Some children with severe to profound hearing loss are implanted with a cochlear implant on the hypothesis that short-term outcomes in auditory receptive skills can be utilized into greater social independence and quality of life. In order to measure the outcomes and progress achieved from cochlear implants, effective assessment protocols are vital. The purpose of assessment after cochlear implantation, is to monitor an individual child’s rate of progress in speech and language acquisition, with reference to other cochlear implant users; to collect data on the range of linguistic benefits observed against cochlear implant users over time and to investigate and amend unforeseen difficulties. Furthermore, the outcome measures provide concrete information to the multidisciplinary team, and parents, and for collection of prevalence data for further research, which is crucial for funding purposes. The dynamic and natural approach to assessment has been recommended as the most effective, to ensure a holistic assessment in young children with cochlear implants. The aim of the current study was to determine the relevance of an assessment protocol proposed by the Pretoria Cochlear Implant Programme. The protocol was administered on eight children in the transitional stage of spoken language development, within an inclusive educational setting. A descriptive research design was selected in order to describe the qualitative results obtained during the study. The following assessments were included in the protocol: A questionnaire on background information, an aided audiogram (with cochlear implants and hearing aids), speech discrimination, Speech in Noise Test; Developmental Assessment Schema (Auditory Communication), Developmental Assessment Schema (General Development), Rossetti Infant-Toddler Language Scale, Reynell Developmental Language Scales III (Verbal Comprehension), Speech Intelligibility Rating, Voice Skills Assessment, Preschool Literacy Assessment, Mother Infant Communication Scale, Caregiver-Child Interaction, Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale, Meaningful Use of Speech Scale and Profile of Actual Linguistic Skills. The results indicated that all the vital areas of assessment are included in the protocol, and under-evaluation is not a concern. Some of the areas of assessment overlap in the protocol, ensuring that the cross-check principle is being applied. The information gained from the assessment protocol can be used effectively for future intervention planning and adaptations can be made where necessary. Moreover, it was concluded that the administration and interpretation of the assessment protocol is time efficient and can be used effectively within a clinical setting. Cultural barriers did not have an effect on the administration and interpretation of the assessment protocol, however, linguistic barriers can influence the outcome of the results obtained. In summary, the assessment protocol has been found to be innovative, time effective, user-friendly, informative and relevant for the assessment of young cochlear implant users in the transitional stage of verbal linguistic development. Recommended changes for the assessment protocol were suggested, as well as recommendations for the educational setting. It was suggested that the questionnaires be available in all South African languages and that some of the protocols only be used if age-appropriate. Another recommendation was that the Listening Progress (LiP) and a pragmatic profile should be included in the protocol. Furthermore, it was suggested that an assistant audiologist could be involved to ensure more accurate and quicker hearing assessments. / Thesis (M Communication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / unrestricted

Today’s intensive care units monitor patients through the use of various medical devices, which generate a high ratio of false positive alarms due to a low alarm specificity. The false alarms have resulted in a stressful working environment for healthcare professionals that are getting more desensitized to triggered alarms and causing alarm fatigue. The patient safety is also compromised by having high noise levels in the patient room, which disturbs their sleep. This thesis has developed an intelligent alarm system with an improved alarm management and the use of 23 intelligent algorithms to minimize the number of false positive alarms. The suggested system is capable of improving the alarm situation and increasing the patient safety in critical care. The algorithms were modeled with fuzzy logics consisting of delays and multi parameter validation. The results were iteratively developed by having focus groups with various experts.

The Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR) procedure has been established as a frequency specific, objective audiologic measure, which can provide reliable thresholds to within 10 dB of the behavioral thresholds. In order for ASSR to find its place in the existing framework of audiometric procedures, the full potential of the procedure needs to be explored. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of monotic ASSR in estimating hearing thresholds in a group of 15 normal hearing subjects and 15 hearing-impaired subjects. A comparative research design was implemented. Indicating that results obtained in the study was compared to relevant literature where dichotic multiple ASSR was implemented. This was done in order to ascertain ASSR’s capabilities with regard to stimulus presentation methods. Monotic single ASSR predicted behavioural thresholds in the normal hearing subjects within an average of 24 dB across the frequency range (0.5, 1, 2&4 kHz). In the hearing-impaired group, ASSR thresholds more closely resembled behavioural thresholds, with an average difference of 18 dB, which is consistent with recent literature. The literature suggests that better prediction of behavioural thresholds will occur with greater degrees of hearing loss, due to recruitment. The focus in this group also centered on the accurate prediction of the configuration of the hearing loss. It was found that ASSR could reasonably accurately predict the configuration of the hearing loss. In the last instance, monotic single and dichotic multiple ASSR were compared with regard to threshold estimation and prediction of configuration of the hearing loss in the hearing-impaired group. Little difference was reported between the two techniques with regard to the estimation of thresholds in both the normal hearing and hearing impaired groups. In conclusion it was established that monotic ASSR could predict behavioural thresholds of varying degrees and configurations of hearing loss in normal and hearing-impaired subjects with a reasonable amount of accuracy. At this stage, however, more research is required to establish the clinical validity of the procedure, before it is routinely included within an objective test battery. / Dissertation (M (Communication Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / Unrestricted