Hearing Organ Research Articles

High-Frequency Hearing Sensitivity Level among Young Adults with Insulin-Dependent and Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood sugar levels. Patients of DM body cells are exposed to excessive amounts of plasma glucose, and the symptoms reported to complicate the sensory hearing organ. Spiral ganglion atrophy, vestibulocochlear nerve myelin sheath degradation, a reduction in the number of spiral lamina nerve fibres, and thickening of the stria vascularis and small arteries capillary walls are all potential chronic auditory repercussions of diabetes. The damage to any part of the hearing mechanism can lead to hearing loss. The present study aimed to investigate the high-frequency hearing sensitivity level among young adults diagnosed with Insulin-dependent and Non-Insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus. It is an observational study design. Totally 90 participants were included between the age range of 31–40 years and divided into three groups (Control, Insulin-dependent DM, and Non-Insulin dependent DM). Each group had 30 participants. The results indicated that the hearing sensitivity level in high frequencies decreased when compared to lower frequencies. Most of the participants were observed to have reduced hearing sensitivity from mild to moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss. The study concluded that strong evidence that hearing loss may be a sign of DM.

Auditory processing disorders in children – diagnosisand management

Introduction: Auditory Processing Disorders (APD) is a syndrome characterized by impairment of the perception of soundsverbal and non-verbal ones, and weakening cognitive abilities such as auditory attention and auditory memory. This symptoms occur despite correct functioning of the peripheral part of the organ of hearing. Aim: A review of the current literature on diagnostic criteria of APD and its subtypes, clinical symptoms in children, diagnostic procedures and methods and therapeutic interventions. Methods: The study was based on the guidelines of the British Audiological Society (BSA), the guidelines of the American Speech, Language and Hearing Society (ASHA) as well as a literature review in the PubMed database. Results: APD is divided into developmental (without an established cause), acquired (with an established cause) and secondary (a consequence of long-term peripheral hearing loss). Symptoms that indicate the likelihood of APD in schoolaged children include: poor school performance, problems with learning to read and write and understanding speech, difficulties in repeating and remembering information given by hearing and maintaining attention on the spoken word. APD diagnosis should be made by a specialist in audiology and phoniatrics based on a full battery of tests and consultations with a speech therapist, psychologist and pedagogue. The set of behavioral diagnostic tests should include both verbal and non-verbal tests, from at least three groups of tests: dichotic (e.g. dichotic digit test; DDT), evaluating temporal aspects of hearing (e.g. Frequency Pattern Test; FPT and Duration Pattern Test; DPT ) and low redundancy speech tests. The diagnosis can be made when the child is at least 7 years old, the result is below the norm in at least two tests evaluating different auditory processes and the child has previous been excluded from intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders. The therapeutic procedure is based on active auditory training, specific for the deficit shown in the tests. It is important to improve the acoustic environment at school (FM systems) and to treat comorbidities. Conclusions: Diagnostics and therapy of APD requires a highly qualified team of specialists and should be carried out in centers specially prepared for this purpose.

INCREASING SOCIETY AWARENESS REGARDING EARLY DETECTION OF HEARING DISTURBANCE IN TUBAN REGENCY, EAST JAVA

Hearing loss can interfere with communication, affecting social, school, and work environments. Hearing loss can be prevented by early detection and management of hearing loss. Tuban is one of the districts in East Java; the case data was obtained on the ear as a hearing organ, namely otitis externa (25.56%). acute otitis media (22.46%), cerumen obturation (16.15%), chronic suppurative otitis media (7.56%), and sensorineural deafness (5.72%). The early detection and management skills of hearing loss are mandatory for doctors working in primary health care, so a series of activities are needed to improve this knowledge and skills. Activities outside the network include lecture methods, question-and-answer discussions and training. The activity was attended by 52 participants with details of 48 doctors and four health workers. Most recent education is S1 or equivalent (96.1 most occupations are general practitioners (92.30%), and most workplace public health centers (69.23%). The pre-test score was 47, and the post-test value was 57.

