Margaret Scott, Fashion in the Middle Age

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is a disorder of porphyrin metabolism which occurs most often during middle age. The disease is characterized by excessive production of uroporphyrin which causes photosensitivity and skin eruptions on hands and arms, due to minor trauma and exposure to sunlight. The pathology of the blister is well known, being subepidermal with epidermodermal separation, it is not always absolutely clear, whether the basal lamina is attached to the epidermis or the dermis. The purpose of our investigation was to study the attachment of the basement membrane in the blister by comparing scanning with transmission electron microscopy.

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Use of a Mild-Gain Hearing Aid by Middle-Age Normal-Hearing Adults Who Do and Do Not Self-Report Trouble Hearing in Background Noise

American Journal of Audiology ◽

10.1044/2020_aja-19-00051 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 419-428

Author(s):

Jasleen Singh ◽

Karen A. Doherty

Keyword(s):

Hearing Aids ◽

Background Noise ◽

Middle Age ◽

Hearing Aid ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Self Report ◽

Hearing Aid Use ◽

Hearing Handicap ◽

Before And After ◽

Hearing Problems

Purpose The aim of the study was to assess how the use of a mild-gain hearing aid can affect hearing handicap, motivation, and attitudes toward hearing aids for middle-age, normal-hearing adults who do and do not self-report trouble hearing in background noise. Method A total of 20 participants (45–60 years of age) with clinically normal-hearing thresholds (< 25 dB HL) were enrolled in this study. Ten self-reported difficulty hearing in background noise, and 10 did not self-report difficulty hearing in background noise. All participants were fit with mild-gain hearing aids, bilaterally, and were asked to wear them for 2 weeks. Hearing handicap, attitudes toward hearing aids and hearing loss, and motivation to address hearing problems were evaluated before and after participants wore the hearing aids. Participants were also asked if they would consider purchasing a hearing aid before and after 2 weeks of hearing aid use. Results After wearing the hearing aids for 2 weeks, hearing handicap scores decreased for the participants who self-reported difficulty hearing in background noise. No changes in hearing handicap scores were observed for the participants who did not self-report trouble hearing in background noise. The participants who self-reported difficulty hearing in background noise also reported greater personal distress from their hearing problems, were more motivated to address their hearing problems, and had higher levels of hearing handicap compared to the participants who did not self-report trouble hearing in background noise. Only 20% (2/10) of the participants who self-reported trouble hearing in background noise reported that they would consider purchasing a hearing aid after 2 weeks of hearing aid use. Conclusions The use of mild-gain hearing aids has the potential to reduce hearing handicap for normal-hearing, middle-age adults who self-report difficulty hearing in background noise. However, this may not be the most appropriate treatment option for their current hearing problems given that only 20% of these participants would consider purchasing a hearing aid after wearing hearing aids for 2 weeks.

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