OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate hearing and outer cells function in patients with psoriatic arthritis. Our investigation was a prospective case control study. METHODS: A total of 31 psoriatic arthritis patients (62 ears) and 31 healthy control subjects (62 ears) were enrolled in the study. We investigated hearing changes of patients and controls via pure tone audiometry, speech discrimination scores, tympanometry, acoustic reflex, and transient product otoacoustic emission. RESULTS: The mean age of psoriatic arthritis patients was 36.1+/-8.5 years (range, 14 to 62 years). The average age of the control group was 37.9+/-8.1 years (range, 16 to 62 years). There were statistically significant differences between pure tone audiometry in all frequencies and right and left emission at the 4.0 and 1.0 in psoriatic arthritis patients versus controls (P<0.05). This difference was evident, especially at high frequencies. There was no statistically significant difference between the ages and genders of the patient and control groups (P>0.05). Both audiological and otoacoustic emissions were not significantly different between right and left ear (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on the audiological and otoacoustic findings; it is likely that the cochlear outer hair cells become subtly damaged in psoriatic arthritis patients, consequently leading to changes in hearing thresholds. These data suggest that it is important to screen psoriatic arthritis patients for hearing changes with otoacoustic emissions and audiologic tests regularly.
Acoustic Impedance Tests ; Arthritis, Psoriatic* ; Audiometry ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Audiometry, Speech ; Case-Control Studies ; Cochlea* ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Ear ; Hair* ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous ; Prospective Studies ; Reflex, Acoustic

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare speech audiometry test results of the conventional Hahm's list with those of Korean standard word lists for adults (KS-WL-A) using both live voice and compact disc (CD) speech presentation modes. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Eighty patients with sensorineural hearing loss and 23 control subjects with normal hearing participated in the study. Each hearing loss group comprised 20 subjects (mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe hearing loss groups). Speech audiometry was performed to measure the speech recognition threshold (SRT) and word recognition score. KS-WL-A was presented either through a live voice mode or recorded CD materials. Test words from Hahm's list were presented using the live voice mode only. Pure tone audiometry was also conducted for all subjects. RESULTS: Differences between the SRT and pure tone average were within 6 dB in all subgroups in all three stimulation methods, indicating high reliability of the SRT in both the conventional and Korean standard methods. The moderate, moderately severe, and severe hearing loss groups showed lower word recognition scores in the CD mode with KS-WL-A than with the two live voice modes. CONCLUSION: Both the live voice mode and CD mode showed reliable speech audiometry test results in normal and hearing-impaired subjects. Although the CD mode is recommended to standardize test methods and reduce test errors, the live voice mode might be more effective for patients with moderate to severe hearing loss.
Adult* ; Audiometry ; Audiometry, Speech* ; Compact Disks ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Speech Discrimination Tests ; Speech Reception Threshold Test ; Voice

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Speech discrimination testing has been used to evaluate the communication disability, select hearing aid candidacy and appropriate amplification, plan and evaluate aural rehabilitation programs and assist in the determination of the site of lesion. Since the words of speech discrimination tests were made on the basis of the linguistic aspects and used till now, they underestimate the disability of high frequency hearing loss (HFHL). To ameliorate this problem, we analysed the words which were difficult to discriminate in FHL in a commonly used speech testing material using the acoustic analysis method. Also, the words were assorted to establish a basic data for a new speech material which could estimate the disability of HFHL. METHODS: 20 HFHL subjects (age 20-70), selected on the basis of pure tone audiometry, were found to be the descending type. They were tested to repeat the monosyllabic words at 10-15dB HL above the puretone threshold of 1000Hz and checked with the error responses. These words were sorted out according to the error response or the confusion rate and analyzed by consonants and vowels. The words were recorded with an audiologist's voice using a GSI 10 audiometer connected to the personal computer. This was analyzed by the acoustic analysis program that has the MATLAB function. With this program, a word was analyzed by an initial consonant, a vowel, and a final consonant for the intensity, the formant peak frequency and the time course. RESULTS: The words which were difficult to discriminate for HFHL were sorted out by the confusion rates. The words of articulation score 15-50% were revealed to have low intensity with short duration, and the peak frequency spectrum above 3 kHz. Also the consonant-vowel transition frequency was located above 3 kHz. CONCLUSION: These results could be used as a basic clinical data to make a new speech discrimination material which evaluates the disability of HFHL more accurately.
Acoustics* ; Audiometry ; Communication Disorders ; Correction of Hearing Impairment ; Hearing Aids ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing* ; Linguistics ; Microcomputers ; Speech Discrimination Tests ; Speech Perception ; Voice

