Social engagement and depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between age-related hearing loss and cognitive status.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is the third leading cause of years lived with disability. Connections among ARHL, depressive symptoms, social engagement and cognitive status are increasingly reported but the underlying mechanisms leading to these relationships are largely unknown. Exploring these mechanisms is a worthy goal, especially in older adults. This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of social engagement and depressive symptoms on the relationship between ARHL and cognitive status. METHODS: Structural equation modeling (SEM) with path analysis were performed with data from a cross-sectional study conducted in 11 community centers in 2021, which assessed older adults' intrinsic and sensory capacities using the WHO ICOPE framework. Demographic information, health profile, a binary measure of hearing capacity, depressive symptoms, social engagement, and cognitive status of participants were gathered. RESULTS: A total of 304 participants were included. ARHL was positively associated with depressive symptoms (ß = 0.18, p = 0.009) and negatively related to social engagement (ß = -0.13, p = 0.026). Social engagement was positively associated with cognitive status (ß = 0.17, p = 0.005) and negatively associated with depressive symptoms (ß = -0.23, p < 0.001). Greater depressive symptoms were negatively associated with the participants' cognition (ß = -0.13, p = 0.009). Both social engagement (ß = -0.02, p = 0.029) and depressive symptoms (ß = -0.02, p = 0.032) mediated the negative associations between ARHL and cognitive status. CONCLUSIONS: Addressing hearing loss, depressive symptoms, and enhancing social engagement should be investigated as a potential means of minimizing cognitive decline. Well-designed studies are needed to comprehensively inform the clinical practice development, particularly large prospective studies that will facilitate further elucidate possible causal mechanisms behind these observed associations.

The use of fractal tones in tinnitus patient management.

A variety of noises have been employed for decades in an effort to facilitate habituation, mask, or suppress tinnitus. Many of these sounds have reportedly provided benefit, but success has not been universal. More recently, musical stimuli have been added as a sound therapy component. The potential advantages of using such stimuli, in particular fractal tones, in combination with amplification are discussed in this paper.

Audiometric asymmetry and tinnitus laterality.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To identify an optimal audiometric asymmetry index for predicting tinnitus laterality. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective medical record review. METHODS: Data from adult tinnitus patients (80 men and 44 women) were extracted for demographic, audiometric, tinnitus laterality, and related information. The main measures were sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: Three audiometric asymmetry indices were constructed using one, two, or three frequency elements to compute the average interaural threshold difference (aITD). Tinnitus laterality predictive performance of a particular index was assessed by increasing the cutoff or minimum magnitude of the aITD from 10 to 35 dB in 5-dB steps to determine its ROC curve. Single frequency index performance was inferior to the other two (P < .05). Double and triple frequency indices were indistinguishable (P > .05). Two adjoining frequency elements with aITD ≥ 15 dB performed optimally for predicting tinnitus laterality (sensitivity = 0.59, specificity = 0.71, and PPV = 0.76). Absolute and relative magnitudes of hearing loss in the poorer ear were uncorrelated with tinnitus distress. CONCLUSIONS: An optimal audiometric asymmetry index to predict tinnitus laterality is one whereby 15 dB is the minimum aITD of two adjoining frequencies, inclusive of the maximal ITD. Tinnitus laterality dependency on magnitude of interaural asymmetry may inform design and interpretation of neuroimaging studies. Monaural acoustic tinnitus therapy may be an initial consideration for asymmetric hearing loss meeting the criterion of aITD ≥ 15 dB.

Effects of acoustical stimuli delivered through hearing aids on tinnitus.

BACKGROUND: The use of acoustic signals to mask, mix with, or ease the distress associated with tinnitus has been clinically employed for decades. It has been proposed that expanding acoustic options for tinnitus sufferers due to personal preferences is desirable. Fractal tones incorporate many useful characteristics of music while avoiding certain features that could be distracting to some individuals. PURPOSE: To assess the effects on relaxation, tinnitus annoyance, tinnitus handicap, and tinnitus reaction from the use of a hearing aid that incorporates combinations of amplification, fractal tones, and white noise. RESEARCH DESIGN: Participants listened to experimental hearing aids containing several acoustic options and were asked to rate the signals in terms of their effect on relaxation and tinnitus annoyance. They subsequently wore the hearing aids for 6 mo and completed tinnitus handicap and reaction scales. STUDY SAMPLE: Fourteen hearing-impaired adults with primary complaints of subjective tinnitus. INTERVENTION: Participants were tested wearing hearing aids containing several programs including amplification only, fractal tones only, and a combination of amplification, noise, and/or fractal tones. The fractal tones (now commercially available as the "Zen" feature) were generated by the Widex Mind hearing aid. Rating procedures were conducted in the laboratory, and tinnitus reaction and handicap were assessed during and following a 6 mo field trial. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data were collected at the initial visit, one week, 1 mo, 3 mo, and 6 mo. Nonparametric statistics included Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank, chi(2), and repeated-measures analyses of variance. RESULTS: Thirteen of 14 participants reported that their tinnitus annoyance, as measured by the Tinnitus Annoyance Scale, was reduced for at least one of the amplified conditions (with or without fractal tones or noise), relative to the unaided condition. Nine assigned a lower tinnitus annoyance rating when listening to fractal tones alone versus the amplification-alone condition. There was a range of preferences observed for fractal settings, with most participants preferring fractals with a slow or medium tempo and restricted dynamic range. The majority (86%) indicated that it was easier to relax while listening to fractal signals. Participants had preferences for certain programs and fractal characteristics. Although seven participants rated the noise-only condition as providing the least tinnitus annoyance, only two opted to have noise only as a program during the field trial, and none selected the noise-only condition as the preferred setting. Furthermore, while all four of the experienced hearing aid users selected noise as producing the least annoying tinnitus in the laboratory, only one selected it for field wear. Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire scores were improved over the course of the 6 mo trial, with clinically significant improvements occurring for over half of the participants on at least one of the measures. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that use of acoustic stimuli, particularly fractal tones, delivered though hearing aids can provide amplification while allowing for relief for some tinnitus sufferers. It is important to recognize, however, that tinnitus management procedures need to be supplemented with appropriate counseling.