Tinnitus and Cochlear Functions in Hearing Impaired and Normal Hearing Individuals

Background: In order to determine the pathophysiology of tinnitus and deciding on treatment, the function of peripheral hearing organs is very important. Objective: To evaluate the cochlear functions in tinnitus patients with or without hearing-loss(HL). Methods: Participants with tinnitus were divided into two groups; 16 participants with accompanying HL were included in the first study group (SG-I), and 15 participants without HL were included in the second group (SG-II). 21 normal-hearing subjects without tinnitus included as control group(CG). Tinnitus discomfort levels was determined with Tinnitus Handicap Inventory(THI). Besides pure-tone audiometry, Otoacoustic Emissions, to evaluate cochlear functions and to decide dead regions (DR), Threshold Equalizing Noise-(TEN) was used. Results: The threshold-shift was observed with TEN in subjects in SG-I and these levels were statistically different from SG-II and CG. There were both threshold-shift and DR in SG-II according to TEN. TEOAEs did not differ between SG-II and CG. The DPOAE results for SG-II showed significant decreases in emission amplitudes at 6 & 8 kHz. Conclusion: While Tinnitus patients with HL can be evaluated with conventional tests, evaluating patients with normal hearing tinnitus with additional tests such as OAE and TEN allows us to get more precise results on the functions of peripheral hearing organs.

The Relationship between Gender and Presbycusis at Mandalika Elderly Social Center, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Background: Presbycusis is a type of hearing loss with sensorineural deafness due to the degeneration of the hearing organs. Gender is said to have an influence on the occurrence of presbycusis. The presbycusis is influenced by differences in activity routines carried out by women and men and differences in the anatomical shape of the auricles between men and women. The study aimed to identify the relationship between gender and presbycusis at the Mandalika Elderly Social Center, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
 Methods: The study design was observational analytic with cross sectional approach and purposive sampling technique. There were 50 research respondents who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The research was conducted at the Mandalika Elderly Social Center, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. The data obtained were analyzed univariately and bivariate with the Chi-square test using SPSS software version 23.0. 
 Results: It was obtained that the demographic description of the research respondents obtained the majority of respondents aged 60-74 years (66%), female (66%), ungraduated (90%), and unemployed (90%). There was no relationship between gender and presbycusis at the Mandalika Elderly Social Center, West Nusa Tenggara Indonesia, p> 0,05. 
 Conclusion: There was no relationship between gender and presbycusis at the Mandalika Elderly Social Center, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.

Immunohistochemistry Reveals TRPC Channels in the Human Hearing Organ-A Novel CT-Guided Approach to the Cochlea.

TRPC channels are critical players in cochlear hair cells and sensory neurons, as demonstrated in animal experiments. However, evidence for TRPC expression in the human cochlea is still lacking. This reflects the logistic and practical difficulties in obtaining human cochleae. The purpose of this study was to detect TRPC6, TRPC5 and TRPC3 in the human cochlea. Temporal bone pairs were excised from ten body donors, and the inner ear was first assessed based on computed tomography scans. Decalcification was then performed using 20% EDTA solutions. Immunohistochemistry with knockout-tested antibodies followed. The organ of Corti, the stria vascularis, the spiral lamina, spiral ganglion neurons and cochlear nerves were specifically stained. This unique report of TRPC channels in the human cochlea supports the hypothesis of the potentially critical role of TRPC channels in human cochlear health and disease which has been suggested in previous rodent experiments.

The Effect of Music Therapy on Improving Sleep Quality in Children During Hospitalization: Literature Review

Hospitalization is a crisis situation that occurs in children when they are treated at the hospital, one of the conditions experienced by children when they are sick is the reduced need for sleep. The quality of sleep in children is very necessary when sick to boost the immune system in a child's body so that it will help in the healing process of an illness that is experienced. To explore and look for the effect of music therapy on improving the quality of sleep in children during hospitalization. This study used the literature review method with article searches conducted on the Pubmed, Science Direct and Google Scholar electronic databases. There were 1,891 articles on PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar, but only 10 articles met all inclusion criteria and were reviewed. There is an effect of music therapy on improving sleep quality in children during hospitalization. it can be concluded that one of the non-pharmacological therapy programs in improving the quality of sleep in children while being treated at the hospital is using music therapy. This is evidenced by the results of several studies, namely the average quality of sleep in children who underwent hospitalization in the group before and after the administration of music therapy experienced an increase in the quality of children's sleep. Giving music therapy can be given through a tape recorder, MP3 which is usually given at a certain time. Music is received by the hearing organs which are then channeled to the center of the brain called the limbic system which regulates emotions in humans.

