Aim: To evaluate an audiologic rehabilitation program previously piloted in the U.S. (Kelly-Campbell, in review) for unaided hearing-impaired working adults that was also modified to include their significant others. <p> <p> Method: In this quasi-randomised repeated measures waitlist design, forty-eight participants (24 hearing-impaired adults and their 24 normal hearing significant others) aged 50-64 years were randomised into either a non-waitlist group (immediate treatment), or a waitlist group (treatment after 12-weeks). In these groups, participant couples attended three weekly 2-hour group sessions and completed health-related quality of life (HRQOL) assessments. Treatment outcomes for hearing-impaired adults (HIAs) were measured from self and significant other (SO) proxy reports of the Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired (CPHI; Demorest & Erdman, 1986; 1987). Treatment outcomes for SOs were measured from self-reports of the Significant Other Scale for Hearing Disability (SOS-HEAR; Scarinci, Worrall & Hickson, 2009b). An investigation of the effect of treatment on the congruence of SO-proxy versus HIA HRQOL measures was also undertaken. <p> Results: A series of analyses of variance and repeated-measures t-tests examined HRQOL outcomes for HIAs and their SOs between pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at 12-weeks follow-up. Results suggest a significant effect of time for all HRQOL assessments, with gender effects found for CPHI measures, but not for SOS-HEAR measures. Medium to large effect sizes were revealed for both HIAs and their SOs. <p> Conclusions: Group AR appears to be a beneficial treatment approach for reducing the consequences of hearing impairment for HIAs and for their normal hearing SOs.

Outside of major metropolitan areas, Arizona has limited options for hearing healthcare. The Arizona Affordable Hearing Aid Task Force proposed the development of a statewide program to provide low-cost hearing aids and audiologic care to low-income residents. The purpose of this review was to determine the status of the literature on the clinical outcomes of teleaudiology services for evaluations and hearing aid fittings which could be used to serve inhabitants of rural counties and address the goals of the Task Force. A literature search was performed to identify articles with original research in teleaudiology in the areas of evaluation and treatment and yielded 234 results. After exclusion criteria were applied, there were 15 articles for review; 10 articles focused on audiological evaluation and 5 articles focused on verification, validation, and counseling for hearing aid fittings. Evaluation-related articles showed that pure-tone air conduction testing was generally within the ± 5 dB acceptable range of variability, with little evidence on bone conduction or speech testing reliability. Studies reporting real-ear measurements with probe microphones were shown to yield similar results in traditional and teleaudiology fitting sessions and validation measures documented similar or better outcomes from teleaudiology fittings. Based on the literature, it is concluded that the use of teleaudiology is feasible for hearing aid fittings and counseling in rural areas, if associated barriers related to costs and limitations related to the availability of technology are overcome.

Discontinued hearing-aid use is caused by a number of factors, most of which may lead to low hearing-aid self-efficacy (i.e. low confidence in one's ability to B a successful hearing-aid user). This paper describes the development of the Measure of Audiologic Rehabilitation Self-Efficacy for Hearing Aids (MARS-HA), which was constructed in accordance with published recommendations for self-efficacy questionnaire development. The psychometric properties of the MARS-HA were evaluated with new and experienced hearing-aid users. The results revealed strong internal consistency and good test-retest reliability in both groups, with the following subscales identified both for the new users and the experienced users: (1) basic handling, (2) advanced handling, (3) adjustment to hearing aids, and (4) aided listening skills. Validity was established through the examination of expected differences based on group comparisons, training effects, and the impact of particular hearing aid features. The MARS-HA is a reliable and valid measure of hearing-aid self-efficacy and can be used to assist clinicians in identifying areas of low confidence that require additional audiologic training.

Hearing aid self-efficacy (i.e., beliefs individuals have in their ability to perform the skills needed to be successful hearing aid users) may be related to long-term hearing aid use. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the audiologic correlates of hearing aid self-efficacy as assessed by the Measure of Audiologic Rehabilitation Self-Efficacy for Hearing Aids (MARS-HA). New and experienced hearing aid users (n = 211) were given the MARS-HA. The results indicated that individuals with moderately severe hearing loss had lower self-efficacy for aided listening conditions than individuals with mild hearing loss. Individuals with poor word recognition abilities in quiet also had lower overall hearing aid self-efficacy than individuals with good to fair word recognition abilities. These results suggested that hearing aid users who have a moderate hearing loss (or worse) and hearing aid users with poor word recognition abilities may require additional counseling and audiologic rehabilitation to increase their hearing aid self-efficacy.

