Hearing Impaired Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Learning in class is a frustrating mission for the hearing-impaired student. While speech-reading is a necessary solution, there are some essential problems using it fluently in the class. This paper suggests an Information System to support aural communication via speech-reading, in order to enable equal conditions for hearing-impaired students. The main problem for a hard of hearing student, who relies

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- Computer Mediated Communication, Human behavior, Cued Speech, Hearing Impaired

Of 613 children evaluated in a village in Haryana 94 (15.3%) were observed to have chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). Fifty eight (61.7%) children had hearing impairment. CSOM contributed to 71.6% of the hearing impaired (58/81). On analysis of association of CSOM with literacy and socio-economic status of mothers, and age, sex, and upper respiratory tract infections (URI) in children positive correlation was observed only with URIs (P Literacy and socio-economic status of the mothers did not correlate significantly with knowledge about treatment seeking, and ear cleaning practices, probably due to the narrow range of incomes and literacy levels. An intervention program consisting of play, demonstrations, health charts and slogans, and aural cleaning and antibiotic drops was introduced.

- by amit verma
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- Health Promotion, Epidemiology, Saudi Arabia, Adolescent

Hearing impairment is a common sensori-neural disorder with the incidence of profound deafness in one per 1,000 births. Non syndromic recessive deafness (NSHL), accounts for approximately 80% of cases of hereditary deafness. It is extremely heterogeneous genetically with over 130 gene loci. Mutations in the GJB2 and GJB6 genes for DFNB1 locus (13q12) are responsible for about half of all cases of autosomal recessive prelingual hearing loss.

- by Emilija Stefanovska
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- Genetics, Polymorphism, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Hearing Loss

A schematic description of the correlation between various pathologies of hearing impairments and the behavior of auditory brainstem responses (ABR) is presented. Conductive pathology and highfrequency cochlear hearing losses prolong wave component latency due to energy loss and hair cell dysfunction. In cases of flat cochlear hearing loss latency is not affected. Prolonged interwave latencies between wave I and wave V indicate eighth nerve and brainstem disorders. An algorithm was developed in the form of a flow chart for locating various malfunctions. Fields of wave V intensity-latency functions were designed for the faster detection and more precise evaluation of conductive and cochlear hearing losses.

- by Frank Böhnke
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- Algorithms, High Frequency, Reaction Time, Differential Diagnosis

Cet article présente un nouveau procédé de correction auditive utilisant un modèle paramétrique du signal de parole. Ce procédé permet, en plus des opérations classiques de compression et d'amplification, d'effectuer des transformations élaborées (modification du rythme temporel, modification de l'enveloppe spectrale, etc.) tout en conservant la structure naturelle du signal de parole. Les premiers résultats d'une série de tests cliniques montrent que ce procédé est bien accueilli par les personnes atteintes de surdités intermédiaires (moyennes ou sévères) et pour lesquelles il n'existe pas véritablement de traitement prothétique adapté.

- by Alain Goye
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- Signal Processing, Hearing Impaired, Boolean Satisfiability, Hearing Aid

Thresholds for a 6.5-kHz sinusoidal signal, temporally centered in a 400-ms broadband-noise masker, were measured as a function of signal duration for normally hearing listeners and listeners with cochlear hearing loss over a range of masker levels. For the normally hearing listeners, the slope of the function relating signal threshold to signal duration ~integration function! was steeper at medium masker

- by Deborah Vickers and +1
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- Psychoacoustics, Attention, Multidisciplinary, Reaction Time

Aim: To ascertain the rehabilitation needs of hearing impaired school entrants in developing countries based on current criteria for evaluating classification of childhood hearing impairment. Methods: The profile of hearing impairment was examined in 50 children from eight randomly selected mainstream schools, based on findings from medical history, physical examination, otoscopy, pure-tone audiometry and tympanometry. The hearing thresholds across frequencies 0.25 -8.0 kHz were analysed. The results were compared with conventional puretone averages (0.5 -4.0 kHz) and WHO's criteria/threshold for disabling hearing impairment. Results: Seventeen (94.4%) of the 18 children with conductive hearing loss based on conventional audiometry had highfrequency hearing loss. Similarly, 10 children (83.3%) of the 12 children with sensorineural hearing loss and 19 children (95%) of the 20 children with mixed hearing loss had high-frequency hearing loss. Forty-six hearing impaired children (92%): comprising those with permanent unilateral hearing loss 4 30 dBHL, permanent hearing loss would have been missed by WHO criteria. Conclusions: Conventional school audiometry and WHO criteria for disabling hearing impairment are unlikely to detect the full spectrum of hearing disability in relation to activity limitation and participation restriction. The rehabilitation needs of the affected children cannot therefore be appropriately addressed by these approaches.

