to do the work provides a model to examine access to early implantation, consistent with the Burden of Treatment theory. We identified variation in terms of workload, relating to factors such as a child's additional needs or number of appointments required, and in terms of capacity, relating to factors such as social circumstances or health literacy. Social, peer and professional support and information helped families manage the workload.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Findings have implications for delivery of paediatric cochlear implant services.</p>","PeriodicalId":13759,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142380696","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jonathan Albert Gößwein, Josef Chalupper, Manuel Kohl, Martin Kinkel, Birger Kollmeier, Jan Rennies
{"title":"Evaluation of a semi-supervised self-adjustment fine-tuning procedure for hearing aids for asymmetrical hearing loss.","authors":"Jonathan Albert Gößwein, Josef Chalupper, Manuel Kohl, Martin Kinkel, Birger Kollmeier, Jan Rennies","doi":"10.1080/14992027.2024.2406884","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2024.2406884","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study investigated a previously evaluated self-adjustment procedure with respect to its applicability for asymmetrical hearing loss (AHL). Self-adjusted settings were evaluated for speech recognition in noise and sound preference.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Participants were given the possibility to adjust the left and right hearing aid separately using a two-dimensional user interface. Two different adjustment sequences were tested. Realistic everyday sound scenes in a laboratory environment were presented. The difference between the ears regarding their speech recognition in noise was tested with two spatial conditions, unaided as well as with the prescriptive formula and the self-adjusted setting.</p><p><strong>Study sample: </strong>Nineteen experienced hearing aid users (median age 76 years) with different degrees of AHL were invited to participate in this study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants adjusted a higher gain slope across frequency in the worse ear than in the better one. The two adjustment sequences resulted in significantly different adjustment durations and gain settings. The difference between the ears regarding speech recognition in noise did not change with the self-adjustment. Overall, group-mean effect sizes were small compared to the parameter space.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The adjustment procedure can be used also by hearing aid users with AHL to find a possibly preferred gain setting.</p>","PeriodicalId":13759,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142377888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Richard M McKearney, David M Simpson, Steven L Bell
{"title":"Automated wave labelling of the auditory brainstem response using machine learning.","authors":"Richard M McKearney, David M Simpson, Steven L Bell","doi":"10.1080/14992027.2024.2404537","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2024.2404537","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To compare the performance of a selection of machine learning algorithms, trained to label peaks I, III, and V of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) waveform. An additional algorithm was trained to provide a confidence measure related to the ABR wave latency estimates.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Secondary data analysis of a previously published ABR dataset. Five types of machine learning algorithm were compared within a nested k-fold cross-validation procedure.</p><p><strong>Study sample: </strong>A set of 482 suprathreshold ABR waveforms were used. These were recorded from 81 participants with audiometric thresholds within normal limits.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A convolutional recurrent neural network (CRNN) outperformed the other algorithms evaluated. The algorithm labelled 95.9% of ABR waves within ±0.1 ms of the target. The mean absolute error was 0.025 ms, averaged across the outer validation folds of the nested cross-validation procedure. High confidence levels were generally associated with greater wave-labelling accuracy.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Machine learning algorithms have the potential to assist clinicians with ABR interpretation. The present work identifies a promising machine learning approach, but any algorithm to be used in clinical practice would need to be trained on a large, accurately labelled, heterogeneous dataset and evaluated in clinical settings in follow-on work.</p>","PeriodicalId":13759,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142371766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sensorineural hearing loss alters auditory discrimination of natural soundscapes.","authors":"Nicole Miller-Viacava, Diane Lazard, Tanguy Delmas, Bernie Krause, Frédéric Apoux, Christian Lorenzi","doi":"10.1080/14992027.2023.2272559","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14992027.2023.2272559","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The ability to discriminate natural soundscapes recorded in a temperate terrestrial biome was measured in 15 hearing-impaired (HI) listeners with bilateral, mild to severe sensorineural hearing loss and 15 normal-hearing (NH) controls.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Soundscape discrimination was measured using a three-interval oddity paradigm and the method of constant stimuli. On each trial, sequences of 2-second recordings varying the habitat, season and period of the day were presented diotically at a nominal SPL of 60 or 80 dB.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Discrimination scores were above chance level for both groups, but they were poorer for HI than NH listeners. On average, the scores of HI listeners were relatively well accounted for by those of NH listeners tested with stimuli spectrally-shaped to match the frequency-dependent reduction in audibility of individual HI listeners. However, the scores of HI listeners were not significantly correlated with pure-tone audiometric thresholds and age.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results indicate that the ability to discriminate natural soundscapes associated with changes in habitat, season and period of the day is disrupted but it is not abolished. The deficits of the HI listeners are partly accounted for by reduced audibility. Supra-threshold auditory deficits and individual listening strategies may also explain differences between NH and HI listeners.</p>","PeriodicalId":13759,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"809-818"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71423447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aryn M Kamerer, Brittan A Barker, Makenzie A Meadows, Cassidy E Lewis
