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Alterations of bone conducted hearing in cases of modified middle ear mechanics. Conclusions from an electrical model.

In clinical diagnosis bone conduction thresholds can be used to assess impaired hearing caused by pathological function of the inner ear. The effects of changed mechanical properties of the middle ear on bone conduction are usually not considered in patients who simultaneously suffer from middle ear and inner ear diseases. This procedure is only partially correct. An exact determination of the effects of altered middle ear mechanics on bone conduction in patients with otosclerosis or after middle ear operations is rather difficult, but such determinations can improve diagnostic validity. Therefore, a special electrical model was constructed to simulate the oscillation pattern of the basilar membrane for bone conduction and variable middle ear impedance. Results from the model and possible conclusions on bone conducted hearing in vivo are discussed. Further steps to ensure measurements of inner ear function in cases with modified middle ear mechanics are proposed.

Basilar Membrane↗

Influence of the thickness of the skin and subcutaneous tissue covering the mastoid on bone-conduction thresholds obtained transcutaneously versus percutaneously.

Percutaneous and transcutaneous bone-conduction thresholds were obtained at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz in 57 patients who were fitted with the Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA). Additionally, the thickness of the skin and subcutaneous tissue covering the mastoid was determined. No relation was found between the thickness of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, and the improvement in bone-conduction thresholds at any of the frequencies, i.e. thresholds obtained percutaneously minus transcutaneously. The improvement (or deterioration) in speech recognition with the BAHA in a subgroup of patients who had previously used a (conventional) transcutaneous bone-conduction hearing aid was not related to the thickness of the skin and subcutaneous tissue layers. Therefore, the thickness of the skin and subcutaneous tissue layers measured pre-operatively cannot be used as a predictor of successful fitting with a BAHA.

Adolescent↗

Results of bone conduction following surgery for chronic ear disease.

Preoperative and postoperative bone conduction thresholds were compared in 181 chronic ears operated on over a 5-year period between 1990 to 1994. In the majority (92%) of cases the bone conduction thresholds remained unchanged (+/-10 dB). Nine ears (5%) showed better thresholds after surgery, with improvements ranging from 11 dB to 25 dB. This improvement was especially noted in ears with severe tympanic pathology. One ear with a large labyrinthine fistula became totally deaf after surgery. In 5 ears (3%) bone-conduction thresholds deteriorated, but remained measurable at all frequencies tested. In these latter cases this impairment ranged from 11 dB to 27 dB. Cholesteatomatous ears having intact ossicular chains were found to be at the highest risk of inner ear damage when "canal wall-down" mastoidectomies were performed. Methods for prevention of sensorineural hearing loss following chronic ear surgery are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Large vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in response to bone-conducted sounds in patients with superior canal dehiscence syndrome.

Dehiscence of the superior semicircular canal is a 'new' vestibular entity. Among these patients, the vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) in response to air-conducted sounds are large. In the present study, VEMP in response to bone-conducted sounds were studied in 5 normal subjects, in 3 patients after (unilateral) labyrinthectomy and in 4 patients with (unilateral) superior canal dehiscence syndrome. The bone-conducted sound stimulus was a 250- and a 500- tone burst delivered monaurally on the mastoid using standard bone conductors. Among the normals, bone-conducted sounds delivered monaurally caused VEMP bilaterally. There was, however, a transcranial attenuation for the 500-Hz stimulus, but less so for the 250-Hz stimulus. Among the patients with labyrinthectomy there were VEMP on the healthy side, but not on the lesioned side, irrespective of whether the bone-conducted sounds were presented behind the healthy or the operated ear. Among the patients with superior canal dehiscence syndrome, the VEMP on the affected side were larger than on the healthy side. This suggests that there is also vestibular hypersensitivity for bone-conducted sounds in these patients.

Adult↗

Computerized in-situ test for bone conduction hearing aids.

Conventionally, bone-conduction (BC) hearing aids are tested with skull simulator devices and the individual adjustments are reliant on psychoacoustic free-field audiometry. Here we present a novel PC-based system for in situ measurements of BC hearing aids. With the presented system, we are able to measure the hearing aid induced skull vibrations in relation to the individual BC hearing threshold at given frequencies. According to the preliminary measurements, the vibration levels are relatively low but the system is sensitive enough for relevant measurements.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Skull simulator for direct bone conduction hearing devices.

The Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) is a direct bone conduction hearing device which has given patients with various middle ear disorders a significantly improved quality of life. As the BAHA has gained acceptance as a valuable contribution to the Swedish hearing aid rehabilitation program, the need for equipment which can perform objective frequency response measurements has grown. Such equipment is indispensable for carrying out quality assurance, service, and fitting evaluation. To meet the above-mentioned demands, the skull simulator TU-1000 has been developed. The dynamic behaviour of the skull simulator TU-1000 can be characterized as that of a rigid mass body with a weight significantly exceeding the weight corresponding to the dynamic mass of the transducer incorporated in the BAHA. The motions of the mass body are measured by an accelerometer the output signal of which is amplified by a precalibrated amplifier. The output signal is proportional to the output force level from the BAHA. The skull simulator TU-1000 is capable of measuring the output force level from the BAHA with high reliability for frequencies ranging from 100 Hz to 10 kHz.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Sensitivity to bone-conducted sound: excitation of the mastoid vs the teeth.

The sensitivity of nine subjects to bone-conducted sound was measured at three positions: osseointegrated percutaneous titanium implants in the temporal bone, the skin-covered mastoid and the teeth. Voltage levels supplied to a bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) transducer and to an Oticon bone-transducer were measured and the thresholds obtained at the three positions were compared. Using the mechanical impedance of the teeth, the parameters of a first order model for the vibration transmission through the teeth was calculated. Also, the equivalent force thresholds were calculated from the voltage threshold levels. The sensitivity to bone-conducted sound, for both voltage and force thresholds, conformed fairly well at the three positions for frequencies below 1 kHz; however, above 1 kHz, bone-conducted sound applied at the titanium implant becomes more sensitive than at the two other positions investigated. It was concluded that the teeth can be used for the application of bone-conducted sound, in particular for pre-operative assessment of a BAHA and to facilitate service and quality control of such a hearing device.

Adult↗

Bone-conducted evoked myogenic potentials from the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

The aim of this study was to show that bone-conducted clicks and short tone bursts (STBs) can evoke myogenic potentials from the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) and that these responses are of vestibular origin. Evoked potential responses to bone-conducted auditory stimuli were recorded from the SCMs of 20 normal volunteers and from 12 patients with well-defined lesions of the middle or inner ear or the VIIIth cranial nerve. The subjects, who had various labyrinthine and retro-labyrinthine pathologies, included five patients with bilateral profound conductive hearing loss, two with bilateral acoustic neuroma post-total neurectomy and five with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Air- and bone-conducted evoked myogenic potentials in response to clicks and STBs were recorded with surface electrodes over each SCM of each subject. In normal subjects, bone- and air-conducted clicks and STBs evoked biphasic responses from the SCM ipsilateral to the stimulated ear. The bone-conducted clicks evoked short-latency vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) responses only in young subjects or in subjects with conductive hearing loss. STBs evoked VEMPs with higher amplitude and better waveform morphology than clicks with the same acoustic intensity. Patients with total VIIIth cranial nerve neurectomy showed no responses to air- or bone-conducted click or STB stimuli. Clear VEMP responses were evoked from patients with conductive or sensorineural hearing loss. It is concluded that loud auditory stimuli delivered by bone- as well as air conduction can evoke myogenic potentials from the SCM. These responses seem to be of vestibular origin.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Multiple auditory steady-state response thresholds to bone-conduction stimuli in young infants with normal hearing.

OBJECTIVE: Multiple auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) probably will be incorporated into the diagnostic test battery for estimating hearing thresholds in young infants in the near future. Limiting this, however, is the fact that there are no published bone-conduction ASSR threshold data for infants with normal or impaired hearing. The objective of this study was to investigate bone-conduction ASSR thresholds in infants from a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and in young infants with normal hearing and to compare these with adult ASSR thresholds. DESIGN: ASSR thresholds to multiple bone-conduction stimuli (carrier frequencies: 500 to 4000 Hz; 77 to 101-Hz modulation rates; amplitude/frequency modulated; single-polarity stimulus) were obtained in two infant groups [N = 29 preterm (32 to 43 wk PCA), tested in NICU; N = 14 postterm (0 to 8 mo), tested in sound booth]. All infants had passed a hearing screening test. ASSR thresholds, amplitudes, and phase delays for preterm and postterm infants were compared with previously collected adult data. RESULTS: Mean (+/-1 SD) ASSR thresholds were 16 (11), 16 (10), 37 (10), and 33 (13) dB HL for the preterm infants and 14 (13), 2 (7), 26 (6), and 22 (8) dB HL for the postterm infants at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz, respectively. Both infant groups had significantly better thresholds for 500 and 1000 Hz compared with 2000 and 4000 Hz, in contrast to adults who have similar thresholds across frequency (22, 26, 18, and 18 dB HL). When 500- and 1000-Hz thresholds were pooled, pre- and postterm infants had better low-frequency thresholds than adults. When 2000- and 4000-Hz thresholds were pooled, pre- and postterm infants had poorer thresholds than adults. ASSR amplitudes were significantly larger for low frequencies compared with high frequencies for both infant groups, in contrast to adults, who show little difference across frequency. ASSR phase delays were later for lower frequencies compared with higher frequencies for infants and adults, except for 500 Hz in the preterm group. ASSR phase delays were later for infants compared with adults across frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Infant bone-conduction ASSR thresholds are very different from those of adults. Overall, these results indicate that low-frequency bone-conduction thresholds worsen and high-frequency bone-conduction thresholds improve with maturation. Bone-conduction ASSR threshold differences between the postterm infants and adults probably are due to skull maturation. Differences between preterm and older infants may be explained both by skull changes and a masking effect of high ambient noise levels in the NICU (and possibly to other issues due to prematurity).

