Articles of interest

Seminars in Hearing

The current issue of Seminars in Hearing has focused on Implantable Hearing Devices

• Ghossaini et al. Use of bone-anchored cochlear stimulator (Baha) and satisfaction among long-term users. Semin Hear 2010; 31(1): 003-014.
  
  “The bone-anchored cochlear stimulator (Baha system) has been successfully used in the rehabilitation of patients with conductive/mixed hearing loss and unilateral severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss, more commonly known as single-sided deafness (SSD). Review of the literature revealed improvement in measured Baha-aided thresholds when compared to unaided responses. Only a few patient satisfaction studies in the literature reflect long-term follow-up findings. This article reviews the efficacy of Baha in a variety of patient diagnoses and reports on preliminary results of long-term patient satisfaction with Baha in 11 patients.”
  
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• Newman et al. Relationship between Expectations and Satisfaction for Baha Implant System in Patients with Single-Sided Deafness. Semin Hear 2010; 31(1): 015-027.
  
  “The Baha auditory osseointegrated implant system is gaining clinical acceptance as an alternative treatment option for patients with single-sided deafness (SSD). As satisfaction is related to expectations, if postfitting performance with the Baha matches or exceeds initial expectations, the patient may consider this management a success and have satisfaction with treatment outcome. In contrast, unrealistically high preoperative expectations for this management approach may result in dissatisfaction if performance falls short after the sound processor is fitted. The present study explores the relationship between prefitting expectations and postfitting satisfaction in a sample of 10 patients with acquired unilateral sensorineural hearing loss.”
  
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• Bassim, M. & Fayad, J. Implantable Middle Ear Hearing Devices: A Review. Semin Hear 2010; 31(1): 028-036.
  
  “Implantable middle ear hearing devices (IMEHDs) were developed in an effort to improve on the limitations of traditional hearing aids. The last few years have seen significant advances in this technology with the emergence of several new devices, including fully implantable prostheses.”
  
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• Preece, J. Sound Localization by Cochlear Implant Users. Semin Hear 2010; 31(1): 037-046.
  
  “Binaural cochlear implantation has become a fairly common phenomenon for adults and children. In addition, many monaural cochlear implant recipients use a hearing aid in the unimplanted ear. One of the rationales for these bilateral fittings is to improve localization of sound sources, at least in the horizontal plane. Several studies have been published on localization using a remarkably wide range of stimuli, speaker arrays, and measurement variables. This article attempts to sort through the variables and find commonalities in the research.”
  
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• Thibodeau, L. Interfacing FM Systems with Implantable Hearing Devices. Semin Hear 2010; 31(1): 047-072.
  
  “Cochlear implant recipients can reduce the challenges they encounter in noisy environments through the use of a remote microphone. Although there are numerous options for delivering the signal from the frequency modulated (FM) transmitter worn by the speaker to the FM receiver coupled to the implant, several have now been verified through research as viable, beneficial arrangements.”
  
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Some articles of interest in Science Daily

• Venail et al. Educational and Employment Achievements in Prelingually Deaf Children Who Receive Cochlear Implants. Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2010; 136 (4): 366
  
  "Prelingually deaf children without additional disabilities achieve satisfactory educational and employment successes after cochlear implantation, especially if the cochlear implant allows for the use of oral communication," the authors conclude. "If delays in writing and reading skills and grade failures are commonly observed, perhaps as a consequence of the auditory deprivation before cochlear implantation, early cochlear implantation should reduce these delays, and further studies are required to address this point."
  
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• Niparko et al.  Spoken Language Development in Children Following Cochlear Implantation. JAMA, 2010; 303 (15): 1498-1506
  
  “Receiving a cochlear implant before 18 months of age dramatically improves a deaf child's ability to hear, understand and, eventually, speak, according to a multicenter study led by scientists at Johns Hopkins. The study, published in the April 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), is believed to be the first nationwide look at the impact of surgical timing on the success rate of the implants.”
  
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• Lotta C. Larson. Digital Literacies e-Reading and e-Responding: New Tools for the Next Generation of Readers. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 53(3), 255.
  
  “To help children become better readers, a Kansas State University professor thinks they may 'need to spend less time with their noses stuck in books. Lotta Larson, a K-State assistant professor of elementary education, is finding that electronic readers allow children to interact with texts in ways they don't interact with the printed word.”
  
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