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 Extract

In this study, we tried to put forward some formulas for interpreting Alternate Binaural Loudness Balance (ABLB) test results by using characteristics of ABLB graphs. Last step of loudness balancing (in dB HL) and thresholds of both ears are considered as formulas variables. The procedure includes: At first, resulting values are put in a formula to obtain type of graph slope. If the slope represents different recruitment (complete, partial or hyper recruitment), the second formula (last test step value ratio) will be used to determine recruitment types. It should be mentioned that in determining exact ABLB test results, ± 10 dB variability must be considered as a test error. As a result, mentioned formulas have not been an exception and this error factor was included in computing them. In next step, we tried to reduce test time which may be considered as a dilemma for test by using this method. Therefore, the test includes only the last step of loudness balancing and the mentioned formulas are used to obtain the test results. At last, the results of this method were compared to the graph procedure for determining their effectiveness.

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Background and Aim: One of the most common complaints, particularly among patients with normal or near normal low-frequency hearing, is that their voice sounds "hollow". This is associated with "Occlusion effect". The aim of this study was to comparison of occlusion effect in normal hearing subjects via Real Ear Measurement and Audiometric Bing test.
Materials and Method: Twenty volunteers with normal hearing (10 male, 10 female), with ages ranging from 18 - 24 years were enrolled in this study. First, audiometric Bing test was performed in frequencies of 250, 500, 750 and 1000 Hz. Then in real ear measurement, subjects were instructed to vocalize /â/ and /i/ for 5 seconds. Probe microphone was recorded the sound pressure in the ear canals. The degrees of occlusion effect unit were obtained for further analysis.
Results: The means of occlusion effect were present in all subjects. There was no correlation between the results of audiometric Bing test and real-ear measurement. No significant difference was obtained between genders and monaural or binaural occlusion in real-ear measurement. But in audiometric Bing test, the difference between monaural or binaural occlusion was significant(p<0.05).
Conclusion: The peak of occlusion effect varies significantly among hearing aid users, so the hearing aid must be tuned. Probe- microphone measures will assist in determination how much gain is enough, and where frequency- specific adjustments are needed.

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Background and Aim: Hearing aid users complain about a phenomenon called "occlusion effect". The aim of this study was to compare the occlusion effect in normal hearing individuals and those with slight and mild sensory neural hearing loss via Real Ear Measurement.
Methods: Sixty volunteers (30 male, 30 female) aged 18-55 years were enrolled in this study. Subjects were instructed to vocalize /e/ and /i/ for 5 seconds. Sound pressure level was measured by a probe- microphone and recorded in the ear canal. Occlusion effect and the frequency in which maximum occlusion effect occurs were obtained for each individuals for further analysis.
Results: The peak of occlusion effect for /e/ was 10.25 dB and 9.77 dB respectively in 751.9 Hz and 542.98 Hz frequencies in female and male individuals. The maximum occlusion effect occurred with 19.03 dB and 19.10 dB for /i/ and in 518.88 Hz and 440.28 Hz in female and male individuals, in respect. In addition, no significant difference was seen among hearing levels and between genders.
Conclusion: The peak of occlusion effect varies significantly among hearing aid users so that the hearing aid must be tuned. Probe-microphone measures will assist in determination where frequency- specific adjustments are needed.

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Background and Aim: Contralateral suppression of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) test evaluates the efferent auditory system. In this test, acoustic reflex is an important confounding variable. In recent years, application of this test is growing especially in children suspect to central auditory processing disorder. Therefore, the magnitude of influence of this confounding variable on the suppression of TEOAEs should be made clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of acoustic reflex on contralateral suppression of TEOAEs.
Methods: This research was performed on 39 normal-hearing adults of both sexes and of 18-26 years of age. Tests were used for the determination of interaural attenuation (IA), acoustic reflex, TEOAEs and contralateral suppression of TEOAEs.
Results: TEOAEs amplitudes and their contralateral suppression were significantly higher in females and males respectively (p=0.01). The amount of TEOAEs suppression before reflex activity ranged between 2000 to 3000 Hz. Activation of acoustic reflex significantly increased the magnitude of suppression in all frequency bands (p≤0.01) and maximum suppression occurred in 500 to 1000 Hz.
Conclusion: For achieving accuracy of clinical findings, clinicians should always use suppressant levels lower than the acoustic reflex threshold. It is recommended that different norms for males and females be used in contralateral suppression of TEOAEs.