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Change of bone conduction thresholds by total footplate stapedectomy in relation to age.

INTRODUCTION: The influence of age on threshold changes of bone conduction after stapedectomy has not been thoroughly studied. Improvement of the Carhart notch by stapes surgery might be related to age as well as an increase in cochlear sensitivity to surgical trauma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study on the outcome of stapedectomy was undertaken. The results of surgery performed on 387 ears in 315 patients for otosclerosis between 1962 and 1989 were obtained. Stapedectomy, performed by a single surgeon, consisted of total stapedectomy, seal of the oval window with tragal perichondrium, and insertion of a free tragal cartilage graft. RESULTS: Analysis of bone conduction changes with stapedectomy shows an average improvement of 5 to 6 dB at 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz with best improvement at 2 kHz. At 4 kHz a mean decrease of 4 dB is recognized. The improvement of bone conduction at 2 kHz is 12 dB in patients younger than 30 years compared with 4 dB in patients older than 60 years (P < .05). The youngest group was improved by 2 dB at 4 kHz, whereas the oldest group deteriorated by 5 dB (P < .05). Age relationship was apparent in all 4 frequencies. CONCLUSIONS: With increasing age there is less improvement in bone conduction at 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz with correction of the Carhart notch and more deterioration at 4 kHz. The cochlear sensitivity to surgical trauma increases with age. In younger patients the preoperative bone conduction levels do not reflect the true cochlear reserve. Patients younger than 40 years of age might profit more from a partial or total footplate removal in stapedectomy, as this better corrects the Carhart notch. Patients older than 40 years of age might profit from a stapedotomy as this better preserves high frequencies.

Adult↗

Reproducibility of hearing threshold measurements. Supplementary data on bone-conduction and speech audiometry.

The reproducibility of bone-conduction pure-tone audiometry and speech recognition thresholds has been tested in groups of normal-hearing subjects. Each person was tested twice during the same day, and the test-retest difference was calculated. The reproducibility is presented as the standard deviation of this difference. Bone-conduction threshold measurements have a high degree of test-retest precision, whereas air-bone gaps show a large range of distribution in these normal-hearing subjects. This makes the interpretation of such gaps spurious when values are below 20-30 dB. Speech recognition threshold has the highest degree of test-retest precision of all audiometric tests, and this is probably due to the steep slope of the psychometric function at 50% intelligibility. A more detailed graphic presentation of the 50% point of intersection will bring the reproducibility down to less than 2.5 dB.

Adult↗

Bone conduction calibration: current status.

Attempts to specify normal threshold sensitivity by bone conduction have been unsuccessful because of problems in obtaining reliable measurements from commercially available artificial mastoids. Recent design modifications incorporated in the Bruel and Kjaer 4930 artificial mastoids have resulted in greater uniformity among these units. However, the new design has resulted in impedances that are higher than those recommended in current standards. Bone-conduction thresholds referenced to measurements made on B & K 4930 artificial mastoids with the new design were performed on 60 normal listeners by three participating laboratories. The results are reported for consideration in the development of a reference threshold for hearing by bone conduction.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗

Bone conduction variation poststapedotomy.

We evaluated the variation in bone conduction auditory thresholds in patients undergoing surgical intervention for otosclerosis as part of our report on the use of surgery in patients with a small air-bone gap. Of the 110 patients who underwent stapedotomy, 45 were treated by traditional surgery and 65 with carbon dioxide laser, with a follow-up of 3 years at 500-, 1000-, 2000-, and 3000-Hz frequencies. Both surgical techniques resulted in improvements in air conduction in more than 95% of cases; bone conduction improved more in patients treated with carbon dioxide laser (7.1 dB) compared to those treated with traditional surgery (4 dB) (P < .01). Furthermore, improvement in bone conduction was greater and more frequent in younger subjects (below 45 years) (P < .05). In conclusion, this study allows us to express a positive prognosis when considering otosclerotic patients with sensorineural hearing loss and small air-bone gap.

