High Frequency Audiometry Research Articles

Extended High-frequency Audiometry in the Elderly: A Narrative Review.

Extended high-frequency audiometry (HFA) is considered an important tool in the detection of hearing loss. However, the values at extended high frequencies (EHF) in older adults (in both men and women) are associated with considerable uncertainty due to limited reference data. The presented review aimed to analyze hearing thresholds at EHF in adults older than 60 years. A literature search for HFA-related keyword combinations was conducted using the electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. A total of 1654 records, published in the last 22 years, were identified through this search, of which only 7 articles were ultimately included in the analysis. Multiple studies have shown that significant hearing loss can be observed at EHF in older adults. Hearing thresholds in the frequency range of 9-20 kHz in the elderly varied widely across the studies. Therefore, further research in this field is needed to complete the normative data.

Audiological Profile of Yakshagana Artists.

Yakshagana is an India's traditional folk theatre musical dance drama. The purpose of the study is to profile audiological characteristics and document hearing-related symptoms in Yakshagana artists. A cross-sectional study was performed on 96 Yakshagana artists. Participants' demographic data were captured, and audiological evaluations, including high frequency audiometry (HFA), tympanometry, acoustic reflex threshold and transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE), were performed. The majority of the individuals had minimal and mild hearing loss. The mean scores of pure tone thresholds were greater at 4kHz and 8kHz. The majority of the HFA thresholds at 10kHz, 12.5kHz, and 16kHz indicated no responses, which can be accredited to the fact that noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) first affects the higher frequencies. TEOAE analysis showed a greater percentage of failures in the higher frequencies, particularly at 3 and 4kHz in both ears, which can be an indicator of bilateral cochlear damage. These findings indicate that Yakshagana artists are at risk of hearing loss due to noise exposure. Hearing evaluation and regular monitoring of hearing thresholds is advisable for this population as it can impact their careers.

Silent Hearing Loss in Kidney Transplant Patients Receiving Tacrolimus: A Fact or a Myth?

Background: It has been claimed that tacrolimus may have harmful effects on the auditory system, where it has been linked to ototoxicity and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). We evaluated silent SNHL in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) receiving tacrolimus and the different factors affecting it compared to healthy controls. Materials and Methods: In this case control study, hearing functions were studied in 42 KTRs receiving tacrolimus as maintenance immunosuppressive therapy for more than 3 months in comparison to 27 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects using tympanometry, pure-tone audiometry (PTA), extended high frequency audiometry (EHFA), and transient evoked oto-acoustic emissions (TEOAEs). Also, different factors were studied in relation to SNHL. Results: PTA showed that 23.8%, 21.4%, and 4.8% had mild, moderate, and severe SNHL, respectively. One-fifth of KTRs had severe SNHL, according to EHFA. According to TEOAEs, 28.6% of KTRs had abnormal hearing. There was a significant positive correlation between the tacrolimus trough levels and the results of both the PTA (P = 0.002) and EHFA (P = 0.035) tests. Conclusion: SNHL was detected in about half of the studied KTRs. Silent SNHL in KTRs might be associated with higher tacrolimus trough levels.

Evaluation of Subjective Tinnitus Severity and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions and Extended High-Frequency Audiometry.

Tinnitus is a multifactorial phenomenon with quality-of-life detriments for those affected by it. We aim to establish a relationship between subjective tinnitus severity with objective audiometric data in the extended high frequency (EHF) from 9 to 16 khz and with distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE). We hypothesize that severe subjective tinnitus as measured by the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) does not correlate with increased hearing thresholds in the EHF range. Prospective. Single Tertiary Care Center. Patients identified with tinnitus and normal hearing thresholds within standard frequency range (250-8000 Hz) were consented for participation. Those with underlying otologic disease, trauma, radiotherapy, or ototoxic drug use were excluded. The THI questionnaire was given to eligible patients and audiometric test results were collected. THI scores were categorized by severity groups. An n = 20 to 30 was determined to have an effect size of 0.7 with a significance level of P = .05. THI and audiometric data were collected for 38 patients and categorized into mild (n = 18, 47.4%), moderate (n = 8, 21.1%), slight (n = 7, 18.4%), and severe (n = 5, 13.2%) tinnitus severity groups. Mean THI score was 32.3 ± 19.6 with a statistically significant difference in scores by assigned THI severity group (P < .01). There were no significant differences or linear relationship among hearing thresholds in EHF range or DPOAE stratified by subjective tinnitus group (P = .49, r2 = 0.10) CONCLUSION: Subjective tinnitus severity is not predictive of audiometric outcomes. This finding can be used as a counseling tool to help tinnitus patients manage symptoms, expectations, and overall treatment outcomes.

