• Korean Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
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• v.61 no.12
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• pp.663-668
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• 2018

Background and Objectives The main objectives of this study were to determine the clinical usefulness of the program-assisted and real ear measurement (REM)-assisted fitting of hearing aids. Subjects and Method Fifteen participants with moderate to moderately severe hearing loss were enrolled in this study. Objective and subjective fitting results were assessed to compare the benefits between the program-assisted fitting (using a software fitting program) and the REM-assisted fitting. Real ear insertion gain (REIG), sound-field audiometry using warble tone, and Korean Hearing in Noise Test (K-HINT) were performed as objective tests. Sound quality rating was performed as a subjective test. Results In the program fitting, 48.89% of fitting points failed to come within ${\pm}10dB$ of the REIG target. In the REM fitting, however, the percentage of failure significantly decreased to 23.33% (p=0.013). In K-HINT test, the reception threshold for speech in quiet situation significantly decreased from 50.1 dB HL with the program fitting to 44.7 dB HL after the REM fitting (p<0.001). In front noise condition, signal-to-noise ratio improved from 4.53 dB to 3.50 dB with the REM fitting without statistical significance (p=0.099). In the sound quality rating, the REM fitting ($4.27{\pm}0.56$) showed a significantly better sound quality ratings than the program fitting ($3.69{\pm}0.74$) (p=0.017). Conclusion The REM fitting showed better results in both subjective and objective measurements than the program fitting.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.212-223
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report three cases of Korean medical treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSHL). Methods : This study conducted with three sensorineural hearing loss patients who hospitalized in Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology & Dermatology Clinic of Korean Medical Hospital. Three patients were treated with herbal medicine(Sunkihwalhyeol-tang, Ikgibohyeol-tang, Gongjindan) and acupuncture. After treatment, we evaluated Siegel's Criteria with pure tone audiometry and subjective symptoms alteration. Results : All three patients were completely recovery about Siegel's Criteria and improved subjective symptoms after treatment. Conclusions : This study suggests that Korean medical treatment may be effective about SSHL.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: The present study aimed to compare thresholds of direct bone-conduction (BC direct) with those of behaviorally measured BC pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and objectively measured BC auditory brainstem response (ABR) to confirm the clinical feasibility of their relationships. Subjects and Methods: Young adults with normal hearing participated in the study to determine the thresholds from three measurements at four testing frequencies. In the BC direct, the vibrator of a bone-anchored hearing aid softband was placed on the right mastoid of each subject. In both PTA and ABR, a B71 bone oscillator was placed on the subject's right mastoid. While the subject's thresholds of BC direct and BC PTA were determined with a clinically routine 5-dB step procedure, BC ABR was conducted to determine the individual's hearing sensitivity by a peak V of the waveform using tone-burst and click stimuli. Results: The BC direct showed a different pattern between low and high frequencies. Precisely, its thresholds were 13.25 and 12.25 dB HL at 0.5 and 1 kHz, respectively, but 19 and 19.75 dB HL at 2 and 4 kHz, respectively. A significant positive correlation existed between BC direct and PTA at 1 kHz, which was also correlated with ABR. Conclusions: Based on the current data, the thresholds of BC direct were similar to BC PTA at low frequencies and BC ABR at high frequencies. The thresholds of BC direct might be predictable at approximately 5 dB higher (or lower) than that in PTA, although a large data set is required for standardization.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2022

