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www.researchportal.be - 12 jun 2017 16:50:03
Research projects (1 - 20 of 81)
Search filter: Classifications: Otorhinolaryngology, audiology, auditive system and speech
Acoustic phonetic analysis of the speech of very young children with a cochlear implant.
University of Antwerp
Abstract: The aim of this project is to investigate acoustic-phonetic characteristics of the speech of young congenitally deaf children who received a
cochlear implant in their first year of life. In particular the acoustic characteristics of their babbling will be investigated in order to detect
discrepancies with the babbling of hearing infants. In addition we will analyze spontaneous speech of these children at the age of six, and
investigate whether it displays the typical characteristics of "deaf speech", and we will try to relate these characteristics to the infants' vocalizations
in their first year of life.
Organisations:
• Centre for Computational Linguistics and Psycholinguistics (CLiPS)
Researchers:
• Etienne Gillis
• Paul Govaerts
Advances in hearing science : from functional genomics to therapies. (EUROHEAR)
University of Antwerp
Abstract: EuroHear has two inter-related objectives. The first aim is to provide fundamental knowledge about the development and functioning of
the inner ear by studying the hair bundle, hair cell ribbon synapses, outer hair cell motility and potassium homeostasis. The second aim is to identify
the genes underlying hereditary hearing impairment (HI) in both humans (monogenic HI and presbycusis) and mice. In addition, Eurohear focusses
on the standardisation, implementation and development of technologies and on the development of new preventive and therapeutic tools for HI.
Organisations:
• Human molecular genetics
Researchers:
• Guido Van Camp
A model of assessment and rehabilitation of patients after a unilateral vestibular deafferentiation.
University of Antwerp
Abstract: This project involves -1- the collection of normative data and the validation of a clinical protocol to assess postural control in patients after
a unilateral vestibular deafferentiation and -2- the study of short- and longterm effects after administration of specific, customized vestibular
rehabilitation program in the acute phase after resection of an acoustic neuroma.
Organisations:
• Translational Neurosciences (TNW)
Researchers:
• Floris Wuyts
• Paul Van de Heyning
Analysis of monogenic forms of deafness using dense genome-wide SNP data.
University of Antwerp
Abstract: The aim of this project is the identification of new loci for hereditary nonsyndromic forms of hearing loss. A unique collection of 30 highly
informative Iranian families, with a high degree of consanguinity, is available. After an initial screening for recurrent mutations, a genome wide
search is carried out using the most advanced techniques for genotyping using DNA chips, after which the diseases locus is pinpointed using
linkage analysis.
Organisations:
• Human molecular genetics
Researchers:
• Erik F P Fransen
A study of the relation between stuttering and self-esteem of adolescents through mediating internal processes, peer
group status and the teacher-student relationship. Towards more transparency of a complex speech disorder.
University of Antwerp
Abstract: Problem statement: Although more than 100 000 people of the Belgian population stutter, this complex speech disorder is little studied at
academic level in our country. However, stuttering has an adverse impact on different aspects of life and can lead to functional problems in
communication, a reduced ability to achieve goals in life and a lower quality of life. Moreover, the majority of international studies on treatment
effects focuses on changes in the observable characteristics of stuttering and significantly fewer studies study the wider impact of stuttering. The
observable stutter behavior is however only the tip of the iceberg. The internal stuttering behavior, such as anxiety and cognitive disorders, makes
someone a stutterer. In short, a niche within the research field that requires urgent attention.
Research questions: In this study we want to unravel the complex interplay between internal and external influencing factors of stuttering, thereby
focusing primarily on the relationship between stutter severity and self-esteem. Adolescence is characterized by a strong self-awareness and is
therefore by far the most interesting period in life to examine this relationship. Firstly, a longitudinal study design will provide more insight in the
association in evolution in stutter severity and self-esteem in adolescence. Subsequently, we will examine mediating internal processes of the
relation between stutter severity and self-esteem, using negative communication attitudes, maladaptive perfectionism, and temperamental
characteristics. The most unique input of this study is the inclusion of mediating social factors, namely the teacher-student relationship and the peer
group status of a stuttering student. After all, adolescence is accompanied by an increasing reliance on peers and a corresponding increase in
striving for independence from adults. Finally, we will take into account the influence of teacher's negative attitudes towards stuttering on the
teacher's relationship with stuttering adolescents.
