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Biomedical subjects

B Meyer

Publications and source records attributed to B Meyer.

At least 469 records · Page 26Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Objective evaluation of vowel identification with the Digisonic cochlear implant.

Perceptual assessment of speech recognition performance with cochlear implants is confronted with problems raised by patients' availability and specificity. These problems can be avoided by using objective evaluation methods based on automatic classification of speech sounds. In the present report, different tuning strategies for the Digisonic cochlear implant were evaluated by discriminant analysis. The results presented here concern the correct classification of vowels. A set of 600 vocalic items, corresponding to 10 vowel categories and produced by 20 French speakers, were processed by the Digisonic DX10 with two different strategies. In the linear strategy, center frequencies of the 15 Digisonic channels were almost equally spaced in acoustic units (Hz). In the mel strategy, center frequencies were almost equally spaced in psychoacoustic units. For each strategy, energy levels of the frequency channels were quantified for each vocalic item and processed by statistical discriminant analysis for classification into 10 vowel categories. Results mainly show that the percent correct classification (PCC) is larger for the mel strategy and that the improvement is due to a higher concentration of frequency channels below 4 kHz. Implications of these results for the tuning of cochlear implants are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Auditory performances of a 3-4-7 programmable numeric filter hearing aid.

We designed a non-portable prototype seven-filter digital auditory hearing aid. For each of the filters, frequency bandwidth, amplification and compression were programmable in order to adapt these parameters to the deaf patient's audiometric characteristics. We compared the hearing improvement it was possible to obtain either with the three-analogue filter auditory prosthesis Triton 3004 hearing aid from Siemens or with our prototype as a function of the number of filters (three, four or seven) and their frequency bandwidth programmability. We tested 21 patients suffering from moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss. This study allowed us to demonstrate that a seven programmable-width filter strategy seems to be more effective than the present analogue T004 device. Further studies with improvement of our prototype and finer audiometric adjustment of filter strategies, together with long-term clinical studies, need to be carried out.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The worker of the future. A system outlines the competencies its employees will need.

In 1993, Sisters of Mercy Health System-St. Louis (SMHS), having asked itself what kind of employees it would need in the twenty-first century, established a Worker of the Future Task Force to develop tentative answers. The task force began by making projections concerning healthcare, studying the strategic plans of SMHS's members, and surveying its employees. It learned that the system should help workers see how change could benefit them. Next, the task force studied the cultural history of the Sisters of Mercy, developing from it Six Guiding Principles for the evaluation of employee performance. From these principles, the task force derived Twelve Competencies that SMHS will seek in future workers. In 1995 the system's education leaders, with the aid of an internal training organization, decided to develop 17 training modules based on these guiding principles and competencies. Since then, more than 85 SMHS employees have been trained to help coworkers develop customer service skills and other competencies. SMHS has also incorporated the competencies in its job descriptions and performance evaluations, added the Worker of the Future curriculum to its orientation program for new employees, and is currently developing Worker of the Future training sessions for human resources personnel who interview prospective employees.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Postoperative complications in otospongiosis: usefulness of MR imaging.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a rare complication of stapes surgery that may arise for many reasons. Usually, the pathogenesis of SNHL can be established by clinical and CT examinations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of MR imaging when CT findings are normal or not contributive. METHODS: Eleven patients with SNHL (in some instances, associated with vertigo) after stapedectomy, in whom CT showed no well-defined cause, were examined by MR imaging. RESULTS: MR studies established the additional findings of reparative intravestibular granuloma (n = 2), intralabyrinthine hemorrhage (n = 1), and bacterial labyrinthitis (n = 1). In five cases, MR findings were similar to CT findings. In two cases, CT and MR results were normal. Revision surgery was performed in five patients and confirmed the MR findings in each case. CONCLUSION: If CT is not contributive as to the origin of SNHL and vertigo occurring after stapes surgery, then MR imaging may be helpful in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Physiological assessment of the rehabilitation of total deafness by the implantation of multiple intracochlear electrodes].

Cochelar implantation can only be entertained incases of complete endocochlear deafness and if the nerve fibres which transmit the auditory message to the cerebral centres are relatively unaffected. The electrodes should also be placed so as to follow roughly the spatial arrangement of the cochlear organ: each band of the speech area should have an electrode. It is however clear that a single electrode cannot offer selectivity as far as this spatial arrangement is concerned. The authors therefore decided to use 7 or 8 intra-cochlear electrodes. These were insulated from each other so as not to interfere with selective stimulation of the different groups of fibres.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A five-step "microskills" model of clinical teaching.

Teaching family practice residents in a clinical setting is a complex and challenging endeavor, especially for community family physicians teaching part-time and junior faculty members beginning their academic careers. We present a five-step model of clinical teaching that utilizes simple, discrete teaching behaviors or "microskills." The five microskills that make up the model are (1) get a commitment, (2) probe for supporting evidence, (3) teach general rules, (4) reinforce what was done right, and (5) correct mistakes. The microskills are easy to learn and can be readily used as a framework for most clinical teaching encounters. The model has been well received by both community family physicians interested in teaching and newer residency faculty members.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The velo-impedancemetry. A new technique for dynamic study of soft palate.

Using a slightly modified electro-glottograph, we designed a device for the registration of soft palate movements. Correlating such curves with corresponding phonogram and physio-pathological data, we have been able to define an iconographic semiology, which may be useful in the functional pathology of the soft palate and indications of uvulo-pharyngoplasty for snoring.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Immediate improvement in facial paralysis after surgical decompression (author's transl)].

17 cases of severe facial paralysis were studied before and after microsurgical decompression, by quantitative electromyography (electromyogram integrated in volts) at the site of the zyogmatic arch. -- In 76% of cases, no significant improvement was measured. -- An immediate, frank improvement occurred infrequently (12%), was short-lived and did not have any influence on the final result.

Decompression↗