The Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) is applied worldwide as a highly reliable tool for the characteristic of the quality of life and subjective sensations of the patients presenting with hearing impairment as well as for the estimation of the efficiency of hearing aids. The objective of the present study was to validate and adapt the Russian language version of the SSQ questionnaire (SSQrus) for its application in the audiological practice under conditions of this country. After the cultural and language adaptation of SSQrus, it was validated by means of repeat interviewing of three groups of the respondents (a total of 93 subjects with normal, moderately and severely impaired hearing). The results of the validation give evidence of the high reliability of the modified questionnaire. Specifically, high reproducibility of the data estimated from the results of the second interview has been demonstrated (r=0.85--0.99). High sensitivity of SSQruswas confirmed by the agreement between the results of the estimation (in scores) and the degree of the observed loss of hearing. The estimates obtained by the application of the SSQrus questionnaire are comparable with those reported by the foreign authors. It is concluded that the SSQrus questionnaire can be used in routine audiological practice as an additional diagnostic instrument for the estimation of hearing problems experienced by a patient, monitoring efficiency of therapy and surgical treatment of hearing impairment, improvement of hearing aids, and hearing dysfunction research.
The relevance of the problem of a sensorineural hearing loss (ASNL) arises from the necessity of the special approaches to the diagnostics of this condition, the complications accompanying this pathology, and the difficulties encountered in the implementation of the methods designed for hearing rehabilitation of such patients. The objective of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of ASHL among the adult population. The sensorineural impairment of hearing was diagnosed in a total of 2456 (72%) examined patients presenting with hearing loss. To determine the presence of asymmetry of sensorineural hearing loss, we employed three counting techniques allowing (1) to calculate the difference between the average hearing thresholds at four frequencies within the range from 0.5 to 4 kHz (the difference was found to be 15 dB or more in 17% of the patients), (2) to calculate the difference between the degrees of hearing loss in the right and left ears (the difference was documented in 47% of the patients), (3) to calculate the difference between the hearing thresholds at least at a single frequency within the range from 0.125 to 8 kHz (he difference was found to be 15 dB or more in 71% of the patients). When using the third method to characterize asymmetry of hearing impairment, it was identified in most patients (53%) at one or two frequencies. Moreover, there was a large number of the patients (13%) with asymmetry apparent over the entire frequency range. A high degree of threshold asymmetry (in excess of 40 dB) was more often noted in the mid-frequency range. In the majority of the patients, the asymmetry manifested itself as the different degree of bilateral sensorineural hearing impairment (51%) or unilateral sensorineural hearing loss with the normal hearing ability preserved in the contralateral ear (35%). The results of the present study give evidence of the necessity of developing a reliable method for the identification of clinically significant ACNL.
Goals of the study were investigation the perception of vibro-acoustic signals, spreading in water, by deaf patients and the possibility of use hydrovibrotactile stimulation for habilitation of deaf children. In the first part of study 5 experienced cochlear implants (CI) users were involved – 2 adults and 3 children with congenital deafness. Participants were presented modulated tones (100-4000 Hz) and natural sounds (horn, pipe, march melody) though underwater loudspeakers in small swimming pool. Each participant was sitting in the swimming pool without CI during the stimulation. It was shown that deaf subjects are able to detect vibro-acoustic signals, spreading in water, which they feel as a vibrotactile sense. The most vibrotactile sensitivity was between 100 and 400 Hz, while stimuli between 1000 Hz and 4000 Hz didn’t evoke any sensation. In the second part of the study 30 early aged children with severe or profound sensorineural hearing loss without hearing aids or CI experience were participated. It was observed typical oriented behavioral reactions in response to test stimuli in water in 15 children from the experimental group, but there weren’t reactions to the acoustic component of stimuli on air (out of water). Hydrovibrotactile stimulation sessions prior amplification and CI processor fitting accelerated the development of oriented and stable condition motor reflex reactions to sounds in children with hearing aids and CI, including even near-threshold stimuli, in comparison with control group children, who got only traditional lessons with speech-language therapist. As a result, an adequate fitting of hearing aids or CI processor and spontaneous development of hearing behavior in everyday situations were achieved significantly faster.
Abstract
The aim of the study was to develop an algorithm for the interaction between an audiologist and speech-language therapist in initial amplification for hearing impaired children.
Methods. 219 children aged 2 months to 16 years with hearing impairments were divided into 2 groups. The experimental group consisted of children who got a special course of medical, psychological and pedagogical rehabilitation at the stage of initial fitting, based on the new algorithm of interdisciplinary interaction between an audiologist and a speech-language therapist. The control group included children with traditional procedure of hearing aids fitting, in which the audiologist didnt interact with the speech therapist.
Results. An algorithm for the interaction of an audiologist and speech-language therapist included 3 stages of hearing aids fitting (preparation, initial fitting, adaptation and fine tuning of hearing aids), the tasks of each specialist at these stages were identified, including the parents involvement in the process of fitting, a development of the protocol for the exchange of information between specialists. The algorithm was implemented in a special course of medical-psychological-pedagogical rehabilitation in the Center of Pediatric Audiology. It was found that in 1 month after the primary fitting among children who underwent this course, significantly more children used hearing aids for more than 8 hours a day and reached the integral criterion of effective hearing aids fitting compared with the control group. These children also took less time to adjust their hearing aid settings during repeated fitting sessions.
Conclusion. A structured interdisciplinary interaction between an audiologist and speech-language therapist at the stage of initial amplification significantly increases the effectiveness of medical technology for restoring hearing function in children.
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