Instant improvement in monaural spatial hearing abilities through cognitive feedback.

Several studies report that sound localization performance of acute and chronic monauralized normal-hearing listeners can improve through training. Typically, training sessions are administered daily for several days or weeks. While this intensive training is effective, it may also be that monaural localization abilities improve instantly after providing explicit top-down information about the direction dependent change in timbre and level. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether cognitive feedback (i.e., top-down information) could instantly improve sound localization in naive acutely monauralized listeners. Forty-three normal-hearing listeners (experimental group), divided over five different centers, were tested. Two control groups, consisting of, respectively, nine and eleven normal-hearing listeners, were tested in one center. Broadband sounds (0.5-20 kHz) were presented from visible loudspeakers, positioned in azimuth (- 90° to 90°). Participants in the experimental group received explicit information about the noticeable difference in timbre and the poor localization in the monauralized listening condition, resulting in an instant improvement in sound localization abilities. With subsequent roving of stimulus level (20 dB), sound localization performance deteriorated immediately. The reported improvement is related to the context of the localization test. The results provide important implications for studies investigating sound localization in a clinical setting, especially during closed-set testing, and indicate the importance of top-down information.

Comparison between 3D SPACE FLAIR and 3D TSE FLAIR in Menière's disease.

PURPOSE: Heavily T2-weighted 3D FLAIR (hT2w-3D-FLAIR) sequence with constant flip angle (CFA) has been reported as being more sensitive to low concentrations of gadolinium (Gd) enabling endolymphatic hydrops (EH) visualization. The purpose of this study was to compare signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio, detection rate of EH, and increased perilymphatic enhancement (PE) as well as diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing definite Menière's disease (MD), using 3D-SPACE FLAIR versus conventional 3D-TSE FLAIR. METHODS: This retrospective study included 29 definite MD patients who underwent a 4-h delayed intravenous (IV) Gd-enhanced 3D-TSE FLAIR and 3D-SPACE FLAIR MRI between February 2019 and February 2020. MR images were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed twice by 2 experienced head and neck radiologists. Qualitative assessment included grading of cochlear and vestibular EH and visual comparison of PE. Quantitative assessment of PE was performed by placing a region of interest (ROI) and ratio calculation in the basal turn of the cochlea and the brainstem. RESULTS: The intra- and inter-reader reliability for grading of EH and PE was excellent (0.7 < kappa < 0.9) for 3D-SPACE FLAIR and exceeded the values for 3D-TSE FLAIR (0.5 < kappa < 0.9) The combination of EH and visual assessment of PE has the highest diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing definite MD on 3D-SPACE FLAIR with a sensitivity of 0.91 and a specificity of 0.98 resulting in a sensitivity raise of 6% compared to 3D-TSE FLAIR. CONCLUSION: Four-hour delayed IV Gd-enhanced 3D-SPACE FLAIR sequence has a higher sensitivity and reproducibility than 3D-TSE FLAIR for the visualization of EH and increased PE in definite MD patients.

Synchrotron radiation X-ray microtomography for the visualization of intra-cochlear anatomy in human temporal bones implanted with a perimodiolar cochlear implant electrode array.

Recently, synchrotron radiation computed microtomography (SRµCT) has emerged as a promising tool for non-destructive, in situ visualization of cochlear implant electrode arrays inserted into a human cochlea. Histological techniques have been the `gold standard' technique for accurate localization of cochlear implant electrodes but are suboptimal for precise three-dimensional measurements. Here, an SRµCT experimental setup is proposed that offers the benefit of a high spatial and contrast resolution (isotropic voxel size = 4.95 µm and propagation-based phase-contrast imaging), while visualizing the soft-tissue structures and electrode array of the cochlear implant simultaneously. In this work, perimodiolar electrode arrays have been tested, which incorporate thick and closely spaced platinum-iridium contacts and wiring. These data can assist cochlear implant and hearing research, can be used to verify electrode segmentation techniques for clinical computed tomography or could be utilized to evaluate cochlear implant electrode array designs.

