Bluetooth Coupling in Hearing Aids: Effect on Audiovisual Speech Recognition and Quality Rating of Compressed Speech in Older Individuals with Sloping Hearing Loss

Abstract Introduction Older individuals often report that they find it difficulty in enjoying watching television since they find it hard to follow the rapid intensity variations, and voice changes from scene to scene. Objective The present study investigated the effect of coupling the hearing aid with the television via Bluetooth on audiovisual speech recognition and quality rating of compressed speech in older individuals with hearing loss. Method Twenty participants in the age range of 60 to 75 years who had moderate to moderately severe sloping sensorineural hearing loss were bilaterally fitted with digital receiver in the canal hearing aids. The hearing aid was coupled with a television via Bluetooth using a streamer. The video recorded stimuli were presented at 65 dB SPL at normal rate, 35% compression and 45% compression conditions. Speech recognition scores and quality ratings were obtained for each condition with and without the Bluetooth streamer connected to the hearing aids. Results Speech recognition scores were significantly better with Bluetooth coupling compared with conventional hearing aid use at 40% compressed speech rate. The quality was also rated higher in almost all parameters across speech rates when Bluetooth was used. Conclusions The improved clarity and nullification of room reverberation offered by Bluetooth coupling can potentially compensate for the age-related temporal processing deficit contributing to ease of listening.

Bluetooth Coupling in Hearing Aids: Effect on Audiovisual Speech Recognition and Quality Rating of Compressed Speech in Older Individuals with Sloping Hearing Loss.

Introduction Older individuals often report that they find it difficulty in enjoying watching television since they find it hard to follow the rapid intensity variations, and voice changes from scene to scene. Objective The present study investigated the effect of coupling the hearing aid with the television via Bluetooth on audiovisual speech recognition and quality rating of compressed speech in older individuals with hearing loss. Method Twenty participants in the age range of 60 to 75 years who had moderate to moderately severe sloping sensorineural hearing loss were bilaterally fitted with digital receiver in the canal hearing aids. The hearing aid was coupled with a television via Bluetooth using a streamer. The video recorded stimuli were presented at 65 dB SPL at normal rate, 35% compression and 45% compression conditions. Speech recognition scores and quality ratings were obtained for each condition with and without the Bluetooth streamer connected to the hearing aids. Results Speech recognition scores were significantly better with Bluetooth coupling compared with conventional hearing aid use at 40% compressed speech rate. The quality was also rated higher in almost all parameters across speech rates when Bluetooth was used. Conclusions The improved clarity and nullification of room reverberation offered by Bluetooth coupling can potentially compensate for the age-related temporal processing deficit contributing to ease of listening.

SNR Prediction with ANN for UAV Applications in IoT Networks Based on Measurements.

The 5G deployment brings forth the usage of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to assist wireless networks by providing improved signal coverage, acting as relays or base-stations. Another technology that could help achieve 5G massive machine-type communications (mMtc) goals is the Long Range Wide-Area Network (LoRaWAN) communication protocol. This paper studied these complementary technologies, LoRa and UAV, through measurement campaigns in suburban, densely forested environments. Downlink and uplink communication at different heights and spreading factors (SF) demonstrate distinct behavior through our analysis. Moreover, a neural network was trained to predict the measured signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) behavior and results compared with SNR regression models. For the downlink scenario, the neural network results show a root mean square error (RMSE) variation between 1.2322-1.6623 dB, with an error standard deviation (SD) less than 1.6730 dB. For the uplink, the RMSE variation was between 0.8714-1.3891 dB, with an error SD less than 1.1706 dB.

A New Wavelet-Based Privatization Mechanism for Probability Distributions.

In this paper, we propose a new privatization mechanism based on a naive theory of a perturbation on a probability using wavelets, such as a noise perturbs the signal of a digital image sensor. Wavelets are employed to extract information from a wide range of types of data, including audio signals and images often related to sensors, as unstructured data. Specifically, the cumulative wavelet integral function is defined to build the perturbation on a probability with the help of this function. We show that an arbitrary distribution function additively perturbed is still a distribution function, which can be seen as a privatized distribution, with the privatization mechanism being a wavelet function. Thus, we offer a mathematical method for choosing a suitable probability distribution for data by starting from some guessed initial distribution. Examples of the proposed method are discussed. Computational experiments were carried out using a database-sensor and two related algorithms. Several knowledge areas can benefit from the new approach proposed in this investigation. The areas of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning constantly need techniques for data fitting, whose areas are closely related to sensors. Therefore, we believe that the proposed privatization mechanism is an important contribution to increasing the spectrum of existing techniques.

