Sound Source Localization Testing in Single-sided Deafness Following Bone Conduction Intervention

Summary

We present a protocol to evaluate the impact of bone conduction intervention on sound localization ability in patients with single-sided deafness (SSD). This protocol can be applied to assess the efficacy of bone conduction devices in restoring sound localization abilities and improving the overall quality of life for individuals with SSD.

Abstract

Single-sided deafness (SSD), where there is severe to profound hearing loss in one ear and normal hearing in the other, is a prevalent auditory condition that significantly impacts the quality of life for those affected. The ability to accurately localize sound sources is crucial for various everyday activities, including speech communication and environmental awareness. In recent years, bone conduction intervention has emerged as a promising solution for patients with SSD, offering a non-invasive alternative to traditional air conduction hearing aids. However, the effectiveness of bone conduction devices (BCDs), especially in terms of improving sound localization abilities, remains a topic of considerable interest.

Here, we present a protocol to assess the impact of bone conduction intervention on sound localization ability in patients with SSD. The protocol includes the experimental setup (a sound-treated room and a semicircular array of loudspeakers), stimuli, and data analysis methods. Participants indicate the perceived direction of noise bursts, and their responses are analyzed using root mean square error (RMSE) and bias. The results of sound localization testing before and after bone conduction intervention are reported and compared. Despite no significant differences, most patients (71%) had a localization bias clearly toward the intervention side after bone conduction intervention. The study concludes that bone conduction intervention can promptly enhance certain sound localization skills in patients with SSD, offering evidence to support the efficacy of BCDs as a treatment for SSD.

Introduction

Sound localization, the capacity to pinpoint the precise origin of auditory stimuli, is a critical auditory skill that underpins a host of essential functions in daily life, including effective communication, safe navigation through environments, and the ability to orient oneself in space. When an individual experiences Single-sided deafness (SSD), the auditory system's ability to localize sounds is severely compromised. This is because our brains typically rely on the comparison of sound information received by both ears to calculate the location of sound sources accurately.

The human auditory system employs sophisticated signal processing....

Protocol

In this study, the participants were 14 children with congenital SSD, equipped with bone conduction hearing aids. The inclusion criteria for the participants were a confirmed diagnosis of SSD. The participants were recruited from a specialized audiology clinic and were informed about the study's purpose, procedures, and potential risks and benefits. Informed consent was obtained from the parents or legal guardians of the participants before their enrollment in the study.

1. Setup

Discussion

Children aged 5 and older with hearing loss are able to successfully undertake this test. For those with SSD, the acute application of bone conduction hearing aids during sound source localization testing demonstrated a level of improvement in bias, although this enhancement did not achieve statistical significance in terms of RMSE STDE reduction. The improvement can also be a learning effect.

The potential for more significant improvements with prolonged use of the device, driven by neural an.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
2015a x32 or MATLAB R2018a runtime environment			1
Audio driver			1
Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen or other ASIO compatible multi-channel soundcard			1
Height ajustable Chair			1
LOC software tool for sound localization with a license			1
M-Audio BX5 D3 Loudspeaker			7
Microsoft EXCEL			1
Millenium BS-500 Monitor Stand			7
Pro snake 17620/10 Audio Cable 10m(Balanced TRS audiocable)			7
SPL meter			1
Tape			1
Windows PC			1