The MO-meatocanalplasty: long-term results in the narrow external auditory canal with recurrent otitis externa or the inability to wear a hearing aid.

OBJECTIVE: The MO-meatocanalplasty is the oblique modification of the M-meatoplasty. The MO-meatocanalplasty was designed to address the superior quadrants of the meatus and the bony canal without the need for a retro-auricular incision. This retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate the long-term results of the MO-meatocanalplasty in patients with a narrow external auditory canal (EAC) with recurrent otitis externa or in patients unable to wear a hearing aid. METHODS: Twenty-two ears in twenty consecutive patients who received a MO-meatocanalplasty for a narrow EAC with recurrent otitis externa or the inability to wear a hearing aid were analysed retrospectively. There were no patients included with any type of previous or planned second stage tympanoplasty procedures. A follow-up period of 3 years was analysed for postoperative recurrent narrowing, the self-cleaning capacity of the EAC, the recurrence of otitis externa, the inability to wear a hearing aid, change in hearing level and for all types of aesthetical complaints. RESULTS: The MO-meatocanalplasty procedure was effective in 82% (n = 18). Postoperative recurrent narrowing was detected in 9% (n = 2). Insufficient self-cleaning capacity of the EAC was 9.1% (n = 2). The ability to wear a hearing aid was restored in all patients with the need for a hearing aid. No aesthetical complaints were reported. CONCLUSION: The MO-meatocanalplasty is an effective, safe and aesthetical accepted procedure to address the narrow meatus and external auditory canal. With this procedure, there is no need for a retro-auricular incision in order to create a well aerated, dry and self-cleaning EAC in patients with a narrow EAC with recurrent otitis externa or in patient with the inability to wear a hearing aid.

The bony obliteration tympanoplasty in cholesteatoma: safety, hygiene and hearing outcome: allograft versus autograft tympanic membrane reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate early results on hygiene, safety and functional outcome in a population undergoing a canal wall up technique with bony obliteration of the mastoid and epitympanic space (CWU-BOT) for extensive cholesteatoma, performed by a single surgeon. This study compares different techniques of tympanic membrane reconstruction, viz. allografts and autografts. PATIENTS: A consecutive series of 61 ears with acquired cholesteatoma treated with primary or revision CWU-BOT surgery from 2009 to 2014. INTERVENTION: Obliteration was performed by the use of cortical bone-chips and bone pâté. Patients were followed up with micro-otoscopy and MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging. Ossicular reconstruction was performed using a remodelled autologous or allogenic incus or malleus. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Residual and recurrence rate and short- and mid-term hearing outcome prior to any revision tympanoplasty were analysed, the effect of type of tympanic membrane reconstruction was considered. RESULTS: 44 Ears were primary cholesteatoma cases, 17 cases were referred for revision surgery. Mean postoperative follow up was 45 months (SD 18.08) and mean follow-up until the last non-EP DW MRI 42 months (SD 17.72). Recurrent disease was present in 3%, no residual disease was present. An AC gain was seen in 75% of all ears undergoing ossicular reconstruction. CONCLUSION: Reproducible safety, hygiene and hearing results with limited recurrence and residual disease can be obtained by younger otologic surgeons performing the BOT-CWU for extensive cholesteatoma while using a variety of grafts for tympano-ossicular reconstruction. The tympano-ossicular allograft nevertheless shows superior hearing results when a mobile intact stapes is present. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4.

The relationship between cochleovestibular function tests and endolymphatic hydrops grading on MRI in patients with Menière's disease.

