Hearing loss in the extended high frequencies, despite a normal audiogram, could affect speech-in-noise recognition. However, it is not known if extended high frequency (EHF) hearing loss is associated with everyday listening and communication deficits. The present study aimed to determine the functional effects of impaired EHF hearing among adults using the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ). A secondary objective was to evaluate the relationship between objective (speech-in-noise recognition) and subjective (SSQ) measures of hearing function. Listeners with EHF hearing loss provided lower SSQ ratings compared with their EHF-normal counterparts. The lower ratings could not be attributed to the age or standard audiogram of the listeners. Ratings from more than 50% of EHF-impaired listeners were below the 2 SD cutoff point obtained from EHF-normal listeners. The mean speech recognition threshold was poorer for EHF-impaired listeners, and a poorer speech recognition threshold was associated with lower SSQ ratings, i.e., poorer self-reported hearing ability. For some listeners, EHF hearing loss could be the missing link between self-reported hearing difficulty in the presence of a normal audiogram. These findings provide evidence for the functional deficits associated with EHF hearing loss and invoke the need for future investigations into the management of EHF loss.
References
1.
Al-Malky
, G.
, Dawson
, S. J.
, Sirimanna
, T.
, Bagkeris
, E.
, and Suri
, R.
(2015
). “High-frequency audiometry reveals high prevalence of aminoglycoside ototoxicity in children with cystic fibrosis
,” J. Cyst. Fibros.
14
, 248
–254
.2.
Ahlstrom
, J. B.
, Horwitz
, A. R.
, and Dubno
, J. R.
(2009
). “Spatial benefit of bilateral hearing aids
,” Ear Hear.
30
, 203
–218
.3.
ANSI
(2010
). ANSI S3.6-2010, Specification for Audiometers
(American National Standards Institute
, New York
).4.
Badri
, R.
, Siegel
, J. H.
, and Wright
, B. A.
(2011
). “Auditory filter shapes and high-frequency hearing in adults who have impaired speech in noise performance despite clinically normal audiograms
,” J. Acoust. Soc. Am.
129
, 852
–863
.5.
Banh
, J.
, Singh
, G.
, and Pichora-Fuller
, M. K.
(2012
). “Age affects responses on the speech, spatial, and qualities of hearing scale (SSQ) by adults with minimal audiometric loss
,” J. Am. Acad. Audiol.
23
, 81
–91
.6.
Beijen
, J. W.
, Snik
, A. F. M.
, and Mylanus
, E. A. M.
(2007
). “Sound localization ability of young children with bilateral cochlear implants
,” Otol. Neurotol.
28
, 479
–485
.7.
Best
, V.
, Carlile
, S.
, Jin
, C.
, and van Schaik
, A.
(2005
). “The role of high frequencies in speech localization
,” J. Acoust. Soc. Am.
118
, 353
–363
.8.
Braza
, M. D.
, Corbin
, N. E.
, Buss
, E.
, and Monson
, B. B.
(2022
). “Effect of masker head orientation, listener age, and extended high-frequency sensitivity on speech recognition in spatially separated speech
,” Ear Hear.
43
, 90
–100
.9.
Cañete
, O. M.
, Purdy
, S. C.
, Brown
, C. R. S.
, Neeff
, M.
, and Thorne
, P. R.
(2019
). “Impact of unilateral hearing loss on behavioral and evoked potential measures of auditory function in adults
,” J. Am. Acad. Audiol.
30
, 564
–578
.10.
Dawes
, P.
, Munro
, K. J.
, Kalluri
, S.
, and Edwards
, B.
(2014
). “Acclimatization to hearing aids
,” Ear Hear.
35
, 203
–212
.11.
Demeester
, K.
, Topsakal
, V.
, Hendrickx
, J.-J.
, Fransen
, E.
, van Laer
, L.
, Van Camp
, G.
, Van de Heyning
, P.
, and van Wieringen
, A.
(2012
). “Hearing disability measured by the speech, spatial, and qualities of hearing scale in clinically normal-hearing and hearing-impaired middle-aged persons, and disability screening by means of a reduced SSQ (the SSQ5)
,” Ear Hear.
33
, 615
–626
.12.
Douglas
, S. A.
, Yeung
, P.
, Daudia
, A.
, Gatehouse
, S.
, and O'Donoghue
, G. M.
(2007
). “Spatial hearing disability after acoustic neuroma removal
,” Laryngoscope
117
, 1648
–1651
.13.
Dreschler
, W. A.
, Verschuure
, H.
, Ludvigsen
, C.
