Normal Hearing Thresholds Research Articles

Effect of Efferent Stimulation on the Differential Sensitivity in Individuals with Normal Hearing.

The aim of the article was to compare the conditions of silent and contralateral noise on Differential sensitivity in normal hearing individuals. A total of 40 participants (20 males and 20 females) were enrolled in the study with a mean age of 21.7years, participants with normal hearing thresholds and no history of middle ear pathology were enrolled for the study. Difference limen tests such as difference limen for intensity (DLI), difference limen for frequency (DLF), and difference limen for time (DLT) were carried out in these 40 individuals in the two conditions of silent and contralateral noise using MATLAB. Statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS version 25.0 were descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out. Data was normally distributed on the Shapiro-Wilk's test of normality due to which a paired t test was carried out to establish the nature of significance between the silent and contralateral noise condition. Results reveal the presence of significant difference (P < 0.01) between the groups for DLF and DLT with contralateral noise condition performing better than silent condition for the parameters. However, no significant difference was obtained for DLI. There is a positive effect of the efferent auditory pathway on the Differential sensitivity thus implying that speech perception in noise is improved in the presence of background noise for normal hearing individuals due to this effect. But in case of DLI, the reduced spread of excitation could be the reason why there were no significant differences between silent and contralateral noise condition.

Evaluation of adhesive bone conduction hearing aid in pediatric patients with unilateral congenital aural atresia

Objective: To evaluate the auditory efficacy and subjective satisfaction of adhesive bone conduction hearing aid in children with unilateral congenital aural atresia (UCAA). Methods: Ten subjects (5 males and 5 females) diagnosed with UCAA with an average age of 8.3 years old (ranged from 5 to 15) were included in Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University from January to August 2019. The free sound field hearing threshold, word recognition score in quiet, speech reception threshold in noise and sound localization ability (results were measured by RMS error) tests were performed in unaided and aided situation, respectively. Subjective satisfaction questionnaires were also distributed to subjects. Paired t test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used as statistical analysis methods. Results: The average hearing threshold in aided condition was improved by (21.9±4.4) dB (t=15.8，P<0.05). Speech recognition abilities were generally improved both under quiet and noise (P<0.05);however, when the binaural summation, squelch and head shadow effects were analyzed respectively, the binaural squelch effect was not statistically improved (P>0.05), while the other effects were improved in aided condition (P<0.05). In sound localization test, there was no significant difference of the RMS error value between the unaided and aided situation (P>0.05). The subjects got high satisfaction rates in three subjective questionnaires. Conclusion: The adhesive bone conduction hearing aid can provide significant audiological benefit for children with UCAA as well as raising the quality of their life.

A machine learning-based biological aging prediction and its associations with healthy lifestyles: the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort.

This study aims to establish a biological age (BA) predictor and to investigate the roles of lifestyles on biological aging. The 14,848 participants with the available information of multisystem measurements from the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort were used to estimate BA. We developed a composite BA predictor showing a high correlation with chronological age (CA) (r=0.82) by using an extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) algorithm. The average frequency hearing threshold, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1 ), gender, systolic blood pressure, and homocysteine ranked as the top five important features for the BA predictor. Two aging indexes, recorded as the AgingAccel (the residual from regressing predicted age on CA) and aging rate (the ratio of predicted age to CA), showed positive associations with the risks of all-cause (HR (95% CI)=1.12 (1.10-1.14) and 1.08 (1.07-1.10), respectively) and cause-specific (HRs ranged from 1.06 to ∼1.15) mortality. Each 1-point increase in healthy lifestyle score (including normal body mass index, never smoking, moderate alcohol drinking, physically active, and sleep 7-9 h/night) was associated with a 0.21-year decrease in the AgingAccel (95% CI: -0.27 to -0.15) and a 0.4% decrease in the aging rate (95% CI: -0.5% to -0.3%). This study developed a machine learning-based BA predictor in a prospective Chinese cohort. Adherence to healthy lifestyles showed associations with delayed biological aging, which highlights potential preventive interventions.

