16 research outputs found
Author Impact Metrics in Communication Sciences and Disorder Research
No full text
Purpose
The purpose was to examine author-level impact metrics for faculty in the communication sciences and disorder research field across a variety of databases.
Method
Author-level impact metrics were collected for faculty from 257 accredited universities in the United States and Canada. Three databases (i.e., Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and Scopus) were utilized.
Results
Faculty expertise was in audiology (24.4%;
n
= 490) and speech-language pathology (75.6%;
n
= 1,520). Women comprised 68.1% of faculty, and men comprised 31.9% of faculty. The percentage of faculty in the field of communication sciences and disorders identified in each database was 10.5% (
n
= 212), 44.0% (
n
= 885), and 84.4% (
n
= 1,696) for Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and Scopus, respectively. In general, author-level impact metrics were positively skewed. Metric values increased significantly with increasing academic rank (
p
< .05), were greater for men versus women (
p
< .05), and were greater for those in audiology versus speech-language pathology (
p
< .05). There were statistically significant positive correlations between all author-level metrics (
p
< .01).
Conclusions
These author-level metrics may serve as a benchmark for scholarly production of those in the field of communication sciences and disorders and may assist with professional identity management, tenure and promotion review, grant applications, and employment.
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Author Impact Metrics in Communication Sciences and Disorder Research
No full textPurpose: The purpose was to examine author-level impact metrics for faculty in the communication sciences and disorder research field across a variety of databases.Method: Author-level impact metrics were collected for faculty from 257 accredited universities in the United States and Canada. Three databases (i.e., Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and Scopus) were utilized.Results: Faculty expertise was in audiology (24.4%; n = 490) and speech-language pathology (75.6%; n = 1,520). Women comprised 68.1% of faculty, and men comprised 31.9% of faculty. The percentage of faculty in the field of communication sciences and disorders identified in each database was 10.5% (n = 212), 44.0% (n = 885), and 84.4% (n = 1,696) for Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and Scopus, respectively. In general, author-level impact metrics were positively skewed. Metric values increased significantly with increasing academic rank (p < .05), were greater for men versus women (p < .05), and were greater for those in audiology versus speech-language pathology (p < .05). There were statistically significant positive correlations between all author-level metrics (p < .01).Conclusions: These author-level metrics may serve as a benchmark for scholarly production of those in the field of communication sciences and disorders and may assist with professional identity management, tenure and promotion review, grant applications, and employment
Author Impact Measures in Communication Sciences and Disorders
No full textAuthor impact metrics were collected from approximately 2000 academic research faculty in 257 accredited universities in the US and Canada. Three databases (Scopus, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate) were utilized. Indices (e.g., publications, citations, and h-index) were examined as a function of gender, rank, area of study, region, and Carnegie Classification
Author Impact Measures in Communication Sciences and Disorders
No full textAuthor impact metrics were collected from approximately 2000 academic research faculty in 257 accredited universities in the US and Canada. Three databases (Scopus, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate) were utilized. Indices (e.g., publications, citations, and h-index) were examined as a function of gender, rank, area of study, region, and Carnegie Classification
RELEASE FROM MASKING: BEHAVIORAL AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL MEASURES IN YOUNG AND OLDER LISTENERS
No full textDifficulty listening to speech under challenging conditions is the main complaint of audiology patients. Researchers have explored the cause of this concern, however, many questions are left unanswered. The primary concern of the present series of experiments is the contribution of temporal resolution to speech in noise processing. Specifically, the phenomenon of “release from masking”, the aptitude of the auditory system to make use of temporal gaps in competing signals, allowing for perception of target speech. In Experiment I, a commonly researched behavioral paradigm to measure temporal release from masking was explored in young and older normal hearing adults to determine the effect of noise type, aging, presentation level, and SNR on speech recognition. Words and sentences were presented in interrupted and continuous noises at varying intensities and signal to noise ratios. There was a significant effect of presentation level on interrupted noise benefit (i.e., release from masking). Higher intensities created improved understanding in interrupted noise. This finding suggests an intensity to exploit temporal abilities when completing behavioral assessments, particularly if evaluating temporal resolution through release from masking. It was also determined that younger adults were received greater perceptual advantage in interrupted noise than older adults, indicating an effect of age on temporal resolution despite continued normal hearing thresholds. Experiment II investigated
