BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Auditory temporal resolution, which refers to the time-related aspects of acoustic processing, can be evaluated by the Gaps-In-Noise (GIN) test. We investigated whether the presence of high frequency sensorineural hearing loss (HF-SNHL) affects the temporal resolution of GIN performance in older adults with normal hearing. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Hearing tests including the GIN test were performed in 87 subjects with normal pure tone average. The GIN threshold and percentage of correct answers were compared among 4 groups of participants; older adults with normal hearing (n=18), older adults with HF-SNHL (n=24), young adults with normal hearing (n=24) and young adults with HF-SNHL (n=21). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the mean GIN thresholds between the HF-SNHL group (5.8+/-0.8 msec) and the normal hearing group (6.0+/-0.8 msec) in older adults, whereas the mean GIN thresholds of HF-SNHL group was higher than that of the normal group in young adults (4.6+/-0.3 msec vs. 4.2+/-0.5 msec, p<0.05). The mean percentage of correct answers of HF-SNHL group (62.5+/-5.5%) was not significantly different from that of the normal hearing group (60.6+/-3.9%) in the old, unlike in the young (71.3+/-4.0% with HF-SNHL vs. 76.9+/-4.3% with normal hearing, p<0.05). Age only showed a significant correlation with the GIN performance. Neither the GIN threshold nor the GIN perception level had any relation with the presence of HF-SNHL in older adults. CONCLUSION: We found no evidence that supported the influence of HF-SNHL on auditory temporal resolution in older adults. These results imply that HF-SNHL may be of little importance in gap detection after age-related changes in central auditory system.
Acoustics ; Adult ; Hearing Loss, High-Frequency ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural* ; Hearing Tests ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Young Adult*

Hearing Loss, High-Frequency ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Manufacturing Industry ; Noise, Occupational/adverse effects* ; Occupational Exposure

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of drinking on hearing loss of pilot students, especially on high frequency hearing loss. METHOD: According to whether drinking, 517 male pilot students were divided into two groups. The balance of all the factors in addition to drinking in both groups was compared. All the students were examined by pure tone audiometry. The statistical data of this research was processed based on a retrospective cohort study. RESULT: The damage of high frequency (4-8 kHz) auditory threshold in left and right ear in drinking group were obviously higher compared with control group (P < 0.01). The Morbidity of hearing loss in drinking group was significantly higher compared to control group (χ2 =16.620, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Drinking is associated with the hearing loss in pilot students and particularly affects the hearing of high frequency spectrum.
Alcohol Drinking ; adverse effects ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Auditory Threshold ; Cohort Studies ; Deafness ; Ear ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, High-Frequency ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Students

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Consonants are uttered in the high frequency range in speech to bring out understanding of our language. As consonants convey most of the word information, listeners with high-frequency hearing loss find it hard to understand speech. Non-linear frequency compression (NLFC) technology compresses and moves higher frequencies into a lower frequency region where better residual hearing is present. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical effectiveness of NLFC technology in patients with high-frequency hearing loss. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Twelve ears representing patients with sloping, high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss were involved in this study. Pure-tone audiometry and Threshold Equalizing Noise Test were conducted initially in all subjects. The subjects were tested in the counter-balanced order, and had two months of everyday experience with NLFC on/off before testing took place. A resting period intervened the two phases. Performance was repeatedly evaluated with Sound Field Audiometry, Word Recognition Score, Reception Threshold for Sentences and Korean version of International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids. RESULTS: Cochlear dead region was detected on 4 kHz of both ears in only one subject. Each subject showed diverse performance and satisfaction with active NLFC condition. Typically, audibility of high-frequency pure-tones improved with NLFC-on condition. However, speech perception both in quiet and noise was not much improved when compared with NLFC-off condition. CONCLUSION: The NLFC technology could improve audibility in high-frequency, but failed to demonstrate benefits regarding speech perception. Further research is needed to validate the effectiveness of the NLFC technology especially in terms of speech intelligibility.
Audiometry ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Ear ; Hearing ; Hearing Aids ; Hearing Loss, High-Frequency* ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Noise ; Speech Intelligibility ; Speech Perception

