Read the Room. It Signs.

An Intelligent Real-Time System for Sentence-Level Recognition of Continuous Saudi Sign Language Using Landmark-Based Temporal Modeling.

by BenAbdennour, A, Mukhtar, M, Almolike, O, Khawaja, BA, Alenezi, AM

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)

A persistent challenge for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals is the communication gap between sign language users and the hearing community, particularly in regions with limited automated translation resources. In Saudi Arabia, this gap is amplified by the reliance on Saudi Sign Language (SSL) and the scarcity of real-time, sentence-level translation systems. This paper presents a real-time system for sentence-level recognition of continuous SSL and direct mapping to natural spoken Arabic. The proposed system operates end-to-end on live video streams or pre-recorded content, extracting spatio-temporal landmark features using the MediaPipe Holistic framework. For classification, the input feature vector consists of 225 features derived from hand and body pose landmarks. These features…

Long-term speech discrimination and quality-of-life outcomes in adults implanted before five years of age in a low- and middle-income country.

by Garcia-Chabur, MA, Ronderos, A, Moreno-López, S, Pérez-Herrera, LC, Gantiva, M, Ramírez, M, et al.

Cochlear implants international

This study aimed to assess the long-term results in speech discrimination and quality of life (QoL) in a population of adults with congenital hearing loss who received a cochlear implant during their childhood. This was a cross-sectional and observational study including three otology referral hospitals in Bogotá (Colombia). Audiological outcomes (Hearing in Noise Test - HINT results), Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of hearing scale-12 (SSQ-12) scores, Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) scores, and sociodemographic questionnaires were applied to adults with hearing loss who received a cochlear implant between 1995 and 2011. A total of 19 adults with hearing loss were included. For the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) results, the study sample showed an average word repetition rate of 72.8% in…

Frequency of electrode migration and other device-related complications in a large single-center cochlear implant cohort.

by van de Loo, J, Lang-Roth, R, Müller, V, Kurzawa, M, Mayer, M, Sharaf, K, et al.

European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology -…

Electrode migration and magnet dislocation are uncommon but clinically relevant complications following cochlear implant (CI) surgery. Most previously published studies are limited by small sample sizes, restricting the ability to precisely estimate incidence rates and risk factors. To determine the frequency, mechanisms, and clinical correlates of rare CI complications in one of the largest contemporary single-center CI cohorts. This retrospective study analyzed 1,035 CI surgeries performed between 2015 and 2025 at a tertiary referral center. Clinical, demographic, surgical, and audiologic data were extracted from institutional databases. Electrode migration was confirmed via imaging and surgical exploration. Electrode migration occurred in 16 cases (1.55%). Affected patients were…

Social and attitudinal barriers to the provision of accessible housing in Canada: A qualitative study.

by Yuzwa, KE, Bacchus-Misir, F, Galeazzi-Stirling, S, Cohen, E, Athanasopoulos, P, Hitzig, SL, et al.

Disability and health journal

Housing is a critical social determinant of health and for individuals with accessibility needs, having a roof over one's head is not enough. For people requiring accessibility features to enter and exit their home, use the bathroom, or prepare meals, the absence of these features can limit social participation, increase reliance on caregivers, and negatively impact health, dignity, and safety. This article presents a qualitative study with members from diverse key interest groups across the housing, disability, healthcare, and policy sectors to identify social and attitudinal barriers limiting accessible housing and home modifications options in Canada. Semi-structured interviews and a demographic survey were conducted with 59 people. Participants included people with lived experience of…

Vaccine Immunity Against Pneumococcus in Children With Cochlear Implants.

by Hominal, A, Gualtieri, R, Lemaitre, B, Pósfay-Barbe, KM, Cao-Van, H, Blanchard-Rohner, G, et al.

