Auditory and Vestibular Research Journal
Year:2019 | Volume:28 | Issue:3|Papers Count:8

Background and Aim: Researchers in the fields of psychoacoustic and electrophysiology are mostly focused on demonstrating the better and different neurophysiological performance of musicians. The present study explores the imp-act of music upon the auditory system, the non-auditory system as well as the improvement of language and cognitive skills following listening to music or receiving music training. Recent Findings: Studies indicate the impact of music upon the auditory processing from the cochlea to secondary auditory cortex and other parts of the brain. Besides, the impact of music on speech perception and other cognitive proce-ssing is demonstrated. Some papers point to the bottom-up and some others to the top-down pro-cessing, which is explained in detail. Conclusion: Listening to music and receiving music training, in the long run, creates plasticity from the cochlea to the auditory cortex. Since the auditory path of musical sounds overlaps functionally with that of speech path, music hel-ps better speech perception, too. Both percep-tual and cognitive functions are involved in this process. Music engages a large area of the brain, so music can be used as a supplement in rehabi-litation programs and helps the improvement of speech and language skills.

Background and Aim: Most elderly people in noisy environments complain of speech com-prehension. At present, hearing aids or cochlear implants are the main treatment options. How-ever, these devices merely enhance sound audi-bility and do not compensate for central pro-cessing changes caused by aging, hearing loss, or cognitive decline. This article reviewed plas-ticity topic in the auditory system and the use of auditory evoked potentials to prove the effec-tiveness of auditory training. Recent Findings: The search for relevant articles in the Google Scholar, PubMed, Springer, and ProQuest databases was con-ducted with the keywords of “ auditory edu-cation, ” “ electrophysiology, ” “ plasticity, ” and “ aging. ” A total of 107 articles were found with these keywords, and finally, 98 articles, pub-lished between 1977 and 2018, were used. Existence of plasticity in the central auditory system, regardless of age, has been proven. Therefore, cognitive and auditory training to reduce cognitive problems and improve central hearing processing in appropriate cases can positively affect the quality of hearing and social communication of the elderly. Because efficacy is an important component of any therapeutic approach, the assessment of the benefits of hearing training can be demonstrated by electrophysiological tests. Conclusion: Auditory training may play an important role in the elderly treatment program with speech perception defects. The usefulness of this rehabilitation can be objectively eva-luated through cortical and subcortical elec-trophysiological methods.

Background and Aim: Children with intellec-tual disability have significant defects in the ess-ential elements that constitute mental develop-ment. The purpose of this study was to investi-gate the effectiveness of applied behavior analy-sis on inhibition, planning, and working mem-ory of intellectually disabled children with hear-ing impairment. Methods: The study design was quasi-experi-mental with pretest, posttest and a group cont-rol. The study population comprised all intellec-tually disabled children with hearing impair-ment, referred to Yazd Rehabilitation Centers. A total of 30 students were selected from the hearing-impaired children with mild to mode-rate intellectual disability. Then, they were ran-domly assigned into control (n = 15) and experi-mental (n = 15) groups. The study instrument was the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) questionnaire. The program based on applied behavior analysis presented for experimental group and after that the posttest were administered for both groups. Analyses of covariance was used to analyze data. Results: The study result indicate that group therapy based on applied behavior analysis has significant effects on inhibition (p < 0. 01) and planning (p < 0. 05) of intellectually disabled children with hearing impairment, but cannot change their working memory (p < 0. 17). Conclusion: Applied behavior analysis can be used as a therapeutic method for improving exe-cutive functions in intellectually disabled child-ren with hearing impairment.

Background and Aim: One of the common behavioral disorders of hearing-impaired child-ren is aggressive behavior, which can affect soc-ial adjustment in their adolescence. This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of group counseling based on problem-solving on aggression and social adjustment of hearing-impaired students. Methods: This study is quasi-experimental with pretest posttest design and a control group. The study population was all adolescents with hear-ing impairment referred to Yazd Speech The-rapy Centers, Yazd City, Iran. A total of 30 stu-dents were selected from the referred hearing-impaired students with high aggression and low social adjustment. Then they were randomly assigned into control (n = 15) and experimental (n = 15) groups. The study instruments were the California social behavior and Buss and Perry aggression inventory. The group couns-eling based on problem-solving intervention consisted of 7 one-hour sessions, presented for the experimental group. We analyzed the obtai-ned data by repeated measures analysis of cova-riance. Results: Group therapy based on problem-solving can reduce aggression (p < 0. 001) and increase social adjustment (p = 0. 04). Conclusion: The professionals in this field are recommended to use group therapy based on problem-solving.

