BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although mass transit systems are convenient and efficient for urban people, little attention has been paid to the potential hearing hazard from their noise. The purpose of the current study was to measure and analyze levels of subway interior noise at peak commuter times and to provide information about commuters' daily dose of noise exposure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To measure the subway interior noise, nine subway lines inside Seoul (i.e., lines 1-9) and six lines surrounding the capital city area (i.e., Central, Bundang, Sinbundang, Incheon, Gyeongui, and Gyeongchun) were chosen. The noise was measured and recorded by a sound level meter for two-hour periods in the morning and evening. RESULTS: 1) In the LZeq analysis, the average noise level of all 15 lines was 72.78 dB; the maximum and minimum noise levels were 78.34 and 62.46 dB, respectively. The average noise level of the nine lines inside Seoul was 73.45 dB, which was 1.68-dB louder than that of the six lines surrounding the capital city area. 2) Based on the LZeq analysis of 33 measured frequencies, 12.5 Hz was the highest frequency and 20,000 Hz was the lowest. 3) There was no remarkable difference in the level of subway interior noise between morning and evening peak commuter times. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the level of subway interior noise was not loud enough for commuters to incur noise-induced hearing loss. Regardless, environmental noise control efforts in the subway system might be needed for commuters who take a subway every day.
Hearing ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; Incheon ; Noise* ; Railroads* ; Seoul

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although new technology of assistive listening device leads many hard of hearing children to be mainstreamed in public school programs, many clinicians and teachers still wonder whether the children are able to understand all instruction, access educational materials, and have social skills in the school. The purpose of this study is to develop a school adaptation program (SAP) for the hearing-impaired children who attend public elementary school. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The theoretical framework of the SAP was a system model including microsystem, mesosystem, and macrosystem merged with Keller's ARCS theory. RESULTS: The SAP consisted of 10 sessions based on five categories (i.e., school life, activity in the class, relationship with friends, relationship with teacher, and school environments). For preliminary validity testing, the developed SAP was reviewed by sixteen elementary school teachers, using the evaluation questionnaire. The results of evaluation showed high average 3.60 (+/-0.52) points out of 4 while proving a reliable and valid school-based program. CONCLUSIONS: The SAP indicated that it may serve as a practical and substantive program for hearing-impaired children in the public school in order to help them achieve better academic support and social integrations.
Child ; Friends ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss* ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This systematic review evaluated the impact of using digital pinna-cue preserving technologies (PPT) on front/back sound localization for adult hearing aid users. Two peer-reviewed studies and two non-peer-reviewed studies were included. Lab-based and self-report outcomes were both assessed. The overall findings suggested that PPT was superior to omni-directional and full directional settings in a relatively quiet, well-controlled laboratory environment but not in the real world. However, observed individual differences in self-report measures suggested that PPT was potentially beneficial to certain hearing aid users. PPT candidacy was discussed and the importance of a pre-fitting interview/consultation was emphasized to assist clinicians in making a solid evidence-based and cost-effectiveness decision when prescribing hearing aids to adults with hearing impairment.
Adult* ; Hearing Aids* ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Individuality ; Sound Localization

It is acknowledged that implantable bone conduction hearing aids such as a bone anchored hearing aid provide benefit and satisfaction to patients with unilateral hearing loss in terms of sound localization and speech perception under noise circumstances. This review paper introduces current models of the implantable bone conduction hearing aids, their candidacy, brief surgical procedures, and general audiological examinations. A table summary was used for nine published research papers which have very similar results by three points, i.e., no change in ability of sound localization, better performance of Hearing-In-Noise Test, and improved satisfaction of sound quality using questionnaires after the implantation. Unfortunately, systematic fitting strategy for users of the implantable bone conduction hearing aids has not been either studied or developed yet. Futhermore, there is no scientific based approach of reason why the implantation has no benefit in sound localization but still provides better performance for speech perception in noise. In conclusion, specific and effective fitting strategy of the current implantable bone conduction hearing aids should be developed and also support effect of the implantation with sensitivity and specificity for both clinicians and patients while accompanying their advanced technology.
Bone Conduction ; Hearing Aids ; Hearing Loss, Unilateral ; Humans ; Noise ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sound Localization ; Speech Perception ; Suture Anchors

Aural rehabilitation is defined as a comprehensive service which includes hearing aid fitting, hearing aid orientation, auditory training, and informational/educational counseling for people with hearing loss in order to reduce deficits of auditory function, difficulty in communication, and limited social activity, and ultimately to enhance their quality of life. Although it is well known that auditory training among a large scope of the aural rehabilitation is critical to improve residual hearing of hearing-impaired adults and/or older adults, there are some limitations to conduct it in the clinic in terms of time consuming and individual difference. In this review paper, we introduce two of the most popular web-based auditory training programs, namely Listening and Communication Enhancement And customized learning: Exercises for Aural Rehabilitation. The paper analyzes their purpose, contents, effect (or benefit) of auditory training, and clinical application, while arguing their pros and cons. In conclusion, we discuss a necessary of developing auditory training platforms for the hearing-impaired adults and older adults, and then of forging systematic web-based auditory training tools with a low-cost and high efficiency because aging population is rapidly increasing in Korea.
Adult ; Aging ; Correction of Hearing Impairment* ; Counseling ; Education* ; Exercise* ; Hearing ; Hearing Aids ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Individuality ; Korea ; Learning* ; Quality of Life

