Effects of auditory training in individuals with high-frequency hearing loss

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To determine the effects of a formal auditory training program on the behavioral, electrophysiological and subjective aspects of auditory function in individuals with bilateral high-frequency hearing loss.METHOD:A prospective study of seven individuals aged 46 to 57 years with symmetric, moderate high-frequency hearing loss ranging from 3 to 8 kHz was conducted. Evaluations of auditory processing (sound location, verbal and non-verbal sequential memory tests, the speech-in-noise test, the staggered spondaic word test, synthetic sentence identification with competitive ipsilateral and contralateral competitive messages, random gap detection and the standard duration test), auditory brainstem response and long-latency potentials and the administration of the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit questionnaire were performed in a sound booth before and immediately after formal auditory training.RESULTS:All of the participants demonstrated abnormal pre-training long-latency characteristics (abnormal latency or absence of the P3 component) and these abnormal characteristics were maintained in six of the seven individuals at the post-training evaluation. No significant differences were found between ears in the quantitative analysis of auditory brainstem responses or long-latency potentials. However, the subjects demonstrated improvements on all behavioral tests. For the questionnaire, the difference on the background noise subscale achieved statistical significance.CONCLUSION:Auditory training in adults with high-frequency hearing loss led to improvements in figure-background hearing skills for verbal sounds, temporal ordination and resolution, and communication in noisy environments. Electrophysiological changes were also observed because, after the training, some long latency components that were absent pre-training were observed during the re-evaluation.

Functional correlates of brain aging: beta and gamma components of event-related band responses

“…Screening confirmed that subjects were free of past or current psychiatric and neurological disorders. All were right-handed and without deficits in hearing, clinically tested by an audiometer and based on a qualitative analysis of electrophysiological evaluation (Santos et al 2014). Handedness was assessed by a questionnaire adapted from the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (Oldfield 1971).…”

Is a hybrid of online and face-to-face services feasible for audiological rehabilitation post COVID-19? Findings from three public health patients

“…The sample size in the current study was mostly influenced by the design of previous research, recruitment challenges and the objectives of this feasibility study. Regarding previous research with AT and given the nature of AT, small sample sizes have been preferred (Dubno, 2013 ; Ferguson & Henshaw, 2015 ; Santos et al, 2014 ; Sweetow & Henderson-Sabes, 2004 ). A lack of control group as well as the nonrandomisation of the sample was a bias threat.…”

“…Regarding previous research with AT and given the nature of AT, small sample sizes have been preferred (Dubno, 2013;Ferguson & Henshaw, 2015;Santos et al, 2014;Sweetow & Henderson-Sabes, 2004). A lack of control group as well as the nonrandomisation of the sample was a bias threat.…”

“…AT) after HA fitting are considered a critical aspect in comprehensive audiological rehabilitation. Many studies have shown that AT improves auditory skills in people with hearing loss (Humes et al, 2019 ; Santos, Marangoni, Andrade, Prestes, & Gil, 2014 ; Tye-Murray et al, 2017 ). The training of cognitive skills which underlie successful speech perception may provide more generalisable outcomes and benefits for HA users, such as more effective communication (Ferguson & Henshaw, 2015 ).…”

Readability ease of online hearing-related information in Hindi

“…Other than hearing aids, the process of management of hearing impairment or aural rehabilitation comprises three other components: instruction (use of technology and listening environment), perceptual training (to improve communication) and counselling (to enhance participation) (Boothroyd, 2007). A prospective study was performed by Santos, Marangoni, de Andrade, Prestes, and Gil (2014) Marques, Kozlowski, and Marques (2004), it was observed that an auditory rehabilitation programme including counselling, training and instruction associated with hearing aid fitting has a useful impact on an adult and his family dealing with hearing impairment.…”