• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.38-45
• /
• 2012

If an infant with congenital hearing loss is diagnosed in good time and get proper treatment as soon as possible, treatment effect could be maximized and the social costs could be considerably reduced. For these reasons, the medical equipment to screen hearing impairment objectively is needed. The ABR(auditory brainstem response) is typical diagnostic tools for this purpose but there are drawbacks in sense that it does not have frequency specificity and shows hearing information of usually high frequency band. The ASSR(auditory steady-state response) is excellent in frequency specificity, but the rate of wrong diagnosis is slightly high. In this study, we proposed the system which can measure both the ABR and the ASSR, and can show the objective and quantitative indices(Fsp and F-test). It was designed to allow various tests without hardware modification by minimizing hardware components and by increasing software roles. The objective assessment of the developed system was evaluated by experiments with 10 normal persons.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.45 no.10
• /
• pp.1199-1203
• /
• 2002

Purpose : The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of auditory brainstem response(ABR) as a screening tool in children with speech and language disorders. Methods : Between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2001, 139 patients with chief complaints of speech and language delay were recruited from the pediatric neurology clinic, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea. They had ABR on entry and the clinical data were then analyzed. Results : Fifteen out of 139 cases(10.8%) showed abnormal findings; seven had pervasive developmental disorders, four had developmental language disorders, and four were noted to have other conditions. Among them, seven cases were noted to have conductive hearing loss and eight had sensoryneuronal hearing loss. We also evaluated the normal values in children at the ages of 18 months to seven years. The mean latency of wave I and V were $1.40{\pm}0.13$ and $5.57{\pm}0.26$ respectively. Interpeak latency of I-V was $4.18{\pm}0.24$. Conclusion : Based on these findings, ABR has proved to be a highly sensitive and specific index of hearing impairment. It should be used as a screening tool in children with speech and language disorders.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.100-107
• /
• 2007

AABR(automated auditory brainstem response) test is used for the screening purpose of hearing ability of neonates. In this paper, algorithm using Rolle's theorem is suggested for automatic detection of the ensemble averaged ABR waveform. The ABR waveforms were recorded from 55 normal-hearing ears of neonates at screening levels varying from 30 to 60 dBnHL. Recorded signals were analyzed by expert audiologist and by the proposed algorithm. The results showed that the proposed algorithm correctly identified latencies of the major ABR waves (III, V) with latent difference below 0.2 ms. No significant differences were found between the two methods. We also analyzed the ABR signals using derivative algorithm and compared the results with proposed algorithm. The number of detected candidate waves using the proposed algorithm was 47 % less than that of the existing one. The proposed method had lower relative errors (0.01 % error at 60dBnHL) compared to the existing one. By using proposed algorithm, clinicians can detect and label waves III and V more objectively and quantitatively than the manual detection method.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
• /
• 1987.05a
• /
• pp.7.3-8
• /
• 1987

청성뇌간 유발반응이 Juwett 및 Sohmer와 Feinmesser에 의하여 보고된 이래 타각적 청력검사로서 임상적응용에까지 이르렀다. 타각적 청력검사는 반응역치와 청각역치의 오차가 적어야 하며 주파수별로 역치측정이 가능하여야 하며 개인차가 적고 반응의 재현성이 높아야 되며 반응의 판정이 용이해야 함이 필요조건으로서 이러한 조건이 피검자의 수면상태하에서도 충족되어야 한다. 저자들은 정상 성인 청력자를 대상으로 sedation전후의 ABR에 대한 latency 및 amplitude를 중심으로 관찰하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1) Sedative의 사용에 있어서 amplitude및 latency의 차이는 없었다. 2) Sedative의 사용에는 무관하게 low frequency filter에서 high frequency filter보다 voltage의 유의한 차가 있었다.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 2008.10b
• /
• pp.201-202
• /
• 2008

난청은 가장 흔한 선천성 장애이다. 이 질병의 발생 빈도는 신생아 1000명 출생 당 $1{\sim}3$명 정도로 상당히 높다. 이러한 청력 장애가 조기에 발견된다면 수술적인 치료 등으로 예방할 수 있으나 그렇지 못할 경우 언어와 학습장애를 초래하게 된다. 이런 관점을 근거로 신생아를 대상으로 한 선천성 난청의 선별검사는 큰 의미를 가지며 난청환자의 조기발견을 위한 노력이 필수적이라 할 수 있다. 기존의 수동 청력검사 시스템은 신생아 청력 평가시 검사자의 주관성에 의존하게 되므로, 청성뇌간 반응의 뇌파분석이 잘못될 가능성이 커진다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 청력 역치를 자동으로 판독하여 결과를 나오도록 개발하고자 하였으며, 또한 기존 제품들과는 차별화하여 휴대용으로 개발하여 차폐실이 아닌 일반 병실에서도 검사가 가능하도록 함에 따라 유소아의 청각 장애를 극복시키는데 기여하고자 하였다.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 2008.04a
• /
• pp.141-142
• /
• 2008

