-
Journal of the American Medical... May 2013This paper summarizes much of the research that is applicable to the design of auditory alarms in a medical context. It also summarizes research that demonstrates that... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
This paper summarizes much of the research that is applicable to the design of auditory alarms in a medical context. It also summarizes research that demonstrates that false alarm rates are unacceptably high, meaning that the proper application of auditory alarm design principles are compromised.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Designers, users, and manufacturers of medical information and monitoring systems that indicate when medical or other parameters are exceeded and that are indicated by an auditory signal or signals.
SCOPE
The emergence of alarms as a 'hot topic'; an outline of the issues and design principles, including IEC 60601-1-8; the high incidence of false alarms and its impact on alarm design and alarm fatigue; approaches to reducing alarm fatigue; alarm philosophy explained; urgency in audible alarms; different classes of sound as alarms; heterogeneity in alarm set design; problems with IEC 60601-1-8 and ways of approaching this design problem.
Topics: Clinical Alarms; Equipment Failure; Humans; Sound
PubMed: 23100127
DOI: 10.1136/amiajnl-2012-001061 -
Scientific Reports Dec 2023Optimizing the training regimen depending on neuromuscular fatigue is crucial for the well-being of professionals intensively practicing motor skills, such as athletes...
Optimizing the training regimen depending on neuromuscular fatigue is crucial for the well-being of professionals intensively practicing motor skills, such as athletes and musicians, as persistent fatigue can hinder learning and cause neuromuscular injuries. However, accurate assessment of fatigue is challenging because of the dissociation between subjective perception and its impact on motor and cognitive performance. To address this issue, we investigated the interplay between fatigue and learning development in 28 pianists during three hours of auditory-motor training, dividing them into two groups subjected to different resting conditions. Changes in behavior and muscle activity during training were measured to identify potential indicators capable of detecting fatigue before subjective awareness. Our results indicate that motor learning and fatigue development are independent of resting frequency and timing. Learning indices, such as reduction in force and timing errors throughout training, did not differ between the groups. No discernible distinctions emerged in fatigue-related behavioral and physiological indicators between the groups. Regression analysis revealed that several fatigue-related indicators, such as tapping speed variability and electromyogram amplitude per unit force, could explain the learning of timing and force control. Our findings suggest the absence of a universal resting schedule for optimizing auditory-motor learning.
Topics: Humans; Learning; Motor Skills; Electromyography; Music; Regression Analysis
PubMed: 38062126
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49226-7 -
International Journal of Environmental... Aug 2022This study aimed to assess temporary and permanent auditory effects associated with occupational coexposure to low levels of noise and solvents. Cross-sectional study...
This study aimed to assess temporary and permanent auditory effects associated with occupational coexposure to low levels of noise and solvents. Cross-sectional study with 25 printing industry workers simultaneously exposed to low noise (<80 dBA TWA) and low levels of solvents. The control group consisted of 29 industry workers without the selected exposures. Participants answered a questionnaire and underwent auditory tests. Auditory fatigue was measured by comparing the acoustic reflex threshold before and after the workday. Workers coexposed to solvents and noise showed significantly worse results in auditory tests in comparison with the participants in the control group. Auditory brainstem response results showed differences in III−V interpeak intervals (p = 0.046 in right ear; p = 0.039 in left ear). Mean dichotic digits scores (exposed = 89.5 ± 13.33; controls = 96.40 ± 4.46) were only different in the left ear (p = 0.054). The comparison of pre and postacoustic reflex testing indicated mean differences (p = 0.032) between the exposed (4.58 ± 6.8) and controls (0 ± 4.62) groups. This study provides evidence of a possible temporary effect (hearing fatigue) at the level of the acoustic reflex of the stapedius muscle. The permanent effects were identified mainly at the level of the high brainstem and in the auditory ability of binaural integration.
Topics: Cross-Sectional Studies; Hearing Disorders; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced; Humans; Industry; Noise, Occupational; Occupational Exposure; Solvents
PubMed: 36011533
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19169894 -
Acta Psychologica Oct 2022The mechanisms underlying increased dual-task costs in the comparison of modality compatible stimulus-response mappings (e.g., visual-manual, auditory-vocal) and...
