About The Book

Binaural Interference: A Guide for Audiologists

Binaural interference occurs when the speech input to one ear interferes with the input to the other ear during binaural stimulation. The first published study on binaural interference twenty-five years ago demonstrated that some individuals, particularly older individuals, perform more poorly with two hearing aids than with one and/or more poorly with binaural than monaural stimulation on electrophysiologic as well as behavioral measures. Binaural interference is relevant to every audiologist because it impacts the successful use of binaural hearing aids and may explain communicative difficulty in noise or other challenging listening situations in persons with normal-hearing sensitivity as well as persons with hearing loss.

This exciting new book written by two highly respected audiologists first traces the history of its study by researchers, then reviews the evidence, both direct and indirect, supporting its reality. This is followed by a discussion of the possible causes of the phenomenon and in-depth analysis of illustrative cases. The authors outline a systematic approach to the clinical detection, evaluation and amelioration of individuals who exhibit binaural interference. Suggestions are furnished on improved techniques for evaluation of the binaural advantage in general and on sensitized detection of the disorder in particular. The book ends with recommendations for future directions.

Given the adverse impact of binaural interference on auditory function and its occurrence in a significant subset of the population with hearing loss, as well as in some individuals with normal-hearing sensitivity, research on binaural interference only recently has begun to flourish, and adaptation of audiologic clinical practice to identify, assess, and manage individuals with binaural interference has yet to become widespread. The authors intend for the book to provide impetus for pursuing further research and to encourage audiologists to explore the possibility of binaural interference when patient complaints suggest it and when performing audiologic evaluations.

The book is intended for practicing clinical audiologists, audiology students, and hearing scientists.

About the Authors

Binaural Interference: A Guide for Audiologists

James Jerger, PhD, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, received his PhD in audiology from Northwestern University (NU) in 1954. He remained on the NU faculty until 1961 and then moved to Gallaudet College in Washington, DC, for a brief period as Research Professor of Audiology. From 1962 to 1968, he served as Director of Research at the Houston Speech and Hearing Center and then moved to Houston’s Baylor College of Medicine, where he remained for the next 29 years as Professor of Audiology in the Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences and as Chief of the Audiology and Speech Pathology Services of the Methodist Hospital. In 1997, Jerger sought, but failed to achieve, semi-retirement in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences of the University of Texas at Dallas. Here he continues to mentor doctoral candidates in audiology as Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence.

Carol A. Silverman, PhD, MPH, is Professor, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology at Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY; Professor, AuD Program and PhD Program in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, Graduate Center, CUNY, New York, NY; and formerly Adjunct Professor, Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Dr. Silverman previously held an appointment as Hearing Scientist and Epidemiologist in the Departments of Otorhinolaryngology and Communicative Sciences at New York Eye & Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai in New York City. Dr. Silverman has authored and coauthored several books and book chapters and many peer-reviewed publications, and she has served as reviewer and editorial consultant for various journals in audiology, hearing sciences, and otolaryngology. Her research focuses on auditory deprivation; on various aspects of diagnostic audiology, including acoustic immittance and otoacoustic emissions; and most recently on binaural interference. She is a graduate of Wellesley College, and her graduate degrees include an MS in Audiology from Teachers College of Columbia University, PhD in Audiology from New York University, and MPH in Quantitative Epidemiology from New York Medical College.

Table Of Contents

Binaural Interference: A Guide for Audiologists

Chapter 1. A Brief History of Binaural Interference
Vern O. Knudsen
Group Studies
Case Reports
Mirabile Dictu-Knudsen Redux
Summary

Chapter 2. Indirect Evidence of Binaural Interference
Simulating the Effects of Asymmetric Signal Degradation
Retrospective Surveys
Field Trials
Summary

Chapter 3. Possible Causes of Binaural Interference
The Wiring Diagram of the Auditory System
Possible Sources of Binaural Interference
Prolonged Unilateral Deprivation
Age-Related Changes in Interhemispheric Transfer via the Corpus Callosum
Interaural Pitch Mismatch and Binaural Fusion Due to Hearing Loss
Summary

Chapter 4. Illustrative Cases
Case Reports
Case #1: Elderly-Gradual Onset of Hearing Loss
Case #2: Elderly-Left-Sided Cerebrovascular Insult
Case #3: Elderly-Gradual Onset of Mild Hearing Loss
Case #4: Elderly-Gradual Onset of Hearing Loss Following Aspirin Therapy
Summary

Chapter 5. Clinical Evaluation of Binaural Interference
Previous History of Testing for Binaural Interference
Configuration of Test Chamber
A Two-Stage Approach
Screening
Follow-Up Testing
History
Some Issues Relating to Testing with Hearing Aids
Summary

Chapter 6. Future Directions
What Is the Best Way to Measure Binaural Advantage?
Importance of Directionality
Cued Listening
In Search of a Pitch Mismatch and Abnormal Binaural Fusion
Summary

Chapter 7. Overview
Lessons Learned
Summary of the Book
Screening Protocol
Follow-Up Protocol if Screening Is Failed

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