Innovative research: This research builds on an earlier innovative, explorative study conducted by one of the members of the research team.
However, this study adds several new elements. To date, the association in evolution between stuttering severity and self-esteem as a
multidimensional concept is not yet explored using a longitudinal study. Moreover, the role of temperament and social factors as mediating factors
are not yet been investigated. Certainly the study of the impact of peer and teacher relationships of stuttering adolescents on their self-esteem is a
new and promising study angle.
Added value and gain of the study: To answer these various research questions a multidisciplinary collaboration between ENT doctors within the
Faculty of Medicine and the educators and school psychologists from the Institute of Education and Information Sciences is essential. This unique
cooperation will not only provide new insights in the theory of stuttering, but will undoubtedly yield new treatment targets. For educational practice,
this cooperation will lead to concrete guidelines for teachers to better cope with stuttering students, providing a care policy customised to individual
pupils within the current educational context in which teachers are the primary caregivers.
Organisations:
• EduBROn
Researchers:
• Paul Van de Heyning
• Elke Struyf
Auditory processing in children with dyslexia: a longitudinal study.
KU Leuven
Abstract: Developmental dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects around 5 to 10% of children and adults. It is characterised by severe reading
and spelling difficulties that are persistent and resistant to usual teaching methods and remedial efforts (Gersons-Wolfensberger
Ruijssenaars,1997). The predominant aetiological view postulates that dyslexia results from a phonological deficit (Snowling, 2000). Research in
the underlying neuro(psycho)logical dysfunction of dyslexia suggests that the phonological processing problems as such may result from a more
fundamental deficit in the basic perceptual mechanisms that are responsible for auditory temporal information processing. Dyslexics tend to have
difficultiesprocessing linguistic and non-linguistic stimuli that are short and enter the nervous system in rapid succession (for a review see Farmer
Klein, 1995). Recent studies in this context focus more specifically on an impaired perception of dynamic aspects in the auditory signal itself, like a
Organisations:
• Research Group Psychiatry
Researchers:
• Johan Wagemans
• Stefan Sunaert
• Bart Boets
• Jean Steyaert
• Ilse Noens
AVATAR: Audio-visual true-to-life assessment of auditory rehabilitation.
KU Leuven
Abstract: This project proposes the development of a new assessment paradigm for realistic evaluation of hearing aid use and functionalities by
taking challenging listening conditions and perceptual complexity into account ina quantitative and controlled way. The selected audio-visual
scenarios are based on former auditory research on self-report evaluation. This approach will yield a quantitative and controlled framework that
willcontribute to closing the gap between self-report and the basic in-lab assessments of hearing aids, and that takes into account the complexity of
various audio-visual listening environments. This may open new avenues for more realistic assessment of the use and functionality of hearing aids
and new sound processing algorithms, and for better individually tuned auditory rehabilitation based on true listening conditions.
Organisations:
• Research Group Experimental Oto-rhino-la
Researchers:
• Jan Wouters
• Astrid Van Wieringen
• Tom Francart
BAHA and speech intelligibility.
University of Antwerp
Abstract: This project represents a formal research agreement between UA and on the other hand UZA. UA provides UZA research results
mentioned in the title of the project under the conditions as stipulated in this contract.
Organisations:
• Translational Neurosciences (TNW)
Researchers:
• Paul Van de Heyning
• Jolien Desmet
Binaural hearing in young bilaterally implanted children.
University of Antwerp
Abstract: Binaural hearing in young bilaterally implanted children.
