Masking Level Differences for Tones and Speech in Elderly Listeners With Relatively Normal Audiograms

1994 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 422-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
John H. Grose ◽  
Elizabeth A. Poth ◽  
Robert W. Peters
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Word Recognition ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
The Other ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Central Effects ◽  
Masking Level Difference ◽  
Tone Detection

This study measured the masking level difference (MLD) for both 500-Hz tone detection and spondee word recognition in two groups of listeners. One group consisted of 9 elderly listeners with normal audiometric sensitivity bilaterally, up to at least 2000 Hz. The other group was a control group of 10 young listeners with normal hearing. The intent was to determine whether the elderly listeners exhibited a reduction in binaural performance that might contribute to the difficulties many such listeners have in understanding speech in noisy situations. By measuring MLDs in elderly listeners in the absence of marked peripheral hearing loss, it was hoped that any observed changes in MLD could be more strongly attributed to central effects. For both tone detection and speech recognition, it was found that the elderly performed more poorly than the young listeners, primarily on the NoSπ condition.

scholarly journals Recognition of Synthetic Speech by Hearing-Impaired Elderly Listeners

1991 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 1180-1184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry E. Humes ◽  
Kathleen J. Nelson ◽  
David B. Pisoni
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Recognition Performance ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
The Other ◽  
Natural Speech ◽  
Synthetic Speech ◽  
Closed Set ◽  
Open Set

The Modified Rhyme Test (MRT), recorded using natural speech and two forms of synthetic speech, DECtalk and Votrax, was used to measure both open-set and closed-set speech-recognition performance. Performance of hearing-impaired elderly listeners was compared to two groups of young normal-hearing adults, one listening in quiet, and the other listening in a background of spectrally shaped noise designed to simulate the peripheral hearing loss of the elderly. Votrax synthetic speech yielded significant decrements in speech recognition compared to either natural or DECtalk synthetic speech for all three subject groups. There were no differences in performance between natural speech and DECtalk speech for the elderly hearing-impaired listeners or the young listeners with simulated hearing loss. The normal-hearing young adults listening in quiet out-performed both of the other groups, but there were no differences in performance between the young listeners with simulated hearing loss and the elderly hearing-impaired listeners. When the closed-set identification of synthetic speech was compared to its open-set recognition, the hearing-impaired elderly gained as much from the reduction in stimulus/response uncertainty as the two younger groups. Finally, among the elderly hearing-impaired listeners, speech-recognition performance was correlated negatively with hearing sensitivity, but scores were correlated positively among the different talker conditions. Those listeners with the greatest hearing loss had the most difficulty understanding speech and those having the most trouble understanding natural speech also had the greatest difficulty with synthetic speech.

scholarly journals Comparison of Speech Recognition and Subjective Hearing Handicap in Elderly Listeners as a Function of Degree of Hearing Loss

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-123
Author(s):  
KyooSang Kim ◽  
Subong Kim ◽  
Jae Hee Lee
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Psychological Aspects ◽  
World Health ◽  
Large Individual ◽  
Hearing Handicap

Purpose: This study aimed to compare objective speech recognition and subjective hearing handicap outcomes as a function of a degree of hearing loss. Methods: 120 elderly listeners participated, ranging in age from 60-83 years. Listeners’ degrees of hearing loss were derived corresponding to a newly proposed World Health Organization hearing impairment grading system. As objective outcomes, word and sentence recognition scores (WRS, SRS) in quiet were measured at an individually determined most comfortable level. The SRS in noise were obtained at 0 dB signal-to-noise ratio. The Korean Evaluation Scale for Hearing Handicap questionnaire for non-hearing aid users was used to evaluate the effects of hearing status on social and psychological aspects. Results: Within the same grading of hearing impairment, listeners tended to show a large individual variability in speech-in-noise recognition and subjective hearing handicaps. Listeners with even mild impairment had more reductions in SRS in noise and more handicaps in an interpersonal relationship compared to normal-hearing listeners. Among the listeners with no impairment or mild hearing impairment, listeners who had poorer sentence-in-noise scores actually showed greater hearing handicaps. The sentence-in-noise scores plus WRS explained the subjective hearing handicap by about 40%. Conclusion: The elderly with normal hearing or mild hearing loss can have reduced communication abilities in background noise, resulting in a negative effect on their social and psychological aspects. It is recommended to conduct the sentence-in-noise intelligibility test and the subjective hearing handicap survey as a standard audiometric measures to confirm the functional communication problems for the elderly.

