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Füllgrabe C, Moody M, Moore BCJ. No evidence for a link between noise exposure and auditory temporal processing for young adults with normal audiograms. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 147:EL465. [PMID: 32611153 DOI: 10.1121/10.0001346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The link between lifetime noise exposure and temporal processing abilities was investigated for 45 normal-hearing participants, recruited from a population of undergraduate students, aged 18 to 23 years. A self-report instrument was employed to assess the amount of neuropathic noise (here defined as sounds with levels exceeding approximately 80 dBA) each participant had been exposed to and sensitivity to temporal-fine-structure and temporal-envelope information was determined using frequency discrimination and envelope irregularity detection tasks, respectively. Despite sizable individual variability in all measures, correlations between noise exposure and the ability to process temporal cues were small and non-significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Füllgrabe
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Ashby Road, Loughborough LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Moody
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Ashby Road, Loughborough LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
| | - Brian C J Moore
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United , ,
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Kamerer AM, Kopun JG, Fultz SE, Neely ST, Rasetshwane DM. Reliability of Measures Intended to Assess Threshold-Independent Hearing Disorders. Ear Hear 2020; 40:1267-1279. [PMID: 30882533 PMCID: PMC6745005 DOI: 10.1097/aud.0000000000000711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Recent animal studies have shown that noise exposure can cause cochlear synaptopathy without permanent threshold shift. Because the noise exposure preferentially damaged auditory nerve fibers that processed suprathreshold sounds (low-spontaneous rate fibers), it has been suggested that synaptopathy may underlie suprathreshold hearing deficits in humans. Recently, several researchers have suggested measures to identify the pathology or pathologies underlying suprathreshold hearing deficits in humans based on results from animal studies; however, the reliability of some of these measures have not been assessed. The purpose of this study was to assess the test-retest reliability of measures that may have the potential to relate suprathreshold hearing deficits to site(s)-of-lesion along the peripheral auditory system in humans. DESIGN Adults with audiometric normal hearing were tested on a battery of behavioral and physiologic measures that included (1) thresholds in quiet (TIQ), (2) thresholds in noise (TIN), (3) frequency-modulation detection threshold (FMDT), (4) word recognition in four listening conditions, (5) distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), (6) middle ear muscle reflex (MEMR), (7) tone burst-elicited auditory brainstem response (tbABR), and (8) speech-evoked ABR (sABR). Data collection for each measure was repeated over two visits separated by at least one week. The residuals of the correlation between the suprathreshold measures and TIQ serve as functional and quantitative proxies for threshold-independent hearing disorders because they represent the portion of the raw measures that is not dependent on TIQ. Reliability of the residual measures was assessed using intraclass correlation (ICC). RESULTS Reliability for the residual measures was good (ICC ≥ 0.75) for FMDT, DPOAEs, and MEMR. Residual measures showing moderate reliability (0.5 ≤ ICC < 0.75) were tbABR wave I amplitude, TIN, and word recognition in quiet, noise, and time-compressed speech with reverberation. Wave V of the tbABR, waves of the sABR, and recognition of time-compressed words had poor test-retest reliability (ICC < 0.5). CONCLUSIONS Reliability of residual measures was mixed, suggesting that care should be taken when selecting measures for diagnostic tests of threshold-independent hearing disorders. Quantifying hidden hearing loss as the variance in suprathreshold measures of auditory function that is not due to TIQ may provide a reliable estimate of threshold-independent hearing disorders in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Judy G. Kopun
- Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE 68131
| | - Sara E. Fultz
- Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE 68131
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Strelcyk O, Zahorik P, Shehorn J, Patro C, Derleth RP. Sensitivity to Interaural Phase in Older Hearing-Impaired Listeners Correlates With Nonauditory Trail Making Scores and With a Spatial Auditory Task of Unrelated Peripheral Origin. Trends Hear 2020; 23:2331216519864499. [PMID: 31455167 PMCID: PMC6755865 DOI: 10.1177/2331216519864499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Interaural phase difference (IPD) discrimination upper frequency limits and just-noticeable differences (JNDs), interaural level difference (ILD) JNDs, and diotic intensity JNDs were measured for 20 older hearing-impaired listeners with matched moderate sloping to severe sensorineural hearing losses. The JNDs were measured using tone stimuli at 500 Hz. In addition to these auditory tests, the participants completed a cognitive test (Trail Making Test). Significant performance improvements in IPD discrimination were observed across test sessions. Strong correlations were found between IPD and ILD discrimination performance. Very strong correlations were observed between IPD discrimination and Trail Making performance as well as strong correlations between ILD discrimination and Trail Making performance. These relationships indicate that interindividual variability in IPD discrimination performance did not exclusively reflect deficits specific to any auditory processing, including early auditory processing of temporal information. The observed relationships between spatial audition and cognition may instead be attributable to a modality-general spatial processing deficit and/or individual differences in global processing speed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olaf Strelcyk
- 1 Sonova U.S. Corporate Services, Warrenville, IL, USA
