950 resultados para Noise - Loss hearing
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OBJECTIVES The objectives of the present study were to investigate temporal/spectral sound-feature processing in preschool children (4 to 7 years old) with peripheral hearing loss compared with age-matched controls. The results verified the presence of statistical learning, which was diminished in children with hearing impairments (HIs), and elucidated possible perceptual mediators of speech production. DESIGN Perception and production of the syllables /ba/, /da/, /ta/, and /na/ were recorded in 13 children with normal hearing and 13 children with HI. Perception was assessed physiologically through event-related potentials (ERPs) recorded by EEG in a multifeature mismatch negativity paradigm and behaviorally through a discrimination task. Temporal and spectral features of the ERPs during speech perception were analyzed, and speech production was quantitatively evaluated using speech motor maximum performance tasks. RESULTS Proximal to stimulus onset, children with HI displayed a difference in map topography, indicating diminished statistical learning. In later ERP components, children with HI exhibited reduced amplitudes in the N2 and early parts of the late disciminative negativity components specifically, which are associated with temporal and spectral control mechanisms. Abnormalities of speech perception were only subtly reflected in speech production, as the lone difference found in speech production studies was a mild delay in regulating speech intensity. CONCLUSIONS In addition to previously reported deficits of sound-feature discriminations, the present study results reflect diminished statistical learning in children with HI, which plays an early and important, but so far neglected, role in phonological processing. Furthermore, the lack of corresponding behavioral abnormalities in speech production implies that impaired perceptual capacities do not necessarily translate into productive deficits.
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Conclusion Using a second bone anchored hearing implant (BAHI) mounted on a testband in unilaterally implanted BAHI users to test its potential advantage pre-operatively under-estimates the advantage of two BAHIs placed on two implants. Objectives To investigate how well speech understanding with a second BAHI mounted on a testband approaches the benefit of bilaterally implanted BAHIs. Method Prospective study with 16 BAHI users. Eight were implanted unilaterally (group A) and eight were implanted bilaterally (group B). Aided speech understanding was measured. Speech was presented from the front and noise came either from the left, right, or from the front in two conditions for group A (with one BAHI, and with two BAHIs, where the second device was mounted on a testband) and in three conditions for group B (same two conditions as group A, and in addition with both BAHIs mounted on implants). Results Speech understanding in noise improved with the additional device for noise from the side of the first BAHI (+0.7 to +2.1 dB) and decreased for noise from the other side (-1.8 dB to -3.9 dB). Improvements were highest (+2.1 dB, p = 0.016) and disadvantages were smallest (-1.8 dB, p = 0.047) with both BAHIs mounted on implants. Testbands yielded smaller advantages and higher disadvantages of the additional BAHI (average difference = -0.9 dB).
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Inner ear pathologies are associated with major morbidity and loss of life quality in affected patients. In many of these conditions, production of reactive oxygen-species (ROS) is thought to be a key pathological mechanism. While the sources of ROS are complex (including for example mitochondria), there is increasing evidence that activation of NOX enzymes, in particular NOX3, plays a key role. NOX3 is a multi-subunit NADPH oxidase, functionally and structurally closely related to NOX1 and NOX2. In both the vestibular and the cochlear compartments of the inner ear, high levels of NOX3 mRNA are expressed. In NOX3 mutant mice, the vestibular function is perturbed due to a lack of otoconia, while only minor alterations of hearing have been documented. However, there is increasing evidence that activation of NOX3 through drugs, noise and probably also aging, leads to hearing loss. Thus, NOX3 is an interesting target to treat and prevent inner ear pathologies and a few first animal models based on drug - or molecular therapy have been reported. So far however, there are no specific NOX3 inhibitors with a documented penetration into the inner ear. Nevertheless, certain antioxidants and non-specific NOX inhibitors diminish hearing loss in animal models. Development of small molecules inhibitors or molecular strategies against NOX3 could improve specificity and efficiency of redox-targeted treatments. In this review, we will discuss arguments for the involvement of NOX3 in inner ear pathologies and therapeutic approaches to target NOX3 activity.