- by Bolajoko Olusanya
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- Developing Countries, Nigeria, Schools, Child
- by Karen Gordon
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- Phonetics, Speech perception, Face recognition (Psychology), Facial expression

High-frequency audiometry in evaluation of hearing impairment in people exposed to industrial noise ROBERT PRZEKLASA, ELŻBIETA REROŃ, MACIEJ WIATR, JACEK SKŁADZIEŃ Katedra i Klinika Otolaryngologii CMUJ w Krakowie Wprowadzenie. Proces starzenia się i narażenie na hałas stanowią główne przyczyny odbiorczych uszkodzeń słuchu u osób dorosłych. Oba te procesy cechuje przesunięcie progu słuchu w częstotliwościach wysokich.

- by Maciej Wiatr
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- High Frequency, Hearing Impaired

The purpose of this study was to present speech perception achievements of implanted children using commercially available cochlear implant devices: Nucleus, Clarion or Med-El. A retrospective analysis. Speech perception data of 96 hearing-impaired children: 27 with Clarion, 49 with Nucleus and 20 with Med-El were collected. Speech tests included the Hebrew Infant Toddlers Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (HIT-MAIS) for the infants, the Hebrew Early Speech Perception (HESP) closed-set word-identification test and Hebrew Arthur Boothroyd (HAB) open-set one-syllable word recognition test were used for the older children. I HIT-MAIS: (1) Infants showed similar rate of progress, regardless of device. (2) Children implanted under two years of age reached performance within normal development on this test. II HAB: (1) Most children achieved open set results with mean HAB between 40 and 50%, within 1-1.5 years post implantation. (2) Linear regression analyses revealed no statistical d...

- by Liat Kishon-Rabin and +2
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- Speech perception, Treatment Outcome, Adolescent, Child

The purpose of this study was to compare vowel productions by deaf cochlear implant (CI) children, hearing-impaired hearing aid (HA) children and normal-hearing (NH) children. 73 children [mean age: 9;14 years (years;months)] participated: 40 deaf CI children, 34 moderately to profoundly hearing-impaired HA children and 42 NH children. For the 3 corner vowels [a], [i] and [u], F(1), F(2) and the intrasubject SD were measured using the Praat software. Spectral separation between these vowel formants and vowel space were calculated. The significant effects in the CI group all pertain to a higher intrasubject variability in formant values, whereas the significant effects in the HA group all pertain to lower formant values. Both hearing-impaired subgroups showed a tendency toward greater intervowel distances and vowel space. Several subtle deviations in the vowel production of deaf CI children and hearing-impaired HA children could be established, using a well-defined acoustic analysis....

- by Ingeborg Dhooge
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- Phonetics, Medicine, Child, Cochlear Implant

The chapter draws attention to the need for equitable access to quality mathematics education for students with ‘special rights’. These special rights stem from the fact that students who are visually or hearing impaired, or who have Down syndrome or other intellectual or physical impairments, historically have not had access to high-quality mathematics education. Included in this group with special rights are students who underperform in mathematics due to explicit or implicit exclusion from quality mathematics learning and teaching environments. It is argued that it is important for the international mathematics education community to advocate strongly for students with ‘special rights’ in entreating communities and governments to provide the resources for equitable access to quality education so that all children may thrive mathematically. During an era in which boundaries are being continuously broken and citizens are surprised constantly by what is humanly possible given faith, motivation and opportunity, it is more important than ever for all students to reach their mathematical potential, and achieve the level of mathematical literacy required to participate fully in an ever-increasingly complex global society. This is just as true for those with special rights for mathematics education.

- by Ann Gervasoni
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- Mathematics Education, Learning and Teaching, Down Syndrome, Physical Impairment

The identification and discrimination of a stop-consonant voicing contrast (/da/-/ta/) was assessed in children and adolescents who had moderate, severe, and profound sensorineural hearing losses. The location of the perceptual boundary between/da/and/ta/did not differ between normal listeners and listeners with moderate losses. Of the ten listeners with severe losses, five evidenced normal boundaries, three evidenced longer-than-normal boundaries, and two could not identify the stimuli at all. Of the three listeners with profound hearing losses, one could identify normally, and two could not identify at all. For the most part, discrimination data mirrored identification data. However, in some instances listeners were able to discriminate between stimuli they could not differentially identify. These subjects appeared to have the auditory capacity to resolve differences in voice-onset-time but could not use this capacity to make phonetic identification.