A Comparison of Two Word-Recognition Tasks in Multitalker Babble: Speech Recognition in Noise Test (SPRINT) and Words-in-Noise Test (WIN)

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (07) ◽  
pp. 548-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard H. Wilson ◽  
Wendy B. Cates
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Word Recognition ◽  
Concurrent Validity ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Pure Tone Average ◽  
Noise Test ◽  
Speech Recognition In Noise

Background: The Speech Recognition in Noise Test (SPRINT) is a word-recognition instrument that presents the 200 Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6 (NU-6) words binaurally at 50 dB HL in a multitalker babble at a 9 dB signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) (Cord et al, 1992). The SPRINT was developed by and used by the Army as a more valid predictor of communication abilities (than pure-tone thresholds or word-recognition in quiet) for issues involving fitness for duty from a hearing perspective of Army personnel. The Words-in-Noise test (WIN) is a slightly different word-recognition task in a fixed level multitalker babble with 10 NU-6 words presented at each of 7 S/N from 24 to 0 dB S/N in 4 dB decrements (Wilson, 2003; Wilson and McArdle, 2007). For the two instruments, both the babble and the speakers of the words are different. The SPRINT uses all 200 NU-6 words, whereas the WIN uses a maximum of 70 words. Purpose: The purpose was to compare recognition performances by 24 young listeners with normal hearing and 48 older listeners with sensorineural hearing on the SPRINT and WIN protocols. Research Design: A quasi-experimental, mixed model design was used. Study Sample: The 24 young listeners with normal hearing (19 to 29 years, mean = 23.3 years) were from the local university and had normal hearing (≤20 dB HL; American National Standards Institute, 2004) at the 250–8000 Hz octave intervals. The 48 older listeners with sensorineural hearing loss (60 to 82 years, mean = 69.9 years) had the following inclusion criteria: (1) a threshold at 500 Hz between 15 and 30 dB HL, (2) a threshold at 1000 Hz between 20 and 40 dB HL, (3) a three-frequency pure-tone average (500, 1000, and 2000 Hz) of ≤40 dB HL, (4) word-recognition scores in quiet ≥40%, and (5) no history of middle ear or retrocochlear pathology as determined by an audiologic evaluation. Data Collection and Analysis: The speech materials were presented bilaterally in the following order: (1) the SPRINT at 50 dB HL, (2) two half lists of NU-6 words in quiet at 60 dB HL and 80 dB HL, and (3) the two 35-word lists of the WIN materials with the multitalker babble fixed at 60 dB HL. Data collection occurred during a 40–60 minute session. Recognition performances on each stimulus word were analyzed. Results: The listeners with normal hearing obtained 92.5% correct on the SPRINT with a 50% point on the WIN of 2.7 dB S/N. The listeners with hearing loss obtained 65.3% correct on the SPRINT and a WIN 50% point at 12.0 dB S/N. The SPRINT and WIN were significantly correlated (r = −0.81, p < .01), indicating that the SPRINT had good concurrent validity. The high-frequency, pure-tone average (1000, 2000, 4000 Hz) had higher correlations with the SPRINT, WIN, and NU-6 in quiet than did the traditional three-frequency pure-tone average (500, 1000, 2000 Hz). Conclusions: Graphically and numerically the SPRINT and WIN were highly related, which is indicative of good concurrent validity of the SPRINT.

