Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of amplification intervention with hearing aids for restoring binaural auditory function in patients with unilateral moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss. Methods:This study selected 30 patients with normal hearing in one ear and moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss in the other ear. They were fitted with hearing aids for the worse ear and underwent more than half a year and one year of adaptation training. The Chinese translation of the Twelve-item version of SSQ（C-SSQ12）, angle identification test, speech recognition score（SRS） at different signal-to-noise ratios（SNR=5 and SNR=10） and audiometric thresholds were used to compare the results before and after hearing aid use to evaluate the effectiveness of the unilateral hearing loss intervention. Results:The results of the audiometric thresholds, C-SSQ12 scores, angle identification test, and SRS at SNR=5 and SNR=10 in the worse ear of the unilateral hearing loss patients after hearing aid use were all statistically significant compared to before hearing aid use（P<0.01）. Conclusion:Amplification intervention with hearing aids has significant effects on restoring binaural auditory function in patients with unilateral moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss.
Humans ; Hearing Aids ; Hearing Loss, Unilateral/therapy* ; Middle Aged ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/rehabilitation* ; Adult ; Female ; Male ; Auditory Threshold ; Young Adult ; Aged

OBJECTIVE To analyze the peak wideband acoustic immittance(WAI)values reflecting the tympanic membrane absorption characteristics during the measurement process in patients with congenital middle ear malformation.METHODS We selected 36 patients diagnosed with congenital middle ear malformation by CT as subjects and evaluated their tympanic membrane absorption characteristics by measuring their acoustic impedance peak pressure.Then,we divided these data into two groups based on the pathological malformation obseved during the surgical process,namely the auditory ossicular chain soft connection group and the auditory ossicular chain fixation group.Calculate the absorption rate values of the tympanic membrane at each frequency corresponding to the peak pressure value of the tympanogram,and the relative area of absorption rate.By conducting independent t-tests,we compared two groups-normal children and patients who had undergone ossicular chain fixation surgery-to analyze the absorption area and peak absorption rate of their tympanic peak pressure values.RESULTS Under peak pressure,there were significant differences(P<0.001)in the full frequency range tympanic membrane absorption rate and peak absorption rate between the group with fixed ossicular chain and the normal group.However,there was no difference in the full frequency range tympanic membrane absorption rate and peak absorption rate between the group with soft ossicular chain and the normal group.Under peak pressure,the absorption area of the ossicular chain fixation group was significantly lower than that of the normal group in the low frequency range of 226-1 000 Hz(P<0.001),while the absorption area of the ossicular chain soft connection group was significantly higher than that of the normal group in the low frequency range of 226-1 000 Hz(P<0.001).CONCLUSION When conducting broadband acoustic impedance test,there is a significant difference in the relative area of tympanic membrane absorption rate of acoustic impedance peak pressure between the auditory ossicular chain soft connection group and the auditory ossicular chain fixation group across 226-1 000 Hz.It has application value as a clinical rapid screening and diagnostic tool for middle ear malformations.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the auditory characteristics of patients with congenital unilateral cochlear nerve deficiency(CND).METHODS This study enrolled 21 patients(21 ears)with unilateral auditory nerve dysplasia confirmed by inner ear MRI,including 9 males and 12 females,aged 10 months to 7 years,(1.91±1.38)years.A retrospective analysis was performed on the correlation between behavioral audiometry and auditory steady-state response(ASSR)thresholds,chirp-evoked auditory brainstem response(chirp-ABR),otoacoustic emission(OAE),and other results to analyze the audiological characteristics of unilateral auditory nerve dysplasia.RESULTS In all 21 patients(21 ears)with auditory nerve dysplasia,behavioral audiometry,chirp-ABR,and ASSR results all indicated severe to profound hearing loss in the affected ears.There was a high correlation between behavioral audiometry thresholds and ASSR thresholds,with small differences observed between ASSR and behavioral audiometry results.CONCLUSION The difference between ASSR and behavioral audiometry is small in patients with CND.A-ABR can't be elicited.OAE has a certain false negative rate.The ABR often predominantly shows wave III,with prolonged latency,and a threshold indicative of profound hearing loss.These audiological characteristics can improve the early detection and diagnosis of CND and enhance the effect of intervention.

