Journal of Audiology and Otology最新文献

Background and objectives: We aimed to assess the efficacy of various treatments for patients experiencing sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), with a focus on hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and the effect of HBOT administration timing on hearing recovery.

Subjects and methods: In keeping with guideline recommendations, patients with SSNHL enrolled in this study received systemic corticosteroids, intratympanic dexamethasone, or HBOT in combination or as monotherapy. Hearing thresholds were determined using pure-tone audiometry (dB HL), and recovery was categorized as complete recovery (CR), partial recovery (PR), slight recovery (SR), or no recovery (NR). Post-treatment thresholds were assessed 2-3 months after symptom onset.

Results: After treatment, we observed CR in 16 patients (15.2%), PR in 22 patients (21.0%), SR in 44 patients (42.0%), and NR in 23 patients (22.0%). Notably, among the 79 patients with severe hearing loss (>70 dB), those who received treatment within 2 weeks of onset showed better hearing outcomes than those who started treatment after 2 weeks. In the HBOT group, a shorter interval between symptom onset and HBOT initiation was associated with a higher likelihood of hearing improvement. Importantly, in patients with an initial hearing threshold of <70 dB, initiating HBOT within 2 weeks was associated with statistically significantly higher hearing recovery rates.

Conclusions: The findings of our study support the premise that early initiation of HBOT within 2 weeks of symptom onset results in better hearing recovery in patients with SSNHL.

Treatment of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is challenging due to the inner ear's complex anatomy and physiological barriers, such as the blood-labyrinth barrier. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have emerged as promising solutions, offering targeted, sustained, and stimuli-responsive therapeutic options. This review discusses recent advancements in nanoparticle functionalization strategies for inner ear drug delivery. Active targeting approaches, such as the use of prestin-specific peptides, enable selective delivery to outer hair cells. Stimuli-responsive systems, including thermosensitive hydrogels and light-activated nanoparticles, facilitate controlled drug release in response to internal or external triggers. Surface modifications with polyethylene glycol, cell-penetrating peptides, and cationic charges enhance permeability across the round window membrane and improve cellular uptake. These functionalized nanoparticles have demonstrated improved cochlear targeting and therapeutic outcomes in preclinical models of SNHL. Continued development of these multifunctional, biocompatible systems holds considerable promise for clinical translation in the treatment of SNHL.

Background and objectives: Simultaneous bilateral facial nerve palsy (FNP) is rare. Traumatic and nontraumatic causes have been demonstrated. This study was performed to determine the prevalence and outcomes of bilateral traumatic FNP.

Subjects and methods: We retrospectively reviewed temporal bone fracture (TBF) cases from 2010 to 2019. Number of patients and each patient's characteristics were obtained using the hospital coding system.

Results: A total of 336 TBF cases were identified, among which 316 (94%) were unilateral and 20 (6%) were bilateral. Among these 20 cases, five (25%) developed bilateral FNP, all resulting from bilateral TBF and accounting for 1.5% of all TBF cases. Four of these five patients experienced delayedonset bilateral FNP, and one patient experienced immediate onset on one side and delayed onset on the other. All five patients developed incomplete FNP, with the most severe case scored House-Brackmann grade IV. Longitudinal TBF was the cause in all but one case, which resulted from mixed fractures on one side. All five patients were treated conservatively with oral steroids and physiotherapy.

Conclusions: Although bilateral traumatic FNP is rare, it should be suspected in all cases of bilateral TBF, and close follow-up is required to achieve rapid diagnosis and enhance management. Because bilateral TBF strongly tends to be longitudinal, incomplete FNP is typical.

Background and objectives: This study investigated the self-reported listening abilities of older adults with clinically normal hearing and examined the role of auditory processing abilities and extended high-frequency thresholds in perceived challenges.

Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional study used self-report questionnaires and objective measures, such as the dichotic digit test, gaps-in-noise test, and extended high-frequency audiometry. Fifty adults, including 25 younger adults (<30 years) and 25 older adults (≥50 years) with normal hearing thresholds, were included.

Results: Older adults reported significantly more difficulties in spatial hearing, intelligibility in quiet and sound identification tasks compared to younger adults. Objective assessments revealed deficits in temporal resolution, binaural separation, and extended high-frequency thresholds in older individuals. Significant correlations were observed between extended high-frequency thresholds and auditory processing abilities. However, no correlation was found between extended high-frequency thresholds and self-reported listening difficulties.