| | - Pavel Zahorik
- 2 Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Disorders, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.,3 Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.,4 Heuser Hearing Research Center, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - James Shehorn
- 4 Heuser Hearing Research Center, Louisville, KY, USA
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Kikidis D, Vardonikolaki A, Zachou Z, Razou A, Pantos P, Bibas A. ABR findings in musicians with normal audiogram and otoacoustic emissions: evidence of cochlear synaptopathy? HEARING, BALANCE AND COMMUNICATION 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/21695717.2019.1663054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Kikidis
- 1st Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Aikaterini Vardonikolaki
- 1st Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Zoe Zachou
- 1st Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Andriana Razou
- 1st Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Pavlos Pantos
- 1st Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios Bibas
- 1st Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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55
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C Kohrman D, Wan G, Cassinotti L, Corfas G. Hidden Hearing Loss: A Disorder with Multiple Etiologies and Mechanisms. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2020; 10:cshperspect.a035493. [PMID: 30617057 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a035493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hidden hearing loss (HHL), a recently described auditory disorder, has been proposed to affect auditory neural processing and hearing acuity in subjects with normal audiometric thresholds, particularly in noisy environments. In contrast to central auditory processing disorders, HHL is caused by defects in the cochlea, the peripheral auditory organ. Noise exposure, aging, ototoxic drugs, and peripheral neuropathies are some of the known risk factors for HHL. Our knowledge of the causes and mechanisms of HHL are based primarily on animal models. However, recent clinical studies have also shed light on the etiology and prevalence of this cochlear disorder and how it may affect auditory perception in humans. Here, we review the current knowledge regarding the causes and cellular mechanisms of HHL, summarize information on available noninvasive tests for differential diagnosis, and discuss potential therapeutic approaches for treatment of HHL.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Kohrman
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Guoqiang Wan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210061, Jiangsu Province, China.,Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210061, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Luis Cassinotti
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Gabriel Corfas
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
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56
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Dewey RS, Francis ST, Guest H, Prendergast G, Millman RE, Plack CJ, Hall DA. The association between subcortical and cortical fMRI and lifetime noise exposure in listeners with normal hearing thresholds. Neuroimage 2020; 204:116239. [PMID: 31586673 PMCID: PMC6905154 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 09/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In animal models, exposure to high noise levels can cause permanent damage to hair-cell synapses (cochlear synaptopathy) for high-threshold auditory nerve fibers without affecting sensitivity to quiet sounds. This has been confirmed in several mammalian species, but the hypothesis that lifetime noise exposure affects auditory function in humans with normal audiometric thresholds remains unconfirmed and current evidence from human electrophysiology is contradictory. Here we report the auditory brainstem response (ABR), and both transient (stimulus onset and offset) and sustained functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) responses throughout the human central auditory pathway across lifetime noise exposure. Healthy young individuals aged 25-40 years were recruited into high (n = 32) and low (n = 30) lifetime noise exposure groups, stratified for age, and balanced for audiometric threshold up to 16 kHz fMRI demonstrated robust broadband noise-related activity throughout the auditory pathway (cochlear nucleus, superior olivary complex, nucleus of the lateral lemniscus, inferior colliculus, medial geniculate body and auditory cortex). fMRI responses in the auditory pathway to broadband noise onset were significantly enhanced in the high noise exposure group relative to the low exposure group, differences in sustained fMRI responses did not reach significance, and no significant group differences were found in the click-evoked ABR. Exploratory analyses found no significant relationships between the neural responses and self-reported tinnitus or reduced sound-level tolerance (symptoms associated with synaptopathy). In summary, although a small effect, these fMRI results suggest that lifetime noise exposure may be associated with central hyperactivity in young adults with normal hearing thresholds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S Dewey
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, NG1 5DU, UK; Hearing Sciences, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK.
| | - Susan T Francis
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Hannah Guest
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD), University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Garreth Prendergast
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD), University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Rebecca E Millman
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD), University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, M13 9PL, UK; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK.
| | - Christopher J Plack
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD), University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, M13 9PL, UK; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK; Department of Psychology, Lancaster University, LA1 4YF, UK.