Standard and Extend High-Frequency Audiometry in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Impacts on Tinnitus and Mental Health.

To analyze the results of auditory assessment in standard (SA) and extended high-frequency (EHF) audiometry, associating the findings with sudden tinnitus and mental health of patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Prospective, cohort study. Outpatient otology clinic in a tertiary care hospital. Patients experiencing unilateral SSNHL were evaluated with pure-tone audiometry performed at frequencies of 250 to16,000 Hz, tinnitus pitch and loudness matching tests, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Analog and Visual Scale (AVS) for bothersome tinnitus, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Eighteen patients with unilateral SSNHL were assessed. After starting treatment, there was a significant improvement in the SA (71.1 dB to 50 dB; p < 0.001*) and EHF audiometry (64.5 dB to 54.4 dB; p < 0.001*) thresholds at 15 days, and this persisted at 30 days of follow-up. Significant improvements were seen for tinnitus in loudness, VAS, and THI and for mental health in the realms of anxiety and depression by HADS. Despite improvements in SA, persistent EHF hearing loss was accompanied by persistent tinnitus, but it was of diminished loudness. Despite improvement in pure-tone thresholds by SA, a subset of unilateral SSNHL patients did not experience hearing recovery in EHF thresholds and reported persistent tinnitus. We postulate that their diminished anxiety and better mental health may be related to both hearing improvement in standard audiometry and reduction in tinnitus loudness. This pilot prospective study investigates the utility of performing EHF audiometry to better understand outcomes in patients with SSNHL.

Self-reporting of hearing loss and tinnitus in the diagnosis of ototoxicity by meglumine antimoniate in patients treated for American tegumentary Leishmaniasis.

American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL) treatment is based on pentavalent antimonials (Sb5+), but these drugs have been associated to several adverse effects. Hearing loss and tinnitus during treatment with meglumine antimoniate (MA) have already been reported. This study aimed to describe the usefulness of self-reporting of hearing loss and tinnitus in diagnosing MA-induced ototoxicity. A prospective longitudinal study was conducted with 102 patients with parasitological diagnosis of ATL, treated with different MA schemes. The presence of clinical auditory toxicity was defined as the emergence or worsening of self-reporting hearing loss and/or tinnitus during monitoring. Measures of sensitivity, specificity, and the positive and negative predictive value of the patient's self-reporting of hearing loss and tinnitus in relation to the result of the audiometric test (considered the gold standard) were calculated. The age of the evaluated patients ranged from 15 to 81 years, with a median of 41 years, and most were male (73.5%). Seventy-five patients (73.5%) had cutaneous leishmaniasis and 27 (26.5%) mucosal leishmaniasis. Eighty-six patients (84.3%) received intramuscular (IM) treatment and 16 (15.7%) were treated with intralesional MA. During treatment, 18 (17,6%) had tinnitus and 7 (6,9%) had complaint of hearing loss. 53 (52%) patients had cochlear toxicity confirmed by tone threshold audiometry and high frequency audiometry, from which 60% received a dose of 20 mg Sb5+/kg/day (p = 0.015) and 96.2% were treated with IM MA (p = 0.001). Tinnitus has greater specificity and positive predictive value than hearing loss, with a low number of false positives, but with a high false negative value. Although the large number of false negatives suggests that self-report of hearing loss or tinnitus cannot be considered a good screening test for referring the patient to an audiometry, the low number of false positives suggests the need to value the patient's complaint for referral. Otherwise, this study reinforces the importance of audiological monitoring during treatment with MA, especially in those patients with self-reporting of hearing loss or tinnitus when treated with 20 mg Sb5+/kg/day via IM.

Evaluation of a Fast Method to Measure High-Frequency Audiometry Based on Bayesian Learning.

This study aimed to assess the validity of a high-frequency audiometry tool based on Bayesian learning to provide a reliable, repeatable, automatic, and fast test to clinics. The study involved 85 people (138 ears) who had their high-frequency thresholds measured with three tests: standard audiometry (SA), alternative forced choice (AFC)-based algorithm, and Bayesian active (BA) learning-based algorithm. The results showed median differences within ±5 dB up to 10 kHz when comparing the BA with the other two tests, and median differences within ±10 dB at higher frequencies. The variability increased from lower to higher frequencies. The BA showed lower thresholds compared to the SA at the majority of the frequencies. The results of the different tests were consistent across groups (age, hearing loss, and tinnitus). The data for the BA showed high test-retest reliability (>90%). The time required for the BA was shorter than for the AFC (4 min vs. 13 min). The data suggest that the BA test for high-frequency audiometry could be a good candidate for clinical screening. It would add reliable and significant information without adding too much time to the visit.

