Browsing by Person "Brennan-Jones, Christopher G."

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4

Auditory Verbal Therapy: Improving the Evidence-Base
(2014-09) White, Joanna D.; Brennan-Jones, Christopher G.
Auditory-verbal therapy for promoting spoken language development in children with permanent hearing impairments
(The Cochrane Collaboration, 2014-03) Brennan-Jones, Christopher G.; White, Joanna D.; Rush, Robert; Law, James
Background Congenital or early-acquired hearing impairment poses a major barrier to the development of spoken language and communication. Early detection and effective (re)habilitative interventions are essential for parents and families who wish their children to achieve age-appropriate spoken language. Auditory-verbal therapy (AVT) is a (re)habilitative approach aimed at children with hearing impairments. AVT comprises intensive early intervention therapy sessions with a focus on audition, technological management and involvement of the child's caregivers in therapy sessions; it is typically the only therapy approach used to specifically promote avoidance or exclusion of non-auditory facial communication. The primary goal of AVT is to achieve age-appropriate spoken language and for this to be used as the primary or sole method of communication. AVT programmes are expanding throughout the world; however, little evidence can be found on the effectiveness of the intervention. Objectives To assess the effectiveness of auditory-verbal therapy (AVT) in developing receptive and expressive spoken language in children who are hearing impaired. Search methods CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, speechBITE and eight other databases were searched in March 2013. We also searched two trials registers and three theses repositories, checked reference lists and contacted study authors to identify additional studies. Selection criteria The review considered prospective randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-randomised studies of children (birth to 18 years) with a significant (≥ 40 dBHL) permanent (congenital or early-acquired) hearing impairment, undergoing a programme of auditory-verbal therapy, administered by a certified auditory-verbal therapist for a period of at least six months. Comparison groups considered for inclusion were waiting list and treatment as usual controls. Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently assessed titles and abstracts identified from the searches and obtained full-text versions of all potentially relevant articles. Articles were independently assessed by two review authors for design and risk of bias. In addition to outcome data, a range of variables related to participant groups and outcomes were documented. Main results Of 2233 titles and abstracts searched, only 13 abstracts appeared to meet inclusion criteria. All 13 full-text articles were excluded following independent evaluation by two review authors (CGBJ and JW), as they did not meet the inclusion criteria related to the research design. Thus, no studies are included in this review. Authors' conclusions This review confirms the lack of well-controlled studies addressing the use of AVT as an intervention for promoting spoken language development in children with permanent hearing impairments. Whilst lack of evidence does not necessarily imply lack of effect, it is at present not possible for conclusions to be drawn as to the effectiveness of this intervention in treating children with permanent hearing impairments.
Prevalence and risk factors for parent-reported recurrent otitis media during early childhood in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study
(2014-10-09) Brennan-Jones, Christopher G.; Whitehouse, Andrew. J. O.; Park, Jae; Hegarty, Mary; Jacques, Angela; Eikelboom, Robert H.; Swanepoel, De Wet; White, Joanna D.; Jamieson, Sarra E.
Aim: To describe the prevalence and risk factors of recurrent otitis media (rOM) in an urban Australian population at 3 years of age. Methods: Cross-sectional examination of prevalence and risk factors of rOM in 2280 participants from the Raine Study enrolled from public and private hospitals in Perth, Western Australia, between 1989 and 1991. Parental report questionnaires at 3 years of age were used for rOM identification, with secondary confirmation by otoscopic examination at 1, 2 or 3 years of age. Results: The prevalence of parent-reported rOM was 26.8% (611/2280) and 5.5% (125/2280) for severe rOM in the Study. Independent associations were found between rOM and the presence of older siblings, attendance at day care and the introduction of other milk products at ≤4 months of age. Independent associations for severe rOM were the presence of allergies and attendance at day care. Conclusions: Prevalence rates of rOM within the Raine Study children are similar to a number of other known cohorts. Parity, presence of allergies, attendance at day care and introduction of other milk products at ≤4 months are highlighted as specific risk factors for rOM in this population and presence of allergies and attendance at day care being risk factors for severe rOM. Diagnosis of rOM by parent report and the delay between data collection and reporting are limitations of this study. However, as there is very limited data on OM in urban, non-Indigenous Australian children, this study improves our understanding of OM for this group.
The speech intelligibility benefit of a unilateral wireless system for hearing-impaired adults
(Informa Healthcare, 2011-12) Whitmer, William M.; Brennan-Jones, Christopher G.; Akeroyd, Michael A.
Objective: This study measured the effects of two previously untested practical considerations - venting and transmission delays - on speech intelligibility in a simulated unilateral wireless system, where a target signal in background noise was transmitted wirelessly to the hearing-impaired (HI) listener. Design: Speech reception thresholds (SRTs) relative to the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were measured by varying the surrounding babble noise level. The target signal was presented at 0 azimuth in the soundfi eld and unilaterally via an insert earphone, using open and closed fi ttings with simulated-wireless delays ranging between 0 - 160 ms. SRTs were also measured unaided and with participants ' current hearing aid(s). Study sample: Thirty-three mild-to-moderate sensorineural HI adults participated in the experiment. Results: For an open fi tting, the results showed a 5-dB SNR benefi t in SRT compared to unaided performance at shorter delays. For a closed fi tting, the majority of participants could accurately recognize speech below 20 dBSNR across delays. Conclusions: These results highlight the effi cacy of wireless systems with HI adults. Speech-intelligibility benefi ts are affected by transmission delays only when the delay is greater than 40 ms and the coupling is vented.