• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.177-185
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• 2009

This study investigates the differences in mean F0, intensity, jitter and shimmer across hearing aid, gender and vowels. For this study, 20 hearing-impaired adults and 20 normal hearing adults as a control group were asked to read 7 Korean vowels(/$\alpha$, $\Lambda$, o, u, ɯ, i, $\varepsilon$/). Subjects' readings were recorded by NasalView and analyzed by Praat. Results showed that the means of F0 were significantly higher in the hearing impaired group(HL) than in the normal hearing group(NH), in the female group than in male group, and in high vowels than in low vowels. Second, intensity was significantly higher in the normal hearing group(NH) than in the hearing impaired group(HL), in male group than in female group, and in low vowels than in high vowels. Third, jitter was significantly higher in the normal hearing group(NH) than in the hearing impaired group(HL), and in female group than in male group and in the back vowels than in front vowels. Finally, shimmer was significantly higher in the normal hearing group(NH) than in the hearing impaired group(HL), and in male group than in female group. In particular, the male group showed that front vowels tend to have higher shimmer than back vowels.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.135-145
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• 2010

This study investigates the differences in mean F0, intensity, jitter, and shimmer across hearing aid, gender, and vowels. For this study, 18 hearing-impaired children, 18 cochlear implanted children, and 18 normal hearing children as a control group were asked to read seven Korean vowels (/$\alpha$, $\wedge$, o, u, w, i, $\varepsilon$/). Subjects' readings were recorded by NasalView and analyzed by Praat. Results showed that the means of F0 were significantly higher in the hearing impaired group than in the normal hearing group; in the female group than in the male group; and in high vowels than in low vowels. Second, intensity was significantly higher in the hearing impaired group than in the normal hearing group; in the female group than in the male group; and in low vowels than in high vowels. Third, jitter was significantly higher in the normal hearing group than in the hearing impaired group; in the female group than in the male group; and in back vowels than in front vowels. Finally, shimmer was significantly higher in the CI group than in the normal hearing group or the hearing aided group; in the male group than in the female group; and in low vowels than in high vowels.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.229-238
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• 2010

This study investigates the differences in acoustic parameters in vowel space across hearing loss, gender and vowels. The parameters include F1, F2, Euclidean Distance between vowels, and vowel triangular area comprised of /i/, /a/ and /u/. For this study, 20 hearing-impaired and normal hearing adults as a control group were asked to read 7 Korean vowels (/a, $\wedge$, o, u, w, i, $\varepsilon$/). Subjects' readings were recorded by NasalView and analyzed by Praat. Results showed that F1 were significantly higher in the hearing impaired group than in the normal hearing group, higher in the female group than in male group, and higher in low vowels than in high vowels. And the means of F2 was significantly higher in the hearing impaired group than in normal hearing group, higher in high vowels than in low vowels, and there was no difference between male and female group. Secondly, Euclidean distance between vowels was significantly shorter in the hearing-impaired group than in the normal group. Finally, acoustic vowel space area was significantly smaller in the hearing-impaired group than in the normal hearing group. The hearing-impaired group showed that front vowels tended to be backed and back vowels to be fronted.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.189-198
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the occupational performance of Korean workers with and without hearing loss and analyze the hearing-related difficulties in the working environment. Subjects and Methods: The Amsterdam checklist for hearing and work was used for the analyses and the occupational environments of the Korean workers were investigated. Out of 129 total participants, 86 workers experienced severe to profound hearing loss and 43 had the normal hearing ability. The hearing-impaired workers were recruited from two leading vocational centers and normal-hearing workers were their colleagues. Results: The hearing-impaired workers were found to take fewer sick leaves and exhibited higher rates of permanent job statuses compared to the normal-hearing workers. Workers with hearing loss rarely detected background sound; however, they could perceive reverberation more frequently. They felt more satisfied with their careers than the normal hearing workers as they received social support and needed to put their effort into hearing for most hearing activities. Furthermore, the effort in hearing increased with the increase in job demand, job control, social support, and career satisfaction. The working hours per week increased with the increase in age, education level, job demand, job control, and social support. Different trends were observed in 9 out of 12 variables while comparing the data from the present study with that obtained from the hearing-impaired workers of the Netherlands, indicating a large difference between countries. Conclusions: Although the hearing-impaired Korean workers operate diligently with good job positions, it is necessary to enhance their acoustic environment and provide them social support. Considering the cultural background of the hearing-impaired workers, the development of suitable vocational rehabilitation programs and specific questionnaires is strongly recommended worldwide.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.189-199
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the occupational performance of Korean workers with and without hearing loss and analyze the hearing-related difficulties in the working environment. Subjects and Methods: The Amsterdam checklist for hearing and work was used for the analyses and the occupational environments of the Korean workers were investigated. Out of 129 total participants, 86 workers experienced severe to profound hearing loss and 43 had the normal hearing ability. The hearing-impaired workers were recruited from two leading vocational centers and normal-hearing workers were their colleagues. Results: The hearing-impaired workers were found to take fewer sick leaves and exhibited higher rates of permanent job statuses compared to the normal-hearing workers. Workers with hearing loss rarely detected background sound; however, they could perceive reverberation more frequently. They felt more satisfied with their careers than the normal hearing workers as they received social support and needed to put their effort into hearing for most hearing activities. Furthermore, the effort in hearing increased with the increase in job demand, job control, social support, and career satisfaction. The working hours per week increased with the increase in age, education level, job demand, job control, and social support. Different trends were observed in 9 out of 12 variables while comparing the data from the present study with that obtained from the hearing-impaired workers of the Netherlands, indicating a large difference between countries. Conclusions: Although the hearing-impaired Korean workers operate diligently with good job positions, it is necessary to enhance their acoustic environment and provide them social support. Considering the cultural background of the hearing-impaired workers, the development of suitable vocational rehabilitation programs and specific questionnaires is strongly recommended worldwide.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.129-131
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• 2009