PURPOSE: In this retrospective study the relationship between cochleovestibular function and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI-) based classification system of endolymphatic hydrops was investigated. METHODS: Seventy-eight patients with unilateral definite Menière's disease who underwent MRI were included. The parameters of Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA), caloric irrigation test, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, and video Head Impulse Test were compared between the grades of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) and perilymphatic enhancement (PE) on MRI. RESULTS: The low-frequency PTA was significantly different between cochlear EH grades I and II (p = 0.036; Grade I: mean (Standard Deviation, SD) = 51 decibel Hearing Level (dB HL) (18 dB HL); Grade II: mean (SD) = 60 dB HL (16 dB HL)), and vestibular EH grades 0 and III (p = 0.018; Grade 0: mean (SD) = 43 dB HL (21 dB HL); Grade III: mean = 60 dB HL (10 dB HL)). The ipsilateral caloric sum of ears with vestibular EH grade I (n = 6) was increased with regards to vestibular EH grades 0 (p = 0.001), II (p < 0.001), and III (p < 0.001) (Grade 0: mean (SD) = 24°/s (15°/s); Grade I: mean (SD) = 47°/s (11°/s); Grade II: mean (SD) = 21°/s (13°/s); Grade III: mean (SD) = 16°/s (8°/s)). CONCLUSION: According to these results we can conclude that only the highest grades of cochlear and vestibular EH seem to be associated with decreased cochleovestibular functioning.

The Superiority of the Otolith System.

BACKGROUND: The peripheral vestibular end organ is considered to consist of semi-circular canals (SCC) for detection of angular accelerations and the otoliths for detection of linear accelerations. However, otoliths being phylogenetically the oldest part of the vestibular sensory organs are involved in detection of all motions. SUMMARY: This study elaborates on this property of the otolith organ, as this concept can be of importance for the currently designed vestibular implant devices. Key Message: The analysis of the evolution of the inner ear and examination of clinical examples shows the robustness of the otolith system and inhibition capacity of the SCC. The otolith system must be considered superior to the SCC system as illustrated by evolution, clinical evidence, and physical principles.

Electrical Vestibular Stimulation in Humans: A Narrative Review.

BACKGROUND: In patients with bilateral vestibulopathy, the regular treatment options, such as medication, surgery, and/or vestibular rehabilitation, do not always suffice. Therefore, the focus in this field of vestibular research shifted to electrical vestibular stimulation (EVS) and the development of a system capable of artificially restoring the vestibular function. Key Message: Currently, three approaches are being investigated: vestibular co-stimulation with a cochlear implant (CI), EVS with a vestibular implant (VI), and galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS). All three applications show promising results but due to conceptual differences and the experimental state, a consensus on which application is the most ideal for which type of patient is still missing. SUMMARY: Vestibular co-stimulation with a CI is based on "spread of excitation," which is a phenomenon that occurs when the currents from the CI spread to the surrounding structures and stimulate them. It has been shown that CI activation can indeed result in stimulation of the vestibular structures. Therefore, the question was raised whether vestibular co-stimulation can be functionally used in patients with bilateral vestibulopathy. A more direct vestibular stimulation method can be accomplished by implantation and activation of a VI. The concept of the VI is based on the technology and principles of the CI. Different VI prototypes are currently being evaluated regarding feasibility and functionality. So far, all of them were capable of activating different types of vestibular reflexes. A third stimulation method is GVS, which requires the use of surface electrodes instead of an implanted electrode array. However, as the currents are sent through the skull from one mastoid to the other, GVS is rather unspecific. It should be mentioned though, that the reported spread of excitation in both CI and VI use also seems to induce a more unspecific stimulation. Although all three applications of EVS were shown to be effective, it has yet to be defined which option is more desirable based on applicability and efficiency. It is possible and even likely that there is a place for all three approaches, given the diversity of the patient population who serves to gain from such technologies.

The value of four stage vestibular hydrops grading and asymmetric perilymphatic enhancement in the diagnosis of Menière's disease on MRI.

