Background and objectives: The primary objective of this study is to investigate the necessity of questioning virtual reality systems in the motion sickness susceptibility questionnaire (MSSQ)-short form. The secondary objective of this study is to determine the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the MSSQ-short form, with proven validity and reliability.
Subjects and methods: In the questionnaire form, for which expert opinion was obtained to maintain linguistic equivalence, the virtual reality items were added to the questionnaire. The questionnaire was then administered to 297 individuals. The results were statistically analyzed with and without these virtual reality items for validity and reliability.
Results: After the addition of the virtual reality items, the reliability of the questionnaire was found to be quite high (Cronbach's alpha r=0.912). The norm values between the original MSSQ-short form (12.9±9.9) and the Turkish MSSQ-short form (13.8±12.9) were found to be consistent.
Conclusions: Motion sickness symptoms can occur not only during movement, but also with indirect stimulus. Our findings suggest that adding virtual reality items to the original form is important in long term practical applications. Our results show that the Turkish version of the original questionnaire is quite reliable. Submission of the MSSQ-short form in Turkish will be useful for documentation and will also encourage further research in this area.
Background and objectives: Otalgia can be primary/otogenic or secondary as a referred pain from another site, which can be difficult to establish owing to various causes and the complex innervation of the ear. In our center, we observed a large group of patients with unexplained otalgia that had a higher prevalence of migraine. We hypothesized that migraine may cause secondary otalgia. This study then aimed to determine the prevalence of migraine-associated otalgia and evaluate the efficacy of migraine treatment.
Subjects and methods: This 2-year retrospective study was conducted at a busy otology clinic. Patients were identified using diagnostic codes corresponding to otalgia. The prevalence of migraine-associated otalgia was determined, and the efficacy of migraine treatment was evaluated in these patients. The interventions included prophylactic and abortive migraine treatments. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare between the pre- and post-treatment symptoms.
Results: A total of 208 patients with otalgia were identified. Sixty-four out of ninety patients with unexplained otalgia met the criteria for migraine; of them, 30 patients had an adequate follow-up and were thus included in the evaluation of treatment efficacy. Otalgia improved in 87% of the patients who received migraine treatment. After treatment, the mean pain score and headache frequency significantly decreased from 7 to 2 and from 27 to 9 days per month, respectively (p<0.001).
Conclusions: Migraine should be considered as a source of secondary otalgia, and patients should receive treatment as they often respond to migraine treatment.
Standard round window (RW) cochlear implantation is a well-described technique. Implantation might be difficult in patients with inner and middle ear anomalies, in some cases because of not achieving adequate exposure to the RW, with a related higher risk of complications such as facial nerve injury. It is proposed a combined microscopic/endoscopic oval window approach in a 63 year old man affected by bilateral Menière disease, with bilateral severe sensorineural hearing loss, speech discrimination score for bysillabic words under 40% and a hidden RW by anomalous facial nerve course. All electrodes entered the cochlear with good freefield thresholds and auditory ability results. A partial marginalis nerve palsy occurred at the second postoperative day and completely reversed at 2 months from surgery. Endoscopicassisted oval window cochlear implantation may be a safe alternative surgical technique in cases where surgeons are not able to access RW.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and genetic findings of 53-year-old monozygotic twins who had bilateral otosclerosis and right-sided superior semicircular canal near dehiscence (SSCND). Monozygotic twins at the age of 53 presented with conductive hearing loss and normal tympanic membranes. Detailed audiovestibular testing and computed tomography scan revealed that both patients had concurrent otosclerosis and SSCND. Conservative management (hearing aids) was the treatment for these patients. Exome sequencing (ES) for the twins and their affected mother identified a heterozygous missense variant in the EYA4 (c.1744G>A; p.Glu582Lys) gene. This is the first case report to present these separate entities identified in monozygotic twins with a heterozygous missense variant in the EYA4 gene. Our ES data may imply a possible causal relationship or association between variants in the EYA4 gene and concurrent otosclerosis and SSCND.
Background and objectives: Natural and synthetic speech signals effectively stimulate cortical auditory evoked potential (CAEP). This study aimed to select the speech materials for CAEP and identify CAEP waveforms according to gender of speaker (GS) and gender of listener (GL).
Subjects and methods: Two experiments including a comparison of natural and synthetic stimuli and CAEP measurement were performed of 21 young announcers and 40 young adults. Plosive /g/ and /b/ and aspirated plosive /k/ and /p/ were combined to /a/. Six bisyllables-/ga/-/ka/, /ga/-/ba/, /ga/-/pa/, /ka/-/ba/, /ka/-/pa/, and /ba/-/pa/-were formulated as tentative forwarding and backwarding orders. In the natural and synthetic stimulation mode (SM) according to GS, /ka/ and /pa/ were selected through the first experiment used for CAEP measurement.
Results: The correction rate differences were largest (74%) at /ka/-/ pa/ and /pa/-/ka/; thus, they were selected as stimulation materals for CAEP measurement. The SM showed shorter latency with P2 and N1-P2 with natural stimulation and N2 with synthetic stimulation. The P2 amplitude was larger with natural stimulation. The SD showed significantly larger amplitude for P2 and N1-P2 with /pa/. The GS showed shorter latency for P2, N2, and N1-P2 and larger amplitude for N2 with female speakers. The GL showed shorter latency for N2 and N1-P2 and larger amplitude for N2 with female listeners.
Conclusions: Although several variables showed significance for N2, P2, and N1-P2, P1 and N1 did not show any significance for any variables. N2 and P2 of CAEP seemed affected by endogenous factors.