Ten Approaches That Improve Immunostaining: A Review of the Latest Advances for the Optimization of Immunofluorescence.

Immunostaining has emerged as one of the most common and valuable techniques that allow the localization of proteins at a quantitative level within cells and tissues using antibodies coupled to enzymes, fluorochromes, or colloidal nanogold particles. The application of fluorochromes during immunolabeling is referred to as immunofluorescence, a method coupled to widefield or confocal microscopy and extensively applied in basic research and clinical diagnosis. Notwithstanding, there are still disadvantages associated with the application of this technique due to technical challenges in the process, such as sample fixation, permeabilization, antibody incubation times, and fluid exchange, etc. These disadvantages call for continuous updates and improvements to the protocols extensively described in the literature. This review contributes to protocol optimization, outlining 10 current methods for improving sample processing in different stages of immunofluorescence, including a section with further recommendations. Additionally, we have extended our own antibody signal enhancer method, which was reported to significantly increase antibody signals and is useful for cervical cancer detection, to improve the signals of fluorochrome-conjugated staining reagents in fibrous tissues. In summary, this review is a valuable tool for experienced researchers and beginners when planning or troubleshooting the immunofluorescence assay.

Effects of hearing protector devices on speech intelligibility: the importance of individualized assessment.

Objectives. This study aimed to compare speech intelligibility in noise with and without hearing protection devices (HPDs). Methods. Fifty-one workers were distributed into three groups: noise-induced hearing loss group (NIHLG), normally hearing noise-exposed group (NG) and normally hearing non-exposed to noise group (CG). A free field system was used to emit monosyllables (65, 70 and 75 dB) and pink noise in different signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) (0, -5, -10 and -15). Results. In situations with HPDs, all groups showed a decrease in the percentage of correct responses with an increase in noise level. The HPD had little effect on speech intelligibility in the NIHLG and NG. Considering the effect caused by the HPD on speech intelligibility, it was observed that the group with the greatest loss was the CG for SNRs of -5, -10 and -15. Conclusion. Although speech intelligibility is influenced by the hearing threshold, the noise level and SNR are crucial for good speech intelligibility, either with or without an HPD. It is highlighted that the NG had worse results when compared with the CG, which may indicate changes in the auditory pathway resulting from continuous noise exposure, even in the absence of changes in the audiometric thresholds.

Phrases in noise test (PINT) Brazil: effectiveness of the test in children with hearing loss.

INTRODUCTION: One of the main implications of hearing impairment is the difficulty in perceiving speech sounds, especially in noisy environments. Thus, the frequency-modulated system is considered an important educational tool for children with hearing impairment because it improves speech perception in acoustically-unfavorable environments, such as in the classroom. The assessment of speech perception in noise is included in the verification protocol of this device. OBJECTIVES: To verify the effectiveness of the phrases in noise test Brazil in children with hearing impairment using an frequency-modulated system. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional cohort study. The sample included 40 children, aged 4 years to 11 years and 11 months old, divided into 4 groups: (1) 10 normal hearing children; (2) 13 children with hearing aids and frequency-modulated system; (3) 12 children using cochlear implant and fitted with the frequency-modulated system; and (4) 5 children diagnosed with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder, fitted with hearing aids and/or cochlear implant and with the frequency-modulated system. The phrases in noise test Brazil was used to evaluate speech perception in noise under the conditions with and without the frequency-modulated system. For the statistical analysis of the data, a significance level of 5% (p < 0.05) was adopted. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the groups when they were evaluated with the frequency-modulated system. The test was also validated through concurrent and convergent validation measures. Phrases in noise test Brazil is a viable option for monitoring auditory performance in noise in different groups of children with hearing impairmen. CONCLUSION: Phrases in noise test Brazil was effective in assessing speech perception in noise and may contribute to the improvement of the indication, fitting and follow-up protocols for the frequency-modulated system use.

