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Biomedical subjects

Michael Valente

Publications and source records attributed to Michael Valente.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Problems and solutions for fitting amplification to patients with Ménière's disease.

Fitting amplification to a patient with Ménière's disease (MD) can present several challenges to the dispensing audiologist. These challenges include the presence of fluctuating hearing loss, a rising audiometric configuration, unilateral or asymmetrical hearing loss, reduced dynamic range, and reduced word-recognition scores. The presence of any one of these characteristics could create obstacles for a successful hearing aid fit. The presence of most if not all of these characteristics in a single patient can readily challenge the skills of even the most experienced dispensing audiologist. In addition to the audiometric challenges, this patient population has the added psychological problems associated with feeling ill due to the nausea secondary to vertiginous attacks and the anxiety associated with the unpredictable nature of the course of these attacks. This paper summarizes numerous strategies and technologies that could be implemented by the audiologist to address these unique challenges and provide a greater opportunity for a successful hearing aid fit. These suggestions include (1) advantages offered by digital signal processing; (2) using directional microphones and assistive listening devices to improve speech recognition in noise; (3) using wireless hearing aids as well as the bone anchored hearing aid; (4) counseling patients on the realistic expectations from amplification in noisy listening situations and for those with poor speech recognition; (5) using multiple programs for patients with fluctuating hearing loss; and (6) offering suggestions on programming the frequency-gain/output response for a rising configuration.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed2006

Effect of type of noise and loudspeaker array on the performance of omnidirectional and directional microphones.

Differences in performance between omnidirectional and directional microphones were evaluated between two loudspeaker conditions (single loudspeaker at 180 degrees; diffuse using eight loudspeakers set 45 degrees apart) and two types of noise (steady-state HINT noise; R-Space restaurant noise). Twenty-five participants were fit bilaterally with Phonak Perseo hearing aids using the manufacturer's recommended procedure. After wearing the hearing aids for one week, the parameters were fine-tuned based on subjective comments. Four weeks later, differences in performance between omnidirectional and directional microphones were assessed using HINT sentences presented at 0 degrees with the two types of background noise held constant at 65 dBA and under the two loudspeaker conditions. Results revealed significant differences in Reception Thresholds for Sentences (RTS in dB) where directional performance was significantly better than omnidirectional. Performance in the 180 degrees condition was significantly better than the diffuse condition, and performance was significantly better using the HINT noise in comparison to the R-Space restaurant noise. In addition, results revealed that within each loudspeaker array, performance was significantly better for the directional microphone. Looking across loudspeaker arrays, however, significant differences were not present in omnidirectional performance, but directional performance was significantly better in the 180 degrees condition when compared to the diffuse condition. These findings are discussed in terms of results reported in the past and counseling patients on the potential advantages of directional microphones as the listening situation and type of noise changes.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

The effect of hearing aids and frequency modulation technology on results from the communication profile for the hearing impaired.

Hearing impairment has been associated with decline in psychosocial function. Previous investigations have reported that the utilization of hearing aids can ameliorate these reductions in psychosocial function. To date, few investigations have examined the effects of frequency modulation technology on hearing handicap, adjustment to hearing loss, and communicative strategies. The purpose of this investigation was to examine these effects and to compare them to the benefits obtained when using hearing aids alone. Subjects ranged in age from 34 to 81 years and had mean pure-tone thresholds consistent with a bilateral moderate to severe sloping sensorineural hearing loss. All subjects wore hearing aids only and hearing aids plus FM system in a randomized fashion. The Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired (CPHI) was administered prior to fitting the study devices and once a month for three months in each of the two conditions. A statistically significant difference between device conditions was obtained for the Importance of Communication in Work Situations subscale. Additionally, statistically significant differences over time were noted in several CPHI subscales. Despite statistical significance, none of these results were clinically significant. The implications of these results will be discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Speech perception in noise: directional microphones versus frequency modulation (FM) systems.

The major consequence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is communicative difficulty, especially with the addition of noise and/or reverberation. The purpose of this investigation was to compare two types of technologies that have been shown to improve the speech-perception performance of individuals with SNHL: directional microphones and frequency modulation (FM) systems. Forty-six adult subjects with slight to severe SNHL served as subjects. Speech perception was assessed using the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) with correlated diffuse noise under five different listening conditions. Results revealed that speech perception was significantly better with the use of the FM system over that of any of the hearing aid conditions, even with the use of the directional microphone. Additionally, speech perception was significantly better with the use of two hearing aids used in conjunction with two FM receivers rather than with just one FM receiver. Directional microphone performance was significantly better than omnidirectional microphone performance. All aided listening conditions were significantly better than the unaided listening condition.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Evidence of acclimatization in persons with severe-to-profound hearing loss.

The present study examined the phenomenon of acclimatization in persons with a severe-to-profound hearing loss. A secondary purpose was to examine the efficacy of a digital nonlinear power hearing aid that has a low compression threshold with expansion for this population. Twenty experienced hearing aid users wore the study hearing aids for three months and their performance with the study hearing aids was evaluated at the initial fitting, one month, and three months after the initial fitting. Performance of their current hearing aids was also evaluated at the initial fitting. Speech recognition testing was conducted at input levels of 50 dB SPL and 65 dB SPL in quiet, and 75 dB SPL in noise at a +10 SNR. Questionnaires were used to measure subjective performance at each evaluation interval. The results showed improvement in speech recognition score at the one-month evaluation over the initial evaluation. No significant improvement was seen at the three-month evaluation from the one-month visit. In addition, subjective and objective performance of the study hearing aids was significantly better than the participants' own hearing aids at all evaluation intervals. These results provided evidence of acclimatization in persons with a severe-to-profound hearing loss and reinforced the precaution that any trial of amplification, especially from linear to nonlinear mode, should consider this phenomenon.

Acclimatization↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of multichannel digital signal processing on loudness comfort, sentence recognition, and sound quality.

This study evaluated the effect of increasing the number of processing channels from 32- to 64-signal processing channels on subjects' loudness comfort and satisfaction, sentence recognition, and sound quality of his or her own voice. Ten experienced hearing aid users with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss wore behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids with Adaptive Dynamic Range Optimization (ADRO) signal processing for a period of six weeks in the 32-channel and 64-channel conditions. Results revealed no significant differences in loudness comfort or satisfaction for the majority of sound samples as measured by the Subjective Loudness Test and Environmental Sounds Questionnaire. No significant differences in sentence recognition between the two processing conditions were found as measured by the Hearing In Noise Test (HINT). Additionally, no subjective differences in sound quality of subjects' own voice were determined by the Listening Tasks Questionnaire.

Aged↗