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Biomedical subjects

A Parving

Publications and source records attributed to A Parving.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Human temporal bone findings in acquired hypothyroidism.

Histological studies of the auditory organ in patients with acquired hypothyroidism are scarce. Thus the aim of the present study was to examine the temporal bones and the brain in subjects with hypothyroidism. Four temporal bones and two brains from clinically and biochemically hypothyroid subjects were removed and evaluated by light microscopy determine to the morphological changes and deposition of neutral and acid glycosaminoglycans. An audiogram from one of the patients showed a sensorineural hearing loss, which could be ascribed to occupational noise exposure. The study revealed histological changes compatible with age and infectious disease. No accumulation of neutral or acid glycosaminoglycans could be demonstrated in the temporal bones, or in the brains.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1991

Detection of the infant with congenital/early acquired hearing disability.

The age at identification and intervention in different samples of children with congenital/early acquired hearing disability is described. The prevalence of congenital/early acquired hearing disability was 1.3/1,000. Among hearing disabled children born 1970-1975 only 16% were identified at the age of one year, whereas among children born 1980-1985, 37% were identified at this age. Children at-risk are not identified earlier than children not-at-risk. In 50-60% the parents are the first to suspect their child's hearing disability, and it is emphasized that non-professional screening resources are present in the general population and should be taken into account. Better information to both professionals and non-professionals about high-risk criteria and about the signs of hearing disability in combination with easy access to a professional audiological unit could improve the early detection and intervention of hearing disabled children.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Use and benefit of hearing aids in the tenth decade--and beyond.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use and benefit of hearing aids in 185 hearing-disabled subjects born before 1900, consecutively fitted with a hearing aid during the first 6 months of 1989. Information from 138 (75%) subjects, 117 females and 21 males with a median age of 93 years (range 90-107), was obtained from a questionnaire, which was mailed 4-6 months after the fitting procedure. The questionnaire included questions concerning use of the hearing aid(s), self-reported benefit, handling problems, overall satisfaction/dissatisfaction, social and domiciliary situation and self-reported visual capacity. Among these elderly subjects 75% had previously been provided with hearing aids, while 25% were first-time users. The results demonstrate that 76% use the hearing aid(s) at home and in small groups, and that 51% use the hearing aid(s) each day; however, 35% did not respond to this question. 64% expressed general satisfaction with their aid(s). Despite instruction and counselling, handling problems were frequently present. In those previously fitted with hearing aids a higher rate of time-related use and satisfaction was present, and handling problems were less frequent than in the first-time applicants. It is concluded that elderly hearing-impaired subjects in the tenth decade use and benefit from hearing aids; however, more problems concerning use and benefit of hearing aids are present in this age group than in the younger age groups.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

The use and benefit of in-the-ear hearing aids. A four-year follow-up examination.

The present investigation was performed in order to evaluate the use and benefit of in-the-ear hearing aids (ITE-HAs) after a 4-year observation period, and to examine the validity of this type of hearing aid. A sample of 537 subjects still in possession of ITE-HAs, fitted in 1985, responded to a postal questionnaire in 1989, including questions identical to the first follow-up in 1985. The 537 persons correspond to 60% of the originally fitted sample of 894 subjects. The investigation indicated that no change in the use of or benefit from ITE-HAs has taken place during a 4-year period, and in addition the manipulative skills of the hearing aid users did not improve. However, the overall frequency of handling problems is low, though with a tendency to increase in the age group above 75 years. It is concluded that the use of and benefit obtained with ITE-HAs remains unchanged over a 4-year period; that the use and benefit is similar in the age groups below and above 75 years of age; that the ITE-HAs seem to be fairly stable during a 4-year period.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

High-frequency amplification with ITC-HA and BTE-HA. A comparative investigation.

The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the magnitude of selective high-frequency amplification obtained by an in-the-canal hearing aid (ITC-HA), and to compare it with that obtained with a conventional behind-the-ear hearing aid (BTE-HA) with an open mould. 22 subjects (20 males, 2 females) at a median age of 66 years (range 46-84) were included in the investigation. All suffered from a bilateral high-frequency hearing loss with normal or near-normal hearing thresholds at 0.5 and 1 kHz. Insertion gain measurements demonstrated that the ITC-HA gives a significantly higher amplification in the high-frequency area, when compared with the BTE-HA, though neither of the hearing aids amplified as much as indicated by the POGO strategy. Although a better amplification in the high-frequency area was obtained with the ITC-HA, it did not result in significantly better speech recognition when compared with the BTE-HA. At the hearing aid fitting, all subjects preferred the ITC-HA, and after an observation period of one year, 68% of those fitted used the aid continuously. Based on the investigation it is concluded that hearing-impaired persons can be fitted with an ITC-HA, even if they have pronounced high-frequency hearing loss, and that this type of aid is preferred by the hearing-impaired to the conventional BTE-HA.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