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To standard test method of Korean speech audiometry, we developed an audio compact disk, the KsoM-07 (Korean Society of Otolaryngolgy, Monosyllabic, 2007) word lists and evaluated them for clinical usage. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The monitored live voice (MLV) of a female talker was digitally recorded with a Beltone audiometer and the GoldWave program. The calibration for each word was done by calculating the root-mean-square (RMS) at the moving time of 300 ms using MATLAB(R) (7.0 version, The MathWorks, Inc. Natick, Massachusetts, USA) and the GoldWave (v 5.25 GoldWave Inc. St. John's, NL, Canada) program. The discrimination score was measured in 20 normal subjects to obtain psychometric function curve of each word and to compare the homogeneity of two lists. The first verification methods for new speech materials were done by comparing the discrimination scores of the flat type and the descending types at 150 sensorineural hearing loss with similar pure tone threshold. RESULTS: 44% of MLV recording was above +/-3 dB deviation and had to be recalibrated. Two lists showed equal difficulty or homogeneity in normal subjects. Discrimination scores were statistically different among the groups with respect to hearing level and the slope of audiogram. CONCLUSION: KsoM-07 word lists were relatively homogeneous and showed differences between the descending type and the flat type of hearing loss. Therefore, KsoM-07 word lists can be useful in evaluating the impairment found in the descending type of sensorineural hearing loss as well as in serving as a new speech test material for Korean monosyllabic words.
Audiometry, Speech ; Calibration ; Compact Disks ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Female ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Massachusetts ; Psychometrics ; Speech Discrimination Tests ; Speech Intelligibility ; Voice

OBJECTIVETo discuss the indications, surgery methods and effects of the BAHA implantation by analyzing the patients' medical records of bone-anchored hearing aids(BAHA).

METHODSRetrospective analyzed the records of 16 patients of BAHA implantation, including nine males and seven females. Their average age was 31 years old (8-53ys). Nine of them were congenital ear malformation, two were chronic suppurative otitis media, two were otosclerosis and three were unilateral severe sensorineural deafness. We evaluated their pure tone audiometry (PTA), speech audiometry and temporal CT before the surgery, and evaluated the aided PTA in soundfield and speech audiometry in sound field.

RESULTSThese patients received BAHA implantation and installed the speech processor their months later. The average preoperative PTA measurements (PTA at 0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz) was (63.2 ± 19.0) dB HL and postoperative aided PTA in sound field was (35.5 ± 10.9)dB HL. The average improvement in Hearing In Noise Test (HINT) was 37.0% ± 31.7%. The average improvement in Mandarin Speech Test was 76.0% ± 19.7%. After 4-16 months' follow-up, no significant complications were recorded.

CONCLUSIONBAHA is a safe and effective bone implantable hearing device.

Audiometry ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Audiometry, Speech ; Bone Conduction ; Ear ; Female ; Hearing ; Hearing Aids ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Male ; Noise ; Otosclerosis ; Prostheses and Implants ; Retrospective Studies ; Sound

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The association between hearing impairment and cognitive function has been established in previous studies. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of conventional hearing aids and middle ear implants on cognitive function. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: This study included 22 participants who underwent middle ear implantation between October 2013 and September 2016. Their mean age at surgery was 70 years. Using Pure tone audiometry (PTA), the Speech discrimination test (SDT), and the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) questionnaire, we compared audiologic benefits of three conditions [without hearing aids, with conventional hearing aids, or with Vibrant Sound bridge (VSB)]. Cognitive ability was evaluated using neuropsychological testings (Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery) at intervals of approximately eight weeks. RESULTS: The results of PTA showed a 7.96 dB HL gain with conventional hearing aids and a 10.00 dB HL gain with the use of VSB. SDT results showed a 4.10% gain with conventional hearing aids and a 10% gain with the use of VSB. Results of the APHAB questionnaire showed a significant increase with the use of VSB compared to conventional hearing aids. In the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination, a slight improvement was observed after middle ear implantation. In the Digit Span Test and Korean-Boston Naming Test, a significant improvement was seen with the use of VSB compared to conventional hearing aids. CONCLUSION: The use of middle ear implants in rehabilitation of hearing communication in patients showed improvements in cognitive abilities, compared to the use of conventional hearing aids.
Audiometry ; Cognition* ; Ear, Middle* ; Hearing Aids* ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Methods ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Ossicular Prosthesis* ; Rehabilitation ; Speech Discrimination Tests

OBJECTIVES: The present study investigates the usefulness of transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) and distortion product OAEs (DPOAEs) in detecting small changes in the hearing of young smoking adults. METHODS: Otoacoustic emissions were acquired from the ears of 48 young adults (age, 20 to 27 years). The dataset was divided into two groups, smoking (24 persons/48 ears) and nonsmoking (24 persons/48 ears). The level of smoking was relatively small in comparison to previous studies, an average of 3.8 years and 8.7 cigarettes per day. In each ear three OAE measurements were made: TEOAEs, DPOAEs, and spontaneous OAEs (SOAEs). Pure tone audiometry and tympanometry were also conducted. Audiometric thresholds did not differ significantly between the datasets. Half-octave-band values of OAE signal to noise ratios and response levels were used to assess statistical differences. RESULTS: Averaged data initially revealed that differences between the two study groups occurred only for TEOAEs at 1 kHz. However when the datasets were divided into ears with and without SOAEs more differences became apparent, both for TEOAEs and DPOAEs. In ears that exhibited SOAEs, both smokers and nonsmokers, there were no statistically significant differences between evoked OAEs; however in all ears without SOAEs, evoked OAEs were higher in the ears of nonsmokers, by as much as 5 dB. These differences were most prominent in the 1-2 kHz range. CONCLUSION: A general decrease in OAE levels was found in the group of smokers. However, in ears which exhibited SOAEs, there was no difference between the evoked OAEs of smokers and nonsmokers. We conclude that smoking had not yet measurably affected the ears of those with acute hearing (i.e., those who exhibit SOAEs). However, in ears without SOAEs, smokers exhibited smaller evoked OAE amplitudes than nonsmokers, even though their audiometric thresholds were within the norm.
Acoustic Impedance Tests ; Adult ; Audiometry ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Cochlea ; Dataset ; Ear ; Hearing ; Humans ; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Tobacco Products ; Young Adult*

