Internal Consistency and Convergent Validity of the Inventory of Hyperacusis Symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to assess the internal consistency and convergent and discriminant validity of a new questionnaire for hyperacusis, the Inventory of Hyperacusis Symptoms (IHS; Greenberg & Carlos 2018), using a clinical population. DESIGN: This was a retrospective study. Data were gathered from the records of 100 consecutive patients who sought help for tinnitus and/or hyperacusis from an audiology clinic in the United Kingdom. The average age of the patients was 55 years (SD = 13 years). Audiological measures were the pure-tone average threshold (PTA) and uncomfortable loudness levels (ULL). Questionnaires administered were: IHS, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ), Insomnia Severity Index, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha for the 25-item IHS questionnaire was 0.96. Neither the total IHS score nor scores for any of its five subscales were correlated with the PTA of the better or worse ear. This supports the discriminant validity of the IHS, as hyperacusis is thought to be independent of the PTA. There were moderately strong correlations between IHS total scores and scores for the HQ, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9, with r = 0.58, 0.58, 0.61, 0.54, respectively. Thus, although IHS scores may reflect hyperacusis itself, they may also reflect the coexistence of tinnitus, anxiety, and depression. The total score on the IHS was significantly different between patients with and without hyperacusis (as diagnosed based on ULLs or HQ scores). Using the HQ score as a reference, the area under the receiver operating characteristic for the IHS was 0.80 (95% confidence interval = 0.71 to 0.89) and the cutoff point of the IHS with highest overall accuracy was 56/100. The corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 74% and 82%. CONCLUSIONS: The IHS has good internal consistency and reasonably high convergent validity, as indicated by the relationship of IHS scores to HQ scores and ULLs, but IHS scores may also partly reflect the co-occurrence of tinnitus, anxiety, and depression. We propose an IHS cutoff score of 56 instead of 69 for diagnosing hyperacusis

Gabapentin for tinnitus: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: The main aim of this study was to assess the effect of gabapentin on tinnitus via a systematic review. METHOD: An electronic search of literature as well as a hand search were conducted. Only double-blind randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that met all of the inclusion criteria were included in this review. The Cochrane Collaboration tool for risk of bias assessment was used to investigate the validity of the included studies. Meta-analysis was not appropriate due to inadequate details in reporting the data in the included studies. Hence, qualitative synthesis and interpretation of the data were carried out. RESULTS: Two studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in the review. Fourteen studies were excluded. There were substantive within-study clinical heterogeneities with regard to the baseline tinnitus handicap scores, duration of tinnitus, and severity of hearing loss in the included double-blind RCTs. CONCLUSION: The authors of both studies reported that gabapentin was not superior to placebo in their primary outcomes. However, following the assessment of risk of bias and within-study clinical heterogeneities, this review concludes that there is insufficient evidence regarding the effect of gabapentin on tinnitus

Simplified form of tinnitus retraining therapy in adults: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Since the first description of tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT), clinicians have modified and customised the method of TRT in order to suit their practice and their patients. A simplified form of TRT is used at Ealing Primary Care Trust Audiology Department. Simplified TRT is different from TRT in the type and (shorter) duration of the counseling but is similar to TRT in the application of sound therapy except for patients exhibiting tinnitus with no hearing loss and no decreased sound tolerance (wearable sound generators were not mandatory or recommended here, whereas they are for TRT). The main goal of this retrospective study was to assess the efficacy of simplified TRT. METHODS: Data were collected from a series of 42 consecutive patients who underwent simplified TRT for a period of 3 to 23 months. Perceived tinnitus handicap was measured by the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and perceived tinnitus loudness, annoyance and the effect of tinnitus on life were assessed through the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). RESULTS: The mean THI and VAS scores were significantly decreased after 3 to 23 months of treatment. The mean decline of the THI score was 45 (SD = 22) and the difference between pre- and post-treatment scores was statistically significant. The mean decline of the VAS scores was 1.6 (SD = 2.1) for tinnitus loudness, 3.6 (SD = 2.6) for annoyance, and 3.9 (SD = 2.3) for effect on life. The differences between pre- and post-treatment VAS scores were statistically significant for tinnitus loudness, annoyance, and effect on life. The decline of THI scores was not significantly correlated with age and duration of tinnitus. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that benefit may be obtained from a substantially simplified form of TRT

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Alleviating The Distress Caused By Tinnitus, Hyperacusis And Misophonia: Current Perspectives.

