Application scenarios for a mobile hearing aid demonstrator with headphone form factor.

Objective: To describe application scenarios of a mobile device that provides a practical means for showcasing potential hearing aid benefits.

Design: A prototype of a hearing aid demonstrator based on circumaural headphones and a mobile signal processing platform was developed, providing core functions of a hearing aid, including several gain presets, in a hygienic, robust, and easy-to-use form factor. Speech intelligibility outcomes with the demonstrator and broadband level adaptations as potential fitting references were compared to outcomes with the own hearing aids of hearing-impaired participants.

Evaluation of a research hearing aid for audiological testing.

Objective: Open-source hearing aid (HA) research tools provide avenues for testing new audiological concepts. This study compared a wearable research HA (RHA) - the "Portable Hearing Laboratory" - to a high-end commercial HA (CHA) in terms of aided outcome. Using this RHA, it also evaluated a fitting approach based on non-individualised gain presets.

Reference Speech-recognition curves for a German monosyllabic test in noise: effects of loudspeaker configuration and room acoustics.

Objective: Measurement of reference speech-recognition curves for a specific speech test in typical clinical testing environments and for different loudspeaker configurations.

Design: Speech-recognition scores were measured at four signal-to-noise ratios for five loudspeaker configurations in two anechoic rooms, and in four audiometric test rooms with low reverberation times.

Study Sample: 240 young participants (aged 18-25 years) without hearing impairment participated in the measurements.

(Why) Do Transparent Hearing Devices Impair Speech Perception in Collocated Noise?

Hearing aids and other hearing devices should provide the user with a benefit, for example, compensate for effects of a hearing loss or cancel undesired sounds. However, wearing hearing devices can also have negative effects on perception, previously demonstrated mostly for spatial hearing, sound quality and the perception of the own voice. When hearing devices are set to transparency, that is, provide no gain and resemble open-ear listening as well as possible, these side effects can be studied in isolation.

[(Air-conduction) Hearing aids-indication, designs and applications : Signal processing and importance of individual fitting].

Many people in Germany and worldwide suffer from a reduced communication ability due to impaired hearing. Especially older people are affected. Hearing aids, which pick up ambient sounds, process them, and output airborne sound in the ear canal, can help in most cases.

Occlusion and coupling effects with different earmold designs - all a matter of opening the ear canal?

Objective: Ear canal occlusion by a hearing aid leads to an unnatural sound of the own voice due to a level increase of bone-conducted low-frequency components of the ear canal. Opening the ear through vents or domes reduces this so-called occlusion effect, however at the cost of reduced hearing aid performance. For individual earmolds, several other design options to reduce the occlusion effect have been proposed but not reliably evaluated.

Design and verification of a measurement setup for wireless remote microphone systems (WRMSs).

Objective: This work presents the design and verification of a simplified measurement setup for wireless remote microphone systems (WRMSs), which has been incorporated into guidelines of the European Union of Hearing Aid Acousticians (EUHA).

Design: Three studies were conducted. First, speech intelligibility scores within the simplified setup were compared to that in an actual classroom.

[The Freiburg monosyllabic speech test in noise].

Background: Since 2017, the Freiburg monosyllabic speech test can be used in hearing aid evaluation with background noise in Germany. The results are used to compare the aided versus the unaided condition. However, there is currently no reference speech recognition curve for a comparison to listeners with normal hearing.

Evaluation of Noise Reduction Algorithms in Hearing Aids for Multiple Signals From Equal or Different Directions.

One objective way to evaluate the effect of noise reduction algorithms in hearing aids is to measure the increase in signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR). To this end, Hagerman and Olofsson presented a method where multiple recordings take place and the phase of one signal is inverted between the measurements. This phase inversion method allows one to separate signal and noise at the output of the hearing aid so that the increase in SNR can be evaluated.

Clarion 1.2 standard electrode array with partial space-filling positioner: radiological and histological evaluation in human temporal bones.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether use of a positioner for situating the Clarion 1.29 standard electrode array in close proximity to the modiolus, causes damage to fine intra-cochlear structures, and to provide a comparison with results obtained for insertions of the array performed without a positioner. The study was performed in seven freshly frozen human temporal bones.

Nondestructive three-dimensional analysis of electrode to modiolus proximity.

Purpose: To propose a nondestructive method for three-dimensional analysis of inner ear morphology after cochlear implantation for isolated petrous bones.

Materials And Methods: After implantation of cochlear implant electrode arrays, fresh temporal bones were investigated on a new C-arm-based radiographic device permitting the generation of cross-sectional images and of three-dimensional models from multiple two-dimensional radiographic images taken under different projections (cone-beam computed tomography). Cross-sectional images and multiplanar reformations with a slice thickness of 0.

[CAS-System MKM(R): use and results in lateral skull base surgery].

Background: Computer assisted surgery has reached an advanced stage of development and offers new possibilities in daily surgical procedures.

Methods: The MKM(R) - is a navigation system fitted with a laser-guided, autofocus-microscope for referencing purposes. The coordinates can be set using various marker systems and a special workstation is used for preoperative planning.

Transsphenoidal computer-navigation-assisted deflation of a balloon after endovascular occlusion of a direct carotid cavernous sinus fistula.

