Audiology Research

Research

12 pages, 6412 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cartilage Conduction Sounds in Cases of Wearing Different Transducers on a Head and Torso Simulator with a Manipulated Ear Pinna Simulator

by Ryota Shimokura, Tadashi Nishimura and Hiroshi Hosoi

Audiol. Res. 2023, 13(6), 898-909; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres13060078 - 9 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1440

Abstract

Cartilage conduction is known widely as a third hearing transmission mechanism after the air and bone conduction methods, and transducers dedicated to the production of cartilage conduction sounds have been developed by several Japanese companies. To estimate the acoustic performance of the five [...] Read more.

Cartilage conduction is known widely as a third hearing transmission mechanism after the air and bone conduction methods, and transducers dedicated to the production of cartilage conduction sounds have been developed by several Japanese companies. To estimate the acoustic performance of the five cartilage conduction transducers selected for this study, both airborne sounds and cartilage conduction sounds were measured. Airborne sounds can be measured using a commercial condenser microphone; however, cartilage conduction sounds are impossible to measure using a conventional head and torso simulator (HATS), because the standard-issue ear pinna simulator cannot reproduce cartilage conduction sounds with the same spectral characteristics as the corresponding sounds measured in humans. Therefore, this study replaced the standard-issue simulator with a developed pinna simulator that can produce similar spectral characteristics to those of humans. The HATS manipulated in this manner realized results demonstrating that transducers that fitted the entrance to the external auditory canal more densely could produce greater cartilage conduction sounds. Among the five transducers under test, the ring-shaped device, which was not much larger than the entrance to the canal, satisfied the spectral requirements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bone and Cartilage Conduction—Volume II)

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18 pages, 6650 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Management of Cartilage Conduction Hearing Aids in Pediatric Patients

by Satomi Yakawa, Tomoko Sugiuchi, Rika Myojin, Kiyoko Sato, Takako Murakami, Yuki Miyoshi and Yuichiro Sugio

Audiol. Res. 2023, 13(6), 871-888; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres13060076 - 6 Nov 2023

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Abstract

Forty-nine children who started wearing cartilage conduction hearing aids (CC-HAs) before completing elementary school (17 with bilateral hearing loss and 32 with unilateral hearing loss) were followed-up and examined. The wearing and utilization status of the CC-HA and its progress to date were [...] Read more.

Forty-nine children who started wearing cartilage conduction hearing aids (CC-HAs) before completing elementary school (17 with bilateral hearing loss and 32 with unilateral hearing loss) were followed-up and examined. The wearing and utilization status of the CC-HA and its progress to date were evaluated. In addition, 33 participants who purchased the CC-HAs were interviewed to assess the wearing effect. Eleven of seventeen children with bilateral hearing loss and 25 of 32 children with unilateral hearing loss continued to use the CC-HAs. In terms of wearing effect, a good wearing effect was reported, even by those with unilateral hearing loss. In cases where it was difficult to wear CC-HAs stably with pasting or ear tips, it was possible to fix them stably using commercially available hair bands and eyeglass vines. In two cases, the CC-HAs were worn from infancy. With ingenuity and appropriate educational and medical support, it is possible to wear CC-HAs from infancy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bone and Cartilage Conduction—Volume II)

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10 pages, 747 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Analysis of Cartilage Conduction Hearing Aid Users and Non-Users: An Investigative Study

by Satofumi Sugimoto, Tadao Yoshida, Yukari Fukunaga, Aya Motegi, Ken Saito, Masumi Kobayashi and Michihiko Sone

Audiol. Res. 2023, 13(4), 563-572; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres13040049 - 27 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1231

Abstract

Clinical findings on cartilage conduction hearing aids (CCHAs) have gradually become clear; however, few reports include a large number of cases. This study included 91 ears from 69 patients who underwent CCHA fitting in our hospital. Their ears were divided into six groups [...] Read more.

Clinical findings on cartilage conduction hearing aids (CCHAs) have gradually become clear; however, few reports include a large number of cases. This study included 91 ears from 69 patients who underwent CCHA fitting in our hospital. Their ears were divided into six groups (i.e., bilateral aural atresia or severe canal stenosis, unilateral aural atresia or severe canal stenosis, chronic otitis media or chronic otitis externa with otorrhea, sensorineural hearing loss, mixed hearing loss, and conductive hearing loss) according to their clinical diagnosis and type of hearing loss. Most clinical diagnoses were aural atresia or meatal stenosis (bilateral, 21.8%; unilateral, 39.6%). The purchase rate of CCHAs was higher in the closed-ear group (bilateral, 77.3%; unilateral, 62.5%). In the bilateral closed-ear group, air conduction thresholds at 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz and aided thresholds with CCHAs at 4000 Hz were significantly lower in the purchase group than the non-purchase group. No significant difference was observed between the purchase and non-purchase groups in the unilateral closed-ear group. In the bilateral closed-ear group, air conduction thresholds and aided thresholds were associated with the purchase rate of CCHAs. In the unilateral closed-ear group, factors other than hearing might have affected the purchase rate of CCHAs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bone and Cartilage Conduction—Volume II)