Purpose: The purpose of this tutorial is to provide a comprehensive overview of the self-efficacy framework and its application to audiologic rehabilitation. Method: A literature review was conducted on self-efficacy and its relevance to successful interventions in several health domains. Specific recommendations were presented for audiologic rehabilitation procedures that will enhance self-efficacy. Conclusions: As is the case in other health domains, clinical intervention by audiologists will be more effective when incorporating a self-efficacy framework in the audiologic rehabilitation process.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate abbreviated versions of the Word Auditory Recognition and Recall Measure (WARRM) as part of an iterative process in the development of a feasible test for potential future clinical use. Design: The three original WARRM (O-WARRM) randomizations were modified by altering the presentation paradigm. Instead of presenting 5 trials per set size with set size increasing from 2 to 6 as in the O-WARRM (n = 100 words), the experimental WARRM (E-WARRM) paradigm consisted of one trial from each of set sizes 2 to 6 to create a "run" (n = 20 words) with each randomization consisting of 5 runs (n = 100 words). A total of 24 younger listeners with normal hearing and 48 older listeners with hearing loss (OHL) were administered 1 randomization of the O-WARRM and 1 different randomization of the E-WARRM. Results: The recognition and recall performances on the O-WARRM and all versions of the E-WARRM (five individual runs and overall) were similar within each listener group, with the younger listeners with normal hearing outperforming the OHL listeners on all measures. Correlation analyses revealed moderate to strong associations between the abbreviated WARRM runs and the O-WARRM for the OHL listener group. Hierarchical regression modeling suggested that run 1 of the E-WARRM was a good predictor of O-WARRM performance and that adding additional runs did not improve the prediction. Taken together, these findings suggest that administering one run from the E-WARRM warrants further examination for clinical use. Additional analyses revealed equivalent scores on all five runs from the three E-WARRM randomizations for both listener groups. Conclusions: Abbreviated versions of the O-WARRM were developed as part of this study. This was accomplished by modifying the original presentation paradigm and creating 15 unique "runs" among the original 3 randomizations. The resulting 15 runs could be considered 15 unique and abbreviated WARRM lists that have potential, in the future after further studies are conducted to establish important properties, for clinic use. The abbreviated WARRM lists may be useful for quantifying auditory working memory of listeners with hearing loss during the audiologic rehabilitation process.