- by Michael Dorman
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- Phonetics, Speech perception, Speech Acoustics, Adolescent

The purpose of this study was to determine the etiology of bilateral sensorineural hearing disorders in children and to evaluate the performed hearing tests by comparison of the results of the objective and subjective tests. The medical history and the hearing tests (behavioral observation audiometry, acoustic evoked potentials and pure tone audiometry) of 106 bilaterally hearing impaired children were analyzed in a retrospective follow-up study. The total group included 52 males and 54 females. The ages at first diagnosis ranged from 4 months to 11 years with a mean age of 42 months and a median of 33 months. The degree of hearing loss for the better hearing ear was mild in one child, moderate in 28 children, severe in 29 children, profound in 32 children and total in 16 children. The delay between the first examination and diagnosis ranged from 0 to 597 days with a mean of 83 days and a median of 28 days. In 47 children (44%) no cause of hearing impairment could be determined. Nin...

- by Andrea Berghold
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- Medical History, Child, Infant, Incidence

ObjectivesWith more children receiving cochlear implants during infancy, there is a need for validated assessments of pre-verbal and early verbal auditory skills. The LittlEARS® Auditory Questionnaire is presented here as the first module of the LittlEARS® test battery. The LittlEARS® Auditory Questionnaire was developed and piloted to assess the auditory behaviour of normal hearing children and hearing impaired children who

- by Alexandru Pascu
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- Auditory Perception, Child Development, Language Development, Germany
- by Lorita Marlena Freitag Pagliuca and +1
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- Nonverbal Communication, Hearing Loss, Hearing Impaired, Exploratory Study

An 8-year follow-up study of the birth cohort of babies enrolled in the Wessex controlled trial of universal newborn screening (UNS) for permanent childhood hearing impairment (PCHI) was undertaken to establish whether UNS would increase the proportion of all true cases of PCHI in children aged 7-9 years who are referred early. The proportion referred before 6 months of age increased from 11 of 35 (31%) children with true PCHI born during periods without UNS to 23 of 31 (74%) born during periods with UNS (difference 43%, 95% CI 19-60). UNS leads to early referral of PCHI.

- by Colin Kennedy
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- Child, Hearing disorders, Follow-up studies, Risk factors

12. Puggaard L. Effects of training on functional performance in 65, 75 and 85 year-old women: experiences deriving from community based studies in Odense, Denmark. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2003; 13: 70-6. 13. Sipila S, Multanen J, Kallinen M et al. Effects of strength and endurance training on isometric muscle strength and walking speed in elderly women. Acta Physiol Scand 1996; 156: 457-64. 14. Tager IB, Haight T, Sternfeld B et al. Effects of physical activity and body composition on functional limitation in the elderly: application of the marginal structural model. Epidemiology 2004; 15: 479-93. 15. Seghers J, Spaepen A, Delecluse C et al. Habitual level of physical activity and muscle fatigue of the elbow flexor muscles in older men. Eur J Appl Physiol 2003; 89: 427-34. 16. McDermott MM, Greenland P, Ferrucci L et al. Lower extremity performance is associated with daily life physical activity in individuals with and without peripheral arterial disease. J Am Geriatr Soc 2002; 50: 247-55. 17. Caspersen CJ, Kriska AM, Dearwater SR. Physical activity epidemiology as applied to elderly populations. Baillieres Clin Rheumatol 1994; 8: 7-27. 18. Bassey EJ, Bendall MJ, Pearson M. Muscle strength in the triceps surae and objectively measured customary walking activity in men and women over 65 years of age. Clin Sci (Lond) 1988; 74: 85-9. 19. Rantanen T, Era P, Heikkinen E. Physical activity and the changes in maximal isometric strength in men and women from the age of 75 to 80 years. . London: Chapman Hall, pp. 1-62. 22. Mathiowetz V, Weber K, Volland G et al. Reliability and validity of grip and pinch strength evaluations. J Hand Surg [Am] 1984; 9: 222-6. 23. Guralnik JM, Simonsick EM, Ferrucci L et al. A short physical performance battery assessing lower extremity function: association with self-reported disability and prediction of mortality and nursing home admission. J Gerontol 1994; 49: M85-94. 24. Martin H, Syddall H, Cox V et al. Development of the Hertfordshire Physical Activity Questionnaire (HPAQ) for older people: feasibility study. Age Ageing 2006; 35: i33. 25. Martin H, Syddall H, Cox V et al. The relationship between patterns of physical activity and physical performance in older people. Age Ageing 2008; 37: i1. 26. Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Whitt MC et al. Compendium of physical activities: an update of activity codes and MET intensities. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000; 32: S498-504. 27. Wareham NJ, Jakes RW, Rennie KL et al. Validity and repeatability of the EPIC-Norfolk Physical Activity Questionnaire. Int J Epidemiol 2002; 31: 168-74. 28. Brach JS, Simonsick EM, Kritchevsky S et al. The association between physical function and lifestyle activity and exercise in the health, aging and body composition study. J Am Geriatr Soc 2004; 52: 502-9. 29. Stessman J, Hammerman-Rozenberg R, Maaravi Y et al. Effect of exercise on ease in performing activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living from age 70 to 77: the Jerusalem longitudinal study. J Am Geriatr Soc 2002; 50: 1934-8. 30. Wareham NJ, Jakes RW, Rennie KL et al. Validity and repeatability of a simple index derived from the short physical activity questionnaire used in the European Prospective

