Browsing by Author "de Silva, M.D.K."

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Audiological profile of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder in the paediatric population of a selected audiology clinic.
(University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Farook, T.; de Silva, M.D.K.; Balasuriya, B.M.L.K.
BACKGROUND: Hearing loss is a major concern worldwide with an estimated prevalence of over 20% globally. Among the different types of hearing loss, this study focuses on Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD). ANSD is characterized by the presence of intact outer hair cells and the absence of typical functioning in the auditory nerve. OBJECTIVE/S: To develop an audiological profile of patients with ANSD using audiological records of the paediatric population attending the audiology clinic, Faculty of Medicine, Ragama from 2017 2022, and to compare the risk factors for hearing loss and other associated factors between patients with ANSD and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). METHODS: The study design was a retrospective comparative case study conducted in the University Audiology Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, Ragama, Sri Lanka. The population for the study included all patients who attended (2017-2022) the University Audiology Clinic in the age range of 0-18 years. Data was collected from audiological records. The assessment findings were used to develop the profile while the medical history was used to compare the risk factors between ANSD and SNHL patients. Data analysis software (statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 26) was used for statistical analysis. Data related to risk factors for hearing loss among patients diagnosed with SNHL and ANSD were analysed, and a comparison was made between the two groups using the Chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 1215 pediatric patients have attended the clinic. Out of them ANSD cases were found to be 2.7% of the pediatric population that completed the test, while 16.05% were of the SNHL population. Only one had unilateral ANSD. Distortion Product Oto-Acoustic Emissions (DPOAEs) were present in 44.2% (19) of the ears and inconsistent in 18.6% (8) of the ears. Cochlear Microphonics (CM) was present in all (43) ears. Tb-ABR was absent in 46.2% (12) of the ears while abnormal in 53.8% (14) of the ears. Click ABR was absent in 83.7% (36) of the ears and abnormal in 16.3% (7) of the ears. The degree of hearing loss varied between mild to profound in patients with ANSD. Comparison of the risk factors revealed a statistically significant difference for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (p=0.003), administration of oxygen (p=0.040), neonatal sepsis (p=0.025), neonatal meningitis (p=0.014) and congenital anomalies (p=0.002). CONCLUSION/S: The proportion of ANSD found in the pediatric population with risk factors is significant and justifies the need to implement newborn hearing screening programs for early identification. Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, administration of oxygen, sepsis including meningitis, and congenital anomalies can be used as predictors for infants at risk of ANSD. Children with ASD, speech delay, CVI, and GDD require to be screened for ANSD as well.
Central Auditory Processing Skills in children with a history of early-onset Otitis Media: A scoping review
(University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2022) Damayanthi, T.G.J.L.; Umesha, T.; de Silva, M.D.K.; Jayasena, B.N.
Background: Central auditory processing is characterized by the perception and processing of neural information related to the auditory inputs through the human ears and it is vital for speech perception, language skills, and complex learning functions. Auditory deprivation in the early years of life impacts neural maturation of the central auditory nervous system and lowers the ability to process neural information related to aural inputs. Otitis media is known to be the most frequent middle ear infection and a common reason for auditory deprivation among the paediatric population worldwide. Hence, this study focused on auditory deprivation due to otitis media during the early years of life. Many primary pieces of research have been conducted to assess the long-term influence of auditory deprivation due to otitis media on central auditory processing, which lasts over years even after the resolution of the middle ear condition. This study reviewed literature where the long-term effect of otitis media is assessed through behavioural and electrophysiological measures, in children with a history of otitis media within the first five years of their lives. Objectives: To summarize Audiological assessments used to evaluate central auditory processing and to describe central auditory processing skills in children with a history of early-onset otitis media. Methods: This review followed the methodological framework outlined by Arksey & O̕̕Mally (2005) and developed by Levac et al. (2010). Studies conducted from 2000-2020 involving human participants aged ≤18 years, belonging to any gender or geographical context, having a history of otitis media within the first 5 years of life, having normal hearing and normal middle ear condition by the time of study conducted, were included in the review. Studies involving participants with any type of hearing loss before the age of 05 years due to other reasons except otitis media, comment/text literature, and studies with no free accessibility to the full text, and an English translation were excluded. Literature was searched in PubMed, EBSCO host, and Scopus databases, and eligibility was assessed by two reviewers independently. Included studies were critically appraised using standard tools. Extracted data were reported following the systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews checklist.Results: The review resulted in 13 eligible articles. Some have used behavioural measures only (08), and electrophysiological measures only (03) while 02 have used both. Poor auditory processing skills and alterations in electrophysiological measurements were reported in children with a history of otitis media within the first five years of their lives, compared to children without a history. Conclusion: As per the reviewed studies, there is a negative association between central auditory processing and the history of otitis media within the first five years of life, which persists beyond its resolution.
Development and validation of a documenting tool for an Instrumental Feeding Assessment; Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)
(University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2022) Amunugama, E.M.D.W.H.L.; de Silva, M.D.K.
