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Novel Diagnostic and Evaluation Tools, presented in partnership with NAL

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1.  What are the most relevant factors that can develop hidden hearing loss? Smoking and falls Diabetes Noise exposure and aging Sedentarism and alcohol

2.  What is the hearing profile associated with hidden hearing loss? Elevated hearing thresholds at high frequencies and hearing problems with fricative sounds. Speech-in-noise intelligibility difficulties and normal audiometric results. Normal bone conduction audiometric thresholds elevated air conduction audiometric thresholds. Temporary threshold shifts followed by persistent tinnitus.

3.  Do hearing aids improve the hearing experience of people with suspected hidden hearing loss? Yes, hearing aids compensate for all their hearing difficulties. Since the hidden hearing loss population have normal audiometric thresholds, it makes no sense to fit them with hearing aids. Hearing aids are the optimal solution for this population. Despite the large inter-subject variability, on average hearing aids provide a small-to-moderate improvement.

4.  Which speech test may be used to evaluate speech discrimination ability in infants and toddlers? Children’s Auditory Recognition with Digital Stimuli (CARDS) Visual Reinforcement Infant Speech Perception (VRISD) Northwestern University- Children’s Perception of Speech (NU-CHIPS) Hearing in Noise Test for Children (HINT-C)

5.  How is speech discrimination information potentially used for clinical case management? To determine a treatment plan. To suggest modifications in hearing devices. To early referral for cochlear implant candidates. All the above