Effects of Adding Monaural and Binaural Noise to a Dichotic Listening Task.

Background:  The Dichotic Digits Test (DDT) evaluates central auditory nervous system (CANS) dysfunction. The DDT is widely used in audiology clinics worldwide, because it is clinically efficient and has good sensitivity and specificity for CANS lesions. However, the DDT shows a strong ceiling effect, which can mitigate its ability to detect subtle CANS dysfunction.

Neuroaudiological Considerations for the Auditory Brainstem Response and Middle Latency Response Revisited: Back to the Future.

The auditory brainstem response (ABR) and middle latency response (MLR) are two sets of evoked potentials that have made major contributions to the field of diagnostic audiology. Many of these contributions were guided by clinical research audiologists. Though many of these auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) are still being used diagnostically by audiologists, there has been a steep decline in their popularity both clinically and in the research laboratory.

Evidence of Validity and Normative Values of a New Auditory Backward Masking Test.

There are still no valid, clinically feasible instruments to assess backward masking (BM), an auditory temporal processing (ATP) phenomenon. The aim of this study was to develop, standardize and present evidence of validity for a behavioral test for BM assessment. Young adults were submitted to a BM test (BMT), where they were asked to identify a 1000 Hz pure tone followed by a narrowband noise with interstimulus intervals of 0 to 400 ms and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) between -20 and -30 dB.

The Onset-Offset N1-P2 Cortical Auditory Evoked Response in Individuals With High-Frequency Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Responses to High- and Low-Frequency Narrowband Noise.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether onset-offset N1-P2 auditory evoked responses differ in amplitude, latency, and offset-to-onset trough-to-peak N1-P2 amplitude ratios (OOAR) between normal hearing (NH) sensitivity and moderate high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (HFSNHL) groups when stimuli target regions of peripheral hearing sensitivity where the groups are in the normal range (i.e., 500 Hz) versus where they differ regarding presence of hearing loss (i.

Investigating the Role of Auditory Processing Abilities in Long-Term Self-Reported Hearing Aid Outcomes among Adults Age 60+ Years.

Background: Self-reported hearing aid outcomes among older adults are variable and important to improve. The extent of the role of auditory processing in long-term hearing aid outcomes is not well understood.

Purpose: To determine how auditory processing abilities are related to self-reported hearing aid satisfaction and benefit along with either aided audibility alone or exploratory factors suggested by previous literature.

Knowledge gaps for functional outcomes after multilobar resective and disconnective pediatric epilepsy surgery: Conference Proceedings of the Patient-Centered Stakeholder Meeting 2019.

For children with medication-resistant epilepsy who undergo multilobar or hemispheric surgery, the goal of achieving seizure freedom is met with a variety of potential functional consequences, both favorable and unfavorable. However, there is a paucity of literature that comprehensively addresses the cognitive, medical, behavioral, orthopedic, and sensory outcomes across the lifespan following large epilepsy surgeries in childhood, leaving all stakeholders underinformed with regard to counseling and expectations. Through collaboration between clinicians, researchers, and patient/caregiver stakeholders, the "Functional Impacts of Large Resective or Disconnective Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery: Identifying Gaps and Setting PCOR Priorities" meeting was convened on July 18, 2019, to identify gaps in knowledge and inform various patient-centered research initiatives.

Auditory Hallucinations: An Audiological Horizon?

Background: Interesting data and theories have emerged regarding auditory hallucinations (AHs) in patients with schizophrenia. The possibility that these patients may have changes in the anatomy of the auditory cortex and/or subcortical structures of the central auditory nervous system and present with deficits on audiological tests is important information to the audiology community. However, it seems clear that, in general, audiologists are not sufficiently aware of these findings.

The Onset-Offset N1-P2 Auditory Evoked Response in Individuals With High-Frequency Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Responses to Broadband Noise.

Purpose Clinical use of electrophysiologic measures has been limited to use of brief stimuli to evoke responses. While brief stimuli elicit onset responses in individuals with normal hearing and normal central auditory nervous system (CANS) function, responses represent the integrity of a fraction of the mainly excitatory central auditory neurons. Longer stimuli could provide information regarding excitatory and inhibitory CANS function.

Predicting Hearing Aid Satisfaction in Adults: A Systematic Review of Speech-in-noise Tests and Other Behavioral Measures.

Objectives: Adults with hearing loss report a wide range of hearing aid satisfaction that does not significantly correlate to degree of hearing loss. It is not clear which auditory behavioral factors do contribute to hearing aid satisfaction. While poor speech understanding in noise is known to contribute to dissatisfaction, there are many categories of this type of assessment.

Behavioral and Hemodynamic Changes Following Dichotic Training in Patients with Neurological Deficits of the Auditory Nervous System: A Case Series.

Background: Dichotic listening occurs when one attends to different acoustical messages presented simultaneously to both ears. This is important for understanding speech in compromised listening situations, such as background noise. Deficits in dichotic listening can be remediated by participating in auditory training.

Clinical Expertise Is Core to an Evidence-Based Approach to Auditory Processing Disorder: A Reply to Neijenhuis et al. 2019.

The opinion article "An Evidence-based Perspective on Misconceptions Regarding Pediatric Auditory Processing Disorder" by Neijenhuis et al. (1) presents a distorted view of the evidence-based approach used in medicine. The authors focus on the amorphous non-diagnostic entity "listening difficulties" not auditory processing disorder (APD) and create confusion that could jeopardize clinical services to individuals with APD.