The mechanisms underlying increased dual-task costs in the comparison of modality compatible stimulus-response mappings (e.g., visual-manual, auditory-vocal) and modality incompatible mappings (e.g., visual-vocal, auditory-manual) remain elusive. To investigate whether additional control mechanisms are at work in simultaneously processing two modality incompatible mappings, we applied a transfer logic between both types of dual-task mappings in the context of a mental fatigue induction. We expected an increase in dual-task costs for both modality mappings after a fatigue induction with modality compatible tasks. In contrast, we expected an additional, selective increase in modality incompatible dual-task costs after a fatigue induction with modality incompatible tasks. We tested a group of 45young individuals (19-30 years) in an online pre-post design, in which participants were assigned to one of three groups. The two fatigue groups completed a 90-min time-on-task intervention with a dual task comprising either compatible or incompatible modality mappings. The third group paused for 90 min as a passive control group. Pre and post-session contained single and dual tasks in both modality mappings for all participants. In addition to behavioral performance measurements, seven subjective items (effort, focus, subjective fatigue, motivation, frustration, mental and physical capacity) were analyzed. Mean dual-task performance during and after the intervention indicated a practice effect instead of the presumed fatigue effect for all three groups. The modality incompatible intervention group showed a selective performance improvement for the modality incompatible mapping but no transfer to the modality compatible dual task. In contrast, the compatible intervention group showed moderately improved performance in both modality mappings. Still, participants reported increased subjective fatigue and reduced motivation after the fatigue intervention. This dynamic interplay of training and fatigue effects suggests that high control demands were involved in the prolonged performance of a modality incompatible dual task, which are separable from modality compatible dual-task demands.
Topics: Humans; Reaction Time; Psychomotor Performance; Photic Stimulation; Acoustic Stimulation; Mental Fatigue
PubMed: 36242924
DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103766 -
Audiology Research Mar 2022Older adults with hearing loss have difficulties during conversation with others because an elevated auditory threshold reduces speech intelligibility, especially in...
Older adults with hearing loss have difficulties during conversation with others because an elevated auditory threshold reduces speech intelligibility, especially in noisy environments. Listening and comprehension often become exhausting tasks for hearing-impaired elders, resulting in social isolation and depression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the advantages of hearing aid use in relation to relief from listening-related fatigue, which is still controversial. Participants included a sample of 49 hearing-impaired elders affected by presbycusis for whom hearing aids were prescribed. The Modified Fatigue Impact Scale was used to assess cognitive, physical and psychosocial fatigue. The vitality subscale of the Short Form Health Survey 36 and a single item of the multi-dimensional Speech, Spatial and Quality Hearing Scale ("Do you have to put a lot of effort to hear what is being said in conversation with others?") were also used. The Cognitive Failures Questionnaire was used to investigate daily errors related to lack of memory and reduced mindedness. Hearing aids rehabilitation resulted in improved speech intelligibility in competing noise, and a significant reduction in cognitive and psychosocial fatigue and listening effort in conversation. Vitality was also improved and a significant reduction in the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire scores was observed. Findings from the study indicate that the use of hearing aids in older impaired-listeners provide them not only with an increased auditory function but also with a reduction in listening-related fatigue and mindedness.
PubMed: 35314612
DOI: 10.3390/audiolres12020017 -
International Archives of... Jan 2022Parkinson disease (PD) is a degenerative and progressive neurological disorder characterized by resting tremor, stiffness, bradykinesia, and postural instability.... (Review)
Review
Parkinson disease (PD) is a degenerative and progressive neurological disorder characterized by resting tremor, stiffness, bradykinesia, and postural instability. Despite the motor symptoms, PD patients also consistently show cognitive impairment or executive dysfunction. The auditory event-related potential P300 has been described as the best indicator of mental function, being highly dependent on cognitive skills, including attention and discrimination. To review the literature on the application and findings of P300 as an indicator of PD. The samples ranged from 7 to 166 individuals. Young adult and elderly male patients composed most study samples. The Mini-Mental State Examination test, the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale, and the Hoehn and Yahr Scale were used to assess neurological and cognitive function. In terms of testing hearing function, few studies have focused on parameters other than the P300. The factors we focused on were how the P300 was modified by cognitive effects, its correlation with different PD scales, the effect of performing dual tasks, the effect of fatigue, and the influence of drug treatments. The use of the P300 appears to be an effective assessment tool in patients with PD. This event-related potential seems to correlate well with other neurocognitive tests that measure key features of the disease.
PubMed: 35096174
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1722250 -
International Journal of Audiology 2021Well-being is influenced by the activities we undertake. Hearing loss may reduce well-being directly through increased listening-related fatigue due to cognitive and... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Well-being is influenced by the activities we undertake. Hearing loss may reduce well-being directly through increased listening-related fatigue due to cognitive and emotional strain in challenging situations. Hearing loss and hearing device use may also indirectly impact fatigue and well-being by altering the frequency and type of daily-life activities. This review examines the available literature to help understand the relationships.
