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European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology,... Feb 2018The prevalence of hearing loss in newborns and infants is estimated between 1 to 3.47 cases per 1000 live births. Early diagnosis and rehabilitation of congenital...
The prevalence of hearing loss in newborns and infants is estimated between 1 to 3.47 cases per 1000 live births. Early diagnosis and rehabilitation of congenital hearing loss are mandatory in order to achieve a satisfactory linguistic and cognitive development. Without appropriate opportunities to learn language, these children will fall behind their normal hearing peers in communication, cognition, reading and socio-emotional development. After promising results, neonatal screening for hearing loss and audiological evaluation are becoming more extensively carried out. In planning universal neonatal hearing screening programs, transient evoked otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem responses are the gold standard for the screening and diagnosis program. However, there is no consensus regarding the use of audiometry and other electrophysiological tests (such as auditory steady-state responses) in current practices. Several screening and audiological assessment procedures have been described and advocated all around the world. But, a systematic scheme of performing diagnosis in the pediatric audiology population is lacking. A consensus conference was held at the International Federation of Oto-rhino-laryngological Societies Congress, in June 2017, to discuss the different current practices and to identify the best neonatal hearing screening and audiological assessment management. This article is intended to provide professionals with recommendations about the "best practice" based on consensus opinion of the session's speakers, and a review of the literature on the efficacy of various assessment options for children with hearing loss.
Topics: Audiometry; Child; Child, Preschool; Clinical Protocols; Hearing Loss; Hearing Tests; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Internationality; Neonatal Screening; Practice Guidelines as Topic
PubMed: 29366866
DOI: 10.1016/j.anorl.2017.12.008 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2021In France 58% of persons with hearing loss still do not wear hearing aids. Pure-tone audiometry is the traditional gold standard in assessment and screening of hearing...
In France 58% of persons with hearing loss still do not wear hearing aids. Pure-tone audiometry is the traditional gold standard in assessment and screening of hearing impairment, but it requires the use of calibrated devices and soundproof booth. The antiphasic digits-in-noise (DIN) test does not require calibrated material and can run on a standard headset or earbuds connected to a smartphone or a computer. The DIN test is highly correlated with pure tone audiometry and has already shown to be effective in hearing loss screening in its English version promoted by the WHO. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a French version of the antiphasic DIN test for implementation on a national screening test offered as a smartphone app. The audio files recorded from a French native female speaker were selected and normalized in intensity according to their recognition probability. The French DIN test application was then tested on normal hearing- and hearing-impaired subjects. Based on the strong correlation between pure tone audiometry (PTA) and DIN SRT, we calculated ROC curves and Z-score. For PTA > 20 dB HL, a SNR cutoff of 12.9 dB corresponds to a sensitivity and specificity of 0.96 and 0.93, respectively. To detect moderate and more severe hearing loss (PTA > 40 dB HL), the SNR cutoff was -10.9 dB, corresponding to a sensitivity and specificity of 0.99 and 0.83, respectively. The Z-score was calculated to define statistical criteria of normality for speech-in-noise evaluation. While a score of 0 roughly corresponds to the normality (DIN SRT = -15.4 dB SNR), a subject with DIN SRT > -12.2 (Z-score > 2) is ranked in the hearing loss population. Next, the French antiphasic DIN test was implemented in the Höra iOS and Android apps. In total, 19,545 Höra tests were completed and analyzed. Three quarters of them were classified as normal (74 %) and one quarter presented mild (9%) or more severe loss (17%). Together, results argue for the use of the French version of antiphasic DIN test in the general population to improve the screening of hearing-impaired individuals.
Topics: Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Female; Hearing; Humans; Language; Noise; Smartphone
PubMed: 34722438
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.725080 -
Ugeskrift For Laeger Jul 2014Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) may qualify to compensation and must be distinguished from the ski slope hearing loss (SKI) which is a hereditary type of... (Review)
Review
Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) may qualify to compensation and must be distinguished from the ski slope hearing loss (SKI) which is a hereditary type of hearing loss. By combining the NIHL and presbyacusis tables of ISO 1999 it was concluded that in a hearing loss caused solely by noise and ageing the median threshold at 2 kHz is never poorer than 35 dB, and that the ratio between the actual 3 kHz threshold and the average 2-4 kHz threshold does not exceed 1.3. Thus, the audiometric characteristics of the 2-3 kHz segment can distinguish between NIHL and SKI.