Objective: To understand the current situation of high-frequency hearing loss of workers exposed to occupational noise in Hubei Province and its multi-level influencing factors. Methods: In June 2021, the basic information, occupational history, physical examination results and other relevant information in the "Occupational Health Examinations Case Cards" for noise workers in Hubei Province in 2020 were extracted from the subsystem of the "China Disease Prevention and Control Information System". Multilevel level of logistic model was used to analyze the related factors of high-frequency hearing loss of noise-exposed workers. Results: In 2020, the incidence rate of occupational high-frequency hearing loss in Hubei Province was 8.25% (6450/78152), and the incidence rate in various regions of the province ranged from 1.13% to 19.87%. At the individual level, male, ≥ 30 years of age, 6-10 years of service, small and micro enterprises, as well as construction, mining, manufacturing, transportation and rental services were the risk factors for high-frequency hearing loss (P<0.05). The risk of high-frequency hearing loss among workers in foreign-funded enterprises was significantly lower than that of workers in state-owned/collective enterprises (P<0.05). At the regional level, the younger the age of the employees, the lower the risk of high-frequency hearing loss (P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between the regional economic level and the risk of high-frequency hearing loss (P>0.05) . Conclusion: The incidence rate of occupational high-frequency hearing loss in Hubei Province is low in 2020, but the incidence rate varies greatly in different regions of the province, mainly due to differences in employment age, while the development of regional economic level has not reduced the risk of occupational high-frequency hearing loss.
Male ; Humans ; Child ; Hearing Loss, High-Frequency ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced/diagnosis* ; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology* ; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects* ; Noise, Occupational/adverse effects*

Automobiles ; Hearing Loss, High-Frequency ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced/etiology* ; Humans ; Male ; Noise, Occupational/adverse effects* ; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology* ; Occupational Exposure

Adult ; Automobiles ; Hearing Loss, High-Frequency ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced/etiology* ; Humans ; Male ; Noise, Occupational/adverse effects* ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Exposure

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of hearing loss by studying the current status of hearing loss, risk factors of hearing loss, exposure level of noise, and everyday habit of hearing in a group of university students, so as to provide information for hearing loss prevention in university students. METHOD: According to the purposive sampling method, 642 freshmen students participated in the study. Pure tone audiometry, and exposure level of noise scale were performed in all participants. RESULT: (1) According to the hearing loss criterion of WHO/PDH97.3, high frequency hearing loss, and noise induced threshold shifts, the hearing loss prevalence was 0.36%, 20.91% and 6.73%, respectively. (2) Multivariant Logistic regression analysis of high-frequency hearing loss indicated that traffic noise exposure and ear infection were risk factor of high frequency hearing loss. CONCLUSION There is a high prevalence of high frequency hearing loss in university students (20.91%), which was high related with traffic noise exposure and ear infection.
Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Hearing Loss, High-Frequency ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Noise ; adverse effects ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Students ; Universities

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the positive rate of common genetic mutations in Chinese non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss groups with different hearing phenotype. METHOD: One thousand four hundred and forty-eight subjects with hearing test results received at least one of three genetic testings including: mutations in coding region of GJB2 and SLC26A4 with sequencing analysis and mitochondrial DNA C1494T/A1555G with microarray detection. Of 1448 subjects, 1333 have bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, 65 have unilateral hearing loss and 50 have normal hearing threshold even though they have high frequency hearing loss or family history. The informed consent of each subject was achieved. RESULT: Mutation positive rate of GJB2, SLC26A4 and mtDNA C1494T/ A1555G of 1448 subjects were 19.23%, 27.55%, 0.1% and 1.72% respectively. The positive rate of GJB2 and SLC26A4 mutations in bilateral hearing loss group (20.22%, 29.17%) was statistically significantly higher than unilateral group (0, 0) (P < 0.01). In bilateral hearing loss group, the positive rate of GJB2 mutations was highest in the profound group (24.67%), and then severe (22.33%), moderate (14.33%) and mild group (6.58%) (P < 0.01). The positive rate of SLC26A4 mutations was highest in the severe group (48.67%), and then profound (28.42%), moderate (21.16%) and mild (8.93%) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION The positive rate of GJB2 and SLC26A4 mutations is high in the groups with bilateral profound and severe sensorineural hearing loss, whose genetic testing should be put emphasis on. However, the genetic testing should be performed in patients with mild to moderate hearing impairment as well if necessary.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Audiometry ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Connexin 26 ; Connexins ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Female ; Hearing Loss ; genetics ; Hearing Loss, Bilateral ; genetics ; Hearing Loss, High-Frequency ; genetics ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; genetics ; Hearing Loss, Unilateral ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Sulfate Transporters ; Young Adult

This paper discusses the technology of combined electric and acoustic stimulation (EAS) of the auditory system, which is a new therapy for the patients suffering from severe to profound high- and mid-frequency hearing loss but still having their low-frequency hearing. EAS uses hearing aid and cochlear implant technology together in the same ear. The hearing aid acoustically amplifies at low-frequencies, while the cochlear implant electrically stimulates at mid- and high-frequencies. The inner ear processes acoustic and electric stimuli simultaneously. This technique can provide substantial benefit in speech understanding for individuals with severe high-frequency hearing loss and can maintain their residual lower-frequency acoustic hearing. The study of EAS would significantly enhance the conventional cochlear implant therapy and benefit the patients afflicted with severe to profound hearing loss.
Acoustic Stimulation ; Audiometry ; Auditory Pathways ; Auditory Threshold ; physiology ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Electric Stimulation ; Hearing Loss ; diagnosis ; surgery ; therapy ; Hearing Loss, High-Frequency ; diagnosis ; surgery ; therapy ; Humans