DESIGN
We provide (i) a summary of the extant literature regarding hearing loss, hearing device use and fatigue in adults, as well as regarding fatigue and daily-life activity (work, social and physical) and (ii) a systematic search and narrative review of the relationships between hearing loss, hearing device use and activity.
STUDY SAMPLE
The systematic search resulted in 66 eligible texts.
RESULTS
Data examining well-being in persons with hearing loss are limited. Our literature review suggests that well-being can be related directly and indirectly to hearing loss, hearing device use, activity level and listening-related fatigue.
CONCLUSIONS
Variations and interactions between hearing loss, hearing device use, fatigue and activity levels can be expected to impact well-being in persons with hearing loss in direct and indirect ways. Future research linking hearing and daily-life fatigue should take account of activity levels.
Topics: Adult; Auditory Perception; Deafness; Fatigue; Hearing; Hearing Aids; Hearing Loss; Humans
PubMed: 33390065
DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2020.1853261 -
Computational Intelligence and... 2019Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) aim to enable people to interact with the external world through an alternative, nonmuscular communication channel that uses brain... (Review)
Review
Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) aim to enable people to interact with the external world through an alternative, nonmuscular communication channel that uses brain signal responses to complete specific cognitive tasks. BCIs have been growing rapidly during the past few years, with most of the BCI research focusing on system performance, such as improving accuracy or information transfer rate. Despite these advances, BCI research and development is still in its infancy and requires further consideration to significantly affect human experience in most real-world environments. This paper reviews the most recent studies and findings about ergonomic issues in BCIs. We review dry electrodes that can be used to detect brain signals with high enough quality to apply in BCIs and discuss their advantages, disadvantages, and performance. Also, an overview is provided of the wide range of recent efforts to create new interface designs that do not induce fatigue or discomfort during everyday, long-term use. The basic principles of each technique are described, along with examples of current applications in BCI research. Finally, we demonstrate a user-friendly interface paradigm that uses dry capacitive electrodes that do not require any preparation procedure for EEG signal acquisition. We explore the capacitively measured steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) response to an amplitude-modulated visual stimulus and the auditory steady-state response (ASSR) to an auditory stimulus modulated by familiar natural sounds to verify their availability for BCI. We report the first results of an online demonstration that adopted this ergonomic approach to evaluating BCI applications. We expect BCI to become a routine clinical, assistive, and commercial tool through advanced EEG monitoring techniques and innovative interface designs.
Topics: Brain-Computer Interfaces; Electroencephalography; Ergonomics; Humans
PubMed: 31316556
DOI: 10.1155/2019/5427154 -
Hearing Research Jun 2017Hearing is an extremely complex phenomenon, involving a large number of interrelated variables that are difficult to measure in vivo. In order to investigate such... (Review)
Review
Hearing is an extremely complex phenomenon, involving a large number of interrelated variables that are difficult to measure in vivo. In order to investigate such process under simplified and well-controlled conditions, models of sound transmission have been developed through many decades of research. The value of modeling the hearing system is not only to explain the normal function of the hearing system and account for experimental and clinical observations, but to simulate a variety of pathological conditions that lead to hearing damage and hearing loss, as well as for development of auditory implants, effective ear protections and auditory hazard countermeasures. In this paper, we provide a review of the strategies used to model the auditory function of the external, middle, inner ear, and the micromechanics of the organ of Corti, along with some of the key results obtained from such modeling efforts. Recent analytical and numerical approaches have incorporated the nonlinear behavior of some parameters and structures into their models. Few models of the integrated hearing system exist; in particular, we describe the evolution of the Auditory Hazard Assessment Algorithm for Human (AHAAH) model, used for prediction of hearing damage due to high intensity sound pressure. Unlike the AHAAH model, 3D finite element models of the entire hearing system are not able yet to predict auditory risk and threshold shifts. It is expected that both AHAAH and FE models will evolve towards a more accurate assessment of threshold shifts and hearing loss under a variety of stimuli conditions and pathologies.
Topics: Algorithms; Auditory Fatigue; Auditory Perception; Computer Simulation; Ear; Finite Element Analysis; Hearing; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced; Humans; Models, Theoretical; Noise; Nonlinear Dynamics; Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; Pressure
PubMed: 28161584
DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2017.01.015