Denise Tucker

The effect of silence on tinnitus perception

OBJECTIVE The effect of sustained silence was studied on the emergence of tinnitus perception in 120 normal hearing young adult Caucasians and African Americans. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING After sitting in a sound booth for a period of 20 minutes, participants were asked to complete a questionnaire documenting whether they perceived sounds in the silent setting and descriptions of the sounds they heard. RESULTS: Tinnitus-like sounds were perceived in 64% of listeners overall. No significant differences in tinnitus perception were observed between males and females. However, there was a significant difference in tinnitus perception between Caucasian and African American subjects, with tinnitus sounds emerging in sustained silence less frequently in African American listeners. Tinnitus emerged quickly in a majority of subjects (less than 4 minutes) and African American subjects who perceived tinnitus heard a greater number of individual tinnitus-like sounds than did Caucasian subjects. Ring (57%), buzz (21%), pulse (22%), heartbeat (21%), and hum (14%) were the most common sounds heard, with ring being the most common overall tinnitus perception. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE Few investigators have documented at the emergence of tinnitus in normal hearing subjects. Results of the current study found significant differences in tinnitus perception between Caucasian and African American subjects, but found no significant differences when comparing males and female subjects. EBM rating: C.

Preparation and Perceptions of Speech-Language Pathologists Working With Children With Cochlear Implants:

This study examined the level of preparedness of North Carolina speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who serve school-aged children with cochlear implants (CIs). A survey distributed to 190 school-based SLPs in North Carolina revealed that 79% of the participants felt they had little to no confidence in managing CI technology or in providing services to children with CIs. Survey results disclosed that 47% of SLPs had either no formal instruction or only one college lecture on CIs. Findings indicated that a lack of instruction in other hearing-related topics exists at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. These results underscore the urgent need for revising preservice curricula for SLPs and audiologists to include more practical training in the habilitation/rehabilitation of children with CIs. Findings also emphasize the need for current practitioners to engage in continuing education to update their knowledge of emerging innovations in CI technology and habilitation.

The Relationship Between Frontal Brain Asymmetry and Exercise Addiction

Previous research on the causes of exercise addiction has focused primarily on the relationships among personality traits, social influences, and disordered eating (Bamber, Cockerill, & Carroll, 2000; Beals, 2004). Few studies, however, have examined the psychophysiological nature of exercise addiction. In a related area of research in which brain activity has been related to affect and mood, results show that frontal asymmetry, as measured by electroencephalogram (EEG), is associated with negative emotions. More specifically, greater activity at right frontal electrode sites is found among individuals suffering from negative affect and depression. Because a defining feature of exercise addiction is the use of exercise to control negative mood states, it is expected that those with exercise addiction exhibit different frontal activity. This study explores the hypothesized relationship between exercise addiction and the level of baseline frontal activity asymmetry, as measured by EEG. Regularly active wome...

Sensory evoked responses in the intensive care unit

Within the past decade, sensory evoked responses (SERs) have been increasingly applied in acute brain injury. In this paper, we present the rationale for this clinical application and discuss principles and practices that are important for successful measurement and interpretation of sensory evoked responses (SERs) in the intensive care unit. Fundamentals of pathophysiology and management of acute brain injury are reviewed. Varied uses of SERs in brain-injured children and adults are illustrated with case reports. Our experience suggests that SER measurement in acute brain injury is clinically challenging yet rewarding. We conclude that, with sufficient preparation, the audiologist can assume an important position on the intensive care unit team in acute management of brain injury.

Salivary Stress-Related Responses in Tinnitus: A Preliminary Study in Young Male Subjects with Tinnitus

Objective: This preliminary study examined if baseline measures of stress-related biomarkers as measured by salivary secretions of specific autonomic [measured by salivary α-amylase (sAA)], endocrine (measured by salivary cortisol), and immune (measured by salivary neopterin) responses are greater in male subjects with tinnitus in response to an induced-stress task. Method: Twenty male subjects with no significant hearing loss, 10 with tinnitus, and 10 without tinnitus were enrolled in this study.Salivary secretions were collected before and after the induced stress task at four different time intervals. Results: sAA levels were lower in the tinnitus group in comparison to subjects without tinnitus, suggesting impaired sympathetic activity in the subjects with tinnitus although these levels remained stable throughout the stress experiment.While no significant effects could be obtained for salivary cortisol or neopterin, salivary neopterin levels were trending toward significance over all measurements. Behavioral measures of stress were found to correlate negatively with measures of sAA and salivary neopterin. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest impaired stress-related sAA mechanisms in male subjects with tinnitus, as evidenced by the different stress reactions induced in the endocrine system (as measured by salivary cortisol) and the immune system (as measured by salivary neopterin).