, and Westermann
, S.
(2001
). “ICRA noises: Artificial noise signals with speech-like spectral and temporal properties for hearing instrument assessment
,” Int. J. Audiol.
40
, 148
–157
.14.
Dwyer
, N. Y.
, Firszt
, J. B.
, and Reeder
, R. M.
(2014
). “Effects of unilateral input and mode of hearing in the better ear: Self-reported performance using the speech, spatial and qualities of hearing scale
,” Ear Hear.
35
, 126
–136
.15.
Edwards
, B.
(2020
). “Emerging technologies, market segments, and Marketrak 10 insights in hearing health technology
,” Semin. Hear.
41
, 37
–54
.16.
Füllgrabe
, C.
, Baer
, T.
, Stone
, M. A.
, and Moore
, B. C. J.
(2010
). “Preliminary evaluation of a method for fitting hearing aids with extended bandwidth
,” Int. J. Audiol.
49
, 741
–753
.17.
Galvin
, K. L.
, and Noble
, W.
(2013
). “Adaptation of the speech, spatial, and qualities of hearing scale for use with children, parents, and teachers
,” Cochlear Implants Int.
14
, 135
–141
.18.
Gatehouse
, S.
, and Noble
, I.
(2004
). “The speech, spatial and qualities of hearing scale (SSQ)
,” Int. J. Audiol.
43
, 85
–99
.19.
Hua
, H.
, Johansson
, B.
, Jönsson
, R.
, and Magnusson
, L.
(2012
). “Cochlear implant combined with a linear frequency transposing hearing aid
,” J. Am. Acad. Audiol.
23
, 722
–732
.20.
Hunter
, L. L.
, Monson
, B. B.
, Moore
, D. R.
, Dhar
, S.
, Wright
, B. A.
, Munro
, K. J.
, Zadeh
, L. M.
, Blankenship
, C. M.
, Stiepan
, S. M.
, and Siegel
, J. H.
(2020
). “Extended high frequency hearing and speech perception implications in adults and children
,” Hear. Res.
397
, 107922
.21.
Jerger
, J.
(1970
). “Clinical experience with impedance audiometry
,” Arch Otolaryngol.
92
, 311
–324
.22.
Kamerer
, A. M.
, Harris
, S. E.
, Kopun
, J. G.
, Neely
, S. T.
, and Rasetshwane
, D. M.
(2022
). “Understanding self-reported hearing disability in adults with normal hearing
,” Ear Hear.
43
, 773
–784
.23.
Knight
, K. R.
, Kraemer
, D. P.
, Winter
, C.
, and Neuwelt
, E. A.
(2007
). “Early changes in auditory function as a result of platinum chemotherapy: Use of extended high-frequency audiometry and evoked distortion product otoacoustic emissions
,” J. Clin. Oncol.
25
, 1190
–1195
.24.
Koerner
, T. K.
, Papesh
, M. A.
, and Gallun
, F. J.
(2020
). “A questionnaire survey of current rehabilitation practices for adults with normal hearing sensitivity who experience auditory difficulties
,” Am. J. Audiol.
29
, 738
–761
.25.
Laske
, R. D.
, Veraguth
, D.
, Dillier
, N.
, Binkert
, A.
, Holzmann
, D.
, and Huber
, A. M.
(2009
).“Subjective and objective results after bilateral cochlear implantation in adults
,” Otol. Neurotol.
30
, 313
–318
.26.
Martin
, T. P. C.
, Lowther
, R.
, Cooper
, H.
, Holder
, R. L.
, Irving
, R. M.
, Reid
, A. P.
, and Proops
, D. W.
(2010
). “The bone-anchored hearing aid in the rehabilitation of single-sided deafness: Experience with 58 patients
,” Clin. Otolaryngol.
35
, 284
–290
.27.
McGarrigle
, R.
, Munro
, K. J.
, Dawes
, P.
, Stewart
, A. J.
, Moore
, D. R.
, Barry
, J. G.
, and Amitay
, S.
(2014
). “Listening effort and fatigue: What exactly are we measuring? A British Society of Audiology Cognition in Hearing Special Interest Group ‘white paper
,’ ” Int. J. Audiol.
53
, 433
–440
.28.
Mishra
, S. K.
, and Boddupally
, S. P.
(2018
). “Auditory cognitive training for pediatric cochlear implant recipients
,” Ear Hear.
39
, 48
–59
.29.
Mishra
, S. K.
, Boddupally
, S.
, and Rayapati
, D.