| | - Deborah A Hall
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, NG1 5DU, UK; Hearing Sciences, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK; University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500, Semeniyh, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
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57
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Kamerer AM, AuBuchon A, Fultz SE, Kopun JG, Neely ST, Rasetshwane DM. The Role of Cognition in Common Measures of Peripheral Synaptopathy and Hidden Hearing Loss. Am J Audiol 2019; 28:843-856. [PMID: 31647880 DOI: 10.1044/2019_aja-19-0063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The aim of this study was to quantify the portion of variance in several measures suggested to be indicative of peripheral noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy and hidden hearing disorder that can be attributed to individual cognitive capacity. Method Regression and relative importance analysis was used to model several behavioral and physiological measures of hearing in 32 adults ranging in age from 20 to 74 years. Predictors for the model were hearing sensitivity and performance on a number of cognitive tasks. Results There was a significant influence of cognitive capacity on several measures of cochlear synaptopathy and hidden hearing disorder. These measures include frequency modulation detection threshold, time-compressed word recognition in quiet and reverberation, and the strength of the frequency-following response of the speech-evoked auditory brainstem response. Conclusions Measures of hearing that involve temporal processing are significantly influenced by cognitive abilities, specifically, short-term and working memory capacity, executive function, and attention. Research using measures of temporal processing to diagnose peripheral disorders, such as noise-induced synaptopathy, need to consider cognitive influence even in a young, healthy population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aryn M. Kamerer
- Center for Hearing Research, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE
| | - Angela AuBuchon
- Center for Hearing Research, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE
| | - Sara E. Fultz
- Center for Hearing Research, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE
| | - Judy G. Kopun
- Center for Hearing Research, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE
| | - Stephen T. Neely
- Center for Hearing Research, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE
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58
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Le Prell CG, Hammill TL, Murphy WJ. Noise-induced hearing loss and its prevention: Integration of data from animal models and human clinical trials. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 146:4051. [PMID: 31795668 PMCID: PMC7195863 DOI: 10.1121/1.5132951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/19/2019] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Animal models have been used to gain insight into the risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and its potential prevention using investigational new drug agents. A number of compounds have yielded benefit in pre-clinical (animal) models. However, the acute traumatic injury models commonly used in pre-clinical testing are fundamentally different from the chronic and repeated exposures experienced by many human populations. Diverse populations that are potentially at risk and could be considered for enrollment in clinical studies include service members, workers exposed to occupational noise, musicians and other performing artists, and children and young adults exposed to non-occupational (including recreational) noise. Both animal models and clinical populations were discussed in this special issue, followed by discussion of individual variation in vulnerability to NIHL. In this final contribution, study design considerations for NIHL otoprotection in pre-clinical and clinical testing are integrated and broadly discussed with evidence-based guidance offered where possible, drawing on the contributions to this special issue as well as other existing literature. The overarching goals of this final paper are to (1) review and summarize key information across contributions and (2) synthesize information to facilitate successful translation of otoprotective drugs from animal models into human application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen G Le Prell
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Tanisha L Hammill
- Department of Defense, Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Virginia 22042, USA
| | - William J Murphy
- Division of Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinanati, Ohio 45226-1998, USA
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59
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Kamerer AM, Kopun JG, Fultz SE, Allen C, Neely ST, Rasetshwane DM. Examining physiological and perceptual consequences of noise exposure. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 146:3947. [PMID: 31795718 PMCID: PMC6881192 DOI: 10.1121/1.5132291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The consequences of noise exposure on the auditory system are not entirely understood. In animals, noise exposure causes selective synaptopathy-an uncoupling of auditory nerve fibers from sensory cells-mostly in fibers that respond to high sound levels. Synaptopathy can be measured physiologically in animals, but a direct relationship between noise exposure and synaptopathy in humans has yet to be proven. Sources of variability, such as age, indirect measures of noise exposure, and comorbid auditory disorders, obfuscate attempts to find concrete relationships between noise exposure, synaptopathy, and perceptual consequences. This study adds to the ongoing effort by examining relationships between noise exposure, auditory brainstem response (ABR) amplitudes, and speech perception in adults of various ages and audiometric thresholds and a subset of younger adults with clinically normal hearing. Regression models including noise exposure, age, hearing thresholds, and sex as covariates were compared to find a best-fitting model of toneburst ABR wave I amplitude at two frequencies and word recognition performance in three listening conditions: background noise, time compression, and time compression with reverberation. The data suggest the possibility of detecting synaptopathy in younger adults using physiological measures, but that age and comorbid hearing disorders may hinder attempts to assess noise-induced synaptopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aryn M Kamerer
- Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska 68131, USA
| | - Judy G Kopun
- Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska 68131, USA
| | - Sara E Fultz
- Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska 68131, USA
| | - Carissa Allen
- Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska 68131, USA
| | - Stephen T Neely
- Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska 68131, USA
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Encina-Llamas G, Harte JM, Dau T, Shinn-Cunningham B, Epp B. Investigating the Effect of Cochlear Synaptopathy on Envelope Following Responses Using a Model of the Auditory Nerve. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2019; 20:363-382. [PMID: 31102010 PMCID: PMC6646444 DOI: 10.1007/s10162-019-00721-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The healthy auditory system enables communication in challenging situations with high levels of background noise. Yet, despite normal sensitivity to pure tones, many listeners complain about having difficulties in such situations. Recent animal studies demonstrated that noise overexposure that produces temporary threshold shifts can cause the loss of auditory nerve (AN) fiber synapses (i.e., cochlear synaptopathy, CS), which appears to predominantly affect medium- and low-spontaneous rate (SR) fibers. In the present study, envelope following response (EFR) magnitude-level functions were recorded in normal hearing (NH) threshold and mildly hearing-impaired (HI) listeners with thresholds elevated above 2 kHz. EFRs were elicited by sinusoidally amplitude modulated (SAM) tones presented in quiet with a carrier frequency of 2 kHz, modulated at 93 Hz, and modulation depths of 0.85 (deep) and 0.25 (shallow). While EFR magnitude-level functions for deeply modulated tones were similar for all listeners, EFR magnitudes for shallowly modulated tones were reduced at medium stimulation levels in some NH threshold listeners and saturated in all HI listeners for the whole level range. A phenomenological model of the AN was used to investigate the extent to which hair-cell dysfunction and/or CS could explain the trends observed in the EFR data. Hair-cell dysfunction alone, including postulated elevated hearing thresholds at extended high frequencies (EHF) beyond 8 kHz, could not account for the recorded EFR data. Postulated CS led to simulations generally consistent with the recorded data, but a loss of all types of AN fibers was required within the model framework. The effects of off-frequency contributions (i.e., away from the characteristic place of the stimulus) and the differential loss of different AN fiber types on EFR magnitude-level functions were analyzed. When using SAM tones in quiet as the stimulus, model simulations suggested that (1) EFRs are dominated by the activity of high-SR fibers at all stimulus intensities, and (2) EFRs at medium-to-high stimulus levels are dominated by off-frequency contributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Encina-Llamas
- Hearing Systems section, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - James M Harte
- Interacoustics Research Unit, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Torsten Dau
- Hearing Systems section, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Barbara Shinn-Cunningham
- Carnegie Mellon Neuroscience Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bastian Epp
- Hearing Systems section, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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61
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Roque L, Karawani H, Gordon-Salant S, Anderson S. Effects of Age, Cognition, and Neural Encoding on the Perception of Temporal Speech Cues. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:749. [PMID: 31379494 PMCID: PMC6659127 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Older adults commonly report difficulty understanding speech, particularly in adverse listening environments. These communication difficulties may exist in the absence of peripheral hearing loss. Older adults, both with normal hearing and with hearing loss, demonstrate temporal processing deficits that affect speech perception. The purpose of the present study is to investigate aging, cognition, and neural processing factors that may lead to deficits on perceptual tasks that rely on phoneme identification based on a temporal cue - vowel duration. A better understanding of the neural and cognitive impairments underlying temporal processing deficits could lead to more focused aural rehabilitation for improved speech understanding for older adults. This investigation was conducted in younger (YNH) and older normal-hearing (ONH) participants who completed three measures of cognitive functioning known to decline with age: working memory, processing speed, and inhibitory control. To evaluate perceptual and neural processing of auditory temporal contrasts, identification functions for the contrasting word-pair WHEAT and WEED were obtained on a nine-step continuum of vowel duration, and frequency-following responses (FFRs) and cortical auditory-evoked potentials (CAEPs) were recorded to the two endpoints of the continuum. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to determine the cognitive, peripheral, and/or central mechanisms that may contribute to perceptual performance. YNH participants demonstrated higher cognitive functioning on all three measures compared to ONH participants. The slope of the identification function was steeper in YNH than in ONH participants, suggesting a clearer distinction between the contrasting words in the YNH participants. FFRs revealed better response waveform morphology and more robust phase-locking in YNH compared to ONH participants. ONH participants also exhibited earlier latencies for CAEP components compared to the YNH participants. Linear regression analyses revealed that cortical processing significantly contributed to the variance in perceptual performance in the WHEAT/WEED identification functions. These results suggest that reduced neural precision contributes to age-related speech perception difficulties that arise from temporal processing deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey Roque
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Hanin Karawani
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Sandra Gordon-Salant
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Samira Anderson
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
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Roque L, Gaskins C, Gordon-Salant S, Goupell MJ, Anderson S. Age Effects on Neural Representation and Perception of Silence Duration Cues in Speech. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2019; 62:1099-1116. [PMID: 31026197 PMCID: PMC6802877 DOI: 10.1044/2018_jslhr-h-ascc7-18-0076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Degraded temporal processing associated with aging may be a contributing factor to older adults' hearing difficulties, especially in adverse listening environments. This degraded processing may affect the ability to distinguish between words based on temporal duration cues. The current study investigates the effects of aging and hearing loss on cortical and subcortical representation of temporal speech components and on the perception of silent interval duration cues in speech. Method Identification functions for the words DISH and DITCH were obtained on a 7-step continuum of silence duration (0-60 ms) prior to the final fricative in participants who are younger with normal hearing (YNH), older with normal hearing (ONH), and older with hearing impairment (OHI). Frequency-following responses and cortical auditory-evoked potentials were recorded to the 2 end points of the continuum. Auditory brainstem responses to clicks were obtained to verify neural integrity and to compare group differences in auditory nerve function. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the peripheral or central factors that contributed to perceptual performance. Results ONH and OHI participants required longer silence durations to identify DITCH than did YNH participants. Frequency-following responses showed reduced phase locking and poorer morphology, and cortical auditory-evoked potentials showed prolonged latencies in ONH and OHI participants compared with YNH participants. No group differences were noted for auditory brainstem response Wave I amplitude or Wave V/I ratio. After accounting for the possible effects of hearing loss, linear regression analysis revealed that both midbrain and cortical processing contributed to the variance in the DISH-DITCH perceptual identification functions. Conclusions These results suggest that age-related deficits in the ability to encode silence duration cues may be a contributing factor in degraded speech perception. In particular, degraded response morphology relates to performance on perceptual tasks based on silence duration contrasts between words.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey Roque
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park
| | - Casey Gaskins
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park
| | - Sandra Gordon-Salant
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park
- Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park
| | - Matthew J. Goupell
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park
- Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park
| | - Samira Anderson
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park
- Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park
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Abstract
BACKGROUND New research in animal models indicates that even at lower intensities, noise exposure can induce defects in the synapses of the auditory pathway. However, only very high levels of noise exposure lead to mechanical hair cell damage with lesions of the inner ear and measurable hearing loss (audiogram; distortion product otoacoustic emissions, DPOAE). This paper revises the literature, starting with a case study. CASE HISTORY A 41-year-old patient suffered from hearing loss and tinnitus in the right ear following a car accident with airbag deployment. Hearing loss recovered partially, tinnitus and difficulties in speech discrimination persisted. Audiometry showed typical high-frequency hearing loss (40 dB) and tonal tinnitus (8 kHz). Although DPOAE and ABR potentials (auditory brainstem response, wave III and V) were completely normal 6 months after the accident, there was no detectable cochlear action potential (CAP) in electrocochleography (ECochG). DISCUSSION These findings indicate recovery of initial hair cell damage, whereas synaptic transformation remains reduced and slight hearing loss and poor speech perception in complex listening situations persist. This phenomenon has been described as "hidden hearing loss" in newer literature. Although similar retrocochlear lesions in the auditory pathway could be detected in animal models, valid data in humans are currently lacking because no adequate diagnostic methods are available. CONCLUSION Noise trauma initially results in hair cell damage. After recovery, hearing loss may persist, which can be due to synaptic lesions in the first neuron. An adequate testbattery has to be developped.