Prevalence of Hearing Impairment Among Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients

Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with varied manifestations, including potential auditory complications. Previous studies have indicated varying prevalence rates of hearing impairment among SLE patients, necessitating further research to understand the extent and nature of these auditory issues. Objective: The primary aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of hearing impairment in SLE patients, with a focus on identifying the types and degrees of hearing loss and associated symptoms like tinnitus and vertigo. Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study involved 38 SLE patients from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, and DHQ Hospital, Bhimber, Kashmir. Participants underwent pure tone audiometry (PTA) to assess hearing impairment. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24.0, with a focus on qualitative variables like gender, education, and socio-economic status. Patients with SLE-associated co-morbid factors affecting hearing were excluded. Results: The study found a 29% prevalence of hearing impairment among SLE patients, with sensorineural hearing loss being the most common type (21.1%). Conductive hearing loss and mixed hearing loss were observed in 2.6% and 5.3% of patients, respectively. The majority of hearing impairments were of mild to moderate degree. Additionally, 23.7% of patients reported tinnitus, and 18.45% experienced vertigo. Conclusion: The study concludes that hearing impairment, particularly sensorineural hearing loss of a mild to moderate degree, is a significant concern in SLE patients. The findings highlight the need for routine audiological assessments, including PTA and High Frequency Audiometry (HFA), in the management of SLE patients to facilitate early detection and treatment of hearing loss.

High-frequency audiometry in the diagnosis of tinnitus

BackgroundSubjective tinnitus is an unpleasant perception of sound without any external acoustic stimulus. It can be manifested in the form of various phantom sounds, which most often resemble ringing, whistling, squeaking, noise, chirping, or buzzing. The sounds are heard solely by the sufferer and can occur in the middle of the head, but also in the ears—on one or both sides.AimThe aim of the study was to evaluate the hearing capacity based on audiometric threshold measurements in the frequency range of 0.125–16 kHz in patients with tinnitus. In addition, we investigated the following questions:Can high-frequency audiometry be useful in the diagnosis of tinnitus?Does hearing loss occur in an increasingly wide frequency range with age compared to the control group?Can tinnitus be considered the first symptom of the onset of high-frequency hearing loss?MethodsThe study included 99 patients, all of whom underwent pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and extended high-frequency audiometry (HFA) in the ranges of 0.125–8 kHz and 8–16 kHz, respectively. In each patient (excluding the control group), tinnitus was characterized in terms of its frequency and intensity.Results and conclusionThe study concluded that tinnitus may be a symptom indicating the presence of high-frequency hearing loss as hearing loss occurs in an increasingly wider frequency range with age, so HFA should be a routine audiological test in patients with tinnitus.

Hearing Thresholds at High Frequencies: Age as a Predictor of Values.

Introduction The audiological evaluation has the main objective of determining the integrity of the auditory system. Pure tone audiometry is a standardized behavioral procedure that aims to investigate auditory thresholds to describe auditory sensitivity. Despite being recognized since the mid-1960s, high frequency audiometry is still little used and explored in clinical practice, and its use is more considered as an audiological monitoring tool or as a research tool. Objective To analyze the audiological thresholds of high frequency audiometry in normal hearing individuals, and to verify the predictive capacity of age in the auditory thresholds of high frequency audiometry. Methods This is a retrospective, cross-sectional, and quantitative study that was approved by the Research Ethics Committee under number 5.039.583/21. The procedures were: clinical evaluation, pure tone audiometry, acoustic immittance measurements, and high frequency audiometry. All data collected from the exams were tabulated in an Excel spreadsheet and analyzed using appropriate statistical tests in the Statistical Package Social Sciences software. Results A total of 980 medical records were analyzed. The right and left ears presented similar tonal hearing thresholds for the frequencies of 12 kHz and 16 kHz. The threshold variance of 29.8% in the 12 kHz frequency can be explained by the variance of age, while, for the frequency of 16 kHz, this percentage is of 46.4%. Conclusion For 12 kHz hearing thresholds, an increase of 1 year leads to a 0.66 dBHL increase in hearing threshold. For 16 kHz hearing thresholds, an increase of 1 year leads to a 1.02 dBHL increase in hearing threshold.

