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Cherri D, Ozmeral EJ, Gallun FJ, Seitz AR, Eddins DA. Feasibility and Repeatability of an Abbreviated Auditory Perceptual and Cognitive Test Battery. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2024:1-21. [PMID: 39700469 DOI: 10.1044/2024_jslhr-23-00590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Auditory perceptual and cognitive tasks can be useful as a long-term goal in guiding rehabilitation and intervention strategies in audiology clinics that mostly operate at a faster pace and on strict timelines. The rationale of this study was to assess test-retest reliability of an abbreviated test battery and evaluate age-related auditory perceptual and cognitive effects on these measures. METHOD Experiment 1 evaluated the test-retest repeatability of an abbreviated test battery and its use in an adverse listening environment. Ten participants performed two visits, each including four conditions: quiet, background noise, external noise, and background mixed with external noise. In Experiment 2, both auditory perceptual and cognitive assessments were collected from younger adults with normal hearing and older adults with and without hearing loss. The full test battery included measures of frequency selectivity, temporal fine structure and envelope processing, spectrotemporal and spatial processing and cognition, and an external measure of tolerance to background noise. RESULTS Results from Experiment 1 showed good test-retest repeatability and nonsignificant effects from background or external noise. In Experiment 2, effects of age and hearing loss were shown across auditory perceptual and cognitive measures, except in measures of temporal envelope perception and tolerance to background noise. CONCLUSIONS These data support the use of an abbreviated test battery in relatively uncontrolled listening environments such as clinic waiting rooms. With an efficient test battery, perceptual and cognitive deficits can be assessed with minimal resources and little clinician involvement due to the automated nature of the test and the use of consumer-grade technology. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.28021070.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Cherri
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa
| | - Erol J Ozmeral
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa
| | | | - Aaron R Seitz
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
| | - David A Eddins
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Central Florida, Orlando
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Moore DR, Lin L, Bhalerao R, Caldwell-Kurtzman J, Hunter LL. Multidisciplinary clinical assessment and interventions for childhood listening difficulty and auditory processing disorder: Relation between research findings and clinical practice. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.06.12.24308837. [PMID: 38946985 PMCID: PMC11213078 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.12.24308837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Purpose Listening difficulty (LiD), often classified as auditory processing disorder (APD), has been studied in both research and clinic settings. The aim of this study was to examine the predictive relation between these two settings. In our "SICLiD" research study, children with normal audiometry, but caregiver-reported LiD, performed poorly on both listening and cognitive tests. Here we examined results of clinical assessments and interventions for these children in relation to research performance. Methods Study setting was a tertiary pediatric hospital. Electronic medical records were reviewed for 64 children aged 6-13 years recruited into a SICLiD LiD group based on a caregiver report (ECLiPS). The review focused on clinical assessments and interventions provided by Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Psychology (Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics), and Speech-Language Pathology services, prior to study participation. Descriptive statistics on clinical encounters, identified conditions, and interventions were compared with quantitative, standardized performance on research tests. Z-scores were compared for participants with and without each clinical condition using univariate and logistic prediction analyses. Results Overall, 24 clinical categories related to LiD, including APD, were identified. Common conditions were attention (32%), language (28%), hearing (18%), anxiety (16%), and autism spectrum (6%) disorders. Performance on research tests varied significantly between providers, conditions, and interventions. Quantitative research data combined with caregiver reports provided reliable predictions of all clinical conditions except APD. Individual test significant correlations were scarce, but included the SCAN composite score, which predicted clinical language and attention difficulties, but not APD diagnoses. Conclusions The variety of disciplines, assessments, conditions and interventions revealed here supports previous studies showing that LiD is a multifaceted problem of neurodevelopment. Comparisons between clinical- and research-based assessments suggest a path that prioritizes caregiver reports and selected psychometric tests for screening and diagnostic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R. Moore
- Division of Patient Services Research, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, OH
- Departments of Pediatrics and Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati, OH
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Li Lin
- Division of Patient Services Research, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, OH