{"title":"Experiences of people with unexplained hearing concerns seeking hearing healthcare in the United States.","authors":"Aryn M Kamerer, Brittan A Barker, Makenzie A Meadows, Cassidy E Lewis","doi":"10.1080/14992027.2024.2404150","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2024.2404150","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Up to 10% of adults seeking hearing healthcare for significant hearing concerns have diagnostic test results that indicate normal hearing. Knowledge of the interactions between patients with unexplained hearing concerns and hearing healthcare providers is minimal. In this study, we explored what themes emerged when individuals with unexplained hearing concerns discuss their experiences seeking hearing healthcare.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>We employed a prospective, cross-sectional qualitative design with semi-structured interviews.</p><p><strong>Study sample: </strong>Fifteen adults who had sought professional hearing evaluations in the United States due to hearing concerns but had audiological testing that indicated hearing within normal limits, and no other medical explanation for their hearing concerns participated in the study. Saturation of themes was reached by Interview #2, suggesting sufficient sampling.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thematic analysis revealed 3 themes from the interviews: (1) dismissive healthcare providers, (2) misalignment of patient concerns and assessment protocols, and (3) doctor shopping.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings highlight the need for improved care for patients with unexplained hearing concerns. Clinicians could help improve care provision for patients with unexplained hearing concerns, despite a lack of professional guidance on diagnostic tests or treatment recommendations, by soliciting, listening to, and trusting patient experiences as they seek support for their hearing concerns.</p>","PeriodicalId":13759,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142346150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pilot evaluation of a protocol and a clinical tool developed to assess the audiological needs of adults with hearing loss.","authors":"Mathieu Hotton, Loonan Chauvette, Jean-Pierre Gagné","doi":"10.1080/14992027.2023.2211737","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14992027.2023.2211737","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate the Québec Audiological Assessment Protocol for Younger and Older Adults (QAAP-YOA) and its accompanying clinical tool efficacy to assess the needs of individuals with hearing loss in a simulated context. This study is the Phase 2 in the development of the QAAP-YOA.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Participants completed two needs assessments with simulated clients and wrote audiological reports, while applying the QAAP-YOA with and without the use of its clinical tool. Interviews were filmed, and reports collected. Both were scored by two independent evaluators. A qualitative analysis of reports was also conducted.</p><p><strong>Study sample: </strong>Eleven audiology students and four early-career audiologists (<i>n</i> = 15).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The clinical tool did not influence the interview process since both experimental conditions had similar compliance rates to the protocol (<i>p</i> = 0.114). Compliance rates for assessment reports were higher with the clinical tool (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Participants' conclusions after applying the QAAP-YOA were consistent across participants. The information provided in the reports was more comprehensive and coherent with the client's needs when participants used the clinical tool.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The QAAP-YOA can lead to a greater standardisation of needs assessments and to more comprehensive reports, which may lead to intervention programs more closely aligned with clients' needs.</p>","PeriodicalId":13759,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"827-835"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9496019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reasons for the non-use of hearing aids: perspectives of non-users, past users, and family members.","authors":"Inga Franks, Barbra H B Timmer","doi":"10.1080/14992027.2023.2270703","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14992027.2023.2270703","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Hearing loss in the older adult population is a significant global health issue. Hearing aids can provide an effective means to address hearing loss and improve quality of life. Despite this, the uptake and continued use of hearing aids is low, with non-use of hearing aids representing a significant problem for effective audiological rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to investigate the reasons for the non-use of hearing aids.</p><p><strong>Design and study sample: </strong>A cross-sectional survey was used to investigate the reasons given for the non-use of hearing aids by people with hearing loss (<i>n</i> = 332) and family members (<i>n</i> = 313) of people with hearing loss in Australia, the UK, and USA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Survey results showed that hearing aid non-users generally cited external factors as reasons for non-use, whereas family members reported non-use due to attitudinal barriers. Past users of hearing aids and family members of past users both identified devices factors as barriers to use.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Differences in reasons for non-use may provide further insight for researchers and clinicians and help inform future clinical practice in addressing the low uptake and use of hearing aids by people with hearing loss and the role of family members in audiological rehabilitation.</p>","PeriodicalId":13759,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"794-801"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49690386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sabina Storbjerg Houmøller, Li-Tang Tsai, Anne Wolff, Sreeram Kaithali Narayanan, Dan Dupont Hougaard, Michael Gaihede, Dorte Hammershøi, Tobias Neher, Christian Godballe, Jesper Hvass Schmidt
{"title":"A history of occupational noise exposure is associated with steep-slope audiograms and poorer self-reported hearing-aid outcomes.","authors":"Sabina Storbjerg Houmøller, Li-Tang Tsai, Anne Wolff, Sreeram Kaithali Narayanan, Dan Dupont Hougaard, Michael Gaihede, Dorte Hammershøi, Tobias Neher, Christian Godballe, Jesper Hvass Schmidt","doi":"10.1080/14992027.2023.2272558","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14992027.2023.2272558","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the effects of previous occupational noise exposure in older adults with hearing loss on (1) audiometric configuration and acoustic reflex (AR) thresholds and (2) self-reported hearing abilities and hearing aid (HA) effectiveness.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A prospective observational study.</p><p><strong>Study sample: </strong>The study included 1176 adults (≥60 years) with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Pure-tone audiometry, AR thresholds, and responses to the abbreviated version of the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ12) and the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) questionnaire were obtained, along with information about previous occupational noise exposure.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Greater occupational noise exposure was associated with a higher prevalence of steeply sloping audiograms in men and women and a 0.32 (95% CI: -0.57; -0.06) scale points lower mean SSQ12 total score among noise-exposed men. AR thresholds did not show a significant relation to noise-exposure status, but hearing thresholds at a given frequency were related to elevated AR thresholds at the same frequency.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A noise exposure history is linked to steeper audiograms in older adults with hearing loss as well as to poorer self-reported hearing abilities in noise-exposed men. More attention to older adults with previous noise exposure is warranted in hearing rehabilitation.</p>","PeriodicalId":13759,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"772-784"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71423446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}