This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Gallun FJ, Lewis MS, Folmer RL, Diedesch AC, Kubli LR, McDermott DJ, Walden TC, Fausti SA, Lew HL, Leek MR. Implications of blast exposure for central auditory function. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2012;49(7):1059–74.http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2010.09.0166

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682//JRRD.2010.09.0166JSP

Implications of blast exposure for central auditory function

Frederick J. Gallun, PhD; M. Samantha Lewis, PhD; Robert L. Folmer, PhD; Anna C. Diedesch, AuD; Lina R. Kubli, MS;

Daniel J. McDermott, MS; Therese C. Walden, AuD; Stephen A. Fausti, PhD; Henry L. Lew, MD, PhD; Marjorie R. Leek, PhD

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Gallun FJ, Lewis MS, Folmer RL, Diedesch AC, Kubli LR, McDermott DJ, Walden TC, Fausti SA, Lew HL, Leek MR. Implications of blast exposure for central auditory function. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2012;49(7):1059–74.http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2010.09.0166

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682//JRRD.2010.09.0166JSP

• Aim – Review literature on blast exposure in context of central

auditory system functions.

• Relevance– Further work must refine battery of clinical tests sensitive to

central auditory dysfunction observed in individuals with blast exposure.

– Treatments include low-gain hearing aids, remote-microphone technology, and auditory-training regimens, but clinical evidence does not yet exist for recommending one or more of these options.

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Gallun FJ, Lewis MS, Folmer RL, Diedesch AC, Kubli LR, McDermott DJ, Walden TC, Fausti SA, Lew HL, Leek MR. Implications of blast exposure for central auditory function. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2012;49(7):1059–74.http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2010.09.0166

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682//JRRD.2010.09.0166JSP

Results• Recommendations:– Determine degree to which abnormal performance on

central auditory tests correlates with patient complaints and difficulties in more naturalistic environments.

– Develop clinical measures to determine whether patient complaining of communication difficulties has (primarily) auditory disorder or deficits in other domains, e.g., attention and memory.

– Make use of powerful new imaging technologies to better understand neural underpinnings of rehabilitative techniques that produce beneficial functional outcomes.

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Gallun FJ, Lewis MS, Folmer RL, Diedesch AC, Kubli LR, McDermott DJ, Walden TC, Fausti SA, Lew HL, Leek MR. Implications of blast exposure for central auditory function. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2012;49(7):1059–74.http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2010.09.0166

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682//JRRD.2010.09.0166JSP

Conclusion• Little evidence exists indicating which tests and

therapies should be used to comprehensively diagnose and rehabilitate central auditory dysfunction potentially afflicting Veterans exposed to high-intensity blasts.

• Other populations with central auditory impairments would also benefit if currently available tests and techniques were experimentally validated and new approaches were developed.