| | - Ritu Bhalerao
- Division of Patient Services Research, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, OH
| | - Jody Caldwell-Kurtzman
- Division of Patient Services Research, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, OH
| | - Lisa L. Hunter
- Division of Patient Services Research, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, OH
- Departments of Pediatrics and Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati, OH
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Sharma B, Maggu AR. Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status and Basic Auditory Processing in Young Adults. Am J Audiol 2024:1-11. [PMID: 39418575 DOI: 10.1044/2024_aja-24-00147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The current study aimed at investigating the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and basic auditory processing in young adults with normal hearing. Specifically, we sought to determine whether SES metrics, including parental education, parental occupation, and individual education attainment, influenced performance on tasks of basic auditory processing. Secondarily, we also aimed at understanding the interactive effects of SES and working memory on basic auditory processing. METHOD A total of 38 young adults were included in the study. Self-reported SES measures were recorded through Likert scales, and auditory processing measures included tests for temporal fine structure (TFS) and spectrotemporal sensitivity (STS). Pearson correlation analyses were conducted to probe the relationships between SES indicators and auditory processing performance. Multiple linear regressions were conducted to understand the interactive effects of SES and working memory on auditory processing performance. RESULTS The analysis revealed no significant correlation between SES measures and basic auditory processing performance across TFS and STS tasks. Furthermore, analysis investigating the interaction between SES and working memory also yielded nonsignificant results. These findings indicate that, within this specific age cohort, SES information may not be indispensable for assessing basic auditory processing. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that SES may not significantly influence basic auditory processing in young adults with normal hearing. However, further research with larger sample sizes and longitudinal designs is warranted to confirm these findings and explore potential age-related differences in the impact of SES on auditory processing across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhamini Sharma
- Department of Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, NY
| | - Akshay R Maggu
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs
- Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs
- Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
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Cherri D, Eddins DA, Ozmeral EJ. A Step Toward Precision Audiology: Individual Differences and Characteristic Profiles From Auditory Perceptual and Cognitive Abilities. Trends Hear 2024; 28:23312165241263485. [PMID: 39099537 DOI: 10.1177/23312165241263485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Older adults with normal hearing or with age-related hearing loss face challenges when listening to speech in noisy environments. To better serve individuals with communication difficulties, precision diagnostics are needed to characterize individuals' auditory perceptual and cognitive abilities beyond pure tone thresholds. These abilities can be heterogenous across individuals within the same population. The goal of the present study is to consider the suprathreshold variability and develop characteristic profiles for older adults with normal hearing (ONH) and with hearing loss (OHL). Auditory perceptual and cognitive abilities were tested on ONH (n = 20) and OHL (n = 20) on an abbreviated test battery using portable automated rapid testing. Using cluster analyses, three main profiles were revealed for each group, showing differences in auditory perceptual and cognitive abilities despite similar audiometric thresholds. Analysis of variance showed that ONH profiles differed in spatial release from masking, speech-in-babble testing, cognition, tone-in-noise, and binaural temporal processing abilities. The OHL profiles differed in spatial release from masking, speech-in-babble testing, cognition, and tolerance to background noise performance. Correlation analyses showed significant relationships between auditory and cognitive abilities in both groups. This study showed that auditory perceptual and cognitive deficits can be present to varying degrees in the presence of audiometrically normal hearing and among listeners with similar degrees of hearing loss. The results of this study inform the need for taking individual differences into consideration and developing targeted intervention options beyond pure tone thresholds and speech testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Cherri
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - David A Eddins
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Erol J Ozmeral
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
