• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.105-110
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• 2021

In this paper, we design and implement an Android mobile application that helps hearing impaired people communicate based on STT(Speech-to-Text) and TTS(Text-to-Speech) APIs and accelerometer sensor of a smartphone. This application provides the ability to record what the hearing-Impairment person's interlocutor is saying with a microphone, convert it to text using the STT API, and display it to the hearing-Impairment person. In addition. In addition, when a hearing-impaired person inputs a text using the TTS API, it is converted into voice and told to the interlocutor. When a hearing-impaired person shakes their smartphone, an accelerometer based background service function is provided to run the application. The application implemented in this paper provides a function that allows hearing impaired people to communicate easily with other people when communicating with others without using sign language as a video call.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.7
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• pp.97-104
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• 2020

The Purpose of this paper was to explore the effect of hearing impairment on HRQOL in Korean elders. We carry out a cross-sectional analysis using nationally representative data from the KNHANES, 2018. A total of 528 elders who had hearing impairment were included. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 25.0, χ²-test, t-test, correlation, and regression analysis to confirm the quality of life, and the influencing factors. There were significant differences in HRQOL according to gender, age, education, marital status, income, occupation, number of household members, tinnitus, number of comorbidities, smoking status, alcohol drinking status, subjective health status, regular exercise, restriction of activity, depressive mood and perceived stress. The results indicated that age, BMI and number of comorbidities had a significant negative association with HRQOL. In addition, marital status, number of comorbidities, body mass index, subjective health status, regular exercise, restriction of activity and perceived stress were predictors of life quality in elders with Hearing Impairment and the variable in the health-related quality of life was explained by 37.3%. In order to improve the HRQOL of elders with hearing impairment, multidisciplinary efforts and development of educational programs are required.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.7
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• pp.313-321
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• 2021

Here we describe the neurodevelopmental outcomes of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (birth weight ≤1,500 g) at 3 years of age in the Neonatal Research Network of Japan (NRNJ) database in the past decade and review the methodological issues identified in follow-up studies. The follow-up protocol for children at 3 years of chronological age in the NRNJ consists of physical and comprehensive neurodevelopmental assessments in each participating center. Neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI)-moderate to severe neurological disability-is defined as cerebral palsy (CP) with a Gross Motor Function Classification System score ≥2, visual impairment such as uni- or bilateral blindness, hearing impairment requiring hearing amplification, or cognitive impairment with a developmental quotient (DQ) of Kyoto Scale of Psychological Development score <70 or judgment as delayed by pediatricians. We used death or NDI as an unfavorable outcome in all study subjects and NDI in survivors using number of assessed infants as the denominator. Follow-up data were collected from 49% of survivors in the database. Infants with follow-up data had lower birth weights and were of younger gestational age than those without follow-up data. Mortality rates of 40,728 VLBW infants born between 2003 and 2012 were 8.2% before discharge and 0.7% after discharge. The impairment rates in the assessed infants were 7.1% for CP, 1.8% for blindness, 0.9% for hearing impairment, 15.9% for a DQ <70, and 19.1% for NDI. The mortality or NDI rate in all study subjects, including infants without follow-up data, was 17.4%, while that in the subjects with outcome data was 32.5%. The NRNJ follow-up study results suggested that children born with a VLBW remained at high risk of NDI in early childhood. It is important to establish a network follow-up protocol and complete assessments with fewer dropouts to enable clarification of the outcomes of registered infants.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.173-184
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• 2004

This study aims to discuss the test methodologies that evaluate the speech intelligibility of hearing-impaired adults using various contexts. Seven adults with severe hearing loss participated in the experiment. The context of the speech intelligibility consists of 77 pairs of one-syllable words with phonemic contrasts, 30 two-syllable words and the list of each 12 and 10 sentences. The speech intelligibility of various contexts had significant correlation, and both one-syllable words with phonemic contrasts and the sentence 1 had higher correlation than other tests. The one-syllable words with phonemic contrasts took longer to test than others, and it demanded more effort to select the pair of words. However, from the point of view of the identification of segmental difficulties, the one-syllable words with phonemic contrasts that reflected segmental factors contributing to the intelligibility was useful.

• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.973-992
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• 2010