High frequency hearing 25 years after transmyringeal ventilation tube treatment.

The main aim of the study was to compare hearing outcome between a healthy control group and patients treated with transmyringeal ventilation tubes, 25 years after primary surgery. Another aim was to analyse the relation between ventilation tube treatment in childhood and the occurrence of persistent middle ear pathology 25 years later. In 1996, children treated with transmyringeal ventilation tubes were recruited for a prospective study on the outcome of ventilation tube treatment. In 2006, a healthy control group were recruited and examined together with the original participants (case group). All participants in the 2006 follow-up were eligible for this study. A clinical ear microscopy examination including eardrum pathology grading and high frequency audiometry (10-16kHz) was carried out. A total of 52 participants were available for analysis. Hearing outcome was worse in the treatment group (n=29) compared to the control group (n=29), both in regard to standard frequency range hearing, (0.5-4kHz), and high frequency hearing (HPTA3 10-16kHz). Almost half the case group (48%) had eardrum retraction to some extent, compared to 10% in the control group. No case of cholesteatoma was found in this study and eardrum perforation was rare (<2%). In the long term, high frequency hearing (HPTA3 10-16kHz) was more often affected in the patients with transmyringeal ventilation tube treatment during childhood compared with the healthy controls. Middle ear pathology of greater clinical significance was rare.

ASSESSMENT OF HIDDEN HEARING LOSS IN NOISE EXPOSED WORKERS

Aim:To evaluate hidden hearing loss (HHL) in industrial workers using the extended high frequency audiometry(EHFA) and ABR wave I amplitude during routine follow-up visits to the audiology clinic to identify and managehidden hearing loss as early as possible. Materials and Methods: This study is comprised of two groups: study group which consisted of 50 adultindustrial workersattending the audio-vestibular medicine clinic for their routine follow-up visits and control group which consisted of 20 adults with bilateral normal peripheral hearing in the frequency range of 250-8000 Hz, including 3 and 6 kHz without any history of occupational noise exposure. Both groups were age and sex-matched. Results: Results showed statistically significant differences between patient and control groups as regards thresholds of EHFA at 12 and 16 KHz. In addition, there was statistically significant reduction in ABR wave I amplitudes between the two groups. Conclusion: Combining extended high-frequency audiometry and ABR amplitude measurements as two methods for early detection of audibility declines upon exposure to noise as well as an early warning of hair cell damage and loss is advised.

Characteristics of Hearing Loss in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

To investigate the clinical characteristics of hearing loss (HL) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its related factors. Ninety-one hospitalized SLE patients and thirty healthy controls were enrolled. All subjects completed pure tone audiometry (PTA), extended high frequency audiometry (EHFA) and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) to assess hearing function. SLE patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of HL, and the risk factors of HL were determined by multivariate logistic regression. The incidence of HL was 27.47% in SLE patients, significantly higher than in the control group (3.3%) and most cases were mild-to-moderate, bilateral and predominantly sensorineural. Compared with the control group, the hearing thresholds of SLE patients increased significantly in the middle and high frequencies starting from 2000 Hz. Even though the PTA test results were normal, the EHFA test results showed significant differences in hearing impairment between SLE patients and normal controls. For patients with abnormal PTA results, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in DPOAE was markedly reduced, and the pass rate was also decreased. The Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index (SDI, OR 9.13) and secondary Sjögren's syndrome (sSS, OR 8.20) were identified as independent associated factors for HL, and there was no difference in PTA and EHFA at all frequencies between hydroxychloroquine users and non-users. HL is not rare in SLE patients, and EHFA can help identify early hearing impairment. Having a high SDI score and secondary Sjögren's syndrome may predict the presence of HL in SLE.

