Understanding Self-reported Hearing Disability in Adults With Normal Hearing

Kamerer, Aryn M.; Harris, Sara; Kopun, Judy G.; Neely, Stephen T.; Rasetshwane, Daniel M.

doi:10.1097/aud.0000000000001161

Cited by 17 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…However, these effects did not survive correction for multiple comparisons. This trend of poorer self-reported hearing function among workers is similar to that reported by Kamerer et al (2022) , who found that greater history of impulsive noise exposure (e.g., explosion or firearm) significantly predicted lower SSQ12 scores in audiometrically normal adults ( n = 111) aged 19–74 years. Similarly, Worede et al (2022) who surveyed a group of metal and wood Ethiopian workers with exposure to unsafe levels of occupational noise found that about 20.7% of these workers believe they may have a hearing impairment.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Noise Exposure in Palestinian Workers Without a Diagnosis of Hearing Impairment: Relations to Speech-Perception-in-Noise Difficulties, Tinnitus, and Hyperacusis

Shehabi

Prendergast

Guest

et al. 2023

J Speech Lang Hear Res

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Purpose: Many workers in developing countries are exposed to unsafe occupational noise due to inadequate health and safety practices. We tested the hypotheses that occupational noise exposure and aging affect speech-perception-in-noise (SPiN) thresholds, self-reported hearing ability, tinnitus presence, and hyperacusis severity among Palestinian workers. Method: Palestinian workers ( N = 251, aged 18–70 years) without diagnosed hearing or memory impairments completed online instruments including a noise exposure questionnaire; forward and backward digit span tests; hyperacusis questionnaire; the short-form Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ12); the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory; and a digits-in-noise (DIN) test. Hypotheses were tested via multiple linear and logistic regression models, including age and occupational noise exposure as predictors, and with sex, recreational noise exposure, cognitive ability, and academic attainment as covariates. Familywise error rate was controlled across all 16 comparisons using the Bonferroni–Holm method. Exploratory analyses evaluated effects on tinnitus handicap. A comprehensive study protocol was preregistered. Results: Nonsignificant trends of poorer SPiN performance, poorer self-reported hearing ability, greater prevalence of tinnitus, greater tinnitus handicap, and greater severity of hyperacusis as a function of higher occupational noise exposure were observed. Greater hyperacusis severity was significantly predicted by higher occupational noise exposure. Aging was significantly associated with higher DIN thresholds and lower SSQ12 scores, but not with tinnitus presence, tinnitus handicap, or hyperacusis severity. Conclusions: Workers in Palestine may suffer from auditory effects of occupational noise and aging despite no formal diagnosis. These findings highlight the importance of occupational noise monitoring and hearing-related health and safety practices in developing countries. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.22056701

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Noise Exposure in Palestinian Workers Without a Diagnosis of Hearing Impairment: Relations to Speech-Perception-in-Noise Difficulties, Tinnitus, and Hyperacusis

Shehabi

Prendergast

Guest

et al. 2023

J Speech Lang Hear Res

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“…For example, individuals with a normal HFPTA may still have some degree of hearing loss, particularly above 4 kHz. Notably, reduced hearing in the ultra-high frequencies (thresholds 8 kHz or higher) has been related to worse speech-in-noise abilities ( Hunter et al 2020 ; Polspoel et al 2022 ), and lower scores on the SSQ12 ( Kamerer et al 2022 ). On a closely related note, individuals who have normal hearing, but have a history of noise exposure were also more likely to report lower SSQ12 values ( Kamerer et al 2022 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Notably, reduced hearing in the ultra-high frequencies (thresholds 8 kHz or higher) has been related to worse speech-in-noise abilities ( Hunter et al 2020 ; Polspoel et al 2022 ), and lower scores on the SSQ12 ( Kamerer et al 2022 ). On a closely related note, individuals who have normal hearing, but have a history of noise exposure were also more likely to report lower SSQ12 values ( Kamerer et al 2022 ). Taken together, these data are consistent with the idea that a normal HFPTA may not indicate completely normal hearing, particularly above 8 kHz, and that hearing loss in those regions can be associated with poorer speech-in-noise abilities and SSQ12-Speech5 scores.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Speech-in-Noise Assessment in the Routine Audiologic Test Battery: Relationship to Perceived Auditory Disability