The effect of noise variation over time and between populations on the fine spectrotemporal characteristics of different vocalization types.

Noise affects the recognition of acoustic signals by masking information. To compensate for increased noise, individuals often increase the minimum frequency of their vocalization to reduce noise interference. Our goal was to analyze the effect of noise on the characteristics of different bird vocalizations, through a comparative study of vocalizations on the same bird species. We analyzed the effects of noise variation on the fine spectrotemporal characteristics of calls, songs, and duets of White-eared Ground-sparrows (Melozone leucotis) across three populations over a three-year period. We recorded vocalizations and noise levels simultaneously from 41 territories between 2012 and 2014. We measured the duration, minimum, maximum, and maximum amplitude frequency, and counted the number of songs elements for each vocalization recorded. As we predicted, noise influences the minimum frequency of song, but did not have an effect on the fine spectrotemporal characteristics for calls and duets. We did, however, find that low and high frequency of calls and duets increased with noise-population-year interaction. Our results suggest that differences in noise values at each population were inadequate to observe changes in vocalization characteristics. In conclusion, evaluating responses to different noise levels on different vocalization types for the same species expands our understanding of the flexibility of birds to adjust vocalizations in response to anthropogenic noise.

Influence of different types of noise on sentence recognition in normally hearing adults / A influência de diferentes tipos de ruídos no reconhecimento de sentenças em adultos normo-ouvintes

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze speech perception in normally hearing adults when listening in silence and with different types of noise. Methods: 40 individuals of both sexes, aged 18 to 45 years, participated in the study. Speech perception was assessed with the Lists of Sentences in Portuguese test, without a competing noise and with speech-spectrum, babble, and cocktail party noise. A mixed-effects linear regression model and the 95% confidence interval were used. Results: the subjects' performance was worse in the three types of noise than in silence. When comparing the types of noise, differences were found in all combinations (speech-spectrum X babble, speech-spectrum X cocktail party, and babble X cocktail party), with a worse performance in babble, noise, followed by cocktail party. Conclusion: all noises negatively influenced speech perception, with a worse performance in babble, followed by cocktail party and speech-spectrum.

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar a percepção da fala em adultos normo-ouvintes na situação de escuta no silêncio e com diferentes tipos de ruídos. Métodos: participaram 40 indivíduos de ambos os gêneros, de 18 a 45 anos. Foi realizada a avaliação da percepção de fala com o teste Lista de Sentenças para o Português, sem ruído competitivo e com os ruídos: espectro de fala, babble e cocktail party. Foi utilizado modelo de regressão linear com efeitos mistos e adotado intervalo de confiança de 95%. Resultados: houve pior desempenho dos indivíduos com todos os ruídos em comparação a situação de escuta no silêncio. Na comparação entre os tipos de ruídos, também foi constatado diferença em todas as combinações (espectro de fala X babble, espectro de fala X cocktail party e babble X cocktail party), com pior desempenho dos indivíduos com os ruídos babble e cocktail party, respectivamente. Conclusão: todos os ruídos influenciaram negativamente a percepção de fala, com pior desempenho quando utilizado o ruído babble, seguido pelo cocktail party e espectro de fala.

Effect of Quiet and Noise on P300 Response in Individuals with Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder

Abstract Introduction Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) is a clinical condition in which individuals have normal cochlear responses and abnormal neural responses. There is a lack of evidence in the literature regarding the neural discrimination skill in individuals with ANSD, especially when the signal is presented in the presence of noise. Objectives The present study was performed with the aim to investigate auditory discrimination skill, in quiet and in the presence of noise, in individuals with ANSD and to compare the findings with normal-hearing individuals. Methods A total of 30 individuals with normal hearing sensitivity and 30 individuals with ANSD in the age range of 15 to 55 years old, with the mean age of 27.86 years old, were the participants. P300 response was recorded from both groups using syllable pairs /ba/-/da/ in oddball paradigm and the syllable /da/ in repetitive paradigm in quiet and at +10 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Results There was significant prolongation in latency and reaction time, and reduction in amplitude of P300 response and sensitivity in both groups with the addition of noise. The topographic pattern analysis showed activation of the central-parietal-occipital region of the brain in individuals with ANSD, whereas activation of the central-parietal region was observed in individuals with normal hearing. The activation was more diffused in individuals with ANSD compared with that of individuals with normal hearing. Conclusion The individuals with ANSD showed a significantly more adverse effect of noise on the neural discrimination skill than the normal counterpart.

