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Biomedical subjects

J M Festen

Publications and source records attributed to J M Festen.

44 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Speech-reception threshold in noise with one and two hearing aids.

The binaural free-field speech-reception threshold (SRT) in 70-dBA noise was measured with conversational sentences for 24 hearing-impaired subjects without hearing aids, with a hearing aid left, right, and left plus right, respectively. The sentences were always presented in front of the listener and the interfering noise, with a spectrum equal to the long-term average spectrum of the sentences, was presented either frontally, from the right, or from the left side. For subjects with only moderate hearing loss, PTA (average air-conduction hearing level at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz) less than 50 dB, the SRT in 70-dBA noise in both ears is determined by the signal-to-noise ratio even if only one hearing aid is used. For larger hearing losses the SRT appears to be partly determined by the absolute threshold. In conditions with a high noise level relative to the absolute threshold, in which case for both ears the SRT is determined by the signal-to-noise ratio, a second hearing aid, just as a monaural hearing aid, generally does not improve the SRT. However, in the case of a high hearing level, or a low noise level, in which a monaural hearing aid is profitable, the use of two hearing aids is even more profitable. In a separate experiment, acoustic head shadow was measured at the entrance of the ear canal and at the microphone location of a hearing aid. It appeared that, for a lateral noise source and speech frontal, the microphone position of behind-the-ear hearing aids has a negative effect on the signal-to-noise ratio of 2-3 dB.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Relations between auditory functions in impaired hearing.

Relations between auditory functions, as expressed by coefficients of correlation, were studied for a group of 22 sensorineurally hearing-impaired subjects with moderate losses. In addition to the audiogram, we measured frequency resolution, temporal resolution, and speech reception in quiet and in noise. Frequency resolution was derived from masking with comb-filtered noise and from the psychophysical tuning curve, for both paradigms in simultaneous and in nonsimultaneous masking. The critical ratio was also determined. Temporal resolution was determined with intensity-modulated noise and from backward and forward masking. All tests were performed at 1000 Hz. Correlations among tests were gathered in a matrix and subjected to a principal-components analysis. It turned out that tests on frequency resolution form a cluster, and are approximately independent of audiometric loss. Furthermore, hearing loss for speech in noise is closely allied to frequency resolution, whereas hearing loss for speech in quiet is governed by audiometric loss.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Relations between auditory functions in normal hearing.

The relations among a number of auditory functions were studied by concentration on small interindividual differences in these functions. For this purpose a battery of 12 tests was applied to 50 normal-hearing subjects. The tests included absolute threshold, auditory bandwidth measured with comb-filtered noise in direct and in forward masking, psychophysical tuning curve both in direct and in forward masking, temporal integration measured with intensity-modulated noise, forward- and backward-masking curves, cubic-difference-tone strength, and lateral suppression. In all cases the test frequency was 1000 Hz. Among the relations found, are (1) a positive correlation between the shift of the steep edge of the tuning curve, away from the probe frequency, and the width of the auditory filter as measured with comb-filtered noise, (2) an inverse relation between the width of the tuning curve and the width of the temporal window, and (3) a positive correlation between the width of the auditory filter and the strength of the cubic difference tone. Low correlations among tests were not caused by poor test reliability.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Factors in subjective hearing disability.

This report describes an approach to identify different factors in hearing disability. On the basis of interviews and case studies, the Amsterdam Inventory for Auditory Disability and Handicap was developed. It consists of 30 questions, dealing with a variety of everyday listening situations. Reports of 274 hearing-impaired subjects are presented. Item and factor analysis on the questions resulted in five factors, interpreted as five basic auditory disabilities: distinction of sounds, intelligibility in noise, auditory localization, intelligibility in quiet and detection of sounds. Investigation of one excluded item showed that 'intolerance of noise' may be a sixth aspect.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The relationships between self-reported hearing disability and measures of auditory disability.

Although required for many practical purposes, adequate measures of hearing disability are not yet available. In an attempt to identify a set of performance tests for predicting hearing disability in daily life the relationship between self-reported disability scores and measures of auditory disability was examined. The Amsterdam Inventory was completed by 51 respondents aged 30 to 70 years who also performed on various tests. Earlier factor analysis of the inventory scores resulted in the distinction of five aspects of auditory disability. Stepwise multiple regression analysis in the present study shows that the tests describe and differentiate quite well between these five aspects. Multiple correlation coefficients range from R = 0.60 to R = 0.74.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Assessing aspects of auditory handicap by means of pupil dilatation.

The demand on extra effort and concentration during listening are notorious handicapping effects of hearing impairment as is shown by self-assessment studies. In an attempt to explore new ways of assessing hearing handicap, the present study focuses on an objective measure of mental effort during listening. Pupil dilatation is used as the index of mental effort. Results for 14 hearing-impaired and 14 normal hearing listeners show a relation between pupil dilatation and difficulty in speech reception in noise, as manipulated by the speech-to-noise ratio. In addition the study shows that, with regard to effort and concentration, hearing-impaired subjects benefit less than normals from easier listening situations (e.g. at 5 dB above the individual speech-reception threshold). The results show a significant correlation between self-rated handicap and pupil dilatation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The self-reported handicapping effect of hearing disabilities.

This study investigates the extent to which individuals see themselves as being handicapped by a hearing disability. Self-reports were obtained with the Amsterdam Inventory for Auditory Disability and Handicap which distinguishes five basic disabilities: intelligibility in noise, intelligibility in quiet, localization of sounds, distinction of sounds and detection of sounds. Responses of 239 hearing-impaired people with varying types of hearing loss have been examined. The occurrence of the five disabilities in the population as well as the self-reported limiting and annoying effect per disability has been examined. This study shows that the handicapping effects of the disabilities do not have equal weights. Handicap resulting from the inability to understand speech in noise is most strongly felt. This paper argues that the type of disability jointly determines the severity of a person's handicap.

Adult↗