neural encoding of this phenomenon through electrophysiological measures of the auditory cortex. Cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) were utilized to demonstrate interrupted noise benefit and explore the effect of SNR and age on this response. With the older adults exhibiting similar auditory thresholds as younger adults and yet displaying a clear temporal deficit in speech in noise understanding, Experiment II sought to determine if a deficit in neural encoding of these signals within the auditory cortex was evident. A speech stimulus (/da/) was used to elicit the CAEPs in interrupted and continuous noises. Decreased P1 and P2 latencies and increased N1 amplitudes were recorded in interrupted noise versus continuous noise, indicating a temporal benefit. These differences were considered a cortical release from masking. Identifying this response in a localized measure may lead to better understanding of the auditory cortex’s role in temporal processing of speech in difficult listening environments. With an increase in P1 and N1 amplitudes in older listeners, decreased neural inhibition was indicated. It is plausible that this aging affect could result in the temporal deficit measured behaviorally. A significant correlation between this electrophysiological finding and behavioral measures of the same deficit would confirm this theory. Experiment II was designed to explore the associations between the behavioral and electrophysiological measures of Experiments I and II. No clinically significant correlations were found between these measures. A failure to demonstrate this correlation brings into question the clinical utility of the electrophysiological measures of Experiment II. Significant correlations would have allowed for the electrophysiological response to be measured in lieu of behavioral assessment for those that are difficult to test due to physical and mental limitations. However, without a clear relationship, this electrophysiological response cannot be used in this fashion
RELEASE FROM MASKING: BEHAVIORAL AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL MEASURES IN YOUNG AND OLDER LISTENERS
No full text"Difficulty listening to speech under challenging conditions is the main complaint of audiology patients. Researchers have explored the cause of this concern , however , many questions are left unanswered. The primary concern of the present series of experiments is the contribution of temporal resolution to speech in noise processing. Specifically , the phenomenon of ""release from masking€ , the aptitude of the auditory system to make use of temporal gaps in competing signals , allowing for perception of target speech. In Experiment I , a commonly researched behavioral paradigm to measure temporal release from masking was explored in young and older normal hearing adults to determine the effect of noise type , aging , presentation level , and SNR on speech recognition. Words and sentences were presented in interrupted and continuous noises at varying intensities and signal to noise ratios. There was a significant effect of presentation level on interrupted noise benefit (i.e. , release from masking). Higher intensities created improved understanding in interrupted noise. This finding suggests an intensity to exploit temporal abilities when completing behavioral assessments , particularly if evaluating temporal resolution through release from masking. It was also determined that younger adults were received greater perceptual advantage in interrupted noise than older adults , indicating an effect of age on temporal resolution despite continued normal hearing thresholds. Experiment II investigated neural encoding of this phenomenon through electrophysiological measures of the auditory cortex. Cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) were utilized to demonstrate interrupted noise benefit and explore the effect of SNR and age on this response. With the older adults exhibiting similar auditory thresholds as younger adults and yet displaying a clear temporal deficit in speech in noise understanding , Experiment II sought to determine if a deficit in neural encoding of these signals within the auditory cortex was evident. A speech stimulus (/da/) was used to elicit the CAEPs in interrupted and continuous noises. Decreased P1 and P2 latencies and increased N1 amplitudes were recorded in interrupted noise versus continuous noise , indicating a temporal benefit. These differences were considered a cortical release from masking. Identifying this response in a localized measure may lead to better understanding of the auditory cortex's role in temporal processing of speech in difficult listening environments. With an increase in P1 and N1 amplitudes in older listeners , decreased neural inhibition was indicated. It is plausible that this aging affect could result in the temporal deficit measured behaviorally. A significant correlation between this electrophysiological finding and behavioral measures of the same deficit would confirm this theory. Experiment II was designed to explore the associations between the behavioral and electrophysiological measures of Experiments I and II. No clinically significant correlations were found between these measures. A failure to demonstrate this correlation brings into question the clinical utility of the electrophysiological measures of Experiment II. Significant correlations would have allowed for the electrophysiological response to be measured in lieu of behavioral assessment for those that are difficult to test due to physical and mental limitations. However , without a clear relationship , this electrophysiological response cannot be used in this fashion.