The effect of intervelar veloplasty under magnification (Sommerlad\u2019s Technique) without tympanostomy on middle ear effusion in cleft palate patients

ObjectiveDifferent surgical techniques and management approaches have been introduced to manage the cleft palate (CP) and its complications, such as otitis media with effusion (OME) and auditory problems. The optimal method, as well as the ideal time for palatoplasty and ventilation tube insertion, are the subject of controversy in the literature. We aimed to evaluate The Effect of Intervelar Veloplasty under Magnification (Sommerlad’s Technique) without Tympanostomy on Middle Ear Effusion in Cleft Palate Patients.Methodsnon-syndromic cleft palate patients from birth to 24 months who needed primary palatoplasty from April 2017 to 2019 were enrolled in this study. intravelar veloplasty (IVVP) surgery under magnification has been done by the same surgeon. Likewise, Otoscopy, Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR), and tympanometry were performed for all the patients before and six months after palatoplasty.ResultsTympanograms were classified into two categories according to shape and middle ear pressure, and it was done in 42 children (84 ears). Type B curve was seen in 40 cases (80 ears) before surgery which reduced significantly (P < 0.005) to 12 cases in the left ear and 14 cases in the right ear after surgery. So, after surgery, 70 % of the tympanogram of left ears and 66.6 % of the tympanogram of Rt ears were in normal condition (type A tympanometry). ABR was done for 43 patients (86 ears) before surgery and six months after palatoplasty. Data were shown that 40 of the patients had mild to moderate hearing loss before surgery, which reduced significantly (P < 0.005) to 9 in the left ear and 11 in the right ear after palatoplasty. So, after surgery, 79 % of ABR of left ears and 73.8 % of ABR of right ears were in normal status (normal hearing threshold).ConclusionsIntervelar veloplasty under magnification (Sommerlad’s technique) significantly improved the middle ear effusion without the need for tympanostomy tube insertion.

The natural history of OTOF-related auditory neuropathy spectrum disorders: a multicenter study.

Pathogenic variations in the OTOF gene are a common cause of hearing loss. To refine the natural history and genotype-phenotype correlations of OTOF-related auditory neuropathy spectrum disorders (ANSD), audiograms and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were collected from a diverse cohort of individuals diagnosed with OTOF-related ANSD by comprehensive genetic testing and also reported in the literature. Comparative analysis was undertaken to define genotype-phenotype relationships using a Monte Carlo algorithm. 67 audiograms and 25 DPOAEs from 49 unique individuals positive for OTOF-related ANSD were collected. 51 unique OTOF pathogenic variants were identified of which 21 were missense and 30 were loss of function (LoF; nonsense, splice-site, copy number variants, and indels). There was a statistically significant difference in low, middle, and high frequency hearing thresholds between missense/missense and LoF/missense genotypes as compared to LoF/LoF genotypes (average hearing threshold for low, middle and high frequencies 70.9, 76.0, and 73.4 dB vs 88.5, 95.6, and 94.7 dB) via Tukey's test with age as a co-variate (P = 0.0180, 0.0327, and 0.0347, respectively). Hearing declined during adolescence with missense/missense and LoF/missense genotypes, with an annual mid-frequency threshold deterioration of 0.87 dB/year and 1.87 dB/year, respectively. 8.5% of frequencies measured via DPOAE were lost per year in individuals with serial tests. Audioprofiling of OTOF-related ANSD suggests significantly worse hearing with LoF/LoF genotypes. The unique pattern of variably progressive OTOF-related autosomal recessive ANSD may be amenable to gene therapy in selected clinical scenarios.

Changes in Auditory Working Memory Capacities During Adolescence.

