Search Results (2)

Hearing loss resulting from prolonged exposure to loud noise is known as noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and it often affects professionals exposed to occupational sources of high sound levels. Among the professionals chronically exposed to noise, dentists use instrumentation that produces high-frequency noise. In this occupational category, NIHL is estimated to reach a 5% to 20% prevalence of workers. However, dentists and healthcare personnel have no suitable personal protection equipment designed for their needs. The study aims to develop a new individual hearing protection device called the “dynamic earplug”, which protects from high-frequency noise and amplifies speech frequencies. Testing with the Fonix 7000 Hearing Aid Test System showed effective filtering of high frequencies (above 4000 Hz) from dental instruments and a speech frequency amplification of up to 13 dB (500 Hz–1000 Hz). In a trial involving 20 subjects during an 8 h work shift, most participants positively evaluated the device’s esthetics, ease of insertion, comfort, stability, and noise attenuation while still being able to hear patients’ and colleagues’ voices. The dynamic earplug shows promise as an efficient and comfortable hearing protection solution for professionals exposed to high-frequency noise. Full article

Introduction: Hearing loss in childhood compromises a child’s auditory, linguistic, and social skill development. Stimulation and early intervention through therapy and the use of personal sound amplification devices (PSAPs) are important for improving communication. Purpose: To verify the effectiveness of speech therapy intervention on the auditory and linguistic skills of Brazilian children aged between 6 and 8 years using PSAPs. Methods: Experimental study analyzing the intervention process in children aged between 6 and 8 years with mild to severe bilateral hearing loss and prelingual deafness who are PSAP users. Diagnostic information was analyzed, and assessments and interventions were carried out using the Glendonald Auditory Screening Procedure (GASP), a phoneme discrimination test with figures (TFDF), an expressive language category classification test, and an Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT-MAIS) questionnaire. Results: Sixteen children participated in the study; they were divided into a control group (CG) of six children and an intervention group (IG) of ten children. All research subjects underwent two protocol application sessions, and the IG underwent six speech therapy intervention sessions. In the IT-MAIS, the CG had a 9% increase in score, and the IG had an increase of 3% after intervention. The TFDF obtained a 5% increase in the IG in terms of phonemic discrimination ability. The expressive language category classification tests and GASP were considered not sensitive enough to modify the parameters of auditory and linguistic skills. Conclusions: The study found a significant improvement amongst the IG in the TFDF protocol and an increase in IT-MAIS scores in both groups. Full article