- by Andrew Gray
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- Psychology, Dementia, Cognition, Hearing disorders

Speech elicited auditory brainstem responses (Speech ABR) have been shown to be an objective measurement of speech processing in the brainstem. Given the simultaneous stimulation and recording, and the similarities between the recording and the speech stimulus envelope, there is a great risk of artefactual recordings. This study sought to systematically investigate the source of artefactual contamination in Speech ABR response.

- by Hung Do Thai
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- Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, Psychoacoustics, Speech perception

With more children receiving cochlear implants during infancy, there is a need for validated assessments of pre-verbal and early verbal auditory skills. The LittlEARS Auditory Questionnaire is presented here as the first module of the LittlEARS test battery. The LittlEARS Auditory Questionnaire was developed and piloted to assess the auditory behaviour of normal hearing children and hearing impaired children who receive a cochlear implant or hearing aid prior to 24 months of age. This paper presents results from two studies: one validating the LittlEARS Auditory Questionnaire on children with normal hearing who are German speaking and a second validating the norm curves found after adaptation and administration of the questionnaire to children with normal hearing in 15 different languages. Scores from a group of 218 German and Austrian children with normal hearing between 5 days and 24 months of age were used to create a norm curve. The questionnaire was adapted from the German orig...

- by Luminiţa Rădulescu and +2
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- Auditory Perception, Child Development, Language Development, Germany

Background We sought to examine hearing loss in a group from the Royal Australian Air Force who undertook fuel tank maintenance on F-111 aircraft, with exposure to formulations containing ototoxins, relative to two different comparison groups. Methods Using pure-tone audiometry, hearing thresholds were assessed in 614 exposed personnel, 513 technical-trade comparisons (different base, same job), and 403 nontechnical comparisons (same base, different job). We calculated percentage loss of hearing (PLH) and used regression models to examine whether there was an association between PLH and F-111 fuel tank maintenance, adjusting for possible confounders. In addition, the difference between the observed hearing thresholds and the expected thresholds based on an otologically normal population (ISO-7029-2003) was determined. Results The PLH ranged from nil to 96 (median 1.5, quartiles 0.3, 5.5). A logistic regression model showed no statistically significant difference in PLH among the three exposure groups (exposed vs. non-technical controls 1.1: 95% CI 0.7, 2.0 and exposed vs. technical OR 0.9: 95% CI 0.6, 1.3). The model also highlighted a number of other risk factors for PLH including age, tinnitus, smoking, depression, and use of depression medications. However, at all eight frequencies measured, all populations had lower than expected hearing thresholds based on published ISO-7029 medians.

- by Meredith Tavener
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- Depression, Australia, Noise Induced Hearing Loss, Military

In recent year, lip-reading systems have received much attention, since it plays an important role in human communication with computer especially for hearing impaired or elderly people. In this paper, we introduce a new visual feature representation combines the Hypercolumn Neural Network model (HCM) with Hidden Markov Model (HMM) to achieve a complete lip-reading system. To check our system performance we introduce the Arabic language to it. According to our knowledge, this is the first time that a visual speech recognition system is applied for Arabic language. Experiments include different Arabic sentences gathered from different native speakers (Male & Female).

- by Alaa Sagheer
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- Arabic Language, Elderly People, hidden Markov model, Hearing Impaired

- by J. Madell
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- Auditory Perception, Child Development, Language Development, Germany
- by Donna McCann
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- Psychology, Cognitive Science, Language Acquisition, Language Development

The increased use of explosive devices and mines in warfare and excessive noise of weapons has created an unprecedented amount of auditory dysfunction among soldiers. Blast-related injuries may damage the auditory processing and/or balance centers resulting in hearing loss, dizziness, tinnitus, and/or central auditory processing disorders. Some also lead to traumatic brain injury (TBI), postconcussive syndrome (PCS), and/or posttraumatic stress disorder. Some PCS symptoms such as dizziness, loss of balance, hearing difficulty, and noise sensitivity also can signify auditory or vestibular dysfunction and should not be obscured with the PCS package. This article provides information about the mechanisms of blast injury with emphasis on auditory dysfunction and TBI. Audiologists must be prepared to identify those at risk for TBI or mental health problems and adapt audiologic clinical practices to this population. An interdisciplinary comprehensive evaluation of peripheral, central, and vestibular components of the auditory system should be employed in patients with TBI to ensure that auditory dysfunction is accurately diagnosed and that appropriate rehabilitation can be performed.

