Electric to acoustic pitch matching: a possible way to improve individual cochlear implant fitting (original) (raw)
Related papers
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 2011
Recent research has shown that music perception remains very diYcult for most cochlear implant (CI) users, who generally report being unsatisWed with the quality of music listening through the CI. In particular, the appreciation of the spectral features of music, which include pitch, melody and timbre, is widely known to be poorer than its rhythmic patterns. One of the possible causes for this may be the misalignment between the conventional frequency band allocation to the electrodes of the array (frequency-place function) and the distribution of pitch percepts generated by electrode stimulation along the array (electrode-pitch function). In this paper the authors investigate whether mismatch correction through individualized Wtting of the processor's frequency maps can improve music understanding in ten Nucleus™ cochlear implant users, by comparing scores obtained with experimental and old map; both maps were tested before, immediately after and 1 month after the Wtting through a music test battery designed for the purpose of the study.
Tinnitus modifications after cochlear implantation
European archives of …, 2007
Tinnitus can be deWned as a phantom sensation in the absence of an external sound. In our study, we evaluated the eVect of cochlear implant on tinnitus evolution. Among adult, postlingually deaf patients who underwent cochlear implantation at our clinic, we selected 20 subjects with pre-implantation tinnitus (group A) and 10 subjects without pre-implantation tinnitus (group B). Pre-and postsurgery tinnitus was assessed through two questionnaires: the Wrst one dealing with tinnitus characteristics and psychosocial impact, and the second one represented by THI, an internationally validated score of evaluation of the eVects of tinnitus on patient's emotions and activities of daily living. None of the patients belonging to group B developed tinnitus after surgery. As for group A, 40% of patients declared suppression of tinnitus, 30% attenuation of tinnitus after surgery, 25% reported tinnitus was unchanged and 5% reported worsening of tinnitus. In the nine patients with bilateral tinnitus (45%), after implantation tinnitus disappeared from both sides in four patients and attenuated bilaterally in four patients. A comparison between pre-and post-implantation THI scores showed decreased score in 65% of cases, unchanged score in 30% and increased score in 5%. The beneWcial eVect of cochlear implant on tinnitus, reported by a majority of patients, could be due to acoustic masking, to direct electrical stimulation of the acoustic nerve, and above all to a possible cochlear implantation dependent reorganization of the central auditory pathways and associative cerebral areas. In the light of these results, the authors propose (1) to include tinnitus in the selection criteria of which ear to implant; (2) to consider implantation eligibility for patients with bilateral severe hearing loss associated with severe tinnitus; and (3) to inform patients about the small risk of post-operative tinnitus worsening.
Musical training software for children with cochlear implants
SummAry Although the voice in a free field has an excellent recruitment by a cochlear implant (Ci), the situation is different for music because it is a much more complex process, where perceiving the pitch discrimination becomes important to appreciate it. The aim of this study is to determine the music perception abilities among children with Cis and to verify the benefit of a training period for specific musical frequency discrimination. our main goals were to prepare a computer tool for pitch discrimination training and to assess musical improvements. Ten children, aged between 5 and 12 years, with optimal phoneme recognition in quiet and with no disabilities associated with deafness, were selected to join the training. Each patient received, before training period, two types of exams: a pitch discrimination test, consisting of discovering if two notes were different or not; and a music test consisting of two identification tasks (melodic and full version) of one music-item among 5 popular childhood songs. After assessment, a music training software was designed and utilised individually at home for a period of six months. The results following complete training showed significantly higher performance in the task of frequency discrimination. After a proper musical training identification, frequency discrimination performance was significantly higher (p < 0.001). The same considerations can be made in the identification of the songs presented in their melodic (p = 0.0151) and full songs version (p = 0.0071). Cases where children did not reach the most difficult level may be due to insufficient time devoted to training (ideal time estimated at 2-3 hours per week). in conclusion, this study shows that is possible to assess musical enhancement and to achieve improvements in frequency discrimination, following pitch discrimination training. kEy wordS: Cochlear implants • Music perception • Speech perception • Children • Music Test battery riASSunTo Gli attuali impianti cocleari forniscono buoni segnali temporali e grossolane indicazioni spettrali. In generale queste proprietà sono suffi-cienti per la percezione di un discorso in condizioni di quiete e per l'acquisizione del linguaggio nei bambini piccoli. Tuttavia esse risultano essere inadeguate per la trasmissione della moltitudine di pitch della musica. Lo studio si propone come obiettivi la determinazione delle abilità di percezione della musica