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Gallun FJ, Coco L, Koerner TK, de Larrea-Mancera ESL, Molis MR, Eddins DA, Seitz AR. Relating Suprathreshold Auditory Processing Abilities to Speech Understanding in Competition. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12060695. [PMID: 35741581 PMCID: PMC9221421 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12060695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Difficulty hearing in noise is exacerbated in older adults. Older adults are more likely to have audiometric hearing loss, although some individuals with normal pure-tone audiograms also have difficulty perceiving speech in noise. Additional variables also likely account for speech understanding in noise. It has been suggested that one important class of variables is the ability to process auditory information once it has been detected. Here, we tested a set of these “suprathreshold” auditory processing abilities and related them to performance on a two-part test of speech understanding in competition with and without spatial separation of the target and masking speech. Testing was administered in the Portable Automated Rapid Testing (PART) application developed by our team; PART facilitates psychoacoustic assessments of auditory processing. (2) Methods: Forty-one individuals (average age 51 years), completed assessments of sensitivity to temporal fine structure (TFS) and spectrotemporal modulation (STM) detection via an iPad running the PART application. Statistical models were used to evaluate the strength of associations between performance on the auditory processing tasks and speech understanding in competition. Age and pure-tone-average (PTA) were also included as potential predictors. (3) Results: The model providing the best fit also included age and a measure of diotic frequency modulation (FM) detection but none of the other potential predictors. However, even the best fitting models accounted for 31% or less of the variance, supporting work suggesting that other variables (e.g., cognitive processing abilities) also contribute significantly to speech understanding in noise. (4) Conclusions: The results of the current study do not provide strong support for previous suggestions that suprathreshold processing abilities alone can be used to explain difficulties in speech understanding in competition among older adults. This discrepancy could be due to the speech tests used, the listeners tested, or the suprathreshold tests chosen. Future work with larger numbers of participants is warranted, including a range of cognitive tests and additional assessments of suprathreshold auditory processing abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederick J. Gallun
- Oregon Hearing Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; (L.C.); (T.K.K.)
- VA RR&D National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR 97239, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-503-494-4331
| | - Laura Coco
- Oregon Hearing Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; (L.C.); (T.K.K.)
- VA RR&D National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR 97239, USA;
| | - Tess K. Koerner
- Oregon Hearing Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; (L.C.); (T.K.K.)
- VA RR&D National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR 97239, USA;
| | | | - Michelle R. Molis
- VA RR&D National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR 97239, USA;
| | - David A. Eddins
- Department of Communication Science & Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA;
| | - Aaron R. Seitz
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; (E.S.L.d.L.-M.); (A.R.S.)
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Karah H, Karawani H. Auditory Perceptual Exercises in Adults Adapting to the Use of Hearing Aids. Front Psychol 2022; 13:832100. [PMID: 35664209 PMCID: PMC9158114 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.832100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Older adults with age-related hearing loss often use hearing aids (HAs) to compensate. However, certain challenges in speech perception, especially in noise still exist, despite today's HA technology. The current study presents an evaluation of a home-based auditory exercises program that can be used during the adaptation process for HA use. The home-based program was developed at a time when telemedicine became prominent in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study included 53 older adults with age-related symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss. They were divided into three groups depending on their experience using HAs. Group 1: Experienced users (participants who used bilateral HAs for at least 2 years). Group 2: New users (participants who were fitted with bilateral HAs for the first time). Group 3: Non-users. These three groups underwent auditory exercises for 3 weeks. The auditory tasks included auditory detection, auditory discrimination, and auditory identification, as well as comprehension with basic (syllables) and more complex (sentences) stimuli, presented in quiet and in noisy listening conditions. All participants completed self-assessment questionnaires before and after the auditory exercises program and underwent a cognitive test at the end. Self-assessed improvements in hearing ability were observed across the HA users groups, with significant changes described by new users. Overall, speech perception in noise was poorer than in quiet. Speech perception accuracy was poorer in the non-users group compared to the users in all tasks. In sessions where stimuli were presented in quiet, similar performance was observed among new and experienced uses. New users performed significantly better than non-users in all speech in noise tasks; however, compared to the experienced users, performance differences depended on task difficulty. The findings indicate that HA users, even new users, had better perceptual performance than their peers who did not receive hearing aids.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hanin Karawani
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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