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Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke... May 2024The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of auditory neuropathy (AN) patients with normal hearing or mild hearing loss. Data from...
The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of auditory neuropathy (AN) patients with normal hearing or mild hearing loss. Data from Multicenter Study on Clinical Diagnosis and Intervention of Acoustic Neuropathy (registration number: ChiCTR2100050125). According to the Chinese clinical practice guideline of auditory neuropathy (version 2022), these patients divided into two groups: the normal hearing group (PTA Normal, PTA group, the average hearing threshold<20 dB HL) and the mild hearing loss group (PTA Mild hearing loss, PTA group, the average hearing threshold between 20-35 dBHL). The audiology characteristics, clinical features, and follow-up were analyzed. Data analysis was conducted using GraphPad Prism 8 and SPSS 20.0 software. A total of 75 AN with normal hearing or mild hearing loss were included in this study. The PTA group consisted of 19 patients (38 ears), including 12 males and 7 females. The average onset age was (16.9±4.5) years old, while the test age was (22.1±5.8) years old for PTA group. The PTA group consisted of 56 patients (112 ears), including 29 males and 27 females. The average onset age was (16.2±7.9) years old, while the test age was (23.9±9.0) yeas old for PTA group. The average hearing threshold of low frequency (0.125-0.5 kHz) was significantly decreased. ABR disappeared in 86.00% (126/150) of the patients. The speech recognition rate was 71.80±22.44% in the PTA group and 58.08±29.28% in the PTA group.-SP/AP was 0.98±0.47 in the PTA and 1.07±0.63 in PTA group; 40 (53.33%) patients had tinnitus. 29 patients (58 ears) were followed up, including 10 patients (20 ears) in the PTA group and 19 patients (38 ears) in the PTA group. There was no significant change in hearing threshold in short-term follow-up (<3 years). With the extension of the disease duration (>3 years), the PTA group tended to decrease at low frequency, and the PTA group decreased at high frequency first. The hearing threshold at 0.25 kHz in the PTA group and 4 kHz in the PTA group decreased significantly. AN patients with normal hearing or mild hearing loss exhibit abnormal results in audiological examination results, including ABR, electrocochleography and speech discrimination score. A combination of audiological tests should be used to make the diagnosis of AN. With the progression of the disease, AN with normal hearing or mild hearing loss tends to decrease.
Topics: Humans; Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Hearing Loss, Central; Male; Female; Adult; Auditory Threshold; Young Adult; Adolescent; Hearing Loss; Child; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38811174
DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115330-20230804-00033 -
Audiology Research May 2024The use of remote testing to collect behavioral data has been on the rise, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we present psychometric functions for a commonly...
The use of remote testing to collect behavioral data has been on the rise, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we present psychometric functions for a commonly used speech corpus obtained in remote testing and laboratory testing conditions on young normal hearing listeners in the presence of different types of maskers. Headphone use for the remote testing group was checked by supplementing procedures from prior literature using a Huggins pitch task. Results revealed no significant differences in the measured thresholds using the remote testing and laboratory testing conditions for all the three masker types. Also, the thresholds measured obtained in these two conditions were strongly correlated for a different group of young normal hearing listeners. Based on the results, excellent outcomes on auditory threshold measurements where the stimuli are presented both at levels lower than and above an individual's speech-recognition threshold can be obtained by remotely testing the listeners.
PubMed: 38804463
DOI: 10.3390/audiolres14030039 -
Audiology Research May 2024This study aimed to compare the Hebrew version of the digits-in-noise (DIN) thresholds among cochlear implant (CI) users and their normal-hearing (NH) counterparts,...
This study aimed to compare the Hebrew version of the digits-in-noise (DIN) thresholds among cochlear implant (CI) users and their normal-hearing (NH) counterparts, explore the influence of age on these thresholds, examine the effects of early auditory exposure versus its absence on DIN threshold, and assess the correlation between DIN thresholds and other speech perception tests. A total of 13 children with CI (aged 5.5-11 years), 15 pre-lingual CI users (aged 14-30 years), and 15 post-lingual CI users (aged 22-77 years), and their age-matched NH controls (n = 45) participated in the study. Speech perception tasks, including the DIN test, one-syllable word test, and sentence identification tasks in various auditory conditions, served as the main outcome measures. The results indicated that CI users exhibited higher speech reception thresholds in noise across all age groups compared to NH peers, with no significant difference between pre-lingual and post-lingual CI users. Significant differences were also observed in monosyllabic word and sentence accuracy in both quiet and noise conditions between CI and NH groups. Furthermore, correlations were observed between the DIN and other speech perception tests. The study concludes that CI users require a notably higher signal-to-noise ratio to discern digits in noise, underscoring the DIN test's utility in assessing speech recognition capabilities in CI users while emphasizing the need for a comprehensive test battery to fully gauge their speech perception abilities.
