Publications by authors named "George Saly"

Objectives: Confidence levels were established to determine if a word-recognition score is within the expected range for a hearing loss group (based on 3-frequency pure-tone average) or significantly below or above the expected range.

Design: Two large clinical databases were mined to produce data-sets composed of word-recognition scores obtained with Q/MASS NU-6 materials and VA NU-6 materials for patients with average hearing losses ranging from 0 to 70 dB HL. Percentiles representing scores that are below (2.

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Background: There is an increasing need to administer hearing tests outside of sound-attenuating rooms. Maximum permissible ambient noise levels (MPANLs) from published in standards (Occupational Health and Safety Administration [OSHA] 1983; American National Standards Institute [ANSI] S3.1-1999 (R2018)) can be modified to account for the additional attenuation provided by circumaural earphones (relative to supra-aural earphones) that are used for pure-tone audiometry.

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Article Synopsis
  • A method was developed to test how well people can process distorted speech-like sounds, using monosyllabic words that were reversed and altered while matching in sound levels.
  • Three groups were involved in the study: normal-hearing individuals, seniors, and those with hearing loss, with results showing that seniors and those with hearing loss performed worse on the tasks than normal-hearing participants.
  • The findings suggest that age and hearing loss affect auditory discrimination, possibly indicating "hidden hearing loss" in seniors, and highlight the potential of distorted speech tasks as a language-independent measure of auditory processing.
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Purpose: This project was undertaken to develop automated tests of speech recognition, including speech-recognition threshold (SRT) and word-recognition test, using forced-choice responses and computerized scoring of responses. Specific aims were (1) to develop an automated method for measuring SRT for spondaic words that produces scores that are in close agreement with average pure-tone thresholds and (2) to develop an automated test of word recognition that distinguishes listeners with normal hearing from those with sensorineural hearing loss and which informs the hearing aid evaluation process.

Method: An automated SRT protocol was designed to converge on the lowest level at which the listener responds correctly to two out of two spondees presented monaurally.

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Background: The study examined follow-up rates for pursuing hearing health care (HHC) 6 to 8 months after participants self-administered one of three hearing screening methods: an automated method for testing of auditory sensitivity (AMTAS), a four-frequency pure-tone screener (FFS), or a digits-in-noise test (DIN), with and without the presentation of a 2-minute educational video about hearing.

Purpose: The study aims to determine if the type of self-administered hearing screening method (with or without an educational video) affects HHC follow-up rates.

Research Design: The study is a randomized controlled trial of three automated hearing screening methods, plus control group, with and without an educational video.

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Background: The Home Hearing Test (HHT) is an automated pure-tone threshold test that obtains an air conduction audiogram at five test frequencies. It was developed to provide increased access to hearing testing and support home telehealth programs.

Purpose: Test and retest thresholds for 1000-Hz stimuli were analyzed to determine intrasubject variability from two independent data sets.

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Background: The Home Hearing Test™ (HHT) is an automated pure-tone threshold test that obtains an air-conduction audiogram at five test frequencies. It was developed to provide increased access to hearing testing and support home telehealth programs.

Purpose: The study was conducted as part of an audiology telehealth trial based at the U.

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Objectives: Five databases were mined to examine distributions of air-bone gaps obtained by automated and manual audiometry. Differences in distribution characteristics were examined for evidence of influences unrelated to the audibility of test signals.

Design: The databases provided air- and bone-conduction thresholds that permitted examination of air-bone gap distributions that were free of ceiling and floor effects.

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Objective: This study examined the statistical properties of normal air-conduction thresholds obtained with automated and manual audiometry to test the hypothesis that thresholds are normally distributed and to examine the distributions for evidence of bias in manual testing.

Design: Four databases were mined for normal thresholds. One contained audiograms obtained with an automated method.

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Objectives: This study was designed to characterize a large database of audiometric records from an academic health center Audiology clinic for the purpose of determining the distributions of hearing loss configuration, severity, and site of lesion.

Design: : Using AMCLASS, a validated tool for classifying audiograms described in a previous report, the audiometric configuration, severity, and site of lesion was determined for patients grouped according to the completeness of the audiometric record. Complete air conduction testing at six octave frequencies in both ears was required for inclusion.

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Hypothesis: An algorithm for identifying asymmetric hearing loss (AHL) can be constructed that performs as well or better than expert judges.

Background: AMCLASS is a method for classifying audiograms based on configuration, severity, site of lesion, and interaural asymmetry. The development and clinician validation for all but asymmetry were reported separately.

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Hearing losses are frequently described by categories that characterize the configuration, severity, and site of lesion from a pure-tone audiogram. Although many category descriptors are in common use, there are no standard definitions of those terms, nor have the category definitions been validated against current clinical practice. The development and validation of AMCLASStrade mark is described.

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As audiology strives for cost containment, standardization, accuracy of tests, and accountability, greater use of automated tests is likely. Highly skilled audiologists employ quality control factors that contribute to test accuracy, but they are not formally included in test protocols, resulting in a wide range of accuracy, owing to the various skill and experience levels of clinicians. A method that incorporates validated quality indicators may increase accuracy and enhance access to accurate hearing tests.

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