The Effect of Hearing Aids on Sound Localization in Mild Unilateral Conductive Hearing Loss.
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
ISSN: 2157-3107
Titre abrégé: J Am Acad Audiol
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 9114646
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
30 Dec 2022
30 Dec 2022
Historique:
pubmed:
2
7
2022
medline:
2
7
2022
entrez:
1
7
2022
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
Binaural hearing is of utmost importance for communicating in noisy surroundings and localizing the direction of sound. Unilateral hearing loss (UHL) affects the quality of life in both childhood and adulthood, speech development, and academic achievements. Sound amplification using air-conducting hearing aids (HAs) is a common option for hearing rehabilitation of UHL. The processing time of digital HAs can significantly delay the acoustic stimulation in 3 to 10 milliseconds, which is far longer than the maximal natural interaural time difference (ITD) of 750 microseconds. This can further impair spatial localization in these patients. We sought to assess whether HA effects on ITD and interaural level difference (ILD) impair localization among subjects with unilateral conductive hearing loss (UCHL). "Normal"-hearing participants underwent localization testing in different free field settings. Ten volunteers with "normal"-hearing thresholds participated. Repeated assessments were compared between "normal" (binaural) hearing, UCHL induced by insertion of an inactivated HA to the ear canal (conductive HL), and amplification with a HA. In UCHL mode, with HA switched-off, localization was significantly impaired compared to "normal" hearing (NH; η Mild UCHL caused localization to deteriorate. HAs significantly improved sound localization, albeit the delay caused by the device processing time. Most of the improvements were seen in high-frequency sounds, representing a beneficial effect of amplification on ILD. Our results have potential clinical value in situations of mild CHL, for instance, otitis media with effusion.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Binaural hearing is of utmost importance for communicating in noisy surroundings and localizing the direction of sound. Unilateral hearing loss (UHL) affects the quality of life in both childhood and adulthood, speech development, and academic achievements. Sound amplification using air-conducting hearing aids (HAs) is a common option for hearing rehabilitation of UHL. The processing time of digital HAs can significantly delay the acoustic stimulation in 3 to 10 milliseconds, which is far longer than the maximal natural interaural time difference (ITD) of 750 microseconds. This can further impair spatial localization in these patients.
PURPOSE
OBJECTIVE
We sought to assess whether HA effects on ITD and interaural level difference (ILD) impair localization among subjects with unilateral conductive hearing loss (UCHL).
RESEARCH DESIGN
METHODS
"Normal"-hearing participants underwent localization testing in different free field settings.
STUDY SAMPLE
METHODS
Ten volunteers with "normal"-hearing thresholds participated.
INTERVENTION
METHODS
Repeated assessments were compared between "normal" (binaural) hearing, UCHL induced by insertion of an inactivated HA to the ear canal (conductive HL), and amplification with a HA.
RESULTS
RESULTS
In UCHL mode, with HA switched-off, localization was significantly impaired compared to "normal" hearing (NH; η
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Mild UCHL caused localization to deteriorate. HAs significantly improved sound localization, albeit the delay caused by the device processing time. Most of the improvements were seen in high-frequency sounds, representing a beneficial effect of amplification on ILD. Our results have potential clinical value in situations of mild CHL, for instance, otitis media with effusion.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Informations de copyright
American Academy of Audiology. This article is published by Thieme.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
None declared.