Acclimatization in first-time hearing aid users using three different fitting protocols.

Monika Bertges Reber; Martin Kompis

doi:10.1016/j.anl.2005.05.008

Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 16039083

Acclimatization in first-time hearing aid users using three different fitting protocols.

Monika Bertges Reber·Martin Kompis

View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To study auditory acclimatization and outcome in first time hearing aid users fitted with state of the art hearing aids as a function of different hearing aid fitting protocols. METHODS: Twenty-eight adult subjects participated in the study. Each subject was assigned to one of three study groups (named audiologist driven, AD; patient driven, PD; set-to-target, STT according to the fitting protocol used) and fitted with digital hearing aids (Bernafon Symbio). Speech recognition scores were measured in aided and unaided conditions over a 6-month period. RESULTS: Five subjects (three from the PD-group, two from the STT group) decided to withdraw from the study during the 6-month-study period, leaving a total of 23 complete data sets for analysis. Aided speech understanding increased significantly over this time period in all three groups. However, average hearing aid insertion gain changes were small over the same period. There were no statistically significant differences in aided or unaided speech recognition scores between the three groups after 2 weeks or after 6 months. On average, twice as many fine tunings of the hearing aids were requested by the patients in the AD and the STT group than in the PD group and subjects in the AD and STT group used their hearing aids approximately twice as much as subjects in the PD group. CONCLUSIONS: The substantial increase in speech intelligibility without significant changes of the insertion gain of the hearing aids over a 6-month period in all three groups suggests a significant acclimatization effect. Although the speech recognition with hearing aids did not differ significantly among the three study groups after 6 months, the lower average wearing time and the higher number of withdrawals from the study in the PD group suggest that the patients' needs are not adequately met. In terms of aided speech recognition scores and hearing aid wearing time the STT group and the AD group were very similar. However, comments of the patients and the higher rate of withdrawals in the STT group suggest an over-all advantage for the AD fitting protocol.

Explore related subjects

Adaptation, Psychological Adult Aged Audiometry, Pure-Tone Female Hearing Aids Hearing Loss, Sensorineural Humans Male Middle Aged Prosthesis Fitting Speech Perception Surveys and Questionnaires Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeX RIS

Monika Bertges Reber, Martin Kompis. 2005-07-20. Acclimatization in first-time hearing aid users using three different fitting protocols.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anl.2005.05.008

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2007

Neuropeptide Y activates urocortin 1 neurons in the nonpreganglionic Edinger-Westphal nucleus.

Central regulatory pathways promoting stress adaptation utilize various neurotransmitters/neuropeptides, such as urocortin 1 (Ucn1) and neuropeptide Y (NPY). Ucn1 is abundantly expressed in the nonpreganglionic Edinger-Westphal nucleus (npEW), where it is codistributed with NPY-immunoreactive (ir) terminals. A special role for both neuropeptides has been postulated in stress adaptation. Using double-labeling immunohistochemistry, we observed close appositions between NPY-ir terminals and neurons immunoreactive for Ucn1 in the rat, as well as in the human npEW. Therefore, we hypothesized that NPY might control the activity of Ucn1-positive neurons in the npEW. To test this hypothesis, NPY was injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle of rats, resulting in a strong activation of npEW Ucn1 neurons as revealed by Fos immunohistochemistry. Ucn1 mRNA was also upregulated in the npEW 2 hours after the injection of NPY. In a search for the type of NPY receptor that mediates this NPY-induced recruitment of npEW-Ucn1 cells, we found that the great majority of Ucn1 cells exhibited NPY Y5 receptor immunoreactivity, and only a few of the Ucn1 cells coexpressed the Y1 receptor. We concluded that NPY, via NPY Y5 and to a lesser extent via the Y1 receptors, exerts a stimulatory action on Ucn1 cells in the npEW. Further studies are currently in progress to elucidate the significance of this NPY-Ucn1 interaction in the npEW.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2007

Coping with hallucinated voices in schizophrenia: a review of self-initiated strategies and therapeutic interventions.

This article reviews the state of knowledge about strategies used by people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia to cope with hallucinated voices, and considers the role of coping in psychological treatments for persisting symptoms. The use of self-initiated ('natural') coping strategies appears almost universal amongst voice-hearers. These strategies are similar across cultures, and include diverse behaviours, only a minority of which is specific to hallucinations. Most strategies are reported by at least some users to be effective, but more sophisticated outcome studies are lacking. Some evidence for the efficacy of certain behavioural techniques of coping, for the manipulation of auditory input, and for strategies involving subvocalisation, is available from experimental studies. Therapeutic enhancement of natural coping strategies for persisting symptoms has demonstrated some efficacy, but its benefit for voices is unknown. Despite this, it has become an established part of some CBT interventions for psychosis. Further advances in knowledge and practice may come from utilisation of coping models in research, longitudinal and ideographic methods of study and a movement away from descriptive coping lists to investigations of coping styles, mechanisms of action, and the process of coping.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2007

Spirituality/religiosity promotes acceptance-based responding and 12-step involvement.

BACKGROUND: Previous investigations have observed that spirituality/religiosity (S/R) is associated with enhanced 12-step involvement. However, relatively few studies have attempted to examine the mechanisms for this effect. For the present investigation, we examined whether acceptance-based responding (ABR) - awareness or acknowledgement of internal experiences that allows one to consider and perform potentially adaptive responses - accounted for the effect of S/R on 12-step self-help group involvement 2 years after a treatment episode. METHODS: Data were collected as part of a multi-site treatment outcome study with 3698 substance-dependent male veterans recruited at baseline. Assessments were conducted at baseline, discharge, 1-year follow-up, and 2-year follow-up. We utilized structural equation modeling to examine the relationships among latent variables of S/R, ABR, and 12-step involvement over time. RESULTS: In the final model, S/R was not directly related to 12-step involvement at 2-year follow-up. However, S/R predicted enhanced ABR at 1-year follow-up after accounting for discharge levels of ABR. In turn, ABR at 1-year follow-up predicted increased 12-step involvement at 2-year follow-up after accounting for discharge levels of 12-step involvement. CONCLUSIONS: S/R promotes the use of post-treatment self-regulation skills that, in turn, directly contribute to ongoing 12-step self-help group involvement.

Adaptation, Psychological↗