Sound quality evaluation is one of the psychoacoustic methods to measure subjective judgements for sound color. The purpose of this study is to investigate sound quality benefits of bimodal users by comparing sound quality scores between bimodal hearing condition and unilateral cochlear implant(CI) condition as a preliminary study. Thirteen bimodal users and seven unilateral CI users were participated in this study. Audiologists performed pure tone and speech audiometry and measured functional gain and real-ear insertion gain. Subjective assessment of sound quality was followed with four sounds including violin sound, male and female voices, and refrigerator noise. Participants judged the sound quality with six sound quality index. Bimodal users showed mean 0.8 points more sound quality improvements in bimodal condition than unilateral CI condition. Group comparison between bimodal and unilateral CI users showed no differences. A follow-up study of sound quality tools and methods should be considered to evaluate subjective bimodal benefits of cochlear implant users.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: The present study aimed to compare thresholds of direct bone-conduction (BC direct) with those of behaviorally measured BC pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and objectively measured BC auditory brainstem response (ABR) to confirm the clinical feasibility of their relationships. Subjects and Methods: Young adults with normal hearing participated in the study to determine the thresholds from three measurements at four testing frequencies. In the BC direct, the vibrator of a bone-anchored hearing aid softband was placed on the right mastoid of each subject. In both PTA and ABR, a B71 bone oscillator was placed on the subject's right mastoid. While the subject's thresholds of BC direct and BC PTA were determined with a clinically routine 5-dB step procedure, BC ABR was conducted to determine the individual's hearing sensitivity by a peak V of the waveform using tone-burst and click stimuli. Results: The BC direct showed a different pattern between low and high frequencies. Precisely, its thresholds were 13.25 and 12.25 dB HL at 0.5 and 1 kHz, respectively, but 19 and 19.75 dB HL at 2 and 4 kHz, respectively. A significant positive correlation existed between BC direct and PTA at 1 kHz, which was also correlated with ABR. Conclusions: Based on the current data, the thresholds of BC direct were similar to BC PTA at low frequencies and BC ABR at high frequencies. The thresholds of BC direct might be predictable at approximately 5 dB higher (or lower) than that in PTA, although a large data set is required for standardization.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: Bilateral microphones with contralateral routing of signal (BiCROS) hearing aid is an option for hearing rehabilitation in individuals with asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL). The clinical factors influencing the trial and purchase of BiCROS were investigated. Subjects and Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 78 patients with ASNHL who were recommended to use BiCROS and analyzed the demographic and audiological factors influencing the trial and purchase of BiCROS. Results: Among the 78 patients, 52 (66.7%) availed of the free BiCROS trial and 21 (26.9%) purchased BiCROS. The mean pure tone audiometry (PTA) air conduction (AC) threshold of the better- and worse-hearing ears were 44.2±12.8 dB and 90.7±22.5 dB HL, respectively. The decision for trial or purchase of BiCROS was not influenced by age, sex, duration of hearing loss of the worse-hearing ear, or PTA AC threshold or speech discrimination score of both ears. The first and third quartiles of the PTA AC thresholds for the better-hearing ear of BiCROS buyers were 38.75 dB and 53.75 dB HL, respectively. The counterpart values for the worse-hearing ear were 72.50 dB and 118.75 dB HL, respectively. Conclusions: The clinical factors analyzed in this study were found to be irrelevant to the trial and purchase of BiCROS in patients with ASNHL. Nevertheless, the distribution range of the auditory thresholds of the subjects using BiCROS can be a useful basis for the counseling of patients with ASNHL and selection of candidates for BiCROS use.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.332-345
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• 2023

