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Children with speech sound disorder (SSD) have incomplete phonological acquisition without organic alteration. These children's speech exhibits multiple phoneme omission, substitution, and distortion errors. Auditory processing disorders (APD) are associated with speech sound disorders. Since APD prevents the development of a stable representation of phonemes in the brain, it may cause speech issues and make semantics, syntax, and phonology challenging to acquire. The review summarises behavioral findings of auditory processing abilities in children with SSD. The study used a literature search of electronic databases (Google Scholar, Science Direct, Research Gate, PubMed) from 2007 to 2022. The retrieved articles were assessed in two stages: title and abstract screening, followed by a full-length article review. Six articles were selected after the full-length review of 12 shortlisted articles. The review of the articles showed that temporal processing abilities are affected in children with SSD. Thus, temporal processing is critical for developing phonological awareness because it is vital for perceiving and rapidly changing acoustic cues in speech. The close relationship between temporal processing and phonological awareness in children with SSD highlights the importance of including temporal processing assessment in these children. Appropriate auditory training which taps into temporal processing skills may improve phonological awareness in these children. The effect of auditory processing training on phonological skills in SSD children needs further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Psychoacoustics includes studying the perceived effects of changes in sound intensity, temporal, and frequency aspects that are critical for speech perception. Psycon is one such software used in studies to assess psychoacoustic abilities. Psycon has the potential for wide clinical applications in psychoacoustic research and relies on Auditory syntaX (AUX), a program designed specifically to handle auditory signals. The current study aimed to determine the test-retest reliability of the Psycon application for differential sensitivity measures of frequency, intensity, duration and silence. Methods: The study included 39 participants with normal hearing sensitivity. Psychoacoustic measures, namely, gap detection threshold, duration discrimination threshold, difference limen of intensity, and difference limen of frequency, were used to assess test-retest reliability. The test-retest reliability of all measures was checked in two separate sessions within one day. Results: The reliability of each measure was measured using Cronbach's alpha. Test-retest reliability of various psychoacoustic tests measured with Psycon ranges from good to excellent. difference limen of frequency had the highest reliability, followed by duration discrimination thresholds, difference limen of intensity, and gap detection thresholds. Conclusion: Psycon appears to be a reliable tool for assessing different psychoacoustic abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background and Aim: Cognitive and auditory processing deficits are seen in older individuals with normal hearing sensitivity. Studies on older individuals with hearing impairment have assessed the cognitive function and correlated with hearing devices benefit. Since auditory processing can also affect speech perception abilities, and there is a possible relationship between cognition and some of the auditory processing abilities, it is essential to assess the relationship between auditory processing abilities and hearing aid benefit in naïve and experienced hearing aid users in older adults. Methods: Fifty individuals in the age range of 51 to 70 years with mild to moderate hearing loss participated in the study. There were 30 participants without any hearing aid experience and 20 participants with hearing aid experience for at least six weeks. Their auditory processing abilities were tested using gap detection test, duration pattern test, speech perception in noise, dichotic consonant-vowel test, masking level difference, forward and backward span tests. The hearing aid benefit was assessed using aided speech perception in noise measures and International Outcome Inventory-Hearing Aids questionnaire in Kannada. Results: Spearman's correlation showed only correlation between auditory closure ability and binaural integration abilities with hearing aid benefit in experienced users. There was no correlation between any other auditory processing abilities and hearing aid benefit. Conclusion: There is a correlation between a few auditory processes and hearing aid use in elderly individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Rehabilitation services to individuals with hearing impairment were on hold with widespread COVID-19. So, rehabilitation services were mandated mainly through telepractice for children with hearing loss. Evaluating the effectiveness of tele-practise compared to face-to-face therapy is of utmost importance for evidence-based approaches. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the parent’s satisfaction with tele-listening training for children with hearing impairment during COVID-19. Methods: Fifty-four parents of children with hearing loss participated in the study. The parents satisfaction on tele-listening training was evaluated through the Parent Satisfaction Questionnaire in terms of 1) the audio and video quality during teletherapy; 2) equipment use 3) general parent-therapist interaction and communication during teletherapy; 4) service delivery and convenience; and 5) overall satisfaction with the teletherapy. Results: The results showed a higher parent satisfaction rating to avail rehabilitation services through tele-modality during the pandemic. Tele-listening training sessions had helped parents continue training their children at home with the therapist's guidance online. However, parents were not satisfied with their child's interaction with the therapist as they found it difficult to maintain attention throughout the online session. Conclusion: Although most participants agreed that tele session could not replace face-to-face auditory-verbal therapy (AVT) programs, most of them were satisfied with the outreach AVT program. These favorable responses from parents highlight that the digital revolution and other technological advancements support the service providers in Audiology, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Psychoacoustic abilities include the perception of frequency, intensity, and the temporal parameters of sound, which are necessary for speech perception. These abilities can be measured using adaptive and non-adaptive procedures. The maximum likelihood procedure (MLP) is an adaptive psychophysical procedure that is usually utilized in psychoacoustic tasks. The present study aimed to assess the test- retest reliability of various psychoacoustic measures assessed using the MLP toolbox implemented in Matlab. Material and methods: A total of 20 participants with normal hearing sensitivity were selected for the study. The test-retest reliability of psychoacoustic measures was studied in terms of frequency difference limen, intensity difference limen, duration discrimination thresholds, gap detection thresholds, and modulation detection thresholds (4 Hz and 128 Hz). To check test-retest reliability all measures were assessed twice within a span of one day. Results: The results showed no significant difference in the various psychoacoustic measures obtained across the two sessions. The reliability of each measure was tested using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).The results indicated that the test-retest reliability of various psychoacoustic measures assessed using the MLP toolbox was fair to good. Conclusions: It can be concluded that MLP is a reliable tool to assess various psychoacoustic abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Segmental resection of the mandible generally results in deviation of the mandible to the defective side. This loss of continuity of the mandible destroys the balance of the lower face and leads to decreased mandibular function by deviation of the residual segment toward the surgical site. Prosthetic methods advocated to reduce or eliminate mandibular deviation include intermaxillary fixation, removable mandibular guide flange, palatal ramp, implant-supported prosthesis and palatal guidance restorations which may be useful in reducing mandibular deviation and improving masticatory performance and efficiency. These methods and restorations would be combined with a well organized mandibular exercise regimen. This clinical report describes the rehabilitation following segmental mandibulectomy using palatal ramp prosthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously reported that Rv1860 protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis stimulated CD4(+)and CD8(+)T cells secreting gamma interferon (IFN-γ) in healthy purified protein derivative (PPD)-positive individuals and protected guinea pigs immunized with a DNA vaccine and a recombinant poxvirus expressing Rv1860 from a challenge with virulent M. tuberculosis We now show Rv1860-specific polyfunctional T (PFT) cell responses in the blood of healthy latently M. tuberculosis-infected individuals dominated by CD8(+) T cells, using a panel of 32 overlapping peptides spanning the length of Rv1860. Multiple subsets of CD8(+) PFT cells were significantly more numerous in healthy latently infected volunteers (HV) than in tuberculosis (TB) patients (PAT). The responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from PAT to the peptides of Rv1860 were dominated by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) secretions, the former coming predominantly from non-T cell sources. Notably, the pattern of the T cell response to Rv1860 was distinctly different from those of the widely studied M. tuberculosis antigens ESAT-6, CFP-10, Ag85A, and Ag85B, which elicited CD4(+) T cell-dominated responses as previously reported in other cohorts. We further identified a peptide spanning amino acids 21 to 39 of the Rv1860 protein with the potential to distinguish latent TB infection from disease due to its ability to stimulate differential cytokine signatures in HV and PAT. We suggest that a TB vaccine carrying these and other CD8(+) T-cell-stimulating antigens has the potential to prevent progression of latent M. tuberculosis infection to TB disease., (Copyright © 2016, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.)