Conclusions: Older adults with clinically normal hearing reported more listening difficulties and performed worse in auditory processing tasks than younger adults. Extended high-frequency thresholds were correlated with auditory processing abilities but not with self-reported difficulties. These findings indicate a relationship between age-related auditory changes and perceived listening difficulties, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive auditory assessment in older adults.

Background and objectives: Despite the growing Korean population in the USA, barriers to healthcare access persist due to widespread limited English proficiency, particularly in hearing healthcare. A lack of culturally competent, multilingual resources has exacerbated these challenges. This study aimed to translate the HEAR-COMMAND Tool into Korean, adapt it culturally, and assess its comprehensibility, readability, and relevance to Korean individuals.

Subjects and methods: A systematic six-step methodology led by a team of four Korean faculty members was used for the translation process. Two nursing faculty members drafted the first version, ensuring alignment with the original content. A bilingual linguist specializing in English-Korean translation reviewed the draft, followed by a speech-language and hearing sciences faculty member who assessed its cultural appropriateness. The translated tool was tested by 10 Korean-speaking participants to evaluate its readability, linguistic and cultural suitability, and accessibility, leading to further refinement. Finally, five Korean American healthcare and academic professionals provided additional inputs, resulting in a beta version of the HEAR-COMMAND Tool-Korean.

Results: The beta version of the HEAR-COMMAND Tool-Korean was generally found to be feasible, comprehensible, and engaging. Ten of the 15 participants found the items easy to understand, although some had difficulties with specific terms and sentence structures. Notably, 14 of the 15 participants reported that the tool would likely motivate them to seek professional help for hearing concerns.

Conclusions: The translation and cultural adaptation of the HEAR-COMMAND Tool into Korean represents an advancement in addressing the hearing healthcare needs of the Korean population in the USA. Grounded in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), this tool facilitates hearing-related assessments that can be used more broadly among all Korean-speaking individuals worldwide. Future research should validate this tool and examine its impact in clinical and community settings.

Ototoxicity monitoring programs (OMPs) for cisplatin-induced hearing loss have not been widely adopted in clinical practice for various reasons. Mobile audiometry (MA) offers cost and convenience advantages over conventional pure-tone audiometry (CA) and it is currently used in hearing screening. However, there is no consensus on whether MA can replace CA for measuring hearing thresholds in OMPs. This scoping review examines the challenges of OMPs and evaluates the diagnostic accuracy of MA for hearing thresholds. A comprehensive search was conducted in four databases from their inception to December 2024. Data on study characteristics, reported OMP challenges, MA specifications, test settings, and performance measures were extracted. Nine studies on OMP challenges were reviewed. Identified barriers were inconsistent referrals, resource constraints, low awareness of ototoxicity monitoring, and patient-related factors. Twenty-three studies reporting on three portable audiometers, and 14 app-based hearing tests were evaluated for the diagnostic accuracy of MA for hearing thresholds. Only two studies involved testing at extended high frequencies. Studies used measures including MA-CA threshold differences, sensitivity/specificity, and test-retest reliability. App-based MA represents an accessible and scalable solution to the resource constraints faced by OMPs. However, its diagnostic accuracy remains uncertain given the substantial methodological variability across studies. OMPs using MAs should consider clinically validated modalities.

Background and objectives: Monosyllable words are the most common speech recognition stimuli since they test auditory perception and are used to assess speech recognition. However, there is a lack of resources available for the Urdu-speaking Pakistani population. This study aims to develop and psychometrically evaluate a digitally recorded Urdu monosyllabic word list for Word Recognition Score (WRS) testing.

Subjects and methods: A total of 135 monosyllabic words were selected from a previous study. These words were digitally recorded by a native female Urdu speaker in a studio. The recordings were psychometrically assessed by 30 native Urdu speakers with normal hearing. The 100 most familiar words were selected and organized into two lists, each further divided into four halves to ensure that the words were relatively homogeneous in terms of audibility.