The 500 Hz Masking-Level Difference and Word Recognition in Multitalker Babble for 40- to 89-Year-Old Listeners with Symmetrical Sensorineural Hearing Loss

2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (06) ◽  
pp. 367-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard H. Wilson ◽  
Deborah G. Weakley
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Word Recognition ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Recognition Performance ◽  
Recognition Task ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing ◽  
Systematic Relationship ◽  
Masking Level Difference

The purpose of this study was to determine if performances on a 500 Hz MLD task and a word-recognition task in multitalker babble covaried or varied independently for listeners with normal hearing and for listeners with hearing loss. Young listeners with normal hearing (n = 25) and older listeners (25 per decade from 40–80 years, n = 125) with sensorineural hearing loss were studied. Thresholds at 500 and 1000 Hz were ≤30 dB HL and ≤40 dB HL, respectively, with thresholds above 1000 Hz <100 dB HL. There was no systematic relationship between the 500 Hz MLD and word-recognition performance in multitalker babble. Higher SoNo and SπNo; thresholds were observed for the older listeners, but the MLDs were the same for all groups. Word recognition in babble in terms of signal-to-babble ratio was on average 6.5 (40- to 49-year-old group) to 10.8 dB (80- to 89-year-old group) poorer for the older listeners with hearing loss. Neither pure-tone thresholds nor word-recognition abilities in quiet accurately predicted word-recognition performance in multitalker babble.

Speech-Recognition Difficulties of the Hearing-Impaired Elderly

1990 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 726-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry E. Humes ◽  
Lisa Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
Recognition Performance ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Threshold Elevation

The role that sensorineural hearing loss plays in the speech-recognition difficulties of the hearing-impaired elderly is examined. One approach to this issue was to make between-group comparisons of performance for three groups of subjects: (a) young normal-hearing adults; (b) elderly hearing-impaired adults; and (c) young normal-hearing adults with simulated sensorineural hearing loss equivalent to that of the elderly subjects produced by a spectrally shaped masking noise. Another approach to this issue employed correlational analyses to examine the relation between audibility and speech recognition within the group of elderly hearing-impaired subjects. An additional approach was pursued in which an acoustical index incorporating adjustments for threshold elevation was used to examine the role audibility played in the speech-recognition performance of the hearing-impaired elderly. A wide range of listening conditions was sampled in this experiment. The conclusion was that the primary determiner of speech-recognition performance in the elderly hearing-impaired subjects was their threshold elevation.

scholarly journals Listening in Noise Remains a Significant Challenge for Cochlear Implant Users: Evidence from Early Deafened and Those with Progressive Hearing Loss Compared to Peers with Normal Hearing

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1381
Author(s):  
Yael Zaltz ◽  
Yossi Bugannim ◽  
Doreen Zechoval ◽  
Liat Kishon-Rabin ◽  
Ronen Perez
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Word Recognition ◽  
Test Word ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Receptive Vocabulary ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Profound Hearing Loss ◽  
Significant Challenge ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Listening In Noise

Cochlear implants (CIs) are the state-of-the-art therapy for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss, providing them with good functional hearing. Nevertheless, speech understanding in background noise remains a significant challenge. The purposes of this study were to: (1) conduct a novel within-study comparison of speech-in-noise performance across ages in different populations of CI and normal hearing (NH) listeners using an adaptive sentence-in-noise test, and (2) examine the relative contribution of sensory information and cognitive–linguistic factors to performance. Forty CI users (mean age 20 years) were divided into “early-implanted” <4 years (n = 16) and “late-implanted” >6 years (n = 11), all prelingually deafened, and “progressively deafened” (n = 13). The control group comprised 136 NH subjects (80 children, 56 adults). Testing included the Hebrew Matrix test, word recognition in quiet, and linguistic and cognitive tests. Results show poorer performance in noise for CI users across populations and ages compared to NH peers, and age at implantation and word recognition in quiet were found to be contributing factors. For those recognizing 50% or more of the words in quiet (n = 27), non-verbal intelligence and receptive vocabulary explained 63% of the variance in noise. This information helps delineate the relative contribution of top-down and bottom-up skills for speech recognition in noise and can help set expectations in CI counseling.

