This article summarizes the significant contributions of Fred H. Bess to the early detection of hearing loss in infants and children. Based on public health and educational policy, Bess challenged audiologists to view hearing screening as a responsibility that brought with it the need to develop screening tools that are effective in identifying hearing loss - whether for use with infants, preschoolers, or school-age children - and that adhere to important screening principles. A review of his influence on pertinent guidelines, position statements, and recommendations highlights his belief that early identification of hearing loss is critical if children are to overcome the significant obstacles presented by even mild and unilateral hearing losses. This section is followed by a review of seminal papers that stimulated research in universal newborn hearing screening programs and the detection of unilateral and minimal hearing loss. We conclude with a review of selected studies that build on Bess's earlier work and strive to drive our field forward to practices that are both evidence-based and effective in detecting hearing loss in children.

A perda auditiva unilateral (PAUn) é caracterizada pela diminuição da audição em apenas uma orelha. Indivíduos com este tipo de perda auditiva podem apresentar comprometimento nas habilidades auditivas de localização sonora, processamento temporal, ordenação e resolução temporal. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar as habilidades auditivas de ordenação temporal, resolução temporal e localização sonora, antes e após a adaptação do aparelho de amplificação sonora individual (AASI). Foram avaliados 22 indivíduos, com idades entre 18 e 60 anos, com diagnóstico de PAUn sensorioneural ou mista, de graus leve a severo. O estudo foi dividido em duas etapas: a pré e a pós-adaptação de AASI. Em ambas as etapas, os indivíduos foram submetidos a uma anamnese, aplicação do Questionário de Habilidade Auditiva da Localização da fonte sonora, avaliação simplificada do processamento auditivo (ASPA) e Random Gap Detection Test (RGDT). O presente estudo encontrou diferença estatisticamente significante na avaliação da ASPA, exceto no teste de memória para sons não verbais em sequência (TMSnV), no RGDT e no Questionário de Habilidade Auditiva da Localização Sonora. A conclusão do estudo foi que com o uso efetivo do AASI, indivíduos com PAUn apresentaram melhora nas habilidades auditivas de localização sonora, ordenação e resolução temporal. / The Unilateral hearing loss (UHL) is characterized by decreased hearing in one ear. In individuals with this type of hearing loss the hearing abilities of sound localization, and temporal processing, ordering and temporal resolution, are affected. The objective of this study was to assess the hearing abilities of temporal ordering, temporal resolution and sound localization before and after the fitting of a hearing aid (HA). They evaluated 22 subjects, aged 18 to 60 years, diagnosed with sensorineural or mixed UHL, from mild to severe degrees. The study was divided into two stages: the pre and post-adaptation of HA. In both phases, subjects were submitted to an interview, application of Questionnarie for Desabilities Associated with Impaired Auditory Localization, auditory processing screening protocol (APSP) and Random Gap Detection Test (RGDT). This study found no statistically significant difference in the evaluation of APSP except in the memory test for non-verbal sounds in sequence, in RGDT and Questionnarie for Desabilities Associated with Impaired Auditory Localization. The conclusion was that with the effective use of hearing aids, individuals with UHL showed improvement in the auditory abilities of sound localization, ordering and temporal resolution.

A perda auditiva unilateral (PAUn) é caracterizada pela diminuição da audição em apenas uma orelha. Indivíduos com este tipo de perda auditiva podem apresentar comprometimento nas habilidades auditivas de localização sonora, processamento temporal, ordenação e resolução temporal. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar as habilidades auditivas de ordenação temporal, resolução temporal e localização sonora, antes e após a adaptação do aparelho de amplificação sonora individual (AASI). Foram avaliados 22 indivíduos, com idades entre 18 e 60 anos, com diagnóstico de PAUn sensorioneural ou mista, de graus leve a severo. O estudo foi dividido em duas etapas: a pré e a pós-adaptação de AASI. Em ambas as etapas, os indivíduos foram submetidos a uma anamnese, aplicação do Questionário de Habilidade Auditiva da Localização da fonte sonora, avaliação simplificada do processamento auditivo (ASPA) e Random Gap Detection Test (RGDT). O presente estudo encontrou diferença estatisticamente significante na avaliação da ASPA, exceto no teste de memória para sons não verbais em sequência (TMSnV), no RGDT e no Questionário de Habilidade Auditiva da Localização Sonora. A conclusão do estudo foi que com o uso efetivo do AASI, indivíduos com PAUn apresentaram melhora nas habilidades auditivas de localização sonora, ordenação e resolução temporal. / The Unilateral hearing loss (UHL) is characterized by decreased hearing in one ear. In individuals with this type of hearing loss the hearing abilities of sound localization, and temporal processing, ordering and temporal resolution, are affected. The objective of this study was to assess the hearing abilities of temporal ordering, temporal resolution and sound localization before and after the fitting of a hearing aid (HA). They evaluated 22 subjects, aged 18 to 60 years, diagnosed with sensorineural or mixed UHL, from mild to severe degrees. The study was divided into two stages: the pre and post-adaptation of HA. In both phases, subjects were submitted to an interview, application of Questionnarie for Desabilities Associated with Impaired Auditory Localization, auditory processing screening protocol (APSP) and Random Gap Detection Test (RGDT). This study found no statistically significant difference in the evaluation of APSP except in the memory test for non-verbal sounds in sequence, in RGDT and Questionnarie for Desabilities Associated with Impaired Auditory Localization. The conclusion was that with the effective use of hearing aids, individuals with UHL showed improvement in the auditory abilities of sound localization, ordering and temporal resolution.