Deafness: from genetic architecture to gene therapy.

Progress in deciphering the genetic architecture of human sensorineural hearing impairment (SNHI) or loss, and multidisciplinary studies of mouse models, have led to the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying auditory system function, primarily in the cochlea, the mammalian hearing organ. These studies have provided unparalleled insights into the pathophysiological processes involved in SNHI, paving the way for the development of inner-ear gene therapy based on gene replacement, gene augmentation or gene editing. The application of these approaches in preclinical studies over the past decade has highlighted key translational opportunities and challenges for achieving effective, safe and sustained inner-ear gene therapy to prevent or cure monogenic forms of SNHI and associated balance disorders.

Phylogenetic relationships and divergence dating of Mantodea using mitochondrial phylogenomics

AbstractMantodea is a predatory insect group, its members occupying a diverse array of widely distributed habitats. Praying mantis species utilize hunting strategies including remarkable mimicry and unique camouflage for hiding from natural enemies while catching their prey. The emergence of a “cyclopean ear” in mantises is thought to be a morphological innovation of the group, and an “arms race” with echolocating bats is one of the hypotheses put forward to account for the emergence of the mantis ear from a coevolutionary perspective. However, this hypothesis has not been rigorously tested because of a lack of robust higher‐level phylogeny and a detailed chronogram of Mantodea. Previous phylogenetic studies found an incongruence between traditional classification and molecular phylogenetics due to the convergent evolution of various ecomorphic strategies of the lineage. Here, we performed a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Mantodea based on data from 61 mitogenomes. Our analyses showed that the monophyly of Acanthopidae, Haaniidae, Nanomantidae, Miomantidae and Mantidea was supported. The newly updated Gonypetidae were paraphyletic, whereas Eremiaphilidae, Deroplatyidae and Toxoderidae were polyphyletic. Our molecular dating analyses inferred that Spinomantodea originated at ca. 149 Ma (Late Jurassic), whereas the origin of hearing mantises (Cernomantodea) was inferred as Early Cretaceous (119 Ma, 95% CI: 110–129 Ma). The molecular dating results indicated that the hearing organ in mantises did not arise in response to bat predation. Our study provides a robust framework for further evolutionary comparative studies of mantises.

Modern technologies for the diagnostics and treatment of hearing diseases (Lecture for pharmacists - in the field of training 38.03.07 “Commodity science”)

The lecture describes the morphofunctional organization of the sound-conducting and sound-receiving structures of the auditory analyzer. The most common types of pathology that lead to impaired functions of the hearing organ are described. Causes and mechanisms of development of two main types of hearing impairment conductive and sensorineural hearing loss are highlighted. Modern hardware complexes and operational technologies are shown, which are used for the diagnosis and treatment of conductive hearing disorders. Causes and mechanisms of sensorineural hearing loss are highlighted. Microelectronic devices (cochlear implants) and the technology of their transplantation into the affected hearing organ are described. The characteristics of hearing aids, which are most often recommended by experts to patients of various ages with hearing impairment, are given.

Pathophysiology and mechanisms of hearing impairment related to neonatal infection diseases.

The inner ear, the organ of equilibrium and hearing, has an extraordinarily complex and intricate arrangement. It contains highly specialized structures meticulously tailored to permit auditory processing. However, hearing also relies on both peripheral and central pathways responsible for the neuronal transmission of auditory information from the cochlea to the corresponding cortical regions. Understanding the anatomy and physiology of all components forming the auditory system is key to better comprehending the pathophysiology of each disease that causes hearing impairment. In this narrative review, the authors focus on the pathophysiology as well as on cellular and molecular mechanisms that lead to hearing loss in different neonatal infectious diseases. To accomplish this objective, the morphology and function of the main structures responsible for auditory processing and the immune response leading to hearing loss were explored. Altogether, this information permits the proper understanding of each infectious disease discussed.

