Ear and Hearing

Ear and Hearing. 31(1):1, February 2010.

doi: 10.1097/AUD.0b013e3181cbc79a

Donahue, Amy; Dubno, Judy R.; Beck, Lucille

Ear and Hearing. 31(1):2-6, February 2010.

doi: 10.1097/AUD.0b013e3181cbc783

Earl, Brian R.; Chertoff, Mark E.

Ear and Hearing. 31(1):7-21, February 2010.

doi: 10.1097/AUD.0b013e3181ba748c

Recent advances in hair-cell regeneration, neural regeneration, and genetic therapy prompt the need for diagnostic tests that can accurately identify the appropriate target within the cochlea and auditory nerve for delivery of therapeutic agents. Specifying the pathophysiology may also help individualize amplification and cochlear implant algorithms. Morphological analysis of the compound action potential (CAP) in an animal model with auditory nerve lesions revealed that CAP amplitude and CAP oscillation frequency were directly related to histological measures of normal nerve area, suggesting that they may be effective predictors of auditory nerve survival in hearing-impaired individuals.

Abstract:

Wu, Yu-Hsiang; Bentler, Ruth A.

Ear and Hearing. 31(1):22-34, February 2010.

doi: 10.1097/AUD.0b013e3181bc767e

The benefits provided by directional (DIR) microphone hearing aids have been found to vary between results observed in the laboratory and those obtained in the real world. In this study, 24 participants compared microphone success with and without concomitant use of visual cues to determine whether visual cues could explain this laboratory-field discrepancy. The laboratory results indicated that, when visual cues were available, the DIR benefit was reduced and DIR processing was less often preferred, especially by listeners with superior lipreading skills. Furthermore, DIR benefit measured when accompanied by visual cues could not be predicted by that measured in the absence of visual cues. These results suggest the importance of incorporating visual cues in the evaluation of DIR microphone effectiveness.

Abstract:

Wu, Yu-Hsiang; Bentler, Ruth A.

Ear and Hearing. 31(1):35-46, February 2010.

doi: 10.1097/AUD.0b013e3181bc769b

The aim of this study was to determine if visual cues could explain the limited benefit afforded by directional microphone hearing aids in the real world. Data gathered from field trials did not show evidence of the effect of visual cues on the users' preference for directional processing. However, laboratory audio-visual testing was found to better predict real-world outcomes than audio-only testing, demonstrating the role of visual cues and the importance of considering their effects in laboratory testing. The field data also suggested that real-world microphone preference was dominated by factors other than directional benefit, such as loudness and a hearing aid's internal noise.

Abstract:

Munro, Kevin J.; Howlin, Elaine M.

Ear and Hearing. 31(1):146-150, February 2010.

doi: 10.1097/AUD.0b013e3181b8399b

The high inter-subject variability associated with real-ear to coupler difference (RECD) values means that it is advisable to measure these from each patient. Although the test time is usually brief in cooperative patients, it is not known if it is necessary to obtain the measurement from each ear. The similarity between the RECD values from the right and left ear was examined in 44 hearing aid users. The results show that the mean difference is close to 0 dB with a right/left difference less than 3 dB in most patients. This suggests that it may be sufficient to measure the RECD from only one ear.

Abstract:

Ear and Hearing. 31(1):151-154, February 2010.

doi: 10.1097/AUD.0b013e3181c4041e

Four new texts on diverse subjects are reviewed in this issue. Moe Bergman describes Audiology in the USA (by J. Jerger) as a remarkably well-documented account of the growth of the profession of audiology. According to Maris Appelbaum, Hearing Loss in Musicians (edited by M. Chasin) is an excellent source for audiologists who work with musicians. Colleen O'Rourke reports that Pure-Tone Audiometry and Masking, (by M. Valente) provides a concise review of the concepts and protocols needed to master these aspects of practice. Finally, William Yost reports that Introduction to Normal Auditory Perception (by F. Loven) presents basic information about a number of topics in psychoacoustics with a strong emphasis on classical studies published prior to the 1960s.