AuD-degree holders in tenure-track positions: survey of program chairpersons and AuD-degree holders.

Background: The doctor of audiology (AuD) degree is now the entry-level degree for the profession of audiology. Typically, AuD programs train professionals for clinical careers, while those offering PhDs educate students for university teaching and research positions. Some in the communication sciences and disorders have predicted that there could be a shortage of PhDs in academic institutions over the next decade as senior faculty members with PhDs retire, AuD programs expand, and likely fewer students complete PhD degrees or elect to pursue careers in academia.

Efficacy of the U.S. Army policy on hearing conservation programs.

Changes in U.S. Army hearing conservation policy require that many previous non-noise hazardous areas be reclassified as noise hazardous and that employees in these areas be included in hearing conservation programs.

The effect of clinical experience on cue trading for the /r-w/ contrast.

Although the ability of clinicians to perceptually process speech sound productions is a key ingredient in the evaluation and remediation of articulatory disorders, very little attention has been given to this important skill. This study explored the potential of a perceptual task, known as cue trading, to assess perceptual skill among students with varying clinical experience. A cue-trading paradigm for the /r-w/ contrast was used in which a temporal-spectral cue on F2 was balanced against a spectral cue on F3.

Speech perception abilities of adult and pediatric Nucleus implant recipients using the Spectral Peak (SPEAK) coding strategy.

A series of 73 postlinguistically deafened adults and 34 prelinguistically deafened children were evaluated with the Spectral Peak (SPEAK) coding strategy of the Nucleus 22-channel cochlear implant. The adults who received consecutive implants demonstrated rapid acquisition of open-set speech recognition skills in the initial postoperative period. Group mean sentence recognition improved to 53.

Analysis of the efficiency of retrocochlear screening.

The auditory brainstem response (ABR), as well as associated audiologic and radiographic studies of 175 patients suspected of having cerebellopontine angle tumors were reviewed. The majority of patients presented with asymmetric hearing loss. Eight acoustic neuromas were identified.

Repair of mandibular fractures: plating vs. traditional techniques.

The treatment of mandibular fractures is a challenge for the otorhinolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon. Recent technologic advances have resulted in the development of rigid fixation techniques that hold promise for the early and optimal restoration of mandibular structure and function. The purpose of this article is to review the dental and orthopedic principles used in our mandibular fracture management, describe compression plating methodology, and discuss optimal techniques for its use.

Stimulus repetition rate effect on the auditory brainstem response in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Neuropsychiatric involvement is common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but, in early half of cases, indications are not present on examination. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) measures using differential stimulus repetition rates have been reported as sensitive indicators of subclinical central nervous system (CNS) disorders associated with SLE. In the present study, ABRs were measured in a group of normal-hearing subjects with SLE, as well as in a group of subject controls.

Insert earphones for audiometry: applications, advantages, and limitations.

The measurement of hearing sensitivity during audiometry requires precise presentation of auditory stimuli. In most cases, these stimuli are introduced to the listener via standard earphones. Technical problems associated with these earphones have troubled clinicians for years.

Clinical applicability of insert earphones for audiometry.

Insert transducers for audiometry are available which may offer significant advantages over older 'standard' headphones. Clinicians have remained cautious in using such devices due to the paucity of experimental data demonstrating their comparability with more widely used devices. The purpose of this investigation was to compare and contrast pure-tone audiometric thresholds obtained using insert earphones with those measured utilizing conventional supra-aural transducers in normal and hearing-impaired subjects.

Electromyographic biofeedback for treatment of tinnitus.

Electromyographic (EMG) feedback procedures were utilized in treating two adult patients with idiopathic subjective tinnitus. The relationship between behavioral severity ratings of tinnitus and EMG activity at the frontalis muscle was investigated using a single-subject, double-reversal experimental design. Biofeedback procedures were effective in modifying EMG activity levels, but changes in EMG levels were not related systematically to behavioral ratings of tinnitus.

