Towards understanding the specifics of cochlear hearing loss: a modelling approach.
It is well known that two patients suffering from a sensorineural hearing loss with similar audiograms can benefit significantly differently from amplified hearing even if the same settings of the hearing aids are used. The origin of this problem is complex but one part can be caused by the diagnosis itself; all inner-ear hearing losses are assumed similar. Such hypothesis is a simplification that probably leads to suboptimal hearing-aid fitting. For a better understanding of the signal degeneration caused by a cochlear lesion a model layout of the signal transmission in the peripheral hearing organ is presented. This model differentiates between processes in the inner ear caused by the outer hair cells, the inner hair cells, and the endocochlear potential driving the system. The model is intended to predict alteration of the signal caused by different types of cochlear lesions. Ultimately, the model may lead to improved hearing aids and fittings.
Stenfelt
Stefan
S
Dept of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Technical Audiology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. stefan.stenfelt@inr.liu.se
D001299:Audiometry; D001307:Auditory Perception; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D003051:Cochlea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment; D004867:Equipment Design; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D008959:Models, Neurological; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; D046709:Pattern Recognition, Physiological; D011312:Pressure; D049490:Systems Biology; D014732:Vibration