It is acknowledged that implantable bone conduction hearing aids such as a bone anchored hearing aid provide benefit and satisfaction to patients with unilateral hearing loss in terms of sound localization and speech perception under noise circumstances. This review paper introduces current models of the implantable bone conduction hearing aids, their candidacy, brief surgical procedures, and general audiological examinations. A table summary was used for nine published research papers which have very similar results by three points, i.e., no change in ability of sound localization, better performance of Hearing-In-Noise Test, and improved satisfaction of sound quality using questionnaires after the implantation. Unfortunately, systematic fitting strategy for users of the implantable bone conduction hearing aids has not been either studied or developed yet. Futhermore, there is no scientific based approach of reason why the implantation has no benefit in sound localization but still provides better performance for speech perception in noise. In conclusion, specific and effective fitting strategy of the current implantable bone conduction hearing aids should be developed and also support effect of the implantation with sensitivity and specificity for both clinicians and patients while accompanying their advanced technology.

Because the psychophysical symptoms of hearing loss and dementia in the elderly are very similar, untrained healthcare professionals in dementia facilities can easily overlook a severity of hearing loss in their patients. The present study identifies their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) on hearing loss using a survey whether they may help hearing problem of the patients with dementia. A total of 29 health-care professionals responded to the KAP survey. Also, 2 family members participated. The results showed that most of the nurses and caregivers in elderly medical welfare facilities who worked with dementia patients did not have knowledge of their hearing loss. Even the facility managers did not know how to conduct hearing tests for their patients although they did recognize that some of their patients had a hearing loss. Eventually, actual practice was not possible at this moment by the professionals. However, our respondents did have a positive attitude toward screening for hearing loss and help their patients with dementia wear hearing aids if a clinical guideline was provided. We suggest to develop clear and precise clinical guidelines of the hearing screening test for the dementia patients due to the interrelationship between dementia and hearing loss. When these guidelines apply to elderly residents in a medical welfare facility, early diagnosis and treatment of their sensory loss will help alleviate their dementia as well.

Auditory scene analysis is defined as a listener’s ability to segregate a meaningful message from meaningless background noise in a listening environment. To gain better understanding of auditory perception in terms of message integration and segregation ability among concurrent signals, we aimed to systematically review the size of auditory scenes among individuals. A total of seven electronic databases were searched from 2000 to the present with related key terms. Using our inclusion criteria, 4,507 articles were classified according to four sequential steps–identification, screening, eligibility, included. Following study selection, the quality of four included articles was evaluated using the CAMARADES checklist. In general, studies concluded that the size of auditory scene increased as the number of sound sources increased; however, when the number of sources was five or higher, the listener’s auditory scene analysis reached its maximum capability. Unfortunately, the score of study quality was not determined to be very high, and the number of articles used to calculate mean effect size and statistical significance was insufficient to draw significant conclusions. We suggest that study design and materials that consider realistic listening environments should be used in further studies to deep understand the nature of auditory scene analysis within various groups.

This brief communication introduced a systematic way to find a professional audiology clinic developed for patients and professionals by the American Academy of Audiology, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and Healthy Hearing. Patients can access each organization's website to find professionals and/or clinics based on criteria such as location, hours, special areas, types of service, reviews and rating by previous patients, and kinds of insurance accepted. Such a system may protect the patients from information overload, guarantee accurate information, and help them find themselves professional audiologists who can assist them. We expect professional organizations to adopt this system as soon as possible and link hearing-impaired patients with professional audiologists in Korea.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association ; Audiology* ; Hearing ; Hearing Aids ; Humans ; Insurance ; Korea ; Societies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Deficits of the aging auditory system negatively affect older listeners in terms of speech communication, resulting in limitations to their social lives. To improve their perceptual skills, the goal of this study was to investigate the effects of time alteration, selective word stress, and varying sentence lengths on the speech perception of older listeners. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventeen older people with normal hearing were tested for seven conditions of different time-altered sentences (i.e., +/-60%, +/-40%, +/-20%, 0%), two conditions of selective word stress (i.e., no-stress and stress), and three different lengths of sentences (i.e., short, medium, and long) at the most comfortable level for individuals in quiet circumstances. RESULTS: As time compression increased, sentence perception scores decreased statistically. Compared to a natural (or no stress) condition, the selectively stressed words significantly improved the perceptual scores of these older listeners. Long sentences yielded the worst scores under all time-altered conditions. Interestingly, there was a noticeable positive effect for the selective word stress at the 20% time compression. CONCLUSIONS: This pattern of results suggests that a combination of time compression and selective word stress is more effective for understanding speech in older listeners than using the time-expanded condition only.
Aging ; Auditory Perception ; Hearing ; Speech Perception*