Journal of Audiology and Otology最新文献

Background and objectives: Age-related hearing loss is a modifiable risk factor for mild cognitive impairment (MCI); however, the potential mechanisms linking these conditions remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the cognitive function profiles of elderly patients with hearing loss via functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to determine the cortical activity differences between patients at risk of MCI and those with normal cognition. Materials and.

Methods: Sixty-three elderly patients with bilateral, moderate, or severe hearing loss were prospectively recruited for this study. Their demographic information was obtained, and audiological evaluations and cognitive function tests were performed. Various instruments were used to assess the cognitive and depression domains. Additionally, fNIRS was used to image the brains of the normal group and group at risk of MCI.

Results: fNIRS analysis of individual cognitive task data revealed that the normal group exhibited significantly higher oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) levels in all cognitive function tasks, except the Stroop color and word test, than the group at risk of MCI. Detailed comparisons of the Brodmann areas revealed that, compared to the group at risk of MCI, normal group exhibited significantly higher HbO2 levels in the right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortices, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, frontopolar cortex, and orbitofrontal cortex in the J1 task, right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex in the J2 task, and right orbitofrontal cortex in the J6 task.

Conclusions: Measurement of fNIRS signals in the frontal lobes revealed different HbO2 signals between the normal group and group at risk of MCI during minimal hearing loss. Future studies should explore the causal link between hearing loss and cognitive impairment by analyzing the changes in cognitive function after auditory rehabilitation.

Background and objectives: The widespread use of mobile phones and personal listening devices (PLDs) poses potential health risks, particularly noise-induced hearing loss. Among younger generations, high-volume PLD use is associated with auditory and vestibular system changes. Clinical vestibular testing, including vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) and the video head impulse test (vHIT), may reveal peripheral vestibular impacts from prolonged PLD exposure at volumes over 60%. This study examines VEMP and vHIT results in individuals with normal hearing who have had extended high-volume PLD exposure. Subjects and.

Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted on individuals aged 15-24 years. All the participants had normal pure tone thresholds with "A" type tympanogram, present acoustic reflexes, and history of PLD usage. Participants were divided into groups according to PLD exposure of <1 year (group A), 1.1-2 years (group B), 2.1-3 years (group C), and 3.1-4 years (group D). The output sound pressure level (dB SPL) near the tympanic membrane was measured. Furthermore, cervical VEMP, ocular VEMP, and vHIT were assessed.

Results: The VEMP and vHIT findings were statistically analyzed and compared across groups. The peak-to-peak amplitudes of VEMP showed a statistically significant difference between groups A and D.

Conclusions: Potential subclinical damage to the otolith organs can be associated with increased PLD exposure. No damage to the semi-circular canals was observed as the participants used lower dBA values by the PLDs.

Background and objectives: Auditory sensory gating deficits are abnormalities in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that may lead to sensory processing difficulties. It is particularly difficult for children with ASD to distinguish multiple auditory stimuli, which hinders them from focusing on a single auditory stimulus and separating unnecessary sounds. Suppression of otoacoustic emission (OAE) is an approach used to identify sensory gating deficits in the general population, specifically for children with ASD. This study aimed to investigate the suppression effect of various types of sound suppressors to measure their sensory gating capacity in children with ASD. Subjects and.

Methods: Twenty children including 10 with ASD and 10 normally developing children aged 6-12 years were recruited for this study. One accessible ear was exposed to transient-evoked OAE, whereas the other was exposed to suppressor tones. Contralateral suppressors included white noise, Quranic recitations, environmental noise, and natural sound. The magnitude of OAE suppression was determined from the difference between the OAE amplitude with and without the masker (in dB sound pressure levels) for all sound types. The sound with the highest suppression effect was determined using effect size calculation and repeated-measures analysis of variance at a 95% confidence level. A high suppression effect may suggest a high sensory gating performance, whereas low suppression may indicate low sensory gating performance.

Results: Based on the analysis, the sound with the highest suppression effect was that of the waterfall. The suppression results were supported by descriptive analysis findings and effect-size calculations.

Conclusions: This study provides a better understanding of the alternative sound stimuli, besides the standard white noise tone, for the assessment of sensory gating deficits among children with ASD. Sounds with a high suppression effect have the potential to be used as sound therapy interventions for children with ASD as part of rehabilitation and therapy.

This manuscript explores the integration of electronic drawings into surgical operative notes, highlighting their importance in improving the quality and utility of surgical documentation. Operative notes, as essential components of surgical practice, serve various purposes: they detail procedures, provide critical information to healthcare providers, guide treatment planning, and function as legal records. The transition from traditional hand-drawn illustrations to electronic drawings, enabled by the growing adoption of electronic medical record systems, has transformed surgical documentation. This digital approach offers multiple advantages, including better communication among healthcare providers, enhanced patient care, and more effective teaching tools for surgical residents. By delivering clear and intuitive visual depictions of complex procedures, electronic drawings enable faster information retrieval during time-sensitive consultations and promote a shared understanding among healthcare professionals. In conclusion, incorporating electronic drawings into operative notes significantly enriches surgical documentation, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes and advancing the discipline of surgery.

Background and objectives: Virtual reality (VR) applications change the perception of reality, resulting in a feeling of being in a natural environment. The occurrence of cybersickness (CS) when using VR applications is a well-documented side effect, and the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) has been used to assess CS. Considering the speed of VR technology development, CS will likely become a frequently researched and discussed topics in the near future. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct a Turkish validity and reliability study and introduce the SSQ to Turkish medical literature. Materials and.

Methods: A total of 160 healthy individuals (80 females and 80 males) aged >18 years (28.4±7.2 years) were included in our study. The SSQ was provided to the participants through Google Forms before and after the VR provocation experience and within the scope of the test and retest protocol.

