Efficacy in noise of the Starkey Surflink Mobile 2 technology in directional versus omnidirectional microphone mode with experienced adult hearing aid users

The Starkey SurfLink Mobile 2 is a remote microphone accessory. Starkey claims that by placing the SurfLink’s internal microphone in the directional microphone setting, the participant will hear better in noise over the omnidirectional setting. This study aims to test the thisthe claim about the devic

Auditory Discrimination and Auditory Sensory Behaviours in Autism Spectrum Disorders

It has been hypothesised that auditory processing may be enhanced in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We tested auditory discrimination ability in 72 adolescents with ASD (39 childhood autism; 33 other ASD) and 57 IQ and age-matched controls, assessing their capacity for successful discrimination of the frequency, intensity and duration differences in pairs of sounds.At the group level, auditory discrimination ability did not differ between the adolescents with and without ASD. However, we found a subgroup of 20% of individuals in the ASD group who showed ‘exceptional’ frequency discrimination skills (defined as 1.65 SDs above the control mean) and who were characterised by average intellectual ability and delayed language onset. Auditory sensory behaviours (i.e. behaviours in response to auditory sensory input) are common in ASD and we hypothesised that these would relate to auditory discrimination ability. For the ASD group, poor performers on the intensity discrimination task reported more auditory sensory behaviours associated with coping with loudness levels. Conversely, those who performed well on the duration discrimination task reported more auditory sensory behaviours across the full range measured. Frequency discrimination ability did not associate with auditory sensory behaviours. We therefore conclude that (i) enhanced frequency discrimination is present in around 1 in 5 individuals with ASD and may represent a specific phenotype; and (ii) individual differences in auditory discrimination ability in ASD may influence the expression of auditory sensory behaviours by modulating the degree to which sounds are detected or missed in the environment

Aerospace medicine and biology: A continuing bibliography with indexes (supplement 335)

This bibliography lists 143 reports, articles and other documents introduced into the NASA Scientific and Technical Information System during March, 1990. Subject coverage includes: aerospace medicine and psychology, life support systems and controlled environments, safety equipment, exobiology and extraterrestrial life, and flight crew behavior and performance

Screening methods for age-related hearing loss in older patients with cancer: A review of the literature

© 2018 by the authors. As people grow older, they may experience loss in hearing sensitivity. Age-related hearing loss may negatively affect the patient's quality of life as it may lead to social isolation. In older patients with cancer, hearing loss can seriously interfere with the patient's ability to deal properly with all aspects of their disease, and may have a cumulative effect on their already decreased quality of life. Therefore, the proper screening of those conditions is essential in order to optimise the patient's comfort during and after treatment. This review article aims at providing a concise image of the nature of age-related hearing loss, and provides an overview of the screening methods that could be used in older patients with cancer

An investigation into the applications of real-time computing techniques in industrial audiometry

The past decade has witnessed an unprecedented public concern about the effects of high noise levels. The concern has mostly resulted from the increased noise levels of aircraft and the annoyance which that noise can cause to an individual exposed to it regularly. An effect of high level noise which has also resulted in enormous concern, but mostly out of the public-eye, has been that of noise induced hearing loss. Throughout industry in the U.K. alone there is an estimated 2 million people subjected to noise levels sufficiently high to endanger their hearing if regular exposure continues over a period of years. In order that these people may be protected from eventual partial or complete deafness their hearing acuity must be measured at regular intervals. The general title of the techniques used for making this measurement is audiometry. In industry there is a growing requirement for accurate and reliable but fast and simple-to-use audiometric equipment to cope with the large numbers of workers requiring regular examination. As a result of recent advances in the design and performance of digital computers intended for control applications the decision was made to investigate their possible use in routine audiometry and in particular in an industrial audiometric unit. Initially in this thesis, an extensive review of the existing audiometric techniques as used in hearing conservation programmes is given. In addition, deficiencies in the methods presently used are highlighted and discussed to reveal possible suitable areas for the application of computer techniques. As a result of this work a new concept of a screening audiometer is evolved in the form of an adaptive screening instrument capable of adjusting its measuring technique to produce optimum results from each subject and of performing much of the record keeping and result-scanning presently done by hand. To substantiate this theoretical work the proposed audiometer system was built on a computer situated in the University. A series of examinations were performed using the system and the results compared with others obtained from the same people by a conventional method. The two sets of results agreed to within acceptable limits and the degree of personal attention required to administer the test was greatly reduced

Market segmentation : the segmentation of the UK market for king size cigarettes on the basis of consumer perceptions and product requirements

The first part of this thesis attempts a synthesis of published research in the general area of market segmentation. Because of the sheer volume of such research the thesis is primarily concerned with domestic, consumer research since 1970, adequate literature reviews being availahle of research prior to this time (see Frank, (1968) and Frank, Massy and Wind (1972)). Study of the literature indicates the growing use of situation specific variables in segmentation research coupled with the increased usage of multivariate techniques. Of particular interest are the more recent attempts to link market segmentation and product positioning methodology. Existing studies, however, are based largely on small, "convenience" samples without validation samples, and tend to be technique oriented, that is they are applications of existing or new techniques rather than attempts to solve problems. The empirical research presents a market segmentation methodology concerned with market gap identification, i.e. segments not adequately satisfied with existing product offerings. The methodology is tested on a large, representative sample of consumers in a particular market using a split sample for analysis and validation and a variety of alternative types of data and methods. Serious doubts are raised about the application of the INDSCAL model for dealing with individual differences in perception and the application of the PREFMAP model for identifying respondents' ideal brand locations. This work suggests that perceptual space segmentation is best accomplished through direct clustering of respondents on the basis of brand similarity judgements and that identification of brand requirements is best accomplished through the rating of the ideal brand along the dimensions of perception. The research indicates segments of consumers with homogeneous perceptions of current brand offerings and homogeneous brand requirements. These segments are further evaluated to determine their value to management as target markets, suggesting alternative marketing strategies

A Descriptive Study Comparing The Results Of Hearing, Vision, And Developmental Screening Of Children At Preschool And School-Age Levels

This study was descriptive in nature, designed to compare the results of vision, hearing, and developmental screening of the same group of children at 2, 3, or 4 years of age and subsequently at 5, 6, or 7 years of age. The researcher hypothesized that there would be no significant difference in the result of screening at the two intervals. The audiometer was used to test hearing, the tele­ binoculars with the Peek-A-Boo series tested vision and the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) tested develop­ mental levels. Nineteen subjects were located and rescreened, and the results compared to the first screening scores• Three null hypotheses were tested utilizing the Wilcoxon paired-sample test at the .05 level of significance. Analysis of the data led the researcher to reject each of the null hypotheses. Scores for hearing, vision, and developmental levels were significantly improved at the rescreening test period

Hearing screening for school children: utility of noise-cancelling headphones

published_or_final_versio