Effect of Quiet and Noise on P300 Response in Individuals with Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder.

Introduction Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) is a clinical condition in which individuals have normal cochlear responses and abnormal neural responses. There is a lack of evidence in the literature regarding the neural discrimination skill in individuals with ANSD, especially when the signal is presented in the presence of noise. Objectives The present study was performed with the aim to investigate auditory discrimination skill, in quiet and in the presence of noise, in individuals with ANSD and to compare the findings with normal-hearing individuals. Methods A total of 30 individuals with normal hearing sensitivity and 30 individuals with ANSD in the age range of 15 to 55 years old, with the mean age of 27.86 years old, were the participants. P300 response was recorded from both groups using syllable pairs /ba/-/da/ in oddball paradigm and the syllable /da/ in repetitive paradigm in quiet and at +10 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Results There was significant prolongation in latency and reaction time, and reduction in amplitude of P300 response and sensitivity in both groups with the addition of noise. The topographic pattern analysis showed activation of the central-parietal-occipital region of the brain in individuals with ANSD, whereas activation of the central-parietal region was observed in individuals with normal hearing. The activation was more diffused in individuals with ANSD compared with that of individuals with normal hearing. Conclusion The individuals with ANSD showed a significantly more adverse effect of noise on the neural discrimination skill than the normal counterpart.

Comparison between STIR and T2-weighted SPAIR sequences in the evaluation of inflammatory sacroiliitis: diagnostic performance and signal-to-noise ratio.

OBJECTIVE: To compare two different fat-saturated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques-STIR and T2 SPAIR-in terms of image quality, as well as in terms of their diagnostic performance in detecting sacroiliac joints (SIJ) active inflammation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 69 consecutive patients with suspected spondyloarthritis undergoing MRI between 2012 and 2014. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was calculated with the method recommended by the American College of Radiology. Two readers evaluated SIJ MRI following ASAS criteria to assess diagnostic performance regarding the detection of active SIJ inflammation. T1 SPIR Gd+ sequence was used as the reference standard. RESULTS: The mean SNR was 72.8 for the T1 SPIR Gd+ sequence, compared with 14.1 and 37.6 for the STIR and T2 SPAIR sequences, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of STIR and SPAIR T2 sequences did not show any statistically significant differences, for the diagnosis of sacroiliitis with active inflammation. CONCLUSION: Our results corroborate those in the recent literature suggesting that STIR sequences are not superior to T2 SPAIR sequences for SIJ evaluation in patients with suspected spondyloarthritis. On 1.5-T MRI, T2-weighted SPAIR sequences provide better SNRs than do STIR sequences, which reinforces that T2 SPAIR sequences may be an advantageous option for the evaluation of sacroiliitis.

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a qualidade da imagem das técnicas de saturação de gordura T2 SPAIR e STIR e, adicionalmente, comparar o desempenho diagnóstico das duas sequências para detecção de inflamação ativa nas imagens de ressonância magnética (RM) das sacroilíacas. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos 69 pacientes consecutivos que realizaram RM das articulações sacroilíacas no período de 2012 a 2014. O cálculo da relação sinal/ruído (RSR) foi realizado pelo método do Colégio Americano de Radiologia. O desempenho diagnóstico foi realizado utilizando os resultados da leitura das imagens da sequência T1 SPIR Gd+ como referência. RESULTADOS: A avaliação da RSR mostrou média de 72,8 para a sequência T1 SPIR Gd+. A sensibilidade e a especificidade das sequências STIR e SPAIR 2 para o diagnóstico de sacroiliite com inflamação ativa não apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significantes. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos resultados reforçam a literatura recente sugerindo que não há superioridade da sequência STIR em relação à sequência SPAIR T2 para a avaliação das sacroilíacas em pacientes com espondiloartrite. A sequência SPAIR T2 apresenta melhor RSR em relação à sequência STIR em imagens de RM de 1,5 T, o que reforça que a sequência SPAIR T2 possa ser utilizada como opção vantajosa na avaliação da sacroiliite inflamatória.