The Pediatric infectious disease journal

This study aims to assess whether Swiss guidelines for pneumococcal vaccination in children with cochlear implants are followed and whether they elicit adequate pneumococcal vaccine immunity. We performed a retrospective analysis at the Western Switzerland University Cochlear Implants Center, reviewing data between January 2009 and December 2023. Vaccination records and serotype-specific pneumococcal IgG concentrations were extracted from computerized medical records. Fifty children were included, with a median implantation age of 1.5 years. In children <2 years old, 82% (27/33) were up to date with routine pneumococcal vaccination (3 doses of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine administered at 2, 4 and 12 months), yet only 56% (15/27) achieved protective pneumococcal…

Health literacy of the Deaf community: a scoping review.

by Goh, KS, Yau, RCC, Dharmapriya, TM, M Palanisamy, UD, Jacob, SA

Journal of deaf studies and deaf education

This scoping review examined health literacy among Deaf populations and identified gaps in current evidence. A systemic search of PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Cochrane was conducted from database inception to December 31, 2024. English-language quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies reporting from the perspective of Deaf individuals of any age were included, alongside studies evaluating educational interventions. Data were charted using a standardized extraction framework and analysed thematically. Fifty-seven studies from 14 countries met the inclusion criteria. Four themes emerged: health literacy of Deaf people, factors affecting the health literacy of Deaf people, source of health information, and impact…

Determinants influencing variability in outcomes of prelingual cochlear implantation.

by Ahmed, ME, Aly, E, Mostafa, E

International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology

To identify factors affecting cochlear implantation (CI) outcomes in pre-lingual deaf children, focusing on language development. A cross-sectional study of 106 pre-lingual deaf children who received unilateral CI was conducted to analyse factors influencing their language and speech outcomes. The average age of participating children was 83 ± 31.6 months; 53.8% were male, and 36.8% attended regular school programs. Most parents had higher education (64.2% of fathers, 55.7% of mothers), and 58.5% belonged to a low socioeconomic level. Hearing loss diagnosis was delayed: 37.7% were diagnosed at 6-12 months, 24.5% at 12-24 months, with an average auditory deprivation of 18.6 ± 13.3 months. Average CI age was 41.9 ± 14.2 months; 40.1% had consanguineous parents. Language outcomes were…

Screening for Maternally Inherited Diabetes and Deafness in Large Cohorts of Hearing Impaired and Diabetic Patients.

by Varga, L, Borecka, S, Skopkova, M, Rambani, V, Sklenar, M, Cipkova, K, et al.

Ear and hearing

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations account for up to 5% of hereditary hearing loss (HL) cases. Most commonly, the m.3243A>G mtDNA variant contributes to rare monogenic Maternally Inherited Diabetes and Deafness or Mitochondrial Encephalopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke-like episodes syndromes. Different proportions of the mutated mtDNA (heteroplasmy) among the affected tissues result in variability in the clinical manifestation and severity of the phenotype. The aim of the presented study was to establish the prevalence of the m.3243A>G variant in large cohorts of patients with HL and diabetes in Slovakia and to evaluate the genotype-phenotype correlations and long-term cochlear implantation outcomes in a small subset. Probands (n = 5957) were recruited via 3 independent nationwide…

Enhancing oral competence: Evidence-based strategies for developing foreign language speaking skills in Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) learners.

by Olszak, I, Borowicz, A

PloS one

This study examines evidence-based pedagogical strategies aimed at enhancing communication competence, with a particular focus on foreign language speaking skills, among Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students at the primary education level. Acknowledging the distinct linguistic, cognitive, and communicative characteristics of DHH learners, the research addresses the central question: Which instructional techniques most effectively promote the development of speaking and broader communicative abilities in this population? Employing a qualitative research design, the study engaged 55 primary-level DHH students and utilized classroom observations, student questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews with teachers and educational specialists, thereby adopting a multi-perspective…

[Hearing phenotype and genotypic characteristics in GSDME-related deafness pedigrees].

by Gao, X, Huang, SS, Zhao, J, Xu, JC, Hu, LM, Wang, WQ, et al.

Zhonghua yi xue za zhi

This retrospective study analyzed three GSDME-related deafness pedigrees diagnosed at the Chinese PLA General Hospital between January 2014 and December 2020. Through whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing validation, all three pedigrees were found to carry splice-site variants causing exon 8 skipping. The patients presented with bilateral, symmetrical, and progressive sensorineural hearing loss, with an age of onset ranging from five to 25 years. The hearing loss initially affected high frequencies and gradually progressed to involve all frequencies. Significant phenotypic heterogeneity was observed, even within the same pedigree, with notable variations in the age of onset and progression rate among individuals carrying the same mutation. A review of the literature indicated that…

Improvements in Perceived Abilities and Speech Recognition in Quiet and Noise for Older Adults With Single-sided Deafness or Asymmetric Hearing Loss: A Multi-center Investigation.

by Dillon, MT, Smilsky, K, Dunn, CC, Sheets, JJ, Cosetti, MK, Zeitler, DM, et al.

Otology & neurotology : official publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [and] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology

Cochlear implantation is an effective treatment option for individuals with single-sided deafness (SSD) and asymmetric hearing loss (AHL). Most data are from young and middle-aged adults. This study assessed the outcomes of cochlear implant (CI) use for older adults. Multi-center, prospective, repeated-measures. Five academic centers. A total of 39 older adult (60 yr or older) CI users with SSD or AHL. Cochlear implantation. Procedures were completed preoperatively with a rerouting device and 3, 6, and 12 months postactivation with the CI. Speech recognition for the affected ear was assessed with CNC words. Speech recognition in noise was assessed with the AzBio sentences. The target was presented from the front loudspeaker and the masker was co-located with the target, 90 degrees toward…

Texas School For The Deaf Yearbook 1976

by Kevin Eoll

Internet Archive

Texas School For The Deaf Yearbook 1976

The prediction of round window visibility at posterior-tympanotomy for cochlear implantation with "black bone" magnetic resonance imaging : Author lists.

by Kwok, HM, Spence, C, Hocknell, E, Pai, I, Connor, S

European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology -…

Although computed tomography (CT) can predict round window (RW) visibility at posterior tympanotomy pre-operatively, there is a trend towards the application of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) alone for cochlear implant (CI) planning. This study assessed the potential of a novel "Black Bone" (BB) MRI sequence to determine RW visibility during posterior tympanotomy. Patients underwent BB MRI as part of pre-operative CI planning. Two independent radiologists performed 5 landmark-based MRI measurements. RW visibility was recorded during posterior tympanotomy as > 50% or < 50% visibility. Patients with undefinable landmarks or absent surgical grading were excluded. Mann-Whitney U or t-tests compared MRI measurements to RW visibility whilst step wise logistic regression determined…

The Relationships Between Cochlear Nerve Health and AzBio Sentence Scores in Quiet and Noise in Postlingually Deafened Adult Cochlear Implant Users.

by Gao, Z, Yuan, Y, Oleson, JJ, Mueller, CR, Bruce, IC, Gifford, RH, et al.

Ear and hearing

This study investigated the relationships between the cochlear nerve (CN) health and sentence-level speech perception outcomes measured in quiet and noise in postlingually deafened adult cochlear implant (CI) users. Study participants included 28 postlingually deafened adult CI users with a Cochlear Nucleus device. For each participant, only one ear was tested. Neural health of the CN was assessed at three or four electrode locations across the electrode array using two parameters derived from results of the electrically evoked compound action potential (eCAP). One parameter was the phase locking value (PLV), which estimated neural synchrony in the CN. The other parameter was the sensitivity of the eCAP amplitude growth function (AGF) slope to changes in the interphase gap (IPG) of…

Optimizing Cochlear Implant Care: A Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC) Analysis of Audiologist and Otolaryngologist Workflow.

by Kim, EK, Pullakhandam, K, Barry, B, Zhang, MH, Reed, MP, Arenberg, JG, et al.

Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Despite cochlear implants' (CIs) effectiveness, only a small minority of eligible US adults receive them, with significant socioeconomic disparities in access. Understanding time and cost requirements for CI care delivery is essential for improving access and supporting clinical teams. This study quantifies personnel time and costs for preoperative and postoperative CI care to identify opportunities for workflow optimization and enhanced audiologist support. Multi-institutional time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) analysis. Academic tertiary neurotology cochlear implant centers. TDABC analysis of CI programs at 2 tertiary centers (University of California San Francisco and Massachusetts Eye and Ear) was conducted in 2023 to 2024. Direct observation captured time requirements for…

[When virtual reality gives voice to silence: A case report of a patient with schizoaffective disorder and progressive bilateral deafness treated with Avatar therapy].

by Stip, L, Giguère, S, Deslongchamps, JM, Phraxayavong, K, Dumais, A

Sante mentale au Quebec

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) are a common and often debilitating symptom of psychotic disorders. Despite pharmacological treatments, approximately 30% of patients continue to experience resistant AVH. Avatar therapy (AT), a virtual reality therapy, is an innovative approach aimed at changing the relationship between the patient and their voices. This case report describes the clinical course of a 72-year-old man with schizoaffective disorder and bilateral hearing loss with almost total deafness in the right ear, who reported AVH in both ears, but more intense on the right side. This atypical clinical presentation raises specific issues regarding the understanding of perceptual mechanisms and the adaptation of therapeutic interventions. The patient participated in a AT protocol…

Binaural sensitivity and processing of envelope-based interaural difference cues by bilateral cochlear implant users with perilingual and postlingual onset of deafness.

by Peng, ZE, Kan, A, Litovsky, RY

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America

Cochlear implants deliver binaural cues primarily in the signal envelope through two unsynchronized sound processors, presenting challenges to bilateral cochlear implant (BiCI) users to (re)gain binaural hearing. Using a custom-designed acoustic complex to elicit multi-channel stimulation through the cochlear implant sound processors, this study measured sensitivity to interaural time difference (ITD) and interaural level difference (ILD) using a discrimination task while concurrently tracking eye gaze positions to reveal decision-making delays during binaural processing. Two groups of BiCI users were tested with either perilingual or postlingual onset of deafness. Results show all BiCI users exhibited ILD sensitivity and a majority (67% of the perilingual and 78% of the postlingual)…

Listening and spoken language development in children with cochlear implants in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries: A 24-month follow-up study and influencing factors.

by Hariz, B, Tahon, A, Alhedaithy, M, Alsaeed, M, Alkoheji, L, Alharbi, T, et al.

Cochlear implants international

This study aims to investigate the language and listening development of children with cochlear implants (CI) in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region over 24 months. It seeks to identify factors influencing progress and the impact of challenges on CI outcomes, focusing on children without additional disabilities. The project design is explorative, with a descriptive, longitudinal, ambispective analysis conducted across six hospitals in four GCC countries. Qualified speech and language therapists evaluated children diagnosed with prelingual severe to profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss who received CIs between 2018 and 2024. The Integrated Scales of Development (ISD) assessed progress in six developmental domains at five intervals (T0-T4). Data also included demographics…

Study protocol - the Australian National Child hearing Health Outcomes Registry (ANCHOR): collecting and connecting national data into a child deafness Learning Health System.

by Sung, V, Smith, L, Elliott, K, Wang, J, Beswick, R, Ching, TYC, et al.

BMC health services research

BACKGROUND: Despite early identification of deafness through universal newborn hearing screening, deaf and hard of hearing children can still face inequitable challenges in their development and life opportunities. Large scale registries, collecting standardised information on all individuals in a population with the relevant condition, can reveal variations in practices, processes, and outcomes, and identify targets for improvement. For childhood deafness, where care delivery spans multiple service sectors, data linkage is the only feasible way to bring data together. Data linkage also minimises the burden and costs of data entry by service providers, increasing future sustainability of large-scale research datasets. METHODS: The Australian National Child Hearing Health Outcomes…

A large scale multimodal dataset for healthcare domain Ghanaian sign language translation and retrieval based synthesis.

by Ahene, E, Frowne, CI, Adetor, R, Amoah, NA, Adade, R, Owusu-Agyemang, K, et al.

Scientific reports

Despite rapid advancements in AI-driven language processing tools, sign languages across Africa, including Ghanaian Sign Language (GhSL), remain critically underrepresented. Unlike spoken languages, sign languages involve complex hand gestures, facial expressions, and spatial movements, making their computational processing inherently multimodal. Challenges such as the lack of standardization, regional variations, and the absence of large, publicly available datasets have hindered the development of AI-powered sign language recognition and translation systems, particularly in underrepresented communities, leading to lack of accessibility and inclusion for persons with hearing impairment, especially in essential areas like healthcare, where effective communication is vital. Currently, no…

Electrophysiologically-based electrode selection has the potential to improve speech perception in cochlear-implant users.

by David, W, Verwaerde, E, Gransier, R, Wouters, J

Hearing research

There is large variability in speech perception outcomes across cochlear-implant (CI) users. One factor that contributes to this variation is the neural modulation encoding in the periphery, which can vary along the implant electrode array. Since temporal envelope cues are crucial for speech perception with a CI, previous studies have shown that there is potential of deactivating electrodes based on poorer behavioral measures of neural modulation processing to improve speech perception. However, behavioral measures are typically time-consuming and require active feedback from the CI recipient. A potentially useful objective measure of neural modulation processing is the electrically-evoked auditory steady-state response (eASSR). Recently, the across-array variation of eASSRs has been…

The role of assessment type in the variability in pragmatic language in deaf and hard-of-hearing adolescents.

by Lind-Combs, HC, Holt, RF

Journal of communication disorders

Children who are deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) and use spoken language often demonstrate differences in pragmatic language abilities relative to age-matched typically hearing (TH) peers, but inconsistencies in methodological approaches make comparisons among studies difficult. The degree to which assessment methodology impacts conclusions about pragmatic abilities in this clinical population has not been measured. This study aims to examine whether observed differences are related to variability in pragmatic skills (e.g., linguistic, paralinguistic, or extralinguistic pragmatics) or pragmatic assessment tool (e.g., behavioral, observation, parent questionnaire). Twenty-six TH and eight DHH adolescents (ages 10-13) participated in this study. Pragmatic language was assessed using a…

Trans-impedance matrix heatmap patterns in cochlear implant patients with different cochlear pathologies: meningitis, otosclerosis, and temporal bone fractures.

by Alrushaydan, D, Alsufyani, AA, Alhussainan, K, Almuhawas, F, Aljabr, M, Yalcouy, H, et al.

European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology -…

Transimpedance matrix (TIM) imaging is an electrical field-based modality that visualizes intracochlear current spread and may detect electrode malposition and subtle cochlear pathology beyond radiological resolution. This study aimed to evaluate etiology-specific TIM heatmap patterns in adult cochlear implant recipients and to assess the utility of TIM as an adjunct to conventional imaging. This observational retrospective case series included 11 adult cochlear implant recipients (15 implanted ears) with defined etiologies: head trauma/temporal bone fracture (5 ears), post-meningitis deafness (5 ears), and cochlear ossification or otosclerosis (5 ears). Preoperative CT and/or MRI confirmed pathology, and postoperative X-ray verified electrode position. TIM measurements were obtained…

American Sign Language Interpretation Access at Primary Care Clinics in Allegheny County, PA: A Secret Shopper Study.

by Bryant, E, White, C, Falsetti, M, Nikiforova, T, Bonifacino, E

Journal of general internal medicine

Optic Atrophy Predominant WFS1 Disorder-A Case-Control Study.

by Levergood, NR, Ko, MW, Payne, KK, Mackay, DD

Journal of neuro-ophthalmology : the official journal of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society

Wolfram syndrome type 1 (WS1), or "DIDMOAD" (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy (OA), and deafness, OMIM #222300), is a rare neurodegenerative disorder resulting from homozygous, compound heterozygous autosomal recessive (AR), or rarely autosomal dominant mutations in the WFS1 gene. Isolated OA with adult-onset, milder phenotypes in WS1 is rare and typically associated with biallelic AR mutations. We describe 7 patients of pauci-syndromic WS1 presenting with adult-onset OA and compare parameters of visual function with other OA-predominant syndromes. A retrospective review was performed identifying records of patients seen at our institution from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2024, who were found to have OA secondary to mutations in OPA1 (n = 9), WFS1 (n = 7)…