- by Paula Myers
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- Traumatic Brain Injury, Hearing Impaired, Semin

This article addresses the broad question of understanding whether and how a combination of tactile and visual information could be used to enhance the experience of music by the hearing impaired. Initially, a background survey was conducted with hearing-impaired people to find out the techniques they used to ''listen'' to music and how their listening experience might be enhanced. Information obtained from this survey and feedback received from two profoundly deaf musicians were used to guide the initial concept of exploring haptic and visual channels to augment a musical experience.

Primary objective: The study aim is to explore the perceptions and expectations of seniors in regard to 'smart home' technology installed and operated in their homes with the purpose of improving their quality of life and/or monitoring their health status. Research design and methods: Three focus group sessions were conducted within this pilot study to assess older adults' perceptions of the technology and ways they believe technology can improve their daily lives. Themes discussed in these groups included participants' perceptions of the usefulness of devices and sensors in health-related issues such as preventing or detecting falls, assisting with visual or hearing impairments, improving mobility, reducing isolation, managing medications, and monitoring of physiological parameters. The audiotapes were transcribed and a content analysis was performed.

- by Marjorie Skubic and +1
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- Information Systems, Geriatrics, Medical Informatics, Usability

The Hearing Impaired Children, just like other children, show physical actions during musical activities, to the extent that they can feel the music. They can dance, make rhythmic movements and accompany songs. Children subject to this study are the ones which can hear with the assistance of various hearing instruments. The attention skills of hearing impaired children are suitable for development, similar to that of other children.

- by Tülün Malkoç and +1
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- Preschool Education, Hearing Impaired

Hearing impaired learners are exposed to the same curriculum as those without the impairment. This paper is a report of a study on the challenges faced by the Hearing Impaired learners in composition writing and in answering comprehension questions in English language lessons. The study was carried out in selected special schools for the Hearing Impaired in Homa Bay County in Kenya in the year 2012. The study adopted Knowles (1973) theory of learning. The study utilized a descriptive survey design with a mixed methods approach. Head teachers were purposively selected to take part in the study while simple random sampling method and census technique were used to select the teachers and students who took part in the study. A total of 3 head teachers, 8 teachers and 39 learners with Hearing Impaired participated in the study. The study used structured interview guides for the head teachers, questionnaires for the teachers and tests for the pupils for data collection. Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis of quantitative data while qualitative data was analyzed thematically. The research established that the Hearing Impaired faced challenges in composition writing and in answering comprehension questions in English language lessons. The study recommended that teachers should train the learners to develop good handwriting, master correct spellings and acquire adequate vocabulary for effective composition writing. Teachers should assist the Hearing Impaired to develop a reading culture for effective comprehension skills. This study sheds light on some of the challenges encountered by the Hearing Impaired learners during English language lessons which if addressed can facilitate them to achieve to their full educational potential for self-reliance.

Multi-channel self-steering microphone arrays for hearing aid ap- plications enable the hearing impaired user to follow conversa- tions coming from other directions than the front direction. Bin- aural connections between left and right hearing aids allow for (i) the estimation of the direction of arrival (DOA) and thus for auto- matic beam-steering, (ii) a higher noise reduction due to a greater number of sensors, and (iii) the preservation or reconstruc tion of binaural cues that can be used by the hearing impaired listener for object segregation. Since the microphones are placed near the human head, diffraction and shadowing effects have to be in- corporated into the beamformer design as well as into the DOA estimator. In this contribution a combined system of DOA estimation and a head-worn 6-channel binaural noise reduction scheme is pre- sented and evaluated using perceptual measures that are based on auditory models.

- by Stefan Goetze
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- Noise reduction, Beam steering, Hearing Impaired, DOA Estimation

The aim of this paper is to help the communication of two people, one hearing impaired and one visually impaired by converting speech to fingerspelling and fingerspelling to speech. Fingerspelling is a subset of sign language, and uses finger signs to spell letters of the spoken or written language. We aim to convert finger spelled words to speech and vice versa. Different spoken languages and sign languages such as English, Russian, Turkish and Czech are considered.

