Speech Pathology and Audiology Commons^™

Development Of 90th Percentile Norms For Ipsilateral Acoustic Reflex Thresholds: A Feasibility Study, Iris Wertheimer

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The acoustic reflex threshold has been well established in the literature as an involuntary bilateral contraction of the stapedius muscle in response to loud transient sounds. Additionally, the clinical utility of the acoustic reflex threshold has been established as it allows for the differential diagnosis of many different conductive, cochlear and retrocochlear pathologies. Gelfand, Schwander and Silman (1990) have established and validated 90^th percentile normative data for use with the contralateral acoustic reflex threshold. Much of the literature on the acoustic reflex threshold has focused on the contralateral acoustic reflex threshold; however, surveys have found that many clinicians are …

Cochlear Implantation In Adults With Neurofibromatosis Type Ii: Outcomes, Benefits, And Limitations, Lydia Riehl

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The objective of the current study was to examine, in a retrospective case series, outcome in terms of word-recognition performance in patients with neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) who have received a cochlear implant (CI) The primary independent variables were duration of deafness (DoD) and age at cochlear implantation. The secondary independent variables were status of hearing sensitivity in the ear contralateral to the one that received cochlear implantation and the type of tumor treatment.

The retrospective case series comprised eight patients who were implanted at New York University Medical Center, or who were receiving follow-up care there. All NF2 patients …

Affordable And Accessible Hearing Healthcare Interventions In The United States: A Literature Review And Prospective Analysis, Garrett Thompson

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Age-related hearing loss is a significant public health concern with serious and far-reaching consequences including: social isolation, depression, faster cognitive decline, and increased risk of falls. Hearing loss is a widespread condition, it is in fact a leading cause of disability among older people. Hearing aids, the primary intervention for adults with hearing loss, are costly and inaccessible to many patients who need them. Among other reasons, these factors have led to a low uptake rate among the adult population; only one in seven adults who could benefit from wearing hearing aids utilizes them. Given the status quo of high …

The Effect Of A Single Bout Of Physical Exertion On Expressive Language And Word Finding In Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis, Marissa A. Barrera

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

To date, little research has been conducted on the relationship between fatigue and expressive language among Multiple Sclerosis patients (MS). This study was a response to this knowledge gap. A nonrandom, matched- subject, mixed-factor design model was used with a purposive sample of 17 individuals with MS (five had primary-progressive (PP) MS, and 12 had relapsing-remitting (RR) MS). The research design was subjected to pretesting to ensure validity. Participants were assessed on a range of language tasks after undergoing one bout of cardiovascular exercise (NuStep T5 Recumbent Cross Trainer) and asked to provide a subjective fatigue score. The expressive language …

Perception And Production Of /V/ And /W/ In Hindi Speakers, Vikas Grover

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation examines the ability of Hindi speakers to identify, discriminate and produce two English phonemes /v/ and /w/ which are difficult for Hindi speakers to distinguish. In Hindi, /v/ and /w/ are used interchangeably. This pattern of use has transferred to Indian English, resulting in English /v/ and /w/ words showing variable pronunciations (e.g., “whale” or “vale” for the word “whale”). Hindi speakers were asked to identify, discriminate and produce tokens of /v/ and /w/. This study also examined whether experience with American English, related to the length of residence (LOR) in the US affects Hindi listeners’ perception and …

Language-Mixing In Discourse In Bilingual Individuals With Non-Fluent Aphasia, Avanthi Paplikar

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Language-mixing (LM) as defined by Chengappa (2009, p. 417) is an “intra-sentential phenomenon referred to as the mixing of various linguistic units (morphemes, words, modifiers, phrases, etc.), primarily from two participating grammatical systems”. LM is influenced by grammatical, environmental, and social constraints (e.g., Milroy & Wei, 1995; Bhat & Chengappa, 2005). Researchers have suggested that LM in patients with aphasia is a communicative strategy used to achieve successful exchanges between speakers; the effectiveness of this mixing, however, had yet to be demonstrated quantitatively.

In the current study we investigated whether LM is present in bilingual speakers with aphasia, and if …

Social Isolation, Social And Emotional Loneliness, And Self-Reported Hearing Difficulties In Older Adults With Hearing Loss, Yuliya Borik

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Hearing loss is known to affect communicative ability and has been associated with poor health-related outcomes such as impaired cognition, increased risk for falls, and psychotic manifestations. Social isolation and loneliness are also widely recognized to negatively impact mental and physical health. The purpose of this systematic review is to review literature that explores a relationship between hearing loss with and/or without self-reported hearing difficulties and social isolation and social and emotional loneliness in older adults with hearing loss ranging from mild to profound. The goal is to determine whether there is a direct relationship between subjective and/or objective hearing …

Outcomes Of Auditory Brainstem Implantation In Adults With Postlingual Deafness: A Systematic Review, Jillian Friedman

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Objective:The purpose of this investigation is to conduct a systematic review of the long-term speech-recognition outcomes of ABIs in postlingually deafened adults, and to compare outcomes of ABIs in adults with NF2/tumors to adults without NF2.