Binaural temporal coding and the middle ear muscle reflex in audiometrically normal young adults

Noise exposure may damage the synapses that connect inner hair cells with auditory nerve fibers, before outer hair cells are lost. In humans, this cochlear synaptopathy (CS) is thought to decrease the fidelity of peripheral auditory temporal coding. In the current study, the primary hypothesis was that higher middle ear muscle reflex (MEMR) thresholds, as a proxy measure of CS, would be associated with smaller values of the binaural intelligibility level difference (BILD). The BILD, which is a measure of binaural temporal coding, is defined here as the difference in thresholds between the diotic and the antiphasic versions of the digits in noise (DIN) test. This DIN BILD may control for factors unrelated to binaural temporal coding such as linguistic, central auditory, and cognitive factors. Fifty-six audiometrically normal adults (34 females) aged 18 – 30 were tested. The test battery included standard pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, MEMR using a 2 kHz elicitor and 226 Hz and 1 kHz probes, the Noise Exposure Structured Interview, forward digit span test, extended high frequency (EHF) audiometry, and diotic and antiphasic DIN tests. The study protocol was pre-registered prior to data collection. MEMR thresholds did not predict the DIN BILD. Secondary analyses showed no association between MEMR thresholds and the individual diotic and antiphasic DIN thresholds. Greater lifetime noise exposure was non-significantly associated with higher MEMR thresholds, larger DIN BILD values, and lower (better) antiphasic DIN thresholds, but not with diotic DIN thresholds, nor with EHF thresholds. EHF thresholds were associated with neither MEMR thresholds nor any of the DIN outcomes, including the DIN BILD. Results provide no evidence that young, audiometrically normal people incur CS with impacts on binaural temporal processing.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DISEASE ACTIVITY AND HEARING IMPAIRMENT IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Objectives:To compare hearing thresholds between control subjects and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and between active and remission status. Materials and Methods:Thirty(30) Rheumatoid patients (RA group) and Twenty (20) healthy subjects (control group) were included in the study. Both groups were subjected to audiological testing: Pure tone audiometry, extended high frequency audiometry and auditory brain stem response (ABR). In RA group, the disease activity was assessed using DAS28-CRP. Results:The air conduction pure-tone hearing thresholds were significantly higher at frequencies: 2000, 4000, 8000 Hz in the RA than control group. The extended high frequency audiometry hearing thresholds were significantly higher in Rheumatoid patients at 12000 and 16000 Hz. ABR showed a significant difference between the RA and control group regarding the absolute wave Vlatency only (P&lt;0.05).The thresholds of pure tone audiometry and extended high frequency audiometry were higher in active patients than patients with remission, with significant difference at 12000 and 16000 Hz. A significant difference was observed between the active patients and patients with remission for the absolute wave Vlatency only. There was a significant positive correlation between the hearing threshold, ABR wave V latencyand the activity of the RA patients (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion: RA patients are at risk of hearing impairement, especially those with active disease.

Přínos vysokofrekvenční tónové audiometrie – retrospektivní studie

Summary Introduction: High-frequency audiometry is not usually carried out during routine hearing examinations. It is a frequently used method at the ENT Clinic of the University Hospital Motol (especially in patients being treated for tumours of the pontocerebellar angle), although the exact indicative criteria for this have not been determined. We aimed to characterize a group of patients, using a method which improved the accuracy of the diagnostics. Material and methodology: We analysed 1,515 audiograms retrospectively. These audiograms were performed by using audiometer MADSEN Astera of GN Otometrics during 2011–2018 in 773 adults, aged 16–80 (47.79 ±13.54). They all underwent high-frequency audiometry comprising of all commonly examined frequencies up to 8 kHz, and also at higher frequencies of – 9 kHz, 10 kHz, 11.2 kHz, 12.5 kHz, 14 kHz a 16 kHz. The indication was very diverse – subjective hypacusis/hyperacusis, tinnitus, vestibulopathy, acutrauma, or an already known diagnosis of a pontocerebellar tumour. Results: We identifi ed a clinically signifi cant asymmetry or pathological elevation of the hearing threshold, which was only detectable at frequencies above 8 kHz in 52 patients (6.73%). This group consisted of patients with vestibular schwannoma (48.08%), other tumours and vascular malformations of the temporal region (11.53%), vestibulopathy (3.85%), and patients that had never developed a serious pathology (23.08%). They were mostly patients with straightforward hypacusis or tinnitus. Conclusion: In clinical practice, there are cases of patients with a hearing defect that can only be detected when HFA is performed. HFA clarifi es the diagnosis of hearing disorders and can lead to the detection of potentially life-threatening conditions such as tumours and vascular malformations of the otological area. Key words high-frequency audiometry – hearing loss – tinnitus

Association of Audiometric Thresholds with HbA1c and Blood Lipid Levels.