The aim of the article was to compare the auditory working memory capacities during adolescence period. A total of 45 participants between the age of 10 and 22years were included in the study. The participants were grouped in 3 based on their age range from 10 to 14 (group 1), 14-18 (group 2), and 18-22years (group 3) for the study. Participants with normal hearing thresholds and no history of middle ear pathology were enrolled for the study. Auditory working memory tests were carried out in these individuals which included midpoint and maximum scores of ascending span, descending span, digit forward span, and digit backward span. Statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS version 25.0, descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out. Data was normally distributed on the Shapiro-Wilk's test of normality due to which a one-way ANOVA was done to establish the nature of significance across the groups and Tukey's post hoc test was done for establishing the presence of significance between the groups (group 1-group 2, group 2-groups 3, and group 1-group 3). To identify the relationship between the age of individuals and working memory scores, a Pearson correlation was done. Results reveal the presence of significant difference across the groups and between the groups too (p < 0.05) with noticeable significant effect seen in group 3 (18-22years) than in group 2 (14-18years) and group 1 (10-14years) respectively. There is a positive effect of age and changes in working memory abilities. This implies the presence of maturation during adolescence period at the level of prefrontal cortex and other cortical areas. Supporting literatures state there is presence of reduced activation on functional imaging studies during early adulthood period which could attribute to the significantly high scores in age range 18-22years.

The influence of the use of earphones in the of young people’s hearing

Abstract Background Listening music is extremely important in our day life, but studies indicate that young people who use earphones for long periods tend to develop hearing problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hearing of young people who use earphones to listen to music very often and occasionally, and observe if there are differences between them. Methods The sample was composed by 2 groups (n = 15 in each) of young people, students in higher education (18–24 years) who use earphones to listen music every week, with Group 1 using earphones occasionally and Group 2 very often. Otoscopy, pure tone audiogram (PTA: 0.125–8 kHz), high frequencies (HF: 9–12.5 kHz) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs: 2–10 kHz) was performed. Results There were statistically significant differences between groups in PTA (0.125 and 0.5 kHz in right ear - RE) and DPOAEs (7.5, 8.3, 9.1 and 10 kHz in RE and 6.2, 7.5, 10 kHz in left ear), being the means of hearing thresholds (PTA and HF) higher and the means of the DPOAE’s amplitudes lower in Group 2, in most frequencies. Despite all individuals had normal hearing thresholds in PTA, in HF at 11.2 KHz in RE, the mean of threshold in Group 2 was over 20 dBHL. Conclusions The differences found between groups can be a warning sign for future hearing loss in young people who use earphones very often to listen to music, so it is important to raise awareness among young people for the prevention of hearing loss and change behaviours.

Speech ABR Findings in Auto Rickshaw Drivers Exposed to Occupational Noise.

Most of the persons with noise exposure will have clinically normal hearing threshold while experiencing reduced speech comprehension. The motive of this study is to assess the impact of occupational noise on the encoding of speech stimuli in the auditory system in the auto-rickshaw drivers and compare the auditory brainstem responses (ABR) using speech stimuli with that of controls. The study was done in experimental design, where speech evoked ABR was measured in 21 auto-drivers who were continuously exposed to higher levels of occupational noise, and they were compared to the results of 37 individuals who were not exposed to noise. Speech ABR was administered in both the groups and the absolute latencies and amplitudes of the peaks V, A, C, D, E, F and O were compared. The results revealed that there is a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in the latency of peak V (F(1,32) = 6.13, p < 0.05, = 0.12) and peak A (F(1,32) = 4.03, p < 0.05, = 0.08) between the control and experimental group. Similarly, there was a statistically significant difference seen in the amplitude of peak D (F(1,32) = 6.38, p < 0.05, = 0.12) and peak F (F(1,32) = 7.97, p < 0.05, = 0.15). Acknowledging how the speech signals are coded in the brainstem may aid in the timely detection and intervention of hearing-related issues, even in individuals having normal hearing acuity. The results indicate that there is damage at the level of the brainstem which will lead to poor speech understanding in those who are exposed to occupational noise. These indicators are present even before routine audiometry indicates a hearing loss.

Impact of Hearing Disability and Ear Discharge on Quality-of-Life in Patients with Chronic Otitis Media: Data from the Multinational Collaborative COMQ-12 Study.

