Speech perception and quality of life of open-fit hearing aid users

ABSTRACT Objective To relate the performance of individuals with hearing loss at high frequencies in speech perception with the quality of life before and after the fitting of an open-fit hearing aid (HA). Methods The WHOQOL-BREF had been used before the fitting and 90 days after the use of HA. The Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) had been conducted in two phases: (1) at the time of fitting without an HA (situation A) and with an HA (situation B); (2) with an HA 90 days after fitting (situation C). Study Sample Thirty subjects with sensorineural hearing loss at high frequencies. Results By using an analysis of variance and the Tukey’s test comparing the three HINT situations in quiet and noisy environments, an improvement has been observed after the HA fitting. The results of the WHOQOL-BREF have showed an improvement in the quality of life after the HA fitting (paired t-test). The relationship between speech perception and quality of life before the HA fitting indicated a significant relationship between speech recognition in noisy environments and in the domain of social relations after the HA fitting (Pearson’s correlation coefficient). Conclusions The auditory stimulation has improved speech perception and the quality of life of individuals.

Effects of auditory training in individuals with high-frequency hearing loss

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of a formal auditory training program on the behavioral, electrophysiological and subjective aspects of auditory function in individuals with bilateral high-frequency hearing loss. METHOD: A prospective study of seven individuals aged 46 to 57 years with symmetric, moderate high-frequency hearing loss ranging from 3 to 8 kHz was conducted. Evaluations of auditory processing (sound location, verbal and non-verbal sequential memory tests, the speech-in-noise test, the staggered spondaic word test, synthetic sentence identification with competitive ipsilateral and contralateral competitive messages, random gap detection and the standard duration test), auditory brainstem response and long-latency potentials and the administration of the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit questionnaire were performed in a sound booth before and immediately after formal auditory training. RESULTS: All of the participants demonstrated abnormal pre-training long-latency characteristics (abnormal latency or absence of the P3 component) and these abnormal characteristics were maintained in six of the seven individuals at the post-training evaluation. No significant differences were found between ears in the quantitative analysis of auditory brainstem responses or long-latency potentials. However, the subjects demonstrated improvements on ...

Influence of noise spectra on auditory frequencies & degree of temporary threshold shift.

Influence of noise spectra on auditory frequencies of 131 audiometrically normal human volunteers was assessed. Each subject was exposed to four different types of noise on different days for a period of 30 min. Noises utilized in this study were broadband noise (100 dBA), broadband noise (BBN) mixed independently with tones of 0.5, 1.2 and 4 kHz at three intensity levels (85, 95 and 105 dBA) and noises of different bandwidths (100 dBA) around the above tones as centre frequencies. BBN produced maximum TTS2 at 4 kHz (21.42 +/- 0.61 to 26.15 +/- 1.00 dB), while concentration of sound energy around these tones, affected hearing at one-half octave above the point of concentration of sound energy. TTS2 produced by 4 kHz tonal component of 95 and 105 dBA and 2 kHz of 105 dBA were significantly higher than the one produced by BBN at 4 kHz. The single tones of 2 and 4 kHz and noise of 1/3rd octave bandwidth (cf 4 kHz) produced TTS2s which were significantly higher as compared to that of BBN at 4 kHz. At the same centre frequency, noise concentrated in thinner bands was more injurious than that in the thicker bands. Lower frequencies of hearing appears to be more resistant to noise as for the same sound pressure level the TTS2 observed in low frequencies was less as compared to higher frequencies.