Hearing characteristics in ACHIEVE (Sanchez et al., 2023)
No full textPurpose: The Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders (ACHIEVE) study is a randomized clinical trial designed to determine the effects of a best practice hearing intervention versus a successful aging health education control intervention on cognitive decline among community-dwelling older adults with untreated mild-to-moderate hearing loss. We describe the baseline audiologic characteristics of the ACHIEVE participants.Method: Participants aged 70–84 years (N = 977; Mage = 76.8) were enrolled at four U.S. sites through two recruitment routes: (a) an ongoing longitudinal study and (b) de novo through the community. Participants underwent diagnostic evaluation including otoscopy, tympanometry, pure-tone and speech audiometry, speech-in-noise testing, and provided self-reported hearing abilities. Baseline characteristics are reported as frequencies (percentages) for categorical variables or medians (interquartiles, Q1–Q3) for continuous variables. Between-groups comparisons were conducted using chi-square tests for categorical variables or Kruskal–Wallis test for continuous variables. Spearman correlations assessed relationships between measured hearing function and self-reported hearing handicap.Results: The median four-frequency pure-tone average of the better ear was 39 dB HL, and the median speech-in-noise performance was a 6-dB SNR loss, indicating mild speech-in-noise difficulty. No clinically meaningful differences were found across sites. Significant differences in subjective measures were found for recruitment route. Expected correlations between hearing measurements and self-reported handicap were found.Conclusions: The extensive baseline audiologic characteristics reported here will inform future analyses examining associations between hearing loss and cognitive decline. The final ACHIEVE data set will be publicly available for use among the scientific community.Supplemental Material S1. Hearing history variables of the enrolled 977 ACHIEVE participants stratified by study site and recruitment source. Displayed are self-reported tinnitus perception, noise exposure, and otologic history.Supplemental Material S2. Hearing characteristics of the 977 participants stratified by study site and recruitment source. Displayed are the otoscopy, tympanometry, ear-specific (right/left) pure-tone audiometric typing and PTAs, and word recognition in quiet performance.Supplemental Material S3. Summary of the statistical results comparing groups (recruitment route: ARIC vs de novo; study sites: NC, MS, MD, MN). Comparisons were made using a Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables or Pearson’s chi square for categorical variables.Supplemental Material S4. Air-conduction pure-tone violin plots for the right and left ears.Supplemental Material S5. Relationship between HHIE-S scores to single item Self-Report.Sanchez, V. A., Arnold, M. L., Betz, J. F., Reed, N. S., Faucette, S., Anderson, E., Burgard, S., Coresh, J., Deal, J. A., Eddins, A. C., Goman, A. M., Glynn, N. W., Gravens-Mueller, L., Hampton, J., Hayden, K. M., Huang, A. R., Liou, K., Mitchell, C. M., Mosley Jr., T. H., Neil, H. N., Pankow, J. S., Pike, J. R., Schrack, J. A., Sherry, L., Teece, K. H., Witherell, K., Lin, F. R., Chisolm, T. H., & For the ACHIEVE Collaborative Study. (2023). Description of the baseline audiologic characteristics of the participants enrolled in the Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders Study. American Journal of Audiology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_AJA-23-00066</p