nei bambini portatori di impianto cocleare e la verifica dei benefici di un periodo di training musicale specifico per la discriminazione frequenziale. In particolare abbiamo proposto un allenamento alla discriminazione delle note musicali, secondo un metodo da noi sviluppato attraverso un supporto computerizzato. Sono stati inclusi nello studio 10 bambini portatori di im-pianto cocleare di età compresa tra i 5 e i 12 anni senza disabilità associate alla sordità. Tutti i soggetti avevano un'ottima comprensione dei fonemi in ambiente silenzioso. Ogni paziente nel periodo precedente al Training è stato sottoposto a due tipi di esame: un test di discri-minazione del pitch, che consiste nel riuscire ad identificare come differenti due note musicali pur in condizioni di crescente difficoltà (da 1 ottava ad 1 semitono), e un Music Test costituito da due prove di identificazione, Melodica e Strumentale completa. Il materiale del Music Test era costituito dai 5 canzoni popolari per l'infanzia, sintetizzate con il software Finale 2008™ (Makemusic Inc. Eden Prairie, MN). I brani, ciascuno della durata di 30 secondi, erano simili per il ritmo e venivano presentati in due modalità differenti: una versione melodica suonata al pianoforte senza accompagnamento orchestrale e parole cantate, ed una versione completa della canzone, che include l'accom-pagnamento dell'orchestra e le parole cantate. Il Training consisteva in un allenamento guidato da un programma che veniva fornito su supporto informatico ad ogni paziente, della durata di 6 mesi con allenamento almeno bisettimanale. I risultati ottenuti evidenziano che tutti i bambini sono migliorati nel training di discriminazione frequenziale (p < 0,0001). Per eliminare la possibilità che questo progresso potesse essere dovuto al caso o ad altri fattori si è applicata un'analisi statistica t-Student ad una coda per dati appaiati per verificarne la significatività. Le prestazioni al test di identificazione di item musicali sia nella versione melodica che in quella completa sono risultate significativamente superiori al livello casuale con un p < 0,05. I risultati ottenuti mostrano performance significativamente superiori nel compito di discriminazione frequenziale successivamente all'esecuzione del Training. Infatti prima del training 2 bambini si posizionavano al 1° livello (discriminazione frequenziale di 12 semitoni), 3 bambini al 2° livello (discriminazione frequenziale di 10 semitoni), 4 bambini al 3° livello (discriminazione frequenziale di 8 semitoni) e 1 bambino al 5° livello (discriminazione frequenziale di 4 semitoni), mentre dopo il training, 2 bambini si collocavano uno al 4° e uno al 5° livello, 5 bambini al 6° livello e i restanti 3 bambini al 7° ed ultimo livello. Dal nostro studio emerge quindi come sia possibile, in seguito ad un allenamento specifico con materiale dedicato, ottenere dei significativi miglioramenti nella discriminazione frequenziale permettendo anche ai soggetti impiantati di apprezzare meglio il mondo della musica. pArolE ChiAvE: Impianto cocleare • Percezione linguistica • Ascolto della musica • Bambini • Test musicale
“One-shot” CO2 versus Er:YAG laser stapedotomy: is the outcome the same?
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 2011
To assess and compare the functional results obtained by means of multiple-shot Erbium: yttriumaluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser to those obtained using "one-shot" CO 2 laser stapedotomy in patients aVected by otosclerosis. A retrospective case review was performed. Of the total number of 123 patients (114 ears) who underwent primary small-fenestra stapedotomy from January 2006 to September 2008, seven patients who received multiple-shot laser CO 2 stapedotomy were excluded from the study. The remaining 116 patients (104 ears) were sorted, and "one-shot" CO 2 laser stapedotomy (group A) was performed in 35/104 and Er:YAG laser stapedotomy (group B) in 69/104. After surgery, air conduction-pure tone average (AC-PTA) and air-bone gap (ABG) improved signiWcantly in both groups, whereas sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and bone conduction (BC)-PTA did not change in both the groups. In group A, the postoperative ABG was signiWcantly better (12.63 vs. 14.86 dB). Moreover, after "oneshot" stapedotomy, the AC-PTA signiWcantly improved in all tested frequencies. On the contrary, in group B the AC-PTA improved signiWcantly only in two frequencies (0.5 and 1 kHz). Consistent with previous reports, our Wndings conWrm that laser stapedotomy is a safe and eVective surgery, regardless of the technique. Based on our functional results, the "one-shot" CO 2 laser technique seems to be associated with a signiWcantly better postoperative ABG if compared to Er:YAG laser stapedotomy.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo after dental surgery
European Archives of Oto-rhino-laryngology, 2008
We investigated the relationship between dental and maxillofacial surgery and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). BPPV represents the most frequent cause of vertigo of labyrinthine origin. BPPV has been reported following surgical trauma from various surgical interventions, regarding anatomical site and technical execution. A surgical origin is, in many cases, supported by the temporal relation to the surgical intervention as well as by the clinical picture. We considered eight BPPV cases of suspected iatrogenic origin focusing our attention on dental surgery with particular reference to surgical extraction of included teeth through rotating tools. The cases taken into account had no other inner ear disease and BPPV risk indicator. We conclude that dental surgery is a risk factor for BPPV.