- by Oya Aran
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- Sign Language, Speech Synthesis, Speech Recognition, Visual Impairment

As the most successful neural prosthesis, cochlear implants have provided partial hearing to more than 120,000 persons worldwide; half of which being pediatric users who are able to develop nearly normal language. Biomedical engineers have played a central role in the design, integration and evaluation of the cochlear implant system, but the overall success is a result of collaborative work with physiologists, psychologists, physicians, educators, and entrepreneurs. This review presents broad yet in-depth academic and industrial perspectives on the underlying research and ongoing development of cochlear implants. The introduction accounts for major events and advances in cochlear implants, including dynamic interplays among engineers, scientists, physicians, and policy makers. The review takes a system approach to address critical issues from design and specifications to integration and evaluation. First, the cochlear implant system design and specifications are laid out. Second, the design goals, principles, and methods of the subsystem components are identified from the external speech processor and radio frequency transmission link to the internal receiver, stimulator and electrode arrays. Third, system integration and functional evaluation are presented with respect to safety, reliability, and challenges facing the present and future cochlear implant designers and users. Finally, issues beyond cochlear implants are discussed to address treatment options for the entire spectrum of hearing impairment as well as to use the cochlear implant as a model to design and evaluate other similar neural prostheses such as vestibular and retinal implants.

- by Stephen Rebscher
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- Psychology, Biomedical Engineering, Signal Processing, System Integration

Background/aim: Communication disorders have been acknowledged as a major public health issue because they compromise early childhood development, restrict vocational attainment and undermine the economic well being of the society. The aim of this study is to determine the pattern of communication disorders among children in a developing country and the requisite intervention services. Materials and methods: This prospective study was conducted in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos between January 2002 and June 2003 among children aged 6 months to 15 years that presented in the audiology clinic of the hospital with communication disorders. All the patients had neurological, otolaryngological, audiological and speech evaluations. Results: A total of 184 patients were seen during the period out of whom 136 (74%) were between the ages of 6-47 months. Hearing impairment was documented in 120 (65.2%) children, speech disorders in 56 (30.4%), rhinolalia 2.2% and stuttering 2.2%. Of those with hearing impairment, 70% had delayed speech and language. Among children with speech disorders 78.6% had specific language impairment (SLI). Aetiological factors recorded for the communication disorders were seizures 10.9%, measles 8.7% meningitis 8.7%, birth asphyxia 6.5%, otitis media with effusion (OME) 4.3%, kernicterus 4.3%, congenital deformity 4.3%, ototoxicity 2.2%, cerebral palsy 2.2%, and undetermined causes 47.9%. Conclusion: Hearing impairment is the commonest communication disorder. Early detection and appropriate follow up is recommended for all children in their first year of life. The role of parents and caregivers in seeking early help should be strengthened while capacity building for the training of more audiologists and speech therapists should be pursued rapidly. #

Ann Saudi Med 2006;26(2):123-132

- by Mohammed Jan
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- Epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy, Intellectual Disability, Movement disorders

One way to attain improvement of the educational programs of the hearing impaired is by conducting survey and assessment of the status of the hearing impaired education of the Department of Education in Region X, Philippines. The Special Education (SpEd) teachers play a vital role for the pupils of the hearing impaired children as they are viewed as linchpins in the learning process of the children. This cannot be attained without the different approaches on hearing impaired education. Survey-questionnaires were used to gather information needed. Data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics such as weighted mean and standard deviation. The ANOVA test was used to determine the significance of the hearing impaired education of the Department of Education in Region X. Anchored on the findings, the following conclusions are made about different educational approaches should be given priority by the SPED teachers is further enhance the lifelong learning skills of the pupils. It helps them for their learning process and acquiring language skills. There should be an advocacy on the hearing impaired education program to the public and stakeholders.

- by Research and Statistics Center and +1
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- Special Education, Language Skills, Hearing Impaired, Implications

Although a large number of Wtting procedures have been developed and are nowadays generally applied in modern hearing aid Wtting technology, little is known about their eVectiveness in comparison with each other. This paper argues the need for comparative validation studies on hearing aid Wtting procedures based on the design of a randomized clinical trial and carried out in a large-scale clinical population. These studies are hard to conduct but can provide detailed information on the various aspects of the rehabilitation with hearing aids. The design of several recently reported comparative studies of hearing aid Wtting procedures will be reviewed. This gives rise to a number of comments on aspects like, study design, composition of the study population and deWnition of outcome measures rather than on the outcome or conclusions of these studies themselves.

- by Bert Maat and +1
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- Comparative Study, Hearing disorders, Hearing aids, Clinical Sciences
- by Mon Linh
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- Algorithms, Speech perception, Time Perception, Time-Frequency Analysis

We present the Intelligent Thai text -Thai sign translation for language learning (IT 3 STL). IT 3 STL is able to translate Thai text into Thai sign language simply and conveniently anytime, anywhere. Thai sign language is the language of the deaf in Thailand. In the translation process, the distinction between Thai text and Thai sign language in both grammar and vocabulary are concerned in each processing step to ensure the accuracy of translation. IT 3 STL was designed not only to be an automatic interpreter but also to be a language tutor assistant. It provides meaning of each word and describes the structure formation and word order of the translated sentence. With IT 3 STL, the deaf and hearing-impaired are able to enhance their communication ability and to improve their knowledge and learning skills. Moreover IT 3 STL has increased motivation and opportunity for them to access multimedia and e-learning.