This study aimed to assess how two disease-related factors, hearing disability and ear discharge, affect health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) in patients with chronic otitis media (COM). Multinational prospective cohort study. Nine otology referral centers in eight countries. Adult patients suffering from COM. Hearing disability and ear discharge were assessed by audiometry (Department of Health and Social Security formula) and otoscopy, respectively. Participants completed a native version of the Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire-12 (COMQ-12). We determined how the two disease-related factors affect HRQoL by performing two separate analyses: (1) using a 6-item score combining responses to COMQ-12 items independent of hearing loss and ear discharge and (2) using item 12 alone as a proxy for global HRQoL. This study included 478 participants suffering from COM. There was a significant association between HRQoL and hearing disability in the adjusted analysis. For every unit increase in the Department of Health and Social Security average hearing threshold (1) there was an increase of 0.06 (95% CI [0.007, 0.121], p = 0.0282) in the 6-item score and (2) the adjusted odds of having a higher item 12 score was 1.03 (95% CI [1.01, 1.04], p = 0.0004). There was no association between the presence of ear discharge and HRQoL in both COMQ-12 score analyses. Knowledge of disease-related factors that influence HRQoL will aid interpretation of patient-reported measures for COM. Patients with a greater degree of hearing impairment appear to have poorer HRQoL, which is not exacerbated by the presence of ear discharge. The magnitude of postoperative hearing improvement rather than the attainment of a dry ear may be a better indicator of surgical success from the patient's perspective.

Myringoplasty in wet and dry ears: an observational study in a tertiary care center

&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Chronic otitis media is the most common cause of hearing impairment in the developing countries with serious effects. The aim of the study was to compare the outcome of myringoplasty in dry and wet ears in tubo-tympanic type of chronic otitis media (COM) with respect to graft uptake and hearing improvement.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods:&lt;/strong&gt; This is an observational study done in the department of ENT, Mamata medical college, Khammam, during the study period of September 2019 to February 2021 on 40 patients of tubo-tympanic type COM. On simple random basis selected patients underwent myringoplasty by underlay technique. All patients were evaluated during post-operative follow-up.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results:&lt;/strong&gt; In our study, majority of patients were in the age group of 26 to 45 years with slight female preponderance, with male to female ratio (0.73:1). In our study, the successful graft uptake was seen 90% in dry ears and 85% in wet ears, which seems to be not significant in difference. With respect to hearing improvement, post-operatively there was significant improvement in both the groups, when compared to pre-operative hearing. The maximum improvement in average hearing threshold after surgery, in dry ears with large perforation (12.66dB) and in wet ears with small central perforation (12.44dB) was almost equal.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;In this study, the success rate of graft uptake and hearing improvement is found almost equal in dry and wet ears by using underlay technique of myringoplasty. &lt;/p&gt;

Selective auditory attention modulates cortical responses to sound location change in younger and older adults.

The present study measured scalp potentials in response to low-frequency, narrowband noise bursts changing location in the front, azimuthal plane. At question was whether selective auditory attention has a modulatory effect on the cortical encoding of spatial change and whether older listeners with normal-hearing thresholds would show depressed cortical representation for spatial changes relative to younger listeners. Young and older normal-hearing listeners were instructed to either passively listen to the stimulus presentation or actively attend to a single location (either 30° left or right of midline) and detect when a noise stream moved to the attended location. Prominent peaks of the electroencephalographic scalp waveforms were compared across groups, locations, and attention conditions. In addition, an opponent-channel model of spatial coding was performed to capture the effect of attention on spatial-change tuning. Younger listeners showed not only larger responses overall but a greater dynamic range in their response to location changes. Results suggest that younger listeners were acquiring and encoding key spatial cues at early cortical processing areas. On the other hand, each group exhibited modulatory effects of attention to spatial-change tuning, indicating that both younger and older listeners selectively attend to space in a manner that amplifies the available signal.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In complex acoustic scenes, listeners take advantage of spatial cues to selectively attend to sounds that are deemed immediately relevant. At the neural level, selective attention amplifies electrical responses to spatial changes. We tested whether older and younger listeners have comparable modulatory effects of attention to stimuli moving in the free field. Results indicate that although older listeners do have depressed overall responses, selective attention enhances spatial-change tuning in younger and older listeners alike.

