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…

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…

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…

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)…

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…

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)…

The Role of Auditory Deprivation in Verbal and Nonverbal Working Memory: Insights From School-Age Children With Cochlear Implants.

by Šimić, I, Tomazin, MO, Bonetti, L

Language, speech, and hearing services in schools

This study investigated the verbal (VWM) and nonverbal working memory (NWM) of school-aged children with cochlear implants compared to their typically hearing peers, in order to determine how early auditory deprivation and the reduced auditory input characteristic of cochlear implants are related to storage and processing functions of working memory. A total of 58 children took part: 35 with cochlear implants and 23 with typical hearing, matched by age and gender. VWM was measured using the digit span task, while NWM was measured using the Corsi Block Tapping task. The results showed that children with cochlear implants had a significantly lower storage and processing capacity of working memory for verbal information compared to their typically hearing peers. However, no significant…

Machine learning model for automated calculation of intracochlear positional index in cochlear implantation.

by Hasan, Z, Hirayama, T, Alnafjan, F, Key, S, Kim, J, Da Cruz, M, 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 -…

Training and refining both custom and pre-trained convolutional neural network (CNN) models for calculation of intracochlear positional index (ICPI) is as effective as manual calculation. The ICPI is a position factor that is known to influence cochlear implant performance, however manual calculation on computed tomography (CT) imaging is labour-intensive and prone to calculation errors. Automation of this process with machine learning via a custom built CNN model aims to reduce the difficulty in obtaining this position factor. Increasing the number of training epochs will improve accuracy. Our study aims to develop a validated CNN for ICPI calculation, which may improve surgical electrode positioning. Custom built CNN model and pre-trained ResNet 50 model trained and validated on 34…

A Novel Artificial-Intelligence-Based Reverberation-Reduction Algorithm for Cochlear Implants Enhances Speech Intelligibility and User Experience.

by Langerak, NC, Stronks, HC, van Marrewijk, EF, Briaire, JJ, Lemercier, JM, Gerkmann, T, et al.

Ear and hearing

Cochlear implantation is the standard of care for severe-to-profound hearing loss in the Netherlands. Cochlear implants (CIs) generally perform well in quiet conditions, but speech understanding in an environment with reverberations remains difficult. This study aimed to minimize the amount of reverberation present in a speech signal by using novel artificial-intelligence-based algorithms created for use in CIs. A prospective crossover study was performed, which included 15 CI users, with each participant being their own control. Two versions of the algorithm were tested: one version that focused on late reverberations (DNN-WPE) and another version that additionally minimized early reverberation with a post-filter (DNN-WPEPF). These two algorithms were tested by performing speech…

Development of zwitterionic hydrogel thin film coatings of cochlear implant electrode arrays that reduce intracochlear inflammation and electrode impedance.

by Ben-Shlomo, N, Peel, A, Etler, C, Mostaert, B, Barrera, G, Hansen, KR, et al.

Hearing research

Cochlear implants (CIs) have revolutionized the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss, yet patient outcomes remain highly variable due to biological responses within the cochlea. A critical challenge is the foreign body response (FBR) triggered by CI biomaterials, which can lead to inflammation, fibrosis, and increased electrode impedance, ultimately impairing auditory function. Zwitterionic hydrogels have been shown to provide a highly lubricious anti-fouling surface that minimizes protein and cell adsorption. This study evaluates a carboxybetaine methacrylate (CBMA) zwitterionic hydrogel coating to reduce the FBR to cochlear implants. Using a large animal (sheep) model, human CI electrode arrays were coated with a thin film CBMA hydrogel via one step UV photografting and…

Music Enjoyment and Emotional Response to Music in Cochlear Implant Users are Independent of Listening Modality.

by Shah, RN, Alter, IL, Kuhlmey, ME, Despotidis, MA, Vegesna, NV, Rubenstein, JA, et al.

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

Music appreciation and emotional responses to music are diminished in cochlear implant (CI) users. Anecdotal evidence suggests that direct streaming into CIs may be preferable for music listening, though this has not been rigorously investigated. We aimed to compare the implantees' emotional responses and enjoyment when listening to music in the sound field versus direct streaming. Cross-sectional analysis. Tertiary academic center and community hearing loss groups. Bilateral and bimodal CI users of age 18 years or older and CI activation ≥6 months prior. Participants completed a survey and listened to 10 musical excerpts, varying in genre and mood, through both external speakers and direct streaming. Emotional response was assessed through 9-point scales of valence and arousal, while…

Assessment of neural and MAP level asymmetries in a large cohort of children with bilateral cochlear implants.

by Sabourin, CJ, Lomber, SG, Negandhi, J, Cushing, SL, Papsin, BC, Gordon, KA, et al.

Hearing research

Bilateral cochlear implants (BCIs) are provided to children who are deaf in both ears to restore binaural/spatial hearing, but interaural stimulation mismatches can limit potential benefits. This study aimed to: 1) investigate how the programming of stimulation parameters in BCI users differs between bilateral pairs of electrodes, and (2) evaluate the impact of sequential implantation and mismatched array types on asymmetries. A mixed effects modeling analysis assessed cochlear implants (CI) stimulation parameters and peripheral neural responses retrospectively collected (September 2003-July 2022) in 542 children with BCIs (n = 157 sequentially implanted, n = 385 simultaneously implanted, n = 465 with matched perimodiolar arrays, and n = 77 with one perimodiolar and one straight array…

Anxiety-like behavior in deaf Ebf1 conditional knockout mice.

by Baxter, AN, Hunter, SE, Penrod, RD, Wilkerson, BA

Hearing research

Hearing is critical for communication and clinical evidence suggests that hearing loss can lead to poorer mental well-being including social isolation, anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline. Deaf animal models offer opportunities to investigate the impact of hearing loss on behavioral correlates of mental health while controlling for genetic variability and shared etiological factors such as environmental stressors, aging, and metabolic diseases. We previously showed that conditional deletion of Ebf1 in the inner ear causes deafness. We hypothesize that otic-specific Ebf1 knockout (KO) mice recapitulate neurobehavioral alterations experienced in congenital deafness. Slc26a9P2A-Cre and Ebf1 floxed mice were crossed previously to generate the otic-specific Ebf1 conditional KO. We…

TechXplore : BBCNEWS : February 15, 2026 12:30am-1:01am GMT

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Internet Archive

The BBC's sport-loving tech presenter Paul Carter dives into the Deaflympics in Tokyo.

Metaphors we learn to sign by: Positive transfer effects of existing sign language expertise and gestural repertoire on metaphor inferencing in a novel sign language.

by Hofweber, J, Aumônier, L, Latham, T, Trice, K, Qi, Z

Brain and language

Our study investigated metaphor inferencing in second languages (L2). According to universalist accounts, L2 metaphor comprehension should be intuitive. However, cross-linguistic differences suggest that successful metaphor inferencing is subject to transfer effects. Little is known about the interaction of transfer effects involving modality differences in the context of sign languages. We investigated whether existing sign language expertise enhances SPACE-TIME metaphor inferencing in signed L2s. Crucially, we focused on SPACE-TIME metaphor inferencing because the need to abstract from salient concrete SPACE interpretations may pose challenges to sign novices. Methodologically, we compared native signers (N = 27, L1 = American or British Sign Language) to hearing sign novices (N = 37…