BACKGROUND: Speech audiometry is decisive in selecting hearing aid,but it is seldom used in clinic in China.OBJECTIVE: To understand the differences in the speech resolution with speech audiometry between in-the-ear (ITE) and behind-the-ear (BTE)hearing aids.DESIGN: Paired controlled study.SETTING: Auditory Center of the 414 Hospital of Chinese PLA, Auditory Rehabilitation Center of Jiangsu Province.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 62 patients with auditory disability were selected from the Auditory Center of the 414 Hospital of Chinese PLA and Auditory Rehabilitation Center of Jiangsu Province. Among 32 ITE hearing aid users, average hearing loss at 500, 1 000, 2 000 and 4 000 Hz, was less than 85 dB, and the patients were aged from 16 to 60 years. Among 30 BTE hearing aid users, average hearing loss at 500, 1 000, 2 000 and 4 000 Hz, was also less than 85 dB, and the patients were aged from 16 to 60 years. All patients were consent.METHODS: Open and close methods were adopted for speech audiometry among ITE and BTE hearing aids users. Monosyllabic and disyllabic words were chosen as the type of speech and 20 words were given to one ear, respectively.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of speech resolution with monosyllabic and disyllabic words test between ITE and BTE hearing aid.RESULTS: In aspect of the effect of ITE and BTE hearing aids, there were no significant differences of both monosyllabic and disyllabic words no matter through open or close method (P ＞ 0.05). At the opening state, there were significant differences in resolution of monosyllabic and disyllabic words (P ＜ 0.05); while, there were no significant differences (P ＞ 0.05) at the closing state.CONCLUSION: Carrying out speech audiometry in the selection hearing aid is influenced by many factors.

To investigate the correlation of polymorphisms at the rs1837253 and rs3806933 loci of the thymic stromal lymphopoietin(TSLP)gene with asthma susceptibility and Eos,IgE,and FeNO levels in children.A total of 143 asthmatic children were selected as the study group,and 112 healthy children undergoing routine health examinations at the same hospital were chosen as the control group.The MassARRAY SNP genotyping technology was used to detect the genotypes at two loci,while serum IgE levels were determined by using the turbidimetric scattering method.The distribution differences in genotype and allele frequencies between the two groups were analyzed,along with the effects of different genotypes on Eos,IgE,and FeNO levels.There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of rs1837253 allele and genotype frequencies as well as rs3806933 allele frequencies between the two groups(P＞0.05).However,asthma group rs3806933 CT genotype frequency was higher than the control group,and CC genotype frequency was lower than the control group(P＜0.05).Compared with the wild-type genotypes,children who carried rs1837253 CT+CC and rs3806933 CT,CT+TT genotypes had an increased risk of asthma(CT+CC vs TT:OR=2.737,95%CI:1.514-4.945;CT vs CC:OR=2.058,95%CI:1.194-3.543;CT+TT vs CC:OR=1.843,95%CI:1.109-3.062).There was an overall statistical difference in Eos counts among the three genotypes at the rs1837253 locus in the asthma group(P＜0.05,correction for multiple comparisons P＞0.05),but not in the control group(P＞0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in Eos%,IgE,and FeNO levels among the genotypes at the two loci and no significant difference in Eos counts among genotypes at the rs3806933 loci(P＞0.05).Taken together,polymorphisms at rs1837253 and rs3806933 loci in the promoter region of the TSLP gene are associated with asthma susceptibility in children.rs3806933 CT genotype may serve as a potential genetic marker for asthma,and rs1837253 CT+CC and rs3806933 CT+TT genotypes are risk factors for asthma in children;the rs1837253 locus polymorphism tended to affect blood Eos counts,while the two SNPs were not associated with Eos%,serum IgE,and FeNO levels.