Mackenzielehmann0055

Purpose This study aims to examine the combined influence of vocabulary knowledge and statistical properties of language on speech recognition in adverse listening conditions. Furthermore, it aims to determine whether any effects identified are more salient at particular levels of signal degradation. Method One hundred three young healthy listeners transcribed phrases presented at 4 different signal-to-noise ratios, which were coded for recognition accuracy. Participants also completed tests of hearing acuity, vocabulary knowledge, nonverbal intelligence, processing speed, and working memory. Results Vocabulary knowledge and working memory demonstrated independent effects on word recognition accuracy when controlling for hearing acuity, nonverbal intelligence, and processing speed. These effects were strongest at the same moderate level of signal degradation. Although listener variables were statistically significant, their effects were subtle in comparison to the influence of word frequency and phonological content. These language-based factors had large effects on word recognition at all signal-to-noise ratios. Discussion Language experience and working memory may have complementary effects on accurate word recognition. However, adequate glimpses of acoustic information appear necessary for speakers to leverage vocabulary knowledge when processing speech in adverse conditions.Purpose This article combines the results of 3 studies that were presented at the HeAL 2018 Conference in Lake Como, Italy, in June 2018. Each study involved electrocochleography (ECochG), a neurodiagnostic evaluation that has been used clinically for over 80 years but whose applications continue to expand. The 1st study describes recent research wherein ECochG was recorded from asymptomatic subjects who were siblings or offspring of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Ménière's disease (MD). Our results provide evidence that ECochG may be helpful in not only diagnosing MD but also predicting it as well. Second, case studies are described where ECochG was important in both diagnosing superior semicircular canal dehiscence and monitoring the repair of this condition during surgery. Finally, although ECochG has been practiced clinically for over 8 decades, the protocols for recording, measuring, and interpreting the electrocochleogram continue to lack standardization among clinicians and scientists. We thus present normative data for some of these features based on noninvasive recordings made from the tympanic membrane from 100 normal hearing subjects. Conclusions Although the primary use of ECochG continues to be in the diagnosis of MD, we report on 2 additional clinical applications for this important test of inner ear/auditory nerve function. First, a preliminary study on a small sample of subjects indicates that ECochG may also be useful in predicting MD prior to the onset of symptoms in individuals who may be genetically predisposed to developing it. Second, through a series of case studies, we demonstrate how ECochG is used to help diagnose superior semicircular canal dehiscence and monitor the status of the inner ear during the surgical repair of this condition. Finally, normative values for clinically important components of the electrocochleogram based on tympanic membrane recordings have been established from a large sample of subjects.Purpose Most adult cochlear implant (CI) users in developed countries benefit from the use of a hearing aid in conjunction with their implant device (bimodal hearing). Benefits have also been documented for the use of bilateral CIs for speech perception in quiet, localization, and speech perception in noise. This study attempted to quantify speech perception results for bimodal and bilateral CIs in adults and provide a guide for those considering a 2nd CI. Method Speech perception outcomes were reviewed for 1,394 adults with acquired hearing loss who received a CI at the Melbourne Cochlear Implant Clinic between 2000 and 2015. Results Bimodal and bilateral users significantly outperformed unilateral CI users on consonant-vowel-consonant word recognition in quiet. For the bilateral group, word recognition scores with the 1st CI were predictive of 2nd CI word scores. The analysis suggested that bimodal users who were gaining less than 19% benefit from the nonimplanted ear were likely to perform better with a 2nd implant. Conclusions CI users who score less than 19% on consonant-vowel-consonant words in the nonimplanted ear have a good chance of benefiting from a 2nd implant. Consideration of many other factors including age, hearing goals, medical factors, and the risk to residual hearing also needs to play a part in recommending a 2nd CI.Purpose This study compared the speech reception thresholds (SRTs) and test-retest reliability of the smartphone digits-in-noise (DIN) test coupled to various sound-field transducers. Method Fifty normal-hearing participants (bilateral pure- tone thresholds 0.5-8kHz ≤ 15dB HL) between the ages of 18 and 25 years (M = 20, SD = ±1.9) were recruited. The study used a repeated measure counterbalanced Latin square design to compare the SRTs of the smartphone DIN test recorded with earphones, 2 smartphone speakers, and 2 external loudspeakers in a sound booth. Test-retest reliability across sound field conditions was also determined. Results Mean SRTs across earphone and different sound field transducers ranged from -11.3 (SD = 0.8) to -11.7 (SD = 1.2). SRTs across the 4 different loudspeaker transducers and earphones were not significantly different (p > .05) between test and retest sessions. Conclusion The smartphone DIN test is reliable and can be conducted using various sound field transducers in a sound booth. To allow home-based testing without earphones, with special application to aided performance for speech-in-noise testing, the smartphone DIN test should be evaluated in home environments.Purpose The purpose of this report was to demonstrate the value of incorporating nonparametric item response theory in the development and refinement of patient- reported outcome measures for hearing. Conclusions Nonparametric item response theory can be useful in the development and refinement of patient-reported outcome measures for hearing. IPI-145 These methods are particularly useful as an alternative to exploratory factor analysis to determine the number of underlying abilities or traits represented by a scale when the items have ordered-categorical responses.