Topics: Audiometry; Auditory Threshold; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced; Humans
PubMed: 25292321
DOI: No ID Found -
Trends in Hearing 2024The use of in-situ audiometry for hearing aid fitting is appealing due to its reduced resource and equipment requirements compared to standard approaches employing... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
The use of in-situ audiometry for hearing aid fitting is appealing due to its reduced resource and equipment requirements compared to standard approaches employing conventional audiometry alongside real-ear measures. However, its validity has been a subject of debate, as previous studies noted differences between hearing thresholds measured using conventional and in-situ audiometry. The differences were particularly notable for open-fit hearing aids, attributed to low-frequency leakage caused by the vent. Here, in-situ audiometry was investigated for six receiver-in-canal hearing aids from different manufacturers through three experiments. In Experiment I, the hearing aid gain was measured to investigate whether corrections were implemented to the prescribed target gain. In Experiment II, the in-situ stimuli were recorded to investigate if corrections were directly incorporated to the delivered in-situ stimulus. Finally, in Experiment III, hearing thresholds using in-situ and conventional audiometry were measured with real patients wearing open-fit hearing aids. Results indicated that (1) the hearing aid gain remained unaffected when measured with in-situ or conventional audiometry for all open-fit measurements, (2) the in-situ stimuli were adjusted for up to 30 dB at frequencies below 1000 Hz for all open-fit hearing aids except one, which also recommends the use of closed domes for all in-situ measurements, and (3) the mean interparticipant threshold difference fell within 5 dB for frequencies between 250 and 6000 Hz. The results clearly indicated that modern measured in-situ thresholds align (within 5 dB) with conventional thresholds measured, indicating the potential of in-situ audiometry for remote hearing care.
Topics: Humans; Hearing Aids; Auditory Threshold; Acoustic Stimulation; Prosthesis Fitting; Reproducibility of Results; Audiometry; Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Hearing Loss; Hearing; Predictive Value of Tests; Persons With Hearing Impairments; Equipment Design; Male; Female
PubMed: 38835268
DOI: 10.1177/23312165241259704 -
The Journal of International Advanced... Jan 2022Hearing loss causes a significant reduction in the quality of life of patients with Ménière's disease. Although speech recognition is also affected, it has not been...
BACKGROUND
Hearing loss causes a significant reduction in the quality of life of patients with Ménière's disease. Although speech recognition is also affected, it has not been extensively studied. The objective of the study was to describe speech recognition behavior during a prolonged period in patients with unilateral Ménière's disease.
METHODS
A prospective case-control study was performed. The case group included patients with defined unilateral Ménière's disease and the control group included patients with progressive non-fluctuating hearing loss. Patients underwent an auditory evaluation periodically. Pure-tone audiometry and speech recognition tests-speech recognition threshold and speech discrimination score-were administered. The dissociation between pure-tone audiometry and speech recognition was assessed through a linear regression analysis. During follow-up, Ménière's disease patients were subdivided into a stable and fluctuating subgroup (a change of >20% in the speech discrimination score with a change no greater than 15 dB in pure-tone audiometry).
RESULTS
The average follow-up time was 79.9 months. Fifty-seven patients were included (30 cases, 27 controls). Dissociation between puretone audiometry and speech recognition threshold began to appear in the case group after 21 months, and it was statistically significant at 108 months. Duration of the disease was the only variable studied that influenced the dissociation. The fluctuation subgroup in cluded 56.6% of the cases.
CONCLUSION
We described 2 audiological peculiarities in Ménière's disease patients: dissociation between pure-tone audiometry and speech recognition during the evolution of the disease and the fluctuation of speech recognition regardless of the change in pure-tone audiometry. Our results highlight the importance of performing speech recognition tests during follow-up in patients with Ménière's disease.