(2015
). “Auditory learning in children with cochlear implants
,” J. Speech Lang. Hear. Res.
58
, 1052
–1060
.30.
Mishra
, S. K.
, Saxena
, U.
, and Rodrigo
, H.
(2022
). “Extended high-frequency hearing impairment despite a normal audiogram: Relation to early aging, speech-in-noise perception, cochlear function, and routine earphone use
,” Ear Hear.
43
, 822
–835
.31.
Monson
, B. B.
, Rock
, J.
, Schulz
, A.
, Hoffman
, E.
, and Buss
, E.
(2019
). “Ecological cocktail party listening reveals the utility of extended high-frequency hearing
,” Hear. Res.
381
, 107773
.32.
Moore
, B. C. J.
, and Tan
, C.-T.
(2003
). “Perceived naturalness of spectrally distorted speech and music
,” J. Acoust. Soc. Am.
114
, 408
–419
.33.
Most
, T.
, Adi-Bensaid
, L.
, Shpak
, T.
, Sharkiya
, S.
, and Luntz
, M.
(2012
). “Everyday hearing functioning in unilateral versus bilateral hearing aid users
,” Am. J. Otolaryngol. - Head Neck Med. Surg.
33
, 205
–211
.34.
Motlagh Zadeh
, L.
, Silbert
, N. H.
, Sternasty
, K.
, Swanepoel
, D. W.
, Hunter
, L. L.
, and Moore
, D. R.
(2019
). “Extended high-frequency hearing enhances speech perception in noise
,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.
116
, 23753
–23759
.35.
Moulin
, A.
, Vergne
, J.
, Gallego
, S.
, and Micheyl
, C.
(2019
). “A new speech, spatial, and qualities of hearing scale short-form: Factor, cluster, and comparative analyses
,” Ear Hear.
40
, 938
–950
.36.
Noble
, W.
, and Gatehouse
, S.
(2006
). “Effects of bilateral versus unilateral hearing aid fitting on abilities measured by the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing scale (SSQ)
,” Int. J. Audiol.
45
, 172
–181
.37.
Noble
, W.
, Jensen
, N. S.
, Naylor
, G.
, Bhullar
, N.
, and Akeroyd
, M. A.
(2013
). “A short form of the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale suitable for clinical use: The SSQ12
,” Int. J. Audiol.
52
, 409
–412
.38.
Odelius
, J.
, and Johansson
, Ö.
(2010
). “Self-assessment of classroom assistive listening devices
,” Int. J. Audiol.
49
, 508
–517
.39.
Polspoel
, S.
, Kramer
, S. E.
, van Dijk
, B.
, and Smits
, C.
(2022
). “The importance of extended high-frequency speech information in the recognition of digits, words, and sentences in quiet and noise
,” Ear Hear.
43
, 913
–920
.40.
Trine
, A.
, and Monson
, B. B.
(2020
). “Extended high frequencies provide both spectral and temporal information to improve speech-in-speech recognition
,” Trends Hear.
24
, 1
–8
.41.
Vannson
, N.
, James
, C.
, Fraysse
, B.
, Strelnikov
, K.
, Barone
, P.
, Deguine
, O.
, and Marx
, M.
(2015
). “Quality of life and auditory performance in adults with asymmetric hearing loss
,” Audiol. Neurotol.
20
, 38
–43
.42.
Van Wieringen
, A.
, De Voecht
, K.
, Bosman
, A. J.
, and Wouters
, J.
(2011
). “Functional benefit of the bone-anchored hearing aid with different auditory profiles: Objective and subjective measures
,” Clin. Otolaryngol.
36
, 114
–120
.43.
Yeend
, I.
, Beach
, E. F.
, and Sharma
, M.
(2019
). “Working memory and extended high-frequency hearing in adults: Diagnostic predictors of speech-in-noise perception
,” Ear Hear.
40
, 458
–467
.44.
Wood
, S. N.
(2017
). “Generalized additive models: An introduction with R, second edition
,” Generalized Addit. Models: An Introduction with R, Second Ed.
1
–476
.45.
World Health Organization
(1980
). “The international classification of impairments, disabilities and handicaps (ICIDH)
,” Int. J. Rehabil. Res.
1
–207
.46.
Zahorik
, P.
, and Rothpletz
, A. M.
(2015
). “Speech, spatial, and qualities of hearing scale (SSQ): Normative data from young, normal-hearing listeners
,” Proc. Mtgs. Acoust.
21
, 050007
.© 2022 Acoustical Society of America.
2022
Acoustical Society of America
You do not currently have access to this content.
