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Biomedical subjects

I Svärd

Publications and source records attributed to I Svärd.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Audio-visual speechreading in a group of hearing aid users. The effects of onset age, handicap age, and degree of hearing loss.

Speechreading ability was investigated among hearing aid users with different time of onset and different degree of hearing loss. Audio-visual and visual-only performance were assessed. One group of subjects had been hearing-impaired for a large part of their lives, and the impairments appeared early in life. The other group of subjects had been impaired for a fewer number of years, and the impairments appeared later in life. Differences between the groups were obtained. There was no significant difference on the audio-visual test between the groups in spite of the fact that the early onset group scored very poorly auditorily. However, the early-onset group performed significantly better on the visual test. It was concluded that the visual information constituted the dominant coding strategy for the early onset group. An interpretation chiefly in terms of early onset may be the most appropriate, since dB loss variations as such are not related to speechreading skill.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Coupler-related real ear gain. Interaction between subject and hearing aid type.

In order to select hearing aids with a highly predictable real ear gain, in situ gain and compliance through the individual ear mould were measured on 8 normal-hearing subjects. The latter were chosen in order to reduce gain variation caused by various pathological conditions of the ear. All behind-the-ear aids commonly used in Sweden and one in-the-ear aid were studied. One sample of each hearing aid type was tested and the subjects had identical ear moulds. Hence, the variables were hearing aid type and subject. The study showed wide intra-subject coupler-related real ear gain variation (30 dB). Most of the aids showed a distinct correlation between coupler-related overall gain, and mould compliance. Some of the aids gave more uniform real ear gain, i.e. low interaction between subject and frequency-dependent gain. These results are elucidated by measuring the aid's acoustic output impedance.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗
PubMed1988

Contralateral routing of signals in unilateral hearing impairment. A better method of fitting.

Unilaterally severely hearing impaired persons, who may experience substantial communication problems in situations of high acoustic demands, would in theory benefit from contralateral routing of signals (CROS). However, reports of failure because of too much disturbing noise and distortion have been common. The reason for a low success rate in CROS, though, is an inappropriate fitting procedure, due to lack of understanding of the basic principle of CROS among both patients and audiologists. The precondition for success in CROS is an accurate description of the individual hearing deficit and a correctly balanced adjustment of the CROS aid through testing under sound field conditions, combined with a comprehensive follow-up.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

A case material with post lingual severe hearing loss and communication handicap.

The analyses have given some general clues to the therapeutic handling of these patient categories: 1. The A and B groups can be labelled "hearing" with clearly useful residual hearing. 2. The patients in the C group, as a rule, are utilizing very little from acoustic speech stimulation, mostly the prosodic information. Several patients in this group are possible implant candidates, and it is reasonable to expect that (with a suitable stimulus device and a suitable application of this) the patients could get an additional support during speech reading, so that they function as the B group. Tactile devices are also an alternative or a supplement for this group, and a pilot study on six patients is in progress in the department in cooperation with the Department of Speech Communication at the Royal Institute of Technology. 3. The patients within the A and B groups will in the first place be offered additional functional training programmes (prosodic training, audio-visual training and possibly vibration training) and, as an ultimate alternative a social activation in group therapy may be considered. Some patients in these groups might also be candidates in the future for an extra cochlear implant.

Hearing Aids↗
PubMed1982

Rehabilitative procedures in sensorineural hearing loss. Studies on the routine used.

The effect of different treatment programs in audiological rehabilitation was evaluated. The speech intensity at which subjects with high frequency hearing loss correctly perceived 50% of the key words in sentences was measured in quiet and in noise, with and without a hearing aid and with and without simultaneous speech reading. No statistically significant difference in audiovisual speech perception ability was found between subjects receiving no training, subjects receiving a 6-hour information course, or a 3-week intensive training in auditory and audiovisual speech perception. Large differences in the degree of hearing aid usage was found, however, between the three treatment groups. An analysis of the individual results from the speech test used showed that some subjects improved with the use of a hearing aid, whilst others deteriorated. The degree of hearing aid usage was considerably influenced by the measured effect of the hearing aid treatment. Our findings stress the need for an objective test by which to measure the effect of hearing aid fitting. As a result of the reported study a series of experiments have been started with the aim of obtaining a better understanding of the audiovisual speech perception process. These studies are based on an information-processing model for speech perception. Particular attention is devoted to the importance of the prosodic information in the auditory speech signal.

Adult↗