The incidence of single-sided deafness（SSD） is increasing year by year. Due to the hearing defects of one ear, the ability of sound localization, speech recognition in noise, and quality of life of patients with single-sided deafness will be affected to varying degrees. This article reviews the intervention effects of different types of bone conduction hearing aids in patients with single-sided deafness and asymmetric hearing loss, and the differences of intervention effects between bone conduction hearing aids, contralateral routing of signal（CROS） aids, and cochlea implant（CI）, to provide a reference for the auditory intervention and clinical treatment of single-sided deafness and asymmetric hearing loss.
Humans ; Quality of Life ; Bone Conduction ; Hearing Loss, Unilateral/therapy* ; Speech Perception ; Hearing Aids ; Hearing Loss ; Sound Localization ; Deafness ; Treatment Outcome

No abstract available.
Hearing Loss, Conductive ; Sound Localization

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many studies have reported no benefit of sound localization, but improved speech understanding in noise after treating patients with single-sided deafness (SSD). Furthermore, their performances provided a large individual difference. The present study aimed to measure the ability of speech perception and gap detection in noise for the SSD patients to better understand their hearing nature.
Deafness ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Conductive ; Humans ; Individuality ; Noise ; Plastics ; Sample Size ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio ; Silver Sulfadiazine ; Sound Localization ; Speech Perception ; Young Adult

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

PURPOSE: Spatial hearing refers to the ability to understand speech and identify sounds in various environments. We assessed the validity of the Korean version of the Spatial Hearing Questionnaire (K-SHQ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed forward translation of the original English SHQ to Korean and backward translation from the Korean to English. Forty-eight patients who were able to read and understand Korean and received a score of 24 or higher on the Mini-Mental Status Examination were included in the study. Patients underwent pure tone audiometry (PTA) using a standard protocol and completed the K-SHQ. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha, and factor analysis was performed to prove reliability. Construct validity was tested by comparing K-SHQ scores from patients with normal hearing to those with hearing impairment. Scores were compared between subjects with unilateral or bilateral hearing loss and between symmetrical and asymmetrical hearing impairment. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha showed good internal consistency (0.982). Two factors were identified by factor analysis: There was a significant difference in K-SHQ scores for patients with normal hearing compared to those with hearing impairment. Patients with asymmetric hearing impairment had higher K-SHQ scores than those with symmetric hearing impairment. This is related to a lower threshold of PTA in the better ear of subjects. The hearing ability of the better ear is correlated with K-SHQ score. CONCLUSION: The K-SHQ is a reliable and valid tool with which to assess spatial hearing in patients who speak and read Korean. K-SHQ score reflects the severity and symmetry of hearing impairment.
Audiometry ; Ear ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing Loss, Bilateral ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Sound Localization

Exposure of humans to unusual spaces is effective to observe the adaptive strategy for an environment. Though adaptation to such spaces has been typically tested with vision, little has been examined about adaptation to left–right reversed audition, partially due to the apparatus for adaptation. Thus, it is unclear if the adaptive effects reach early auditory processing. Here, we constructed a left–right reversed stereophonic system using only wearable devices and asked two participants to wear it for 4 weeks. Every week, the magnetoencephalographic responses were measured under the selective reaction time task, where they immediately distinguished between sounds delivered to either the left or the right ear with the index finger on the compatible or incompatible side. The constructed system showed high performance in sound localization and achieved gradual reduction of a feeling of strangeness. The N1m intensities for the response-compatible sounds tended to be larger than those for the response-incompatible sounds until the third week but decreased on the fourth week, which correlated with the initially shorter and longer reaction times for the compatible and incompatible conditions, respectively. In the second week, disruption of the auditory-motor connectivity was observed with the largest N1m intensities and the longest reaction times, irrespective of compatibility. In conclusion, we successfully produced a high-quality space of left–right reversed audition using our system. The results suggest that a 4-week exposure to the reversed audition causes optimization of the auditory-motor coordination according to the new rule, which eventually results in the modulation of early auditory processing.
Ear ; Fingers ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Magnetoencephalography* ; Reaction Time ; Sound Localization

Every one of a thousand of neonates is born with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (UHL) and the prevalence of UHL increases in school aged children due to delayed-onset or acquired HL. Some studies showed that UHL impacted on speech-language development and school performance adversely. Therefore, appropriate intervention for UHL children may be needed. Treatment approach for UHL children can be chosen depending on the degree of HL. Cochlear implantation (CI) provides benefits of binaural hearing including better speech perception in noise and sound localization to children with acquired severe-to-profound UHL. However, children with congenital severe-to-profound UHL and long duration of HL gain the unfavorable benefit from CI. Contralateral routing of signal hearing aid and bone anchored hearing device should not be recommended for young children with UHL because these devices can introduce noise to normal hearing ear and young children are not able to competently monitor their listening environment and to make judgments about when these devices may be appropriate. Conventional hearing aid (HA) has the potential of providing binaural hearing for UHL children with amplifiable hearing and the studies realized the binaural hearing when UHL children wore HA. However adherence to HA is poor because of some reasons including parents' reluctance to fit a HA in the presence of a normal-hearing ear and stigma effect. Long term follow up data of these interventions for UHL children are lacking. So fully informed consent is required during decision making process for UHL children until the concrete guideline of intervention for UHL children is established.
Child ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Decision Making ; Ear ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing ; Hearing Aids ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural* ; Hearing Loss, Unilateral ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Informed Consent ; Judgment ; Noise ; Prevalence ; Sound Localization ; Speech Perception ; Suture Anchors

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

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of rehabilitation of prelingual deaf children who used a cochlear implant (CI) in one ear and a hearing aids in the opposite ear while the hearing level of the opposite ears are different. Hearing ability, language ability and learning ability was included in the content. The aim of this research is to investigate better style of rehabilitation, and to offer the best help to the prelingual deaf children. METHOD: Accord ing to the hearing level of the ear opposite to the one wearing a cochlear implant and whether the opposite ear wear a hearing aid or not, 30 prelingual deaf children were divided into three groups, including cochlear implant with opposite severe hearing loss and hearing aid ear (CI+SHA), cochlear implant with opposite profound hearing loss and hearing aid ear (CI+PHA), cochlear implant only (CI). The effect of rehabilitation was assessed in six different times (3,6,9,12,15 and 18 months after the cochlear implants and hearing aids began to work). RESULT: The longer time the rehabilitation spends, the better the hearing ability,language ability and the learning ability were. The hearing ability of CI+SHA was better than those of CI+PHA (P<0.05) and CI (P<0.05). The language ability and learning ability of CI-SHA was nearly equal to those of the other two groups. CONCLUSION The prelingual deaf children should take much more time on rehabilitation. The effect of rehabilitation for prelingual deaf children who used cochlear implant in one ear and hearing aid in the other depend on the residual hearing level of the other ear. If a prelingual deaf children still has any residual hearing level in the ear opposite to the cochlear implant ear, it is better for him/her to wear a hearing aid in the ear.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Deafness ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; Female ; Hearing Aids ; Humans ; Male ; Persons With Hearing Impairments ; rehabilitation ; Sound Localization ; Speech Perception ; Treatment Outcome

Auditory Perception ; Child ; Humans ; Sound Localization