Comparison between STIR and T2-weighted SPAIR sequences in the evaluation of inflammatory sacroiliitis: diagnostic performance and signal-to-noise ratio / Comparação do desempenho diagnóstico e da relação sinal-ruído das sequências SPAIR T2 e STIR na avaliação de sacroiliite inflamatória

Abstract Objective: To compare two different fat-saturated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques-STIR and T2 SPAIR-in terms of image quality, as well as in terms of their diagnostic performance in detecting sacroiliac joints (SIJ) active inflammation. Materials and Methods: We included 69 consecutive patients with suspected spondyloarthritis undergoing MRI between 2012 and 2014. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was calculated with the method recommended by the American College of Radiology. Two readers evaluated SIJ MRI following ASAS criteria to assess diagnostic performance regarding the detection of active SIJ inflammation. T1 SPIR Gd+ sequence was used as the reference standard. Results: The mean SNR was 72.8 for the T1 SPIR Gd+ sequence, compared with 14.1 and 37.6 for the STIR and T2 SPAIR sequences, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of STIR and SPAIR T2 sequences did not show any statistically significant differences, for the diagnosis of sacroiliitis with active inflammation. Conclusion: Our results corroborate those in the recent literature suggesting that STIR sequences are not superior to T2 SPAIR sequences for SIJ evaluation in patients with suspected spondyloarthritis. On 1.5-T MRI, T2-weighted SPAIR sequences provide better SNRs than do STIR sequences, which reinforces that T2 SPAIR sequences may be an advantageous option for the evaluation of sacroiliitis.

Resumo Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a qualidade da imagem das técnicas de saturação de gordura T2 SPAIR e STIR e, adicionalmente, comparar o desempenho diagnóstico das duas sequências para detecção de inflamação ativa nas imagens de ressonância magnética (RM) das sacroilíacas. Materiais e Métodos: Foram incluídos 69 pacientes consecutivos que realizaram RM das articulações sacroilíacas no período de 2012 a 2014. O cálculo da relação sinal/ruído (RSR) foi realizado pelo método do Colégio Americano de Radiologia. O desempenho diagnóstico foi realizado utilizando os resultados da leitura das imagens da sequência T1 SPIR Gd+ como referência. Resultados: A avaliação da RSR mostrou média de 72,8 para a sequência T1 SPIR Gd+. A sensibilidade e a especificidade das sequências STIR e SPAIR 2 para o diagnóstico de sacroiliite com inflamação ativa não apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significantes. Conclusão: Nossos resultados reforçam a literatura recente sugerindo que não há superioridade da sequência STIR em relação à sequência SPAIR T2 para a avaliação das sacroilíacas em pacientes com espondiloartrite. A sequência SPAIR T2 apresenta melhor RSR em relação à sequência STIR em imagens de RM de 1,5 T, o que reforça que a sequência SPAIR T2 possa ser utilizada como opção vantajosa na avaliação da sacroiliite inflamatória.

A Theoretical Study and Numerical Simulation of a Quasi-Distributed Sensor Based on the Low-Finesse Fabry-Perot Interferometer: Frequency-Division Multiplexing.

The application of the sensor optical fibers in the areas of scientific instrumentation and industrial instrumentation is very attractive due to its numerous advantages. In the industry of civil engineering for example, quasi-distributed sensors made with optical fiber are used for reliable strain and temperature measurements. Here, a quasi-distributed sensor in the frequency domain is discussed. The sensor consists of a series of low-finesse Fabry-Perot interferometers where each Fabry-Perot interferometer acts as a local sensor. Fabry-Perot interferometers are formed by pairs of identical low reflective Bragg gratings imprinted in a single mode fiber. All interferometer sensors have different cavity length, provoking frequency-domain multiplexing. The optical signal represents the superposition of all interference patterns which can be decomposed using the Fourier transform. The frequency spectrum was analyzed and sensor's properties were defined. Following that, a quasi-distributed sensor was numerically simulated. Our sensor simulation considers sensor properties, signal processing, noise system, and instrumentation. The numerical results show the behavior of resolution vs. signal-to-noise ratio. From our results, the Fabry-Perot sensor has high resolution and low resolution. Both resolutions are conceivable because the Fourier Domain Phase Analysis (FDPA) algorithm elaborates two evaluations of Bragg wavelength shift.