Results: The reliability and internal consistency of the questionnaire were observed at a high level (Cronbach's alpha=0.854, Spearman-Brown coefficient r=0.871). Factor analysis was performed and the questionnaire was divided into three subfactors, consistent with the original questionnaire. In the responses obtained from the participants before and after VR provocation, statistically significant differences were observed in 13 of the 16 items in the questionnaire that are related to VR provocation (p<0.05). Statistically, the differences in fatigue, dizziness, and vertigo were greater in females than in males (p<0.05).

Conclusions: The Turkish version of the SSQ is an effective tool for measuring the side effects in VR environments. The inclusion of the SSQ in the Turkish literature enables the inclusion of non-English-speaking participants in research, especially for disciplines that consider peripheral and central vestibular disorders.

Background and objectives: Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is prevalent among patients with ENT disorders, necessitating history-taking, clinical examination, and appropriate investigation for diagnosis. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Patient Questionnaire (ETDQ-7) is a valuable tool for subjectively assessing symptom severity related to this condition. This study aims to adapt and validate the ETDQ-7 in Greece, ensuring its accuracy and efficacy in outpatient settings. Subjects and.

Methods: The ETDQ-7 was translated into Greek following established methodology. Data were collected from 75 Greek patients diagnosed with ETD and 25 control patients without ETD. Participants completed the adapted ETDQ-7 and underwent a clinical examination, with statistical analysis correlating with their ETDQ-7 responses. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the questionnaire's reliability and validity.

Results: Internal consistency and item analyses were performed to validate the questionnaire. Face and content validity were confirmed, and patients found the questionnaire easy to administer and complete. Test-retest reliability demonstrated similar internal consistency and a strong correlation between individual items and the total score. Discriminative validity revealed a statistically significant difference between the two patient groups, supporting the usefulness of the Greek version of ETDQ-7 in confirming the diagnosis of ETD.

Conclusions: The Greek version of ETDQ-7 proves to be safe and effective for diagnosing ETD in Greek-speaking populations, complementing various investigative methods.

Background and objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of hearing aids (HAs) on reducing symptoms of dizziness in patients with hearing loss (HL) and dizziness. Subjects and.

Methods: A pre- and post-intervention study was conducted between February 2022 and July 2022 at the outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Ten participants (four males and six females) with HL and dizziness were recruited. Participants were screened using pure-tone audiometry and visual analog scale scores at baseline. Selected participants underwent the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB) and Korean Dizziness Handicap Inventory (K-DHI) in the unaided state. Thereafter, participants were provided HAs and instructed to use them for at least 6 hours every day. At the 1-month follow-up, all participants were assessed in the aided state using the same tests as at baseline. All tests were performed bilaterally.

Results: In the mCTSIB, a significant difference was observed in the foam surface-eyes closed score before (median=2.35) and after (median=2.2) HA use (p=0.049). No significant differences were observed in the K-DHI scores before and after HA use.

Conclusions: HA use may improve the static and subjective perception of balance in patients with HL and dizziness. Future research should explore the benefits of HAs under various balance conditions such as dynamic balance and gait.

A 19-year-old male patient with a history of congenital left oval window defect has had recurrent admissions to a children's hospital for bacterial meningitis since the age of 7. Investigations revealed a left-sided type 1 incomplete partition deformity of the left ear with a congenital oval window defect, leading to communication between the cranium and the middle ear. The patient underwent a left canal wall down mastoidectomy and oval window defect repair, remaining well for 3 years. He experienced two more episodes of bacterial meningitis as he got older, prompting repeated exploratory tympanotomy and repair of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak after each episode. Recently, he was referred again for recurrent meningitis. Investigations showed a recurrent oval window defect. After undergoing left external ear canal transection, mastoid and middle ear obliteration, and left Eustachian tube obliteration, he remained well without further leaks or meningitis. Congenital oval window defect is rare and may present with recurrent bacterial meningitis secondary to spontaneous CSF leak via the oval window. Radiology plays a crucial role in identifying the source of the CSF leak, facilitating more precise preoperative counseling and surgical intervention.

Background and objectives: Hereditary hearing loss is the most common genetic disorder in children. Nearly 120 genes associated with auditory impairment have been identified. Although the disease is clinically and genetically complex, the chances of identifying deafness-causing loci increase when studying consanguineous families. Materials and.

Methods: Whole-exome sequencing was performed to identify genetic variants underlying sensorineural hearing loss in affected individuals from a family with third-degree consanguineous practices.

Results: A homozygous deletion of 250.285 kb was identified in the 16p12.2 region encompassing three genes, METTL9, IGSF6, and OTOA, and a partial deletion of the NPIPB4 gene co-segregated within the family.

Conclusions: This study highlighted the genetic heterogeneity of hearing loss in consanguineous families. Future research should focus on the OTOA mutational spectrum in South Indian populations with hearing loss.

Wernicke encephalopathy, also known as thiamine deficiency, is characterized by a triad of symptoms: ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and confusion. However, additional symptoms may manifest depending on the area affected by the lesion. Although multiple cranial neuropathies are possible, sudden onset bilateral hearing loss has been described in rare situations as the first manifestation of Wernicke encephalopathy. Here, we present a case report detailing the clinical experience of a patient diagnosed with Wernicke encephalopathy, whose initial presentation included sudden bilateral deafness. The patient was a 57-year-old man with alcoholism who was successfully diagnosed with Wernicke encephalopathy, and his hearing improved after high-dose intravenous thiamine therapy. Our case study results and a literature review indicate that video findings and suppression head impulse tests can be used to evaluate Wernicke encephalopathy.