Reconsidering tympanal-acoustic interactions leads to an improved model of auditory acuity in a parasitoid fly

Although most binaural organisms locate sound sources using neurological structures to amplify the sounds they hear, some animals use mechanically coupled hearing organs instead. One of these animals, the parasitoid fly Ormia ochracea (O. ochracea), has astoundingly accurate sound localization abilities. It can locate objects in the azimuthal plane with a precision of 2°, equal to that of humans, despite an intertympanal distance of only 0.5 mm, which is less than th of the wavelength of the sound emitted by the crickets that it parasitizes. O. ochracea accomplishes this feat via mechanically coupled tympana that interact with incoming acoustic pressure waves to amplify differences in the signals received at the two ears. In 1995, Miles et al developed a model of hearing mechanics in O. ochracea that represents the tympana as flat, front-facing prosternal membranes, though they lie on a convex surface at an angle from the flies’ frontal and transverse planes. The model works well for incoming sound angles less than but suffers from reduced accuracy (up to 60% error) at higher angles compared to response data acquired from O. ochracea specimens. Despite this limitation, it has been the basis for bio-inspired microphone designs for decades. Here, we present critical improvements to this classic hearing model based on information from three-dimensional reconstructions of O. ochracea’s tympanal organ. We identified the orientation of the tympana with respect to a frontal plane and the azimuthal angle segment between the tympana as morphological features essential to the flies’ auditory acuity, and hypothesized a differentiated mechanical response to incoming sound on the ipsi- and contralateral sides that depend on these features. We incorporated spatially-varying model coefficients representing this asymmetric response, making a new quasi-two-dimensional (q2D) model. The q2D model has high accuracy (average errors of under 10%) for all incoming sound angles. This improved biomechanical model may inform the design of new microscale directional microphones and other small-scale acoustic sensor systems.

A PROSPECTIVE STUDY ON ROLE OF HIGH RESOLUTION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN EVALUATION OF TEMPORAL BONE PATHOLOGIES

Background: The temporal bone is a complex anatomic structure that contains the organs of hearing and balance and has direct contact with brainstem, cerebellum and temporal lobe of brain. The application of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in the temporal bone study has allowed the detailed assessment of complex bony anatomy and pathology. The aim of this study was to evaluate various temporal bone pathologies (inammatory, traumatic, neoplastic and congenital anomalies), their extent and complications on HRCT and to correlate these imaging ndings with surgical/histopathological ndings wherever possible. Materials And Methods: This was a prospective study conducted in the Department of Radiology, Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Silchar from 1st of June 2021 to 31st of May 2022 amongst 50 patients with clinically known or suspected pathologies of inner ear, middle or external ear and the temporal bone. In our study, the most common temporal bone pathologies were inamma Results: tory (62%) followed by traumatic (24%), neoplastic (10%) and congenital (4%). Most common inammatory pathology was otomastoiditis (45.16%) followed by acquired Cholesteatoma (35.48%), chronic mastoiditis (9.68%), Otitis media (6.45%) and Otitis externa (3.23%). Out of 12 traumatic cases, longitudinal fracture(58.3%) was found to be the most common type followed by transverse fracture(25%) and mixed fracture(16.67%). Out of 5 cases of neoplastic pathology, 60% of cases were benign and 40% were malignant aetiology with acoustic neuroma being the most common tumour. EAC atresia was the most common congenital anomaly. The surgical and radiological correlation showed a high sensitivity in the identication of cholesteatoma. HRCT of the temporal bone is a highly efcacious modality for a Conclusions: ccurate delineation of the anatomy and various pathologies of the temporal bone and it has revolutionized the role of radiology in diagnosis and management of temporal bone diseases.

