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Attention, Perception & Psychophysics May 2015In four experiments, we demonstrated a new phenomenon called "slow-change deafness." In Experiment 1 we presented listeners with continuous speech that changed three...
In four experiments, we demonstrated a new phenomenon called "slow-change deafness." In Experiment 1 we presented listeners with continuous speech that changed three semitones in pitch over time, and we found that nearly 50 % failed to notice the change. Experiments 2 and 3 replicated the finding, demonstrated that the changes in the stimuli were well above threshold, and showed that when listeners were alerted to the possibility of a change, detection rates improved dramatically. Experiment 4 showed that increasing the magnitude of the change that occurred in the stimulus decreased the rate of change deafness. Our results are consistent with previous work that had shown that cueing listeners to potential auditory changes can significantly reduce change deafness. These findings support an account of change deafness that is dependent on both the magnitude of a stimulus change and listener expectations.
Topics: Acoustic Stimulation; Adult; Auditory Perception; Auditory Threshold; Cues; Deafness; Female; Humans; Male; Young Adult
PubMed: 25788038
DOI: 10.3758/s13414-015-0871-z -
Journal of the American Academy of... 2017The pure-tone audiogram, though fundamental to audiology, presents limitations, especially in the case of central auditory involvement. Advances in auditory neuroscience... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The pure-tone audiogram, though fundamental to audiology, presents limitations, especially in the case of central auditory involvement. Advances in auditory neuroscience underscore the considerably larger role of the central auditory nervous system (CANS) in hearing and related disorders. Given the availability of behavioral audiological tests and electrophysiological procedures that can provide better insights as to the function of the various components of the auditory system, this perspective piece reviews the limitations of the pure-tone audiogram and notes some of the advantages of other tests and procedures used in tandem with the pure-tone threshold measurement.
PURPOSE
To review and synthesize the literature regarding the utility and limitations of the pure-tone audiogram in determining dysfunction of peripheral sensory and neural systems, as well as the CANS, and to identify other tests and procedures that can supplement pure-tone thresholds and provide enhanced diagnostic insight, especially regarding problems of the central auditory system.
RESEARCH DESIGN
A systematic review and synthesis of the literature.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
The authors independently searched and reviewed literature (journal articles, book chapters) pertaining to the limitations of the pure-tone audiogram.
RESULTS
The pure-tone audiogram provides information as to hearing sensitivity across a selected frequency range. Normal or near-normal pure-tone thresholds sometimes are observed despite cochlear damage. There are a surprising number of patients with acoustic neuromas who have essentially normal pure-tone thresholds. In cases of central deafness, depressed pure-tone thresholds may not accurately reflect the status of the peripheral auditory system. Listening difficulties are seen in the presence of normal pure-tone thresholds. Suprathreshold procedures and a variety of other tests can provide information regarding other and often more central functions of the auditory system.
CONCLUSIONS
The audiogram is a primary tool for determining type, degree, and configuration of hearing loss; however, it provides the clinician with information regarding only hearing sensitivity, and no information about central auditory processing or the auditory processing of real-world signals (i.e., speech, music). The pure-tone audiogram offers limited insight into functional hearing and should be viewed only as a test of hearing sensitivity. Given the limitations of the pure-tone audiogram, a brief overview is provided of available behavioral tests and electrophysiological procedures that are sensitive to the function and integrity of the central auditory system, which provide better diagnostic and rehabilitative information to the clinician and patient.
Topics: Adult; Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Auditory Perception; Auditory Threshold; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; Hearing Loss; Humans
PubMed: 28722648
DOI: 10.3766/jaaa.16061 -
BMC Neuroscience Dec 2022Hearing loss is a major health problem and psychological burden in humans. Mouse models offer a possibility to elucidate genes involved in the underlying developmental...
Hearing loss is a major health problem and psychological burden in humans. Mouse models offer a possibility to elucidate genes involved in the underlying developmental and pathophysiological mechanisms of hearing impairment. To this end, large-scale mouse phenotyping programs include auditory phenotyping of single-gene knockout mouse lines. Using the auditory brainstem response (ABR) procedure, the German Mouse Clinic and similar facilities worldwide have produced large, uniform data sets of averaged ABR raw data of mutant and wildtype mice. In the course of standard ABR analysis, hearing thresholds are assessed visually by trained staff from series of signal curves of increasing sound pressure level. This is time-consuming and prone to be biased by the reader as well as the graphical display quality and scale.In an attempt to reduce workload and improve quality and reproducibility, we developed and compared two methods for automated hearing threshold identification from averaged ABR raw data: a supervised approach involving two combined neural networks trained on human-generated labels and a self-supervised approach, which exploits the signal power spectrum and combines random forest sound level estimation with a piece-wise curve fitting algorithm for threshold finding.We show that both models work well and are suitable for fast, reliable, and unbiased hearing threshold detection and quality control. In a high-throughput mouse phenotyping environment, both methods perform well as part of an automated end-to-end screening pipeline to detect candidate genes for hearing involvement. Code for both models as well as data used for this work are freely available.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; Reproducibility of Results; Auditory Threshold; Hearing; Deafness; Acoustic Stimulation
PubMed: 36575380
DOI: 10.1186/s12868-022-00758-0 -
Ear and Hearing 2014
Topics: Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Auditory Threshold; Hearing Loss; Humans
PubMed: 24722511
DOI: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000000042 -
CoDAS 2023To identify the pathophysiological definitions adopted by studies investigating "cochlear synaptopathy" (CS) and "hidden hearing loss" (HHL). (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
To identify the pathophysiological definitions adopted by studies investigating "cochlear synaptopathy" (CS) and "hidden hearing loss" (HHL).