A 49-year-old woman with a direct posttraumatic carotid cavernous fistula (CCF) was treated with detachable balloons via a transcarotid route. After the procedure, her intracranial bruit, conjunctival injection, and orbital congestion were cured, but the preexistent sixth nerve palsy deteriorated. CT showed one balloon positioned in the posterior portion of the right cavernous sinus and was regarded to be responsible for nerve compression.

The Nucleus Contour electrode array: a radiological and histological study.

Objectives: To evaluate the handling and insertion trauma of the recently developed Nucleus perimodiolar Contour electrode array (Cochlear Ltd., Pty, Lane Cove, New South Wales, Australia) in human temporal bones compared with the Nucleus standard straight electrode array.

Study Design: E-perimental control group.

Low-dose high-resolution CT of the petrous bone.

Purpose: To show that CT of the petrous bone can be realized using a low-dose technique.

Material: and methods: A high-contrast phantom was scanned with 1.5 mm slice thickness and 60-510 mAs using the reconstruction algorithms standard, bone and edge.

Supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumours: diffusion-weighted MRI.

We report the clinical and pathological findings of supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumours (PNETs). These are rare, poorly differentiated, highly malignant neoplasms occurring primarily in young individuals. They frequently show dissemination to the spinal cord and sometimes also beyond neuraxis.

Diagnostic value of the fast-FLAIR sequence in MR imaging of intracranial tumors.

The aim of this study was to quantify imaging characteristics of fast fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence in brain tumors compared with T1-postcontrast- and T2-sequences. Fast-FLAIR-, T2 fast spin echo (FSE)-, and T1 SE postcontrast images of 74 patients with intracranial neoplasms were analyzed. Four neuroradiologists rated signal intensity and inhomogeneity of the tumor, rendering of cystic parts, demarcation of the tumor vs brain, of the tumor vs edema and of brain vs edema, as well as the presence of motion and of other artifacts.

TSE-sequences with spin-echo contrast.

The article presents a discussion of the basic signal behavior of contrast-modified RARE(TSE,FSE...

Contribution of low-dose CT-scan protocols to the total positioning error in computer-assisted surgery.

Purpose: To quantify the contribution of a computed tomography (CT) scan to navigation accuracy in computer-assisted surgery.

Methods: Eighty-eight patients undergoing computer-assisted facial or skull-base surgery were fitted preoperatively with 4 to 12 markers, either attached to the skin (n = 20) or fixed in the osseous skull (micro-screws; n = 68). Low-dose high-resolution spiral CT was achieved with 25-cm field of view (FoV), 1-mm slice thickness, 2-mm table increment, 1-mm reconstruction interval, 140 kV, 40 mA, bony reconstruction algorithm, and 180 degrees reconstruction profile (effective slice thickness = 1.

A syndrome of psychosis following discontinuation of an estrogen-progestogen contraceptive and improvement following replacement: A case report.

Mild forms of psychosis associated with low estrogen levels during the perimenopause are relatively frequent. There is scarce data on severe forms of psychosis in these conditions. We report the case of a 51-year-old woman with no previous psychiatric history who amputated her hand in a 'psychotiform' state after discontinuation of her contraceptive medication.

Comparison of the late results of mandibular reconstruction using nonvascularized or vascularized grafts and dental implants.

Purpose: This study evaluates contour restoration in segmental defects of the mandible and the survival rate of endosseous implants placed into these reconstructions.

Patients And Methods: Forty-four patients with 23 nonvascularized grafts and 21 patients with vascularized bone flaps were included in the study. The lateral and the sagittal extension of the contour of both the mandibular bone and the overlying soft tissues was determined from serial computed tomography (CT) scans in defined planes through the reconstructed mandible.

Compositional, structural, and functional alterations in pulmonary surfactant in surgical patients after the early onset of systemic inflammatory response syndrome or sepsis.

Objectives: Sepsis is one of the most important predisposing factors for the development of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Alterations of pulmonary surfactant contribute in the pathogenesis of ARDS. However, little is known about surfactant in patients with less severe grades of lung injury related to sepsis or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).

[Window width as a dosage-relevant factor in high-contrast structures in CT].

Purpose: To establish the relationship between window width and dose to be applied in low-dose high-resolution (HR) computed tomography (CT).

Material And Methods: Low-dose HR CT-scans of the petrous bone displayed with different window values were analyzed for identification of osseous details. For two homogeneous phantoms, standard deviation of CT-numbers were measured in order to calculate the fraction of pixels not displayed within the correct grey level.

[Preserving and improving the profile in primary and secondary orbital reconstruction].

Computed tomographies in 15 patients following reconstruction of multiple-wall defects of the orbit following trauma and tumor demonstrate a correlation between moderate overcorrection of the orbital bony frame and a good aesthetic profile. Reconstruction of the deep orbital cone, the transition level between the orbital floor and medial orbital wall, as well as the convex shape of the medial orbital wall, are of great importance for good results.

[Facial asymmetry after vascular pedicled muscle transfer. Additional criterion for evaluating outcome in managing chronic facial paralysis].

Today neurotization and muscle transplantation are considered an ideal method of reconstructing the function of the facial nerve and the mimetic muscles in long-established facial palsy. Transplantation of the gracilis muscle as a segmental muscle provides an appropriate size for the face; however, determining the amount of muscle is difficult in order to obtain the desired dynamic and symmetric results. Prompted by the question of an "ideal" transplant size, a retrospective study was undertaken.