Skull Base Factors in Relation to Hearing Impairment in Cleft Palate Children

2000 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Carrie ◽  
A. Sprigg ◽  
A.J. Parker
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cleft Palate ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Outpatient Clinics ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Otologic Surgery ◽  
Soft Tissue Neck ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Primary Groups

Objective This investigation was performed to determine if an easily measurable, reproducible, bony parameter could be identified that might predict hearing loss in cleft palate children. Subjects In this prospective study performed at the Sheffield Children's Hospital (U.K.), 34 children with successfully repaired cleft palate who responded to a postal request for volunteers were assessed clinically, audiologically, and by lateral soft tissue neck radiography. Six children were excluded because of previous otologic surgery or poor quality radiographs. Twenty-six children who had the same series of investigations were randomly selected from routine otolaryngological outpatient clinics and acted as controls. Methods The sphenopalatine angle (SPA), which relates the facial and cranial components of the skull, was measured on each child's radiograph. Results The median SPA in the cleft palate group was significantly greater than in the control group (p = 0.01). In those cleft palate children with a hearing loss the sphenopalatine angle was smaller than in their normal hearing counterparts (p = 0.01). No significant difference was found in the SPA between the hearing loss and normal hearing controls. There was no significant difference in age ranges between the hearing and hearing loss subgroups in each of the two primary groups. Conclusions In this study, those cleft palate children with a smaller SPA have a greater incidence of hearing loss.

QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE ELDERLY WITH AN ACQUIRED SINGLE-SIDED DEAFNESS

2021 ◽  
pp. 239-244
Author(s):  
С. А. Карпищенко ◽  
Я. Л. Щербакова
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Single Sided Deafness

Цель исследования - оценка негативного влияния приобретенной односторонней глухоты на качество жизни пожилых пациентов. Выполнен проспективный анализ амбулаторных карт на предмет выявления пожилых пациентов с односторонней глухотой с последующим анкетированием при помощи опросников PSQ, HHIE, THI. Основными критериями включения являлись возраст старше 60 лет, одностороннее снижение слуха с порогами восприятия, соответствующими глухоте (>90 дБ), внезапное начало заболевания и продолжительность глухоты не более 5 лет. У пациентов с односторонней глухотой, которые составили основную группу исследования (n=25), по сравнению с пациентами контрольной группы (n=25) были выявлены повышенный уровень стресса и ухудшение качества жизни, о чем свидетельствуют данные опроса. Пациенты предъявляли жалобы на неудовлетворительную разборчивость речи, выраженный шум в пораженном ухе, невозможность определить источник звука и необходимость адаптироваться к определённым акустическим ситуациям, что требовало повышенной концентрации внимания, приводило к переутомлению, повышенной раздражительности, нервозности и когнитивным нарушениям. The study aimed to assess a negative impact of an acquired single-sided deafness on quality of life of the elderly. Prospective analysis of outpatient records was carried out to identify elderly patients with single-sided deafness using pure tone audiometry. The main inclusion criteria were age over 60, ≥90 dB threshold of an affected ear, ≤30 dB threshold of an intact ear, an acquired single-sided hearing loss with sudden onset and deafness duration less than 5 years. Taking inclusion criteria into account two groups were formed: the main group with single-sided deaf patients (n=25) and the control group of normal hearing patients (n=25). All participants were surveyed with PSQ, HHIE, THI questionnaires. There were revealed some changes in psychological status in the group of patients with single-sided deafness in comparison with the group of normal hearing participants. The scores of the questionnaires showed increased stress and anxiety levels and deterioration in quality of life. Patients with single-sided deafness complained about severe tinnitus in an affected ear, worse speech intelligibility in noisy environment and a constant need to adapt to the different acoustic situations that in turn badly affected psychoemotional homeostasis, intensifying stress severity, and quality of life.