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The current hearing health situation in the United States does not provide adequate support to individuals with hearing loss. More research is needed to give more support to these individuals. By conducting a systematic review of relevant literature from 1990 to present, I identified many factors that influence an individual's use of hearing aids. There are two research questions in this study: 1. Does the provision of screening and access to hearing aids decrease the negative effects of hearing loss? 2. Why is it difficult for people with hearing loss to adapt to and use hearing aids? The population of interest was adults (>18 years old) with hearing loss. Factors that influenced use of hearing aids for this population included age, gender, socioeconomic status, education, perceived severity of hearing loss, cost of hearing aids, screening, perceived benefit, stigmatization, perceived control, cognitive capability, personality, and social support. Research suggests that more efficient screening of at-risk individuals and the provision of better access to these individuals would prevent many of the negative effects of hearing loss.^
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Ocean acidification is predicted to affect marine ecosystems in many ways, including modification of fish behaviour. Previous studies have identified effects of CO2-enriched conditions on the sensory behaviour of fishes, including the loss of natural responses to odours resulting in ecologically deleterious decisions. Many fishes also rely on hearing for orientation, habitat selection, predator avoidance and communication. We used an auditory choice chamber to study the influence of CO2-enriched conditions on directional responses of juvenile clownfish (Amphiprion percula) to daytime reef noise. Rearing and test conditions were based on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predictions for the twenty-first century: current-day ambient, 600, 700 and 900 µatm pCO2. Juveniles from ambient CO2-conditions significantly avoided the reef noise, as expected, but this behaviour was absent in juveniles from CO2-enriched conditions. This study provides, to our knowledge, the first evidence that ocean acidification affects the auditory response of fishes, with potentially detrimental impacts on early survival.
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El propósito de este Proyecto Fin de Carrera es el estudio acústico y electroacústico de la realización del musical “Hoy no me puedo levantar” en el Teatro Rialto de Madrid en 2005. En primer lugar, se realiza una breve introducción histórica, citando sus remodelaciones y comentando la situación actual del recinto. Posteriormente, es analizado el equipo de sonido empleado en el espectáculo a partir de cada uno de los distintos controles de sonido: FOH (Front of Hause), monitores y microfonía inalámbrica. De cada uno de ellos se explican sus principales funciones y los sistemas que los conforman. También se describe la utilización de las cabinas insonorizadas. A continuación, se detallan los sistemas electroacústicos (empleados en el diseño) de la sonorización de dicho musical, que se consideran divididos en las siguientes partes: sistema principal, refuerzos y retardos, efectos y monitores. Además, se detalla el software RMS (Remote Monitoring System), que aporta información del funcionamiento de estos sistemas en tiempo real. Seguidamente, se exponen el equipo, procedimiento y resultados de la medida in situ en el Teatro, aplicando la Norma UNE-EN ISO 3382-2/2008 para obtener el tiempo de reverberación y ruido de fondo. Con el objeto de inicializar la simulación por ordenador, primero se exportan los planos originales de AutoCAD a EASE 4.4, donde se finaliza el proceso de modelar el recinto. Posteriormente, se asignan materiales, áreas de audiencia, puntos de escucha y se ubican los sistemas electroacústicos. Se afina el tiempo de reverberación obtenido en la medida in situ mediante materiales de la base de datos del propio software. También se ajustan los sistemas electroacústicos en el recinto para obtener la ecualización empleada y los niveles de presión sonora directo y total para distintas frecuencias. Una vez finalizados los pasos anteriores, se procede a realizar estudios psicoacústicos para comprobar posibles ecos y el efecto precedencia (empleando retardos electrónicos o delays). Finalmente, se realizan estudios de inteligibilidad, en los que se justifica la Claridad de Voz (C50) y Claridad Musical (C80); el Índice de inteligibilidad del habla (SII), la Pérdida de articulación de consonantes (Alcons) y el Índice de transmisión del habla (STI). Por último se expone el presupuesto del proyecto y del alquiler del equipo de sonido del musical y se exponen las conclusiones del Proyecto Final de Carrera. ABSTRACT. The purpose of this Final Degree Project is the acoustic and electro-acoustic study of the musical “Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar” at Teatro Rialto in 2005 (Madrid, Spain). First of all, a brief review of its history is made, quoting its refurbishments and discussing the current situation of this enclosure. Later, the sound equipment of the show is analyzed through every different sound controls: FOH (Front Of House), monitors and wireless microphones. There is also an explanation about their principal functions and systems, as well as a description of the soundproof cabins. Then, the electro-acoustic systems are detailed and divided in the following parts: main system, boosters and delays, effects and monitors. The RMS software (Remote Monitoring System) is described too, since it gives relevant information of the systems operations in real time. Afterwards, equipment, procedures and results of the measurements are exposed, applying the UNE-EN ISO 3382-2/2008 regulation in order to obtain the reverberation time and background noise of the theatre. With the purpose of initialize the computer simulation, original plans are exported from AutoCad to EASE 4.4., where its modeling process is ended. Materials, audience areas, hearing points and electro-acoustic locations are assigned below. At the same time, reverberation time is tuned up using database materials of the software itself. Also, electro-acoustic systems of the enclosure are adjusted to get the equalization and pressure sound levels of the different frequencies. Once previous steps are finished, psycho-acoustic studies are made to check possible echoes and the precedence effect - using electronic delays -. Finally, intelligibility studies are detailed, where the Voice and Musical Clarities are justified: The Speech Intelligibility Index, the Loss of Consonants Articulation and the Talk Transmission Index. This Final Degree Project ends describing the budget and rent of the sound equipment and the final conclusions.