Organisations:
• Translational Neurosciences (TNW)
Researchers:
• Paul Van de Heyning
Central auditory nervous system integrating capacities of simultaneous acoustic and electric stimulation: an
electrophysiological approach.
Ghent University
Abstract: Cochlear implantation (CI) is the standard intervention for severe to profound hearing loss. Due to technological improvements, CIcandidacy has extended to include patients with residual hearing in the non-implanted ear (bimodal hearing). There is an unexplained inter-subject
variability in bimodal outcome. Therefore, the major objective of this study is to gain insight into the central processing underlying bimodal hearing.
Organisations:
• Department of Oto-rhino-laryngology and logopaedic-audiologic sciences
Researchers:
• Ingeborg Dhooge
Construction and characterization of a mouse model for hereditary hearing impairment caused by mutations in DNA5.
University of Antwerp
Abstract: DFNA5 is a gene for an autosomal dominant, progressive, sensorineural hearing loss, starting at the high frequencies at an age of 5 to 15
years. A first attempt to generate a mouse model by mimicking the human mutation through targeted recombination resulted in a knockout mouse.
However, the knockout mouse did not show any hearing loss. In the mean time, a hypothesis was formulated posing that the hearing loss probably
was due to a gain-of-function and not, as was assumed before, to haplo-insufficiency. In this project the gain-of-function hypothesis will be further
investigated, by the generation of a mouse model through pronuclear injection of human mutant DFNA5 cDNA coupled to the DFNA5 promoter.
Organisations:
• Human molecular genetics
Researchers:
• Lutgart Van Laer
Construction and characterization of a transgenic mouse with a knockout in Coch, responsible for hearing loss and
vestibular dysfunction in man.
University of Antwerp
Abstract: Mutations in the human COCH gene lead to autosomal dominant progressive hearing loss paralleled by vestibular dysfunction. To get a
better understanding of the function of COCH and the way COCH mutations lead to inner ear dysfunction, we want to construct and chararacterize
a transgenic mouse with a knockout of COCH.
Organisations:
• Human molecular genetics
Researchers:
• Erik F P Fransen
Development of the neurological reading network in children at family risk for dyslexia.
KU Leuven
Abstract: Reading acquisition starts with the awareness thatnbsp;correspond to graphemes. To achieve stable phoneme-grapheme
correspondences, the auditory system must accurately process speech. In developmentaldyslexia (a specific learning disability characterized by
severe and persistent reading and/or spelling problems), auditory processing and speech perception skills seem already impaired at pre-reading
level, identifying these skills as possible behavioural markers for dyslexia. However,little is known about the neural development of the auditory and
the reading system in relation to dyslexia. During reading acquisition, the brain adapts to written language by reorganizing and connecting the
existing spoken language system into a reading network. It is therefore crucial to examine the neural architecture of important auditory andreadingrelated areas in pre-reading children, and to investigate how they develop into a more mature reading network.In this new research project, we want
to combi
Organisations:
• Parenting and Special Education
Researchers:
• Pol Ghesquière
• Jan Wouters
DUAL-PRO. Dual electric-acoustic speech processor with linguistic assessment tools for deaf individuals with residual
low frequency hearing.
University of Antwerp
Abstract: To date, individuals with sensori-neural hearing loss may benefit from either acoustic stimulation (classical hearing aids) or electric
stimulation (cochlear implants). Classical hearing aids are best suited for moderate and severe hearing losses and cochlear implants for profound
losses. Cochlear implants enable profoundly deaf patients to reach high levels of speech intelligibility, but they are inadequate for the perception of
music. The reason for this is that implants are conceived to code for the mid and high frequencies of sound ("spectral coding") since speech
information is mainly contained in these frequencies. Implants are not performing well in the coding of low frequencies ("temporal coding"). These
frequencies contain mainly information related to tonality, musicality, timbre, etc. Hearing aids perform much better in the temporal coding of low
frequencies. Since most profoundly deaf persons have profound losses in the mid and high frequencies while they often have residual hearing in
the low frequencies, the combination of the spectral coding of a cochlear implant with the temporal coding of a hearing aid, seems promising in
improving the auditory performance of implant-wearers. In addition, temporal information seems of specific importance for the linguistic
development in young children and it is anticipated that improving the low frequency perception may significantly enhance their linguistic capacities,
thus decreasing their handicap and increasing the probability of mainstream integration.
