Transdermal electrostimulation in sensory hearing loss.
E. Hughes, R. H. Arthur, C. W. Whitaker
Aug 1, 1974
Citations
2
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Archives of otolaryngology
Full text
Semantic Scholar
Key Takeaway Key Takeaway: Transdermal electrostimulation can significantly improve speech reception threshold and social hearing in sensory hearing loss patients, but improvements tend to fade within three to four months without a home unit.
Abstract
A pilot study of transdermal (TD) electrostimulation applied to subjects with sensory loss indicated that gains in scoring of W-22 tests were observable primarily in the range of speech reception threshold plus 10 to 30 dB. Literature and our experiments show that this range encompasses that used for social hearing and is useful for statistical evaluation of changes in the group W-22 scores. A current level for the TD instruments that consistently produced gains was found. Two experiments, with placebo control, showed that statistically significant improvements of 16% to 25% in W-22 scores were produced for 35% to 40% of the subjects' better ears. It was reflected in their personal observations on social hearing. Pure-tone average was not changed; the subjects retained their deficit otherwise. Improvements were usually lost in three to four months unless maintained by a "home unit."