Non-syndromic hearing impairment (NSHI) is the most common form of deafness and presents with no other symptoms or sensory defects. Mutations in the gap junction gene GJB2 account for a high proportion of recessive NSHI. The GJB2 gene encodes connexin 26, which forms plasma membrane channels between cochlear cells. In Caucasian populations a single mutation, 35delG, accounts for most cases of NSHI. This mutation appears to be most prevalent in individuals of Mediterranean European descent, with carrier frequencies estimated as being as high as one in thirty. The 35delG region may be a mutational hotspot. The mutation arises from the deletion of a guanine from a six-guanine stretch and nearby microsatellite markers show little evidence for linkage disequilibrium. We believe that 35delG is an old mutation in a chromosomal region of high recombination. The genetic context of the 35delG mutation was examined to distinguish between an old or a recurring mutation. We identified two singlenucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) immediately upstream of the first exon of GJB2. Polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis determined the SNP genotype of 35delG containing chromosomes from various populations, including Italy, Brazil, and North America. We found the same, relatively rare, polymorphism associated with the 35delG mutation in all populations studied. We have also examined microsatellite markers D13S175, which is 80 kb telomeric to GJB2, and D13S1316, which is 80 kb centromeric to GJB2. D13S175 appears to be in weak linkage disequilibrium with 35delG, while D13S1316 is less so. SNPs located between the 35delG mutation and the microsatellite markers show strong evidence of linkage disequilibrium. Taken together, these results indicate there has been substantial recombination near the 35delG mutation; however, we present evidence that the 35delG mutation arose in European and Middle Eastern populations from a single mutational event on a founder chromosome.

- by Sai Light
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- Genetics, Human Genetics, Polymorphism, Complementary and Alternative Medicine

; on behalf of the DECIBEL-collaborative study group Introduction: The causes of Permanent Childhood Hearing Impairment (PCHI) are often quoted as being hereditary in 50%, acquired in 25%, and unknown in 25% of cases. Interest in the causes of PCHI has grown recently due to increasing diagnostic possibilities. We investigated the evidence for the reported distribution of these causes. Methods: Population-based study and a systematic review. Inclusion criteria for population-based study: children born between 2003 and 2005, resident in The Netherlands at birth, known at an Audiology Center with PCHI at the age of 3-5 years. The causes of PCHI were determined prospectively by detection of congenital cytomegalovirus on dried blood spots and/or genetic diagnostic investigations in addition to reviewing data from medical records. A systematic review was carried out using three terms (hearing loss, infant, and etiology) and limited to articles published between January 1997 and July 2009. Main outcome measures were: the (weighted) proportions of the various causes of PCHI following diagnostic investigations. Results: In the study-population (n ¼ 185) a hereditary cause was found in 38.9%, acquired cause in 29.7%, miscellaneous cause in 7.1%, and the cause remained unknown in 24.3%. The systematic review of the literature (n ¼ 9 articles) resulted in a weighted mean of 30.4% hereditary, 19.2% acquired, and 48.3% unknown causes of PCHI. Discussion: The systematic review and the results of the population-based study provided little support for the generally accepted distribution of causes of PCHI.

- by Friedo Dekker
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- Genetics, Epidemiology, Prospective studies, Cytomegalovirus

The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of past and current research regarding language and literacy development in children with mild to severe hearing impairment. A related goal is to identify gaps in the empirical literature and suggest future research directions. Included in the language development review are studies of semantics (vocabulary, novel word learning, and conceptual categories), morphology, and syntax. The literacy section begins by considering dimensions of literacy and the ways in which hearing impairment may influence them. It is followed by a discussion of existing evidence on reading and writing, and highlights key constructs that need to be addressed for a comprehensive understanding of literacy in these children. (Ear & Hearing 2007;28;740-753) Over the past decade, universal newborn hearing screening programs and advancements in sensory devices have improved the prospects for children with all degrees of hearing impairment (HI). These innovations have led to a resurgence of interest in research focused on various subpopulations of children with HI. This momentum is partly guided by practical interests, especially the need to strengthen the evidence base that guides the management of these children. Empirical study of this group also holds theoretical interest, as it allows researchers to explore the influences of auditory perception and auditory experience in foundational aspects of language and literacy development. In the 1970s and early 1980s, Dr. Julia Davis and colleagues at the University of Iowa called attention to the paucity of research on outcomes in children with mild to severe HI. As this review will show, there are still many gaps in the literature in relation to this group. Because of newborn hearing screening, we have the opportunity to close these gaps through prospective research, beginning in infancy. At this time, considerable efforts are being expended to identify these children early and to provide optimal hearing and communication services. Although there is increasing evidence that early-identified infants with HI progress in speech and language at rates that exceed later-identified peers (is need for further research documenting outcomes of this group of children. In the subsequent sections we will review the literature regarding the status of children with mild to severe HI and identify directions for future research efforts.

