!!☻☻!☻☻!Disorders Friday!?!Disorders Friday!?!

Or Stuck in the middle with SpeechOr Stuck in the middle with Speech

Chapter 7 & 8 Mencher for next Chapter 7 & 8 Mencher for next Quizette (Oct 29)Quizette (Oct 29)

Otitis Media Otitis Media (Chap 6 in Mencher)(Chap 6 in Mencher)

SymptomSymptom• Sudden pain (< 24 hours)Sudden pain (< 24 hours)• Moderate to profound hearing loss (1 – Moderate to profound hearing loss (1 –

14 days) 14 days) PopulationPopulation

• Respiratory InfectionRespiratory Infection• Diver/High pressure environmentDiver/High pressure environment

DiagnosisDiagnosis• Acute otitis media serousAcute otitis media serous

Serous fluid (produced in the middle ear) built Serous fluid (produced in the middle ear) built upup

Eustacian tube blocked by resp. infectionEustacian tube blocked by resp. infection• Self resolve or grommetSelf resolve or grommet

Chronic otitis media serousChronic otitis media serous• ChildrenChildren• Glue in ear, must aerateGlue in ear, must aerate

Masking SpeechMasking Speech SNR = signal to noise ratioSNR = signal to noise ratio

• 0 dB SPL SNR -> 1 to 1 levels0 dB SPL SNR -> 1 to 1 levels• -10 dB SPL SNR -> Signal 10 dB -10 dB SPL SNR -> Signal 10 dB

less intense than noiseless intense than noise Hearing aid benefitHearing aid benefit

• Boost signal in quietBoost signal in quiet• Improve SNR 0 to 20 dB SPL Improve SNR 0 to 20 dB SPL

(‘good’ = 8 dB)(‘good’ = 8 dB) Directional, number of Directional, number of

microphones, algorithms for microphones, algorithms for suppressing noisesuppressing noise

What kind of Noise?What kind of Noise? Energetic MaskingEnergetic Masking

• Gaussian Noise or specific frequenciesGaussian Noise or specific frequencies Broad or partial mask of signalBroad or partial mask of signal

• No semantic contentNo semantic content• Continuous, powerful maskContinuous, powerful mask

Informational maskingInformational masking• Multiple talkersMultiple talkers• Competing semantic contentCompeting semantic content• Partial energetic mask, discontinuousPartial energetic mask, discontinuous

Dependent on speech envelopeDependent on speech envelope

How does masking affect hearing?How does masking affect hearing? Test: comprehension of Test: comprehension of

nonsense sentencesnonsense sentences• ‘‘The house flew the kitchen’The house flew the kitchen’• Informational vs. Energetic Informational vs. Energetic

maskermasker Spatial separation of Spatial separation of

masker & signalmasker & signal• 0˚ to 180˚0˚ to 180˚• PREDICTIONSPREDICTIONS

Demo: masking speechDemo: masking speech Unilateral hearing loss on Unilateral hearing loss on

Speech?Speech?

Otitis MediaOtitis Media SymptomsSymptoms

• Frequent ear infections Frequent ear infections Initially acuteInitially acute Pain & dischargePain & discharge

• Conductive hearing lossConductive hearing loss PopulationPopulation

• Aural surgery in youthAural surgery in youth• Crowded living conditions/large family Crowded living conditions/large family

DiagnosisDiagnosis• Chronic Suppurative Otitis MediaChronic Suppurative Otitis Media

Perforated tympanic membranePerforated tympanic membrane• Did not heal properly after surgery?Did not heal properly after surgery?

• Inflammation of MucosaInflammation of Mucosa High risk for infectionHigh risk for infection May cause granulation of MediaMay cause granulation of Media

• Drainage & antibiotics may be requiredDrainage & antibiotics may be required• If severe tympanoplastyIf severe tympanoplasty

‘‘Hearing’ Speech with Dyslexia Hearing’ Speech with Dyslexia Traditional dyslexiaTraditional dyslexia

• Normal intelligence & sensory abilityNormal intelligence & sensory ability• Difficulty Reading, Writing & SpellingDifficulty Reading, Writing & Spelling

Visual dysfunctionVisual dysfunction New View on Dyslexia New View on Dyslexia (Wallace & Flowers, under review)(Wallace & Flowers, under review)

• Multisensory matching difficultiesMultisensory matching difficulties• Exp: Which of two flashes occurred firstExp: Which of two flashes occurred first

With/without coincident ‘beep’With/without coincident ‘beep’ Change latency of visual flash relative to beep 50 – Change latency of visual flash relative to beep 50 –

400 ms400 ms

• Result: Dyslexics performance is enhanced Result: Dyslexics performance is enhanced over greater latencies (up to 350 ms)over greater latencies (up to 350 ms)

Disturbed multisensory matchingDisturbed multisensory matching

Otitis Media RamificationsOtitis Media Ramifications

Social consequencesSocial consequences• Hearing loss (frustration, etc)Hearing loss (frustration, etc)• Avoidance of pressurized environmentsAvoidance of pressurized environments

Local consequencesLocal consequences• Erosion of the long process of the IncusErosion of the long process of the Incus• Erosion into labrynth (semi-circular Erosion into labrynth (semi-circular

canals) & fistulacanals) & fistula