Fitzgerald,

Ward,

Gianakas

et al. 2024

Ear &Amp; Hearing

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Objectives: Self-assessment of perceived communication difficulty has been used in clinical and research practices for decades. Such questionnaires routinely assess the perceived ability of an individual to understand speech, particularly in background noise. Despite the emphasis on perceived performance in noise, speech recognition in routine audiologic practice is measured by word recognition in quiet (WRQ). Moreover, surprisingly little data exist that compare speech understanding in noise (SIN) abilities to perceived communication difficulty. Here, we address these issues by examining audiometric thresholds, WRQ scores, QuickSIN signal to noise ratio (SNR) loss, and perceived auditory disability as measured by the five questions on the Speech Spatial Questionnaire-12 (SSQ12) devoted to speech understanding (SSQ12-Speech5). Design: We examined data from 1633 patients who underwent audiometric assessment at the Stanford Ear Institute. All individuals completed the SSQ12 questionnaire, pure-tone audiometry, and speech assessment consisting of ear-specific WRQ, and ear-specific QuickSIN. Only individuals with hearing threshold asymmetries ≤10 dB HL in their high-frequency pure-tone average (HFPTA) were included. Our primary objectives were to (1) examine the relationship between audiometric variables and the SSQ12-Speech5 scores, (2) determine the amount of variance in the SSQ12-Speech5 scores which could be predicted from audiometric variables, and (3) predict which patients were likely to report greater perceived auditory disability according to the SSQ12-Speech5. Results: Performance on the SSQ12-Speech5 indicated greater perceived auditory disability with more severe degrees of hearing loss and greater QuickSIN SNR loss. Degree of hearing loss and QuickSIN SNR loss were found to account for modest but significant variance in SSQ12-Speech5 scores after accounting for age. In contrast, WRQ scores did not significantly contribute to the predictive power of the model. Degree of hearing loss and QuickSIN SNR loss were also found to have moderate diagnostic accuracy for determining which patients were likely to report SSQ12-Speech5 scores indicating greater perceived auditory disability. Conclusions: Taken together, these data indicate that audiometric factors including degree of hearing loss (i.e., HFPTA) and QuickSIN SNR loss are predictive of SSQ12-Speech5 scores, though notable variance remains unaccounted for after considering these factors. HFPTA and QuickSIN SNR loss—but not WRQ scores—accounted for a significant amount of variance in SSQ12-Speech5 scores and were largely effective at predicting which patients are likely to report greater perceived auditory disability on the SSQ12-Speech5. This provides further evidence for the notion that speech-in-noise measures have greater clinical utility than WRQ in most instances as they relate more closely to measures of perceived auditory disability.

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“…In a study with very detailed characterization of hearing, 20.2% of the subjects with selfreported hearing loss did not even meet the definition of mild hearing loss in the pure-tone audiogram while 6.2% of the individuals reporting no hearing problem did have at least mild hearing loss in audiometry (Gates et al 1990). It seems, however, possible that self-reported hearing loss is sensitive for hearing impairment that does not yet yield pathological results in pure-tone audiometry or other diagnostic tests (Kamerer et al 2022). This suggests that self-reported hearing represents a different spectrum of auditory function and potentially central processing in contrast to pure-tone audiometry.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and risk factors of self-reported hearing and balance dysfunction in a population-based sample from rural northeastern Germany

Ihler,

Brzoska,

Altindal

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Objectives. The senses of hearing and balance are linked by a close anatomical and physiological relationship. A further pathophysiological interaction is supposed but the detailed mechanism and direction remains elusive. Further insight is required into the prevalence of the audiovestibular symptoms hearing loss, tinnitus and dizziness as only scarce information on the combined occurrence is available so far. Therefore, this was assessed in a population-based sample. Based on this, we studied the influence of risk factors from lifestyle habits as well as cardiovascular and metabolic conditions on the development of audiovestibular symptoms alone and in combination. Design. This analysis evaluated the prevalence of self-reported hearing loss, tinnitus and dizziness in two separate population-based samples from West Pomerania, a rural region of north-eastern Germany. Datasets from 8134 individuals aged 20 to 79 years were available from the baseline investigations of the cohorts START and TREND of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP). Audiovestibular symptoms were assessed by structured questionnaires. The cohorts were comprehensively characterized regarding modifiable lifestyle factors as well as cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, allowing the assessment of the role of those influencing factors. Results. Audiovestibular symptoms were prevalent and overlapping in the investigated population. 2350 individuals (28.9%) reported at least one, 648 (8.1%) two and 111 (1.4%) all three audiovestibular symptoms. Thereby, we observed a weighted prevalence of 14.2% for hearing loss, 9.7% for tinnitus and 13.5% for dizziness in the population. The prevalences increased with age and differed among the sexes. The prevalence of hearing loss as well as tinnitus increased between the two cohorts. A moderate positive correlation was found between hearing loss and tinnitus (phi-coefficient 0.318). In multivariable regression analyses, only smoking was significantly associated with all three symptoms. Less education and several cardiovascular risk factors contributed to both hearing loss and dizziness. Conclusions. Audiovestibular symptoms are highly prevalent in the general population and the occurrence overlaps. A considerable but complex influence of risk factors points towards a relation with neuronal as well as cardiovascular disease processes. Future studies should identify subgroups that are particularly at risk. Additionally, to clarify the underlying mechanisms the interaction between the senses of hearing and balance as well as the mode of action of the risk factors should be evaluated in more detail in the future.

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Understanding Self-reported Hearing Disability in Adults With Normal Hearing

Cited by 17 publications

References 66 publications

Noise Exposure in Palestinian Workers Without a Diagnosis of Hearing Impairment: Relations to Speech-Perception-in-Noise Difficulties, Tinnitus, and Hyperacusis

Noise Exposure in Palestinian Workers Without a Diagnosis of Hearing Impairment: Relations to Speech-Perception-in-Noise Difficulties, Tinnitus, and Hyperacusis

Speech-in-Noise Assessment in the Routine Audiologic Test Battery: Relationship to Perceived Auditory Disability

Prevalence and risk factors of self-reported hearing and balance dysfunction in a population-based sample from rural northeastern Germany

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