Topics: Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Case-Control Studies; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Meniere Disease; Quality of Life; Speech Perception
PubMed: 35193840
DOI: 10.5152/iao.2022.20016 -
Audiology & Neuro-otology 2022Difficulty understanding speech in background noise is the reason of consultation for most people who seek help for their hearing. With the increased use of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Difficulty understanding speech in background noise is the reason of consultation for most people who seek help for their hearing. With the increased use of speech-in-noise (SpIN) testing, audiologists and otologists are expected to evidence disabilities in a greater number of patients with sensorineural hearing loss. The purpose of this study is to list validated available SpIN tests for the French-speaking population.
SUMMARY
A review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. PubMed and Scopus databases were searched. Search strategies used a combination of 4 keywords: speech, audiometry, noise, and French. There were 10 validated SpIN tests dedicated to the Francophone adult population at the time of the review. Some tests use digits triplets as speech stimuli and were originally designed for hearing screening. The others were given a broader range of indications covering diagnostic or research purposes, determination of functional capacities and fitness for duty, as well as assessment of hearing amplification benefit.
KEY MESSAGES
As there is a SpIN test for almost any type of clinical or rehabilitation needs, both the accuracy and duration should be considered for choosing one or the other. In an effort to meet the needs of a rapidly aging population, fast adaptive procedures can be favored to screen large groups in order to limit the risk of ignoring the early signs of forthcoming presbycusis and to provide appropriate audiological counseling.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Audiometry; Audiometry, Pure-Tone; France; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural; Humans; Noise; Speech; Speech Perception
PubMed: 34937024
DOI: 10.1159/000518968 -
Ear and Hearing 2022Despite a diagnosis of normal hearing, many people experience hearing disability (HD) in their everyday lives. This study assessed the ability of a number of demographic...
OBJECTIVES
Despite a diagnosis of normal hearing, many people experience hearing disability (HD) in their everyday lives. This study assessed the ability of a number of demographic and auditory variables to explain and predict self-reported HD in people regarded as audiologically healthy via audiometric thresholds.
DESIGN
One-hundred eleven adults (ages 19 to 74) with clinically normal hearing (i.e., audiometric thresholds ≤25 dB HL at all octave and interoctave frequencies between 0.25 and 8 kHz and bilaterally symmetric hearing) were asked to complete the 12-item version of the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ12) as a measure of self-reported HD. Patient history and a number of standard and expanded measures of hearing were assessed in a multivariate regression analysis to predict SSQ12 score. Patient history included age, sex, history of noise exposure, and tinnitus. Hearing-related measures included audiometry at standard and extended high frequencies, word recognition, otoacoustic emissions, auditory brainstem response, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and FM detection threshold.
RESULTS
History of impulse noise exposure, speech-intelligibility index, and FM detection threshold accurately predicted SSQ12 and were able to account for 40% of the SSQ12 score. These three measures were also able to predict whether participants self-reported HD with a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 86%.
CONCLUSIONS
Although participant audiometric thresholds were within normal limits, higher thresholds, history of impulse noise exposure, and FM detection predicted self-reported HD.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Audiometry; Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Auditory Threshold; Hearing; Humans; Middle Aged; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; Self Report; Young Adult
PubMed: 34759207
DOI: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000001161 -
JMIR MHealth and UHealth Sep 2021Hearing loss is one of the most common disabilities worldwide and affects both individual and public health. Pure tone audiometry (PTA) is the gold standard for hearing... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Hearing loss is one of the most common disabilities worldwide and affects both individual and public health. Pure tone audiometry (PTA) is the gold standard for hearing assessment, but it is often not available in many settings, given its high cost and demand for human resources. Smartphone-based audiometry may be equally effective and can improve access to adequate hearing evaluations.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this systematic review is to synthesize the current evidence of the role of smartphone-based audiometry in hearing assessments and further explore the factors that influence its diagnostic accuracy.
METHODS
Five databases-PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus-were queried to identify original studies that examined the diagnostic accuracy of hearing loss measurement using smartphone-based devices with conventional PTA as a reference test. A bivariate random-effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate the pooled sensitivity and specificity. The factors associated with diagnostic accuracy were identified using a bivariate meta-regression model. Study quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool.
