Influence of Personality and Attitude Towards Loss of Hearing on Hearing Aid Outcome in Older Adults with Hearing Loss.

Older adults with hearing loss face many challenges in day to day communication. Although hearing aids come with many technologies and features, the use and benefit are still not as expected. The possible non-audiological factors that can influence the benefit from hearing aid remain uncertain.

Influence of subcortical auditory processing and cognitive measures on cocktail party listening in younger and older adults.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the influence of subcortical auditory processing and cognitive measures on cocktail party listening in younger and older adults with normal hearing sensitivity.

Design: Tests administered included quick speech perception in noise test to assess cocktail party listening, speech auditory brainstem response to assess subcortical auditory processing and digit span, digit sequencing and spatial selective attention test to assess cognitive processing.

Study Sample: A total of 92 participants with normal hearing sensitivity participated in the study.

Renal NHE expression and activity in neonatal NHE3- and NHE8-null mice.

Na(+)/H(+) exchanger (NHE)3 is the predominant NHE on the brush-border membrane of the proximal tubule in adult animals. NHE8 has been localized to the brush-border membrane of proximal tubules and is more highly expressed in neonates than in adult animals. However, the relative role of NHE8 in neonatal renal acidification is unclear.

Glucocorticoids Reduce Renal NHE8 Expression.

The proximal tubule reabsorbs most of the filtered bicarbonate which is mediated in large part by Na/H exchange (NHE). We have previously demonstrated that there is an isoform switch during postnatal maturation from NHE8 to NHE3 that is concordant with the postnatal increase in serum glucocorticoid levels. To examine if glucocorticoids may be responsible for this isoform switch, we administered dexamethasone daily to mice at 7-10 days of age, a time prior to the normal isoform switch.

Proximal tubule Na+/H+ exchanger activity in adult NHE8-/-, NHE3-/-, and NHE3-/-/NHE8-/- mice.

NHE3 is the predominant Na(+)/H(+) exchanger on the brush-border membrane (BBM) of the proximal tubule in adults. However, NHE3 null mice still have significant renal BBM Na(+)/H(+) activity. NHE8 has been localized to the BBM of proximal tubules and is more highly expressed in neonates than adult animals.