Planilha de triagem acústica da sala de aula: tradução e adaptação cultural para o Português Brasileiro / Classroom acoustical screening survey worksheet: translation and cultural adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese

RESUMO Introdução No ambiente escolar, os professores sentem-se incomodados em ministrar aulas em salas ruidosas e percebem a dificuldade dos alunos em ouvir a informação, constatando, assim, que o ruído não é apenas um incômodo, mas também um fator agravante, que interfere no rendimento escolar. Portanto, são imprescindíveis condições acústicas adequadas para o ambiente educacional. Atualmente, não há padronização da metodologia que deve ser utilizada para mensurações das características acústicas das salas de aula. Objetivo Traduzir e adaptar para o Português Brasileiro o protocolo “Classroom Acoustical Screening Survey Worksheet”. Métodos A tradução e a adaptação do protocolo incluiram tradução para o Português, adaptação linguística e revisão da equivalência gramatical e idiomática, assim como a validação de conteúdo, por meio de duas etapas: avaliação individual e reunião entre os especialistas. Resultados O protocolo foi traduzido e adaptado para o Português, resultando no instrumento “Planilha de triagem acústica da sala de aula”. O protocolo apresentou validade de conteúdo e, após apreciação e consenso dos especialistas, mostrou que a adaptação cultural do conteúdo foi clara e objetiva, sendo possível aplicá-la à realidade das salas de aula brasileiras. Conclusão O protocolo “Classroom Acoustical Screening Survey Worksheet” foi trazido e adaptado para o Português Brasileiro, sendo nomeado “Planilha de triagem acústica da sala de aula”. Estudos futuros deverão investigar sua aplicabilidade e efetividade na observação das características acústicas das salas de aula no cenário nacional.

ABSTRACT Introduction In the school environment, teachers feel uncomfortable when teaching in noisy classrooms and realize the difficulty of students in hearing the information, what makes the noise, not just an annoyance, but also an aggravating factor that interferes with school performance. Therefore, appropriate acoustic conditions to the educational environment are indispensable. Currently, there is no standardization of the methodology that should be used to measure the acoustic characteristics of classrooms. Purpose Translating and adapting into Brazilian Portuguese the “Classroom Acoustical Screening Survey Worksheet” protocol. Methods The translation and adaptation of the protocol have included the translation into Portuguese, linguistic adaptation, and grammar and idiomatic equivalences revision, as well as the content validation by means of two steps: individual evaluation and meeting of specialists. Results The protocol was translated and adapted into Portuguese. The protocol presented content validity, and after the appreciation and consensus of the experts, it was showed that the cultural adaptation of content was evident and objective, making possible to apply it in Brazilian classrooms. Conclusion “Classroom Acoustical Screening Survey Worksheet” protocol was translated and adapted into Brazilian Portuguese, and named “Planilha de triagem acústica da sala de aula.” Further studies should investigate its applicability and effectiveness in observing the acoustic characteristics of the classroom in the national scenario.

Reconhecimento de fala no ruído em sujeitos com audição normal e queixa de zumbido / Speech recognition in noise in individuals with normal hearing and tinnitus

RESUMO Introdução O desempenho auditivo para sons supraliminares pode estar comprometido, mesmo quando o audiograma é normal. Pacientes com zumbido sem perda auditiva queixam-se frequentemente de dificuldades de compreensão de fala, principalmente em ambientes ruidosos. Objetivo Investigar o desempenho em testes de fala com ruído, em indivíduos com limiares audiométricos normais, com e sem queixa de zumbido. Métodos Foram avaliados 20 sujeitos adultos, com idade entre 18 e 45 anos, com audição dentro dos padrões de normalidade, que apresentavam, ou não, o sintoma de zumbido, divididos em grupo zumbido e grupo controle. Foram pesquisados os limiares de reconhecimento de sentenças no ruído, por meio do teste Listas de Sentenças em Português. Resultados O grupo zumbido apresentou pior desempenho para os dois ruídos utilizados, porém, com diferença estatística somente na utilização do ruído speech-noise. Conclusão O desempenho de sujeitos com audição normal e queixa de zumbido, no reconhecimento de fala na presença de ruído competitivo, foi pior que em indivíduos sem o sintoma, principalmente na etapa com o ruído speech-noise.

