Auditory and audio-visual reception of words in noise by observers with normal and impaired hearing

This dissertation examines auditory perception and audio-visual reception in noise for both hearing-impaired and normal hearing persons, with a goal of determining some of the noise conditions under which amplified acoustic cues for speech can be beneficial to hearing-impaired persons.

Evaluation technique designed to investigate the efficacy of a group communication-based aural rehabilitation program for hearing-impaired adults

This paper studies aural rehabilitation efforts designed to address the compensatory strategies used by hearing-impaired adults and evaluates the success of an eight week group communications-based therapy program.

Components of an oral program that can be implemented with culturally and linguistically diverse deaf and hard of hearing children and their families

This study examined oral education components that could be successfully implemented with culturally and linguistically diverse deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children and their families. A literature review of oral program strategies used with culturally diverse families and their children with special needs, and federal guidelines related to programs serving DHH children were conducted. Recent statistics of children in programs for DHH students who are from racially and linguistically diverse backgrounds were discussed. Additional data sources included classroom observations and multidisciplinary interviews. The data obtained was utilized to design a framework for oral programs to support culturally and linguistically diverse DHH children and their families.

Changes in the use of ABR testing for differential diagnosis of hearing loss from 1984 to 2002

This paper studies trends in the use of diagnostic auditory brainstem response (ABR) at St. Louis Children's Hospital from 1984 to 2001 in light of legislative changes in Missouri mandating screening for hearing loss in all newborns beginning January 1, 2002.

Evaluation of a feedback equalization algorithm in the CID Wearable Digital Hearing Aid

This paper describes the results of an investigation which examined the efficacy of a feedback equalization algorithm incorporated into the Central Institute for the Deaf Wearable Digital Hearing Aid. The study examined whether the feedback equalization would allow for greater usable gains when subjects listened to soft speech signals, and if so, whether or not this would improve speech intelligibility.

Auditory brainstem response with alternative transducers: implications for newborn hearing screening

This paper studies the efficacy of a bone-conducted transducer compared to a traditional air conduction transducer for auditory brainstem response screening of newborns.

School counselors in the mainstream setting: a tool for working with students with hearing impairments in the public school environment

This study looks at public school counselors who work with hearing impaired students and the counselor’s awareness of specific issues of problems of these students.

A study of hearing aid user satisfaction based on the hearing aid performance inventory

This paper discusses a study to determine the effectiveness of the Hearing Aid Performance Inventory (HAPI) on hearing aid outcomes.

An evaluation of videotaping for self evaluation by teachers of the hearing impaired

This paper is a review of a study to determine the effectiveness of teachers of the hearing impaired using videotape as a means of self-evaluation.

A study of threshold and loudness summation in listeners with sensorineural hearing impairments

This paper investigates loudness summation in a group of listeners with moderate to severe hearing losses and the applicability of this information to hearing aid fittings.

Frequency responses of hearing aids and their effects on the speech perception of eight hard-of-hearing subjects

This dissertation examines the relationship between frequency response and word-discrimination performance of hearing-impaired persons. Three questions are addressed: does the restoration of the normal field-to-eardrum transfer function improve word discrimination; is the restoration of the normal shape of the audibility curve (uniform hearing level at all frequencies) beneficial to hearing-impaired listeners; and can speech discrimination be improved by an extension of the present narrow-band response in hearing aids.

A theme-based creative movement curriculum for deaf and hard of hearing students: Focus on speech, language and audition skills

The purpose of this study was to develop a theme based creative movement curriculum that would help hearing-impaired students develop language, speech and audition skills.

Evaluation of sentence perception of adults with hearing loss when using a video teleconferencing system

This study evaluate the speech perception of hearing-impaired adults (with varying degrees of deafness) when using a video teleconferencing system (an integrated service digital network).

Character education for the deaf and hard of hearing

This paper presents a curriculum guide for structured character education for deaf and hearing-impaired children. A list of suggested age-appropriate activities, role play ideas, thematic children’s books, and assistive internet resources are provided.

Procedures for selecting hearing aid compression ratios based on individual loudness judgements

This paper examines the selection of compression ratios for hearing aids.