Evidence for a dynorphin-mediated inner ear immune/inflammatory response and glutamate-induced neural excitotoxicity: an updated analysis.

Acoustic overstimulation (AOS) is defined as the stressful overexposure to high-intensity sounds. AOS is a precipitating factor that leads to a glutamate (GLU)-induced Type I auditory neural excitotoxicity and an activation of an immune/inflammatory/oxidative stress response within the inner ear, often resulting in cochlear hearing loss. The dendrites of the Type I auditory neural neurons that innervate the inner hair cells (IHCs), and respond to the IHC release of the excitatory neurotransmitter GLU, are themselves directly innervated by the dynorphin (DYN)-bearing axon terminals of the descending brain stem lateral olivocochlear (LOC) system.

GIN Test: A Meta-Analysis on Its Neurodiagnostic Value.

Purpose: A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate how effective the Gaps-in-Noise (GIN) test is in separating populations who are and who are not at risk of having neurological damage related to the central auditory nervous system (CANS). This was investigated by asking three specific questions: (1) Does ear and side of lesion have an effect over the individual's performance? (2) How large is the difference in performance between control and neurological groups? (3) What are the diagnostic indices related to the GIN test?

Data Collection And Analysis: A literature review was performed between April 2016 and April 2017. The eligibility criteria for inclusion were as follows: (1) studies that used the GIN test as an outcome measure, (2) studies that included adult participants who either had confirmed lesions or were at risk of having lesions to the CANS or related regions, and (3) studies that had a neurologically normal control group.

Central deafness: a review of past and current perspectives.

The purpose of this review was to describe and differentiate clinical syndromes caused by lesions of the central auditory nervous system (CANS). Relevant literature was identified through Pubmed and Google Scholar searches using the key terms: central deafness, auditory agnosia, word deafness and cortical deafness. Given the authors' intent to review past and current perspectives on central deafness, no publication date range was imposed.

Enhancement of the Auditory Late Response (N1-P2) by Presentation of Stimuli From an Unexpected Location.

Background: Passive electrophysiological protocols, such as the middle latency response and speech auditory brainstem response, are often advocated in the objective assessment of central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). However, few established electrophysiological protocols exist for CAPD assessment that have patients participate in active tasks which more closely approximate real-world listening. To this end, the present study used a discrimination task (i.

The Middle Latency Response: A Review of Findings in Various Central Nervous System Lesions.

Background: The middle latency response (MLR) first came to light as an auditory evoked potential in 1958. Since then, it has aroused substantial interest and investigation by clinicians and researchers alike. In recent history, its use and popularity have dwindled in tandem with various other auditory evoked potentials in audiology.

The Relationship between Central Auditory Processing, Language, and Cognition in Children Being Evaluated for Central Auditory Processing Disorder.

Background: Pediatric central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) is frequently comorbid with other childhood disorders. However, few studies have examined the relationship between commonly used CAPD, language, and cognition tests within the same sample.

Purpose: The present study examined the relationship between diagnostic CAPD tests and "gold standard" measures of language and cognitive ability, the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC).

Perspectives on the Pure-Tone Audiogram.

Background: The pure-tone audiogram, though fundamental to audiology, presents limitations, especially in the case of central auditory involvement. Advances in auditory neuroscience underscore the considerably larger role of the central auditory nervous system (CANS) in hearing and related disorders. Given the availability of behavioral audiological tests and electrophysiological procedures that can provide better insights as to the function of the various components of the auditory system, this perspective piece reviews the limitations of the pure-tone audiogram and notes some of the advantages of other tests and procedures used in tandem with the pure-tone threshold measurement.

Practical guidelines to minimise language and cognitive confounds in the diagnosis of CAPD: a brief tutorial.

Objective: To provide audiologists with strategies to minimise confounding cognitive and language processing variables and accurately diagnose central auditory processing disorder (CAPD).

Design: Tutorial.

Study Sample: None.

Auditory Training for Central Auditory Processing Disorder.

Auditory training (AT) is an important component of rehabilitation for patients with central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). The present article identifies and describes aspects of AT as they relate to applications in this population. A description of the types of auditory processes along with information on relevant AT protocols that can be used to address these specific deficits is included.

Auditory Impairments in HIV-Infected Children.

Objectives: In a cross-sectional study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults, the authors showed lower distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) in HIV+ individuals compared with controls as well as findings consistent with a central auditory processing deficit in HIV+ adults on antiretroviral therapy. The authors hypothesized that HIV+ children would also have a higher prevalence of abnormal central and peripheral hearing test results compared with HIV- controls.

Design: Pure-tone thresholds, DPOAEs, and tympanometry were performed on 244 subjects (131 HIV+ and 113 HIV- subjects).

Characteristics of Pediatric Performance on a Test Battery Commonly Used in the Diagnosis of Central Auditory Processing Disorder.

Background: Although central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) test battery performance has been examined in adults with neurologic lesions of the central auditory nervous system (CANS), similar data on children being referred for CAPD evaluations are sparse.

Purpose: This study characterizes CAPD test battery performance in children using tests commonly administered to diagnose the disorder. Specifically, this study describes failure rates for various test combinations, relationships between CAPD tests used in the battery, and the influence of cognitive function on CAPD test performance and CAPD diagnosis.

Psychophysical and behavioral peripheral and central auditory tests.

Diagnostic batteries to assess the integrity of the central auditory nervous system (CANS) include behavioral (i.e., psychophysical) tests, electrophysiologic procedures, and to some degree, electroacoustic procedures.