Modeling HTL of industrial workers using multiple regression and path analytic techniques.

This study compared path analytic with multiple regression analyses of hearing threshold levels (HTLs) on 258 adult textile workers evenly divided into low- and high-noise exposure groups. Demographic variables common in HTL studies were examined, with the addition of iris color, as well as selected two-way interactions. Variables of interest were similarly distributed in both groups.

Electromyographic feedback treatment for tinnitus aurium.

The relationship between behavioral severity ratings of tinnitus and electromyographic (EMG) activity recorded at the frontalis muscle was investigated in a single adult female. A within-subject, double reversal experimental design was utilized. Although auditory biofeedback procedures were effective in decreasing and increasing EMG activity at frontalis muscle sites, changes in EMG levels were not systematically related to behavioral severity ratings of either tinnitus or annoyance.

Heart rate response audiometry: bases, clinical techniques, and limitations.

Although a great deal of information is available concerning cardiovascular responsitivity to sensory stimuli, little is known regarding the pragmatic application of cardiac response measures to the problems of audiological assessment. Some relationships between arousal systems and cardiovascular function have begun to emerge, and the assessment of communicative behavior using HR response measures has become a more realistic goal, but the clinician who desires to utilize these techniques for audiological evaluation faces serious difficulties until further basic research has been conducted. Eisenberg (9) observed that instrumentation for measuring HR changes to auditory stimuli was research oriented and that measurement of HR data, although holding promise for the future, could not be realistically viewed as a clinical tool for audiological evaluation.

Custom-molded earplug performance: a retrospective study.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of custom-molded earplugs in preventing hearing threshold shifts over a long period of time. A stepwise regression analysis was employed to accomodate job related variables including workplace noise level, demographic elements including age, and factors related to hearing including ear history. These variables would be expected to exert considerable influence on hearing threshold shifts.

Insert hearing protector effects.

The purposes of this investigation were two-fold: (1) to determine whether differences between measured ear canal diameter and actual earplug size affect sound pressure levels in the ear canal during exposure to high levels of noise; and (2) to determine if individuals would select the insert earplugs that conform to their measured ear canal diameter if the decision were left to them. The results indicate that: (1) very small differences between measured ear canal diameter and actual earplug size affect considerably the sound pressure levels in the ear canal during exposure to high levels of noise; (2) individuals typically select earplugs that are smaller than their measured ear canal dimensions when the decision is left to them; (3) the most skilled technician cannot always determine ear canal sizes due to limitations of available measuring instruments.

The cardiac component of the orienting response: effects of signal intensity, clinical interpretation, and procedural limitations.

The effects of stimulus intensity on the cardiac component of the orienting response were explored in male and female subjects. The acoustic stimuli were 10 recorded repetitions of an identical consonant vowel cluster spoken by an adult male. Heart rate data were obtained for both subject groups at three sensation levels across the baseline heart rate and at 10 stimulus presentation trials.

The acoustic reflex and loudness recruitment.

Loudness balance and acoustic reflex tests were conducted on 11 hearing impaired patients. At all frequencies tested, equal loudness judgments made by each patient occurred at acoustic reflex threshold levels in each ear. Test results were classified into three general patterns and a Difference Ratio Quotient (DRQ) expressed the relationship between binaural acoustic reflex and pure tone thresholds.

Acupuncture and sensorineural hearing loss: a review.

The use of acupuncture for treatment of sensorineural hearing impairment is a controversial subject among physicians and audiologists. Until recently, sufficient experimental data were not available to guide those who manage hearing-impaired children and adults. The purpose of this paper is to review current research evidence regarding the use of acupuncture technics for treating sensorineural hearing loss.

Noise-excluding enclosure for audiometry.

Excessive ambient noise adversely effects the efficiency of hearing conservation programs. Noise-excluding enclosures generally reduce the masking effects of such noise more effectively than standard earphones only. Research has shown, however, that pure-tone thresholds obtained with some enclosures may not be valid.