BACKGROUND:Heart rate variability biofeedback is a respiratory training method that uses slow and deep breathing at the resonant frequency to induce rhythmic,high-amplitude oscillations in the cardiovascular system,thereby stimulating and exercising the autonomic and baroreflex.However,current studies have not systematically reviewed how heart rate variability biofeedback modulates the autonomic function and produces effects.There is a lack of public understanding of the mechanism of heart rate variability biofeedback,and its application progress and scheme are not fully understood. OBJECTIVE:To review the existing experimental studies on the effects of heart rate variability biofeedback on symptoms in different populations at home and abroad and to introduce the mechanisms and advances in the application of heart rate variability biofeedback to modulate the autonomic nervous system. METHODS:"Heart rate variability biofeedback,resonance breathing,heart rate variability,autonomic nerve,breathing training,chronic diseases,mental illness,biofeedback"were used as Chinese or English keywords to search in CNKI,WanFang Database,PubMed,and Web of Science.A total of 72 core related papers were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The body's oscillation system and resonance system are essential for the effectiveness of heart rate variability biofeedback.Oscillations reflect the response to external stimuli and self-regulating reflex systems,while resonances involve synchronous oscillations that result in higher amplitude operations.The balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves is crucial for maintaining a stable internal environment.Autonomic nervous system disorders are associated with reduced heart rate variability and are closely linked to the progression of related diseases.Heart rate variability biofeedback utilizes the resonance characteristics of the cardiovascular system,inducing rhythmic high-amplitude oscillations by employing deep slow breathing at the resonance frequency.This method improves the regulatory function of the sympathetic and parasympathetic system reflexes and enhances the balance regulation between the two systems.Two major mechanisms of cardiovascular system resonance are the baroreflex closed-loop pathway and respiratory sinus arrhythmia.These mechanisms,along with the unique delay of baroreflex,result in a 0° phase angle oscillation between heart rate and respiration and a 180° phase angle oscillation between blood pressure and respiration during breathing at the resonant frequency rhythm.Periodically stimulating the human cardiovascular oscillation system through this method is an easy-to-operate and effective training approach.Currently,heart rate variability biofeedback is mainly applied in the fields of mental illness,chronic disease,and sports.However,the intervention mechanism and efficacy are unclear,the intervention content,frequency and duration are varied,and there are limited review studies on the intervention methods tailored to different types of individuals.As a non-drug and non-invasive intervention,heart rate variability biofeedback can significantly increase heart rate variability,regulate the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves,and improve the stability and adaptability of the autonomic nervous system.In the future,it is suggested to investigate the mechanisms and potential applications of the pathways of the heart rate variability biofeedback that induce cardiovascular resonance.It is also recommended to incorporate long-term follow-ups to assess the sustained value of heart rate variability biofeedback in various fields.This would provide new directions and strategies for the comprehensive treatment of complex diseases.