PubMed: 38804462
DOI: 10.3390/audiolres14030038 -
World Neurosurgery May 2024This study investigated the neurologic symptoms and stimulus intensities in the stimulation of deep structures and subcortical fibers with the depth electrodes.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the neurologic symptoms and stimulus intensities in the stimulation of deep structures and subcortical fibers with the depth electrodes.
METHODS
Seventeen patients with drug-refractory epilepsy who underwent functional brain mapping with the depth electrodes were enrolled. The 50 Hz electrical stimulation was applied, and the diffusion tensor image was used to identify subcortical fibers. The responsible structures and stimulus intensities for the induced neurologic symptoms were evaluated.
RESULTS
Neurologic symptoms were induced in 11 of 17 patients. The opercular stimulation elicited the neurologic symptoms in 6 patients at the median threshold of 4.0 mA (visceral/face/hand sensory, hand/throat motor, negative motor and auditory symptoms). The insular stimulation induced the neurologic symptoms in 4 patients at the median threshold of 4.0 mA (auditory, negative motor, and sensory symptoms). The stimulation of subcortical fibers was induced in 5 of 9 patients at the median threshold of 4.5 mA. The thresholds of depth electrodes were significantly lower than those of subdural electrodes in 8 patients who used both subdural and depth electrodes and induced symptoms with both electrodes.
CONCLUSIONS
The stimulation of depth electrodes can identify the function of deep structures and subcortical fibers with lower intensities than subdural electrodes.
PubMed: 38796150
DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.05.098 -
Brain Sciences Apr 2024Few randomized controlled trials have reported that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has controversial results for managing multiple domains of...
Impact of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Cognitive and Psychiatric Dysfunction in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Double-Blinded, Randomized Clinical Trial.
Few randomized controlled trials have reported that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has controversial results for managing multiple domains of fibromyalgia-related symptoms. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of low-frequency rTMS over the right dorsolateral prefrontal area (DLPFC) on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) concerning psychiatric and cognitive disorders. Forty-two eligible patients with fibromyalgia (FM) were randomized to have 20 sessions of active or sham rTMS (1 Hz, 120% of resting motor threshold with a total of 1200 pules/session) over the right DLPFC. All participants were evaluated at baseline, post sessions, and 3 months after sessions with the FIQ, Hamilton depression, and anxiety rating scales (HDRS and HARS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Tower of London test (TOL), the Trail Making, and Digit Span Tests. Both groups showed improvement in most rating scales at 1 and 3 months follow-up, with greater improvement in the active group, with significant correlation between FIQ cognitive rating scales, including RAVLT and TOL. Twenty sessions of low-frequency rTMS over the right DLPFC can improve FIQ scores regarding the psychiatric and cognitive symptoms of medicated patients with FM to a greater extent than sham. Changes in RAVLT and TOL correlated with changes in FIQ results.
PubMed: 38790395
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14050416 -
Schizophrenia Bulletin May 2024There is mounting evidence that cardiac interoception, the perception of one's heartbeat, is central to affective experiences. It has been proposed that symptoms of...
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS
There is mounting evidence that cardiac interoception, the perception of one's heartbeat, is central to affective experiences. It has been proposed that symptoms of psychosis could arise from interoceptive dysfunction. Here we hypothesized that people with psychotic disorders would have a specific impairment in cardiac interoception, over and above broader perceptual deficits.
STUDY DESIGN
43 adults with a history of psychosis (31 schizophrenia, 12 schizoaffective disorder) and 41 matched control participants completed a heart rate discrimination task. Participants responded to whether they perceived a sequence of auditory tones to be faster or slower than their heart rate. By trialing a range of auditory tone rates, we estimated a threshold for each participant, the difference between perceived heart rate and actual heart rate. To test whether differences were specific to interoception, participants completed an exteroceptive control condition, testing their discrimination of the rate of 2 sets of audible sounds instead of heart rate.
