Kyoung Won Lee

Test-Retest Reliability of Word Recognition Score Using Korean Standard Monosyllabic Word Lists for Adults as a Function of the Number of Test Words.

Background and Objectives The purpose was to establish the test-retest reliability of word recognition score (WRS) using Korean standard monosyllabic word lists for adults (KS-MWL-A) recently developed based on the international standard for speech audiometry (ISO 8253-3:2012). Subjects and Methods Subjects consisted of 159 adults aged to 18 to 25 years with normal hearing sensitivity. WRSs were obtained in 2 dB steps from the level of speech recognition thresholds to the level of 86% correct responses or greater. After one or two weeks, retest was performed. Correlation, confidence interval (CI) and prediction interval (PI) were calculated for the reliability. Results Correlation coefficients were 0.88 for 50 test words, 0.76 for 25 and 0.61 for 10 words. Results also showed that 95% CIs and PIs were narrower for 25 and 50 test words than those for 10 test words. Conclusions Korean WRS using the KS-MWL-A has high reliability for 25 and 50 test words, but relatively low for 10 words. It suggested that 95% CIs for each test words would be criteria for significant differences in WRS for groups and 95% PIs at each score of WRS could be utilized for a considerable difference for each individual at retest.

Effects of Word Recognition Score as a Function of Auditory Training Terms for Elderly Hearing Impaired with Hearing Aid

Effects of Word Recognition Score as a Function of Auditory Training Terms for Elderly Hearing Impaired with Hearing Aid Hyoung-Geun Kim and Kyoung Won Lee Starkey Bundang Hearing Care Center, Sungnam, Korea Department of Audiology, Hallym University of Graduate Studies, Seoul, Korea Although a use of hearing aids improves speech audibility, it is known that elderly hearing-impaired listeners often exhibit difficulty understanding speech in background noise. The purpose of this study was to examine a short-term (8-week) auditory training in word-recognition performance of 24 old hearing aid users. Twelve aged listeners (M=76.2 yrs) participated as auditory training group (ATG), and other twelve old listeners (M=74.0 yrs) served as non-training group (NTG). The ATG received forty-minute auditory training twice a week across the entire 8 weeks of training. During the training, the target monosyllabic words (Korean monosyllabic words) were presented in both open-set and closed-set aided conditions. All the words were presented at the most comfortable level of each participant with four different signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs of -5, 0, +5, +10 dB). To check the training benefit, word-recognition performance of ATG was tested after 1-, 4-, 8-week trainings. Results showed that word recognition performance of NTG did not improve as expected. Word recognition score of ATG was, however, significantly increased after 8-week training. Even though 4-week training results revealed a tendency of increment in word-recognition performance, a positive change after 4-week training was not significant. The amount of improvement after 8-week auditory training was the greatest at +10 dB SNR and the least at -5 dB SNR. The results indicate that the short-term (8-week) auditory training would be beneficial for old listeners to recognize speech in the background noise yet the training effect would depend on the SNRs. Therefore, at least 8 weeks of training in various listening conditions should be considered for elderly hearing aid users who want training benefit in daily listening and communication.

Test-Retest Reliability of Sentence Recognition Score UsingKorean Standard Sentence Lists for Adults (KS-SL-A)

불쾌레벨(uncomfortable level, UCL)은 일반적으로 음이 불편할 정도로 크게 들리기 시작하는 레벨을 말한다. 이는 크게 두가지 목적으로 측정하는데 하나는 특히 비선 형증폭기의 압축비율(compression ratio, CR), 최대출력 (OSPL 90)을 효과적으로 결정하기 위하여 사용할 수 있 다(신은영 외, 2008). 다른 하나는 누가현상(recruitment) 에 근거하여 난청의 유형을 파악하는 진단 목적으로 사용 할 수 있다. 효과적인 보청기의 적합 및 평가와 비정상적 인 음량증가지각을 갖는 사람들과의 비교를 위하여 먼저 건청인을 대상으로 시행한 정상적인 음량증가지각의 측정 이 필요하다.

Effects of Non-linear Frequency Compression HearingAids for Subjects with Sensorineural Hearing Loss:Case Report

The purpose of this study was to report three cases about how aided hearing threshold levels, word recognition score (WRS) and subjective responses changed when the frequency compression (FC) function was deactivated or activated in non-linear frequency compression hearing aid. Three subjects (6 ears) with sensorineural hearing loss bilaterally and with no history of wearing hearing aids before participated in this study. All the participants wore receiver-in-the canal type digital hearing aids with 20 channels. After the FC function was activated, the results showed better aided hearing threshold levels by 5 ~ 20 dB and improved WRS by 6 ~ 14% mostly in high frequency range compared to those of non-frequency compression (NFC). Their subjective responses of sound qualities showed positively better compared to those of the NFC. This study strongly suggests that in case of people whose hearing loss is severe in the high frequency range, FC hearing aids can help to result in better WRS. However, the future study to accurately evaluate an effect of FC hearing aid used for subjects with sensorineural hearing loss will need more elaborate design and to evaluate the changes of gain in both psychosocial and listening-environmental aspects by using other questionnaires.

