http://203.129.241.86:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/16 2026-04-29T06:05:10Z http://203.129.241.86:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/3895 Comparison of hearing thresholds using audiometric versus android-based application Prithivi, T; Chandan Kumar Nayak; Kavitha, G.S; Banoth Shoban; Jeevan, G; Pruthvik, S.P; Chandni Jain Background: Hearing loss is a highly widespread problem worldwide and early identification of hearing loss through screening is important to overcome the negative effects of untreated hearing impairment. Screening can be done using handheld device app technologies for the hearing assessments that would be easy to be used by any individual. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to compare the hearing thresholds with smartphone application and conventional audiometer. Materials and Methods: A total of 52 participants were included in the study. They were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 36 participants (72 ears) in the age range of 7 to 35 years with normal hearing sensitivity. Group 2 included 16 participants (32 ears) in the age range of 18-68 years with varying degree of hearing loss ranging from minimal hearing loss to severe hearing loss. Thus, a total of 104 ears were tested. Air Conduction thresholds were obtained at octave frequencies from 250 Hz to 4000 Hz using conventional audiometer in a sound treated room and through the android application (Hearing test version 1.1.) using a smart phone (Micromax Xpress Canvas) in a quiet room. The noise levels for hearing assessment through smart phone app ranged between 70-75 dB A, which was measured prior to the testing session. The thresholds were obtained for both right and left ear of the participants. The hearing thresholds obtained from both the measures was subjected to appropriate statistical analysis. Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference in the thresholds across the procedures for all the frequencies in Group 1. However, there was no significant difference in thresholds across the procedures for all the frequencies in Group 2. Conclusion: It can be concluded that hearing screening through mobile application is user-friendly and cost-effective, but it might lead into under referrals. 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z http://203.129.241.86:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/3893 The relative contribution of visual cues and acoustic enhancement strategies in improving speech perception of individuals with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorders Jithin Raj Balan; Sandeep Maruthy Background and Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the relative benefits of visual cue supplementation and acoustic enhancement in improving speech perception of individuals with Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorders (ANSD). Methods: The study utilized repeated measure research design. Based on the purposive sampling 40 participants with ANSD were selected. They were assessed for their speech identification of monosyllables in auditory only (A), visual only (V), and auditory-visual (AV) modalities. In the A and AV modalities, the perception of the primary, temporally enhanced, and spectrally enhanced syllables were assessed in quiet as well as 0 dB signal to noise ratio (SNR) conditions. The identification scores were compared across modalities, stimuli, and conditions to derive the relative benefits of visual cues and acoustic enhancement on speech perception of individuals with ANSD. Results: The group data showed a significant effect of modality with the mean identification score being the maximum in AV modality. This was true both in quiet and 0 dB SNR. The mean identification scores in quiet were significantly higher compared to that in 0 dB SNR. However, acoustic enhancement of speech did not significantly enhance speech perception. When acoustic enhancement and visual cues were simultaneously provided, speech perception was determined only by visual cues. The evidence from individual data showed that most of the individuals benefit from AV modality. Conclusions: The findings indicate that both auditory and visual modality needs to be facilitated in ANSD to enhance speech perception. The acoustic enhancements in the current form have negligible influence. However, the inference shall be restricted to the perception of stop consonants. 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z http://203.129.241.86:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/3892 Disability certificate for individuals with hearing impairment – Time to rethink Hemanth Narayan Shetty; Jijo Pottackal Mathai; Ajith Kumar, U Background: A retrospective research design was used to investigate the effect of degree of hearing loss on speech identification scores (SISs) and aided improvement in individuals with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD). The present criteria (PWD Act, 2001) to issue disability certificate is suitable for individuals with SNHL, as there is a good agreement between their degree of hearing loss and speech understanding. In contrast, individuals with ANSD show severe speech understanding problems irrespective of their degree of hearing loss. Despite their problem, there are denied in giving disability certificate. The study also analyzed number of clients who have received the certificate of hearing disability, in both groups. Subjects and Methods: Clinical records of 165 clients who visited the Department of Audiology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore, India between October 2011 and October 2013 were reviewed. Results: Revealed that unlike SNHL, those with ANSD had no relation between the degree of hearing loss and SIS. In addition, aided improvement in ANSD was very limited and was not related to degree of hearing loss. All the individuals with SNHL, who had hearing loss above moderately severe degree received disability certificate. However, only 2 of the 36 clients with ANSD received disability certificate, although their hearing thresholds were above moderately severe degree. Conclusion: Pure-tone thresholds are not a deciding factor of speech understanding in ANSD. Thus, issue of disability certificate for ANSD should be based on SIS rather than pure-tone thresholds. 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z http://203.129.241.86:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/3894 Effect of musical training on masking paradigm Devi, N; Swathi, C.S Background: Musicians outperform nonmusicians on brainstem and cortical level processing. However, there are limited literature comparing musicians and nonmusicians on the overall release of masking abilities and correlation across otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), masking level difference (MLD) and quick speech-in-noise (Quick-SIN). Aim: To investigate the physiological differences between musicians and nonmusicians by evaluating the effect of musical training on contralateral suppression (CAS) of OAE, MLD, and Quick-SIN. Materials and Methods: Distortion product OAEs (DPOAEs) recording with and without noise, MLD test using continuous (CMLD) and pulsating pure tones (PMLD) and Quick-SIN in Kannada were carried out on 15 musicians and 15 nonmusicians. Results: Musicians outperformed nonmusicians on Quick-SIN and CAS of OAEs. However, no significant difference was observed between two groups on CMLD and PMLD. There was a significant difference observed in CMLD, PMLD as well as suppression amplitude across frequencies tested in both groups. A significant difference between PMLD and CMLD was observed only for musicians at 2 kHz. In both groups, there was a significant level of correlation for CAS of DPOAE and Quick-SIN with CMLD and with PMLD between the parameters tested. Conclusion: The results of our finding suggest that CAS of DPOAE and Quick-SIN are sensitive tools to quantify the effect of musical training, compared to MLD. Musical training helps to strengthen afferent and efferent pathways, and hence it aids in speech perception abilities in noise. Hence, for the intervention of individuals with difficulties in speech perception in noise, musical training can be a choice to be considered. As well for appropriate diagnosis and interpretation, one needs to consider the musical experience of individual tested. 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z