STUDY RESULTS
Participants with a history of psychosis had greater absolute differences between perceived and actual heart rate, indicating over- or under-estimation of heart rate compared to healthy controls. This difference was specific to the interoceptive condition, and not explained by group differences in exteroceptive perception.
CONCLUSIONS
Psychotic disorders are associated with misestimation of heart rate. Further research may elucidate whether interoceptive abnormalities contribute to specific symptoms such as somatic delusions or affective features, and whether interoception could be a treatment target in psychotic disorders.
PubMed: 38788050
DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbae078 -
Hearing Research Jul 2024Older listeners have difficulty processing temporal cues that are important for word discrimination, and deficient processing may limit their ability to benefit from... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Older listeners have difficulty processing temporal cues that are important for word discrimination, and deficient processing may limit their ability to benefit from these cues. Here, we investigated aging effects on perception and neural representation of the consonant transition and the factors that contribute to successful perception. To further understand the neural mechanisms underlying the changes in processing from brainstem to cortex, we also examined the factors that contribute to exaggerated amplitudes in cortex. We enrolled 30 younger normal-hearing and 30 older normal-hearing participants who met the criteria of clinically normal hearing. Perceptual identification functions were obtained for the words BEAT and WHEAT on a 7-step continuum of consonant-transition duration. Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were recorded to click stimuli and frequency-following responses (FFRs) and cortical auditory-evoked potentials were recorded to the endpoints of the BEAT-WHEAT continuum. Perceptual performance for identification of BEAT vs. WHEAT did not differ between younger and older listeners. However, both subcortical and cortical measures of neural representation showed age group differences, such that FFR phase locking was lower but cortical amplitudes (P1 and N1) were higher in older compared to younger listeners. ABR Wave I amplitude and FFR phase locking, but not audiometric thresholds, predicted early cortical amplitudes. Phase locking to the transition region and early cortical peak amplitudes (P1) predicted performance on the perceptual identification function. Overall, results suggest that the neural representation of transition durations and cortical overcompensation may contribute to the ability to perceive transition duration contrasts. Cortical overcompensation appears to be a maladaptive response to decreased neural firing/synchrony.
Topics: Humans; Cues; Female; Male; Adult; Young Adult; Aging; Acoustic Stimulation; Aged; Speech Perception; Middle Aged; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; Auditory Cortex; Age Factors; Auditory Threshold; Electroencephalography; Time Factors; Auditory Pathways; Evoked Potentials, Auditory
PubMed: 38781768
DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2024.109034 -
Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging :... May 2024Neonates with immature auditory function (eg, weak/absent middle ear muscle reflex) could conceivably be vulnerable to noise-induced hearing loss; however, it is unclear...
BACKGROUND
Neonates with immature auditory function (eg, weak/absent middle ear muscle reflex) could conceivably be vulnerable to noise-induced hearing loss; however, it is unclear if neonates show evidence of hearing loss following MRI acoustic noise exposure.
PURPOSE
To explore the auditory effects of MRI acoustic noise in neonates.
STUDY TYPE
Prospective.
SUBJECTS
Two independent cohorts of neonates (N = 19 and N = 18; mean gestational-age, 38.75 ± 2.18 and 39.01 ± 1.83 weeks).
FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE
T1-weighted three-dimensional gradient-echo sequence, T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequence, single-shot echo-planar imaging-based diffusion-tensor imaging, single-shot echo-planar imaging-based diffusion-kurtosis imaging and T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence at 3.0 T.
ASSESSMENT
All neonates wore ear protection during scan protocols lasted ~40 minutes. Equivalent sound pressure levels (SPLs) were measured for both cohorts. In cohort1, left- and right-ear auditory brainstem response (ABR) was measured before (baseline) and after (follow-up) MRI, included assessment of ABR threshold, wave I, III and V latencies and interpeak interval to determine the functional status of auditory nerve and brainstem. In cohort2, baseline and follow-up left- and right-ear distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) amplitudes were assessed at 1.2 to 7.0 kHz to determine cochlear function.
STATISTICAL TEST
Wilcoxon signed-rank or paired t-tests with Bonferroni's correction were used to compare the differences between baseline and follow-up ABR and DPOAE measures.
RESULTS
Equivalent SPLs ranged from 103.5 to 113.6 dBA. No significant differences between baseline and follow-up were detected in left- or right-ear ABR measures (P > 0.999, Bonferroni corrected) in cohort1, or in DPOAE levels at 1.2 to 7.0 kHz in cohort2 (all P > 0.999 Bonferroni corrected except for left-ear levels at 3.5 and 7.0 kHz with corrected P = 0.138 and P = 0.533).