Audiometry and biochemical analysis in patients with tinnitus — preliminary findings

Introduction: Tinnitus is a sound experience despite the lack of acoustic stimuli in the environment. The aim of this study was to report the audiometry and biochemical analysis of those patients with tinnitus compared with reference group. Material and methods: The study included a total of 26 patients aged from 20 to 72 years with diagnosed idiopathic tinnitus and 19 healthy subjects as a control group. All patients underwent audiometric tone test, speech audiometry, distortion otoacoustic emissions product testing, study of evoked auditory potentials of short latency, and biochemical analysis of venous blood concerning values of activity or concentration of the selected parameters of oxidative stress. Results: Mean values of activity or concentration of the selected parameters of oxidative stress in the study and control groups showed reduced effectiveness of the body's natural antioxidant barrier and intensification of treatment of lipid peroxidation. Discussion: There are a lot of factors suspected to generate tinnitus. A lot of them seem to be connected with biochemical disturbances inside cochlea and in central nervous system. It will be helpful to set such battery of tests that contains the predictive indicators of tinnitus. It will be the best if it is the battery of standard, not expensive tests of blood. Conclusions: Proper level of antioxidants may protect hearing. Glutathione and antioxodative enzymes may protect hearing organ against damages caused by free radicals. Lower level of the antioxidants and associated intensificaation of lipids peroxidation processes may increase free radicals-associated damages and lead to hearing organ dysfunction.

Criteria for diagnosing the state of the hearing organ based on the results of the study of acoustic reflex

Introduction. This study is relevant due to the practice’s need for physiologically adequate criteria for diagnosing the state of the hearing organ of personnel exposed to the cumulative effects of high-intensity pulsed low-frequency noise. 
 The aim of the study was the theoretical and experimental substantiation of the criteria for diagnosing the state of the hearing organ according to the results of the study of the acoustic reflex.
 Materials and methods. Using the two-microphone technique of acoustic measurements, experimental studies of changes in the acoustic reflex were carried out in representatives of the experimental (subjected to cumulative effects of high-intensity pulsed low-frequency noise, n=5) and control (not subjected to such effects, n=12) groups. A total of 256 measurements were made within 6 days (191 in the control group and 65 in the experimental group) before exposure (background) and at the end of the working day. The measurement results were processed using methods of mathematical statistics: tests to determine outliers in the data set, estimates of the coefficient of variation, standard deviation, and boundaries of the 99% confidence interval of changes in the studied indicators were calculated.
 Results. Studies of the effect of high-intensity impulse noise on the organ of hearing showed that with minor changes in the threshold of the acoustic reflex, significant changes in the similarity coefficient were recorded in the experimental group, compared with the control group, which indicates its diagnostic informativeness. In the future, to establish new hygienic standards for regulation the load of high-intensity impulse noise, more extensive studies of the acoustic reflex threshold and the similarity coefficient are needed, as the most informative and sensitive methods for assessing adverse effects.
 The limitations of the study are determined by its focus on use in screening medical examinations of personnel exposed to the cumulative effects of high-intensity low-frequency impulse noise.
 Conclusion. The obtained results demonstrate the potential for studying the acoustic reflex threshold as an objective approach to early detection and prediction of negative changes in the state of the hearing organ of personnel exposed to the cumulative effect of high-intensity low-frequency impulse noise.

COCHLEAR IMPLANTATION AS A WAY TO OVERCOME HEARING PROBLEMS

The ear, as an organ of hearing, can be damaged or have problems during intrauterine development. As a result, hearing is impaired, which negatively affects speech, mental development and the communication process in children. Schoolchildren with special educational needs (SEN), suffer not only from general speech disorders and phonetic speech disorders but are mainly related to the damage of the higher cortical centers of the brain responsible for speech, as well as to hearing problems. The latter can be alleviated by using hearing aids at the early stage or by performing a cochlear implantation process. However, a question suggests itself. Do families that have children with such problems cope with their social and financial problems? An issue requiring public attention and care and is directly related to the improvement of education quality.