The value of speech audiometry in hearing-aid rehabilitation.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the aided speech recognition score (SRS) as predictor of HA-use by relating aided SRS measurements to an extensive questionnaire describing the self-assessed use and benefit of an in-the-canal hearing aid (Danavox 131). A sample of 124 subjects with moderate, predominantly sensorineural hearing loss, 61 males and 63 females at a median age of 68 years, range 21-89, were included in the present investigation. The hearing-aid fitting was checked by insertion gain measurements based on the POGO amplification strategy, and the improvement in word recognition offered by the aid was expressed as the difference between the aided and unaided SRS measured in background noise (SRSN) (S/N = + 10 dB). Correlations between the aided SRSN and questions concerning the use and benefit of this type of hearing aid were performed after subdividing the sample into two age groups, below and above 70 years of age, in order to avoid differences in hearing aid gain which could be ascribed to an age effect. The results demonstrated that a prediction of the aided SRSN from the unaided SRSN can be performed. However, no significant correlation between the self-assessed time-related use, situational use or satisfaction and the aided SRSN could be found. It is concluded that aided SRSN with this clinical setup cannot predict the use or benefit of a modern hearing aid, though the measurements may, in combination with insertion gain measurements, prove useful for the comparison between different hearing aids, also in the individual person.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

A longitudinal study of hearing impairment in male subjects--an 8-year follow-up.

As part of a longitudinal study, 135 male subjects with a median age of 65 years (range 57-77 years) were re-examined 3 and 8 years after the first examination. A significant deterioration in the hearing thresholds at 1 kHz to 8 kHz was demonstrated across an 8-year period covering a change in the median age from 57-65 years. The rate of change was most pronounced during the period from 60-65 years of age. The median hearing thresholds as well as the 25 and 75 percentiles are worse in the present study compared with a sex and age matched non-noise-exposed reference group (Spoor and Passchier-Vermeer, 1969 International Audiology, 8, 328 336) and a screened otologically normal reference group (ISO, 7029). When compared with an age and sex matched unscreened population (Robinson, 1988 British Journal of Audiology, 22, 5-20) the median hearing thresholds are almost identical. The prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss is 30% and the hearing ability in noise-exposed subjects is significantly poorer when compared to the total sample. In addition the hearing thresholds in the high-frequency area continue to deteriorate after retirement.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Children referred to an audiology department. Who--why--when?].

This investigation was undertaken with the object of elucidating the pattern of referral of children (born after 1 January 1970) to an audiological department. During a period of six months, 197 children (120 boys and 77 girls) with an average age of 52 months (range 7 months to 16.5 years) were referred to the department. 81% of these children were born in 1982 or later. Only 10% were less than or equal to 1 year. General practioners or ear-nose-and throat specialists had referred 53.3% of the children, 20.8% were referred by speech therapists, 9.1% were referred by health visitors while in 7.6% of the cases, parents had employed their own right to seek specialist help. In 67% of the cases, referrals was undertaken on account of suspected defective hearing. In 53% of the children under 48 months, reduction of hearing (HL) for an average of 0.5 + 1 + 2 + 4 kHz in the best ear was found to be greater than 20 DB HL while only 18% of the children over 48 months had reduced hearing. Only 2.5% of the children were equipped with hearing aids with subsequent educational/psychological follow-up, and only two children with congenital perceptive reduction of hearing were identified, one before the age of one year and the other 30 months old. This investigation confirms previously demonstrated delay in identification of children with congenital/early reduction of hearing and it shows, in addition, that the child audiological expertise and resources in this department should be employed in the age group under four years in which audiological diagnoses and treatment are particularly difficult and where the frequency of defective hearing is greatest.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Hearing of the mentally retarded living at home].