PURPOSE: There is still a clinical-radiologic discrepancy in patients with Menière's disease (MD). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability of current MRI endolymphatic hydrops (EH) criteria according to Baráth in a larger study population and the clinical utility of new imaging signs such as a supplementary fourth low-grade vestibular EH and the degree of perilymphatic enhancement (PE) in patients with Menière's disease (MD). METHODS: This retrospective study included 148 patients with probable or definite MD according to the 2015 American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery criteria who underwent a 4-h delayed intravenous Gd-enhanced 3D-FLAIR MRI between January 2015 and December 2016. Vestibular EH, vestibular PE, cochlear EH, and cochlear PE were reviewed twice by three experienced readers. Cohen's Kappa and multivariate logistic regression were used for analysis. RESULTS: The intra- and inter-reader reliability for the grading of vestibular-cochlear EH and PE was excellent (0.7 < kappa < 0.9). The two most distinctive characteristics to identify MD are cochlear PE and vestibular EH which combined gave a sensitivity and specificity of 79.5 and 93.6%. By addition of a lower grade vestibular EH, the sensitivity improved to 84.6% without losing specificity (92.3%). Cochlear EH nor vestibular PE showed added-value. CONCLUSIONS: MRI using vestibular-cochlear EH and PE grading system is a reliable technique. A four-stage vestibular EH grading system in combination with cochlear PE assessment gives the best diagnostic accuracy to detect MD.

Influence of stimulus presentation rate on intraoperative ECAP thresholds in cochlear implant users.

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to evaluate the influence of the presentation rate on intraoperative ECAP thresholds in cochlear implant users. DESIGN: The design was data on the ECAP thresholds (t-NRT) as well as the behavioural T- and C-levels have been collected in CI patients of a quaternary otologic referral centre. Measurements of the tNRT thresholds were performed intraoperatively for 250 Hz and 80 Hz presentation rates and correlated to the stabilised T- and C-levels measured at the 5th fitting session, 4-6 months after surgery. STUDY SAMPLE: There was a study sample of 35 consecutive CI patients. All patients were users of the Nucleus 24RECA (Freedom) or Nucleus CI512 cochlear implants with the Contour Advance-of-Stylet electrode. RESULTS: The result showed that the t-NRT thresholds were higher for the 250 Hz pulse rate typically used during the intraoperative stimulation under general anaesthesia than for the 80 Hz rate used typically during the postoperative fitting sessions. This difference was more pronounced for the basal electrodes where it exceeded 10 current levels (CL). Pearson's correlation coefficients between the t-NRT-measurements and the stabilised T- and C-levels r ranged between 0.34 and 0.47. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the magnitude of the ECAP thresholds (t-NRT) recorded intraoperatively depends significantly on the stimulus presentation rate.

The MO-meatocanalplasty: a modification of the M-meatoplasty to address the superior quadrants and the bony canal.

The meatoplasty of the external auditory canal is a frequently performed otologic procedure in recurrent otitis externa, eczema or frequent accumulation of cerumen due to a narrow meatus of the external ear canal. Numerous surgical techniques have been described. The M-meatoplasty described by Mirck for addressing the external meatus is widely used. However, this technique does not sufficiently enlarge the external ear canal in all cases. Specifically in patients where the ear canal narrowing is most prominent in the postero- and/or anterosuperior quadrants of the lateral meatus the technique needs some modifications. In these cases, an oblique conversion of the M-meatoplasty, the MO-meatocanalplasty, is useful. In cases where the bony canal is also narrow this modification allows for a bony canalplasty while avoiding a retro-auricular approach. The MO-meatocanalplasty can be used in combination with myringoplasty and tympanoplasty.

