ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Speech-in-noise perception is dependent on the interaction between sensory and cognitive processes. One factor that can relate to both processes is bilingualism. This study aimed to determine the correlation between auditory-working-memory and speech-in-noise in Persian monolinguals and Kurdish-Persian bilinguals. DESIGN: Speech-in-noise tests (sentences-in-noise and syllables-in-noise) and auditory-working-memory tests (forward and backward digit span, and n-back) were performed. STUDY SAMPLE: Participants were 48 Kurdish-Persian bilinguals with a mean age of 24 (±4) years and 48 Persian monolinguals with a mean age of 25 (±2) years with normal hearing. RESULTS: Both language groups scored within normal limits in all memory and speech-in-noise tests. However, bilinguals performed significantly worse than monolinguals on all auditory-working-memory tests and the sentences-in-noise test. Monolinguals outperformed bilinguals in sentences-in-noise test (â¼1.5 dB difference) and all auditory-working-memory tests (â¼1 digit difference). The two groups did not significantly differ in syllables-in-noise test. Both groups had a significant correlation between working memory capacity and sentences-in-noise test. However, no significant correlation was found between syllables-in-noise and working memory capacity at any SNR. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive factors such as auditory working memory appear to correlate with speech-in-noise perception ability (at least at the sentence level) in monolingual and bilinguals young adults.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: As the largest group of professional voice users, teachers are more likely to face voice disorders because of their specific job conditions. This study aimed to compare the quality of life in female teachers with and without voice complaints. STUDY DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of samples of primary school female teachers with (n = 60) and without (n = 60) voice disorders. All teachers were serving in Tehran, Iran. Professional background information was obtained through interviews, and quality of life was measured using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire. A comparison was made between the study groups to analyze the data. RESULTS: The mean age of teachers was 44 (standard deviation = 3.95) years. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding their professional background. However, significant differences were observed between the two groups in all subscales of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, including physical and social functioning, role limitations because of either physical or emotional problems, bodily pain, general health, vitality, and mental health (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Findings of this study point to the effect of voice complaint on quality of life and showed that teachers with voice complaints suffer from poor health-related quality of life. Therefore, both voice-specific and unspecific assessment methods are required for clinical diagnostics.
Subject(s)
Occupational Diseases/psychology , Occupational Health , Quality of Life , School Teachers/psychology , Speech Acoustics , Voice Disorders/psychology , Voice Quality , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Emotions , Female , Health Status , Humans , Interviews as Topic , Iran , Mental Health , Middle Aged , Occupational Diseases/diagnosis , Occupational Diseases/etiology , Occupational Diseases/physiopathology , Social Behavior , Surveys and Questionnaires , Voice Disorders/diagnosis , Voice Disorders/etiology , Voice Disorders/physiopathologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the total score and subscale scores of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) in speakers with and without hearing loss. A further aim was to determine if a correlation exists between severities of hearing loss with total scores and VHI subscale scores. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional, descriptive analytical study, 100 participants, divided in 2 groups of participants with and without hearing loss, were studied. Background information was gathered by interview, and VHI questionnaires were filled in by all participants. RESULTS: For all variables, including mean total score and VHI subscale scores, there was a considerable difference in speakers with and without hearing loss (p < 0.05). The correlation between severity of hearing loss with total score and VHI subscale scores was significant. CONCLUSION: Speakers with hearing loss were found to have higher mean VHI scores than speakers with normal hearing. This indicates a high voice handicap related to voice in speakers with hearing loss. In addition, increased severity of hearing loss leads to more severe voice handicap. This finding emphasizes the need for a multilateral assessment and treatment of voice disorders in speakers with hearing loss.