RESEARCH STRATEGIES
The combination of keywords "Auditory Synaptopathy" or "Neuronal Synaptopathy" or "Hidden Hearing Loss" with "etiology" or "causality" or "diagnosis" was used in the databases EMBASE, Pubmed (MEDLINE), CINAHL (EBSCO), and Web of Science.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Studies that investigated CS or HHL in humans using behavioral and/or electrophysiological procedures were included.
DATA ANALYSIS
Data analysis and extraction were performed with regard to terminology, definitions, and population.
RESULTS
49 articles were included. Of these, 61.2% used the CS terminology, 34.7% used both terms, and 4.1% used HHL. The most-studied conditions were exposure to noise and tinnitus.
CONCLUSION
CS terminology was used in most studies, referring to the pathophysiological process of deafferentiation between the cochlear nerve fibers and inner hair cells.
Topics: Humans; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced; Auditory Threshold; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; Cochlea; Noise; Deafness
PubMed: 37991055
DOI: 10.1590/2317-1782/20232023032pt -
Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi Aug 2023The qualitative, quantitative, and localization analysis of hearing loss is one of the important contents of forensic clinical research and identification. Pure-tone... (Review)
Review
The qualitative, quantitative, and localization analysis of hearing loss is one of the important contents of forensic clinical research and identification. Pure-tone audiometry is the "gold standard" for hearing loss assessment, but it is affected by the subjective cooperation of the assessed person. Due to the complexity of the auditory pathway and the diversity of hearing loss, the assessment of hearing loss requires the combination of various subjective and objective audiometric techniques, along with comprehensive evaluation based on the case situation, clinical symptoms, and other examinations to ensure the scientificity, accuracy and reliability of forensic hearing impairment assessment. Objective audiometry includes acoustic impedance, otoacoustic emission, and various auditory evoked potentials. The frequency-specific auditory brainstem response (ABR), 40 Hz auditory event related potential, and auditory steady-state response are commonly used for objective hearing threshold assessment. The combined application of acoustic impedance, otoacoustic emission and ABR can be used to locate hearing loss and determine whether it is located in the middle ear, cochlea, or posterior cochlea. This article reviews the application value of objective audiometry techniques in hearing threshold assessment and hearing loss localization, aiming to provide reference for forensic identification of hearing loss.
Topics: Humans; Reproducibility of Results; Auditory Threshold; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; Hearing Loss; Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Clinical Medicine
PubMed: 37859474
DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2023.230406 -
Neuroscience May 2019Noise-induced hidden hearing loss (NIHHL) has attracted great attention in hearing research and clinical audiology since the discovery of significant noise-induced... (Review)
Review
Noise-induced hidden hearing loss (NIHHL) has attracted great attention in hearing research and clinical audiology since the discovery of significant noise-induced synaptic damage in the absence of permanent threshold shifts (PTS) in animal models. Although the extant evidence for this damage is based on animal models, NIHHL likely occurs in humans as well. This review focuses on three issues concerning NIHHL that are somewhat controversial: (1) whether disrupted synapses can be re-established; (2) whether synaptic damage and repair are responsible for the initial temporal threshold shifts (TTS) and subsequent recovery; and (3) the relationship between the synaptic damage and repair processes and neural coding deficits. We conclude that, after a single, brief noise exposure, (1) the damaged and the totally destroyed synapses can be partially repaired, but the repaired synapses are functionally abnormal; (2) While deficits are observed in some aspects of neural responses related to temporal and intensity coding in the auditory nerve, we did not find strong evidence for hypothesized coding-in-noise deficits; (3) the sensitivity and the usefulness of the envelope following responses to amplitude modulation signals in detecting cochlear synaptopathy is questionable.
Topics: Animals; Auditory Perception; Auditory Threshold; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced; Humans; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; Synapses
PubMed: 30267832
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.09.026 -
Military Medicine May 2016The new Auditory 4.0 model has been developed for the assessment of auditory outcomes, expressed as temporary threshold shift (TTS) and permanent threshold shift (PTS),...