The present article was undertaken to illustrate the frequency of defective hearing in adult mentally retarded persons living in their homes in the Municipality of Copenhagen. The investigation concerns 115 persons, 57 men and 58 women with an average age of 38 years, range 20-79 years. At the time of the investigation, the persons examined constituted 26% of the total population of adult mentally retarded persons living at home in the Municipality of Copenhagen. The investigation revealed that 5% experienced problems in hearing in quiet surroundings while 15% had hearing problems with background noise. On the basis of pure tone audiometry, normal hearing was found in 60% (less than or equal to 20% dB HL) with frequency criterion including 4 kHz, while 67% (77/115) were found to have normal hearing without including 4 kHz in the frequency criterion. In other words, 40%/33% had defective hearing and were therefore outside the normal range. In order to assess the presence of defective hearing, the limit of greater than or equal to 25 dB HL in the ear with best hearing and the frequency criterion with or without 4 kHz, respectively, was established. On the basis of these criteria a reduction of hearing in the best ear of 30%/24% was found. the investigation revealed, in addition, that at least 17% should have been treated with hearing aids but only one of the persons examined had a hearing aid which was, however, not in use. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Longitudinal study of hearing.

Our knowledge of the progression and aetiology of hearing impairments is mainly inferred from cross-sectional studies of populations or individual case studies of relatively rare conditions. Longitudinal studies of carefully stratified samples enable scientific analysis of these two aspects of the ageing auditory system and also provide much needed incidence data on the basis of which to plan comprehensive hearing services. This preliminary paper using data from two studies over relatively short periods (between 2-4.5 years in Great Britain (GB) and up to 8 years in Denmark (DK] confirms (a) that deterioration of hearing impairment appears to be continuous and gradual for the majority (up to 97% on a 2-year assessment) with a median of about 5-6 dB/decade, and (b) that for mid-frequency average hearing levels applied to the samples of average age 55 (range 40-65) the incidence of hearing impairment is predicted accurately by interpolation of the relevant prevalence figures, and runs at about 1.8% per annum for 25+ dBHL bilateral hearing impairments. However, the actual rate of deterioration does seem to be influenced by age, those over 55 showing a high rate of up to 9 dB/decade against 3 dB/decade for those under 55. This implies that study over a much longer time is required to find a more exact form for the relationship between age and the rate of deterioration of hearing impairments.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Hearing problems and hormonal disturbances in the elderly.

The most frequent hormonal diseases attracting audiological interest are hypothyroidism (myxodema) and diabetes mellitus. For many years these diseases have been considered to cause hearing disorders with the lesion located predominantly in the inner ear and central auditory pathways, resulting in sensorineural hearing loss. However, the causal relationship between hearing loss and hypothyroidism has been questioned, and thus a study was undertaken to elucidate this problem. A sample of hypothyroid patients (n = 15) with a median age of 76 years (range 61-92) underwent audiological examination before and after treatment with L-thyroxine (average 5 months; range 2-12), and re-examination (n = 13) after an observation period of average 40 months (range 32-46). No significant improvement in their hearing thresholds, speech reception thresholds or discrimination scores could be demonstrated, and the hearing ability in the hypothyroid patients did not differ significantly from that found in an age- and sex-matched population. In addition, histological investigation of the temporal bones from an 83-year-old woman with myxoedema showed no morphological changes or deposition of glycosaminoglycans. Audiological examinations in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus also show contradictory results. Therefore, the cochlear and retrocochlear hearing functions were evaluated in 20 patients with diabetic microangiopathy with a median age of 41 years (range 25-66), and in 19 patients without microangiopathy with a median age of 27 years (range 17-42). No significant differences in hearing thresholds or discrimination scores were present between the two diabetic groups, nor was any difference found between the diabetic patients and an age- and sex-matched population. In the patients with long-term insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, brainstem audiometry revealed abnormal responses in 40%, indicating the presence of diabetic encephalopathy.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Hearing disorders in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The cochlear and retrocochlear hearing function was evaluated in patients with long- and short-term insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) by means of psychoacoustic testing and auditory brain stem responses (ABR). Twenty patients with diabetic microangiopathy (median age 41 years, range 25-66 years) were examined. The median duration of their diabetes was 26 years (range 13-46 years). In addition, 19 patients without microangiopathy (median age 27 years, range 17-42 years) and with a median duration of the diabetes of 2 years (range 0-6 years) were examined. The metabolic control estimated by blood glucose concentration and glycosylated haemoglobin was identical in the two groups of IDDM patients. After correction for age and sex, no significant differences in hearing thresholds or discrimination scores were present between the two diabetic groups, or between the diabetic patients and an age- and sex-matched normal background population. In the patients with long-term IDDM, ABR produced abnormal responses in 40%, indicating the presence of diabetic encephalopathy, whereas ABR were abnormal in only 5% of the patients with short-term IDDM.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗
PubMed1990

In-the-canal hearing aids. Their use by and benefit for the younger and elderly hearing-impaired.