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Guest H, Munro KJ, Prendergast G, Plack CJ. Reliability and interrelations of seven proxy measures of cochlear synaptopathy. Hear Res 2019; 375:34-43. [PMID: 30765219 PMCID: PMC6423440 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2019.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Revised: 01/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Investigations of cochlear synaptopathy in living humans rely on proxy measures of auditory nerve function. Numerous procedures have been developed, typically based on the auditory brainstem response (ABR), envelope-following response (EFR), or middle-ear-muscle reflex (MEMR). Validation is challenging, due to the absence of a gold-standard measure in humans. Some metrics correlate with synaptic survival in animal models, but translation between species is not straightforward; measurements in humans are likely to reflect greater error and greater variability from non-synaptopathic sources. The present study assessed the reliability of seven measures, as well as testing for correlations between them. Thirty-one young women with normal audiograms underwent repeated measurements of ABR wave I amplitude, ABR wave I growth, ABR wave V latency shift in noise, EFR amplitude, EFR growth with stimulus modulation depth, MEMR threshold, and an MEMR across-frequency difference measure. Intraclass correlation coefficients for ABR wave I amplitude, EFR amplitude, and MEMR threshold ranged from 0.85 to 0.93, suggesting that such tests can yield highly reliable results, given careful measurement techniques. The ABR and EFR difference measures exhibited only poor-to-moderate reliability. No significant correlations, nor any consistent trends, were observed between the various measures, providing no indication that these metrics reflect the same underlying physiological processes. Findings suggest that many proxy measures of cochlear synaptopathy should be regarded with caution, at least when employed in young adults with normal audiograms. Given careful measurement techniques, ABR and EFR amplitudes can be highly reliable. The same is true of MEMR thresholds and MEMR across-frequency threshold difference. Differential ABR and EFR measures exhibit only poor-to-moderate reliability. Correlations between measures are not evident in young people with normal audiograms. Proxy measures of synaptopathy in this population should be regarded with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Guest
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK.
| | - Kevin J Munro
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK; Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Garreth Prendergast
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK
| | - Christopher J Plack
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK; Department of Psychology, Lancaster University, UK
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65
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Grose JH, Buss E, Elmore H. Age-Related Changes in the Auditory Brainstem Response and Suprathreshold Processing of Temporal and Spectral Modulation. Trends Hear 2019; 23:2331216519839615. [PMID: 30977442 PMCID: PMC6463337 DOI: 10.1177/2331216519839615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine whether cochlear synaptopathy can be shown to be a viable basis for age-related hearing difficulties in humans and whether it manifests as deficient suprathreshold processing of temporal and spectral modulation. Three experiments were undertaken evaluating the effects of age on (a) the auditory brainstem response as a function of level, (b) temporal modulation detection as a function of level and background noise, and (c) spectral modulation as a function of level. Across the three experiments, a total of 21 older listeners with near-normal audiograms and 29 young listeners with audiometrically normal hearing participated. The auditory brainstem response experiment demonstrated reduced Wave I amplitudes and concomitant reductions in the amplitude ratios of Wave I to Wave V in the older listener group. These findings were interpreted as consistent with an electrophysiological profile of cochlear synaptopathy. The temporal and spectral modulation detection experiments, however, provided no support for the hypothesis of compromised suprathreshold processing in these domains. This pattern of results suggests that even if cochlear synaptopathy can be shown to be a viable basis for age-related hearing difficulties, then temporal and spectral modulation detection paradigms are not sensitive to its presence.
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Affiliation(s)
- John H. Grose
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Emily Buss
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Hollis Elmore
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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66
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Brungart DS, Barrett ME, Schurman J, Sheffield B, Ramos L, Martorana R, Galloza H. Relationship Between Subjective Reports of Temporary Threshold Shift and the Prevalence of Hearing Problems in Military Personnel. Trends Hear 2019; 23:2331216519872601. [PMID: 31524086 PMCID: PMC6747866 DOI: 10.1177/2331216519872601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional hearing conservation programs are based on the premise that noise dose, as measured by the time-weighted average noise level, is the primary risk factor associated with occupational hearing loss and that permanent threshold shifts are the most relevant outcome measures for determining when a noise-related hearing loss has occurred. However, recent studies in animal models have suggested that significant neurological damage to the hearing system can occur from noise exposures even when they are not severe enough to result in permanent threshold shifts. This has led to a number of studies attempting to relate subjective measures of noise exposure to subjective measures of hearing difficulty and suprathreshold measures of hearing performance (e.g., speech-in-noise tests). In this study, 3,330 U.S. service members volunteered to complete a survey on noise exposure, subjective hearing complaints, and tinnitus in conjunction with their annual hearing tests. Two questions were also included about the frequency and duration of temporary hearing losses that may have been experienced by the service member. The results show that subjective reports of temporary threshold shifts were substantially more predictive of tinnitus and other hearing complaints than more traditional questions based on the frequency of noise exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mary E. Barrett
- Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Jaclyn Schurman
- Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Henry Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Benjamin Sheffield
- Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Army Public Health Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
| | - Leilani Ramos
- Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
- KE'AKI Technologies, LLC, Frederick, MD
| | - Roberta Martorana
- Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
- KE'AKI Technologies, LLC, Frederick, MD
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67
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Prendergast G, Couth S, Millman RE, Guest H, Kluk K, Munro KJ, Plack CJ. Effects of Age and Noise Exposure on Proxy Measures of Cochlear Synaptopathy. Trends Hear 2019; 23:2331216519877301. [PMID: 31558119 PMCID: PMC6767746 DOI: 10.1177/2331216519877301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Although there is strong histological evidence for age-related synaptopathy in humans, evidence for the existence of noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy in humans is inconclusive. Here, we sought to evaluate the relative contributions of age and noise exposure to cochlear synaptopathy using a series of electrophysiological and behavioral measures. We extended an existing cohort by including 33 adults in the age range 37 to 60, resulting in a total of 156 participants, with the additional older participants resulting in a weakening of the correlation between lifetime noise exposure and age. We used six independent regression models (corrected for multiple comparisons), in which age, lifetime noise exposure, and high-frequency audiometric thresholds were used to predict measures of synaptopathy, with a focus on differential measures. The models for auditory brainstem responses, envelope-following responses, interaural phase discrimination, and the co-ordinate response measure of speech perception were not statistically significant. However, both age and noise exposure were significant predictors of performance on the digit triplet test of speech perception in noise, with greater noise exposure (unexpectedly) predicting better performance in the 80 dB sound pressure level (SPL) condition and greater age predicting better performance in the 40 dB SPL condition. Amplitude modulation detection thresholds were also significantly predicted by age, with older listeners performing better than younger listeners at 80 dB SPL. Overall, the results are inconsistent with the predicted effects of synaptopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garreth Prendergast
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and
Deafness, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre,
UK
| | - Samuel Couth
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and
Deafness, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre,
UK
| | - Rebecca E. Millman
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and
Deafness, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre,
UK
- NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research
Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester
Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Hannah Guest
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and
Deafness, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre,
UK
| | - Karolina Kluk
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and
Deafness, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre,
UK
- NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research
Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester
Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Kevin J. Munro
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and
Deafness, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre,
UK
- NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research
Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester
Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Christopher J. Plack
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and
Deafness, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre,
UK
- NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research
Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester
Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
- Department of Psychology, Lancaster
University, UK
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68
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Le Prell CG. Effects of noise exposure on auditory brainstem response and speech-in-noise tasks: a review of the literature. Int J Audiol 2018; 58:S3-S32. [DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2018.1534010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Colleen G. Le Prell
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
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69
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Investigating peripheral sources of speech-in-noise variability in listeners with normal audiograms. Hear Res 2018; 371:66-74. [PMID: 30504092 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2018.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
A current initiative in auditory neuroscience research is to better understand why some listeners struggle to perceive speech-in-noise (SIN) despite having normal hearing sensitivity. Various hypotheses regarding the physiologic bases of this disorder have been proposed. Notably, recent work has suggested that the site of lesion underlying SIN deficits in normal hearing listeners may be either in "sub-clinical" outer hair cell damage or synaptopathic degeneration at the inner hair cell-auditory nerve fiber synapse. In this study, we present a retrospective investigation of these peripheral sources and their relationship with SIN performance variability in one of the largest datasets of young normal-hearing listeners presented to date. 194 participants completed detailed case history questionnaires assessing noise exposure, SIN complaints, tinnitus, and hyperacusis. Standard and extended high frequency audiograms, distortion product otoacoustic emissions, click-evoked auditory brainstem responses, and SIN performance measures were also collected. We found that: 1) the prevalence of SIN deficits in normal hearing listeners was 42% when based on subjective report and 8% when based on SIN performance, 2) hearing complaints and hyperacusis were more common in listeners with self-reported noise exposure histories than controls, 3) neither extended high frequency thresholds nor compound action potential amplitudes differed between noise-exposed and control groups, 4) extended high frequency hearing thresholds and compound action potential amplitudes were not predictive of SIN performance. These results suggest an association between noise exposure and hearing complaints in young, normal hearing listeners; however, SIN performance variability is not explained by peripheral auditory function to the extent that these measures capture subtle physiologic differences between participants.