Endoscopic treatment of orbital tumors
World Journal of Clinical Cases, 2015
Different orbital and transcranial approaches are performed in order to manage orbital tumors, depending on the location and size of the lesion within the orbit. These approaches provide a satisfactory view of the superior and lateral aspects of the orbit and the optic canal but involve risks associated with their invasiveness because they require significant displacement of orbital structures. In addition, external approaches to intraconal lesions may also require deinsertion of extraocular muscles, with subsequent impact on extraocular mobility. Recently, minimally invasive techniques have been proposed as valid alternative to external approaches for selected orbital lesions. Among them, transnasal endoscopic approaches, "pure" or combined with external approaches, have been reported, especially for intraconal lesions located inferiorly and medially to the optic nerve. The avoidance of muscle detachment and the shortness of the surgical intraorbital trajectory makes endoscopic approach less invasive, thus minimizing tissue damage. Endoscopic surgery decreases the recovery time and improves the cosmetic outcome not requiring skin incisions. The purpose of this study is to review and discuss the current surgical techniques for orbital tumors removal, focusing on endoscopic approaches to the orbit and outlining the key anatomic principles to follow for safe tumor resection.
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head & Neck
Objectives: Vestibular function after cochlear implantation is difficult to understand, as subjective vestibular symptoms seem uncorrelated with the results of objective tests. Consequently, clinicians may struggle to decide what assessments to perform for a symptomatic patient. We used a systematic review and meta-analysis approach to enlighten this point.
European Archives of Oto-rhino-laryngology, 2008
Cholesteatoma is a destructive ear condition requiring complete surgical removal. One major problem lies in the frequent occurrence of residual cholesteatoma caused by squamous epithelium remaining in the middle ear. Our aim is to develop a laser treatment that is selectively directed against residual cholesteatoma cells and can be performed after cholesteatoma surgery in the same session. In a first trial, we studied the photodynamic effect of argon (AL) and diode lasers (DL) on cholesteatoma tissue. Intraoperatively harvested monolayer-cultured cholesteatoma cells were stained in vivo with different absorption enhancers: neutral red (NR), fluorescein diacetate (FDA), and indocyanine green (ICG). In vitro, staining tests on enhanced cellular dye absorption and laser tests were followed by cytotoxicity measurements to determine the respective amount of damage. To achieve selective cell destruction, antibody-mediated staining of cholesteatoma and middle ear mucosa cells was examined in a second trial. Cell cultures (cytospin and coverglass growing) and paraffin-embedded cholesteatoma tissue sections were studied immunohistochemically to determine the binding of monoclonal mouse antibodies against human cytokeratins CK5, CK10, CK14 and the epidermal growth factor receptor EGFR. Intracellular staining with absorption enhancers increased the optical density at the wavelength corresponding to the dye. Staining and subsequent laser irradiation destroyed up to 92% of cultured cholesteatoma cells. Unstained irradiated tissue was not affected. In cytospins, the antibody against CK5/6 showed strong staining of cholesteatoma and weak staining of mucosa cells. Reactivity for CK14 and EGFR was positive in both tissues. In coverglass cultures, staining of cholesteatoma cells was positive for CK5/6, CK14 and EGFR. Mucosa cells were positive for EGFR but negative for cytokeratins. Both cell types were negative for CK10. In embedded cholesteatoma tissue, CK5/6 and CK14 were localized in the basal layers of the matrix, while CK10 was situated in the suprabasal layers, and EGFR was present in all layers of the matrix and perimatrix. As for the technical aspects of laser-assisted cholesteatoma surgery, AL and DL have proved to be suitable devices; ICG and FDA are effective nontoxic absorption enhancers. The investigated antibodies against cytokeratins and EGFR show nonselective staining and thus appear to be inappropriate for avoiding unwanted cell damage. For safe and specific intraoperative application to intact tissue, the chromophore should be coupled to a particular antibody that binds solely to an easily accessible specific antigen at the surface of cholesteatoma cells.