- by Carol M Connor
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- Research Design, Vocabulary, Reading, Language Development

Some published cochlear filterbanks are nonlinear but are fitted to animal basilar membrane ͑BM͒ responses. Others, like the gammatone, are based on human psychophysical data, but are linear. In this article, a human nonlinear filterbank is constructed by adapting a computational model of animal BM physiology to simulate human BM nonlinearity as measured by psychophysical pulsation-threshold experiments. The approach is based on a dual-resonance nonlinear type of filter whose basic structure was modeled using animal observations. In modeling the pulsation threshold data, the main assumption is that pulsation threshold occurs when the signal and the masker produce comparable excitation, that is the same filter output, at the place of the BM best tuned to the signal frequency. The filter is fitted at a discrete number of best frequencies ͑BFs͒ for which psychophysical data are available for a single listener and for an average response of six listeners. The filterbank is then created by linear regression of the resulting parameters to intermediate BFs.

- by Enrique Lopez
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- Psychophysics, Multidisciplinary, Hearing, Computer Model

Objectives: 1) To describe the hearing status of the at-risk infants in the National Institutes of Health-Identification of Neonatal Hearing Impairment study sample at 8 to 12 mo corrected age (chronologic age adjusted for prematurity). 2) To describe the visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) protocol that was used to obtain monaural behavioral data for the sample.

- by Michael Ekelid
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- Demography, Acoustics, Methodology, Auditory Perception

Mutations in the GJB2 gene encoding the gap junction protein connexin 26 are responsible for up to 30% of all cases of autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing impairment (HI) with prelingual onset in most populations. The corresponding locus DFNB1, located on chromosome 13q11-q12, is also affected by three distinct deletions. These deletions extended distally to GJB2, which remains intact. We report a novel large deletion in DFNB1 observed in a patient presenting profound prelingual HI. This deletion was observed in trans to a GJB2 mutated allele carrying the p.Val84Met (V84M) mutation and was shown to be associated with hearing loss. The deletion caused a false homozygosity of V84M in the proband. Quantification of alleles by quantitative fluorescent multiplex PCR (QFM-PCR) enabled us to study the breakpoints of the deletion. The deleted segment extended through at least 920 kb and removed the three connexin genes GJA3, GJB2 and GJB6. The distal breakpoint inside intron 2 of CRYL1 gene differed from the breakpoints of the known DFNB1 deletions. This case highlights the importance of screening for large deletions in molecular studies of GJB2.

- by Florence Fellmann
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- Genetics, Mutation, Haplotypes, Hearing Loss

To determine the proportion of newborns diagnosed with hearing impairment through the hearing impairment screening program in newborns, and the frequency of 35delG/GJB2 mutation as a cause of hearing impairment. The results of the study imply the integration of the mutation analysis in the neonatal screening program. Evoked otoacustic emission (E-OAE) screening program was performed among 6019 newborns at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rijeka University Hospital Center, between October 2002 and December 2004. Newborns diagnosed with hearing impairment were re-examined after three weeks and if abnormal responses persisted, the diagnosis was evaluated by auditory brainstem evoked response (ABER) testing. Children with confirmed diagnosis were examined by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction to identify the presence of 35delG/GJB2 mutation. After the first and second stage of screening, 86 newborns were suspect of having hearing impairment. ABER confirmed the diagno...

- by Igor Prpic and +2
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- Genetic Testing, Mutation, Hearing disorders, Croatia

In a number of recent studies, we summarized the obvious errors and shortcomings that can be spotted in many (if not most) mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) data sets published in medical genetics. We have reanalyzed here the complete mtDNA genome data published in various recent reports of East Asian families with hearing impairment, using a phylogenetic approach, in order to demonstrate the persistence of lab-specific mistakes in mtDNA genome sequencing in cases where those caveats were (deliberately) neglected. A phylogenetic reappraisal of complete mtDNAs with mutation A1555G (or G11778A) indeed supports the suggested lack of association between haplogroup background and phenotypic presentation of these mutations in East Asians. In contrast, the claimed pathogenicity of mutation T1095C in Chinese families with hearing impairment seems unsupported, basically because this mutation is rather basal in the mtDNA phylogeny, being specific to haplogroup M11 in East Asia. The roles of other haplogroup specific or associated variants, such as A827G, T961C, T1005C, in East Asian subjects with aminoglycoside-induced and non-syndromic hearing loss are also unclear in view of the known mtDNA phylogeny.

- by Claudio Bravi
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- Genetics, Human Genetics, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, East Asia