Methods: A comprehensive search utilizing various peer reviewed databases via the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center Library was conducted to identify relevant studies investigating speech-recognition outcomes in ABI patients with postlingual deafness, both with and without tumors. Inclusion criteria included studies that involved at least one adult ABI patient (with or without NF2) with postlingual deafness, who was seen for …

Hearing Aid Use And Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review, Hershel Korngut

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This systematic review analyzed the research relating the use of hearing aids to cognitive function. Hearing aid use was examined to see if wearing hearing aids improves cognitive function, if the length of time hearing aids are worn impacts cognitive ability, if the type of hearing aid used has any impact on cognitive function, and if hearing aid use slows down cognitive decline. Ten studies met the criteria for this review. An analysis of the research revealed some evidence to support wearing hearing aids improves cognitive function, however, there is substantial evidence that shows no impact between wearing hearing aids …

Development Of A Patient-Centered Health Literacy Toolkit For Audiology And Hearing Loss (The 'Hh Lit Kit'), Jennifer L. Gilligan

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The Patient-Centered Health Literacy Toolkit for Audiology & Hearing Loss (‘HH Lit Kit’) represents four years of inquiry into health literacy and Patient-Centered Care (PCC) in audiology. While awareness of health literacy continues to gain momentum in medicine and public health, there is a paucity of information on PCC and health literacy in audiology.

Low health literacy is linked to poorer health and poorer quality of life. Patients with hearing loss are at high risk for low health literacy. This presents a major concern because hearing loss affects the way information is processed, retained, and applied. Gaps have been identified …

Social Support, Social Companionship, And Social Distress In Young Adults With Cochlear Implants, Arta Ljubanovic

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Research has shown that social support has a positive impact on mental health and decreases levels of stress in young adults with normal-hearing sensitivity. Social relationships are one psychological construct that has not been previously studied in young adults with cochlear implants. In light of the importance of social support in the overall well-being of an individual and the lack of research on this topic in individuals with cochlear implants, the study purpose is to examine social relationships in young adults with cochlear implants and to determine the presence of any significant differences in social relationships between the group with …

The Audiometric Profile Of Young Adults Who Report Difficulty With Speech Perception In Noise, Michael R. Higgins

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study examined speech perception abilities in young adults (18-24 years) who reported having difficulty perceiving speech in the presence of background noise despite clinically-normal hearing. The purpose of this study was to compare the audiometric profile of young adults with and without perceived difficulty with speech perception in noise. The Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) was administered to obtain a measure of how participants rate their speech perception in noise under different listening conditions. Audiometric tests included standard audiometric thresholds (250-8000 Hz), high frequency pure tone thresholds (9000-12,500 Hz), QuickSIN, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), and …

Cochlear Implantation As A Treatment Option For Adults With Post-Lingual Single Sided Deafness: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Elvera Bader

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Adults with post lingual single sided deafness experience a myriad of issues as a result of their condition. Speech perception in noise and localization are well documented as being compromised in this population due to the loss of binaural auditory input. Cochlear implantation was introduced in the 2000s as an experimental treatment option for suppression/abatement of tinnitus in individuals with SSD, with consistent demonstration in reduction of tinnitus severity. Most recently, the focus has shifted to the potential reintroduction of binaural effects, and subsequently, improvements in speech in noise and localization performance through this treatment modality. The present systematic review …

Attitudes Towards Music Levels At Orthodox Jewish Weddings, Evan Hirschhorn

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Noise induced hearing loss is a deficit in the sensorineural part of the hearing mechanism, produced by the damaging effects of overstimulation by high intensity sound levels, usually over a period of time. Much of the noise literature has focused on occupational noise; however, the noise levels measured at non occupational and recreational settings have been found to be notably high as well. Attitudes and behaviors may vary based on demographics as such hearing conservational practices may benefit by honing in on demographic information. In the Orthodox Jewish community, weddings have a central role in community life, attended by many …

Attitudes Of Normal Hearing Listeners Towards Personal Sound Amplification Products: Etymotic Bean, Jennifer Rhoades

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Despite the remarkable prevalence of hearing loss in the United States, only a small percentage of these individuals utilize hearing aids. Many factors have been associated with the non-adoption of hearing aids, including financial reasons and the stigma associated with hearing aid use. Personal sound amplification products (PSAP) have been recently introduced as a more discrete and less costly type of assistive listening technology. While the Food and Drug Administration does not approve these devices for individuals with hearing loss, they are advertised as being useful for boosting soft sounds and amplifying speech in the presence of background noise.