Background and Aim: The quick speech in noise (Q-SIN) test shows the difficulty of spee-ch perception in noise by specifying signal to noise ratio (SNR) loss. Although the Persian version of Q-SIN has been already constructed, the high-frequency emphasis version of this test is not available. The present study aimed to construct six lists with high-frequency emphasis and implement it. Methods: We are going to prepare a high-frequ-ency emphasis version of Q-SIN and then test it on a small sample. First, researchers designed the relevant sentences; then experts examined their content and face validity. According to the criteria for developing the Q-SIN test, six lists with high-frequency emphasis were prepared. The test was examined on 26 (13 male and 13 female), 18− 35 years old individuals with nor-mal hearing. To determine the test reliability, it was re-administered three weeks later with the same conditions. Results: Of 76 sentences prepared, 36 sentences received enough credit after determination of their content and face validity. These 36 senten-ces were used to make 6 lists. The mean value of SNR50 in the Persian language was obtained-4 dB. The mean values of SNR loss in 6 lists were-1. 65,-1. 8,-2. 23,-1. 61,-2. 38 and-2. 07. The results showed equivalency of lists 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. Examination of test-retest reliability indicated that all lists except the list 2were reliable. Conclusion: The lists of 1, 3, 4, and 6 are reli-able and equivalent and can be used in clinical application.

Background and Aim: Tinnitus is an annoying distressing phantom phenomenon that can cause major problems, such as insomnia and sleep deprivation. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the effects of cognitive-behavioral training (CBT) and muscle relaxation on the level of tinnitus and the quality of sleep in patients with tinnitus in Ahvaz City in 2018− 2019. Methods: This study is a semi-experimental, pretest, post-test, and follow-up with control group. There are two experimental groups and one control group in this plan. Participants in the first experimental group received eight sessions of CBT and participants in the second experimental group received eight sessions of relaxation training. Control group were not sub-ject to any intervention. Results: The results of this study showed that cognitive-behavioral approach and muscle rela-xation have reduced the amount of tinnitus and increased sleep quality using multivariate cova-riance analysis. The most important results of this study are the effectiveness and usefulness of cognitive-behavioral approach and muscle relaxation on reducing tinnitus and increasing the quality of sleep. Conclusion: Cognitive-behavioral therapy and muscle relaxation approaches were effective in improving tinnitus and quality of sleep. More attention and emphasize in these approaches will be a good alternative to some invasive (electric stimulation) or with some side-effects (drug therapy) approaches.

Background and Aim: Temporal processing is affected in people exposed to occupational noi-se. The primary goal of this study was to eva-luate the temporal processing of people exposed to occupational noise of more than 85 dB A but have not experienced clinically significant chan-ges at hearing thresholds at conventional frequ-encies. Methods: A comparison between groups were designed using individuals exposed to occupa-tional noise (n = 15 as the case group) and non-exposed individuals (n = 16 as the control gro-up). Two groups were age-matched (p < 0. 05). The extended high-frequency audiometric thre-sholds and temporal processing system were evaluated through a duration pattern sequence test. Finally, the correlation between the exten-ded high-frequency hearing thresholds and the duration pattern test scores was investigated. Results: The case group had significantly high-er hearing thresholds than the control group at 14, 15, and 16 kHz (p < 0. 05). Although in other frequencies, the mean hearing thresholds in the case group was higher than the control group, the difference was not significant. Also, the case group had significantly lower duration pattern sequence scores than the control group in the right (p = 0. 02) and the left ears (p = 0. 03). There was no correlation between extended high-frequency hearing thresholds and duration pattern sequence test scores. Conclusion: In people exposed to occupational noise, both extended high-frequency thresholds and temporal processing in lower frequency ran-ges (with normal hearing thresholds) are inter-rupted.

Background and Aim: Children with sensory impairments can bring stress to their parents. The purpose of this study was to compare per-ceived social support in mothers of children with hearing impairment, visual impairment, and typically developing children in Shiraz City, Iran. Methods: The study sample consisted of 139 mothers of normal children and children with sensory impairment (50 mothers of children with hearing impairment, 39 mothers of children with visual impairment, and 50 mothers of typ-ically developing children). The Multidimensio-nal Scale of Perceived Social Support was used to measure perceived social support. One-way ANOVA and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were respectively used for analy-zing the total score of perceived social support and the scores of its subscales. Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between perceived social support and its subscales among mothers of chi-ldren with hearing impairment, mothers of chi-ldren with visual impairment and mothers of typically developing children. So, perceived social support and its subscales in mothers of children with hearing impairment and mothers of children with visual impairment are signifi-cantly lower than mothers of typically develop-ing children (p < 0. 01). It should be noted that there was no significant difference in perceived social support between mothers of children with hearing impairment and mothers of children with visual impairment. Conclusion: The provision of counseling servi-ces and the implementation of appropriate inter-ventions for mothers of children with hearing impairment and mothers of children with visual impairment is necessary.