Open AccessDevelopment of a Training Software to Improve Speech- in-Noise Perception in the Elderly with Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Author(s) -
Parisa Rasouli Fard,
Farnoush Jarollahi,
Seyyed Jalal Sameni,
Mohammad Kamali
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
shinavāyī/shināsī./shinavāyī/shināsī
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2008-2657
pISSN - 1735-1936
DOI - 10.18502/avr.v31i1.8133
Subject(s) - hearing loss , audiology , noise induced hearing loss , rehabilitation , noise (video) , medicine , perception , speech perception , software , physical therapy , computer science , noise exposure , psychology , artificial intelligence , neuroscience , image (mathematics) , programming language
Background and Aim: The incidence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is increasing rapidly worldwide. It has been shown that the long-term exposure to noise leads to permanent hearing loss. There is currently no treatment for NIHL and it is mainly managed by preventive measures. This study aimed to develop a training software to improve speech-in-noise (SIN) perception in the elderly suffering from mild-to-moderate NIHL due to temporal fine structure (TFS) damage.
Methods: This is a non-randomized clinical trial conducted on 8 older men aged 60-75 years (Mean age = 68 ± 4.5 years) with mild-to-moderate NIHL at high frequencies (43.75±6.0 dBHL) with at least for five years of work in noisy environment. They received rehabilitation using a researcher-developed training software targeted TFS for five weeks. To assess the efficiency of the training software, the signal-to-noise ratio for 50% correct scores (SNR-50%) was calculated using the word-in-noise test before and after the trial.
Results: The SNR-50% improved significantly in all participants from 13±2.63 dB to 6.10±2.85 dB (p<0.001). In the multiple linear regression model, the rehabilitation by the training software predicted 68% of improvement in SNR-50% (coefficient of determination=0.676).
Conclusion: Rehabilitation by the training software developed based on TFS can improve SIN. perception in the elderly with NIHL.