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70
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Effects of lifetime noise exposure on the middle-age human auditory brainstem response, tinnitus and speech-in-noise intelligibility. Hear Res 2018; 365:36-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2018.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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71
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Prendergast G, Tu W, Guest H, Millman RE, Kluk K, Couth S, Munro KJ, Plack CJ. Supra-threshold auditory brainstem response amplitudes in humans: Test-retest reliability, electrode montage and noise exposure. Hear Res 2018; 364:38-47. [PMID: 29685616 PMCID: PMC5993871 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2018.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 02/25/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The auditory brainstem response (ABR) is a sub-cortical evoked potential in which a series of well-defined waves occur in the first 10 ms after the onset of an auditory stimulus. Wave V of the ABR, particularly wave V latency, has been shown to be remarkably stable over time in individual listeners. However, little attention has been paid to the reliability of wave I, which reflects auditory nerve activity. This ABR component has attracted interest recently, as wave I amplitude has been identified as a possible non-invasive measure of noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy. The current study aimed to determine whether ABR wave I amplitude has sufficient test-retest reliability to detect impaired auditory nerve function in an otherwise normal-hearing listener. Thirty normal-hearing females were tested, divided equally into low- and high-noise exposure groups. The stimulus was an 80 dB nHL click. ABR recordings were made from the ipsilateral mastoid and from the ear canal (using a tiptrode). Although there was some variability between listeners, wave I amplitude had high test-retest reliability, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) comparable to that for wave V amplitude. There were slight gains in reliability for wave I amplitude when recording from the ear canal (ICC of 0.88) compared to the mastoid (ICC of 0.85). The summating potential (SP) and ratio of SP to wave I were also quantified and found to be much less reliable than measures of wave I and V amplitude. Finally, we found no significant differences in the amplitude of any wave components between low- and high-noise exposure groups. We conclude that, if the other sources of between-subject variability can be controlled, wave I amplitude is sufficiently reliable to accurately characterize individual differences in auditory nerve function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garreth Prendergast
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Wenhe Tu
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Hannah Guest
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Rebecca E Millman
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, M13 9PL, UK; NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
| | - Karolina Kluk
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, M13 9PL, UK; NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
| | - Samuel Couth
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Kevin J Munro
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, M13 9PL, UK; NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
| | - Christopher J Plack
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, M13 9PL, UK; NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK; Department of Psychology, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YF, UK
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72
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Guest H, Munro KJ, Prendergast G, Millman RE, Plack CJ. Impaired speech perception in noise with a normal audiogram: No evidence for cochlear synaptopathy and no relation to lifetime noise exposure. Hear Res 2018; 364:142-151. [PMID: 29680183 PMCID: PMC5993872 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2018.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
In rodents, noise exposure can destroy synapses between inner hair cells and auditory nerve fibers (“cochlear synaptopathy”) without causing hair cell loss. Noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy usually leaves cochlear thresholds unaltered, but is associated with long-term reductions in auditory brainstem response (ABR) amplitudes at medium-to-high sound levels. This pathophysiology has been suggested to degrade speech perception in noise (SPiN), perhaps explaining why SPiN ability varies so widely among audiometrically normal humans. The present study is the first to test for evidence of cochlear synaptopathy in humans with significant SPiN impairment. Individuals were recruited on the basis of self-reported SPiN difficulties and normal pure tone audiometric thresholds. Performance on a listening task identified a subset with “verified” SPiN impairment. This group was matched with controls on the basis of age, sex, and audiometric thresholds up to 14 kHz. ABRs and envelope-following responses (EFRs) were recorded at high stimulus levels, yielding both raw amplitude measures and within-subject difference measures. Past exposure to high sound levels was assessed by detailed structured interview. Impaired SPiN was not associated with greater lifetime noise exposure, nor with any electrophysiological measure. It is conceivable that retrospective self-report cannot reliably capture noise exposure, and that ABRs and EFRs offer limited sensitivity to synaptopathy in humans. Nevertheless, the results do not support the notion that noise-induced synaptopathy is a significant etiology of SPiN impairment with normal audiometric thresholds. It may be that synaptopathy alone does not have significant perceptual consequences, or is not widespread in humans with normal audiograms. Study of adults with impaired speech perception in noise (SPiN) and normal audiograms. A subset of those with reported SPiN impairment exhibited measurable SPiN deficits. SPiN-impaired participants were matched with controls for age, sex, and audiogram. Impaired SPiN was not associated with ABR or EFR measures of cochlear synaptopathy. Impaired SPiN was not associated with a detailed measure of lifetime noise exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Guest
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK; NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK.
| | - Kevin J Munro
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK; NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK
| | - Garreth Prendergast
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK; NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK
| | - Rebecca E Millman
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK; NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK
| | - Christopher J Plack
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK; NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK; Department of Psychology, Lancaster University, UK
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