• Impact of hearing impairment i...

Treffer: Impact of hearing impairment in unilateral hearing loss: A multicenter study of standardized sound localization tests in Japan.

Title:
Impact of hearing impairment in unilateral hearing loss: A multicenter study of standardized sound localization tests in Japan.
Authors:
Ishino T; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan. Electronic address: tishino@hiroshima-u.ac.jp., Yoshida T; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan., Iwasaki S; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, International University of Health and Welfare, Mita Hospital, Tokyo, Japan., Oishi N; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan., Matsuda Y; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Nasu, Tochigi, Japan., Tono T; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Nasu, Tochigi, Japan., Sugahara K; Department of Otolaryngology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan., Yamazaki H; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan., Jitsukawa S; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan., Nakanishi H; Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan., Kitoh R; Department of Otolaryngology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Nagano, Japan., Sato T; Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan., Nishida K; Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan., Oda T; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan., Fujita R; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan., Kawasumi T; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan., Ishikawa C; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan., Nishida M; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan., Chikuie N; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan., Horibe Y; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan., Taruya T; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan., Hamamoto T; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan., Ueda T; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan., Takeno S; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
Source:
Auris, nasus, larynx [Auris Nasus Larynx] 2025 Dec; Vol. 52 (6), pp. 690-703. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Oct 18.
Publication Type:
Journal Article; Multicenter Study
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: Elsevier Science Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 7708170 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1879-1476 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 03858146 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Auris Nasus Larynx Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Publication: Amsterdam : Elsevier Science
Original Publication: Tokyo, Society for Promotion of International Otorhinolaryngology.
MeSH Terms:
Sound Localization* , Hearing Loss, Unilateral*/physiopathology , Hearing Loss, Unilateral*/rehabilitation, Humans ; Male ; Female ; Japan ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Adult ; Hearing Aids ; Reference Values ; Case-Control Studies ; Young Adult ; Aged, 80 and over
Comments:
Erratum in: Auris Nasus Larynx. 2025 Dec;52(6):803-804. doi: 10.1016/j.anl.2025.10.012.. (PMID: 41252911)
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: Contralateral routing of signal (CROS) hearing aids; Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA); Interaural level differences (ILD); Interaural time differences (ITD); Pinna-induced spectral cues; Standardized sound localization test; Unilateral hearing loss
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20251019 Date Completed: 20251207 Latest Revision: 20251219
Update Code:
20251220
DOI:
10.1016/j.anl.2025.09.010
PMID:
41110384
Database:
MEDLINE

Weitere Informationen

Objective: This study had two primary objectives: first, to standardize a sound localization test across multiple facilities in Japan, and second, to use this standardized test to analyze sound localization ability in patients with unilateral hearing loss (UHL) and identify related clinical and demographic factors.
Methods: Sound localization tests were conducted at 11 facilities, enrolling 59 UHL subjects and 77 normal-hearing controls (Ctrl). The first part of the study focused on standardizing the test protocol and establishing reference ranges and cut-off values. The second part analyzed the sound localization ability in UHL patients, measured by the root mean squared (RMS) error. The association between RMS values and factors such as residual hearing, contralateral routing of signal (CROS) hearing aid use, and Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA) scores were analyzed.
Results: Reference ranges and cut-off values for the standardized sound localization test were successfully established. UHL subjects exhibited significantly higher RMS values (i.e., poorer localization) compared to controls. The use of CROS hearing aids did not improve performance, and the contribution of pinna-induced spectral cues was limited. Significant associations were found between RMS values and both sound presentation position and the number of audiogram frequencies with thresholds better than 40 dB and 50 dB, with the 50 dB threshold criterion being a more prominent factor. HHIA emotional and social scores were significantly associated only with age and not with sound localization performance or other audiological factors.
Conclusions: The standardized sound localization test proved to be a reliable tool for multicenter studies. Patients with UHL have significantly impaired sound localization. Residual hearing in the impaired ear, even if limited, was found to aid localization, whereas the benefits of CROS hearing aids and monaural spectral cues were negligible in our cohort. Since only age influenced the self-perceived hearing handicap (HHIA scores), it is crucial to consider restoring binaural hearing not just to improve sound localization but also to address the broader quality-of-life issues associated with UHL.
(Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Declaration of competing interest The authors disclose no competing interests.