Objectives: We examined the association of hearing with cardio-metabolic diseases, dyslipidemia, hypertension and diabetes mellitus according to the personal and occupational characteristics of workers exposed to noise. Methods: The subjects of the study were 237,028 workers who underwent 2, 3, and 4 kHz airway pure tone audiometry in 2015 and who underwent clinical tests to diagnose cardiovascular-metabolic diseases. Cardiovascular-metabolic diseases were defined using reference values for respective items including blood pressure (systolic/diastolic), fasting blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides. The airway pure tone hearing threshold of 2, 3, and 4 kHz, the average threshold of 2-3-4 kHz, and the hearing loss by the average threshold of the primary examination were distinguished. Results: Workers with cardiovascular-metabolic disease had significantly higher average hearing thresholds and higher rates of hearing loss. Logistic regression analysis, which adjusted for demographic variables of gender and age and occupational variables such as workplace size, industry, and type of work, and cardiovascular-metabolic disease as independent variables, showed that the odds ratio of hypertension to hearing loss in the mid-frequency was 1.239 (95% confidence interval: 1.118-1.374). For hypertension was 1.159 (1.107-1.214) and for diabetes it was 1.166 (1.104-1.230) for hearing loss in the high-frequency. Hearing loss measured by mean hearing was 1.178 (1.105-1.256) for hypertension and 1.181 (1.097-1.271) for diabetes. Conclusions: Cardiovascular-metabolic diseases in noise-exposed workers are associated with an increased risk of hearing loss and should be accompanied by bio-monitoring of cardiovascular-metabolic diseases in addition to auditory surveillance.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1977.06a
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• pp.4.4-5
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• 1977

The vibratory energy introduced into the external ear canal is changed by the mechanical factors of eardrum itself, the motility of ossicles, and the air cushion of tympanic cavity and the like. This study was designed to investigate the volume of middle ear cavity and mastoid air cell system as a factor of determining the accoustic impedance of middle ear system. The author studied how the increase in air volume of middle ear cavity effects on the acoustic impedance of middle ear system with dogs' ears and researched the correlation between the degree of pneumatization of temporal bones and the acoustic impedance of middle ear system by comparing the radiological findings of pneumatization (Law's and Towne's projection) with the acoustic impedance measurements with Madsen ZO 70. The result is as follows: 1 The tympanometric findings in control state revealed the curves of type A, and did not change in its configuration by the increase in the air volume of dogs middle ear system. 2. The static compliance of middle ear revealed a distinct and linear increase in proportion to the increase in air volume of middle ear system; the rate of increase was $0.05{\pm}0.02$ cc of static compliance per cc of air volume. 3. Authenticated in the above result and the tendency to increase in static compliance in proportion to the increase in the degree of pneumatization of temporal bones, there was significant regression equation between the degree of pneumatization of temporal bones (x variable) and the static compliance of middle ear system; $y=0.19x{\pm}0.16{\pm}0.05$ It is suggested that the difference in volume of middle ear system plays an important role in the change of the static compliance of middle ear, and the author concludes that the measurement of static compliance of middle ear has clinical value as diagnostic means of evaluating the degree of pneumatization of temporal bones along with some radiological examination.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1981.05a
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• pp.41.2-41
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• 1981

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are the most common operations in the ENT field. Recent emphasis on careful selection of patients for these procedures derives from concern for complications of surgery, as well as the immunologic and anatomic functions of tonsils and adenoids. Adenoidectomy can relieve nasopharyngeal airway obstruction caused by enlarge adenoids, and can prevent complications such as heart failure and recurrent or chronic otitis media. We researched 117 cases of tonsilloadenoidectomy patients and 266 patients having routine examination from March, 1979 to February, 1981, and described the A/N ratio derived from linear measurements of lateral radiographs of the nasopharynx. The results of Impedance Audiometry and X-ray films from 117 cases of T&A patients were compared: 1) The average A/N ratio by age groups for 266 cases of normal children showed: 0.508 for age group, 0 to 3 years old, 0.533 for age group, 4 to 6 years old, 0.524 for age group, 7 to 9 years old, 0.519 for age group, 10 to 12 years old, 0.507 for age group, 13 to 15 years old, 0.481 for age group over 15 years old. The peak value lies in the age group of 4 to 6 years old. The sex difference of A/N ratio was not significant. 