Document Detail


Uncomfortable loudness levels in experienced unilateral and bilateral hearing aid users: evidence of adaptive plasticity following asymmetrical sensory input?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20438301     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Munro and Trotter [Inter J Audiol 45, 684-688, 2006] reported an asymmetry in uncomfortable loudness levels (ULLs) in a preliminary study using 12 experienced unilateral hearing aids users. The aim of the present study was to investigate ULLs in a larger sample of listeners with unilateral and bilateral hearing aid experience. Participants were adults with symmetrical high-frequency hearing impairment. There were 48 listeners with unilateral experience, 13 listeners with bilateral experience and a control group of 47 listeners with no hearing aid experience. The minimum duration of hearing aid experience was 2 years. ULLs were measured at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz. The unilateral group showed a statistically significant inter-aural asymmetry of 3-5 dB. Compared to the controls, there was a non-significant trend of higher ULLs in the fitted ear and lower ULLs in the not-fitted ear. ULLs in the bilateral group were symmetrical and similar to the control group. The findings suggest that changes in ULL may be a feature of asymmetrical sensory input and are consistent with a central gain mechanism.
Authors:
Ann-Marie Hamilton; Kevin J Munro
Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  International journal of audiology     Volume:  49     ISSN:  1708-8186     ISO Abbreviation:  Int J Audiol     Publication Date:  2010 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-08-16     Completed Date:  2010-11-30     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101140017     Medline TA:  Int J Audiol     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  667-71     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Acoustic Stimulation
Adaptation, Psychological
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Audiometry, Pure-Tone
Auditory Threshold
Case-Control Studies
Feedback, Sensory*
Female
Hearing Aids*
Hearing Impaired Persons / psychology,  rehabilitation*
Hearing Loss, Bilateral / psychology,  rehabilitation*
Hearing Loss, Unilateral / psychology,  rehabilitation*
Humans
Loudness Perception*
Male
Middle Aged
Neuronal Plasticity*
Rehabilitation of Hearing Impaired*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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