Low-level Speech Recognition of Children with Hearing Aids

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jace Wolfe ◽  
Mila Duke ◽  
Sharon Miller ◽  
Erin Schafer ◽  
Christine Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Word Recognition ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Children With Hearing Loss

Background: For children with hearing loss, the primary goal of hearing aids is to provide improved access to the auditory environment within the limits of hearing aid technology and the child’s auditory abilities. However, there are limited data examining aided speech recognition at very low (40 dBA) and low (50 dBA) presentation levels. Purpose: Due to the paucity of studies exploring aided speech recognition at low presentation levels for children with hearing loss, the present study aimed to 1) compare aided speech recognition at different presentation levels between groups of children with normal hearing and hearing loss, 2) explore the effects of aided pure tone average (PTA) and aided Speech Intelligibility Index (SII) on aided speech recognition at low presentation levels for children with hearing loss ranging in degree from mild to severe, and 3) evaluate the effect of increasing low-level gain on aided speech recognition of children with hearing loss. Research Design: In phase 1 of this study, a two-group, repeated-measures design was used to evaluate differences in speech recognition. In phase 2 of this study, a single-group, repeated-measures design was used to evaluate the potential benefit of additional low-level hearing aid gain for low-level aided speech recognition of children with hearing loss. Study Sample: The first phase of the study included 27 school-age children with mild to severe sensorineural hearing loss and 12 school-age children with normal hearing. The second phase included eight children with mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss. Intervention: Prior to the study, children with hearing loss were fitted binaurally with digital hearing aids. Children in the second phase were fitted binaurally with digital study hearing aids and completed a trial period with two different gain settings: 1) gain required to match hearing aid output to prescriptive targets (i.e., primary program), and 2) a 6-dB increase in overall gain for low-level inputs relative to the primary program. In both phases of this study, real-ear verification measures were completed to ensure the hearing aid output matched prescriptive targets. Data Collection and Analysis: Phase 1 included monosyllabic word recognition and syllable-final plural recognition at three presentation levels (40, 50, and 60 dBA). Phase 2 compared speech recognition performance for the same test measures and presentation levels with two differing gain prescriptions. Results and Conclusions: In phase 1 of the study, aided speech recognition was significantly poorer in children with hearing loss at all presentation levels. Higher aided SII in the better ear (55 dB SPL input) was associated with higher CNC word recognition at a 40 dBA presentation level. In phase 2, increasing the hearing aid gain for low-level inputs provided a significant improvement in syllable-final plural recognition at very low-level inputs and resulted in a non-significant trend toward better monosyllabic word recognition at very low presentation levels. Additional research is needed to document the speech recognition difficulties children with hearing aids may experience with low-level speech in the real world as well as the potential benefit or detriment of providing additional low-level hearing aid gain

Evaluation of Hearing and Balance Functions of Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elif Tugba Sarac ◽  
Bilgehan Boke ◽  
Semsettin Okuyucu
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Sickle Cell Anemia ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Mixed Type ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Spontaneous Nystagmus ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Hearing Thresholds ◽  
Significant Difference

Introduction: Sickle cell anemia is a disease characterized by a wide vaso-occlusive incident from micro-vascular incident to muscularactivity. The cochlear function can also get affected by this vaso-occlusion. Objective: It is aimed at determining what kind of effects sickle cell anemia has on hearing and balance system. Methods: This study has been conducted on 46 patients with sickle cell anemia and 45 healthy individuals. For all participants, their pure tone hearing thresholds and videonystagmography (VNG) findings have been determined in 17 frequencies between 125–16.000 Hz. Results: All hearing thresholds between 125 and 16,000 Hz, pure tone averages of patients with sickle cell anemia have been found statistically significant to be higher than the corresponding values in the control group(p < 0.05). The normal hearing rate of patients with sickle cell anemia has been determined to be 71.1% conductive hearing loss (CHL) to be 4.4%, sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) to be 22.2%, and mixed type hearing loss to be 2.2% in right ear; the normal hearing rate has been determined to be 71.1%, CHL to be 2.2%, SNHL to be 22.2%, and mixed type hearing loss to be 4.4% in left ear. Statistically significant difference has not been found between head shake, spontaneous nystagmus, optokinetic, tracking test batteries, static and dynamic positional tests used in VNG, saccade accuracy and saccade peak velocity, which are saccadic test findings of 2 groups. However, saccadic latency, which is a saccadic test finding, has been determined to be longer in patients with sickle cell anemia in comparison to the control group. Conclusion: While sickle cell anemia causes hearing deficits, it does not have any effect on the central or peripheral vestibular system.

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