This article reviews the evidence related to the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for alleviating the distress caused by tinnitus, hyperacusis and misophonia. Where available, the review was focused on meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using either passive control groups (typically waiting list or education only) or active control groups (receiving some other form of treatment). Where data from RCTs were not available, case studies and retrospective studies were reviewed. Analyses were conducted separately for studies of patients with tinnitus, hyperacusis and misophonia. RCTs show that CBT is effective in alleviating the distress caused by tinnitus in comparison to passive control groups and sometimes active control groups. CBT for tinnitus can be effective both in individual and in group settings, whether delivered by psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, or specially trained audiologists. CBT for tinnitus can also be effective when delivered via the internet, when combined with help from audiologists. Usually, CBT does not reduce the loudness of tinnitus but it can improve quality of life. Case studies and some limited RCTs suggest that CBT can also be effective in alleviating the distress caused by hyperacusis and misophonia. However, RCTs with active control groups are currently lacking. There is strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of CBT in alleviating the distress caused by tinnitus. However, it is not yet clear whether CBT is more effective than some other forms of treatment. RCTs with active control groups are needed to establish more clearly the extent to which CBT is effective in alleviating the distress caused by hyperacusis and misophonia

-AMINOCYCLOPROPANE-1-CARBOXYLATE (ACC) ENRICHMENT: AN EFFECTIVE APPROACH TO SCREEN PLANT GROWTH-PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIA FOR MAIZE

By using enrichment medium containing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) as sole nitrogen source, 21 strains were isolated from the maize rhizosphere in two phases i.e., 9 isolates in first phase and 12 isolates in second phase. Two trials in glass jars were conducted under gnotobiotic conditions to select effective plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). All the 21 isolates tested in both the trials exhibited growth promoting activity in maize but with variable degree of efficacy. Among the 9 isolates tested in 1st trial, isolate Q14 caused an increase of 7.1-folds in root elongation over uninoculated control. Shoot length and seedling fresh weight (root + shoot) were increased up to 7.0-and 2.0-folds, respectively, over uninoculated control in response to inoculation with Q7. In the 2 nd trial, rhizobacterial isolate Q30 was found to be the most effective as its inoculation resulted in 2.8-, 2.0-and 1.7-folds increase in root elongation, shoot length and seedling fresh weight (root + shoot weight), respectively, over uninoculated control. The growth promoting activity exhibited by the rhizobacteria might be due to their ability to hydrolyze ACC, thus resulting in decreased endogenous ethylene synthesis, which eliminated the potential inhibitory effects of higher ethylene concentrations. Results showed that use of ACC-enriched medium is an effective and efficient approach to select promising PGPR

A comparison of interaural asymmetry, audiogram slope, and psychometric measures of tinnitus, hyperacusis, anxiety and depression for patients with unilateral and bilateral tinnitus

OBJECTIVE : To evaluate differences in tinnitus impact, hyperacusis and hearing threshold level (HTL) between patients with unilateral and bilateral tinnitus. For patients with unilateral tinnitus, to compare audiological variables for the tinnitus ear and the non-tinnitus ear. To assess whether the presence of unilateral tinnitus increases the likelihood of interaural hearing asymmetry (relative to bilateral tinnitus) that warrants referral for an MRI scan. DESIGN : Retrospective cross-sectional. STUDY SAMPLE : Data regarding HTLs and responses to self-report questionnaires were collected from the records of 311 patients attending a tinnitus clinic. RESULTS : 38.5% had unilateral tinnitus and the ears with tinnitus had higher HTLs and greater HTL slopes than the ears without tinnitus. There was no significant difference in tinnitus impact and hyperacusis between patients with unilateral and bilateral tinnitus. 40% of patients with unilateral tinnitus and 13% of patients with bilateral tinnitus had a between-ear difference in HTL ≥15 dB at two adjacent frequencies (2AF15 asymmetry). Unilateral tinnitus increased the risk of 2AF15 asymmetry by a factor of 4.4. CONCLUSIONS : Unilateral tinnitus increases the risk of having interaural asymmetry in HTLs that warrants referral for an MRI scan.The Saul and Theresa Esman Foundation.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/iija20hj2024Speech-Language Pathology and AudiologySDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein

Deep Exclusive Electroproduction of \u3ci\u3eπ\u3c/i\u3e\u3csup\u3e0\u3c/sup\u3e at High \u3ci\u3eQ\u3c/i\u3e\u3csup\u3e2\u3c/sup\u3e in the Quark Valence Regime

We report measurements of the exclusive neutral pion electroproduction cross section off protons at large values of B (0.36, 0.48, and 0.60) and Q2 (3.1 to 8.4  GeV2) obtained from Jefferson Lab Hall A experiment E12-06-014. The corresponding structure functions dσT/dt+εdσL/dt, dσTT/dt, dσLT/dt, and dσLT′/dt are extracted as a function of the proton momentum transfer t−tmin. The results suggest the amplitude for transversely polarized virtual photons continues to dominate the cross section throughout this kinematic range. The data are well described by calculations based on transversity generalized parton distributions coupled to a helicity flip distribution amplitude of the pion, thus providing a unique way to probe the structure of the nucleon

Simplified form of tinnitus retraining therapy in adults: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Since the first description of tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT), clinicians have modified and customised the method of TRT in order to suit their practice and their patients. A simplified form of TRT is used at Ealing Primary Care Trust Audiology Department. Simplified TRT is different from TRT in the type and (shorter) duration of the counseling but is similar to TRT in the application of sound therapy except for patients exhibiting tinnitus with no hearing loss and no decreased sound tolerance (wearable sound generators were not mandatory or recommended here, whereas they are for TRT). The main goal of this retrospective study was to assess the efficacy of simplified TRT. METHODS: Data were collected from a series of 42 consecutive patients who underwent simplified TRT for a period of 3 to 23 months. Perceived tinnitus handicap was measured by the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and perceived tinnitus loudness, annoyance and the effect of tinnitus on life were assessed through the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). RESULTS: The mean THI and VAS scores were significantly decreased after 3 to 23 months of treatment. The mean decline of the THI score was 45 (SD = 22) and the difference between pre- and post-treatment scores was statistically significant. The mean decline of the VAS scores was 1.6 (SD = 2.1) for tinnitus loudness, 3.6 (SD = 2.6) for annoyance, and 3.9 (SD = 2.3) for effect on life. The differences between pre- and post-treatment VAS scores were statistically significant for tinnitus loudness, annoyance, and effect on life. The decline of THI scores was not significantly correlated with age and duration of tinnitus. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that benefit may be obtained from a substantially simplified form of TRT

Buying a House: The Decision-Making Process

The home-buying decision process was examined for a couple buying a home. A fourstep decision process was developed by the team and tested on a couple considering buying their first home. The steps were: 1) specify primary criteria; 2) give weights to the criteria via pairwise comparison [1]; 3) select a slate of candidate homes; and 4) rank the homes via pairwise comparison for each criteria. A team member and his spouse whom had purchased homes in the past were asked to specify the criteria most important to them (e.g., price, location, floor plan, etc.). Criteria that were not preferentially independent were grouped to result in five main criteria. Pairwise comparison was used to determine the relative weights of the criteria. Several homes were then selected that met the minimum criteria – price range, number of bedrooms, general location, etc. The couple then selected five homes from the list that they would consider if they were purchasing a home now. Pairwise comparison was then used to develop weights for each home for each criterion. By multiplying the 1x5 criteria weight vector by the 5x5 house/ criteria matrix, a 1x5 vector of “Values” for each alternative (home) was obtained. Based on these values, the homes were ranked from highest value (most desirable) to lowest value. The decision process developed above was then tested with a couple currently seeking to purchase a home. The same steps were followed with the “sample couple.” The couple felt the structured decision process was very helpful in helping them to select a home. A primary assumption made was that buyers considering using this decision process have already considered their finances; that is, they have spoken with a lender to assess their credit and the maximum loan amount they can expect to have approved. It was also assumed that the grouping of criteria within major subheadings (e.g., “Location”) was reasonable and that the team had correctly identified those criteria that are, and are not, preferentially independent. Lastly, for purposes of this project, “virtual visits” to the homes were made via the multiple listing service (MLS) website data. For purposes of ranking the homes, this was considered equivalent to an actual visit to the home. Note: The presentation associated with this report is included here as a supplemental file