Speech-in-Noise Testing: An Introduction for Audiologists
Semin Hear DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1770155Speech-in-noise testing has been proposed as a useful part of the audiometric test battery dating back to the earliest years of the field of audiology. Many speech-in-noise tests have been developed and used to varying degrees. However, multiple barriers have prevented speech-in-noise testing from being used widely in the clinic. The purpose of this article is to provide a resource to audiologists and other hearing health professionals who want to know (1) what tests are available for use, (2) the rationale behind specific tests, and (3) important considerations when selecting one or m...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - September 11, 2023 Category: Audiology Authors: Billings, Curtis J. Olsen, Tessa M. Charney, Lauren Madsen, Brandon M. Holmes, Corrie E. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Clinical Gaps-in-Noise Measures in Blast-Exposed Veterans: Associations with Electrophysiological and Behavioral Responses
Semin Hear DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1770139It has been established that blast exposure and brain injury can result in self-reported and measured auditory processing deficits in individuals with normal or near-normal hearing sensitivity. However, the impaired sensory and/or cognitive mechanisms underlying these auditory difficulties are largely unknown. This work used a combination of behavioral and electrophysiological measures to explore how neural stimulus discrimination and processing speed contribute to impaired temporal processing in blast-exposed Veterans measured using the behavioral Gaps-in-Noise (GIN) Test. Results con...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - August 23, 2023 Category: Audiology Authors: Papesh, Melissa A. Koerner, Tess Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Preventing Occupational Hearing Loss: 50 Years of Research and Recommendations from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Semin Hear DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1769499For more than 50 years, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the United States (U.S.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has been actively working to reduce the effects of noise and ototoxic chemicals on worker hearing. NIOSH has pioneered basic and applied research on occupational hearing risks and preventive measures. The Institute has issued recommendations and promoted effective interventions through mechanisms ranging from formal criteria documents to blogs and social media. NIOSH has conducted surveillance and published statist...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - August 3, 2023 Category: Audiology Authors: Themann, Christa L. Masterson, Elizabeth A. Peterson, Jeffrey Shawn Murphy, William J. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
The Impact of Tinnitus Severity on Work Functioning among U.S. Military Veterans with Tinnitus
Semin Hear DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1770152Tinnitus is highly prevalent among military Veterans. Severe tinnitus can be associated with negative impacts on daily life. Veterans with severe tinnitus may also have greater difficulties in functional roles, including work. However, few studies have explicitly explored this relationship. Traumatic brain injury (TBI), also prevalent among Veterans, is associated with tinnitus and can additionally impair work functioning. This quantitative investigation used a population-based survey to assess the relationship between tinnitus severity, measured using the Tinnitus Functional Index (TF...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - July 24, 2023 Category: Audiology Authors: Coco, Laura Hooker, Elizabeth R. Gilbert, Tess A. Harker, Graham R. Clark, Khaya D. Reavis, Kelly M. Henry, James A. Zaugg, Tara L. Carlson, Kathleen F. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Audiological Tests Used in the Evaluation of the Effects of Solvents on the Human Auditory System: A Mixed Methods Review
This study aimed to scope the literature, identify knowledge gaps, appraise results, and synthesize the evidence on the audiological evaluation of workers exposed to solvents. We searched Medline, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and NIOSHTIC-2 up to March 22, 2021. Using Covidence, two authors independently assessed study eligibility, risk of bias, and extracted data. National Institute of Health Quality Assessment Tools was used in the quality evaluation of included studies; the Downs and Black checklist was used to assess the risk of bias. Of 454 located references, 37 were included. Twenty-five tests were studied: two tests to ...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - July 21, 2023 Category: Audiology Authors: Roggia, Simone Mariotti Zucki, Fernanda Fuente, Adrian Lacerda, Adriana Bender Moreira de Gong, Wei Carlson, Krystin Morata, Thais C. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Remote Technologies to Enhance Service Delivery for Adults: Clinical Research Perspectives
This article provides an overview of the clinical research evidence-base across a range of remote technologies along the hearing health journey. This includes qualitative, as well as quantitative, methods to ensure the end-users' voice is at the core of the research, thereby promoting person-centered principles. Most of these remote technologies are available and some are already in use, albeit not widespread. Finally, whenever new technologies or processes are implemented into services, be they clinical, hybrid, or consumer, careful consideration needs to be given to the required behavior change of the key people (e.g., c...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - July 21, 2023 Category: Audiology Authors: Ferguson, Melanie A. Eikelboom, Robert H. Sucher, Cathy M. Maidment, David W. Bennett, Rebecca J. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
A Pilot Study to Evaluate a Residual Inhibition Technique in Hearing Aids for Suppression of Tinnitus
Semin Hear DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1770153Tinnitus acoustic therapy is defined as any use of sound where the intent is to alter the tinnitus perception and/or the reactions to tinnitus in a clinically beneficial way. The parameters of sound that may cause beneficial effects, however, are currently only theorized with limited data supporting their effectiveness. Residual inhibition is the temporary suppression or elimination of tinnitus that is usually observed following appropriate auditory stimulation. Our pilot study investigated the effects of a therapeutic acoustic stimulus that was individually customized to maximize resi...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - June 28, 2023 Category: Audiology Authors: Quinn, Candice M. Vachhani, Jay J. Thielman, Emily J. Kulinski, Devon Sonstroem, Anneka Henry, James A. Smith, Sherri L. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Imaging the Ear Anatomy and Function Using Optical Coherence Tomography Vibrometry
