OBJECTIVES: Asymmetric or unilateral hearing loss (AHL) may cause irreversible changes in the processing of acoustic signals in the auditory system. We aim to provide a comprehensive view of the auditory processing abilities for subjects with acquired AHL, and to examine the influence of AHL on speech perception under difficult conditions, and on auditory temporal and intensity processing. DESIGN: We examined peripheral and central auditory functions for 25 subjects with AHL resulting from vestibular schwannoma, and compared them to those from 24 normal-hearing controls that were matched with the AHL subjects in mean age and hearing thresholds in the healthy ear. Besides the basic hearing threshold assessment, the tests comprised the detection of tones and gaps in a continuous noise, comprehension of speech in babble noise, binaural interactions, difference limen of intensity, and detection of frequency modulation. For the AHL subjects, the selected tests were performed separately for the healthy and diseased ear. RESULTS: We observed that binaural speech comprehension, gap detection, and frequency modulation detection abilities were dominated by the healthy ear and were comparable for both groups. The AHL subjects were less sensitive to interaural delays, however, they exhibited a higher sensitivity to sound level, as indicated by lower difference limen of intensity and a higher sensitivity to interaural intensity difference. Correlations between the individual test scores indicated that speech comprehension by the AHL subjects was associated with different auditory processing mechanisms than for the control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that AHL influences both peripheral and central auditory processing abilities and that speech comprehension under difficult conditions relies on different mechanisms for the AHL subjects than for normal-hearing controls.

• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• jednostranná nedoslýchavost * patofyziologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• percepce řeči * fyziologie   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• sluchová percepce fyziologie   MeSH
• sluchový práh * MeSH
• studie případů a kontrol MeSH
• vestibulární schwannom * patofyziologie   komplikace   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

This study explored the effects of music on the perception of outdoor urban environments, both built and natural. The participants (n = 74) evaluated five environments located on one walking route in terms of emotional and spatio-cognitive dimensions while listening to one of two types of music: upbeat and conventional or reflective and complex. We found only a very slight effect of music on the evaluation of the emotional and spatio-cognitive dimensions of the environment. The less complex upbeat and conventional music increased the perceived complexity of environments but only if participants took the route from less complex to more complex environments. The liking music mediated the effect of music in the evaluation of emotional dimensions of the environment. Furthermore, a less-liked environment negatively affected the liking of music heard in that environment. Reflective and complex music was perceived as more congruent with the environment than upbeat and conventional music, which is explained by musical fit theory. The features of the environments that were evaluated had a stronger effect on listeners than the music. Natural environments were perceived as more coherent, mysterious, pleasant, interesting, and energetic than built environments, regardless of the music. Moreover, a contrast effect was observed in which the features of the first environment evaluated influenced the evaluation of subsequent environments. It is suggested that the intensity of music may be an important factor for environmental evaluations, in addition to the specific situations in which the music is heard.

• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• emoce fyziologie   MeSH
• hudba * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• sluchová percepce * fyziologie   MeSH
• životní prostředí * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

PURPOSE: Remote microphone systems improve intelligibility in difficult conditions when the performance of hearing aids/cochlear implants is insufficient. The purpose of this study was to explore parents' experiences with remote microphone systems for their children with hearing loss and to determine the advantages and disadvantages as perceived by parents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews with parents of children with moderate to profound bilateral hearing loss (2-19 years old). The open coding method and thematic analysis were used. The final sample consisted of 19 mothers and 9 fathers who had experience with remote microphone systems. RESULTS: Parents listed the advantages of remote microphone systems for their child, for themselves and for other carers, such as better hearing and understanding, a life more similar to that of their peers without hearing loss, safety in road traffic, lower fatigue, vocabulary acquisition, better school results. Some limitations were identified, namely low benefits, technical issues and a reluctance to use the device by children or teachers. CONCLUSIONS: It is crucial to provide parents with information about assistive devices and the consequences of limited access to hearing speech. Professionals should motivate parents, children and teachers to use remote microphone systems even in situations when the benefit may not be obvious if there is a potential benefit for the child. UNLABELLED: IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThe main advantages of remote microphone systems perceived by parents are better hearing and understanding, a life more similar to peers without hearing loss, safety in traffic, lower fatigue, vocabulary acquisition and better school results.The main disadvantages are for parents: persisting hearing problems, low benefits, technical issues and a reluctance to use the device by children or teachers.Sufficient and accurate information is needed about remote microphone systems, but also about the consequences of hearing loss in general.The possibility to try wireless devices before buying and troubleshooting help is appreciated.

• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hluchota * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• matky MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• nedoslýchavost * MeSH
• percepce řeči * MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• sluchové pomůcky * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Prenatal listening experience reportedly modulates how humans process speech at birth, but little is known about how speech perception develops throughout the perinatal period. The present experiment assessed the neural event-related potentials (ERP) and mismatch responses (MMR) to native vowels in 99 neonates born between 32 and 42 weeks of gestation. The vowels elicited reliable ERPs in newborns whose gestational age at time of experiment was at least 36 weeks and 1 day (36 + 1). The ERPs reflected spectral distinctions between vowel onsets from age 36 weeks + 6 days and durational distinctions at vowel offsets from age 37 weeks + 6 days. Starting at age 40 + 4, there was evidence of neural discrimination of vowel length, indexed by a negative MMR response. The present findings extend our understanding of the earliest stages of speech perception development in that they pinpoint the ages at which the cortex reliably responds to the phonetic characteristics of individual speech sounds and discriminates a native phoneme contrast. The age at which the brain reliably differentiates vowel onsets coincides with what is considered term age in many countries (37 weeks + 0 days of gestational age). Future studies should investigate to what extent the perinatal maturation of the cortical responses to speech sounds is modulated by the ambient language.

• MeSH
• akustická stimulace * metody   MeSH
• elektroencefalografie * MeSH
• evokované potenciály fyziologie   MeSH
• fonetika * MeSH
• gestační stáří * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• novorozenec nedonošený fyziologie   MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• percepce řeči * fyziologie   MeSH
• sluchové evokované potenciály fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

It has long been known that environmental conditions, particularly during development, affect morphological and functional properties of the brain including sensory systems; manipulating the environment thus represents a viable way to explore experience-dependent plasticity of the brain as well as of sensory systems. In this review, we summarize our experience with the effects of acoustically enriched environment (AEE) consisting of spectrally and temporally modulated complex sounds applied during first weeks of the postnatal development in rats and compare it with the related knowledge from the literature. Compared to controls, rats exposed to AEE showed in neurons of several parts of the auditory system differences in the dendritic length and in number of spines and spine density. The AEE exposure permanently influenced neuronal representation of the sound frequency and intensity resulting in lower excitatory thresholds, increased frequency selectivity and steeper rate-intensity functions. These changes were present both in the neurons of the inferior colliculus and the auditory cortex (AC). In addition, the AEE changed the responsiveness of AC neurons to frequency modulated, and also to a lesser extent, amplitude-modulated stimuli. Rearing rat pups in AEE leads to an increased reliability of acoustical responses of AC neurons, affecting both the rate and the temporal codes. At the level of individual spikes, the discharge patterns of individual neurons show a higher degree of similarity across stimulus repetitions. Behaviorally, rearing pups in AEE resulted in an improvement in the frequency resolution and gap detection ability under conditions with a worsened stimulus clarity. Altogether, the results of experiments show that the exposure to AEE during the critical developmental period influences the frequency and temporal processing in the auditory system, and these changes persist until adulthood. The results may serve for interpretation of the effects of the application of enriched acoustical environment in human neonatal medicine, especially in the case of care for preterm born children.