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11 pages, 2267 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

In Vivo Measurement of Ear Ossicle and Bony Wall Vibration by Sound Stimulation of Cartilage Conduction

by Hiroaki Yazama, Shiro Arii, Hideyuki Kataoka, Tasuku Watanabe, Ryo Kamitani and Kazunori Fujiwara

Audiol. Res. 2023, 13(4), 495-505; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres13040044 - 12 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1423

Abstract

The cartilage-conduction pathway was recently proposed as a third auditory pathway; however, middle-ear vibrations have not yet been investigated in vivo. We aimed to measure the ossicles and bone vibration upon cartilage-conduction stimulation with a non-contact laser Doppler vibrometer. We recruited adult patients [...] Read more.

The cartilage-conduction pathway was recently proposed as a third auditory pathway; however, middle-ear vibrations have not yet been investigated in vivo. We aimed to measure the ossicles and bone vibration upon cartilage-conduction stimulation with a non-contact laser Doppler vibrometer. We recruited adult patients with normal ear structures who underwent cochlear implant surgery at our hospital between April 2020 and December 2022. For sound input, a cartilage-conduction transducer, custom-made by RION Corporation (Tokyo, Japan), was fixed to the surface of the tragus and connected to an audiometer to regulate the output. A posterior tympanotomy was performed and a laser beam was directed through the cavity to measure the vibration of the ossicles, cochlear promontory, and posterior wall of the external auditory canal. Five participants (three men, mean age: 56.4 years) were included. The mean hearing loss on the operative side was 96.3 dB HL in one patient, and that of the other patients was off-scale. The vibrations were measured at a sound input of 1 kHz and 60 dB. We observed vibrations of all three structures, demonstrating the existence of cartilage-conduction pathways in vivo. These results may help uncover the mechanisms of the cartilage-conduction pathway in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bone and Cartilage Conduction—Volume II)

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10 pages, 1238 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Utilizing Cartilage Conduction Hearing Aids among Patients with Conductive Hearing Loss

by Takuya Kakuki, Ryo Miyata, Yurie Yoshida, Aya Kaizaki, Ayami Kimura, Kaede Kurashima, Rui Kuwata and Kenichi Takano

Audiol. Res. 2023, 13(3), 408-417; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres13030036 - 1 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1582

Abstract

The cartilage-conduction hearing aid (CC-HA) is a new hearing device that is suitable for use in patients with conductive hearing loss. It has been 5 years since the introduction of the CC-HA. Although the number of users has increased, the CC-HA is not [...] Read more.

The cartilage-conduction hearing aid (CC-HA) is a new hearing device that is suitable for use in patients with conductive hearing loss. It has been 5 years since the introduction of the CC-HA. Although the number of users has increased, the CC-HA is not yet widely known. This study examines the effects of CC-HA on patients with conductive hearing loss and investigates factors that affect the willingness to use the device by comparing purchasers and non-purchasers of CC-HA in patients with unilateral conductive hearing loss. Eight patients had bilateral conductive hearing loss, and 35 had unilateral conductive hearing loss. Each patient underwent sound field tests and speech audiometry, and the effects of the CC-HA were compared with those of conventional bone conduction hearing aids (BC-HA). In patients with bilateral conductive hearing loss, the CC-HA was non-inferior to BC-HA. The CC-HA improved the hearing thresholds and speech recognition in patients with unilateral conductive hearing loss. Moreover, in patients with unilateral conductive hearing loss, experiencing the effect of wearing the CC-HA under conditions such as putting noise in the better ear could affect patients’ willingness to use the CC-HA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bone and Cartilage Conduction—Volume II)

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Review

Jump to: Research, Other

10 pages, 1317 KiB

Open AccessReview

Cartilage Conduction Hearing Aids in Clinical Practice

by Tadashi Nishimura, Hiroshi Hosoi, Ryota Shimokura and Tadashi Kitahara

Audiol. Res. 2023, 13(4), 506-515; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres13040045 - 13 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2386

Abstract

A relatively loud sound is audible when a vibrator is attached to the aural cartilage. This form of conduction is referred to as cartilage conduction (CC). In Japan, a new type of hearing aid has been developed using CC and has been available [...] Read more.

