Takahara Miki, Nishiyama Takanori, Fumiiri Yu, Kitama Tsubasa, Hosoya Makoto, Shimanuki Marie N, Ueno Masafumi, Wakabayashi Takeshi, Ozawa Hiroyuki, Oishi Naoki
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
Otology and Audiology Center, Keio University Hospital, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
Audiol Res. 2025 Aug 2;15(4):95. doi: 10.3390/audiolres15040095.
: This study aimed to investigate the optimal sound presentation level for sound localization testing to assess the effect of hearing interventions in individuals with unilateral conductive hearing loss (UCHL). : Nine participants with normal hearing were tested, and simulated two-stage UCHL was created using earmuffs and earplugs. We created two types of masking conditions: (1) only an earplug inserted, and (2) an earplug inserted with an earmuff worn. A sound localization test was performed for each condition. The sound presentation levels were 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, and 70 dB SPL, and the results were evaluated using root mean square and d-values. : Both values showed little difference in masking Condition 2, regardless of the sound presentation level, whereas in masking Condition 1, the values were at their minimum at 55 dB SPL. In addition, comparing the differences between masking Conditions 1 and 2 for each sound presentation level, the greatest difference was observed at 55 dB SPL for both values. : The optimal sound presentation level for sound localization testing to assess hearing intervention effects in UCHL was 55 dB. This result may be attributed to the effect of input from the non-masked ear, accounting for interaural attenuation; the effect was considered minimal at 55 dB SPL.
本研究旨在探究用于声音定位测试的最佳声音呈现水平,以评估听力干预对单侧传导性听力损失(UCHL)个体的影响。对9名听力正常的参与者进行了测试,并使用耳罩和耳塞模拟两阶段UCHL。我们创建了两种类型的掩蔽条件:(1)仅插入耳塞,(2)插入耳塞并佩戴耳罩。对每种条件都进行了声音定位测试。声音呈现水平为40、45、50、55、60、65和70 dB SPL,并使用均方根和d值对结果进行评估。在掩蔽条件2中,无论声音呈现水平如何,两个值均显示出微小差异;而在掩蔽条件1中,这些值在55 dB SPL时达到最小值。此外,比较每种声音呈现水平下掩蔽条件1和2之间的差异,两个值在55 dB SPL时观察到最大差异。用于评估UCHL中听力干预效果的声音定位测试的最佳声音呈现水平为55 dB。该结果可能归因于来自未掩蔽耳的输入效应,这解释了双耳衰减;在55 dB SPL时该效应被认为最小。