Elucidation of peripheral auditory mechanisms in hidden hearing loss and development of a diagnostic system

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K20294
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 61010:Perceptual information processing-related
• Research Institution: Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Kidani Shunsuke 北陸先端科学技術大学院大学, 先端科学技術研究科, 講師 (70635367)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 隠れた難聴 / 選択的聴取 / 耳音響放射 / 周波数分解能 / 時間分解能

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aims to construct a system to diagnose hidden hearing loss. Hidden hearing loss is a condition in which a person is unable to understand what the other person is saying in a busy sound environment. There is no objective means of evaluating and diagnosing hidden hearing loss. In this study, we measured otoacoustic emissions, which are sounds emitted from the ear reflecting the characteristics of the auditory periphery, and several auditory perceptual characteristics. This study also constructed a system to measure the degree of hidden hearing loss. As a result, the items that correlated with the degree of hidden hearing loss were otoacoustic emissions and masking thresholds under sleep conditions. Thus, this study demonstrated the possibility of diagnosing hidden hearing loss by measuring otoacoustic emissions and masking thresholds under sleep.

Free Research Field

聴覚情報処理

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

音声コミュニケーションは、ヒトの生活において重要な働きをしている。隠れ難聴は、雑踏の中で音声コミュニケーションが困難になるため、悩んでいる人は多い。しかし、客観的に判断することが難しいこともあり、その悩みは共有されづらい。隠れ難聴を客観的に診断することができれば、悩みの原因を共有でき、音声コミュニケーションに適した音環境の整備などにつなげることができる。本研究の成果は、豊かな音声コミュニケーション環境の構築に繋がると言える。