Postimplantation changes of electrophysiological parameters in patients with cochlear implants.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the postoperative changes of the basic electrophysiological and psychophysical parameters in cochlear implant (CI) patients: the impedance of the electrode contacts, the electrically-evoked compound action potential (ECAP) thresholds and the T/C levels. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective case review in a quaternary otologic referral centre. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on the impedance of the electrode contacts, the ECAP thresholds and the T/C levels were collected in 20 consecutive CI patients divided into 2 groups. Group 1 comprised 10 prelingually deaf children implanted before the age of 18 months, and group 2 comprised 10 postlingually deaf adults (average age of 58 years). All patients were users of the Nucleus 24RECA (Freedom, Contour advance off-stylet electrode) CI. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: (1) The mid-portion and the apical electrodes showed a decrease in the impedance values between the 1st and the 6th postoperative months and stabilization in the later course. Impedance of the most basal electrodes grew during the first postoperative months and stabilized later on, but remained higher than the impedance of the mid-portion and the apical electrodes. (2) The neural response telemetry threshold values tended to decrease within the first 3 months after surgery to reach a plateau afterwards. (3) The behavioural threshold levels remained generally stable, except for the basal electrodes where a decrease could be observed. The hearing comfort levels showed an increase during the first 6 months of the implant use and remained stable afterwards.

Handling an Isolated Malleus Handle Fracture: Current Diagnostic Work-up and Treatment Options.

BACKGROUND: An isolated malleus handle fracture is rare and presents with vague otological symptoms. Diagnosis depends on careful history taking and otoscopic examination. Different treatment options are available. Reconstruction with hydroxyapatite bone cement is a relatively new technique. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to review the current diagnostic work-up and treatment options and to demonstrate our method of treatment with hydroxyapatite bone cement. METHODS: Three cases, repaired with hydroxyapatite bone cement in a tertiary referral otologic center, were retrospectively analyzed. A review of the literature on diagnosis and treatment procedures was performed. RESULTS: One fracture occurred by withdrawing a finger from the external auditory canal and 2 occurred without clear prior trauma. Our 3 cases were successfully repaired with hydroxyapatite bone cement. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of an isolated malleus handle fracture still depends on careful clinical examination. In addition to pure tone audiometry, both low and higher frequency tympanometry may be useful. High resolution computed tomography with reformatting through the malleus handle is the most accurate imaging modality. Reconstruction with hydroxyapatite bone cement is reliable by restoring the original situation with only minimal manipulation and without additional ossicular interruption.

Guideline for standardized approach in the treatment of the Mal de Debarquement syndrome.

Introduction: Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS) is a debilitating neuro-otological disorder. Patients experience almost continuously a perception of self-motion. This syndrome can be motion-triggered (MT-MdDS), such as on a boat, or occur spontaneously or have other triggers (SO-MdDS) in the absence of such motion. Because the pathophysiological mechanism is unknown, treatment options and symptom management strategies are limited. One available treatment protocol involves a readaptation of the vestibular ocular reflex (VOR). This study assesses the effectiveness of vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) readaptation in 131 consecutive patients with a fixed protocol. Methods: We administered 131 treatments involving optokinetic stimulation (OKS) paired with a fixed head roll at 0.167 Hz over two to five consecutive days. Each day, four-minute treatment blocks were scheduled twice in the morning and afternoon. Treatment effectiveness was evaluated through questionnaires and posturography. Results: We observed significant improvements in the visual analog scale (VAS), MdDS symptom questionnaire, and posturography measures from pre- to post-treatment. No significant differences were found in outcome variables between MT- and SO-MdDS onsets. Conclusion: Symptoms improved subjectively and objectively in patients' post-treatment. The overall success rate was 64.1%, with no significant difference between MT (64.2%) and SO (63.3%). This study supports the conclusion that VOR readaptation treatment provides relief for two-thirds of MdDS patients, irrespective of the onset type. Based on consistency in the findings, we propose a standardized method for treatment of MdDS based on the OKS with head roll paradigm.

Virtual reality application matches the most established treatment for Mal de Debarquement Syndrome: A non-inferiority, randomized, open clinical trial.

Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS) is a debilitating neuro-otological disorder where individuals consistently feel self-motion, often triggered by motion like being on a boat (MT-MdDS). Due to the unknown pathophysiological mechanism, available treatment options for managing symptoms are limited. Our objective was to develop a virtual reality application (VRA) to simulate the full field optokinetic stimulation (OKS) booth and evaluate its efficacy compared to the standard treatment. In our randomized, open, non-inferiority clinical trial with 30 â€‹MT-MdDS patients, 15 received the OKS booth and 15 the new VRA over four consecutive days. Two 4-min treatment blocks were scheduled in the morning and afternoon, with a total of four blocks. Treatment effectiveness was evaluated through questionnaires and posturography. Our findings suggest that the choice of modality does not significantly differ in achieving an overall improvement in symptoms. We advocate that the VRA can be used as an accessible alternative to the booth method worldwide, effectively mitigating MdDS symptoms and enhancing the QoL of numerous MdDS patients.

Duration of cochlear implant use in children with prelingual single-sided deafness is a predictor of word perception in the CI ear.

As part of a longitudinal study regarding the benefit of early cochlear implantation for children with single-sided deafness, the current work explored the children's daily device use, potential barriers to full-time device use, and the children's ability to understand speech with the cochlear implant (CI). Data were collected from 20 children with prelingual SSD who received a CI before the age of 2.5 years, from the initial activation of the sound processor until the children were 4.8 to 11.0 years old. Daily device use was extracted from the CI's data logging, while word perception in quiet was assessed using direct audio input to the children's sound processor. The children's caregivers completed a questionnaire about habits, motivations, and barriers to device use. The children with SSD and a CI used their device on average 8.3 h per day, corresponding to 63 % of their time spent awake. All children except one could understand speech through the CI, with an average score of 59 % on a closed-set test and 73 % on an open-set test. More device use was associated with higher speech perception scores. Parents were happy with their decision to pursue a CI for their child. Certain habits, like taking off the sound processor during illness, were associated with lower device use. Providing timely counselling to the children's parents, focused on SSD-specific challenges, may be helpful to improve daily device use in these children.

Beyond the otoscope: an imaging review of congenital cholesteatoma.

Congenital cholesteatoma (CC) is a non-neoplastic lesion of keratin debris lined by epithelium found in the temporal bone. It is the lesser-known sibling of the acquired cholesteatoma and may be classified as congenital middle ear cholesteatoma and congenital petrous bone cholesteatoma. The incidence is rising, probably owing to increased recognition and advances in imaging modalities. Cone beam CT provides detailed anatomical information, highlighting quadrant location, ossicular involvement, and mastoid extension. MRI aids in lesion characterization and detection of complications. The classification systems for congenital middle ear and petrous bone cholesteatoma are helpful in the preoperative workup and have a role in predicting postoperative recurrence rates. Management almost invariably involves surgical intervention aimed at preserving middle and inner ear function. Follow-up of CC is mainly based on MRI together with otoscopic examination. Non-echo planar diffusion-weighted imaging, especially, has proven essential for detecting residual disease. This review article emphasizes the significance of imaging in the timely diagnosis and management of CCs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: This article underscores the crucial role of imaging for prompt detection, preoperative assessment, and postoperative follow-up of CCs, a condition with rising incidence associated with potentially severe complications. KEY POINTS: Timely diagnosis of CCs is imperative for avoiding complications. Imaging is key in detection, preoperative evaluation, and postoperative management. Cone Beam CT and non-echo planar DWI represent state-of-the-art imaging techniques.

Stimulation Crosstalk Between Cochlear And Vestibular Spaces During Cochlear Electrical Stimulation.