DATA CONCLUSION
A single 40-minute 3-T MRI with equivalent SPLs of 103.5-113.6 dBA did not result in significant transient disruption of auditory function, as measured by ABR and DPOAE, in neonates with adequate hearing protection.
EVIDENCE LEVEL
2.
TECHNICAL EFFICACY
Stage 5.
PubMed: 38777575
DOI: 10.1002/jmri.29450 -
International Journal of Pediatric... Jun 2024To describe the prevalence of routine white noise exposure in children who undergo sound field audiometry.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence of routine white noise exposure in children who undergo sound field audiometry.
METHODS
A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a pediatric otolaryngology clinic affiliated with an academic tertiary care hospital. The medical records of children who underwent sound field audiometry were reviewed and data was collected regarding demographics and audiogram results. The group was divided into two cohorts based on routine exposure to white noise. Children exposed to white noise were tested with warble tones, while those not exposed were tested with narrow-band noise.
RESULTS
127 patients underwent sound field audiometry testing, of which 96 (75.6%) were reported by their parents to use white noise for sleep. The mean age at time of testing was 1.6 years (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.5-1.7). 104 (81.9%) children were able to respond to at least four of the sound field thresholds, and there was no significant difference between the children exposed to white noise and those who were not (P = 0.459). Mean pure tone average (PTA) was 26.2 dB (95% CI 25.2-27.2) and mean speech reception threshold (SRT) was 19.2 dB (95% CI 18.2-20.2). The sound field response rate, PTA, and SRT were similar between these two groups.
CONCLUSIONS
The routine use of white noise therapy was extremely common in this pediatric population. The use of warble tones as the audiometric stimuli for children exposed to white noise resulted in similar testing success compared to the use of narrow-band noise in children not exposed to white noise.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Retrospective Studies; Noise; Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Infant; Child, Preschool; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced; Auditory Threshold; Cohort Studies; Child; Audiometry; Prevalence
PubMed: 38776720
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2024.111982 -
Hearing Research Jul 2024Cochlear implants are medical devices that have restored hearing to approximately one million people around the world. Outcomes are impressive and most recipients attain...
Cochlear implants are medical devices that have restored hearing to approximately one million people around the world. Outcomes are impressive and most recipients attain excellent speech comprehension in quiet without relying on lip-reading cues, but pitch resolution is poor compared to normal hearing. Amplitude modulation of electrical stimulation is a primary cue for pitch perception in cochlear implant users. The experiments described in this article focus on the relationship between sensitivity to amplitude modulations and pitch resolution based on changes in the frequency of amplitude modulations. In the first experiment, modulation sensitivity and pitch resolution were measured in adults with no known hearing loss and in cochlear implant users with sounds presented to and processed by their clinical devices. Stimuli were amplitude-modulated sinusoids and amplitude-modulated narrow-band noises. Modulation detection and modulation frequency discrimination were measured for modulation frequencies centered on 110, 220, and 440 Hz. Pitch resolution based on changes in modulation frequency was measured for modulation depths of 25 %, 50 %, 100 %, and for a half-waved rectified modulator. Results revealed a strong linear relationship between modulation sensitivity and pitch resolution for cochlear implant users and peers with no known hearing loss. In the second experiment, cochlear implant users took part in analogous procedures of modulation sensitivity and pitch resolution but bypassing clinical sound processing using single-electrode stimulation. Results indicated that modulation sensitivity and pitch resolution was better conveyed by single-electrode stimulation than by clinical processors. Results at 440 Hz were worse, but also not well conveyed by clinical sound processing, so it remains unclear whether the 300 Hz perceptual limit described in the literature is a technological or biological limitation. These results highlight modulation depth and sensitivity as critical factors for pitch resolution in cochlear implant users and characterize the relationship that should inform the design of modulation enhancement algorithms for cochlear implants.
Topics: Humans; Cochlear Implants; Acoustic Stimulation; Middle Aged; Adult; Aged; Male; Female; Pitch Perception; Electric Stimulation; Cochlear Implantation; Persons With Hearing Impairments; Cues; Young Adult; Speech Perception; Pitch Discrimination; Auditory Threshold; Correction of Hearing Impairment; Hearing
PubMed: 38776706
DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2024.109026