The hearing impairment is the representative disorder that affects the quality of the routine life of the aged period. This study was aimed to develop the Korean evaluation scale for hearing handicap(KESHH) with which we can evaluate social and psychological effects of the hearing impairment. Applying this scale clinically, we can analyze the geriatric hearing loss specifically and improve the quality of the aural rehabilitation that can help the hardness of the hearing impairment. Data were collected from 288 participants(176 hearing aid users and 112 non-hearing aid users) and the average age of the participants was 67.4 years old ( 60.15 for the hearing aids users and 78.9 for the non hearing users). The composition ratio of the male and female participants were 58.0% and 42.0% and extrovert and introvert personality were 49.3% and 50.7% showing balanced formation. The tentative draft of KESHH measurements were produced with 30 items and following 5 subscales. Using factor analysis, 6 items were erased and 4 subscales - social effect, psycho/emotional effect, interpersonal effect, and perception of hearing aids - were identified. As each subscale consisted of 6 items, 24 items were corrected and remained totally. Conclusively, the KESHH was developed with 24 items and 4 subscales including 6 items on each subscale. In addition, the KESHH was divided into type-1 and 2 depending on hearing aid users and non hearing aid users. The results of this study can be summarized as the following 5 parts. Firstly, the reliabilities of the KESHH were proved to be high because the subscales' Cronbach alpha values were from 0.723 through 0.895. Secondly, the KESHH showed systematically increasing score as the hearing impairment increased. The lowest score was 24 and the highest score was 117 and the average scores of the hearing impaired and non-hearing impaired are 72.06(SD=15.67) and 66.98(SD=20.94) showing 5.08 increased score for the hearing impaired. Depending on the degree of the hearing loss, the scores recorded 52.63 at the below of the mild hearing loss, 67.29 for the moderate hearing loss, 71.89 for the moderately severe hearing loss, and 75.57 for the severe hearing loss The comparison of the scores by hearing levels indicated that the higher the hearing levels were, the higher the scores of the KESHH with statistical significance(p<0.001). Thirdly, the correlation among 4 subscales was 0.384~0.880(p<0.001). Also, the pure tone average, personality, and the four subscales correlations showed statistical significance with 0.148~0.880 except for the pure tone average and personality and the pure tone average and perception of hearing aids. Fourthly, the total variances explained for the independent subscles were analyzed with multiple regression. The social effect was explained 17.4% with pure tone average, personality, and the status of hearing aid use variances. The psycho/emotional effect was explained 14.4% with puretone average, personality, and age variances. The interpersonal effect was explained 11.2% with pure tone average, personality, and the status of hearing aid use variances. The perception of hearing aids effect was explained 2.2% with only personality. Finally, test-retest reliability was proved to be high with 0.791(p<0.001). Conclusively, the KESHH that was developed considering Korean culture can be a useful instrument for expressing the hearing handicaps of the Korean aged hearing impaired in scores for both hearing aid users and non-users. Also, it is thought that the KESHH is useful clinically for identifying the changes of the hearing handicap scores before and after wearing hearing aids and aural rehabilitation at diverse situations.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.15-21
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• 2009

Hearing loss is one of the most common birth defects among infants. Most of hearing-impaired children are not diagnosed until 1 to 3 years of age - which is too late for the critical period (6 month) for normal speech and language development. If a hearing impairment is identified and treated in its early stage, child's speech and language skills could be comparable to his or her normal-hearing peers. For these reasons, hearing screening at birth and throughout childhood is extremely important. ABR (Auditory brain-stem response) is nowadays one of the most reliable diagnostic tools in the early detection of hearing impairment. In this study, we have developed the system that automatically detects if there is hearing impairment or not for infants or children. For future studies, it will be developed as a portable system to be able to take a measurement not only in sound proof room but also in nursery for neonates.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.234-238
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• 1992

We compared the effectiveness of vasodilator therapy with histamine and stellate ganglion block(SGB) for the treatment of sudden sensoryneural hearing impairment retrospctively. 24 patients were treated with histamine and nicotinic acid(histamine group), and 30 patients were treated with SGB(SGB group). Corticosteroids and low molecular weight dextran($Rheomacrodex^{(R)}$) were given to all patients. The degree of hearing impairment and the evidence of improvement were checked with audiogram. 52.8%(10 out of l9 follow-up ckecked patients) of patients in histamine group and 56.7%(17 out of 30) of patients in SGB group had improved within three weeks of treatment, which means both histamine and SGB are equally effective. As a consequence, we concluded that SGB ia a good substitute for histamine as a vasodilator therapy for sudden sensoryneural hearing impairment with minimal complication, few absolute contraindications, and simple and safe technique.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1977.06a
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• pp.5.2-5
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• 1977

Many persons, both children and adults, suffer from impaired hearing. The handicaps that arise from this are economic, educational and above all, social. These persons need help, both medical and educational. In order to plan facilities for the medical treat ment, the rehabilitation, and the special education required by those with impaired hearing, we must know how many persons with hearing problems there are and the severity of their handicaps. The first step in knowing these is to devide hearing impairent into categories of handicap. Historically, since Beasley (1940) proposed progressive stages of deafness in terms of social disability, there was no well organized classification. of hearing handicap except related material from Huzing (1959) and Silverman (1960). In 1965, Goodman advocated a guide hearing threshold levels and degres of relating hearing impairment. During recent one year, on the bases of Goodman classification of hearing impairment and the report from Illinois Comission on children (1968), we have studied about hearing handicaps and speech life for the 180 cases, who visited to our otolaryngology department with hearing impairment. Now, we report the results of study with the referred references.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2016

The purpose of the study is to identify the accessibility of OpenCouresWare(OCW) from the perspective of college students with visual and hearing impairments. Six students with visual impairments(3 blind and 3 low vision) and four students with hearing impairments(2 deaf, 2 hard of hearing) implemented usability testing. Two modules in KOCW were selected for testing. Students implemented usability testing and then each individual case was analyzed through quantitative and qualitative methods. As results, the degree of usability and accessibility in two modules indicated low level. Implications and recommendations for designing OCW module based on the results were suggested.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2016

The purpose of the study is to identify the usability of OpenCouresWare(OCW) from the perspective of students with visual and hearing impairments. Twelve college students with disabilities(8 visual and 4 hearing impairment) implemented usability testing. Two modules in both edX and KOCW were selected for testing. Students with disabilities implemented usability testing and then each individual case was analyzed through quantitative and qualitative methods. As results, the degree of general usability in both edX and KOCW indicated an average level and the degree of accessibility in edX module was evaluated higher than KOCW. Specifically, the module of edX was rated highly by students with hearing impairments and the usability level of KOCW module was highly appreciated by blind students.