• Healthcare Informatics Research
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.263-275
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• 2018

Objectives: Automated audiometry provides an opportunity to do audiometry when there is no direct access to a clinical audiologist. This approach will help to use hearing services and resources efficiently. The purpose of this study was to review studies related to automated audiometry by focusing on the implementation of an audiometer, the use of transducers and evaluation methods. Methods: This review study was conducted in 2017. The papers related to the design and implementation of automated audiometry were searched in the following databases: Science Direct, Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus. The time frame for the papers was between January 1, 2010 and August 31, 2017. Initially, 143 papers were found, and after screening, the number of papers was reduced to 16. Results: The findings showed that the implementation methods were categorized into the use of software (7 papers), hardware (3 papers) and smartphones/tablets (6 papers). The used transducers were a variety of earphones and bone vibrators. Different evaluation methods were used to evaluate the accuracy and the reliability of the diagnoses. However, in most studies, no significant difference was found between automated and traditional audiometry. Conclusions: It seems that automated audiometry produces the same results compared with traditional audiometry. However, the main advantages of this method; namely, saving costs and increased accessibility to hearing services, can lead to a faster diagnosis of hearing impairment, especially in poor areas.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.27-32
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: Detection of auditory signals may be improved when maskers far from the frequency of the target signal are coherently amplitude-modulated. This improvement of signal detection is called comodulation masking release (CMR). In the CMR experiments, flankers have been usually arranged symmetrically. In practice, we will be confronted with a problem by using symmetric flankers due to the limited output of clinical audiometers, especially at high-frequency. We aimed to check whether flanker arrangement has any effect on the amount of CMR, especially when there is no flankers with a frequency higher than the signal. Subjects and Methods: Eighteen normal hearing listeners ranging in age from 20 to 46 years old participated. Symmetric (2-2) and asymmetric (3-1 and 4-0) flankers were used and then the amount of CMR compared among them. Results: Our results showed in the same numbers of flankers, there were no statistically CMR differences between symmetric and asymmetric arrangement. Also when we did not have a flanker at a frequency higher than the signal and all flankers were placed below the signal, there was no statistically difference with the symmetric arrangement. Conclusions: The asymmetry of the flankers and also omitting the flankers with a frequency higher than the signal, have no effect on CMR results. We concluded that CMR can be considered by using clinical audiometer.

• 대한청각학회지
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.27-32
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: Detection of auditory signals may be improved when maskers far from the frequency of the target signal are coherently amplitude-modulated. This improvement of signal detection is called comodulation masking release (CMR). In the CMR experiments, flankers have been usually arranged symmetrically. In practice, we will be confronted with a problem by using symmetric flankers due to the limited output of clinical audiometers, especially at high-frequency. We aimed to check whether flanker arrangement has any effect on the amount of CMR, especially when there is no flankers with a frequency higher than the signal. Subjects and Methods: Eighteen normal hearing listeners ranging in age from 20 to 46 years old participated. Symmetric (2-2) and asymmetric (3-1 and 4-0) flankers were used and then the amount of CMR compared among them. Results: Our results showed in the same numbers of flankers, there were no statistically CMR differences between symmetric and asymmetric arrangement. Also when we did not have a flanker at a frequency higher than the signal and all flankers were placed below the signal, there was no statistically difference with the symmetric arrangement. Conclusions: The asymmetry of the flankers and also omitting the flankers with a frequency higher than the signal, have no effect on CMR results. We concluded that CMR can be considered by using clinical audiometer.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제11권12호
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• pp.5120-5126
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• 2010

ABLB(양측 귀 교대 평형) 검사는 누가현상에 기초한 감각신경성 난청의 세부 병변을 감별하기 위한 검사중 하나이다. 본 논문은 자동 ABLB 검사 소프트웨어를 기술한다. 이 소프트웨어는 ABLB 검사 주파수 및 검사 시작음을 자동으로 결정한다. 또한 검사 음에 대한 피검자의 반응을 분석하여 다음 검사를 결정하는 알고리즘을 지원한다. 또, 피검자의 ABLB 검사 제어 및 모니터링을 위한 인터페이스를 제공하고 검사 결과를 Ladder Diagram으로 나타낸다. 디지털 오실로스코프를 이용하여 ABLB 검사 음이 정확하게 출력되는지 확인하였다.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.1325-1332
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• 2010

