American Journal of Audiology最新文献

{"title":"Hearing Loss, Difficulty With Activities of Daily Living, and Experience of Consequences of Related Unmet Needs in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.","authors":"Sarah Bessen, Emmanuel E Garcia Morales, Wuyang Zhang, Pablo Martinez-Amezcua, Mfon Umoh, Thomas K M Cudjoe, Jennifer A Schrack, Nicholas S Reed","doi":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00183","DOIUrl":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00183","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Experiencing difficulty with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental ADLs (IADLs) and/or the consequences of unmet ADL/IADL-related needs is associated with adverse health-related outcomes. The association of hearing loss (HL) with experiencing the consequences of unmet ADL/IADL-related needs is not well understood. We investigated the associations of HL with experiencing ADL/IADL difficulties and the consequences of unmet ADL/IADL-related needs in older adults.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We investigated cross-sectional associations between audiometric HL, the number of ADL and IADL difficulties, and the number of consequences of unmet ADL/IADL-related needs among adults aged 65 years and older in the National Health and Aging Trends Study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In 4,724 older adults, 30.5% (<i>n</i> = 1,736) and 30.9% (<i>n</i> = 1,727) had self-reported difficulty with ADLs and IADLs, respectively. Of the 2,289 participants who reported difficulty with at least one ADL/IADL, 14.0% (<i>n</i> = 741) reported experience of at least one consequence of an unmet ADL/IADL-related need. In multivariable ordinal regression analyses, mild (<i>OR</i> = 1.38, 95% CI [1.1, 1.73]) and moderate or greater (<i>OR</i> = 1.57, 95% CI [1.17, 2.1]) HL were associated with higher odds of difficulties with additional ADLs. Moderate or greater HL was associated with higher odds of reporting difficulties with additional IADLs (<i>OR</i> = 1.59, 95% CI [1.19, 2.12]). There was no significant association between HL and higher odds of having additional consequences of unmet needs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results show an association between HL and a higher number of ADL and IADL difficulties. Adults with HL may require increased support to address difficulties with daily activities and prevent experiencing related consequences.</p><p><strong>Supplemental material: </strong>https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.28300049.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"127-138"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143391813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Examining the Burnout of Audiologists in Türkiye: Relationships With Quality of Work Life and Psychological Well-Being.","authors":"Ahmet Alperen Akbulut, Ayşenur Karaman Demirel, Yeter Saçlı, Sema Satıcı, Ahsen Kartal Özcan, Ayça Çiprut","doi":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00120","DOIUrl":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00120","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Although burnout among audiologists has been studied in various countries, there is no research yet that examines this issue in Türkiye, where working conditions and sociodemographic factors may differ from those in other countries. Considering the unique working conditions and sociodemographic factors, this study aimed to investigate the burnout levels of Turkish audiologists. Additionally, this study will explore the impact of various sociodemographic variables on burnout, work-related quality of life, and depression to gain a deeper understanding of the specific challenges faced by audiologists in Türkiye.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A total of 193 audiologists, with a median age of 27 (interquartile range: 25-29) years, working in different working areas, such as clinical practice, academic institutions, rehabilitation centers, and amplification services in Türkiye, were included. Audiologists were invited to participate in this study via several online forums and hospital notice boards. All participants completed the sociodemographic data form and then the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Work-Related Quality of Life Scale (WRQoL), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Differences between MBI, WRQoL, and BDI scores were analyzed according to gender, level of education, area of work, and title of audiologist. There are significant differences in the subscale scores of the MBI and WRQoL scales and in the BDI scores between groups according to gender, education, and area of work. There are also significant differences in BDI scores according to title. There is a significant correlation between the MBI, WRQoL, and BDI scores of audiologists.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study represents the initial exploration of burnout, quality of work life, and depression levels among audiologists employed in Türkiye. A low quality of work life can increase the risk of burnout and depression. Enhancements in the work environment can lessen burnout and depression while also improving employees' general quality of life.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"84-96"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142774188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acute Comparison of Mild-Gain Hearing Aid Approaches in an Adult With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Long-Term Effects of Mild-Gain Amplification on Speech Perception in Noise and Self-Reported Hearing-Related Disability, Hyperacusis, and Quality of Life.","authors":"Acayla P Chung, Christine Brennan, Hannah Glick, Rachael R Baiduc","doi":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00138","DOIUrl":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00138","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This report documents the effects of hearing treatment in an adult with a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and normal peripheral hearing acuity.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>This report details a case study of a 26-year-old female with a history of mTBI.