A polymorphism in human estrogen-related receptor beta (ESRRβ) predicts audiometric temporary threshold shift

Abstract Objective: A non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (rs61742642; C to T, P386S) in the ligand-binding domain of human estrogen-related receptor beta (ESRRβ) showed possible association to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in our previous study. Design: This study was conducted to examine the effect of the ESRRβ rs61742642 T variant on temporary threshold shift (TTS). TTS was induced by 10 minutes of exposure to audiometric narrow-band noise centered at 2000 Hz. Hearing thresholds and distortion product otoacoustic emissions input output function (DP IO) at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz were measured before and after the noise exposure. Study sample: Nineteen participants with rs61742642 CT genotype and 40 participants with rs61742642 CC genotype were recruited for the study. Results: Participants with the CT genotype acquired a significantly greater TTS without convincing evidence of greater DP IO temporary level shift (DPTLS) compared to participants with the CC genotype. Conclusion: The results indicated that the ESRRβ polymorphism is associated with TTS. Future studies were recommended to explore molecular pathways leading to increased susceptibility to NIHL.

Maturational changes in ear advantage for monaural word recognition in noise among listeners with central auditory processing disorders

This study aimed to investigate differences between ears in performance on a monaural word recognition in noise test among individuals across a broad range of ages assessed for (C)APD. Word recognition scores in quiet and in speech noise were collected retrospectively from the medical files of 107 individuals between the ages of 7 and 30 years who were diagnosed with (C)APD. No ear advantage was found on the word recognition in noise task in groups less than ten years. Performance in both ears was equally poor. Right ear performance improved across age groups, with scores of individuals above age 10 years falling within the normal range. In contrast, left ear performance remained essentially stable and in the impaired range across all age groups. Findings indicate poor left hemispheric dominance for speech perception in noise in children below the age of 10 years with (C)APD. However, a right ear advantage on this monaural speech in noise task was observed for individuals 10 years and older.

Impact of Different Cutoff Criteria on Rate of (Central) Auditory Processing Disorders Diagnosis Using the Central Test Battery

The purpose of this study was to quantify how the use of two different cutoff criteria affects the test failure rate and potential diagnosis of central auditory processing disorder ([C]APD) in a sample of children subjected to central auditory processing ([C]AP) assessment. Test failure rates for the central test battery (CTB) using two different cutoff criteria (1 and 2 SDs below the mean) were measured retrospectively for 98 children who completed (C)AP assessment. The rates of potential (C)APD diagnosis ranged from 86.8% [when a 1 standard deviation (SD) cutoff was used] to 66.2% (when a 2 SD cutoff was used). The current use of two different cutoffs for the CTB has a large impact on the diagnostic rate for (C)APD. These findings have clinical implications for the diagnosis of (C)APD due to the widespread use of the CTB in the United States for the assessment of (C)APD in children. Thus, it is important to create awareness among audiologists that use of the 2 SDs cutoff criterion is recommended for reducing false positives (error).

Quality of life and speech perception in two late deafened adults with cochlear implants

The aim was to demonstrate the need for a quality of life assessment in biopsychosocial aural rehabilitation (AR) practices with late deafened adults (LDAs) with cochlear implants (CIs). We present a case report of a medical records review of two LDAs enrolled in a biopsychosocial group AR program. A speech perception test Contrasts for Auditory and Speech Training (CAST) and a quality of life (QoL) assessment the Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire (NCIQ) were given prior to AR therapy. CAST scores indicated both patients had excellent basic speech perception. However, NCIQ results revealed patients’ difficulties in basic and advanced listening settings. NCIQ highlighted patients’ self-perceived poor self-esteem and ongoing challenges to their QoL. Speech perception testing results alone are not enough to document the daily challenges of QoL needs of LDAs with CIs. The inclusion of a QoL measure such as the NCIQ is vital in evaluating outcomes of cochlear implantation in LDAs.