2) The average A/N ratio by age groups from 117 cases of T&A patients showed: 0.709 for age group, 0 to 3 years old, 0.733 for age group, 4 to 6 years old, 0.693 for age group, 7 to 9 years old, 0.707 for age group, 10 to 12 years old, 0.620 for age group, 13 to 15 years old, 0.756 for age group over 15 years old. 3) Among the 117 cases of T&A patients, the average A/N ratio for 57 cases in normal tympanogram was 0.688 and the average A/N ratio for 60 cases in abnormal tympanogram was 0.705. 4) Among 57 cases in abnormal tympanogram: 6 cases (10.5%) showed 0.40-0.59 of A/N ratio, 44 cases (77.2%) showed 0.60-0.79 of A/N ratio, and 7 cases (12.3%) showed 0.80-0.99 of A/N ratio. 5) Among 117 cases of T&A patients, 3 of 15 cases showing A/N ratio under 0.6, and 67 of 102 cases showing A/N ratio over 0.6, had paranasal sinusitis.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1981.05a
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• pp.38.1-38
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• 1981

Currently in the otologic field, there are various methods of special audiometric examinations, such as, tone decay, SISI, and impedance audiometry and only a few studies has been done in these fields sporadically in Korea. The purpose of this paper is to establish norms of various special audiometric tests, so we have performed the special audiometric tests on 100 male medical students in good physical condition and the follow results were obtained. 1. All cases showed over 90% of PB scores. The mean and its 2 S.D. were 98$\pm$4.9% in the right ear and 97$\pm$5.6% in the left ear. 2. The mean and its 2 S.D. of MCL(most comfortable level) were 45$\pm$15.4 dB in the right ear and 46$\pm$17.9 dB in the left ear, and its range was 12$\pm$12.2 dB in the right ear and 13$\pm$12.6 dB in the left ear. 3. The mean and its 2 S.D. of UCL (uncomfortable level) were 102$\pm$7.9 dB in the right ear and 102$\pm$7.9 dB in the left ear and about an half in cases showed over 106 dB of UCL. 4. In 95% of cases, SISIs(short increment sensitivity index) at 1, 000 Hz and 4000 Hz was below 45% in the right ear in both frequencies and below 55% and 75% in the left ear, respectively. 5. In 95% of cases, tone decays at 2, 000 Hz and 4, 000 Hz was below 10 dB in both ears. 6. The difference between SRT and PTA (speech reception threshold minus pure tone average) was 4$\pm$9.2 dB in the right ear and 4$\pm$10.0 dB in the left ear. 7. The dynamic range(uncomfortable level minus speech reception threshold) was 98$\pm$13.5 dB in the right ear and 99$\pm$13.5 dB in the left ear. We had trouble in estimating the dynamic range in about an half in cases, in which we couldn't estimate the UCL with our conventional audiometry. 8. The results of impedance audiometric tests were as follow: A. In the tympanogram, all cases were of A type with one exception of B type in the left ear. The mean and its 2 S.D. of its peak level were 22.8$\pm$32.94mm $H_2O$ in the right ear and 23.9$\pm$29. 81mm $H_2O$ in the left ear. B. The mean and its 2 S.D. of the compliance were 0.6$\pm$0.54cc in the right ear and 0.6$\pm$0.53cc in the left ear. C. The results of stapedial reflex: a. The mean and its 2 S.D. of the controlateral stapedial reflex at 500Hz, 1, 000Hz, 2, 000Hz, 4, 000Hz were 99$\pm$17.7 dB, 87$\pm$14.4 dB, 79$\pm$13.7 dB, 77$\pm$20.0 dB in the right ear and 99$\pm$15.9 dB, 88$\pm$13.9 dB, 79$\pm$13.7 dB, 77$\pm$21.3 dB in the left ear. Depending on the tested frequencies, the stapedial reflex wasn't generated in 6 cases in the right ear and 11 cases in the left ear. b. The mean and its 2 S.D. of the ipsilateral stapedial reflex at 1, 000Hz, and 2, 000Hz were 89$\pm$16.3 dB, 82$\pm$15.9 dB in the right ear and 89$\pm$18.0 dB, 83$\pm$18.9 dB in the left ear. Depending on the tested frequencies, the stapedial reflex wans't generated in 1 case in the right ear and 2 cases in the left ear. 9. Eustachian tube function using with impedance audiometry was malfunctioned in21 cases depending on the tested pressure and the range of peak level of tympanogram was 14$\pm$26.9mm $H_2O$(tested pressure:+250mm $H_2O$), 8$\pm$21.9mm $H_2O$ (tested pressure:-250mm $H_2O$) in the right ear and 11 cases depending on the tested pressure and the range of the peak level of tympanogram was 12$\pm$22.5mm $H_2O$ (tested pressure: +250 mm $H_2O$, 9$\pm$17.3mm $H_2O$(tested pressure: -250mm $H_2O$) in the left ear.