OBJECTIVETo compare the loudness growth of normal hearing children and children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) by the modified Contour test.

METHODSThe loudness growth function were obtained in 26 ears with normal hearing and 25 ears with SNHL using the modified Contour test. Retesting were carried out 2 or 3 weeks later after the initial test. The results were analyzed by the univariate analysis of variance.

RESULTSThere was significant difference in loudness growth between normal hearing group and groups with SNHL of different degrees (F = 1368.32, P < 0.001), and also between different loudness categories (F = 682.21, P < 0.001). Large differences were observed in the dynamic range between normal hearing children and children with sensorineural hearing loss (F = 214.26, P < 0.001). The following results were found in the loudness growth in children with SNHL: the more serious the hearing loss was, the more rapid the loudness growth and the smaller the dynamic range. The test-retest reliability of loudness growth function obtained in normal hearing and hearing-impaired group was highly correlated. The results of modified contour test showed good reliability.

CONCLUSIONSWhen fitting hearing aids for a child the result of individual loudness growth should be obtained as possible as it could be drawn to reach the best listening saturation for the child. The modified contour test was a vivid and easy-to-do test for children, also with good reliability. In order to fit hearing aids properly for children, it was worth applying the modified contour test in clinic.

Adolescent ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hearing Aids ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Loudness Perception ; Male

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the impact of tinnitus loudness, tinnitus frequency, hearing loss, tinnitus subjective loudness on the life of tinnitus patient. METHOD: To inspect the 154 tinnitus patients with pure tone audiometry, tinnitus matching, tinnitus classification questionnaire and THI scale. This study applies THI scale to evaluate the impact of tinnitus on the life of tinnitus patient. Using statistical methods to analyse the relationship between tinnitus loudness, tinnitus frequency, hearing loss, tinnitus subjective loudness and the impact of tinnitus on the life of tinnitus patient. RESULT: (1) Tinnitus frequency is closed with the frequency of hearing loss. (2) There is no significant correlation between tinnitus loudness and the impact of tinnitus on the life of tinnitus patient. (3) There is no distinction between hearing loss and the THI scores. (4) The patient gets more scores in subgroup of THI with the increase of tinnitus subjective loudness classification. CONCLUSION The impact of tinnitus loudness, hearing loss on the life of tinnitus patient is not very clearly, while the impact of tinnitus subjective loudness classification on the life of tinnitus patient is significant. In clinical, we can not evaluate the effect of the tinnitus treatment relying on tinnitus loudness and hearing loss simply.The finding provides us individual treatment to tinnitus patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Hearing Loss ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Loudness Perception ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Tinnitus ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: A current technology for detecting and controlling transient noise in hearing aids (AntiShock) was evaluated. The objective was to evaluate AntiShock on loudness control and whether results in negative changes in sound quality of speech, transient noise and environmental noise and provide implications for hearing aid fitting. METHOD: Twenty-four subjects with sensorineural hearing loss participated in the study. In a single-blinded paradigm, the subjects were asked to rate loudness of transient noise and distortion of speech, transient noise and environmental noise with the AntiShock in both on and off conditions. RESULT: (1) The percentage of the transient noise rated as soft, comfortable, loud, too loud was 3.0%, 72.7%, 22.9% and 1.4%, respectively. There were significant differences in mean scores of loudness perception among listening conditions and between genders by a Two-Way ANOVA, the P values were 0.009 and 0.001, respectively. (2) The percentage of the speech rated as mild distorted, understandable, clear and very clear was 2.5%, 30.6%, 32.9% and 34.0%, respectively. There were significant differences in mean scores of speech distortion under different listening conditions by an One-Way ANOVA (P < 0.01). (3) The percentage of the transient noise rated as mild distorted, clear and natural was 2.9% and 97.1%, respectively. No significant differences in mean scores of nature of transient noise was found under different listening conditions by an One-Way ANOVA (P > 0.05). (4) The percentage of the environmental noise rated as mild distorted, clear but soft, clear and natural was 0.4%, 0.8% and 98.8%, respectively. No significant differences in mean scores of nature of environmental noise was found between different listening conditions by an Independent-Samples T Test (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION AntiShock showed positive effects on the loudness control of the transient noise. Quality of speech, transient noise and environmental noise were not impacted by AntiShock.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Equipment Design ; Female ; Hearing Aids ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; rehabilitation ; Humans ; Loudness Perception ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Noise ; Quality Control ; Single-Blind Method ; Young Adult