OBJECTIVES: Possible beneficial "crosstalk" during cochlear implant stimulation on otolith end organs has been hypothesized. The aim of this case-control study is to analyze the effect of electrical cochlear stimulation on the vestibule (otolith end-organ), when using a cochleo-vestibular implant, comparing vestibular stimulation (VI) and cochlear stimulation (CI). METHODS: Four patients with bilateral vestibulopathy were included. A double electrode array research implant was implanted in all cases. Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), VOR gain measured by using vestibular head impulse test (vHIT), acoustic cervical myogenic responses (cVEMP) recordings, and electrical cVEMP were used in all cases. Trans-impedance Matrix (TIM) analysis was used to evaluate the current flow from the cochlea to the vestibule. RESULTS: While patients did not have any clinical vestibular improvement with the CI stimulation alone, gait metrics of the patients revealed improvement when the vestibular electrode was stimulated. The average improvement in the DGI was 38% when the vestibular implant was activated, returning to the normal range in all cases. Our findings suggest that any current flow from the cochlear space to the otolith organs was insufficient for effective cross-stimulation. The functional results correlated with the data obtained in TIM analysis, confirming that there is no current flow from the cochlea to the vestibule. CONCLUSION: The only way to produce effective electrical otolith end-organ stimulation, demonstrated with this research implant, is by direct electrical stimulation of the otolith end organs. No effective cross-stimulation was found from cochlear electrode stimulation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 134:2349-2355, 2024.

Are Acoustic Markers of Voice and Speech Signals Affected by Nose-and-Mouth-Covering Respiratory Protective Masks?

BACKGROUND: Worldwide use of nose-and-mouth-covering respiratory protective mask (RPM) has become ubiquitous during COVID19 pandemic. Consequences of wearing RPMs, especially regarding perception and production of spoken communication, are gradually emerging. The present study explored how three prevalent RPMs affect various speech and voice sound properties. METHODS: Pre-recorded sustained [a] vowels and read sentences from 47 subjects were played by a speech production model ('Voice Emitted by Spare Parts', or 'VESPA') in four conditions: without RPM (C1), with disposable surgical mask (C2), with FFP2 mask (C3), and with transparent plastic mask (C4). Differences between C1 and masked conditions were assessed with Dunnett's t test in 26 speech sound properties related to voice production (fundamental frequency, sound intensity level), voice quality (jitter percent, shimmer percent, harmonics-to-noise ratio, smoothed cepstral peak prominence, Acoustic Voice Quality Index), articulation and resonance (first and second formant frequencies, first and second formant bandwidths, spectral center of gravity, spectral standard deviation, spectral skewness, spectral kurtosis, spectral slope, and spectral energy in ten 1-kHz bands from 0 to 10 kHz). RESULTS: C2, C3, and C4 significantly affected 10, 15, and 19 of the acoustic speech markers, respectively. Furthermore, absolute differences between unmasked and masked conditions were largest for C4 and smallest for C2. CONCLUSIONS: All RPMs influenced more or less speech sound properties. However, this influence was least for surgical RPMs and most for plastic RPMs. Surgical RPMs are therefore preferred when spoken communication is priority next to respiratory protection.

Calculation of the Faradaic Impedance of the Electrode-Tissue Interface Improves Prediction of Behavioral T/C Levels in Cochlear Implant Patients.

BACKGROUND: Fitting of cochlear implants is a labor-intensive process, and therefore automated fitting procedures are being sought. The objective of this study was to evaluate if decomposition of the complex impedance of the electrode-tissue interface could provide additional parameters that show improved correlation with the behavioral T/C levels. METHODS: A new method for decomposing the complex impedance of the electrode-tissue interface was developed and tested in 18 patients in a prospective study in a tertiary otologic referral center. RESULTS: The averaged near-field Faradaic resistance (RF) calculated in study subjects shows a very strong correlation (R2=0.80) with the behavioral C levels and can be used for automated fitting in most patients. The standard deviation for the T levels and the C levels calculated for each of the electrode contacts in all study subjects is in the range of 10-15 CL and 15-20 CL, respectively. These higher values of the standard deviations are caused by a few outliers who require that additional parameters have to be added to the metric equation, allowing for the automated prediction of the T/C levels. CONCLUSION: A new method for deriving information from the electrode impedance measurements shows excellent correlation of the Faradaic resistance with the behavioral T/C levels in most patients and can be very useful for fitting cochlear implants based on objective measures. Since some patients still show discrepancies between the predicted T/C levels based on the RF calculation, additional parameters have to be added to the metric equation, allowing for automated prediction of the T/C levels.