Nishimura Tadashi, Okayasu Tadao, Yamashita Akinori, Hosoi Hiroshi, Kitahara Tadashi
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara 634-8522, Japan.
MBT (Medicine-Based Town) Institute, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara 634-8522, Japan.
Audiol Res. 2021 May 30;11(2):244-253. doi: 10.3390/audiolres11020022.
It is generally believed that ultrasound cannot be heard. However, ultrasound is audible when it is presented through bone conduction. Bone-conducted ultrasound (BCU) has unique characteristics; the most interesting is its perception in patients with profound deafness. Some patients can perceive it and discriminate speech-modulated BCU. Previous reports have suggested that BCU can be used for a hearing aid or tinnitus sound therapy. In this review, the perception of BCU at both the peripheral and central levels was investigated based on previous studies, although some of them remain controversial. We also investigated the clinical use of BCU. To develop hearing aids utilizing BCU, the encoding of speech signals into BCU has to be established. The outcomes of the reported speech modulations were evaluated. Furthermore, the suppression of tinnitus by BCU was reviewed, and the feasibility of the application of BCU to tinnitus treatment was investigated.
一般认为超声波是听不见的。然而，当通过骨传导呈现时，超声波是可以听见的。骨传导超声波（BCU）具有独特的特性；最有趣的是它在深度耳聋患者中的感知情况。一些患者能够感知到它并区分语音调制的BCU。先前的报告表明，BCU可用于助听器或耳鸣声音疗法。在本综述中，基于先前的研究对BCU在周围和中枢水平的感知进行了调查，尽管其中一些研究仍存在争议。我们还研究了BCU的临床应用。为了开发利用BCU的助听器，必须建立将语音信号编码为BCU的方法。对所报道的语音调制结果进行了评估。此外，对BCU对耳鸣的抑制作用进行了综述，并研究了BCU应用于耳鸣治疗的可行性。