미세증가감수지수 검사는 감각신경성난청의 세부 병변을 감별하기 위하여 사용되는 누가현상을 판별하는 검사이다. 본 논문은 PC 기반 소프트웨어로 구현한 미세증가감수지수 검사 소프트웨어를 기술한다. 구현된 소프트웨어는 검사자의 검사 참여 유 무에 따라 수동 검사와 자동 검사의 두 가지 모드를 제공함으로써 경제적인 검사가 진행 될 수 있게 한다. 또 필요할 경우에 자동으로 차폐를 수행한다. 그리고 1dB의 순간 상승음에 대한 검사뿐만 아니라 2dB와 5dB 상승음에 대한 검사도 지원함으로써 보다 정확한 검사 결과를 얻을 수 있도록 한다.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.199-206
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• 2020

Background: In a wide range of industries, noise-induced hearing loss remains one of the most prevalent occupational problems. This study aimed to assess the noise exposure level and associated factors of hearing loss among textile workers in Yangon Region, Myanmar. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a Textile mill (Thamine), Yangon Region, from April to December 2018. In total, 226 workers who were randomly selected from 3 weaving sections participated in face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. A digital sound level meter and pure-tone audiometer were used for the assessment of noise exposure level and hearing loss, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the associated factors of hearing loss. Results: In total workers, 66.4% were exposed to ≥85 dB(A) of noise exposure, and the prevalence of hearing loss was 25.7%. Age ≥35 years, below high school education, hearing difficulty, tinnitus, hypertension, > 9 years of service duration in a textile mill were positively associated with hearing loss. After adjusting confounding factors, age ≥35 years (adjusted odds ratio = 6.90, 95% confidence interval = 3.45-13.82) and tinnitus (adjusted odds ratio = 2.88, 95% confidence interval = 1.13-7.37) were persistently associated with hearing loss. Conclusion: Providing occupational hazard education and enforcement of occupational safety regulations should be taken to decrease the noise exposure level. The regular audiometry test should be conducted for assessment of hearing threshold shift. The employer needs to implement a hearing conservation program in workplace when noise exposure reaches or exceeds 85 dB(A) for 8 hours.

• 대한기관식도과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한기관식도과학회 1979년도 제13차 학술대회 연제순서 및 초록
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• pp.4.3-4
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• 1979

와우 수용기의 모세포를 파괴한 가묘에서 "전기 와우"의 내부 장치를 중이 골포내에 이입한 후에 그 전극을 고실계내에 삽입하고, "전기 와우"의 외부 장치에 폭로한 음향 자극에 대한 반응을 Electric Kymograph(Model 404 Harvard Apparastu Co.)에 묘기하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1) 음향 자극에 의하여 야기되는 가묘의 이개운동의 크기는 특정한 축위 안에서 자극의 강도와 평행하였다. 2) 반복 음향 자극에 의한 이개반사운동은 최초의 자극에 대해서는 약간 증대한 후, 점차 감소하는 경향이 있었다. 3)음향 자극에 의하여 야기되는 이개운동은, 절대불응기, 비교적 불응기 및 반응기 등이 관찰되었다. 4) 음향 자극에 의하여 야기되는 실험 가묘의 이개반사는 청수용기 모세포를 파괴한 후 "전기 와우"의 삽입에 의하여 "청각감"이 야기되고 있음을 시사한다.