Aims: The purpose of this study is to determine if the combined associations of HbA1c and blood lipid levels with audiometric thresholds are nonadditive, additive, or synergistic. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed using the 2009-2010, 2011-2012, and 2015-2016 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey. Participants were placed into tertial groups based on HbA1c, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Two-way analyses of variance were used to measure the combined effect of HbA1c and each lipid on mid- and high-frequency audiometric thresholds. Groups were matched by age and gender among HbA1c and blood lipid groups in three separate datasets. Results: The difference in mid-frequency audiometric thresholds between the lowest and highest level of HbA1c groups was 2.0 dB (P = 0.019) in one data set and 2.6 dB (P = 0.005) in another dataset. The difference in mid-frequency audiometric thresholds was 2.1 dB (P = 0.012) when comparing the lowest and highest triglyceride groups, and 2.4 dB (P = 0.001) when comparing the lowest and highest LDL-C groups. HDL-C levels, high frequency audiometry, and the interaction components were not significant for any analysis. Conclusions: These results indicate that higher HbA1c and blood lipid levels may have an additive effect on mid-frequency audiometric thresholds.

Early hearing loss detection in gout using extended high frequency audiometry.

The study aimed to analyse the hearing levels of patients with gout using extended high frequencies (EHFs) audiometry. Thus, we aimed to reveal the early detectability of potential hearing losses. Comparative cross-sectional study. A single centre patient was diagnosed with gout disease. Two groups consisted of 32 patients with gout and 32 healthy volunteers. The primary outcome was hearing thresholds in pure tone (PT) audiometry and EHFs audiometry. Also, the association between audiometric results and haematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated. There was no significant difference between groups in terms of mean hearing thresholds in PT audiometry. But, at all frequencies above 4000 Hz (4000-18 000 Hz), the hearing thresholds were significantly higher in patients with gout. Also, the hearing thresholds above 8000 Hz were positively correlated with serum uric acid levels. Hearing thresholds at higher frequencies were positively correlated with haemoglobin levels and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein levels. To our knowledge, this is the first study in the literature demonstrating the high frequency of hearing loss in patients with gout using EHFs audiometry. We consider that using EHFs audiometry should have an important place in the early detection of potential hearing losses in gout patients.

High-frequency audiometry, speech perception in quiet and noise, and vestibular-evoked myogenic potential in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

PurposeThe study aimed to investigate the effect of PCOS on high-frequency thresholds, speech perception in quiet and in presence of noise, and vestibular functioning in women with and without PCOS and to correlate the speech perception scores with that of the pure-tone thresholds obtained at conventional and higher frequencies.MethodsWomen with and without PCOS in the age range of 18–40 years diagnosed between January 2019 and January 2020 were participants. Conventional and high-frequency audiometry (HFA), speech perception in quiet and in noise (SPIN), and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP) and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMP) were assessed for both groups.ResultsConventional audiometry (250 Hz to 8000 Hz) showed no statistically significant difference between both groups. High-frequency audiometry (9000 Hz to 20,000 Hz) showed significantly poorer pure-tone thresholds for women with PCOS compared to women without PCOS. SPIN results showed significantly lower SPIN scores for women with PCOS for − 3dB SNR, − 6 dB SNR, and − 9dB SNR. No difference in scores was observed for quiet conditions and 0 dB SNR for women with and without PCOS. cVEMP and oVEMP responses showed reduced amplitude in women with PCOS.ConclusionAll the women diagnosed with having PCOS should be screened for hearing loss, speech perception difficulty in quiet and in presence of noise, and vestibular system functioning. If the hearing is affected, intervention should be started early in life.

Evaluation of the efferent auditory system in COVID-19 adult patients

Background The short- and long-term effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on the medial olivocochlear reflex and outer hair cells in the cochlea remain largely unclear. Aims The aim of this study was to investigate the efferent auditory system effects in adult patients with COVID-19. Materials and methods The study included 18–50 years old 44 volunteers: 26 individuals (52 ears) with COVID-19 in the study group and 18 healthy individuals (36 ears) in the control group. Otolaryngological examination, immitancemetric evaluation, distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE), contralateral acoustic stimulation with DPOAE, audiometric evaluation, and high frequency audiometric evaluation were performed in all individuals participating in the study. Results In our study, patients with COVID-19 had significantly lower DPOAE results with or without broadband noise at only 6 kHz frequency and contralateral suppression results at all frequencies compared to healthy individuals. A statistically significant difference was found between the study and control groups according to whether the participants had a response in the high frequency audiometry at 12 and 16 kHz frequencies. Conclusions COVID-19 affects many systems in the body. As a result of the findings obtained in the present study, it is shown that the auditory efferent system may also be affected.