International Journal of Audiology

OBJECTIVE: Approximately 30-50% of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) patients show poor response to systemic steroid therapy. Additionally, the most appropriate treatment for patients with refractory sudden sensorineural hearing loss (RSSNHL) is unknown. This study aimed to explore the best treatment for RSSNHL. DESIGN: Using a frequentist contrast-based model and PRISMA guidelines, this study compared five salvage regimes: intratympanic injection of steroids (ITS), hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy, post auricle steroid injection (PSI), ITS combined with HBO therapy, and continued systemic steroids...

OBJECTIVE: There were two objectives of this current study. (1) To understand the impacts of hearing loss for late-deafened adults and the experiences of support received both from hearing healthcare providers and peers. (2) To understand the types of support needed during and after a cochlear implant. DESIGN: The study used mixed methods. A survey was posted to three cochlear implant social media groups and participants could self-select to participate in a semi-structured interview by leaving their email address...

OBJECTIVE: To use a multimodal approach to classify individuals with tinnitus from controls, and individuals with mild versus severe tinnitus. DESIGN: We have previously shown feasibility of a non-invasive imaging technique called functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to detect tinnitus-related changes in cortical activity and classify individuals with tinnitus from controls, as well as individuals with mild versus severe tinnitus. In this study we have used a multimodal approach by recording heart rate, heart rate variability and skin conductance, in addition to fNIRS signals, from individuals with tinnitus and controls...

OBJECTIVE: To describe evidence of migraine-associated tinnitus and hearing loss. DESIGN: This study was registered in PROSPERO and followed the PRISMA guidelines. The inclusion criteria were observational studies with subjects aged ≥18 years, in which the association between migraine and tinnitus and/or hearing loss was evaluated. Reviews, case reports, commentaries, letters to the editor, and studies that included individuals with some diseases were excluded...

OBJECTIVE: Stigma has long been implicated as a reason why adults with acquired hearing loss are slow to seek help and for sub-optimal uptake of hearing devices. However, the field has not developed a comprehensive understanding of why stigma occurs, nor has it related this comprehensive knowledge to a theoretical framework. DESIGN: This special issue presents results from a two-phase, multi-method study to systematically investigate how stigma is experienced by adults with hearing loss and their families, how they manage it in everyday life, and how these experiences relate to the decision to wear hearing aids...

OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of remote versus in-person ear-nose-and-throat (ENT) specialist screening before hearing treatment on self-reported hearing aid (HA) benefit and satisfaction among adult first-time HA users. DESIGN: Participants were randomised to either remote or in-person ENT assessment before treatment initiation. Hearing ability, hearing quality, and treatment satisfaction were assessed pre- and post-HA treatment using the SSQ12, IOI-HA, and selected items from the 2021 Danish national Patient-Reported Experience Measures...

OBJECTIVE: To determine if a stricter criterion for paediatric hearing aid fitting for proximity of fit-to-target of <3 dB root-mean-square (RMS) error produces better audibility and outcomes compared to the current <5 dB criterion, and to examine the relationship between aided audibility and RMS error by degree of hearing loss. DESIGN: We evaluated the influence of unaided hearing level on the relationship between RMS error and aided audibility...

OBJECTIVE: To examine help-seeker satisfaction with the first communication of a tinnitus diagnosis by a healthcare provider, whether help-seekers undertook treatment and how they rated this treatment. DESIGN: A survey design assessed tinnitus characteristics and distress, health status, help-seeking, diagnosis communication, treatment and patient satisfaction. STUDY SAMPLE: A self-selected cohort and a population-based cohort. RESULTS: Satisfaction scores were examined against demographic, clinical factors, and type of healthcare provider...

OBJECTIVE: The speech intelligibility index (SII) is used to quantify the audibility of the speech. This study examined the relationship between self-reported hearing aid (HA) outcomes and the difference in aided SII (SIIA ) calculated from the initial fit (IF) gain and that prescribed as per the second generation of National Acoustic Laboratory Non-Linear (NAL-NL2). DESIGN: A prospective observational study. STUDY SAMPLE: The study included 718 first-time and 253 experienced HA users...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this project was to investigate the provision of counselling in adult audiological rehabilitation and to highlight training barriers and needs. DESIGN: A service evaluation in which respondents completed a survey in which they rated their knowledge, confidence and competence in addressing the hearing, social and emotional needs of their patients. They were also asked to define counselling. SAMPLE: 64 UK practising audiologists in adult audiological rehabilitation, aged 20->60 years (84% females, 16% males), with a range of years in clinical practice...

