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Biomedical subjects

F H Bess

Publications and source records attributed to F H Bess.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Further observations on noise levels in infant incubators.

The purpose of this study was to conduct an acoustic analysis of incubator noise under two conditions: when the incubator was associated with different types of life-support equipment; and when impulse noise was created by striking the side of the incubator or by opening and closing the doors of the storage unit. It was found that the life-support equipment increased the overall noise levels of incubators by as much as 15 to 20 dB. Much of this increased energy was in the high frequency region. Impulse signals created by striking the side of the incubator ranged from 130 to 140 dB. A representative impulse for opening the incubator was 92.8 dB, whereas closing the door produced a peak amplitude of 114 dB.

Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced↗
PubMed1979

Two experiments on subtle mid-frequency hearing loss and its influence on word discrimination in noise-exposed listeners.

The present study consisted of two experiments. Experiment I was directed toward the detection of subtle mid-frequency cochlear dysfunction and the determination of word discrimination in noise for persons with noise-induced hearing loss. The presence of significantly elevated aural-overload thresholds, consistent with the presence of cochlear pathology in regions of normal pure-tone sensitivity, confirmed previous findings obtained with this subject population by other investigators. In addition, a marked reduction in word discrimination was observed in the presence of a background of competing noise. For experiment II, normal hearers listened to consonant-nucleus-consonant monosyllables filtered to match the mean audiometric configuration of the noise-exposed subjects in experiment I. Results showed significantly better performance with these filtered words by the normally hearing subjects than that by the noise-exposed group for unfiltered materials. The results of the second experiment were interpreted as providing further support for the presence of subtle auditory dysfunction in the mid-frequencies despite normal threshold sensitivity in this same frequency region.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1979

Performance intensity functions in cochlear and eighth nerve disorders.

In this report, performance intensity functions for monosyllabic materials (PI-PB) were obtained on two groups of subject: 20 patients with eighth nerve pathology and 15 individuals with Meniere's disease. The subjects with retrocochlear involvement exhibited marked deterioration in word recognition as the speech intensity was increased beyond the level required for a maximum discrimination score. Such a dramatic breakdown, referred to as the "rollover effect," was not seen to occur among the subjects with cochlear disorders. Hence, the PI-PB function appears to be a valuable tool for use in the special test battery.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Word discrimination for listeners with flat sensorineural hearing losses.

This study examined discrimination scores among listeners (742 ears) with flat sensorineural hearing losses. The discrimination data were analyzed in terms of degree of hearing impairment and subject age. Contrary to previous findings, the results showed that the average subject exhibited a discriminative ability of 70% or better for hearing levels less than 60 dB. A 10 to 20% decline in intelligibility, however, was found for losses 60 dB and greater. Listeners' performance decreased somewhat as a function of age especially for subjects with the greatest hearing losses. Finally, a subject's word discrimination was similar whether hearing loss was based on a three- or a five-frequency average.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Split-half reliability of two word discrimination tests as a function of primary-to-secondary ratio.

Two clinical word discrimination tests, the Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6 (NU-6) and the Modified Rhyme Test (MRT), were examined for internal consistency and for split-half reliability under varying primary-to-secondary ratios (P:S) in normal hearers. Although the statistical analysis indicated that half-lists could be used reliably for both discrimination tests at most P:S conditions, the wide variability found among individual listeners does not support the clinical practice of half-list testing in noise--at least not for normal-hearing listeners.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Intelligibility of time-altered speech in relation to chronological aging.

The Northwestern University Auditory Test Number 6 (NU-6) measure of speech discrimination was time compressed and presented to four age groups ranging from 54 to 84 years of age. Experimental stimuli were presented at sensation levels of 24, 32, and 40 dB to an equal number of right and left ears and male and female subjects. Results indicated that intelligibility decreased as a function of increasing time compression and age and decreasing sensation level. Changes in speech intelligibility associated with the aging process appear to be closely allied to changes in the temporal resolving power of the central auditory processing system.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Audiometric, impedance, and otoscopic findings in children with cleft palates.

We examined the prevalence of hearing loss and/or middle ear disease among 34 children with cleft palates, using pure-tone audiometry, acoustic impedance, and pneumatic otoscopy. The overall incidence of hearing loss and otitic complications varied from 57% to 68%, depending on the procedure used. Of the three clinical procedures used in this study, pure-tone audiometry exhibited the poorest diagnostic efficiency. Close predictive agreement was found between impedance and otoscopy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Acoustic reflex relaxation in sensorineural hearing loss.

This study examined stapedial reflex recordings of pulsed pure tones (500, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 Hz) in 26 subjects with normal hearing and 18 with sensorineural impairment. The stapedial reflex tracings clearly differentiated the two groups of subjects. Like many of our special audiometric procedures, this test was least effective in those with mild hearing loss. The test also appeared to be useful in identifying high-frequency hearing losses. Although this reflex measurement appears to have potential as a clinical tool, additional field study appears necessary.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1975

Acoustic impedance measurements in cleft-palate children.

Clinical acoustic impedance findings in a group of 40 children with cleft lip or palate and a group of 20 noncleft children are presented. The cleft subjects exhibited a high incidence of hearing loss and aural pathology. The data suggest that impedance measurements lend pertinent supportive information to routine puretone audiometric testing in the detection and management of middle-ear disease in the cleft-palate population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Hearing sensitivity in rural Michigan.

In a survey of the hearing sensitivity of a rural mid-Michigan population, 1,325 adults over 15 years of age received pure tone air conduction tests in a "mini" IAC room housed in a small trailer. In addition, a detailed questionnaire was administered to each person to obtain information about his exposure to noise vocationally and avocationally, family history of hearing loss, etc. Results indicated that, on the average, individuals displayed hearing losses considerably greater than was predicted on the basis of presbycusis alone. Also, people who had never had any industrial noise exposure had thresholds almost as poor as those who had worked in factories. These findings are discussed in view of the subject's exposure to various types of nonoccupational noise such as snowmobiles and motorcycles.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Acupuncture and transdermal electrostimulation in the treatment of deafness.

A review and critique of the research on acupuncture and transdermal electrostimulation therapy in treating sensorineural hearing loss is presented. Of 111 subjects in these studies were noted to exhibit a decrease in hearing sensitivity. Additional data collected at our clinics on four preschool hearing-impaired children failed to provide evidence of improvement following acupuncture. Similar results are reported with transdermal therapy, suggesting that both procedures are inappropriate for the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss.

Acupuncture Therapy↗