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The dynamic responses of the hearing organ to acoustic overstimulation were investigated using the guinea pig isolated temporal bone preparation. The organ was loaded with the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator Fluo-3, and the cochlear electric responses to low-level tones were recorded through a microelectrode in the scala media. After overstimulation, the amplitude of the cochlear potentials decreased significantly. In some cases, rapid recovery was seen with the potentials returning to their initial amplitude. In 12 of 14 cases in which overstimulation gave a decrease in the cochlear responses, significant elevations of the cytoplasmic [Ca2+] in the outer hair cells were seen. [Ca2+] increases appeared immediately after terminating the overstimulation, with partial recovery taking place in the ensuing 30 min in some preparations. Such [Ca2+] changes were not seen in preparations that were stimulated at levels that did not cause an amplitude change in the cochlear potentials. The overstimulation also gave rise to a contraction, evident as a decrease of the width of the organ of Corti. The average contraction in 10 preparations was 9 μm (SE 2 μm). Partial or complete recovery was seen within 30–45 min after the overstimulation. The [Ca2+] changes and the contraction are likely to produce major functional alterations and consequently are suggested to be a factor contributing strongly to the loss of function seen after exposure to loud sounds.
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To elucidate the role of thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) α1 and β in the development of hearing, cochlear functions have been investigated in mice lacking TRα1 or TRβ. TRs are ligand-dependent transcription factors expressed in the developing organ of Corti, and loss of TRβ is known to impair hearing in mice and in humans. Here, TRα1-deficient (TRα1−/−) mice are shown to display a normal auditory-evoked brainstem response, indicating that only TRβ, and not TRα1, is essential for hearing. Because cochlear morphology was normal in TRβ−/− mice, we postulated that TRβ regulates functional rather than morphological development of the cochlea. At the onset of hearing, inner hair cells (IHCs) in wild-type mice express a fast-activating potassium conductance, IK,f, that transforms the immature IHC from a regenerative, spiking pacemaker to a high-frequency signal transmitter. Expression of IK,f was significantly retarded in TRβ−/− mice, whereas the development of the endocochlear potential and other cochlear functions, including mechanoelectrical transduction in hair cells, progressed normally. TRα1−/− mice expressed IK,f normally, in accord with their normal auditory-evoked brainstem response. These results establish that the physiological differentiation of IHCs depends on a TRβ-mediated pathway. When defective, this may contribute to deafness in congenital thyroid diseases.
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Postmitotic hair-cell regeneration in the inner ear of birds provides an opportunity to study the effect of renewed auditory input on auditory perception, vocal production, and vocal learning in a vertebrate. We used behavioral conditioning to test both perception and vocal production in a small Australian parrot, the budgerigar. Results show that both auditory perception and vocal production are disrupted when hair cells are damaged or lost but that these behaviors return to near normal over time. Precision in vocal production completely recovers well before recovery of full auditory function. These results may have particular relevance for understanding the relation between hearing loss and human speech production especially where there is consideration of an auditory prosthetic device. The present results show, at least for a bird, that even limited recovery of auditory input soon after deafening can support full recovery of vocal precision.