• MeSH
• akustická stimulace * MeSH
• akustika MeSH
• colliculus inferior růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• neurony fyziologie   MeSH
• neuroplasticita * fyziologie   MeSH
• novorozená zvířata MeSH
• sluchová dráha * růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• sluchová percepce MeSH
• sluchové korové centrum * růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• věkové faktory MeSH
• životní prostředí MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

This article reviews empirical methods and findings on early language discrimination, questioning rhythm-class based hypotheses on language discrimination in infancy, as well as the assumption that early language discrimination is driven primarily (or solely) by temporal prosodic cues. The present work argues that within-rhythm class discrimination which - according to the rhythmic hypothesis - is not applicable very early in life, has not been sufficiently tested with infants under 4 months of age, that familiarity with a language is not a prerequisite for its discrimination from another rhythmically similar language, and that the temporal rhythm properties may not universally be the primary cues to language discrimination. Although rhythm taxonomy is now by many understood as outdated, some developmental literature still draws on the assumption that rhythm classification determines infants' language discrimination; other studies consider rhythm along a continuous scale and only a few account for cues to language discrimination other than temporal ones. It is proposed that studies on early language discrimination systematically test the contribution of other than temporal rhythm cues, similarly to recent work on multidimensional psychoacoustic salience in the acquisition of segmental categories.

• MeSH
• jazyk (prostředek komunikace) MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• percepce řeči fyziologie   MeSH
• periodicita MeSH
• podněty * MeSH
• vývoj řeči * MeSH
• Check Tag
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Extended high-frequency audiometry (HFA) is considered an important tool in the detection of hearing loss. However, the values at extended high frequencies (EHF) in older adults (in both men and women) are associated with considerable uncertainty due to limited reference data. The presented review aimed to analyze hearing thresholds at EHF in adults older than 60 years. A literature search for HFA-related keyword combinations was conducted using the electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. A total of 1654 records, published in the last 22 years, were identified through this search, of which only 7 articles were ultimately included in the analysis. Multiple studies have shown that significant hearing loss can be observed at EHF in older adults. Hearing thresholds in the frequency range of 9-20 kHz in the elderly varied widely across the studies. Therefore, further research in this field is needed to complete the normative data.

• MeSH
• audiometrie čistými tóny metody   MeSH
• audiometrie metody   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nedoslýchavost diagnóza   MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• sluchový práh * fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

PURPOSE: Previous studies have shown that levels for 50% speech intelligibility in quiet and in noise differ for different languages. Here, we aimed to find out whether these differences may relate to different auditory processing of temporal sound features in different languages, and to determine the influence of tinnitus on speech comprehension in different languages. METHODS: We measured speech intelligibility under various conditions (words in quiet, sentences in babble noise, interrupted sentences) along with tone detection thresholds in quiet [PTA] and in noise [PTAnoise], gap detection thresholds [GDT], and detection thresholds for frequency modulation [FMT], and compared them between Czech and Swiss subjects matched in mean age and PTA. RESULTS: The Swiss subjects exhibited higher speech reception thresholds in quiet, higher threshold speech-to-noise ratio, and shallower slope of performance-intensity function for the words in quiet. Importantly, the intelligibility of temporally gated speech was similar in the Czech and Swiss subjects. The PTAnoise, GDT, and FMT were similar in the two groups. The Czech subjects exhibited correlations of the speech tests with GDT and FMT, which was not the case in the Swiss group. Qualitatively, the results of comparisons between the Swiss and Czech populations were not influenced by presence of subjective tinnitus. CONCLUSION: The results support the notion of language-specific differences in speech comprehension which persists also in tinnitus subjects, and indicates different associations with the elementary measures of auditory temporal processing.

