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Professor Dorte Hammershøi
Acoustics, Department of Electronics
Aalborg University
Aalborg, Denmark
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Organizer for The 58th AES Conference, Aalborg, June 28-30, Aalborg See more
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Sound transmission to and within the human ear canal, and its significance for localization
The air-borne sound is affected by the outer ear acoustics giving distinct features to the ear input depending on the direction of sound incidence. Each ear input gets a unique and distinct pattern, and the combination of the two ear inputs allows the hearing to localize the source position, and actively focus attention on it. This keynote will show examples of the sound transmission, present a method to separate directionally dependent and independent elements of the transmission, and discuss the significance of individual idiosyncrasies.
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Dr. Abigail Tucker
Reader in Craniofacial Development and Orthodontics
Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology
King's College
London, Great Britain
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A developmental biology approach to understanding the middle ear
The Tucker lab is interested in the development of the middle ear and the influence of development on later susceptibility of the ear to middle ear disease. We have recently been focusing on cavitation of the ear and development of the middle ear mucosa and the impact of the origin of the mucosa on development of Otitis media using mouse models of human disorders. In addition we have been trying to understand the mechanisms that shape the murine ossicles and the formation of the stapedial footplate and the malleo-indudo joint. As well as the more clinically relevant side of our work the lab has an interest in evolution of the middle ear, studying ear development in opossum, gecko, chick and other vertebrates.
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Ass. professor W. Robert J. Funnell
Department of BioMedical Engineering
Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery
McGill University
Montreal, Canada
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Finite-element modelling of the middle ear
Measurement and modelling of the mechanical and acoustical behaviour of the ear have evolved together over the years. Mathematical models can be used to concisely summarize the results of experimental work; construction and exploration of a model can lead to a better, more quantitative understanding of how the ear works; and models can be used to guide further experimental work. Ultimately models can be used in the design of more effective clinical tools. This talk will present various approaches to mathematical modelling and review the current status of modelling of the middle ear, with particular emphasis on the finite-element method. Both advantages and dangers of modelling will be discussed, along with some possible future directions.
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Professor Harou Takahashi
Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery
Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Nagasaki, Japan
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Middle ear pathophysiology and management viewed from pressure-regulation function
It is well known that the middle ear (ME) pressure should be always kept atmospheric in order to maintain its efficient sound conductive function. For this purpose, there are two ME pressure-regulation systems; one is the eustachian tube (ET) and the other is transmucosal gas exchange, mainly in the mastoid. The ET function is known comparatively well, but the gas exchange function is not known so well. In my presentation, I first explain briefly the normal physiology of the gas exchange function, and then what happens to this important function under the condition of various ME diseases such as otitis media with effusion or cholesteatoma, and what happens to this function after ME surgery. Finally, I would like to propose the algorithm of appropriate choice of ME surgical procedures according to pathophysiological conditions of the ME as well as to surgical intervention to the mastoid.
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Middle Ear Cleft pressure regulation. Morphological and physiological aspects
The middle ear cleft consists of the mastoid gas cell system and the tympanic cavity, a tympanum and four annexes, the epi-and hypo-tympanum, retro-and pro-tympanum. This latter corresponds to the bony Eustachian tube. The middle ear cleft forms a space of gas that is constituted and maintained thanks to gas exchanges with surrounding structures. The steady state in volume and pressure, near the atmospheric pressure, is maintained, on the one hand, by the working of local mechanisms of adaptability, and on the other hand, by the working of both central and peripherical nervous systems of regulation, with retro-control between the middle ear cleft and the muscles of the fibrocartilaginous Eustachian tube.
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Professor Evert Hamans
Univ Dept Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery
Antwerp University Hospital
University of Antwerp, Belgium
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The clinical consequences of interaural attenuation
Bone conduction devices offer a possibility to improve auditory capabilities in single sided deafness. The current practice involves a trial period with a bone conduction device mounted on a headband. Afterwards the patients decides whether or not he/she wants to be operated upon. In a first retrospective analyses no clear factors were found that played a role in the decision of the patient. In a second prospective study two factors emerged i.e. tinnitus and inter aural attenuation. Physical characteristics of the patients head were investigated if there was any correlation with this interaural attenuation. The discriminative support offered by alternate day fitting with two different devices was assessed. Finally hearing outcomes in terms of speech-in-noise in different conditions (S0N0,S0N-90, N0S-90) and directional hearing was compared with SSD patients with a cochlear implant. Clinical consequences for the use of BCD, hearing implants with percutaneous and transcutaneous transmission will be discussed.
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