</p><p><strong>Study sample: </strong>A 26-year-old female with a history of mTBI presented with auditory symptoms including tinnitus, hyperacusis, listening fatigue, and speech-in-noise (SIN) difficulties despite diagnostic audiological findings showing normal peripheral auditory function and suprathreshold SIN performance within the normal range. The patient was fit with premium-level receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) hearing aids (HAs) using several different mild-gain fitting approaches involving wide dynamic range compression (WDRC) or linearized gain. A combination of objective and subjective methods was utilized to guide clinical decision making on the fitting approach and to verify/validate treatment outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Despite no difference in acutely aided SIN performance between the WDRC or linearized fitting approaches, the patient expressed a clear preference for the HA fitting approach involving application of 2-10 dB of shaped linearized gain > 1.5 kHz for soft, medium, and loud input levels (with greatest gain applied at 3-4 kHz). These settings were preferred in terms of loudness and sound quality even compared to the WDRC fitting approaches previously reported in literature. This fitting approach was verified and validated by SIN testing showing improved performance in the aided condition, as well as high levels of self-reported benefit and satisfaction, reduction in self-reported hearing handicap, reduction in sound sensitivity, and enhanced quality of life with HAs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Results add to the growing body of evidence supporting the benefits of mild-gain HAs for adults with mTBI and self-reported SIN deficits despite normal hearing acuity. Results also support the importance of using a combination of measures (e.g., SIN testing, patient report, outcome questionnaires) to guide the HA fitting process and to verify/validate treatment outcomes. Although findings were derived from a single case study and should be interpreted with caution, the patient's preference for a shaped linearized mild-gain approach is noteworthy. There exists a lack of clinical guidelines and prescriptive fitting methodology for fitting HAs in mTBI adults with SIN difficulty despite normal peripheral hearing acuity. Future research should systematically compare WDRC versus linearized gain approaches of fitting in this population to develop a clinical methodology for HA fitting and optimize outcomes in this special subpopulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143450787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chronic Dizziness and Positional Symptoms: An Exploration of Symptom Clusters and Participant-Reported Experiences.","authors":"Brandy L Hollins, Erin G Piker, Devin L McCaslin, Joseph M Kush, Joachim Mathiassen, Jos Huijnen","doi":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00162","DOIUrl":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00162","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This mixed-methods design (a) quantitatively describes the symptom cluster assignments of patients with chronic dizziness who completed a dizziness triage questionnaire and (b) qualitatively explains patient-reported themes associated with the most frequently assigned symptom cluster.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A retrospective hybrid explanatory mixed-methods design was implemented to examine an artificial intelligence dizziness triage questionnaire posted online in a vestibular disorders support group from June 2021 to November 2022. Symptom cluster assignments are described in 791 participants. In the qualitative analysis, emerging codes were identified in the dominant symptom cluster in 50 participants.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Quantitative analysis identified a total of 301 symptom cluster combinations. The analysis from 791 participants revealed that females exhibited more symptom clusters than males, age impacted symptoms inversely, and longer duration of symptom history exhibited more symptom clusters. \"Positional\" was the most common symptom cluster among 50 participants. Of those 50, six major themes emerged from the data: (a) physical symptoms, (b) cognitive symptoms, (c) triggers, (d) temporal information, (e) management, and (f) emotions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results from this study emphasize the complexity and variability of chronic dizziness. Comprehensive patient assessments that combine questionnaires with clinical expertise and patient dialogue are needed to improve diagnosis and management.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"160-170"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143450789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Estimating Earphone Level and Dose Using Real-Ear Measures and Ecological Momentary Assessment.","authors":"Erik Jorgensen, Isabelle Reynolds, Trisha Saxena, Marisa Thomas, Megan Werner","doi":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00192","DOIUrl":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00192","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Prior work estimating sound exposure dose from earphone use has typically measured earphone use time with retrospective questionnaires or device-based tracking, both of which have limitations. This research note presents an exploratory analysis of sound exposure dose from earphone use among college-aged adults using real-ear measures to estimate exposure level and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to estimate use time.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Earphone levels were measured at the ear drum of 53 college students using their own devices, earphones, and preferred music and speech stimuli at their normal listening volume. Participants completed 1 week of EMA, where they reported on their minutes of earphone use every 2 hr. Based on the EMAs and their measured earphone levels, sound exposure doses from earphone use were calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compliance on EMA was 73%, comparable to most studies using this method in audiology research. Earphone levels were lower than those reported by most prior literature. The average listening level across music and speech, with A-weighting and diffuse-field corrections, was 60 dBA. Earphone use time was also lower than most prior work. Most participants had doses under 1%.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Using EMA to track earphone use is a potentially simple way to facilitate measurements of sound exposure from earphone use without relying on retrospective questionnaires or limiting the sample to specific devices, earphones, or apps. Evidence was also found for potentially lower sound levels and sound exposure doses from earphone use among college-aged adults than previously reported.