The …

Age, Cognition, And Listening Effort, Sapna Mehta

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Older adults are reported to have more difficulty understanding degraded speech than younger adults. This may be due to greater recruitment of cognitive resources in adverse listening conditions. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between listening effort as measured by a dual task paradigm and cognitive abilities, specifically, working memory and selective attention, in normal-hearing older and younger adults in various background noise conditions. Results revealed that speech recognition scores were poorer for older adults, and speech recognition scores declined with decreasing signal-to-noise ratio. Stroop test scores suggested better selective attention ability in the younger participants, …

Hearing Conservation Attitudes And Behaviors At Orthodox Jewish Weddings, Audrey Margulies

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Previous research has shown that prolonged exposure to noise can cause permanent hearing loss. Noise levels at Orthodox Jewish weddings can reach extremely high and damaging levels, yet the hearing conservation attitudes and behaviors of the attendees are unknown. The objective of this study is to identify the attitudes and behaviors of Orthodox Jewish wedding attendees toward hearing conservation. The major questions are: 1. What are the sound exposure levels at Orthodox Jewish weddings? 2. Do attendees hold positive attitudes toward the need for hearing conservation at Orthodox Jewish weddings? 3. What hearing conservation is being practiced at weddings among …

Attitudes Of Normal Hearing Listeners Towards Personal Sound Amplification Products: Sound World Solutions Cs50, Marisa Viets

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Over 23 million individuals in the United States have some degree of hearing loss but do not own hearing aids. Individuals may choose not to adopt hearing aid technology for an assortment of reasons, including the stigma associated with hearing aids, cost of the devices, or denying the effects of hearing loss. Prevalence of hearing aid usage remains low despite research indicating that untreated hearing loss is correlated with decreased quality of life and accelerated cognitive decline. In recent years, personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) have entered the market as simple, low cost, discreet devices in attempt to reach non-users …

Discerning Between Types Of Otitis Media And Their Evidence Based Treatments: A Review For The Audiologist, Hadassah Norowitz

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Otitis media is an inflammatory pathology of the middle ear and middle ear mucosa which accounts for the majority of cases of childhood hearing loss diagnosed by audiologists. However, considerable confusion exists regarding the distinction between otitis media with effusion, also known as middle ear effusion or “glue ear”, and acute otitis media, the quintessential ear infection. Since many children are referred for audiological evaluation in the process of determining the course of treatment and outcomes of treatment, audiologists must be knowledgeable of the evidence of efficacy for various treatment options as they field questions from parents with incomplete information …

When Less Can Be More: Dual Task Effects In Stuttering And Fluent Adults, Naomi Nechama Eichorn

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The present study tested the counterintuitive hypothesis that engaging cognitive resources in a secondary task while speaking could benefit aspects of speech production. Effects of dual task conditions on speech fluency, rate, and error patterns were examined in stuttering and fluent speakers based on specific predictions derived from three related theoretical frameworks. Twenty fluent adults and 19 adults with confirmed diagnoses of stuttering participated in the study. All participants completed two baseline tasks: (1) a continuous speaking task in which spontaneous speech was produced in response to given prompts; and (2) a working memory (WM) task involving manipulations of WM …

Clinical Implications Of Binaural Interference: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Michael Bergen

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

A binaural advantage has been described in many studies over the past fifty years, although research also has demonstrated examples of a disadvantage known as binaural interference. The literature varies greatly in suggesting the incidence of binaural interference across all populations. It also raises questions about the underlying causes of this phenomenon, as well as whether age-related changes have an impact.

A systematic review was engaged to summarize the literature associated with binaural interference, to identify clinical implications of this body of literature, and to answer two research questions:

1) Does the literature describe changes in susceptibility to binaural interference …

Underprivileged Children In Port-Au-Prince, Haiti: Hearing And Academic Performance Of Children In Public Schools In Port Au Prince, Talia Meisel

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Hearing loss is estimated to affect more than 360 million people worldwide, 32% of whom are children. Children with hearing loss tend to develop compromised communicative abilities and also have been found to perform more poorly academically than their normal hearing peers. Because of the lack of medical care, children in third world countries are expected to have more difficulty hearing and learning in a classroom setting than children in first world countries due to higher incidences of conductive pathology. The purpose of this study is to assess the hearing ability of underprivileged children in kindergarten and primary schools in …

The Status Of Neonatal Hearing Screening In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review, David Engelman

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Late identification of hearing loss can lead to speech and language delays, as well as social and academic difficulties. Neonatal hearing screening has reduced the age of identification of hearing loss in many developed countries. However, the practice is limited or non-existent in much of the developing world, such as sub-Saharan Africa. This systematic review used currently available literature to determine the status of neonatal hearing screening programs in sub-Saharan Africa and to develop a model program for the region. Results suggested a lack of neonatal hearing screening services in sub-Saharan Africa, stressing the need for more pilot hearing screening …

Efficacy Of N-Acetylcysteine On Prevention And Amelioration Of Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity: A Systematic Literature Review, Maryana Peravozchykava

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Objective: The purpose of this investigation is to perform a systematic review of the existing literature on NAC efficacy in prevention of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.