Objetivos: Verificar a ocorrência de emissões otoacústicas evocadas por estímulo transiente (EOAT) em crianças com fissura labiopalatina (FLP) e associar esses resultados com os da entrevista audiológica (EA), medidas de imitância acústica (IMIT), audiometria de observação comportamental (AOC) e audiometria de reforço visual (VRA). Local: Setor de Fonoaudiologia e de Genética Clínica - HRAC - USP. Participantes: 82 crianças com FLP não operada, de ambos os gêneros, idade entre 3 e 12 meses. Intervenções: EA, meatoscopia, AOC, VRA, IMIT, EOAT. Resultados: Os achados mostraram: presença de indicadores de risco, além da FLP, em 77% das crianças do grupo 1 (fissura transforame e pós-forame incisivo, N=48), 52% do grupo 2 (fissura pré-forame incisivo, N=29) e 40% do grupo 3 (fissura de palato submucosa, N=5); maior ocorrência de alteração na IMIT nas crianças com fissura transforame e pós-forame incisivo e a partir dos 6 meses de idade; AOC alterada em 50% das crianças do grupo 1 e 14% do grupo 2; maior ocorrência de alteração na VRA nas crianças do grupo 1, seguidas pelo grupo 2; ocorrência de EOAT em 1% das crianças do grupo 1, 55% do grupo 2 e 70% do grupo 3. Conclusões: verificamos maior ocorrência de EOAT nas crianças com fissura de palato submucosa e pré-forame incisivo; a associação entre os resultados da EOAT com os dos outros procedimentos, mostrou diferença estatisticamente significante na associação das EOAT com as IMIT das crianças de 3 a 6 meses de idade dos grupos 2 e 3 ; o uso das EOAT não mostrou ser um método adequado para a avaliação da audição de bebês com fissura de palato não operada. / Objectives: To determine the occurrence of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions evoked (TEOA) in infants with cleft lip (CL)and palate (P) and to correlate these results with those of the audiologic interview (AI), acoustic imitance (IMIT) measurements, behavioral observation audiometry (BOA), and visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA). Place: Sector of Speech Pathology and Audilogy and Clinical Genetics - HRAC - USP. Participants: 82 infants of both sexes with non-operated CLP aged 3 to 12 months. Interventions: AI, meatoscopy, BOA, VRA, IMIT, TEOA. Results: The findings showed the presence of risk indicators in addition to CLP in 77% of group 1 infants (CLP, N=48), 52% of infants of group 2 (CL, N=29 ) and 40% of children in group 3 (submucous cleft, N=5 ); a more frequent occurrence of altered IMIT in children with CLP and CP and starting at 6 months of age; altered BOA in 50% of group 1 children and 14% of group 2 children; a more frequent occurrence of altered VRA in group 1 children, followed by group 2; occurrence of EOAT in 1% of group 1 children, in 55% of group 2 children, and in 70% of group 3 children. Conclusions: we detected a more frequent occurrence of EOAT in children with submucous and CL. TEOA was significantly correlated with IMIT in children aged 3 to 6 months of groups 2 and 3; the use of TEOA did not prove to be an adequate method to assess the hearing of babies with non-operated CP.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar a caracterização das medidas de imitância acústica de lactentes de zero a três meses de idade utilizando timpanometria de multifrequência. Foram avaliados 54 lactentes sem queixas auditivas e com presença de emissões otoacústicas evocadas transientes, por meio de entrevista audiológica, inspeção visual do meato acústico externo e medidas de imitância acústica nas frequências de 226Hz, 678Hz e 1000Hz, coletando-se os registros timpanométricos relacionados ao efeito de oclusão, à forma da curva timpanométrica, à pressão de pico timpanométrico, ao volume equivalente do meato acústico externo e ao pico compensado da admitância acústica estática. Os resultados indicaram presença de efeito de oclusão nas três frequências: 2,88% em 226Hz; 4,81% em 678Hz e 3,85% em 1000Hz; predomínio de curva timpanométrica em pico único (65,35% em 226Hz, 81,82% em 678Hz e 77,00% em 1000Hz); pressão de pico timpanométrico variando de -150 a 180daPa, com valores considerados normais; aumento do volume equivalente do meato acústico externo com aumento da frequência da sonda (0,64ml em 226Hz, 1,63mmho em 678Hz e 2,59mmho em 1000Hz), assim como os valores do pico compensado da admitância acústica estática (0,51ml em 226Hz, 0,55mmho em 678Hz e 1,20mmho em 1000Hz). Foram classificados como normais 93,06% dos timpanogramas realizados com 226Hz, 80,81% em 678Hz e 82,00% em 1000Hz. Por meio destas avaliações e resultados encontrados foi possível caracterizar as medidas de imitância acústica dos lactentes. / The aim of this study was to characterize acoustic immittance measures of infants from zero to three months of age using multifrequency tympanometry. 54 infants without hearing complaint and with transient evoked otoacoustic emissions presence were evaluated by an audiologic interview, a visual inspection of the ear canal and measures of acoustic immittance in the frequencies of 226Hz, 678Hz and 1000Hz, where tympanometric records of the occlusion effect, tympanometric curve type, tympanometric peak pressure, equivalent ear canal volume and peak compensated static acoustic admittance were collected. The results indicated presence of occlusion effect in three frequencies: 2.88% at 226Hz, 4.81% at 678Hz and 3.85% at 1000Hz; predominance of tympanometric curve with single peak ( 65.35% at 226Hz, 81.82% at 678Hz and 77.00% at 1000Hz), tympanometric peak pressure ranging from -155 to 180daPa with normal limits, equivalent ear canal volume increase with the frequency of the probe increase (0.64ml at 226Hz, 1.63mho at 678Hz and 2.59mmho at 1000Hz) and the increase of the peak compensated static acoustic admittance values with the frequency increase (0.51ml at 226Hz, 0.55mmho at 678Hz and 1.20mmho at 1000Hz). 93.06% of tympanograms were classified as normal at 226Hz, 81.82% at 678Hz and 77.00% at 1000Hz. Considering these evaluations and results it was possible to characterize the acoustic immittance measures of infants.