Background: Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) is an emerging assessment in speech therapy practice in Sri Lanka. However, the absence of an appropriate documentation system has been a major issue due to a lack of consensus on the format of reporting the findings of FEES among different clinical settings and missing essential areas of assessment. The study focused on developing and validating a documentation system for FEES, which can assess people who have no prior clinical examination history.Methods: For this validation study (action research), the modified Delphi method with 2 rounds was conducted with 7 speech therapists who are involved in conducting FEES in government hospitals and in the private sector. Two independent rounds through online questionnaires were conducted to finalize and validate the developed tool. The first round focused on finalizing the developed tool and round two considered content face validation of the finalized tool. Results: The record sheet for FEES was finalized with the accepted components and suggestions from both Delphi panels. The Delphi panels agreed with the content with an excellent content validity index score for face validation of the tool. The finalized tool consisted of 3 subsystems: pre-FEES, FEES findings and post FEES. Conclusion: A comprehensive record sheet was developed during the study to address the lack of a proper documentation system for FEES in clinical settings in Sri Lanka. The tool was designed in a clinician-friendly manner where a clinician can evaluate an outpatient who has not gone through a bedside evaluation. The content and face validity reflected user-friendliness and reliability of included items.
Effect of multichannel and channels free hearing aid signal processing on phoneme recognition in quiet and noise
(International Journal of Health Science and Research Publisher, 2016) de Silva, M.D.K.; Kooknoor, V.; Shetty, H.N.; Thondadarya, S.
INTRODUCTION: Older adults with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) find it difficult to understand speech especially, in noise. Hearing aid is one among the rehabilitative option available to them. Even with advent in hearing aid technology, adequate benefit for hearing loss is a colossal challenge. It was hypothesized that channel free hearing aid improves the speech perception in presence of noise. AIM & OBJECTIVE; To document consonant identification scores (CIS) and sequential transfer of information from multichannel and channel free hearing aids, in noise. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen participants having bilateral sloping SNHL were included. Each participant was presented 21 syllables in unaided and aided conditions (4 channels, 12 channels, and channel free hearing aids) at quite, +10 dBSNR and 0dBSNR, to determine CIS and sequential transfer of information. RESULTS: It was observed that signal-processing strategies did not significantly affect consonant identification at quiet condition. At +10 dBSNR and 0 dBSNR, significantly higher CIS was noted in channel free hearing aid than compared to other multichannel hearing aids. In addition, the total sequential transfer of information transmitted from channel free hearing aid was higher than compared to other strategies at quiet and +10 dB SNR. However, it was observed that 12 channels hearing aid was superiorly transferred the manner and voicing information than compared to other strategies. CONCLUSION: Channel free hearing aid is a feasible alternative to multichannel hearing aids for listeners with sloping audiometric contours
Knowledge and attitudes toward children with specific learning disabilities among primary school teachers in the Mathugama Educational Zone; a preliminary study
(University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2022) Kumari, H.R.G.M.; de Silva, M.D.K.
Background: The teachers’ role in identifying Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) in primary grades is significant, and teachers play a unique role in this process. To make the education for the students with SLD successful, teachers require knowledge of different types of SLD and an understanding of their students with SLD.Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate primary school teachers’ knowledge and attitudes toward children with specific learning disabilities (SLD).Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 248 primary school teachers. The self-selection sampling method was used to select participants from the Mathugama Educational Zone in Sri Lanka. An online questionnaire was used to collect data, and the questionnaire consisted of 3 sections: demographical details, teachers’ knowledge, and their attitudes toward children with SLD. Results: Most primary school teachers are conversant on some aspects of children with SLD such as characteristics of SLD and handling a child with SLD in the regular class. Teachers’ knowledge of SLD significantly changed according to gender (p < .05). This indicated that males have more knowledge about SLD than female teachers. However, there was no significant association between teachers’ knowledge with other demographical details such as age, teaching experience, educational level, teaching grade, training in special education, and having a student with SLD in the class. Overall, participants have positive attitudes about training programs.Conclusion: Overall, most of the study participants had average knowledge levels in areas such as management of children with SLD, risk factors, and some symptoms about SLD. However, knowledge level in some symptoms such as IQ level and aetiology of SLD were inadequate. Attitudes regarding their responsibilities in managing children with SLD were positive. On the contrary, a majority of teachers do not have positive attitudes to raise the quality of life of children with SLD and they reported that they felt more sympathy toward the student with SLD than the student without SLD. The study further revealed that most participants had not attended the training programs on teaching children with SLD. Therefore, the relevant institutes or authorities should implement frequent workshops to improving the above aspects regarding the knowledge and attitudes of SLD.
Mobile applications for auditory verbal therapy: review of content and quality
(University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2022) Dharmawardana, M.G.N.W.; de Silva, M.D.K.
Background: The number of mobile health (mHealth) applications has been rapidly increasing recently (apps). Finding high-quality apps that are therapeutically beneficial is a challenge for health professionals and their families. We undertook a comprehensive search and evaluation of Auditory Verbal Therapy mobile apps. Also offered is an evidence-based strategy for locating appropriate apps in the Google Play and Apple app store. Objectives: This study mainly focused on assessing the quality appraisal of the mobile applications for auditory-verbal therapy. Methods: This study used the “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews.” Between October 2021 and March 2022, we did a thorough scan of the Google Play and Apple app store app marketplaces. Results: A total of 1076 apps were found using eight predefined search criteria. After a thorough review, 39 apps were selected for further consideration. The Mobile Application Rating scale was used to assess them by two reviewers. None of them were very good. Six apps had good quality, 32 had mediocre quality, and three had bad or extremely poor quality. Conclusions: The rapid rise of mHealth emphasizes the importance of developing rigorous and efficient mechanisms for finding and retrieving apps, as well as evaluating their therapeutic effectiveness. Due to the difficulty in accessing auditory-verbal therapy services around the world, mHealth promises therapy benefits when apps are dependable, valid, and easy to find.