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Background and Aim: Sustained attention refers to the ability to maintain attention in target stimuli over a sustained period of time. This study was conducted to develop a Persian version of the sustained auditory attention capacity test and to study its results in normal children.
Methods: To develop the Persian version of the sustained auditory attention capacity test, like the original version, speech stimuli were used. The speech stimuli consisted of one hundred monosyllabic words consisting of a 20 times random of and repetition of the words of a 21-word list of monosyllabic words, which were randomly grouped together. The test was carried out at comfortable hearing level using binaural, and diotic presentation modes on 46 normal children of 7 to 11 years of age of both gender.
Results: There was a significant difference between age, and an average of impulsiveness error score (p=0.004) and total score of sustained auditory attention capacity test (p=0.005). No significant difference was revealed between age, and an average of inattention error score and attention reduction span index. Gender did not have a significant impact on various indicators of the test.
Conclusion: The results of this test on a group of normal hearing children confirmed its ability to measure sustained auditory attention capacity through speech stimuli.

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Background and Aim: Behavioral audiometry is the best method of hearing evaluation. Hearing thresholds are estimated with auditory evoked responses in patients who are not able to cooperate in behavioral audiometry. Because rehabilitative decisions are based on behavioral thresholds, it is essential to determine the amount of difference between behavioral and evoked response thresholds. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference between functional and auditory steady-state response (ASSR) gains.

Methods: Twenty six moderate to severe hearing impaired adolescents and adults (age range: 14 to 55 years) participated in this interventional-comparative study. Audiometery and ASSR testing was performed (without hearing aid and then with hearing aid). Finally, functional gain with ASSR gain, and behavioral thresholds with ASSR thresholds were compared using paired t-test and correlation statistical methods. All tests were performed in the sound field.

Results: The mean difference was 6.19 dB between unaided behavioral and ASSR thresholds, 4.33 dB between aided thresholds, and 2.43 dB between functional and ASSR gains. There was no significant difference between functional and ASSR gains (p>0.05).

Conclusion: The difference between functional and ASSR gains is less than the difference between behavioral and ASSR thresholds and it has less variability between different frequencies. So, it may be better to use ASSR gain instead of ASSR thresholds in hearing aid fitting in difficult-to-test population.

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Background and Aim: Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the elderly using a hearing aid to alleviate auditory impairment can positively affect their quality of life. This research aimed to determine the level of satisfaction concerning hearing aids in elderly people with hearing impairment based on the type and degree of hearing loss.

Methods: An analytic cross-sectional research design was used the sample included 40 elderly people who used hearing aids. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) age classification, participants were divided into two age groups: 65-74 years (n=20) and 75-90 years (n=20). Satisfaction levels were assessed using a standard satisfaction with amplification in daily life (SADL) questionnaire.

Results: Satisfaction levels in the 65-74 age group were significantly higher than that in the 75-90 age group (p=0.02). Participants with mixed hearing loss revealed higher satisfaction levels than participants with sensorineural hearing loss (p=0.02). On the negative effects dimension, participants with severe hearing loss exhibited significantly higher satisfaction levels than participants with moderate or moderate to severe hearing loss (p=0.01).

Conclusion: Total satisfaction mean scores were relatively high in the elderly participants . Negative features could be reduced via careful consultation regarding the aids’ amplifying capabilities and limitations in groups with moderate or moderate to severe hearing loss.