OBJECTIVES
The new Auditory 4.0 model has been developed for the assessment of auditory outcomes, expressed as temporary threshold shift (TTS) and permanent threshold shift (PTS), from exposures to impulse noise for unprotected ears, including the prediction of TTS recovery.
METHODS
Auditory 4.0 is an empirical model, constructed from test data collected from chinchillas exposed to impulse noise in the laboratory. Injury outcomes are defined as TTS and PTS, and Auditory 4.0 provides the full range of TTS and PTS dose-response curves with the risk factor constructed from A-weighted sound exposure level. Human data from large weapons noise exposure was also used to guide the development of the recovery model.
RESULTS
Guided by data, a 28-dBA shift was applied to the dose-response curves to account for the scaling from chinchillas to humans. Historical data from rifle noise tests were used to validate the dose-response curves. New chinchilla tests were performed to collect recovery data to construct the TTS recovery model.
CONCLUSIONS
Auditory 4.0 is the only model known to date that provides the full TTS and PTS dose-response curves, including a TTS recovery model. The model shows good agreement with historical data.
Topics: Anesthesia; Animals; Auditory Threshold; Blast Injuries; Chinchilla; Ear Protective Devices; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced; Humans; Logistic Models; Occupational Health; Recovery of Function
PubMed: 27168554
DOI: 10.7205/MILMED-D-15-00139 -
Temporary and Permanent Noise-induced Threshold Shifts: A Review of Basic and Clinical Observations.Otology & Neurotology : Official... Sep 2016To review basic and clinical findings relevant to defining temporary (TTS) and permanent (PTS) threshold shifts and their sequelae. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To review basic and clinical findings relevant to defining temporary (TTS) and permanent (PTS) threshold shifts and their sequelae.
DATA SOURCES
Relevant scientific literature and government definitions were broadly reviewed.
DATA SYNTHESIS
The definitions and characteristics of TTS and PTS were assessed and recent advances that expand our knowledge of the extent, nature, and consequences of noise-induced hearing loss were reviewed.
CONCLUSION
Exposure to intense sound can produce TTS, acute changes in hearing sensitivity that recover over time, or PTS, a loss that does not recover to preexposure levels. In general, a threshold shift ≥10 dB at 2, 3, and 4 kHz is required for reporting purposes in human studies. The high-frequency regions of the cochlea are most sensitive to noise damage. Resonance of the ear canal also results in a frequency region of high-noise sensitivity at 4 to 6 kHz. A primary noise target is the cochlear hair cell. Although the mechanisms that underlie such hair cell damage remain unclear, there is evidence to support a role for reactive oxygen species, stress pathway signaling, and apoptosis. Another target is the synapse between the hair cell and the primary afferent neurons. Large numbers of these synapses and their neurons can be lost after noise, even though hearing thresholds may return to normal. This affects auditory processing and detection of signals in noise. The consequences of TTS and PTS include significant deficits in communication that can impact performance of military duties or obtaining/retaining civilian employment. Tinnitus and exacerbation of posttraumatic stress disorder are also potential sequelae.
Topics: Animals; Auditory Threshold; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced; Humans; Noise
PubMed: 27518135
DOI: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000001071 -
The European Journal of Neuroscience Mar 2020The mechanisms underlying the detection of sounds in quiet, one of the simplest tasks for auditory systems, are debated. Several models proposed to explain the threshold...
The mechanisms underlying the detection of sounds in quiet, one of the simplest tasks for auditory systems, are debated. Several models proposed to explain the threshold for sounds in quiet and its dependence on sound parameters include a minimum sound intensity ('hard threshold'), below which sound has no effect on the ear. Also, many models are based on the assumption that threshold is mediated by integration of a neural response proportional to sound intensity. Here, we test these ideas. Using an adaptive forced choice procedure, we obtained thresholds of 95 normal-hearing human ears for 18 tones (3.125 kHz carrier) in quiet, each with a different temporal amplitude envelope. Grand-mean thresholds and standard deviations were well described by a probabilistic model according to which sensory events are generated by a Poisson point process with a low rate in the absence, and higher, time-varying rates in the presence, of stimulation. The subject actively evaluates the process and bases the decision on the number of events observed. The sound-driven rate of events is proportional to the temporal amplitude envelope of the bandpass-filtered sound raised to an exponent. We find no evidence for a hard threshold: When the model is extended to include such a threshold, the fit does not improve. Furthermore, we find an exponent of 3, consistent with our previous studies and further challenging models that are based on the assumption of the integration of a neural response that, at threshold sound levels, is directly proportional to sound amplitude or intensity.
Topics: Acoustic Stimulation; Auditory Threshold; Humans; Sound
PubMed: 29094506
DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13765