RESULTS
In all, 25 studies with a total of 4470 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The overall sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for smartphone-based audiometry were 89% (95% CI 83%-93%), 93% (95% CI 87%-97%), and 0.96 (95% CI 0.93-0.97), respectively; the corresponding values for the smartphone-based speech recognition test were 91% (95% CI 86%-94%), 88% (95% CI 75%-94%), and 0.93 (95% CI 0.90-0.95), respectively. Meta-regression analysis revealed that patient age, equipment used, and the presence of soundproof booths were significantly related to diagnostic accuracy.
CONCLUSIONS
We have presented comprehensive evidence regarding the effectiveness of smartphone-based tests in diagnosing hearing loss. Smartphone-based audiometry may serve as an accurate and accessible approach to hearing evaluations, especially in settings where conventional PTA is unavailable.
Topics: Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Hearing Loss; Humans; Sensitivity and Specificity; Smartphone; Speech
PubMed: 34515644
DOI: 10.2196/28378 -
International Journal of Audiology 2015This study examined the statistical properties of normal air-conduction thresholds obtained with automated and manual audiometry to test the hypothesis that thresholds...
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the statistical properties of normal air-conduction thresholds obtained with automated and manual audiometry to test the hypothesis that thresholds are normally distributed and to examine the distributions for evidence of bias in manual testing.
DESIGN
Four databases were mined for normal thresholds. One contained audiograms obtained with an automated method. The other three were obtained with manual audiometry. Frequency distributions were examined for four test frequencies (250, 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz).
STUDY SAMPLE
The analysis is based on 317 569 threshold determinations of 80 547 subjects from four clinical databases.
RESULTS
Frequency distributions of thresholds obtained with automated audiometry are normal in form. Corrected for age, the mean thresholds are within 1.5 dB of reference equivalent threshold sound pressure levels. Frequency distributions of thresholds obtained by manual audiometry are shifted toward higher thresholds. Two of the three datasets obtained by manual audiometry are positively skewed.
CONCLUSIONS
The positive shift and skew of the manual audiometry data may result from tester bias. The striking scarcity of thresholds below 0 dB HL suggests that audiologists place less importance on identifying low thresholds than they do for higher-level thresholds. We refer to this as the Good enough bias and suggest that it may be responsible for differences in distributions of thresholds obtained by automated and manual audiometry.
Topics: Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Auditory Threshold; Databases as Topic; Humans
PubMed: 25938502
DOI: 10.3109/14992027.2015.1033656 -
Irish Journal of Medical Science Feb 2024Subjective tinnitus is an unpleasant perception of sound without any external acoustic stimulus. It can be manifested in the form of various phantom sounds, which most...
BACKGROUND
Subjective tinnitus is an unpleasant perception of sound without any external acoustic stimulus. It can be manifested in the form of various phantom sounds, which most often resemble ringing, whistling, squeaking, noise, chirping, or buzzing. The sounds are heard solely by the sufferer and can occur in the middle of the head, but also in the ears-on one or both sides.
AIM
The aim of the study was to evaluate the hearing capacity based on audiometric threshold measurements in the frequency range of 0.125-16 kHz in patients with tinnitus. In addition, we investigated the following questions: Can high-frequency audiometry be useful in the diagnosis of tinnitus? Does hearing loss occur in an increasingly wide frequency range with age compared to the control group? Can tinnitus be considered the first symptom of the onset of high-frequency hearing loss?
METHODS
The study included 99 patients, all of whom underwent pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and extended high-frequency audiometry (HFA) in the ranges of 0.125-8 kHz and 8-16 kHz, respectively. In each patient (excluding the control group), tinnitus was characterized in terms of its frequency and intensity.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
The study concluded that tinnitus may be a symptom indicating the presence of high-frequency hearing loss as hearing loss occurs in an increasingly wider frequency range with age, so HFA should be a routine audiological test in patients with tinnitus.
Topics: Humans; Tinnitus; Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Hearing Loss, High-Frequency; Auditory Threshold
PubMed: 37518821
DOI: 10.1007/s11845-023-03462-y