Objetivos: Verificar a ocorrência de emissões otoacústicas evocadas por estímulo transiente (EOAT) em crianças com fissura labiopalatina (FLP) e associar esses resultados com os da entrevista audiológica (EA), medidas de imitância acústica (IMIT), audiometria de observação comportamental (AOC) e audiometria de reforço visual (VRA). Local: Setor de Fonoaudiologia e de Genética Clínica - HRAC - USP. Participantes: 82 crianças com FLP não operada, de ambos os gêneros, idade entre 3 e 12 meses. Intervenções: EA, meatoscopia, AOC, VRA, IMIT, EOAT. Resultados: Os achados mostraram: presença de indicadores de risco, além da FLP, em 77% das crianças do grupo 1 (fissura transforame e pós-forame incisivo, N=48), 52% do grupo 2 (fissura pré-forame incisivo, N=29) e 40% do grupo 3 (fissura de palato submucosa, N=5); maior ocorrência de alteração na IMIT nas crianças com fissura transforame e pós-forame incisivo e a partir dos 6 meses de idade; AOC alterada em 50% das crianças do grupo 1 e 14% do grupo 2; maior ocorrência de alteração na VRA nas crianças do grupo 1, seguidas pelo grupo 2; ocorrência de EOAT em 1% das crianças do grupo 1, 55% do grupo 2 e 70% do grupo 3. Conclusões: verificamos maior ocorrência de EOAT nas crianças com fissura de palato submucosa e pré-forame incisivo; a associação entre os resultados da EOAT com os dos outros procedimentos, mostrou diferença estatisticamente significante na associação das EOAT com as IMIT das crianças de 3 a 6 meses de idade dos grupos 2 e 3 ; o uso das EOAT não mostrou ser um método adequado para a avaliação da audição de bebês com fissura de palato não operada. / Objectives: To determine the occurrence of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions evoked (TEOA) in infants with cleft lip (CL)and palate (P) and to correlate these results with those of the audiologic interview (AI), acoustic imitance (IMIT) measurements, behavioral observation audiometry (BOA), and visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA). Place: Sector of Speech Pathology and Audilogy and Clinical Genetics - HRAC - USP. Participants: 82 infants of both sexes with non-operated CLP aged 3 to 12 months. Interventions: AI, meatoscopy, BOA, VRA, IMIT, TEOA. Results: The findings showed the presence of risk indicators in addition to CLP in 77% of group 1 infants (CLP, N=48), 52% of infants of group 2 (CL, N=29 ) and 40% of children in group 3 (submucous cleft, N=5 ); a more frequent occurrence of altered IMIT in children with CLP and CP and starting at 6 months of age; altered BOA in 50% of group 1 children and 14% of group 2 children; a more frequent occurrence of altered VRA in group 1 children, followed by group 2; occurrence of EOAT in 1% of group 1 children, in 55% of group 2 children, and in 70% of group 3 children. Conclusions: we detected a more frequent occurrence of EOAT in children with submucous and CL. TEOA was significantly correlated with IMIT in children aged 3 to 6 months of groups 2 and 3; the use of TEOA did not prove to be an adequate method to assess the hearing of babies with non-operated CP.

Objective: This study investigated the perspectives of adults with hearing impairment on hearing help-seeking and rehabilitation. Design: Individual semi-structured interviews were completed. Study sample: In total, 34 adults with hearing impairment in four countries (Australia, Denmark, UK, and USA) participated. Participants had a range of experience with hearing help-seeking and rehabilitation, from never having sought help to being satisfied hearing-aid users. Results: Qualitative content analysis identified four main categories (perceiving my hearing impairment, seeking hearing help, using my hearing aids, and perspectives and knowledge) and, at the next level, 25 categories. This article reports on the densest categories: they are described, exemplified with interview quotes, and discussed. Conclusions: People largely described hearing help-seeking and rehabilitation in the context of their daily lives. Adults with hearing impairment rarely described clinical encounters towards hearing help-seeking and rehabilitation as a connected process. They portrayed interactions with clinicians as isolated events rather than chronologically-ordered steps relating to a common goal. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed. / <p>Funding Agencies|University of Queensland Graduate School||</p>