These three articles describe current issues and advances related to hearing diagnostics, treatment, and prevention. The first article is a detailed description of the impact that COVID-19 face masks and social distancing regulations have had on speech recognition and how face masks affect the acoustic signal and increase cognitive effort in listeners with hearing loss. Suggestions for mitigating these deleterious impacts on communication are provided. The second article is a research study examining the correlation between self-perceived hearing difficulty, determined using a questionnaire (Adult Auditory Performance Scale), and speech-in-noise performance (Listening in Spatialized Noise–Sentences Test) in listeners with normal pure-tone thresholds. Results highlight the relationship between self-perceived hearing abilities and binaural speech-in-noise performance supporting the inclusion of speech-in-noise testing even in those with normal pure-tone thresholds. The third article is a review of current genetic, stem cell, and pharmacotherapy research for treatment and prevention of hearing loss. Animal models are discussed, as well as steps to translate this research into clinical practice.

Learning Outcomes
You will be able to:

• explain the ways in which face masks and social distancing impact the acoustics of a speech signal
• discuss the relationship between self-perceived hearing difficulty and speechin-noise performance
• describe recent advances in treatment and prevention of hearing loss using gene therapies, stem cell therapies, and pharmacotherapies

Assessment Type
Self-assessment—Think about what you learned and report on the Completion Form how you will use your new knowledge.

Articles in This Course

1. COVID-19, Face Masks, and Social Interaction: How a Pandemic Is Shining a Light on the Importance of Face-to-Face Communication by Tina M. Grieco-Calub, published in SIG 6, August 31, 2021
2. The Relationship Between Self-Perceived Hearing Ability and Binaural Speech-in-Noise Performance in Adults With Normal Pure-Tone Hearing by Christina M. Roup, Amy Custer, and Julie Powell, published in SIG 6, September 15, 2021
3. Emerging Therapies and Approaches to Treat and Prevent Hearing Loss by Alaa Koleilat, Colin L. W. Driscoll, Lisa A. Schimmenti, and Gayla L. Poling, published in SIG 6, Volume 5, Issue 5, October 23, 2020