Methods: A comprehensive search utilizing databases via the Mina Rees Library of the Graduate Center of the City University of New York was conducted to identify relevant studies for analysis. The levels of evidence were applied to restrict articles reviewed to Level 3 or better.

Results: Eight articles evaluating NAC protective efficacy against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity were identified. The results revealed significant variability in NAC otoprotective efficacy.

Discussion: The significant variability in findings on NAC otoprotective efficacy …

Benefit And Quality Of Life Improvement In Older Adult Cochlear Implant Recipients: A Review Of The Literature, Theresa Bartoldus

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The aging population is increasing rapidly, and in this group hearing loss is one of the most common disabilities. For those with severe to profound impairment, which occurs in approximately 10% of this population, conventional amplification often fails to provide adequate benefit. In these cases, a cochlear implant is indicated. The literature on cochlear implantation in older adults has shown that it offers significant speech perception and quality of life benefits to this population. However, it remains controversial despite ample research demonstrating these benefits, due to concerns about surgical complications and reduced benefit due to aging processes. Much literature also …

A Review Of Animal Studies For The Efficacy Of D-Methionine In Reducing Threshold Shifts And Affecting Biochemical Changes After Exposure To Noise, Alexandra Petraru

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a major public health concern in the United States and worldwide. Certain individuals such as factory workers and military personnel are at greatest risk for irreversible sensorineural hearing loss due to the limitations of hearing protection measures and devices. D-Methionine (d-Met) is an antioxidant otoprotective agent that currently is in human clinical trials. The purpose of this systematic literature review was to review d-Met’s efficacy in reducing threshold shifts as well as in producing biochemical and physical changes in animal studies vis-à-vis the administration paradigm (preloading, rescue and a combined approach), d-Met dose quantity …

Otoscopic And Tympanometric Outcomes In Haitian Children, Ellen May

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Outer and middle ear pathologies are common and highly treatable conditions that affect children worldwide. While data on the prevalence of outer and middle ear disorders in children in North America and other developed countries is ample, such data in developing countries is oftentimes scarce. Determining the prevalence of outer and middle ear disorders is vital, as these types of disorders, if left untreated, can have medical, audiological, and educational implications. Both the identification and treatment of outer and middle ear pathologies are especially important in Haiti, a country that has a severe lack of medical resources, and is especially …

Attitudes Of Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology Students Towards Noise In Youth Culture, Lillian Law

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In order to increase the use of hearing conservation strategies among youth, it is important to identify which populations are most amenable to potential behavior change. The purpose of the present study was to compare attitudes towards noise between undergraduate speech-language pathology/audiology majors and other majors. Participants (N = 119) responded to a survey used to compare attitudes toward noise in the two groups, as well as their perceived ability to influence their sound environment. In addition, a correlational analysis was performed to determine if a relation exists between attitudes towards noise and attitudes towards influencing one's sound environment. Findings …

Attitudes Of Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology Students Towards Noise In Youth Culture, Lillian Law

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In order to increase the use of hearing conservation strategies among youth, it is important to identify which populations are most amenable to potential behavior change. The purpose of the present study was to compare attitudes towards noise between undergraduate speech-language pathology/audiology majors and other majors. Participants (N = 119) responded to a survey used to compare attitudes toward noise in the two groups, as well as their perceived ability to influence their sound environment. In addition, a correlational analysis was performed to determine if a relation exists between attitudes towards noise and attitudes towards influencing one's sound environment. Findings …

The Salience And Perceptual Weight Of Secondary Acoustic Cues For Fricative Identification In Normal Hearing Adults, Derek Petti

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The primary cue used by normal hearing individuals for identification of the fricatives /s/ and /ʃ/ is the most prominent spectrum of frication, which is discrete for this fricative contrast. Secondary cues that influence the identification and discrimination of these fricatives are context dependent. Specifically, the secondary cues that have been found to most significantly impact fricative perception include (a) the second formant transition onset and offset frequencies of a fricative-vowel pair, and (b) the amplitude of the spectral peak in the 2500Hz region of frication relative to an adjacent vowel’s peak amplitude in the same frequency region. However, the …