ABSTRACT Introduction Auditory performance for suprathreshold sounds may be compromised even when the audiogram is normal. Patients with tinnitus but without hearing loss often complain of speech recognition difficulties, especially in noisy environments. Purpose To investigate the performance in noise tests in individuals with normal hearing thresholds with and without tinnitus. Methods Twenty adult individuals were evaluated, aged between 18 and 45 years, with hearing within normal limits, presenting or not with tinnitus symptoms, divided into two groups, the tinnitus group and the control group. The SRTN (sentence recognition threshold in noise) were surveyed with the LSP test (list of sentences in Portuguese). Results The tinnitus group had the worst performance for the two noises used, but with a statistically significant difference only when using “speech-noise”. Conclusion We found that the performance of individuals with normal hearing and tinnitus in speech recognition in the presence of background noise is poorer than in patients without the symptom mainly in step obtained with speech-shaped noise.

Avaliação eletroacústica da via eferente olivococlear em indivíduos com queixa de zumbido / Electroacoustic evaluation of the olivocochlear efferent pathway in subjects with tinnitus complaint

RESUMO Objetivo: investigar o efeito supressor das emissões otoacústicas por estímulos transientes em indivíduos com queixa zumbido e audiometria normal e analisar sua relação com as variáveis idade, sexo, lateralidade do zumbido e grau de incômodo. Métodos: foram avaliados 60 sujeitos, 14 do gênero masculino e 46 do gênero feminino, entre 20 e 59 anos de idade, sendo 30 com queixa de zumbido (grupo experimental) e 30 sem zumbido (grupo controle). Foi realizada a pesquisa da supressão das emissões otoacústicas por estímulos transientes, para ruído branco de 50 dBNA, na condição contralateral nas bandas de frequência de 700, 1000, 1400, 2000, 2800 and 4000Hz. Resultado: no grupo experimental, a supressão das emissões otoacústicas transientes média variou de 2,14 a 4,38. No grupo controle o valor médio da supressão das emissões otoacústicas transientes variou de 2,27 a 4,88. Conclusão: os valores de supressão das emissões otoacústicas foram semelhantes nos indivíduos com e sem zumbido, embora o grupo com o sintoma tenha tido resultados menores, sugerindo pior desempenho do Complexo Olivar Superior.

ABSTRACT Purpose: to investigate the suppressive effect of transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions in subjects with tinnitus complaint and normal audiometry and to analyze the relation to age, gender, laterality of tinnitus and its degree of discomfort. Methods: we assessed 60 subjects, 14 males and 46 females, aged between 20 and 59 years, 30 with tinnitus (experimental group) and 30 without tinnitus complaint (control group). The suppression of transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions was investigated with contralateral white noise at 50 dBHL at the frequency bands of 700, 1000, 1400, 2000, 2800 and 4000Hz. Results: the mean value for the suppression of transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions in the experimental group ranged from 2.14 to 4.38. In the control group, the mean value for suppression of transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions ranged from 2.27 to 4.88. Conclusion: suppression values of otoacoustic emissions were similar in subjects with and without tinnitus, although the results of the tinnitus group were lower, suggesting worse performance of the Superior Olivary Complex.

A simple solution for antibody signal enhancement in immunofluorescence and triple immunogold assays.

Immunolocalization techniques are standard in biomedical research. Tissue fixation with aldehydes and cell membrane permeabilization with detergents can distort the specific binding of antibodies to their high affinity epitopes. In immunofluorescence protocols, it is desirable to quench the sample's autofluorescence without reduction of the antibody-dependent signal. Here we show that adding glycine to the blocking buffer and diluting the antibodies in a phosphate saline solution containing glycine, Triton X-100, Tween20 and hydrogen peroxide increase the specific antibody signal in tissue immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopy. This defined antibody signal enhancer (ASE) solution gives similar results to the commercially available Pierce Immunostain Enhancer (PIE). Furthermore, prolonged tissue incubation in resin and fixative and application of ASE or PIE are described in an improved protocol for triple immunogold electron microscopy that is used to show co-localization of GABA-A ρ2 and dopamine D2 receptors in GFAP-positive astrocytes in the mouse striatum. The addition of glycine, Triton X-100, Tween20 and hydrogen peroxide during antibody incubation steps is recommended in immunohistochemistry methods.