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Introdução: O implante coclear (IC) amplamente aceito como forma de intervenção e (re) habilitação nas perdas auditivas severas e profundas nas diversas faixas etárias. Contudo observa-se no usuário do IC unilateral queixas como localização e compreensão sonora em meio ao ruído, gerado pelo padrão anormal de estimulação sensorial. A fim de fornecer os benefícios da audição binaural, é preconizado a estimulação bilateral, seja por meio do IC bilateral ou com a adaptação de um aparelho de amplificação sonora individual (AASI) contralateralmente ao IC. Esta última condição é referida como estimulação bimodal, quando temos, concomitantemente dois modos de estimulação: Elétrica (IC) e acústica (AASI). Não há dados suficientes na literatura voltados à população infantil que esclareça ou demonstre o desenvolvimento do córtex auditivo na audição bimodal. Ressalta-se que não foram encontrados estudos em crianças. Objetivo: Caracterizar o PEAC complexo P1, N1 P2 em usuários da estimulação bimodal e verificar se há correlação com testes de percepção de fala. Metodologia: Estudo descritivo de séries de casos, com a realização do PEAC em cinco crianças usuárias da estimulação bimodal, a partir da metodologia proposta por Ventura (2008) utilizando o sistema Smart EP USB Jr da Intelligent Hearing Systems. Foi utilizado o som de fala /da/, apresentado em campo livre. O exame será realizado em três situações: Somente IC, IC e AASI e somente AASI. A análise dos dados dos potenciais corticais foi realizada após a marcação da presença ou ausência dos componentes do complexo P1-N1-P2 por dois juízes com experiência em potenciais evocados. Resultados: Foi obtida a captação do PEAC em todas as crianças em todas as situações de teste, além do que foi possível observar a correlação destes com os testes de percepção auditiva da fala. Foi possível verificar que o registro dos PEAC é um procedimento viável para a avaliação da criança com estimulação bimodal, porém, ainda não há dados suficientes quanto a utilização deste para a avaliação e indicação do IC bilateral.
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Dissertação apresentada à Escola Superior de Artes Aplicadas do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Música.
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"Project NR 140-069. Contract NONR-1151 (01)."
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Much of the hearing loss that occurs in old age is likely to be due to the long-term deterioration of the mitochondria in the different structures of the cochlea. The current review surveys some of the basic information on mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA, as a background to their possible involvement in presbyacusis. It is likely that oxygen radicals damage mitochondrial DNA and other components of the mitochondria, such as their proteins and lipids. This further compromises both oxidative phosphorylation and the repair processes in mitochondria, setting up a vicious cycle of degradation. Evidence is presented from inherited point mutations on the possibly most critical sites for mutations in mitochondrial DNA associated with hearing loss. It is suggested that random sorting and clonal expansion of mutations both maintain the integrity of the pool of mitochondrial DNA molecules and give rise to the apoptosis that leads to loss of vulnerable cells, and hence to deafness. It is moreover suggested that apoptosis of the vulnerable cells of the inner ear may to some extent be preventable, or at least delayed. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.
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Bone mineral density (BMD) may be associated with hearing loss in older adults. Demineralization of the cochlear capsule has been associated with hearing loss in those with Paget's disease of the bone and otosclerosis. Osteoporosis may also result in cochlear capsule demineralization. We hypothesized that lower hip BMD and lower heel ultrasound measurements would be associated with hearing loss in a population-based sample of 2,089 older black and white men and women. Bone parameters and hearing function were measured at the fourth clinical follow-up visit. Audiometric threshold testing was used to measure air- and bone-conduction hearing sensitivity. BMD of the hip and its subregions was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Calcaneal bone measurements [broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), speed of sound (SOS) and the quantitative ultrasound index (QUI)] were obtained using heel ultrasound. After adjusting for known hearing loss risk factors, no association was found between hearing and any of the bone measurements in whites and black women. In black men, however, lower hip BMD was associated with higher odds of hearing loss; for each standard deviation decrease in total hip BMD, the odds of hearing loss were 1.41 (95% confidence interval 1.08, 1.83), 1.39 (95% CI 1.07, 1.82) for femoral neck BMD and 1.65 (95% CI 1.26, 2.16) for trochanter BMD. Conductive hearing loss was associated with lower heel ultrasound measurements, though only among white men. The results of this study are mixed and inconclusive. Lower BMD of the hip and its subregions was associated with hearing loss among black men, but not among whites or black women. Lower measurements on heel ultrasound were associated with conductive hearing loss, though only among white men. These results suggest that axial and appendicular bone parameters may be modestly associated with hearing loss in older men, but not in women.
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In this paper we do a detailed numerical investigation of the fault-tolerant threshold for optical cluster-state quantum computation. Our noise model allows both photon loss and depolarizing noise, as a general proxy for all types of local noise other than photon loss noise. We obtain a threshold region of allowed pairs of values for the two types of noise. Roughly speaking, our results show that scalable optical quantum computing is possible in the combined presence of both noise types, provided that the loss probability is less than 3 X 10(-3) and the depolarization probability is less than 10(-4). Our fault-tolerant protocol involves a number of innovations, including a method for syndrome extraction known as telecorrection, whereby repeated syndrome measurements are guaranteed to agree. This paper is an extended version of Dawson.