J Am Acad Audiol
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The multiple auditory steady-state response (multiple ASSR) is a promising technique for determining thresholds for infants and children. However, there are few data for infants and young children with hearing loss where multiple-ASSR thresholds have been compared to frequency-specific gold standard (i.e., behavioral or tone-evoked auditory brainstem response [tone ABR]) measures. ⋯ There are few studies of infants and young children comparing ASSR thresholds to frequency-specific gold standard measures, especially using the multiple-ASSR technique. The present study, comparing multiple-ASSR to tone-ABR thresholds, nearly doubles the multiple-ASSR sample size in the literature. The results indicate that the multiple-ASSR and tone-ABR thresholds are strongly correlated, and the "normal" multiple-ASSR levels of 50, 45, 40, and 40 dB HL correctly classified children as having "normal" or "elevated" thresholds. However, due to the lack of air- and bone-conduction data in infants with different types and degrees of hearing loss, further ASSR research is needed.
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The use of acoustic signals to mask, mix with, or ease the distress associated with tinnitus has been clinically employed for decades. It has been proposed that expanding acoustic options for tinnitus sufferers due to personal preferences is desirable. Fractal tones incorporate many useful characteristics of music while avoiding certain features that could be distracting to some individuals. ⋯ The results suggest that use of acoustic stimuli, particularly fractal tones, delivered though hearing aids can provide amplification while allowing for relief for some tinnitus sufferers. It is important to recognize, however, that tinnitus management procedures need to be supplemented with appropriate counseling.
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This article describes the initial development of a novel approach for training hearing-impaired listeners to improve their ability to understand speech in the presence of background noise and to also improve their ability to localize sounds. ⋯ These preliminary findings suggest we have successfully developed a viable spatial hearing training system that can improve binaural hearing in noise and localization. Applications include, but are not limited to, hearing with hearing aids and cochlear implants.
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The most common complaint of adults with hearing loss is understanding speech in noise. One class of masker that may be particularly useful in the assessment of speech-in-noise abilities is interrupted noise. Interrupted noise usually is a continuous noise that has been multiplied by a square wave that produces alternating intervals of noise and silence. Wilson and Carhart found that spondaic word thresholds for listeners with normal hearing were 28 dB lower in an interrupted noise than in a continuous noise, whereas listeners with hearing loss experienced only an 11 dB difference. ⋯ The current data indicate that interrupted noise does provide a better differentiation both between listeners with normal hearing and listeners with hearing loss and among listeners with hearing loss than is provided by continuous noise.
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Controlled Clinical Trial
Efficacy of linear frequency transposition on consonant identification in quiet and in noise.
Frequency transposition has gained renewed interest in recent years. This type of processing takes sounds in the unaidable high-frequency region and moves them to the lower frequency region. One concern is that the transposed sounds mask or distort the original low-frequency sounds and lead to a poorer performance. On the other hand, experience with transposition may allow the listeners to relearn the new auditory percepts and benefit from transposition. ⋯ Linear frequency transposition improved fricative identification over time. Proper candidate selection with appropriate training is necessary to fully realize the potential benefit of this type of processing.