A Changes of Loudness Growth as a Function of Hearing Threshold Level inAdults with Normal and Sensorineural Hearing Loss

A Changes of Loudness Growth as a Function of Hearing Threshold Level in Adults with Normal and Sensorineural Hearing Loss Yoo Jin Park and Kyoung Won Lee Pundang Jesaeng General Hospital, Sungnam City, Kyunggi-do, Korea Department of Audiology, Hallym University of Graduate Studies, Seoul, Korea The purpose of this study was to examine changes in the most comfortable level (MCL) and the uncomfortable level (UCL) depending on hearing threshold level (HTL) by investigating loudness growth among persons with normal hearing (NH) and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) at 500 Hz and 3,000 Hz. Based on the results, this study intended to provide useful data to calculate gain or frequency response curve and SSPL90 or OSPL90 of hearing aid that was used by Koreans with hearing loss. The NH group consisted of 17 persons (17 ears) in total who had the pure tone threshold average of 20 dB HL or less and who were 23-33 years old (average: 27.9 years, SD: 4.0 years). The SNHL group consisted of 117 persons (161 ears) in total who had the HTL of 40-75 dB HL at 500 Hz or 3,000 Hz and who were 19-78 years old (average: 55.1 years, SD: 15.4 years). As for presented tone, 5% frequency-modulated tone was used at 500 Hz and 3,000 Hz. Based on the results of study by Allen (1990), loudness category (LC) for loudness growth test was divided to 7 LCs before the HTL of 40-75 dB for NH and SNHL was divided by 5 dB interval at 500 Hz and 3,000 Hz. The results of this study were as follows. First, at 500 Hz and 3,000 Hz, the MCL of NH was 51.5 and 56.8 dB HL while the UCL was 88.5 dB HL and 88.7 dB HL. Consequently, the MCL at 3,000 Hz was found to be higher by 5.3 dB (p < .05). Second, the MCL and the UCL of SNHL persons increased as a function of the HTL. However, slope of regression equation was low in the order of the HTL, the MCL and the UCL. Therefore, it was confirmed that dynamic range became narrow according to increase in the HTL. Third, the MCL showed the higher correlation with the HTL than the UCL. This study was meaningful in that the study intended to measure loudness growth of Koreans with NH and SNHL. The results of this study are expected to have influences on development of hearing aid fitting formula for Koreans with hearing loss.

Effects of Age on Pure Tone Hearing Thresholds and Speech Recognition Thresholds

Effects of Age on Pure Tone Hearing Thresholds and Speech Recognition Thresholds Young Rock Huh, Junghak Lee and Kyoung Won Lee Department of Audiology, Hallym University of Graduate Studies, Seoul, Korea Institute of Audiology, Hallym University of Graduate Studies, Seoul, Korea Advanced Bionics Korea, Seoul, Korea Pure-tone sensitivity and speech recognition measurements in quiet are vital components in audiologic evaluation. Pure-tone hearing threshold level increases in proportion to ages and affects speech recognition threshold (SRT). The purpose of this study was to find out the relationship between changes in pure-tone threshold averages (PTAs) and SRTs as a function of ages. Sixty adults (120 ears) with normal hearing, aged 20 to 69 years, were participated. SRTs were performed by IEC 60645-2, and used with Korean Standard bisyllabic word list for adults (KS-BWL-A). As a results, there were significantly correlated PTAs and SRTs. SRT, 0.49 dB/year, increased more fast compare to PTA, 0.34 dB/year. These finding suggested to be used as reference data for determining reliability of pure-tone audiometry for the elderly.

Solutions of Occlusion Effect by Tight Fit for CIC Hearing Aid: Case Report

Solutions of Occlusion Effect by Tight Fit for CIC Hearing Aid: Case Report Soye Lee and Kyoung Won Lee CT Hearing Aid Center, Busan, Korea Department of Audiology, Hallym University of Graduate Studies, Seoul, Korea Occlusion effect (OE) is mainly caused by increasing low frequency gain at the ear drum. It can be controlled by modifying the vent length of hearing aids. Small venting is caused by the size of ear canal such as CIC hearing aids. It is known to hard to control OE in this case. However, it is suggested that a tight fit of the bony portion in the ear canal can reduce OE. The management of OE in CIC hearing aids through a tight fit is discussed in this article.