Browsing by Author "Fuente, Adrian"

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    Association between temporal resolution and Specific Language Impairment : the role of nonsensory processing
    (2015) Alvarez, Waleska; Fuente, Adrian; Coloma T., Carmen J.; Quezada, Camilo
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    Attitudes to noise in young adults and associated factors: adaptation of the youth attitude to noise scale into Spanish using item response theory analysis
    (Taylor & Francis Ltd., 2022) Fuentes López, Eduardo; Fuente, Adrian; Luna-Monsalve, Manuel; Guajardo-Vergara, Carlos
    Objective This study aimed to identify the attitudes to noise in young adults and the possible effects of gender, age, and a positive history of auditory symptoms related to recreational noise exposure on the attitudes to noise in this population. Design The Youth Attitude to Noise (YANS) and the hearing symptom description (HSD) scales were adapted into Spanish to be used with young adults. The validity was determined using factor analyses and Item Response Theory (IRT) models. Linear regression models were used to determine whether the YANS scores were associated with gender, age, and auditory symptoms. Study sample Both instruments were given to a sample of 728 Chilean young adults. Data obtained from this sample was used to determine the YANS and HSD scales' validity and to assess the effects of gender, age, and auditory symptoms on attitudes. Results Our results showed that the YANS and HSD scales had adequate validity and reliability. Differences in the items' capacity to discriminate attitudes to noise were noted using the IRT model. Auditory symptoms were significantly associated with the YANS scores. Conclusions The attitudes to noise in Chilean young adults are influenced by self-perception of auditory symptoms, age, and gender.
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    Does educational level predict hearing aid self-efficacy in experienced older adult hearing aid users from Latin America? Validation process of the Spanish version of the MARS-HA questionnaire
    (2019) Fuentes López, Eduardo; Fuente, Adrian; Valdivia Cabrera, Gonzalo; Luna-Monsalve, Manuel
    Hearing aids are the most common rehabilitation strategy for age-related hearing loss. However, 25% to 50% of older adults fitted with hearing aids do not wear them post-fitting. Hearing aid self-efficacy has been suggested as one of the key factors that may explain adherence to hearing aids in older adults. The primary aim of this study was to determine a possible association between educational level and hearing aid self-efficacy in older adult hearing aid users from a Latin American country (i.e., Chile). The secondary aim was to determine if in this sample of older adults, hearing aid self-efficacy predicted hearing aid adherence as previously suggested by other studies. The MARS-HA (Measure of Audiologic Rehabilitation Self-Efficacy for Hearing Aids) questionnaire was used to measure hearing aid self-efficacy. This questionnaire was initially adapted into Spanish (S-MARS-HA) using forward and backward translations by bilingual English-Spanish speakers. A sample of 252 older adults fitted with hearing aids at a public hospital in Santiago, Chile, was investigated. Educational level was measured as the number of years of formal education. Participants responded to the S-MARS-HA along with questions exploring social support, attitudes in using hearing aids, participation in social events, and vision and joint problems. Hearing aid adherence was investigated with the use of a question from the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids. All these procedures were conducted at the participants' homes. Pure-tone average (PTA; 500-4000 Hz) in the fitted ear was obtained from the participants' medical records. Univariate and multivariate regression models were constructed to investigate the association between educational level and hearing aid self-efficacy controlling for the covariates of interest (e.g., social support, attitudes in using hearing aids, PTA). The SMARS-HA showed an adequate construct validity along with a good reliability. Results of the multivariate regression analyses showed that educational level significantly predicted hearing aid self-efficacy. Covariates significantly associated with this outcome included attitudes in using hearing aids and PTA in the fitted ear. Finally, a significant association between hearing aid self-efficacy and adherence to hearing aid use was observed. In conclusion, this study showed a significant association between educational level and hearing aid self-efficacy in older adults from a developing Latin American country. Thus, this variable should be considered when designing and delivering aural rehabilitation programs such as hearing aids to older adults, especially those from developing countries.
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    Identification of the factors associated with the severity of the speech production problems in children with comorbid speech sound disorder and developmental language disorder
    (2020) Torres, Felipe; Fuentes-Lopez, Eduardo; Fuente, Adrian; Sevilla, Fabiana
    It has been suggested that factors such as auditory perception, oral motor skills, phonological awareness, and working memory are all associated with speech production problems in children with speech sound disorder (SSD) and developmental language disorder (DLD). However, it remains unclear whether the severity of the speech production problems in these children can be explained by an interaction among the aforementioned factors. The aim of this study was to determine which of these four factors best explain the severity of the speech production problems in children with SSD and DLD and whether an interaction between factors occurs. Forty-one children with SSD and DLD between 5 and 5;11 years old were selected. The number of phonological process errors was used as a measure of the severity of the speech production problems. The association between the number of phonological process errors and performance in auditory perception, oral motor skills, phonological awareness, and working memory along with the severity of the DLD was explored using univariate and multivariate regression models (with and without an interaction term). The results showed that the number of phonological process errors was largely explained by working memory and phonological awareness. An interaction between these two factors was also found. This means that working memory and phonological awareness interact to have an effect on the number of phonological process errors that is more than the sum of their parts.
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    Inadequate vocal hygiene habits associated with the presence of self-reported voice symptoms in telemarketers
    (2019) Fuentes-Lopez, Eduardo; Fuente, Adrian; Contreras, Karem V.
    Aim: The aim of this study is to determine possible associations between vocal hygiene habits and self-reported vocal symptoms in telemarketers. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study that included 79 operators from call centres in Chile was carried out. Their vocal hygiene habits and self-reported symptoms were investigated using a validated and reliable questionnaire created for the purposes of this study. Results: Forty-five percent of telemarketers reported having one or more vocal symptoms. Among them, 16.46% reported that their voices tense up when talking and 10.13% needed to clear their throat to make their voices clearer. Five percent mentioned that they always talk without taking a break and 40.51% reported using their voices in noisy environments. The number of working hours per day and inadequate vocal hygiene habits were associated with the presence of self-reported symptoms. Additionally, an interaction between the use of the voice in noisy environments and not taking breaks during the day was observed. Finally, the frequency of inadequate vocal hygiene habits was associated with the number of symptoms reported. Conclusions: Using the voice in noisy environments and talking without taking breaks were both associated with the presence of specific vocal symptoms. This study provides some evidence about the interaction between these two inadequate vocal hygiene habits that potentiates vocal symptoms.
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    Increased Signs of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Dental Students: A Multilevel Approach
    (2022) Fuentes-Lopez, Eduardo; Fuente, Adrian; Bowen, Macarena P.
    Context: Despite the fact that the new generations of rotary tools emit less noise, some recent studies suggest that dental students are still at risk of hearing impairment. Aims: The aim of the study was to determine a possible association between noise exposure from dental equipment and early signs of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in dental students. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was carried out with dental and non-dental students from two universities in Chile. Methods and Material: A group of 102 dental students routinely exposed to noise emitted from dental equipment was selected as the study group. A group of 251 non-dental students was selected as the control group. Pure-tone audiometry was carried out on all participants ensuring that they were not exposed to noise for at least 24 hours prior to testing. The presence of a notch was determined for each participant. Statistical analysis used: Simultaneous-quantile regressions were used to compare percentiles of the hearing threshold between both groups. Then, the notch prevalence ratio adjusted by gender and age was estimated for each group of participants. Finally, the prevalence of an audiometric notch was compared between both groups using logistic regression models and generalized linear methods. Both fixed effect and multilevel hierarchy models were constructed. Results: Significant differences between groups for the 75th percentile of hearing threshold distributions at 4 and 6 kHz in the left ear and at 6 kHz in the right ear were found. In addition, study group participants exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of a notch at 4 kHz in the left ear than control group participants. Conclusions: Exposure to noise derived from learning activities as a dental student is associated with early signs of NIHL. Such signs include poorer hearing thresholds than those of non-dental students at 4 and 6 kHz as well as the presence of a notch at high frequencies.
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    Prevalence and associated factors of hearing aid use among older adults in Chile
    (2017) Fuentes López, Eduardo; Fuente, Adrian; Cardemil, Felipe; Valdivia Cabrera, Gonzalo; Albala, Cecilia
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    Social determinants of health associated with attitudes towards hearing loss and hearing aids in older adults fitted in a Latin American country: validation of the ALHQ questionnaire into Spanish
    (Taylor & Francis Ltd., 2023) Fuentes López, Eduardo; Fuente, Adrian; Luna-Monsalve, Manuel; Cañete, Oscar M.
    Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between certain social determinants of health (i.e. educational level, income, and social support) and attitudes towards hearing loss and hearing aids among older adults with hearing loss fitted in a Latin American country. Design Older adults were asked about their attitudes towards hearing loss and hearing aids, years of formal education, income, social support, perception of having a hearing disability, and social pressure when using the hearing aid. To do so, we adapted the Attitudes towards Loss of Hearing Questionnaire (S-ALHQ) into Spanish. All the questionnaires were conducted as structured interview. Study sample Two hundred fifty-two older hearing aids users were recruited from a public hospital in Chile. Results The S-ALHQ showed adequate validity, along with good reliability. The multivariate models showed that educational level and social support were the social determinants of health negatively associated with the attitudes. Aided hearing disability and social pressure to use hearing aids were the co-variables associated with S-ALHQ scores. Conclusions The study showed a significant relationship between specific social determinants of health and attitudes towards hearing loss and hearing aids. These attitudes should be considered when implementing rehabilitation programs for older adults with hearing loss.