Differential frequency-dependent antidromic resonance of the Schaffer collaterals and mossy fibers.

To better understand information transfer along the hippocampal pathways and its plasticity, here we studied the antidromic responses of the dentate gyrus (DG) and CA3 to activation of the mossy fibers and Schaffer collaterals, respectively, in hippocampal slices from naïve and epileptic rats. We applied trains of 600 electrical stimuli at functionally meaningful frequencies (θ, ß/γ and γ). The responses of the DG to θ frequency trains underwent rapid potentiation that lasted about 400 stimuli, after which they progressively returned to control value. At ß/γ and γ frequencies, however, the initial potentiation was followed by a strong frequency-dependent depression within the first 50 stimuli. In kindled animals, the initial potentiation was stronger than in control preparations and the resonant phase at θ frequency lasted longer. In contrast, CA3 responses were exponentially depressed at all frequencies, but depression was significantly less intense at θ frequency in epileptic preparations. Failure of fibers to fire action potentials could account for some of the aforementioned characteristics, but waveforms of the intracellular action potentials also changed as the field responses did, i.e., half-duration and time-to-peak increased in both structures along the stimulation trains. Noteworthy, block of glutamate and GABA ionotropic receptors prevented resonance and reduced the depression of antidromic responses to ß/γ and γ stimulation recorded in the DG, but not in CA3. We show that the different behavior in the information transfer along these pathways depends on the frequency at which action potentials are generated, excitability history and anatomical features, including myelination and tortuosity. In addition, the mossy fibers are endowed with ionotropic receptors and terminal active properties conferring them their sui generis non-passive antidromic responses.

Percepção de fala no ruído em músicos / Hearing perception of musicians in noisy conditions

Objetivo Verificar se o estudo de música pode aprimorar a habilidade de compreensão de fala em presença de ruído. Métodos Participaram deste estudo 43 sujeitos de ambos os gêneros, com idade entre 18 e 33 anos, distribuídos em três grupos: o Grupo de Músicos, composto por 15 sujeitos com estudo formal de música; o Grupo de Intermediários, composto por 13 sujeitos com estudo informal de música e o Grupo de Não Músicos, composto por 15 sujeitos sem experiência musical. Todos os sujeitos encontravam-se dentro dos padrões de normalidade para limiares auditivos e condições de orelhas externa e média. Aplicou-se o teste de compreensão de fala no ruído, Hearing in Noise Test, na versão Português do Brasil. Os resultados foram analisados estatisticamente, pelos métodos ANOVA e Qui-quadrado. Resultados Todos os grupos encontraram-se dentro dos valores de normatização do teste. Não houve diferença significativa na análise dos grupos entre si. Na comparação dos resultados, de acordo com o gênero dos participantes, a única diferença observada foi entre os integrantes do gênero feminino dos grupos de Músicos e Intermediários, com melhor desempenho do grupo de Intermediários. Conclusão A experiência musical não influencia no desempenho, em relação à percepção de fala no ruído. .

Purpose To determine whether musical practice improves speech comprehension in noisy conditions. Methods A total 43 female and male subjects aged between 18 and 33 years were distributed into three groups: the Musicians Group, comprising 15 subjects with formal music education; the Intermediate Group, comprising 13 subjects with informal music education; and the Non-musicians Group, comprising 15 subjects without musical experience. The participants had normal hearing thresholds and external and middle ear condition. The Hearing in Noise Test, Brazilian Version, was administered, and the results were analyzed by ANOVA and Chi-Square methods. Results The three groups were normal based on the test standards. There was no statistical difference between the groups overall. In the gender comparison, the only the female participants in the Musician and Intermediate groups differed, and the Intermediate Group performed better. Conclusion Previous musical experience did not influence speech in noise perception. .