Main objectives of the proposed project: (i) to optimise deaf patients' hearing experience by developing a new hearing device which combines both
types of stimulation in the same ear; (ii) to develop a test battery for prosody reception, i.e. the perception of language rhythm and melody; and (iii)
to use this new prosody test battery as a quality measure for the current generation of cochlear implants and classical hearing aids, as well as for
the newly developed hybrid electric-acoustic prototype.
Organisations:
• Centre for Computational Linguistics and Psycholinguistics (CLiPS)
Researchers:
• Etienne Gillis
• Martine M R Coene
Effectiveness of voice therapy in patients with functional dysphonia.
Ghent University
Abstract: The purpose is to examine effectiveness of voice therapy in patients with functional dysphonia.
1. Comparing the short- and longterm outcome of different therapies in these patients.
2. Comparing the outcome of intensive short-term therapy with less intensive long-term therapy.
3. Comparing the outcome of a well-designed voice program in professional voice users versus non vocal professionals with functional dysphonia.
Organisations:
• Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences
Researchers:
• Kristiane Van Lierde
• Evelien D'haeseleer
Elucidation of the pathofysiology of DFNA5 - associated hearing loss.
University of Antwerp
Abstract: Elucidation of the pathofysiology of DFNA5 - associated hearing loss.
Organisations:
• Human molecular genetics
Researchers:
• Lutgart Van Laer
• Guido Van Camp
• Ken Op de Beeck
Elucidation of the pathofysiology of DFNA5 - associated hearing loss.
University of Antwerp
Abstract: Elucidation of the pathofysiology of DFNA5 - associated hearing loss.
Organisations:
• Human molecular genetics
Researchers:
• Lutgart Van Laer
• Guido Van Camp
• Ken Op de Beeck
Elucidation of the pathofysiology of DFNA5 - associated hearing loss.
University of Antwerp
Abstract: This project represents a research agreement between the UA and on the onther hand IWT. UA provides IWT research results mentioned
in the title of the project under the conditions as stipulated in this contract.
Organisations:
• Human molecular genetics
Researchers:
• Lutgart Van Laer
• Guido Van Camp
• Ken Op de Beeck
Etiological factors for age-related hearing impairment.
University of Antwerp
Abstract: Age-related hearing impairment is the most frequent sensory disability. It is a complex disease caused by an interaction between
environmental and genetic factors. Up to now not much is known regarding the genetic factors involved in age-related hearing impairment. This
project aims at the identification of genetic factors using association studies on candidate genes with samples that will be collected in three Flemish
centres (Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels).
Organisations:
• Human molecular genetics
Researchers:
• Paul Van de Heyning
• Guido Van Camp
European network on GENetic DEAFness : pathogenic mechanisms, clinical and molecular diagnosis, social impact.
(GENDEAF)
University of Antwerp
Abstract: The overall long-term objective of this new project is to network a collaborative work on genetic deafness in Europe. The specific goals
are:
Studies on Connexin 26 that is the most common gene involved in non-syndromal severe hearing impairment.
Usher syndrome and other syndromes causing deaf-blindness.
A study on mechanisms involved in mitochondrial deafness
Study the genotype/phenotype correlation
Psychosocial consequences of genetic hearing impairment
To spread the information about the work done to medical personnel involved, associations and families.
Organisations:
• Medical Genetics
• Human molecular genetics
Researchers:
• Guido Van Camp