Preliminary evaluation of a novel bone-conduction device for single-sided deafness.

HYPOTHESIS: A new intraoral bone-conduction device has advantages over existing bone-conduction devices for reducing the auditory deficits associated with single-sided deafness (SSD). BACKGROUND: Existing bone-conduction devices effectively mitigate auditory deficits from single-sided deafness but have suboptimal microphone locations, limited frequency range, and/or require invasive surgery. A new device has been designed to improve microphone placement (in the ear canal of the deaf ear), provide a wider frequency range, and eliminate surgery by delivering bone-conduction signals to the teeth via a removable oral appliance. METHODS: Forces applied by the oral appliance were compared with forces typically experienced by the teeth from normal functions such as mastication or from other appliances. Tooth surface changes were measured on extracted teeth, and transducer temperature was measured under typical use conditions. Dynamic operating range, including gain, bandwidth, and maximum output limits, were determined from uncomfortable loudness levels and vibrotactile thresholds, and speech recognition scores were measured using normal-hearing subjects. Auditory performance in noise (Hearing in Noise Test) was measured in a limited sample of SSD subjects. Overall comfort, ease of insertion, and removal and visibility of the oral appliance in comparison with traditional hearing aids were measured using a rating scale. RESULTS: The oral appliance produces forces that are far below those experienced by the teeth from normal functions or conventional dental appliances. The bone-conduction signal level can be adjusted to prevent tactile perception yet provide sufficient gain and output at frequencies from 250 to 12,000 Hz. The device does not damage tooth surfaces nor produce heat, can be inserted and removed easily, and is as comfortable to wear as traditional hearing aids. The new microphone location has advantages for reducing the auditory deficits caused by SSD, including the potential to provide spatial cues introduced by reflections from the pinna, compared with microphone locations for existing devices. CONCLUSION: A new approach for SSD has been proposed that optimizes microphone location and delivers sound by bone conduction through a removable oral appliance. Measures in the laboratory using normal-hearing subjects indicate that the device provides useful gain and output for SSD patients, is comfortable, does not seem to have detrimental effects on oral function or oral health, and has several advantages over existing devices. Specifically, microphone placement is optimized for reducing the auditory deficit caused by SSD, frequency bandwidth is much greater, and the system does not require surgical placement. Auditory performance in a small sample of SSD subjects indicated a substantial advantage compared with not wearing the device. Future studies will involve performance measures on SSD patients wearing the device for longer periods.

Auditory training and challenges associated with participation and compliance.

BACKGROUND: When individuals have hearing loss, physiological changes in their brain interact with relearning of sound patterns. Some individuals utilize compensatory strategies that may result in successful hearing aid use. Others, however, are not so fortunate. Modern hearing aids can provide audibility but may not rectify spectral and temporal resolution, susceptibility to noise interference, or degradation of cognitive skills, such as declining auditory memory and slower speed of processing associated with aging. Frequently, these deficits are not identified during a typical "hearing aid evaluation." Aural rehabilitation has long been advocated to enhance communication but has not been considered time or cost-effective. Home-based, interactive adaptive computer therapy programs are available that are designed to engage the adult hearing-impaired listener in the hearing aid fitting process, provide listening strategies, build confidence, and address cognitive changes. Despite the availability of these programs, many patients and professionals are reluctant to engage in and complete therapy. PURPOSE: The purposes of this article are to discuss the need for identifying auditory and nonauditory factors that may adversely affect the overall audiological rehabilitation process, to discuss important features that should be incorporated into training, and to examine reasons for the lack of compliance with therapeutic options. Possible solutions to maximizing compliance are explored. CONCLUSIONS: Only a small portion of audiologists (fewer than 10%) offer auditory training to patients with hearing impairment, even though auditory training appears to lower the rate of hearing aid returns for credit. Patients to whom auditory training programs are recommended often do not complete the training, however. Compliance for a cohort of home-based auditory therapy trainees was less than 30%. Activities to increase patient compliance to auditory training protocols are proposed.