OBJECTIVE To study the relationship between frequency specific free-field tone burst cortical auditory evoked potentials(CAEP)and aided behavioral audiometry to provide rapid,reliable insights for predicting hearing intervention efficiency in hard to cooperate cochlear implant patients.METHODS The study comprised of 22 cochlear implant pediatric patients(22 ears)free-field tone burst CAEP P1 response thresholds,free-field behavioral thresholds determined within the group across frequencies 0.5,1,2 and 4 kHz were collected for correlation analysis.RESULTS The free-field tone burst CAEP P1 response thresholds and free-field behavioral audiometric thresholds in cochlear implant pediatric patients for testing frequencies 0.5,1,2,4 kHz were compared and r correlation coefficients found were 0.567,0.670,0.637 and 0.762 across the frequencies respectively(P<0.01).The mean difference between free-field CAEP P1 response threshold and free-field behavioral thresholds for cochlear implant patients differ by 5-8 dB with statistical significance.CONCLUSION Free-field tone burst CAEP can be used for cochlear implant programming validation in patients that fail to cooperate in behavioral testing,thus is applicable in cochlear implant programming clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE To compare the difference of octave band CE-Chirp ABR response threshold and behavioral auditory thresholds in children with hearing loss, and to explore the clinical value of octave band CE-Chirp ABR. METHODS Twenty-one children (40 ears) with hearing loss were selected. The octave band CE-Chirp ABR response threshold and behavioral auditory hearing threshold were measured in quiet environment. The results of two different test methods were compared. RESULTS The frequencies of octave band CE-Chirp ABR response thresholds and behavioral auditory thresholds were statistically analyzed. The correlation coefficients at different frequencies were 0.693, 0.830, 0.836 and 0.845, respectively, and the P values were ＜0.05. CONCLUSION There is good correlation between octave band CE-Chirp ABR response and behavioral auditory hearing measurement. Octave band CE-Chirp ABR, as an objective audiometry technique, has good stability and reliability for the objective response of hearing loss, and can better reflect the hearing level.

Objective To identify the association of thyroid stimulating hormone receptor ( TSHR ) gene intron 1 susceptible loci and 4p14 susceptible locus rs6832151 polymorphisms with Graves’ disease ( GD) in Han Chinese population in Bengbu, Anhui, China. The gene-gene interaction among TSHR intron 1 susceptible loci and 4p14 susceptible locus rs6832151 was also investigated. Methods The genotypes of the single-nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs) were analyzed by Taqman probe technique on Fluidigm EP1 platform in 611 patients with GD and 555 control subjects, and linkage analysis, correlation analysis, haplotype analysis, and epistasis analysis with them were performed. Results Six SNPs in two candidate genes(rs12101261, rs4903964,rs179247, rs2284722 and rs17111394 in TSHR, rs6832151 in 4p14) were associated with GD (all P<0. 05). The frequency distributions of haplotypes of SNPs in TSHR intron 1 ( AGTA, GGCG, AATA, and CC) were significantly different between GD and control groups(all P<0. 01). There existed the interactions between rs179247 and rs12101261 in TSHR(P=0. 001) and among rs179247(TSHR),rs4903964(TSHR) and rs6832151(4p14) (P=0. 001). Conclusions rs683215 in 14p14 and rs12101261, rs4903964, rs179247, rs2284722 and rs17111394 in TSHR intron 1 were susceptible loci of GD in the Chinese Han population from Bengbu. The haplotypes in TSHR intron 1 were associated with GD. There exists the interaction between the SNPs in TSHR and 4p14,which may change the risk of GD.

Objective To study breathing characteristics of normal children of 6～7 years old when speaking in a normal manner.Methods RM 6240 physiological signal collection and processing system and Hx 100 respiratory transducer were used to collect the average peak expiratory pressure,inspiratory valley pressure,respiratory rate,respiratory depth from 160 normally speaking children.Results When speaking,the average peak expiratory pressure,inspiratory valley pressure,respiratory rate and respiratory depth of chest were all significantly increased (P<0.01);while that of abdomen was all reduced(P<0.05,P<0.01)except for respiratory rate(P<0.05)which was increased.In both respiratory conditions,all the data of abdomen were significantly larger than thaf of chest(P<0.01);all the data of boys were larger than that of girls(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion When speaking,it involves thoraco-abdominal breathing,and the increase of chest activity will increase the volume of inhaled air.The increase of abdominal activity is for better control of respiratory airflow.Abdominal breathing plays a main role in normal speaking.Boys'respiratory muscles,respiratory organs are developed better than girls.