• 대한기관식도과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한기관식도과학회 1978년도 제12차 학술대회연제 순서 및 초록
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• pp.8.2-8
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• 1978

언어는 청각을 통해서 발달하는 것으로서 난청이 있어서 듣지 못하는 경우 그 사람의 언어발달은 정지되어 농아자가 되는 경우가 많다. 따라서 언어발달에 미치는 영향 때문에 유아난청의 조기진단 및 치료는 대단히 중요하다고 하겠다. 이에 저자를은 유아난청의 원인을 조사함으로써 유아난청의 예방 및 치료에 도움을 주고자 1977년 1월부터 8월까지 8개월 동안에 본원 외래 난청실로 내방한 만5세 이하의 난청아 185명을 대상으로 하여 자세한 병력과 상세한 임상적 검사 및 Impedance audiometer(Madsen ZO 70)에 의한 청역검사를 실시하고 그 원인에 대한 통계적 고찰을 시도하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1. 유아난청 중 감각신경성난청의 가장 흔한 원인은 유아자신의 감염(123례중, 44례, 35.8%)이었으며 임신중의 모체의 상태(37례 30.1%), 분만시 외상 혹은 두부외상(18례, 14.7%)의 순이었다. 2. 유아난청 중 부음성난청의 가장 흔한 원인은 급성 혹은 만성중이질환이었으며(62례중 32례, 51.6%), 다음으로는 잦은 상기도감염(19례, 30.6%), 아데노이드 증식증(7례, 11.3%)의 순이었다. 3. 유아난청은 외인성원인이 185례중 179례(96.8%), 내인성원인이 6례(3.2%)로 대부분이 외인성 원인이었다.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.141-147
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• 2019

Background: The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical association between cadmium exposure and hearing impairment among the Korean population. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study used the data obtained from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used for our study. Finally, 3,228 participants were included in our study, which were then divided into quartiles based on their blood cadmium levels: first quartile (1Q), second quartile (2Q), third quartile (3Q), and fourth quartile (4Q) groups. The hearing thresholds were measured using an automatic audiometer at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 kHz. Hearing loss (HL) was defined as >25 dB average hearing threshold (AHT). Results: All the groups had 807 participants each. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of cadmium level for HL were 0.634 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.621-0.646). The participants in the 4Q group had higher Low/Mid-Freq, High-Freq, and AHT values than those in the other groups in the multivariate analysis after adjusting for confounding factors. The logistic regression showed that the OR for HL per $1{\mu}g/L$ increase in cadmium was 1.25 (95% CI, 1.09-1.44; p=0.002) on the multivariate analysis. Moreover, the multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the participants in the 4Q group exhibited a 1.59-, 1.38-, and 1.41-fold higher odds for HL than those in the 1Q, 2Q, and 3Q groups, respectively. Conclusion: High cadmium level quartile was associated with increased hearing thresholds and HL among the Korean adult population.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.65-71
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: In masking level difference (MLD), the masked detection threshold for a signal is determined as a function of the relative interaural differences between the signal and the masker. Study 1 analyzed the results of school-aged children with good school performance in the MLD test, and study 2 compared their results with those of a group of children with poor academic performance. Subjects and Methods: Study 1 was conducted with 47 school-aged children with good academic performance (GI) and study 2 was carried out with 32 school-aged children with poor academic performance (GII). The inclusion criteria adopted for both studies were hearing thresholds within normal limits in basic audiological evaluation. Study 1 also considered normal performance in the central auditory processing test battery and absence of auditory complaints and/or of attention, language or speech issues. The MLD test was administered with a pure pulsatile tone of 500 Hz, in a binaural mode and intensity of 50 dBSL, using a CD player and audiometer. Results: In study 1, no significant correlation was observed, considering the influence of the variables age and sex in relation to the results obtained in homophase (SoNo), antiphase (SπNo) and MLD threshold conditions. The final mean MLD threshold was 13.66 dB. In study 2, the variables did not influence the test performance either. There was a significant difference between test results in SπNo conditions of the two groups, while no differences were found both in SoNo conditions and the final result of MLD. Conclusions: In study 1, the cut-off criterion of school-aged children in the MLD test was 9.3 dB. The variables (sex and age) did not interfere with the MLD results. In study 2, school performance did not differ in the MLD results. GII group showed inferior results than GI group, only in SπNo condition.