Results: The average psychometric slope between 20% and 80% for the full list was 4.78%/dB±0.22%/dB, while it was 4.81%/dB±0.35%/dB for the half list. No statistically significant difference in p-values was observed between the full and half lists. The mean psychometric slope for 50% intelligibility was 6.04%/dB for both the full list (SD=0.44) and the half lists (SD=0.40).

Conclusions: Digitally recorded Urdu monosyllabic word lists are valid for assessing speech recognition in native Urdu speakers with normal hearing.

Background and objectives: This study aimed to investigate the potential impact of earphone use on the occurrence of otitis externa (OE) by conducting a survey.

Subjects and methods: This study included 517 participants. The questionnaire comprised 22 items divided into three categories; general information, earphone use, and OE. The questionnaire was designed using Google Forms and distributed through a notice posted on a hospital bulletin board. This notice included a QR code that enabled any interested individual to participate, and the responses were collected automatically.

Results: The proportion of respondents who had experienced OE at least once was 21%. Among them, 33.7% experienced OE within the preceding month. For "adhering to the recommendation usage time," individuals who responded "likely" had a 0.440 (odds ratio=0.440, 95% confidence interval=0.195-0.993) times higher likelihood; they were at lower risk of experiencing OE compared to those who responded "very unlikely."

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that proper earphone use can reduce the risk of OE. Despite the lack of a significant relationship between earphone type, physical activity, and cleaning practices, continued adherence to these factors is recommended to prevent OE.

Background and objectives: Certain medications are associated with ototoxicity. This study assesses drug-induced ototoxicity in South Korea by analyzing the Korean national health data.

Subjects and methods: Hospital records of National Health Insurance members from 2009 to 2016 were reviewed. Data were compared between patients with and without hearing loss (HL). Individuals with HL were identified as having a primary diagnosis code for sensorineural HL or another type of HL in at least one outpatient or inpatient record according to the International Classification of Diseases-10.

Results: The members in the HL group increased slightly from 0.8% to 1.0% relative to the total sample, compared with 99.2% to 99.0% among the controls. The proportion of males in the HL group ranged from 45.6% to 47.6%, compared with 48.4% to 48.8% among the controls. The proportion of those aged ≥65 years in the HL group increased from 34.1% to 41.4%, compared with 10.6% to 13.3% among the controls. Hypertension prevalence (24.7%-25.7%) in the HL group was higher than that in the control group (12%-12.6%). Diabetes prevalence in the HL group was 10.6%-12.3%, compared with 4.4%-5.9% among the controls. The use of proton pump inhibitor components increased, particularly esomeprazole magnesium trihydrate and rabeprazole sodium, whereas the usage of pantoprazole sodium sesquihydrate and revaprazan was high initially but declined subsequently. The usage of painkillers such as acetaminophen, loxoprofen sodium, and ibuprofen remained high, and antibiotics such as cephalosporins indicated the highest usage. However, the use of penicillin antibiotics such as amoxicillin decreased significantly. Anticancer agents showed relatively low usage compared with other drug categories, whereas antihistamines showed extremely high usage across all years, with a continual increase.

Conclusions: These correlations and the underlying mechanisms necessitate further investigation, as several medicines have been linked to an increased risk of HL.

Background and objectives: Occupational noise exposure is a significant risk factor for hearing loss, affecting approximately 5% of the global population. Although noise-induced hearing loss is commonly associated with reduced sensitivity to pure tones, there is limited information regarding when this hearing loss begins after noise exposure. This study aimed to investigate the time of onset of hearing loss in bus drivers exposed to noise for varying durations.

Subjects and methods: The study involved 102 bus drivers aged 25-40 years who had been exposed to noise for periods ranging from 6 months to over 10 years. A control group comprising 102 age-matched individuals without noise exposure was also included. Pure-tone audiometry was performed to assess hearing loss, and time of onset of hearing loss relative to noise exposure duration was evaluated.

Results: Bus drivers experienced only "slight" hearing loss, even after 10 years of noise exposure. By contrast, reduced sensitivity to pure tones was observed after 25 to 48 months of exposure.

Conclusions: This study confirms that prolonged noise exposure leads to "slight" hearing loss, which can appear as early as 25-48 months after exposure to noise. Among individuals under 40 years of age, significant hearing loss appeared to occur only after 10 or more years of exposure. These findings suggest that the impact of noise on hearing acuity may have been overestimated in previous studies.