A relatively loud sound is audible when a vibrator is attached to the aural cartilage. This form of conduction is referred to as cartilage conduction (CC). In Japan, a new type of hearing aid has been developed using CC and has been available in clinical practice since 2017. A clinical study conducted prior to its launch demonstrated its benefits, particularly in patients with aural atresia who were unable to use air conduction hearing aids. Several studies have been published on the benefits of CC hearing aids since their introduction into clinical practice. Most of the patients included in these studies had canal stenosis or aural atresia, and the purchase rates of CC hearing aids in these patients were relatively high. However, the number of patients with canal-open ears was small, with overall poor results in the trials, with the exception of patients with continuous otorrhea. CC hearing aids are considered a good option for compensating for hearing loss in ears with canal stenosis or atresia in both bilateral and unilateral cases. However, CC hearing aids are not currently considered the first choice for patients with a canal-open ear. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bone and Cartilage Conduction—Volume II)

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Other

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7 pages, 1684 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Using a Bone Conduction Hearing Device as a Tactile Aid

by Martin Kompis, Manfred Langmair, Georgios Mantokoudis, Stefan Weder, Tom Gawliczek and Marco Domenico Caversaccio

Audiol. Res. 2023, 13(3), 459-465; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres13030040 - 7 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2525

Abstract

Background: With the advent of cochlear implants, tactile aids for the profoundly deaf became obsolete decades ago. Nevertheless, they might still be useful in rare cases. We report the case of a 25-year-old woman with Bosley–Salih–Alorainy Syndrome and bilateral cochlear aplasia. Methods: After [...] Read more.

Background: With the advent of cochlear implants, tactile aids for the profoundly deaf became obsolete decades ago. Nevertheless, they might still be useful in rare cases. We report the case of a 25-year-old woman with Bosley–Salih–Alorainy Syndrome and bilateral cochlear aplasia. Methods: After it was determined that cochlear or brainstem implants were not an option and tactile aids were not available anymore, a bone conduction device (BCD) on a softband was tried as a tactile aid. The usual retroauricular position and a second position close to the wrist, preferred by the patient, were compared. Sound detection thresholds were measured with and without the aid. Additionally, three bilaterally deaf adult cochlear implant users were tested under the same conditions. Results: At 250–1000 Hz, sounds were perceived as vibrations above approximately 45–60 dB with the device at the wrist. Thresholds were approximately 10 dB poorer when placed retroauricularly. Differentiation between different sounds seemed difficult. Nevertheless, the patient uses the device and can perceive loud sounds. Conclusions: Cases where the use of tactile aids may make sense are probably very rare. The use of BCD, placed, e.g., at the wrist, may be useful, but sound perception is limited to low frequencies and relatively loud levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bone and Cartilage Conduction—Volume II)

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10 pages, 3017 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Examination of Factors Affecting the Likelihood of Whether Individuals Would Purchase Cartilage Conduction Hearing Aids

by Shunsuke Takai, Takeshi Sato, Yuya Miyakura, Mika Adachi, Yohei Honkura, Daisuke Yamauchi and Yukio Katori

Audiol. Res. 2023, 13(3), 347-356; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres13030030 - 11 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1659

Abstract

Cartilage conduction hearing aids (CC-HAs) are a novel type of hearing aid relying on cartilage conduction, the so-called third auditory conduction pathway. However, CC-HAs have only recently entered routine clinical use, and therefore data on their usefulness are lacking. The purpose of this [...] Read more.

Cartilage conduction hearing aids (CC-HAs) are a novel type of hearing aid relying on cartilage conduction, the so-called third auditory conduction pathway. However, CC-HAs have only recently entered routine clinical use, and therefore data on their usefulness are lacking. The purpose of this study was to examine the possibility of assessing whether individual patients would show good adaptation to CC-HAs. Thirty-three subjects (41 ears in total) underwent a free trial of CC-HAs. Age, disease category, and the pure-tone threshold of air and bone conduction, unaided field sound threshold, aided field sound threshold, and functional gain (FG) at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz were compared between patients who subsequently purchased and did not purchase the CC-HAs. Overall, 65.9% of the subjects purchased CC-HAs after the trial. In comparison to non-purchasers, those who decided to purchase CC-HAs showed better pure tone hearing thresholds at high frequencies for both air conduction (2 and 4 kHz) and bone conduction (1, 2, and 4 kHz), as well as for aided thresholds in the sound field (1, 2, and 4 kHz) when using CC-HAs. Therefore, the high-frequency hearing thresholds of subjects trialing CC-HAs might be helpful for identifying those who are likely to benefit from them. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bone and Cartilage Conduction—Volume II)

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