No description available.

Bone conduction transmission and head‐shadow effects were determined with transcranial completely‐in‐the‐canal (TCCIC) CROS hearing aids. Five subjects with documented profound unilateral hearing loss and experience with traditional CROS/BICROS fittings (TCROS) were tested with a CIC hearing aid placed in their poorer ear. Peak SPL was measured at the tympanic membrane and ranged from 105–115 dB SPL at 2000 Hz. Pure‐tone crossover thresholds and functional gain tested at frequencies from 250–8000 Hz varied considerably more than the SPL measures. The pure‐tone results indicated that sensitivity in the better ear was moderately associated with functional gain across frequency. Speech recognition was then tested in the sound field in two conditions: direct (noise in the poorer ear, speech in the better ear) and indirect (noise in the better ear, speech in the poorer ear) at S/Ns of −6, 0, +6, +12, and quiet. The TCCIC fittings were more effective than TCROS aids across S/Ns, particularly in the direct condition. In the indirect condition, the two fittings performed similarly. When data were pooled across conditions, the TCCIC aids provided better word recognition than the TCROS aids, particularly for those subjects with greater sensitivity in the better ear.

Objectifs : Mesurer le niveau de handicap perceptif secondaire à une surdité unilatérale par approches psychoacoustique, questionnaires de qualité de vie et IRMf. Ce travail repose sur deux études qui étudient un lien entre : 1) les performances psychoacoustiques et le ressenti de qualité de vie et 2) les performances psychoacoustiques et le niveau de réorganisation centrale. Matériels et méthodes : Pour l'étude 1, 49 sujets adultes présentant une surdité unilatérale (UHL) et 11 contrôles ont été recrutés. Ils ont été évalués en psychoacoustique par le test FrMatrix en champ libre et dans trois conditions et ont répondu aux questionnaires de qualité de vie le Speech, Spatial and Quality of Hearing Scale (SSQ) et le Glasgow Health Status Inventory (GHSI). Pour l'étude 2, 15 sujets UHL et 15 contrôles ont été recrutés. Outre les tests psychoacoustiques de l'étude 1, les sujets ont écouté activement des sons naturels en IRMf. Résultats : L'étude 1 retrouve une corrélation significative (rho = 0.38) entre le score global au SSQ et le test FrMatrix lorsque le signal est envoyé à l'oreille déficiente et le bruit à l'oreille saine (condition dichotique). L'étude 2 démontre une corrélation significative entre le niveau de réorganisation et le FrMatrix (rho = 0.66) en condition dichotique. Conclusion : La surdité unilatérale engendre un niveau de réorganisation corticale qui s'accompagne d'une baisse significative des performances psychoacoustiques et de la qualité de vie. Ce travail souligne donc la nécessité d'une prise en charge thérapeutique des sujets présentant une surdité unilatérale. / Objectives: We evaluated the consequences of unilateral hearing loss (UHL) for speech recognition in spatially separated competing noise, quality of life and brain activity via fMRI. In the first study we investigated the relationship between speech recognition and quality of life (Study 1), and in the second between speech recognition and the reorganization of brain activity. Materials and methods: In the first study 49 UHL subjects and 11 controls were recruited. Speech recognition in three speech and noise configurations was assessed with the FrMatrix test and quality of life with the Speech Spatial and Quality of Hearing Scale (SSQ) and the Glasgow Health Status Inventory. In the second study, 14 UHL and 14 matched controls were recruited. They underwent the same speech recognition testing as in the first study and also participated in a fMRI experiment that involved actively listening to naturals sounds. Results: The first study showed a significant correlation (r = 0.38) between SSQ scores and speech recognition where the competing noise was send to the better ear and the noise contralaterally (dichotic). The second study showed a significant correlation (r = 0.66) between speech recognition scores (dichotic listening situation)and brain reorganization. Conclusion: Unilateral hearing loss induces brain reorganization that significantly correlates with deficits in speech recognition in noise and overall quality of life. This work highlights the need for greater attention to improve the understanding and rehabilitation of unilateral hearing loss.