Adult↗

Short- and long-term results with implantable transcutaneous and percutaneous bone-conduction devices.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the percutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA; type NBC-HC-200, Nobel Biocare, Gothenburg, Sweden) and the transcutaneous temporal bone stimulator (TBS; Xomed-Treace, Jacksonville, Fla) with conventional hearing aids and to evaluate long-term results. DESIGN: In a prospective clinical study, the new implantable bone-conduction devices were compared with the patients' previous conventional hearing aids. Speech perception in quiet and in noise were studied, and a questionnaire concerning the actual use of the device and speech recognition was administered. During follow-up that exceeded 4 1/2 years, relevant technical and medical problems were documented. PATIENTS: Forty-one successive subjects who were fitted with a BAHA and 17 subjects who were fitted with a TBS. RESULTS: In most subjects who had previously used a bone-conduction device, the new BAHA and TBS devices led to improved or comparable results on speech recognition tests and the questionnaire. However, among the subjects who had previously used air-conduction hearing aids, the results were ambiguous. In the long-term, the percentage of nonusers in the BAHA group was 5% (2/39); in the TBS group, 65% (13/20). The main reasons for not using the TBS were insufficient gain and medical and technical problems. The vulnerability of the percutaneous coupling of the BAHA to trauma or inflammation was not a major issue; only 4 implants were lost during the total follow-up of more than 250 years. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that the BAHA is the better choice.

Adolescent↗

Comments on the acoustic-reflex response for bone-conducted signals.

Previous studies which have measured acoustic-reflex responses to bone-conducted signals have not effectively differentiated reflex responses from artifacts. A convenient method for identifying such artifacts was developed and employed on some acoustic-reflex measures for bone-conducted signals. The findings indicated that artifacts result when a frequently-used acoustic admittance meter (Grason-Stadler 1720B) and a conventional bone vibrator were used to measure reflex responses for tonal and noise-activating signals. It was suggested that the method be employed in future studies which investigate the acoustic reflex in response to bone-conducted signals.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗

Effect of vibrator to head coupling force on the auditory brain stem response to bone conducted clicks in newborn infants.

The effect of vibrator to head coupling force on the auditory brain stem response (ABR) to bone conducted clicks in newborn infants was investigated. Twenty full term newborn infants were tested. ABRs to bone conducted clicks were obtained with four different coupling forces (225, 325, 425, and 525 g) at stimulus intensities of 15 and 30 dB nHL. ABRs to air conducted clicks were also obtained at 30 dB nHL. The results of this study indicated that ABR wave V latencies to bone conducted clicks in newborn infants were affected significantly when the vibrator to head coupling force shift exceeded 200 g. It is recommended that the coupling force be controlled and remain consistent when implementing ABR to bone conducted stimuli in newborn infants.

Audiometry, Evoked Response↗

Effects of contralateral masking on high-frequency bone-conduction thresholds.

The present study reports effects of contralateral masking on high-frequency threshold force levels in 28 normal-hearing subjects. High-frequency air- and bone-conduction thresholds were measured with a high-frequency auditory evaluation system using matched Koss HV/1A earphones and the Pracitronic KH 70/5 bone vibrator. Measurements were made for both unmasked and masked bone-conduction thresholds at the ipsilateral mastoid of the better ear. The contralateral masked condition was performed using 30-dB-SL 400-Hz narrow-band masking noise centered at frequency of test tone. The results demonstrated that masked high-frequency bone-conduction thresholds were 1.5 to 3.4 dB poorer than the unmasked thresholds and that these differences were statistically significant at 0.01 level of confidence except at 12 kHz. ANSI and ISO standards for bone-conduction threshold force levels for frequencies below 8.0 kHz have been established with contralateral masking stimuli. This study supports the need to use effective contralateral masking to eliminate cross hearing in investigations of high-frequency bone-conduction threshold measurements.

Adult↗

Development of hearing in neonatal rats: air and bone conducted ABR thresholds.

While the human full-term neonate can hear at birth, in the rat the onset of auditory function as monitored by recording auditory nerve-brainstem evoked responses (ABR) has been reported to begin on post-natal day (PND) 12-14 and reaches adult thresholds at about 22 days. In order to determine the factors involved in this late onset and then rapid threshold improvement in rats, the ABR to both air conducted (AC) and bone-conducted (BC) auditory stimulation was determined in neonatal rats. ABR to maximal intensity BC stimuli (55 dB above adult rat ABR threshold--55 dB HL*) could be recorded from PND 7-8 while AC responses to 80 dB HL* stimuli, only from PND 11. The air-bone gap (a measure of conductive immaturities only) disappeared on PND 15. This shows that there are both conductive (external and middle ear--Air-bone gap) and sensori-neural (inner ear--BC threshold) immaturities in the neonatal rat; the conductive factors are resolved by PND 15 while the sensori-neural continue after that. With respect to conductive factors, it seems that the state of the ear canal is not important while the chief conductive factors involved probably include mesenchyme resorption and/or ossicular ossification. The chief sensori-neural factor may be the development of the endocochlear potential. It is likely that the human fetus in-utero undergoes similar stages of development.

Acoustic Stimulation↗