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Biomedical subjects

G T Mencher

Publications and source records attributed to G T Mencher.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1981

Intensive care nursery noise and its influence on newborn hearing screening.

Numerous studies have recently reported the possible damaging effects noise exposure may have on premature infants. While noise levels appear to be within established damage risk criteria for an adult, there is little evidence to support the assumption that intensity levels and duration are similar for an infant population. It was the purpose of this study to measure sound pressure levels within an intensive care nursery and a series of isolettes and to report the behavioral pass/fail screening status of infants who were confined to those settings immediately after birth. It is suggested from the results of our study that due to the stimulus parameter used in behavioral testing, noise exposure is not an influencing factor in infant hearing screening.

Auditory Fatigue↗
PubMed1978

Identifying deafness in the newborn.

The necessity of early identification of hearing loss has long been urged by otolaryngologists, pediatricians, audiologists, and others working with the deaf. Yet there have been difficulties in implementing accurate and cost-effective newborn hearing screening programs. This article reviews some of the history of infant screening programs, discusses various areas of research related to stimulus and response parameters, and outlines a screening program, designed to fit new recommended procedures, currently under way in Halifax.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1977

Observer bias as a factor in neonatal hearing screening.

To evaluate observer bias as a possible factor influencing neonatal hearing testing, two trained observers were asked to evaluate the behavior of 200 neonates at a moment the observers thought a stimulus was being presented. Observers were receiving masking noise, and when the stimulus button was pressed a stimulus might or might not be delivered to the child. Results suggest that observer bias is not a factor when arousal is the only acceptable response and is clearly defined, and the observers are limited to a yes-no decision. Sequential analysis of infant response patterns is presented and a specific test scoring protocol is outlined.

Arousal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hearing loss and congenital rubella in Atlantic Canada.

There were 41 children born between 1973-1976 in Atlantic Canada who were victims of a severe rubella epidemic. This paper investigates prevalent audiometric patterns, incidence of middle ear disease, evidence regarding progressivity of hearing loss and any relationship between presence of middle ear disease and progressivity. Both surgical and audiological records were utilized in a combined retrospective-prospective study. Results indicate a typically flat audiogram for our group, with possible errors in the analysis of high frequency data accounting for differences between our center and those audiograms reported by other centers. Most of our children have a type A (normal) tympanogram (72.9%), but three have a type As which may be indicative of possible middle ear malformations. Six children (11 ears) have demonstrated only type AD and/or type B tympanograms. These may represent ongoing disease, middle ear malformation, or both. A number of variables (i.e., poor reliability, maturational effects, sound field compared to ear phone results) have contributed to a general feeling that progressivity of the hearing loss of rubella children may be a common phenomenon. A careful examination of our data found progressivity clearly documented in three cases. There was no relationship between presence of middle ear pathology and progressivity.

Audiometry, Pure-Tone↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Maturation of behavioral response.

The level of maturation of the auditory system markedly affects the results of all forms of infant hearing screening. The same test repeated in two weeks may yield significantly different results. The paper reviews some of the maturational changes which occur, considers male/female differences, and offers some normative developmental information about the preterm infant.

Audiometry↗
PubMedDate not supplied

White noise as a pretest sensitizer for neonatal hearing screening.

To determine the effects of white noise as a pretest sensitizer in neonatal hearing screening, 450 neonates were tested under 18 test conditions which also permitted examination of infant state and criterion stimuli (warble tone versus narrow band noise) as variables. There were three pretest conditions: No pretest sensitizer; 90 dB pretest sensitizer, and 100 dB pretest sensitizer. Each pretest condition was followed by either a 90 or a 100 dB criterion stimulus. Analysis concerned an increase in the number and in the strength of the responses. Generally, there was no benefit associated with the use of white noise as a pretest sensitizer.

Acoustic Stimulation↗