</p><p><strong>Supplemental material: </strong>https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.28205072.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"211-219"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143014835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating the Effects of Levodopa on the Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex in Parkinson's Disease: A Case Series.","authors":"Devin L McCaslin, Taylor Brown, Jaimie Barr, Stiven Roytman, Kevin Kerber, Nicolaas I Bohnen","doi":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00177","DOIUrl":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00177","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting individuals over 60 years old. The disorder is characterized by motor symptoms due in large part to the loss of dopamine-producing neurons. The vestibular system, crucial for maintaining balance, may be impacted in PD, contributing to balance issues through dysfunction in the vestibulo-ocular reflex. In this study, we aim to describe differences in vestibular responses before and after use of levodopa (L-DOPA) in patients with PD.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The study evaluated nine PD patients who underwent videonystagmography, video head impulse testing, and rotational chair testing both on and off their dopaminergic medications. Effect sizes of the mean difference was measured using Cohen's <i>d</i>.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results revealed a general trend of increase in vestibular responses from the off stage to the on stage across all the vestibular testing mechanisms. The <i>p</i> values were all > .05, and the Cohen's <i>d</i> 95% confidence interval (CI) ranged from small to moderate effects with wide CIs consistent with the small sample.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In this case series of nine patients with PD, we identified a general trend of a small increase in vestibular responses in the on state of L-DOPA compared with the off state of L-DOPA. The significance and clinical implications of such differences should be evaluated in larger samples.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"139-148"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143469616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An Investigation of the Pathogenesis in Pilots With Airsickness Susceptibility Using Cervical Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials.","authors":"Seval Ceylan, Gökçe Tanyeri Toker, Yusuf Çağdaş Kumbul","doi":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00083","DOIUrl":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00083","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The aim was to compare cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) findings between pilots who are susceptible to airsickness and those who are not and to determine whether the physiopathology arising from the sacculo-collic reflex pathway occurs during episodes of airsickness in pilots.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The patient group included 32 male pilots susceptible to airsickness, and the control group included 30 male pilots with no airsickness susceptibility. Participants with hearing loss and neuromuscular pathology were excluded. The Graybiel scale and cVEMP test were administered to the participants. The cVEMP thresholds, wave latencies and amplitudes, and interaural amplitude asymmetry ratios (IAARs) were compared between the groups. In addition, correlation analysis was performed between IAAR and susceptibility to airsickness severity in the airsickness susceptible (AS) group.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The right-ear cVEMP threshold in the AS group (85.62 ± 6.05) was lower than that of the control group (91.16 ± 4.85; <i>p</i> < .001). In the right ears of the AS group, the P1 and N1 latencies at 100, 95, and 90 dB nHL levels were found to be shorter than those of the control group (<i>p</i> < .05 for all). Again, the P1N1 wave amplitudes at 100 dB nHL in the right ears of the AS group were higher than those of the control group (<i>p</i> = .009). The IAAR was higher in the AS group than in the control group (<i>p</i> < .001). There was a positive correlation between IAAR and airsickness susceptibility severity in the AS group (ρ = .742, .650, .535 at 100, 95, 90 dB nHL, respectively).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The susceptibility of pilots to airsickness may be related to changes in normative cVEMP latencies and amplitudes. The present study demonstrated a correlation between asymmetry in the integrity of the saccular reflex pathway and the severity of pilots' susceptibility to airsickness. A higher IAAR was observed in subjects with a greater susceptibility to airsickness, indicating a potential correlation between the two variables.</p><p><strong>Supplemental material: </strong>https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.28300112.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"117-126"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143442474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Postoperative Auditory Progress in Cochlear-Implanted Children With Auditory Neuropathy.","authors":"Nuriye Yildirim Gökay, Bülent Gündüz, Recep Karamert, Hakan Tutar","doi":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00168","DOIUrl":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00168","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aims to evaluate the effect of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) on postoperative auditory perception and listening difficulties in pediatric cochlear implant (CI) recipients.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The Children's Auditory Perception Test (CAPT) assesses auditory perception skills, and the Children's Home Inventory of Listening Difficulties (CHILD) Scale evaluates daily listening difficulties. The study involved pediatric CI recipients (<i>n</i> = 40) aged between 5 and 7 years, with and without diagnosis of ANSD. The research ensured homogeneity across various factors, including chronological age, age at diagnosis, age at initial implantation, bilateral simultaneous surgery, etiologies of hearing loss, and family education level.