Cortical deafness as a sequel of recurrent stroke in patient with prosthetic heart valves and atrial fibrillation: a case report

BackgroundCortical deafness is an unusual occurrence caused by injury to the central auditory pathway but not to the hearing organ. This paper reports the first case of cortical deafness as a sequel of recurrent stroke in a patient with prosthetic heart valves and atrial fibrillation in Asia.Case presentationA 40-year-old man with a history of atrial fibrillation and valvular heart disease comes with weakness on the right side of the body and slurred speech. Examination showed hemiplegia with increased d-dimer and activated partial thromboplastin time. (APTT). Brain MRI showed multiple subacute infarctions in the temporal lobe. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) tractography showed no visible auditory tract. Pure tone audiogram and brainstem auditory evoked potential test was normal, but speech reception threshold test was very poor. The patient has been diagnosed with recurrent ischemic stroke with sequel cortical deafness and received anticoagulant therapy and speech therapy. The patient reported minimal subjective impairment 1 month later with no further neurological deterioration.ConclusionsA multidisciplinary clinical approach is needed in patients with cortical deafness, especially distinguishing it from other central hearing losses.

Marine invertebrates and noise

Within the set of risk factors that compromise the conservation of marine biodiversity, one of the least understood concerns is the noise produced by human operations at sea and from land. Many aspects of how noise and other forms of energy may impact the natural balance of the oceans are still unstudied. Substantial attention has been devoted in the last decades to determine the sensitivity to noise of marine mammals—especially cetaceans and pinnipeds—and fish because they are known to possess hearing organs. Recent studies have revealed that a wide diversity of invertebrates are also sensitive to sounds, especially via sensory organs whose original function is to allow maintaining equilibrium in the water column and to sense gravity. Marine invertebrates not only represent the largest proportion of marine biomass and are indicators of ocean health but many species also have important socio-economic values. This review presents the current scientific knowledge on invertebrate bioacoustics (sound production, reception, sensitivity), as well as on how marine invertebrates are affected by anthropogenic noises. It also critically revisits the literature to identify gaps that will frame future research investigating the tolerance to noise of marine ecosystems.

Clinical and genetic spectrum of primary ciliary dyskinesia in children

Primary ciliary dyskinesia is a rare genetically determined pathology that leads to chronic inflammatory damage to the respiratory tract, hearing organs and impaired fertility. This article presents the preliminary results of a study conducted in the clinic aimed at the possibility of predicting the clinical course of the disease depending on the genetic variants of the disease, which enables, with timely diagnosis, personalizing the approach to the treatment of children with such a disabling disease as primary ciliary dyskinesia.Purpose. To determine the clinical and genetic variants of primary ciliary dyskinesia, and to identify patterns of disease development. Material and methods. The study included children from 0 to 18 years old with a verified defect of the ciliary apparatus, by analyzing the mobility of the cilia of the ciliary epithelium of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, and who underwent a next generation sequencing exome study.Results. The study revealed characteristic patterns of target organ damage, prevailing in a group of children with impaired cilia assembly factor, as well as in a group of children with damaged dynein arms.Conclusion. Thus, conducting a genetic examination in children with suspected primary ciliary dyskinesia is relevant not only to confirm the disease, but also to predict the course of the disease.

Precise alternating cellular pattern in the inner ear by coordinated hopping intercalations and delaminations.

The mammalian hearing organ, the organ of Corti, is one of the most organized tissues in mammals. It contains a precisely positioned array of alternating sensory hair cells (HCs) and nonsensory supporting cells. How such precise alternating patterns emerge during embryonic development is not well understood. Here, we combine live imaging of mouse inner ear explants with hybrid mechano-regulatory models to identify the processes that underlie the formation of a single row of inner hair cells (IHCs). First, we identify a previously unobserved morphological transition, termed "hopping intercalation," that allows cells differentiating toward IHC fate to "hop" under the apical plane into their final position. Second, we show that out-of-row cells with low levels of the HC marker Atoh1 delaminate. Last, we show that differential adhesion between cell types contributes to straightening of the IHC row. Our results support a mechanism for precise patterning based on coordination between signaling and mechanical forces that is likely relevant for many developmental processes.