Hearing loss is one of the most common birth defects among infants. Most hearing-impaired children are not diagnosed until one to three years of age, which is too late to treat 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. In this study, we applied the 'Fsp' method to distinguish between normal and impaired hearing. We have developed a battery-operated portable A - ABR(automated auditory brain stem response) system that automatically detects hearing impairment for neonates or infants in a nursery room, as well as in a sound-proof room. We partially validated the accuracy of the system in five normal-hearing adults.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.129-139
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the levels of knowledge on 5 diseases between persons in hearing impaired and normal hearing groups. Method: The participants consisted of 44 people who are hearing impaired and 47 who are not. An instrument developed by the research team was used for data collection. The questionnaire consisted of 90 items including demographics and items on 5 diseases, hypertension, cancer, diabetes, pulmonary tuberculosis, and hepatitis. Results: The level of knowledge on the 5 diseases, hypertension, cancer, diabetes, pulmonary tuberculosis, and hepatitis in normal hearing group was significantly higher than hearing impaired group. Conclusion: More attention and comprehensive educational programs are needed for people with hearing impairment.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.704-713
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• 2009

As using recruitment phenomenon, SISI test and Bekesy audiometry are employed to differentially diagnose both the cochlear hearing loss and the retrocochlear hearing loss. The main purpose of this study is to find out the sensitivity and specificity of the SISI test within the scope of 1 KHz to 4 KHz in diagnosing various types of hearing losses. In this study, the Bekesy audiometry was conducted for Bekesy audiograms of certain groups according to Jerger's classification, which included persons with normal hearing and patients with hearing impairment. Subject persons of the SISI test were categorized into the several groups with normal hearing, mild hearing loss, moderate hearing loss, moderate-severe hearing loss and severe hearing loss, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of certain groups were evaluated according to the SISI scores of 20 % below, 25 ${\sim}$ 65 %, and more than 70%. Also, the Bekesy audiometry is conducted on the several subject groups with normal hearing, mixed hearing loss, and sensori-neural hearing loss.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.29-36
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• 1999

This study was carried out to compare the rotation between vestibular function and balance skills in normal and hearing-impaired children. The subjects were 20 normal children (8-10 years) and 20 bearing-impaired children (8-10 years). The SCPNT was used to assess vestibular function, then, one leg stance test was used to compare static balance skill of normal and hearing-impaired children according to existence of visual input and sex. The results were as follows: 1. In SCPNT, normal md hearing-impaired children showed statistical significance in all left-sided and right-sided rotations(p<.01), and the vestibular function responses of hearing-impaired children wore normal $20\%$, abnormal $45\%$, absent $35\%$. 2. To compare balance skills between normal and hearing-impaired according to eye open and eye close, one-leg stance Oat showed statistical significance in eye open(p<.05), but did not show statistical significance in eye close(p>.05). 3. SCPNT, ene-leg stance test did not show statistical significance according to sex(p>.05).

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1998 no.11
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• pp.171-172
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• 1998

Recent development of digital technology has offered new possibilities for noticeable advances of hearing aids. Using the digital technology, it is possible to equip hearing aids with powerful features such as multi-channel nonlinear compression amplification and the feedback cancellation, these are often difficult to implement with analog circuits. Still, speech in noise is one of the major complaints of not only hearing impaired persons but also normal listeners. This paper describes speech intelligibility in background noise for both normal and hearing impaired listeners. Speech enhancement algorithms were implemented and compared for normal and sensorineural hearing impairment listeners.