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings have demonstrated that children without ANSD exhibited better performance in integrating visual-auditory stimuli and overall listening performance, distant sound source scores, and noisy environment scores (respectively <i>p</i> = .047, <i>p</i> = .001, <i>p</i> = .028, and <i>p</i> = .010). Additionally, children with better speech perception also have a better ability to integrate audiovisual stimuli (<i>p</i> = .005, <i>r</i> = .438).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>There are significant differences in postoperative listening skills and auditory perceptions between children with and without an ANSD who have CIs. Accordingly, children without an ANSD perform better.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"29-36"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142607018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unlocking the Potential of Pediatric Virtual Care: An e-Delphi Study on a Virtual Caregiver Participation Framework in Audiology.","authors":"Danielle DiFabio, Sheila Moodie, Robin O'Hagan, Michelle Servais, Paul Tremblay, Danielle Glista","doi":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00125","DOIUrl":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00125","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Virtual service delivery models in audiology have become more accessible due to recent technological advancement and improved system-level uptake following COVID-19. Although current evidence identifies the benefits of virtual care to families with children who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing and supports its use in practice, this delivery model is still underutilized. This research aimed to gain consensus on an evidence-informed virtual caregiver participation framework developed from a scoping review of the communication sciences and disorders literature.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A two-round modified e-Delphi study was conducted to survey 26 knowledge users from four different countries with experience in virtual audiology care, including caregivers, audiologists, researchers, and organizational leaders. The study employed Delphi techniques, building from a scoping review to synthesize existing literature informing the knowledge gap, including online surveys and team discussions. Consensus was defined numerically (75% agreement) and by comparing and interpreting text-based responses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The resulting framework grouped nine categories of caregiver participation in virtual care according to three main readiness domains: core readiness (opportunities to participate, perceived value, and willingness to participate), engagement readiness (child capacity, family-provider relationship, and role in the care process), and structural readiness (environment for participation, support, and technology).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This work adds novel contributions to the field, through the development of a framework for caregiver participation in virtual audiology care, that can be used to support family involvement and will guide clinical tool development and future research efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"37-50"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142649463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Effect of Contralateral Routing of Signal Devices on the Quality of Life of Unilateral Cochlear Implant Recipients and Their Frequent Communication Partners.","authors":"Kate Johnson, Eun Kyung Jeon, Robert Dwyer, Smita Agrawal, Richard Gurgel","doi":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00129","DOIUrl":"10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00129","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Unilateral cochlear implant (CI) recipients with limited hearing in the contralateral ear are deprived of the advantages of binaural hearing. To address speech recognition challenges arising from the head shadow effect, a contralateral routing of signal (CROS) device can be used; however, less is known of the broader impact of a CROS device on an individual's quality of life (QoL) or that of their frequent communication partners (FCPs). This preliminary study aimed to evaluate the impact of CROS on speech recognition in noise and its influence on the QoL of unilateral CI recipients and their FCPs.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This preliminary study enrolled seven adult unilateral CI recipients and their FCPs. All CI recipients were fitted with CROS devices during their initial appointments. Speech recognition testing was conducted in noise with and without the CROS device in a sound booth before a take-home trial. Participants used the CROS devices for approximately 1 year, with device fitting occurring before and continuing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants completed two QoL questionnaires, the Auditory Performance and Satisfaction Scale for Single-Sided Deafness (APS-SSD) and the Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire (NCIQ), twice: once prior to CROS device use and once after the take-home trial. Additionally, the FCPs of each CI recipient completed the Significant Other Scale of Hearing Disability (SOS-HEAR) Questionnaire twice, once before and once after extended CROS device use.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>When noise was directed toward the CI ear and speech toward the non-CI ear, speech recognition improved by 32% with the CROS device (<i>p</i> = .001). CI recipients reported significant median improvement in the \"general\" domain of the APS-SSD after the take-home trial (Wilcoxon <i>Z</i> = 12.0, <i>p</i> < .05). FCPs reported a significant median reduction in concerns related to their partner's hearing when the CI recipient used the CROS device (Wilcoxon <i>Z</i> = 2.0, <i>p</i> < .05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This preliminary study demonstrates the benefit of CROS devices for unilateral CI recipients in noisy environments. Additionally, it highlights the positive impact of CROS devices on the QoL of both CI recipients and their FCPs. These findings emphasize the importance of considering CROS devices as a valuable solution for unilateral CI recipients to enhance their hearing experience, overall well-being, and that of their FCPs.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"199-210"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142957588","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}