Audiology Research

3 pages, 149 KB

Open AccessReply

Comorbid Anxiety and Depression in Hyperacusis and Misophonia. Reply to Jastreboff, P.J. Comment on “Rodrigues, A.L.M.; Aazh, H. Psychiatric Comorbidities in Hyperacusis and Misophonia: A Systematic Review. Audiol. Res. 2025, 15, 101”

by Hashir Aazh and Ana Luísa Moura Rodrigues

Audiol. Res. 2025, 15(6), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres15060147 (registering DOI) - 31 Oct 2025

Abstract

This systematic review found that depression was reported in 8–80% of patients with hyperacusis and 1 [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Hearing)

2 pages, 139 KB

Open AccessComment

Comment on Rodrigues, A.L.M.; Aazh, H. Psychiatric Comorbidities in Hyperacusis and Misophonia: A Systematic Review. Audiol. Res. 2025, 15, 101

by Pawel J. Jastreboff

Audiol. Res. 2025, 15(6), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres15060146 - 30 Oct 2025

Abstract

I am writing with concerns about an interesting recent publication by Rodrigues and Aazh [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Hearing)

11 pages, 243 KB

Open AccessArticle

Association Between Shift Work and Auditory–Cognitive Processing in Middle-Aged Healthcare Workers

by Margarida Roque, Tatiana Marques and Margarida Serrano

Audiol. Res. 2025, 15(6), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres15060145 - 25 Oct 2025

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Abstract

Background/Objectives: Shift work in healthcare professionals affects performance in high cognitive processing, especially in complex environments. However, the beneficial effects that working in complex environments may have on auditory–cognitive processing remain unknown. These professionals face increased challenges in decision-making due to factors such as noise exposure and sleep disturbances, which may lead to the development of enhanced auditory–cognitive resources. This study aims to investigate the associations between shift work and auditory–cognitive processing in middle-aged healthcare workers. Methods: Thirty middle-aged healthcare workers were equally allocated to a shift worker (SW) or a fixed-schedule worker (FSW) group. Performance on a cognitive test, and in pure-tone audiometry, speech in quiet and noise, and listening effort were used to explore whether correlations were specific to shift work. Results: Exploratory analyses indicated that shift workers tended to perform better in visuospatial/executive function, memory recall, memory index, orientation, and total MoCA score domains compared to fixed-schedule workers. In the SW group, hearing thresholds correlated with memory recall and memory index. In the FSW group, hearing thresholds correlated with orientation, memory index, and total MoCA score, while listening effort correlated with naming, and speech intelligibility in quiet correlated with total MoCA scores. Conclusions: These exploratory findings suggest that shift work may be linked to distinct auditory–cognitive patterns, with potential compensatory mechanisms in visuospatial/executive functions and memory among middle-aged healthcare workers. Larger, longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm whether these patterns reflect true adaptive mechanisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Aging Ear)

10 pages, 481 KB

Open AccessArticle

Everyday Auditory Environment Among Elderly Cochlear Implant Users

by Ulrika Larsson, Ulrika Löfkvist and Karin Hallin

Audiol. Res. 2025, 15(6), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres15060144 - 22 Oct 2025

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Abstract

Background/Objectives: For most adults receiving a cochlear implant (CI), the primary goal is to enhance their oral communication with others. The aim of this study was to investigate the total CI usage time per day among retired CI users and to characterize in which auditory environments they were using their CI. One additional aim was to analyze whether usage time, auditory environment, or social factors influenced CI speech perception. Methods: Participants completed a questionnaire addressing retirement status, whether they lived with another adult, educational level, and participation in social activities. Speech perception scores were obtained from medical records, and CI datalogging was extracted from the CI programming software. Results: Seventy-three CI users aged >65 years were included. The average usage was 12.9 h/day. No statistically significant correlations were found between total usage time or time spent listening to speech and CI speech perception. CI users who regularly met with family or friends had statistically significantly higher CI speech perception than those who did not (p = 0.003). Conclusions: Social interaction may play a crucial role in supporting speech perception among elderly CI users. Opportunities for communication and participation in social life appear to be important for maximizing benefit. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Cochlear Implants: Challenges and Opportunities in Hearing Rehabilitation)

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17 pages, 1943 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hearing Aid Amplification Schemes Adjusted to Tinnitus Pitch: A Randomized Controlled Trial

by Jose L. Santacruz, Emile de Kleine and Pim van Dijk

Audiol. Res. 2025, 15(6), 143; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres15060143 - 22 Oct 2025

Viewed by 322

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Hearing aids can be used as a treatment for tinnitus. There are indications that this treatment is most effective when the tinnitus pitch falls in the frequency range of amplification of the hearing aid. Then, the hearing aid provides masking of the tinnitus. Alternatively, it has been suggested that a gap in the amplification around the tinnitus pitch would engage lateral inhibition and thereby reduce the tinnitus. Methods: To test these ideas, we conducted a randomized controlled trial. Patients were fitted with hearing aids using three different amplification schemes: (1) standard amplification according to the NAL-NL2 prescription procedure, (2) boosted amplification at the tinnitus frequency to enhance tinnitus masking, and (3) notch-filtered amplification at the tinnitus frequency to engage lateral inhibition and suppress tinnitus. The goal was to compare the boosted and notched amplification schemes to standard amplification. The primary outcome measure was tinnitus handicap as measured by the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI). The trial was designed as a double-blind Latin square balanced crossover study. Eighteen tinnitus patients with moderate hearing loss were included. All of them were experienced hearing aid users. After two weeks of initial adaptation to the new hearing aids with standard settings, each setting was tried for four weeks. Results: There was an average reduction of 6.9 points on the TFI score after the adaptation phase, possibly due to a placebo effect. The TFI score did not differ significantly from the standard setting after using the notched or the boosted settings. Although notched amplification performed better than boosted amplification, this difference did not reach the clinical significance level. Regardless of the TFI outcomes, most participants had an individual preference for a particular setting. This preference was approximately uniformly distributed across the three amplification schemes. Conclusions: Notch-filtered and boosted amplification did not provide better tinnitus suppression than standard amplification. The individual preferences highlighted the importance of tailor-made approaches to hearing aid amplification in clinical practice. Further studies should explore the differences among patient’s tinnitus and their preference for a hearing aid setting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Perspectives on Audiology as an Interdisciplinary and Multilevel Science)

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Audiol. Res., Volume 15, Issue 6 (December 2025) – 5 articles

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