Hearing loss is the most common birth defect among infants. Yet most hearing-impaired children are not identified until 1 to 3 years of age - which is well beyond the critical period(6 month) for healthy speech and language development. However, if a hearing-impairment is identified and treated in its early stages, child's speech and language skills will be comparable to his or her normal- hearing peers. For these reasons, hearing screening at birth and routinely throughout childhood is extremely important. Auditory brain-stem response(ABR) is nowadays one of the most reliable diagnostic tools in the early detection of hard of hearing. In this study, we developed the system that detects auditory evoked potential using micro-processor. Furthermore, it is required to develop a portable system to measure in not only soundproof room but also nursery for infants.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.12
• /
• pp.1301-1307
• /
• 2006

Purpose : Hearing loss is one of the most common birth defects, and early detection and intervention positively impact language/speech and cognitive development. It has been reported that NICU graduates have a high incidence of hearing loss. So we investigated the incidence, risk factors and clinical outcome of hearing loss in NICU graduates. Methods : This study involved neonatal auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing of newborn infants who graduated from the NICU of Kyungpook National University Hospital during a 3-year period (between July 2002 and June 2005) and subsequent follow-up of these infants. Results : ABR evaluations were performed on 474 infants. Of these infants, 64 showed abnormal ABR (13.5 percent). Of 128 ears from these 64 infants, two ears (1.6 percent) and 10 ears (7.8 percent) were classified as severe and profound hearing loss, respectively. The infants with abnormal ABR had higher incidence of prematurity, low birth weight, very low birth weight, neonatal asphyxia, cranio-facial malformation and amikacin treatment over 15 days (P<0.05). In infants with hyperbilirubinemia, the peak level of serum bilirubin, duration of phototherapy and exchange transfusion were not associated with the higher incidence of hearing loss. Follow-up ABR evaluation was performed on 15 infants with abnormal ABR at $8.8{\pm}4.4months$. In follow-up ABR, 80.0% showed improvement or normalization of threshold sensitivity. Conclusion : NICU graduates exhibit high risk for hearing loss. Systemic and effective hearing assessment program is needed for these high risk infants.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.80-91
• /
• 2021

Objective : The purpose of this study is to discriminate the vestibular schwannoma misdiagnosed as Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Methods : A 46-year-old female patient who was suffering left sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL), visited after diagnosed as Idiopathic SSNHL by previous hospital. For diagnosing the vestibular schwannoma, we conducted the Puretone audiometry, auditory brainstem response threshold test and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) for temporal bone with enhancement. Result : Auditory Brainstem Response threshold test was abnormal and in enhanced MRI, the vestibular schwannoma in left side was detected. The patient was discharged from the hospital for tertiary hospital care. Conclusions : When the patient with SSNHL visits a hospital even if after diagnosed as Idiopathic SSNHL by previous hospital, a doctor should keep in mind the possibility of vestibular schwannoma.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.10
• /
• pp.1056-1060
• /
• 2006

Purpose : As hearing ability affects language and cognitive development, early detection and intervention of congenital hearing defects is very important. We analyzed the result of newborn hearing screening using automated auditory brainstem response and estimated the incidence of congenital hearing defects in newborn infants in Korea. Methods : Hearing screening tests were done on 7,218 newborn infants who were delivered at Cheil General Hospital from July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005. The first screening test was done on the second day of life with automated auditory brainstem response(AABR) using $ALGO{\bigcirc}^{(3)}$ Newborn hearing screener($Natus^{(R)}$ Medical Incorporated, San Carlos, USA) with 35 dB sound level. The newborn infants who did not pass the initial screening test took the second screening AABR test before discharge from the nursery. Infants who did not pass these screenings at the nursery were followed up at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Samsung Seoul Hospital. Results : Total 7,218 infants(83.3 percent of total 8,664 live births of the Cheil General Hospital) were screened in the nursery, and 55 of them failed to pass the newborn screening. Among 55 infants who were referred, six were lost during follow-up, and 14 were confirmed as hearing impaired. Six of them(42.8 percent) do not have any risk factors for hearing impairment. We can estimate that the incidence of hearing defects is about 1.9-2.8 per 1,000 live births. Conclusion : Automated auditory brainstem response is an effective tool to screen the hearing of newborn infants. Congenital hearing loss is more frequent than metabolic diseases on which screening tests are available in the newborn period. About 40 percent of infants who have hearing defects do not have any risk factors for hearing impairment. Therefore, universal newborn hearing screening must be recommended to all neonates.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.41-49
• /
• 2023

Objectives: To obtain audiologic basic data to diagnose the noise induced hearing loss of workers in fisheries. Methods: The charts of the referred fishermen with noise induced hearing loss from November 2022 to February 2023 at a general hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry, auditory brainstem response test and auditory steady state response test were conducted. Results: All of them were men over 60 years of age, and the average duration of exposure to noise was 38.9 ± 10.8 years, and the average symptom duration of hearing loss was 13.4 ± 4.3 years. Although the hearing thresholds in the high frequencies were higher than thresholds in the low frequencies, the audiogram showed a down-sloping pattern without rebound at 8 kHz. 10.5% of the cases had thresholds greater than 75 dB in high frequencies, but 57.9% had thresholds greater than 40 dB in low frequencies. Other hearing test results of fishermen were similar to those of general noise-induced hearing loss. Conclusions: Although the fishermen were exposed to noise for a long time, they recognized hearing loss late. The hearing threshold in lower frequencies of the fishermen was higher than expected. Further studies will be needed to analyze the audiologic characteristics of noise-induced hearing loss of the fishermen after confirming noise exposure by conducting a survey on the working environment, such as the noise level and working hours.