Variables predicting outcomes on listening and communication enhancement (LACE) training.

Results from a large study of adults who completed a randomized crossover study of listening and communication enhancement (LACE) training were analysed to observe trends. The objective of this study was to determine predictors for greatest improvement following this four-week adaptive auditory training and aural rehabilitation program. Subjects with the poorest scores on the baseline tests, particularly those with the greatest degree of hearing loss, poorest scores on measures of degraded and competing speech, and those with the highest hearing handicap scores, were more likely to have greater improvement overall. However, there was considerable variability among the subjects, and some subjects' positive subjective reports belie smaller overall measured gains. Information collected from both the testing and the counseling of the patient should be taken into consideration when determining whether to proceed with LACE training.

Technologic advances in aural rehabilitation: applications and innovative methods of service delivery.

The level of interest in aural rehabilitation has increased recently, both in clinical use and in research presentations and publications. Advances in aural rehabilitation have seen previous techniques such as speech tracking and analytic auditory training reappear in computerized forms. These new delivery methods allow for a consistent, cost-effective, and convenient training program. Several computerized aural rehabilitation programs for hearing aid wearers and cochlear implant recipients have recently been developed and were reported on at the 2006 State of the Science Conference of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Hearing Enhancement at Gallaudet University. This article reviews these programs and outlines the similarities and differences in their design. Another promising area of aural rehabilitation research is the use of pharmaceuticals in the rehabilitation process. The results from a study of the effect of d-amphetamine in conjunction with intensive aural rehabilitation with cochlear implant patients are also described.

The need for and development of an adaptive Listening and Communication Enhancement (LACE) Program.

Auditory training has long been advocated to enhance communication but has never been time or cost-effective. This article describes the concepts underlying the development of a home-based, interactive adaptive computer program designed to engage the adult hearing-impaired listener in the hearing-aid-fitting process, provide listening strategies, build confidence, and address cognitive changes characteristic of the aging process. An investigation using a between-group, within-subject design with pre- and post-test objective and subjective measures was conducted at five clinical sites. Sixty-five subjects were randomly placed into two groups, one receiving LACE (Listening and Communication Enhancement) immediately following baseline testing and one serving as a control for one month and then receiving training as a crossover group. Results showed statistically significant improvements for the trained subjects on all but one of the outcome measures. Barriers facing the widespread implementation of home-based aural rehabilitation are discussed.

Considerations for cochlear implantation of children with sudden, fluctuating hearing loss.

The histories of two pediatric patients who received cochlear implants with subsequent partial recovery of hearing in the nonimplanted ear are reviewed. One child had a sudden bilateral hearing loss, presumably secondary to autoimmune ear disease. The other child had a bilateral progressive hearing loss diagnosed as large vestibular aqueduct syndrome (LVAS). The rationale for the timing of the surgical implantation is discussed. Retrospectively, recovery of hearing in the nonimplanted ear suggests the possibility that the implant could have been delayed or eliminated as a treatment option, and that wearable hearing aids may have been appropriate. A number of factors, however, suggest the decision to implant was appropriate. Issues involved in the decision-making process of when to implant are presented and discussed.

Phase III results with a totally implantable piezoelectric middle ear implant: speech audiometry, spatial hearing and psychosocial adjustment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment efficacy of an electromechanical middle ear amplifier implant (AI) in patients with chronic moderate-to-severe sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The AI is a piezoelectric system with a sound processor and a rechargeable battery within a hermetically sealed titanium canister. Its titanium-sealed microphone is placed in the bony region of the ear canal. The incus-coupled transducer (actuator), which is also inside a titanium casing, is fastened to the adjacent bone. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a phase III study comprising 20 intention-to-treat patients. Telemetrical adjustments followed electromechanical amplifier implantations. We used a word recognition test as our primary efficacy measure (Freiburg Speech Recognition Test: DIN 45621). Secondary efficacy measures were the sentence comprehension test (Goettinger Satztest, 1996) for auditory orientation within noisy and quiet environments and a psychosocial adjustment test (Gothenburg Profile Test, 1998). The 6-month follow-up comprised a complete medical examination. Nineteen patients completed the study (per-protocol patients; 100% reference). RESULTS: Seventeen patients (89%) demonstrated improved binaural recognition of phonetically balanced monosyllables. Fourteen postoperative patients (74%) attained a perfect score (100%) on this test, compared to only 3 preoperative patients (16%). Thirteen patients (68%) reached the sentence recognition threshold at a 2:1 dB signal-to-noise ratio during noisy trials. Correct identification of the noise source direction in the horizontal plane occurred in 89% of the trials. The Gothenburg Profile Test scores showed that the subjective evaluation of hearing, orientation, social behavior and self-confidence increased from 48% to 88%. Three patients did not benefit from the implant. CONCLUSION: Treatment of SNHL with a totally implantable hearing system can be an efficient method for those patients unable to wear hearing aids. However, in order to avoid implantation in non-responders, there is a need for more specific audiological indication criteria.