Kathleen M. Hutchinson

Effects of Submaximal Exercise and Noise Exposure on Hearing Loss

A recent Scandinavian study reported that persons cycling at moderate intensity for 10 min suffered hearing loss when the exercise was accompanied by noise. The noise consisted of a 1/3 octave band-filtered noise with a 2000 Hz center frequency at 104 dB SPL. In the present study, adults cycled at 50 rev.min-1 against a force that elicited an oxygen cost equal to 70% of VO2max--an intensity frequently recommended in exercise prescriptions--with and without noise administered via headphones. Repeated measures ANOVA with three factors revealed that although a temporary hearing loss occurred following exercise-and-noise, a similar and slightly greater hearing loss occurred following noise-only. Hearing sensitivity was not significantly altered by exercise-only (p greater than .05). In general, hearing loss values were greatest between 3000 and 4000 Hz. In conclusion, temporary hearing loss was driven by noise exposure, not exercise. However, persons who choose to exercise with personal headphones or in a noisy environment should be aware of potential premature hearing loss.

Effects of Exercise Training on Hearing Ability

This study was designed to determine whether improvements in both cardiovascular fitness and hearing sensitivity occurred following 2 months of aerobic exercise training. Seventeen moderately-low fit (VO2 peak <32 ml/kg/min) young adults were evaluated for cardiovascular fitness and pure-tone and temporary threshold shifts (TTS) at 2, 3, and 4 kHz before and following 10 min of noise. Subjects exercised for 8 weeks by cycling on a bicycle ergometer at 70% of their peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak). Average VO2 peak increased 34% (p < 0.05) above pre-exercise training levels. Both pure-tone hearing (2 and 3 kHz) and TTS improved following 2 months of exercise training at the evaluated frequencies (2, 3, and 4 kHz) (p < 0.05). Cardiovascular health as indicated by VO2 peak was associated with hearing sensitivity. Although the mechanisms have not been identified, these results support the existence of a cardiovascular health-hearing synergism.

Effects of Infant-Parent Play with a Technology-Enhanced Toy: Affordance-Related Actions and Communicative Interactions.

Infant-parent play with toys is an early form of social communication, and the toy features (i.e., affordances), as well as the childs language competence, contribute to the developmental level of the play and the types of play actions that occur. This research, conducted in cooperation with a toy manufacturer, investigated how the affordances of a technology-enhanced toy were used by 26 infant-parent pairs during six clinical sessions of play with the toy. The types of play, the features of the toy that elicited play, the humor elicited by the toy, and the communicative interactions of the parent and child were observed. Results indicated that certain affordances of the toy were used in exploration, practice play, and social games and were related to episodes of child laughter. The communicative interactions of the parents and the language patterns used in the sessions grew in complexity as the childrens language facility increased. The affordances of the toy played a role in a variety of parent-child interactions and joint attention experiences.

The Psychosocial Effects of Cleft Lip and Palate in Non-Anglo Populations: A Cross-Cultural Meta-Analysis

Objective A meta-analytic study was conducted to examine the cross-cultural psychosocial impact of cleft lip and/or palate in non-Anglo populations. Design A total of 333 citations were initially identified for review using electronic and hand-search strategies. Of the six studies that met inclusion criteria, two were later excluded due to insufficient data. The four remaining studies represented a combined sample size of 2276 adolescents and adults with cleft lip and/or palate from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Norway. Main outcome Measures Effect size using Cohens d and confidence intervals were estimated using data from four studies of empirical, controlled study designs. Results The magnitude of effect sizes indicated that men (d = −0.75) with cleft lip and/or palate in non-Anglo cultures are more prone to psychosocial issues than women (d = −0.33). Adults (d = −0.50) are more impacted than adolescents (d = −0.04). Overall, regardless of age, gender, or culture, individuals with cleft lip and/or palate have lower psychosocial development than individuals without cleft lip and/or palate (d = −0.42). Conclusion The effects for the cross-cultural comparisons were moderated by the age group and gender of the participants; however, most studies resulted in negative effect sizes. Health care teams for cleft lip and/or palate should recognize the importance of psychological intervention and family support in the treatment of all patients with cleft lip and/or palate throughout the life span.