The present investigation was performed in order to evaluate the use and benefit of in-the-canal hearing aids (ITC-HAs; Dan 131) in a group of elderly and younger subjects. An extensive questionnaire was mailed to 256 hearing aid users. The responding group comprised 220 subjects (86%) and consisted of 108 males and 112 females with a median age of 69 years, range 11-89. In order to compare between the elderly and the younger subjects, the material was subdivided into two groups: one less than 70 years (n = 113), and the other greater than or equal to 70 years (n = 107). The median values of the average threshold at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz for the right and/or left ear (which was fitted with hearing aid(s] was 43 dB HL, thus indicating a moderate hearing loss. The questionnaires demonstrated that 74% of the subjects used their ITC-HA every day, 28% used the aid very seldom and only 1% never used the hearing-aid. 74% of the total sample were satisfied or very satisfied with the ITC-HA, while 19% were not entirely satisfied or dissatisfied. No significant differences between the elderly and the younger groups were found concerning time-related use, situational use, self-assessed effect, or general satisfaction/dissatisfaction with the aid. The elderly found the aid significantly more troublesome to deal with. It is concluded that hearing-impaired subjects with moderate hearing losses use and benefit from ITA-HAs, regardless of age. However, a ITC-HA should be recommended for the elderly only if they can be offered thorough individual instruction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Harmonic distortion measurements in clinical hearing and fitting. Preliminary report.

Measurement of the distortion from hearing aids and its influence on their fitting has become practicable with the implementation of real ear measurement in the audiological clinic. Thus the harmonic distortion measured in the ear fitted with the hearing aid can be measured by means of a probe in the ear canal. The objective of the present investigation was to examine the value of harmonic distortion measurements in the fitting of hearing aids within a clinical setting. The material comprised 101 consecutive patients who had been prescribed different types of hearing aids based on the POGO formula, using insertion gain measurements. 160 hearing aids were fitted and with the fitting strategy used, a distortion less than 10% was indicated in 122 fittings (76%), a distortion between 10 and 20% in 30 fittings (19%) and finally a distortion greater than 20% in 8 fittings (5%). In the cases with the distortion greater than 10%, the hearing aid setting was maintained and the magnitude of the harmonic distortion was controlled with a 2-cc coupler. At the hearing aid fitting, the audiology technician can listen to the signal at the patient's drum and thus may hear distortion products. The relationship between the 'distortion' heard by the audiology technician and the 'distortion' heard by the patient was fairly good. Based on these preliminary findings it is concluded that harmonic distortion measurements may prove useful in the hearing aid fitting procedure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

The Yemenite deaf-blind hypopigmentation syndrome. A new oculo-dermato-auditory syndrome.

We have seen a Yemenite sister and brother with cutaneous hypomelanotic and pigmented spots and patches, microcornea, coloboma, severe hearing loss and normal karyotypes. Histopathological examinations of the skin showed absent melanocytes in the depigmented areas; in the normal and hyperpigmented skin there was abundant melanotic pigment. Similar patients have not been described previously, but there are corresponding mutations in mice and rats.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1989

[Hearing disorders--what do we know?].

The object of this investigation is to describe persons with hearing defects knowledge about and the offers of help from the service for the deaf and, simultaneously, to describe the attitudes in the primary health sector to hearing problems and knowledge about the audiological possibilities in the hospital sector. One hundred and three consecutive persons referred to the service for the deaf for the first time (35 men and 68 women with an average of 74 years, range 15-94 years) were included in the investigation. The sex and age distributions were representative for the adult patient clientele in this department. On investigation in the department, the patients replied to a questionnaire which could reveal: the complaint which had led to referral to the department; how possible hearing problems had been discovered; why the patient sought help just now; how long the problem had been present; the treatment he/she expected to result from the investigation; whether the patient had previously discussed the hearing problem with the ENT specialist or his own general practitioner. 86% sought help in the department on account of hearing problems which had most frequently been noticed by the patient himself and his family. 55% had had the problem for one to five years and only 13% had had the problem for one year or less. 26% had experienced the hearing problem for more than five years. 59% expected relief of the problem in the form of a hearing aid, while 28% had no expectations about improvement or relief of their problem.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1988

Longitudinal study of hearing-disabled children. A follow-up investigation.

A group of 138 hearing-impaired children, 76 boys and 62 girls, at a median age of 13 years, range 7-17 years, born during the period 1970-80, were examined in order to ascertain the incidence of progressive hearing loss, and if presence of progressive hearing loss relates it to specific causes of hearing impairment. After a 5-year interval from the median age of 8-13 years, progression of the hearing loss was demonstrated in 2-6% of the children (depending on the criterion used). No relationship could be established between progressive hearing loss and specific causes of hearing impairment.

Adolescent↗