A speech discrimination test is a test using a list of 25 phonetically balanced monosyllables. It is often overlooked but significant enough for pure tone audiometry. Many physicians have performed pure tone audiometry but without a speech discrimination test. A 73-year-old woman visited our clinic complaining of sudden bilateral hearing loss. Pure tone audiometry showed only bilateral high frequency loss. However, speech discrimination had decreased markedly. We decided to follow-up after 1 week of Ginexin-F(R) (ginkgo leaf extract) and Nafril(R) (nafronyl oxalate). She felt a gait disturbance within 2 days. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a left thalamic hemorrhage. After a 1 month hospitalization, the hematoma subsided, and speech discrimination recovered 3 months later. Acute hearing loss due to thalamic hemorrhage that recovered has never been reported. We report the first case of retrocochlear hearing loss that occurred with a thalamic hemorrhage in a patient who recovered.
Aged ; Audiometry ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gait ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Bilateral ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrocochlear Diseases* ; Speech Discrimination Tests ; Speech Perception ; Thalamus

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effects of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome on hearing among children.

METHODSOne hundred and forty three apnea children proved with overnight polysomnography received pure tone audiometry, acoustic impedance test, and lateral nasopharyngeal airway X-ray. Hearing threshold level and blood oxygen's saturation, apnea hypopnea index were analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the 127 cases,63 cases had type C or B tympanograms, and 33 of them had lifted hearing threshold level. The remaining 64 cases had normal hearing and tympanograms. It was found correlation between the A/N ratio and blood oxygen's saturation, and no correlation between the A/N ratio and average of hearing threshold level. There was no correlation between AHI and average of hearing threshold level of each group. Hearing level can be improved after adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy.

CONCLUSIONSThe upper airway obstruction due to adenotonsillar enlargement is common in children. It also affects the middle-ear impedance. Although short -term and mild degree of hypoxemia has few influence on hearing threshold level, it may affect cochlear function.

Acoustic Impedance Tests ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hearing ; Humans ; Male ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate on the Indication and quality of life of the canal wall up and canal wall down surgery in chronic suppurative otitis media, to provide reference for surgical options. METHOD: The clinical data of patients underwent canal wall up or canal wall down surgery are analyzed. Follow up on 312 patients are accomplished with pure tone audiometry, acoustic impedance for surgical cavity volume, ear endoscopy and the Chinese chronic ear survey (CCES). RESULT: (1) The dry ear rate of canal wall up and canal wall down surgery are 98.7% and 98.6% respectively (P > 0.05). (2) The average cavity epithelization and dry ear time are 40.1 +/- 21.2 days for canal wall up surgery and 53.5 +/- 15.0 days for canal wall down surgery (P < 0.05). The postoperative ear volume to the contralateral normal ear volume ratio are 1.16 +/- 0.10 for canal wall up surgery and 2.05 +/- 1.19 for canal wall down surgery (P < 0.05). (4) Score of the CCES: 91.2 +/- 6.8 points for canal wall up surgery and 72.0 +/- 7.7 for canal wall down surgery (P < 0.05). (5) The proportion of patients feeling change of ear appearance is 5.7% for canal wall up surgery and 80.8% for canal wall down surgery (P < 0.05). (6) Hearing after surgery: objective hearing improvement rate is 58.9% for canal wall up surgery and 24.2% for canal wall down surgery (P < 0.05) according to the questionnaire, while the pure tone audiometry shows no significant difference in hearing thresh hold and air-bone gap. (7) The satisfactory score after surgery is 9.55 points for canal wall up surgery and 8.11 points for canal wall down surgery (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION (1) Patients underwent canal wall up surgery have near-normal external ear morphology, shorter dry ear time and much higher quality of life compared to canal wall down surgery. (2) For experienced ear surgeon, the indication for canal wall up surgery can be extended to cases with diploetic or sclerotic type of mastoid and part of the cases with anatomical variation and intracranial or extracranial complications.
Acoustic Impedance Tests ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Chronic Disease ; Ear Canal ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing ; physiology ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Otitis Media, Suppurative ; surgery ; Otologic Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome