Pathways Society

Jul. 17, 2020

Hearing Loss, Multiple Sclerosis and the Auditory Nerve

Dr. Frank Musiek
Frank Musiek, Ph.D.   Peripheral hearing loss is not commonly associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). Rather, MS is often associated with central auditory dysfunction not usually portrayed by pure tone hearing loss. However, sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) associated with MS, reflected by pure tone threshold deficits does occur. Though not always the case, loss of hearing sensitivity in MS can
Jun. 10, 2020

The Thalamo-cortical Pathway

Dr. Frank Musiek
Frank Musiek, Ph.D.   The term thalmo-cortical pathway (TCP) is an anatomical one and one of import to audiologists. However, it seems to be a term that is not commonly used in neuroanatomy or audiology. Therefore, consistent with Pathways articles, to focus on some lesser known but important topics, a brief account of the TCP is presented.    Some Neuroanatomy
May. 06, 2020

Neuro-otology Intraoperative Neuromonitoring: Brainstem Auditory Evoked Responses

Dr. Frank Musiek
Krista Fitzgerald, Au.D., CCC-A, CNIM Assistant Clinical Professor and Director of Clinical Education, University of Florida Doctor of Audiology Program IONM liaison for SpecialtyCare, LLC   Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IONM) is the use of electrophysiological measures during surgery in an attempt to reduce the risk of neurological insult involving the peripheral and central nervous system (Devlin & Schwartz 2007; Sing
Apr. 08, 2020

Part II: A Call for Implementing the Comprehensive Neurodiagnostic Audiology Evaluation: Effects of Concussion on Central Auditory and Vestibular Function

Dr. Frank Musiek
Jennifer Gonzalez, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A Speech and Hearing Sciences, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University   As mentioned in Part I of this two-part series, corpus callosum strain has been documented in the literature to be the most reliable indicator for concussion cases in football (Laksari et al., 2018; Kleiven, 2006; Hernandez et al., 2015). Such damage to the
Mar. 22, 2020

Part I: A Call for Implementing the Comprehensive Neurodiagnostic Audiology Evaluation: Effects of Concussion on Central Auditory and Vestibular Function

Dr. Frank Musiek
Jennifer Gonzalez, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A Speech and Hearing Sciences, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University Concussion, also known as mild traumatic brain injury or mTBI, encompasses injuries caused by bumps, blows, or jolts to the head or body resulting in rapid movement of the head and brain(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). Concussion injuries induce chemical changes in
Mar. 22, 2020

Masking Level Differences (MLDs) in selected clinical populations : An overview

Dr. Frank Musiek
Frank Musiek, PhD   Background Masking level differences (MLDs), also termed bilateral masking level differences (BMLDs), were introduced to the scientific community by Ira Hirsh and J.C.R. Licklider in independent reports in 1948. Hirsh reported on MLDs for tonal stimuli and Licklider for speech stimuli. Though it is not the intent of this brief communication to address methodological facets of
Jan. 08, 2020

Central Deafness: A Synopsis

Dr. Frank Musiek
Frank Musiek, PhD University of Arizona   Introduction Recently, one of our articles was published in the International Journal of Audiology (IJA) pertaining to central deafness [Musiek, F., Chermak, G., & Cone, B. (2019). Central Deafness: A Review of Past and Current Perspectives. International Journal of Audiology, 58, 605 – 617]. Much to our delight, it has received considerable attention.
Dec. 11, 2019

Dr. Clinton Woolsey: An Historical Profile

Dr. Frank Musiek
Editors Note: Ocassionally Pathways will offer an historical account of someone who has made outstanding contributions to our field of neuroaudiology who is not an audiologist. Clinton Woolsey is one of those people he was a renounded neuroanatomist/neurophysiologist . Here is a nice review by Kylie Boyd.   Kylie Boyd, B.S., B.A. Au.D. Student, University of Arizona, Dept. of Speech,
Nov. 07, 2019

Utilization of the Dichotic Difference Score

Dr. Frank Musiek
Annette Hurley, PhD., CCC-A, Dept. of Communication Disorders LSU Health Sciences Center, [email protected]   Introduction Dichotic listening tests are one of the most frequently used behavioral tests included in the behavioral Auditory Processing disorder (APD) test battery (Emanuel et al, 2011).  Dichotic tests are sensitive to the maturation and development of the central auditory nervous system (CANS), underlying lesions of the CANS,
Oct. 09, 2019

Disability terminology: Are we listening?

Dr. Frank Musiek
Bill Keith, QSO, PhD   As audiologists we sometimes have to spend time persuading individuals that a member of their family does actually have a hearing disorder and isn’t just wilfully unresponsive. How often have you heard a significant other say of their partner with a sensorineural hearing loss “He can hear if he wants to. He just doesn’t listen.”?