Semin Hear DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1770154Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a novel technology for performing real-time high-speed and high-resolution cross-sectional imaging on the micro-scale in situ. It is analogous to ultrasound imaging, except that it uses light instead of sound. OCT has recently been introduced in auditory research to visualize the various structures of the ear with a minimally invasive operation. In addition, OCT can be used as a vibrometry system that is capable to detect sound-induced sub-nanometer vibrations of the middle and inner ear. OCT-vibrometry measures depth-resolved vibrations into the s...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - June 26, 2023 Category: Audiology Authors: Dong, Wei Meenderink, Sebastiaan W.F. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Workers' Compensation Costs for Occupational Hearing Loss Claims in the United States, 2009 –2013
This study estimated the average annual number of U.S. workers' compensation (WC) claims for occupational hearing loss (OHL) and their associated cost and identified the industry/occupation classifications with the highest numbers of OHL claims. The most recent U.S. cost estimate ($242 million) was based on data from one state in 1 year (1991). WC data from the National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. (35 states) and two additional individual states were examined, incorporating data from 37 states and the District of Columbia. Costs and numbers of claims were estimated for the 13 missing states to develop estimates...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - June 22, 2023 Category: Audiology Authors: Masterson, Elizabeth A. Wurzelbacher, Steven J. Bushnell, P. Timothy Tseng, Chih-Yu Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Age-Related Changes in Temporal Binding Involving Auditory and Vestibular Inputs
Semin Hear DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1770137Maintaining balance involves the combination of sensory signals from the visual, vestibular, proprioceptive, and auditory systems. However, physical and biological constraints ensure that these signals are perceived slightly asynchronously. The brain only recognizes them as simultaneous when they occur within a period of time called the temporal binding window (TBW). Aging can prolong the TBW, leading to temporal uncertainty during multisensory integration. This effect might contribute to imbalance in the elderly but has not been examined with respect to vestibular inputs. Here, we com...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - June 22, 2023 Category: Audiology Authors: Malone, Alexander K. Hungerford, Michelle E. Smith, Spencer B. Chang, Nai-Yuan N. Uchanski, Rosalie M. Oh, Yong-Hee Lewis, Richard F. Hullar, Timothy E. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
History of Tinnitus Research at the VA National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR), 1997 –2021: Studies and Key Findings
Semin Hear DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1770140The Veterans Affairs (VA) Rehabilitation Research & Development (RR&D) National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR) was first funded by the RR&D Service in 1997 and has been funded continuously since that time. The overall purpose of the NCRAR is to “improve the quality of life of Veterans and others with hearing and balance problems through clinical research, technology development, and education that leads to better patient care” (
www.ncrar.research.va.gov
). An important component of the research conducted at the NCRAR has been a focus on ...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - June 22, 2023 Category: Audiology Authors: Henry, James A. Folmer, Robert L. Zaugg, Tara L. Theodoroff, Sarah M. Quinn, Candice M. Reavis, Kelly M. Thielman, Emily J. Carlson, Kathleen F. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Rehabilitation Service Needs and Preferences among Veterans with Tinnitus: A Qualitative Study
Semin Hear DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1770138Tinnitus is prevalent among military Veterans, yet there is a gap between the demand and the provision of services for tinnitus rehabilitation services within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). We sought to understand tinnitus rehabilitation service needs and preferences among Veterans with bothersome tinnitus who use Veterans Affairs (VA) services. We conducted semistructured telephone interviews in 2019 with Veterans diagnosed with tinnitus, who reported it as bothersome. Veterans were purposively sampled to represent national VA users, with and without comorbid traumatic brai...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - June 22, 2023 Category: Audiology Authors: Clark, Khaya D. Zaugg, Tara DeFrancesco, Susan Kaelin, Christine Henry, James A. Carlson, Kathleen F. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
VA Hearing, Tinnitus, and Balance Research that Leads to Better Patient Outcomes and Care
Semin Hear DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1770141 Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. 333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USAArticle in Thieme eJournals: Table of contents | open access Full text (Source: Seminars in Hearing)
Source: Seminars in Hearing - June 22, 2023 Category: Audiology Authors: Dawn, Konrad-Martin Hungerford, Michelle E. Tags: Introduction Source Type: research
Noise Exposure and Hearing Loss among Workers at a Hammer Forge Company
Semin Hear DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1769498The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) evaluated continuous and impact noise exposures and hearing loss among workers at a hammer forge company. Full-shift personal noise exposure measurements were collected on forge workers across 15 different job titles; impact noise characteristics and one-third octave band noise levels were assessed at the forge hammers; and 4,750 historic audiometric test records for 483 workers were evaluated for hearing loss trends. Nearly all workers' noise exposures exceeded regulatory and/or recommended exposure limits. Workers work...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - June 16, 2023 Category: Audiology Authors: Brueck, Scott E. Eisenberg, Judith Zechmann, Edward L. Murphy, William J. Krieg, Edward Morata, Thais C. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Preserving the Role of the Audiologist in a Clinical Technology, Consumer Channel, Clinical Service Model of Hearing Healthcare
This article will review the Clinical Technology–Consumer Channel–Clinical Service model as exemplified by Jabra Enhance. We will describe a completely digital model of hearing aid distribution and sales that maintains the professional service component throughout the client journey to include an online tone test, the use of a risk mitigation questionnaire, virtual consultations, remote hearing aid adjustments, and the establishment and monitoring of client-centered treatment goals. Furthermore, this article will review the Jabra Enhance model within the context of consumer healthcare decision-making theory with a focu...
Source: Seminars in Hearing - June 14, 2023 Category: Audiology Authors: Abrams, Harvey B. Singh, Jasleen Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