OBJECTIVE: To determine ETSPLs for the Oscilla H210A circumaural audiometric headphones. DESIGN: ETSPL measurements were performed for 11 audiometric frequencies with the ISO 8253-1 (2010) bracketing procedure. STUDY SAMPLE: The study was based on 25 otologically normal test subjects. RESULTS: ETSPLs are provided for an ear simulator according to IEC 60318-1 (2009) along with a detailed measurement uncertainty budget...

OBJECTIVE: Balance difficulties are common in children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). For some of these children, concomitant vestibular deficits may impact postural control. This study aimed to explore vestibular function, functional balance and postural control, and the relationship between these measures in children with SNHL. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study quantifying peripheral vestibular function (vestibular evoked myogenic potentials [VEMP], video head impulse test), functional balance (Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency [BOT]) and postural control (static posturography with modified sensory inputs)...

OBJECTIVE: To develop a prototype of a decision aid to be used on a website for adults with hearing loss. Design: Development was guided by the International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS) and included a survey and think-aloud process. STUDY SAMPLE: A total of 153 participants completed a survey about what to include in the decision aid (111 adults with hearing loss, 21 family members of adults with hearing loss, and 21 professionals). Six adults with hearing loss and six family members participated in a think-aloud process to provide feedback as they used an initial version of the decision aid...

OBJECTIVE: The effectiveness of audiological monitoring for detecting early hearing changes in patients receiving ototoxic medication could be limited by the lack of adequate audiological ototoxicity monitoring (OtoM) guidelines. This study aimed to evaluate existing OtoM guidelines using the AGREE II tool for guideline evaluation. DESIGN: Guideline Review. STUDY SAMPLE: Three audiological OtoM guidelines. RESULTS: An online search identified three audiological OtoM guidelines published by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA), the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) and the Health Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA)...

OBJECTIVE: To explore if experience with hearing aid (HA) amplification affects speech-evoked cortical potentials reflecting comprehension abilities. DESIGN: N400 and late positive complex (LPC) responses as well as behavioural response times to congruent and incongruent digit triplets were measured. The digits were presented against stationary speech-shaped noise 10 dB above individually measured speech recognition thresholds. Stimulus presentation was either acoustic (digits 1-3) or first visual (digits 1-2) and then acoustic (digit 3)...

OBJECTIVE: To introduce the urban outdoor version of the Situated Phoneme (SiP) test and investigate its test-retest reliability. DESIGN: Phonemic discrimination scores in matched-spectrum real-world (MSRW) maskers from an urban outdoor environment were measured using a three-alternative forced choice test paradigm at different phoneme-to-noise ratios (PNR). Each measurement was repeated twice. Test-retest scores for the full 84-trial SiP-test, as well as for four types of contrasting phonemes, were analysed and compared to critical difference scores based on binomial confidence intervals...

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the main reasons for hearing aid uptake from a user perspective and recommendations to others with hearing difficulties. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey design was used. Responses to a single open-ended question were analysed using qualitative content analysis. STUDY SAMPLE: Participants (n = 642) included adult hearing aid users sampled from the Hearing Tracker website community and Lexie Hearing user databases in the United States...

OBJECTIVE: Young adults are at risk for hearing loss caused by exposure to loud music. Intervention at this stage provides opportunities to support lifelong hearing protection use. This study explores attitudes related to hearing, hearing loss, and hearing protection among university students. DESIGN: Qualitative interview design, supplemented by quantitative questionnaire data. STUDY SAMPLE: 18 university students, aged 18-24 years...

Objectives: Musicians who wear hearing aids are a unique subset of hearing-impaired individuals. There are a number of issues musicians experience with hearing aids, making effective hearing rehabilitation a challenge. Research suggests hearing aid satisfaction in musicians is lower partly due to their advanced listening skills, however, qualitative research addressing musicians who wear hearing aids for music is scarce. The current study aimed to record the barriers encountered by musicians who wear hearing aids when playing their instrument/singing, listening to recorded music and listening to live music...

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review examined the audiological and non-audiological factors that influence hearing aid use, benefit and satisfaction in adults based on studies published during the last decade (2010 and 2023). DESIGN: Studies were identified by using PRISMA guidelines for systematic searches on five platforms (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, EBSCOhost including CINAHL and Academic Search Complete). The National Institute of Health Quality assessment tool and the Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine tool were used for quality assessment and grading of level of evidence...