Does cardiovascular health mediate hearing ability

Exercise and noise exposure causes temporary hearing loss. Yet, a direct relationship may exist between cardiovascular health and hearing. The purpose of this study was to determine whether noise and exercise caused different levels of hearing loss depending on ones cardiovascular fitness. Twenty-eight volunteers were considered: high fit VO2peak = 48.5 +/- 1.6 ml.kg-1.min-1, N = 10), moderately fit VO2peak = 38.1 +/- 0.9 ml.kg-1.min-1, N = 9), and low fit VO2peak = 30.4 +/- 0.9 ml.kg-1.min-1, N = 9). Hearing ability at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz was assessed following 10 min of noise (N), exercise (E), and noise-and-exercise (N&E). The high fit group consistently demonstrated better hearing after all conditions compared to the low fit group. Significant differences between the high and low fit groups always occurred during N&E and sometimes during N. E did not cause significant hearing loss in any group. Cardiovascular health as indicated by a mean VO2peak = 48.5 ml.kg-1.min-1 is associated with less hearing loss after 10 min of either N or N&E. Although the mechanisms have not been identified, these results support the existence of a cardiovascular health-hearing synergism.

Effects of Low-Intensity Exercise and Noise Exposure on Temporary Threshold Shift

It is not known if an individual who is susceptible to temporary threshold shift (TTS) may also suffer permanent hearing loss. Risk for hearing loss is caused by the physical properties (frequency, intensity, and duration) of noise and other possible factors including physical exercise. Seventeen subjects cycled at 40% of maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) with and without noise administered via personal headphones. Exercising at 40% of VO2 max is considered to be low intensity. Hearing tests before and after these two exercise conditions and a noise-only condition indicated that TTS only occurred when noise was present, that is, exercise alone did not result in TTS. Therefore TTS and subsequent hearing loss (which only persisted for 24-48 h) was found to be driven by noise exposure, not low-intensity exercise.

Study finds higher cardiovascular fitness associated with greater hearing acuity

Initial signs of auditory aging start long before age 65.Johnson and Hawkins reported evidence of nerve degen-eration in the cochlea secondary to hair cell degenerationby 5early adolescence. Numerous studies have reporteddeterioration of hearing levels with middle age and then anotable acceleration above 70 years.

Cardiovascular Adjustments to High- And Low-Intensity Exercise do not Regulate Temporary Threshold Shifts

Sixteen adults cycled for 10 min at low and high intensities--with and without noise. The noise consisted of a 1/3 octave band-filtered noise with a 2,000 Hz center frequency at 104 dB SPL. Regardless of whether or not noise was present, systolic blood pressure increased 14% and 40% above rest during low- and high-intensity exercise, respectively. Heart rate also increased above rest (36% and 90%) during low- and high-intensity exercise, respectively. Temporary threshold shifts (TTS) at 3,000, 4,000 and 6,000 Hz could not be differentiated following low- and high-intensity exercise when noise was not present. We report significant TTS at the three frequencies following 10 min of noise exposure with or without low- or high-intensity exercise. TTS was not influenced by either the 14-40% increase in blood pressure or the 36-90% increase in heart rate induced by exercise. The inability of noise alone to influence either blood pressure or heart rate appears to implicate systems other than the cardiovascular in the regulation of hearing sensitivity.

How personality types correlate with hearing aid outcome measures

A cliniciancan fit similar amplificationand make appropriate adjust-ments and yet find that onepatient does not perceive thesame amount of benefit andsatisfaction as another patientwith a similar hearing loss. Cunningham et al. illus-trated the complexity of thefitting process by evaluatingthe differences in hearing aidsatisfaction after providing orwithholding electroacoustic changes.

The efficacy of utilizing the P300 as a measure of auditory deprivation in monaurally aided profoundly hearing-impaired children.

Auditory event-related responses have been successfully used to differentiate the effects of auditory deprivation in laboratory animals and could provide an alternative and less subjective method of testing auditory deprivation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of using the P300 response to measure auditory deprivation in monaurally aided children with hearing impairment. Seventeen children (8 female, 9 male) aged 9 to 18 years (M = 13.1 years) participated in the study. Ten subjects with bilateral congenital severe to profound sensorineural hearing losses (M = 87 dB) were recruited from a residential school for the deaf. All had worn monaural amplification for at least 8 years. Seven children with normal hearing sensitivity were matched for age effects. A two-tone auditory oddball paradigm was utilized to elicit the P300 responses. Statistical analysis revealed that the P300 amplitude was significantly greater in the aided ear compared to the unaided ear of the hearing-impaired group (p < 0.05). Two unaided ears of this group had no measurable responses. No other significant latency or amplitude differences were found within or between groups. Results of this investigation serve to reconfirm that binaural amplification should routinely be recommended for hearing-impaired children.