• MeSH
• jazyk (prostředek komunikace) MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• percepce řeči * MeSH
• percepční maskování MeSH
• sluchová percepce MeSH
• sluchový práh MeSH
• srozumitelnost řeči MeSH
• tinnitus * MeSH
• vnímání času * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Švýcarsko MeSH

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine hearing thresholds in an otologically normal population without occupational noise exposure aged 18 to 64 years using extended high-frequency audiometry (EHFA). METHODS: Individuals from the general population who have never had hearing problems and whose job was not associated with noise exposure were included in the study and classified by age into 5 categories: 18-24 and, further, by 10 years of age. Each of these groups was further divided according to gender. All subjects underwent tympanometry, conventional pure-tone audiometry within the 0.125-8 kHz range, and extended high-frequency audiometry within the 9-16 kHz range, performed according to the standards. The significance level for statistical testing was set at 5%. RESULTS: Here, we established hearing thresholds in an otologically healthy population within the extended high-frequency (EHF) range (9-16 kHz). We found the EHFA to be a highly sensitive method for early detection of hearing loss, with hearing thresholds decreasing as soon as 35 years of age. In males, the hearing thresholds grew with age more rapidly than in women. The ability to respond at EHF gradually decreased with age and increasing frequency. CONCLUSION: Our results can help improve the knowledge of EHF hearing thresholds for individual sexes and age groups. So far, the standard 7029:2017 is not binding and, moreover, it only reaches up to the frequency of 12.5 kHz. EHFA is a highly sensitive method for the evaluation of hearing loss depending on age and sex.

• MeSH
• akustické impedanční testy MeSH
• audiometrie čistými tóny MeSH
• audiometrie MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hluchota * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nedoslýchavost z hluku * diagnóza   MeSH
• nedoslýchavost * diagnóza   MeSH
• sluch MeSH
• sluchový práh MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Úvod: Jednostranná hluchota (single sided deafness – SSD) je charakterizovaná sluchovou ztrátou na jednom uchu (pure tone average – PTA – 70 dB HL a více) při prakticky normálním sluchu na druhém uchu (ztráty do 30 dB HL). Jedním ze způsobů řešení je kochleární implantace, která na rozdíl od jiných kompenzačních mechanizmů (CROS systém, systémy pro přímé kostní vedení) jako jediná umožňuje binaurální slyšení. Materiál a metodika: Do studie bylo zahrnuto 6 dětských pacientů s dg. SSD, kteří podstoupili kochleární implantaci ve FN Motol v letech 2020–2021. Sledovali jsme rozvoj sluchové percepce s kochleárním implantátem, schopnost směrového slyšení a průměrnou denní dobu používání zvukového procesoru. Výsledky: Všichni pacienti používají zvukový procesor pravidelně, u všech se subjektivně i objektivně zlepšila sluchová percepce. Směrové slyšení zatím není prokazatelné. Pacienty budeme nadále sledovat a získané poznatky bude třeba do budoucna ověřit na rozsáhlejším souboru. Závěr: Kochleární implantace může být vhodným způsobem řešení jednostranné hluchoty u dětí. Při indikaci je nutno zvažovat etiologii sluchové vady, délku trvání hluchoty a motivaci dítěte a jeho rodičů k pravidelnému užívání zvukového procesoru

Introduction: Single-sided deafness (SSD) is characterized by hearing loss in one ear (pure tone average – PTA – 70 dB HL and more) with practically normal hearing in the other ear (losses up to 30 dB HL). One of the solutions is cochlear implantation, which, unlike other compensatory mechanisms (CROS system, direct bone conduction systems), is the only one that enables binaural hearing. Material and methods: Six pediatric patients with SSD who underwent cochlear implantation at FN Motol in 2020–2021 were included in the study. We monitored the development of auditory perception with a cochlear implant, the ability of directional hearing and the average daily time of use of the sound processor. Results: All patients use the sound processor regularly, subjectively and objectively their hearing perception improved. Directional hearing is not yet demonstrable. We will continue to monitor the patients and the knowledge gained will need to be verified on a larger set in the future. Conclusion: Cochlear implantation can be a suitable way to solve unilateral deafness in children. When indicating, it is necessary to consider the etiology of the hearing defect, the duration of the deafness, and the motivation of the children and their parents to regularly use the sound processor.

• MeSH
• audiometrie MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• jednostranná nedoslýchavost * diagnóza   etiologie   terapie   MeSH
• kochleární implantace * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• percepce řeči MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• kazuistiky MeSH