Remedial Effects of Homeopathic Medicine in Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media-Related Complications

Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) is characterized by persistent otorrhoea from the middle ear through a perforated tympanic membrane. It is regarded as one of the most important causes of hearing impairment in developing countries. In many cases, treating CSOM with antibiotics generates fears of resistance. Unlike conventional antibiotics, homeopathic remedies are mostly free from side effects. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the effects of homeopathic medicines to treat CSOM patients. A total of 90 subjects were included in this study; among them, 60 were suffering from CSOM, and 30 were healthy controls. The CSOM patients were randomly assigned for the daily administration of homeopathic medicines such as tellurium metallicum in 6C potency (n=17), mercurius solubilis in 200C potency (n=13), and calcarea sulphurica in 30C potency (n=10) for 8 weeks. Ear suppuration was prevented in all of the patients treated with the medicines. More than 50% of the patients’ tympanic membrane perforation were healed by tellurium metallicum and calcarea sulphurica, however, no membrane healing was observed by mercuris solubilis. It was next examined whether the patients underwent hearing impairment compared to healthy control subjects. The average hearing thresholds of the control subjects (n=30) at 1, 4, 8, and 12 kHz frequencies were 13.55 ± 1.57, 15.58 ± 1.12, 27.58 ± 2.00, and 32.57 ± 2.45 dB SPL, respectively. When the average hearing thresholds of the CSOM patients (n=40) were measured at all of the above frequencies, the values became 30.25 ± 1.75, 36.80 ± 3.25, 50.75 ± 2.35, and 59.50 ± 2.96 dB SPL, respectively. This result indicated the loss of hearing in CSOM patients as the average hearing thresholds of the patients were significantly higher (p&lt;0.05) than that of the control subjects. Treatment for 8 weeks with all three homeopathic medicines significantly reduced (p&lt;0.05) hearing thresholds of the patients at all the frequencies. This result demonstrated dramatic improvement in patients’ hearing by the homeopathic medicines. This study, therefore, provides conclusive evidence that homeopathic medicines prevent ear suppuration in CSOM patients as well as heal perforated membrane, and improve hearing.&#x0D; Bioresearch Commu. 7(2): 982-989, 2021 (June)

Importance of personality and coping expectancy on patient-reported hearing disability, quality of life and distress level: a study of patients referred to an audiology service

PurposeAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), hearing loss (HL) affects up to 15% of the world’s adult population. Coping and personality are hypothesized to underlie quality of life (QoL) and distress scores. We aimed to study the importance of personality and coping in persons with HL for self-reported hearing disability, QoL, and distress.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was carried out, including one hundred and fifty-eight adults seeking hearing aids. Pure-tone average hearing thresholds (PTA) were determined for each ear. A revised version of the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) served as a measure of self-reported hearing disability. Further, the generic part of the European Organization for Research and Treatment (EORTC) QoL questionnaire and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) (distress measure) were answered. Levels of neuroticism and the Theoretically Originated Measure of the Cognitive Activation Theory of Stress (TOMCATS) coping expectancy were determined.ResultsHearing disability was determined by PTA (better ear) and level of neuroticism. Distress and QoL were determined by neuroticism and coping.ConclusionMore neuroticism was associated with worse outcome for the variables hearing disability, distress, and QoL. Helplessness and hopelessness were associated with worse hearing disability, increased distress, and lowered QoL. Patient reported hearing disability was also associated with PTA (better ear). There is a need to investigate further the associations between hearing disability and QoL to psychosocial parameters.

Development of an Australian behavioural method for assessing listening task difficulty at high speech intelligibility levels

Objective To develop and validate an Australian version of a behavioural test for assessing listening task difficulty at high speech intelligibility levels. Design In the SWIR-Aus test, listeners perform two tasks: identify the last word of each of seven sentences in a list and recall the identified words after each list. First, the test material was developed by creating seven-sentence lists with similar final-word features. Then, for the validation, participant’s performance on the SWIR-Aus test was compared when a binary mask noise reduction algorithm was on and off. Study sample All participants in this study had normal hearing thresholds. Nine participants (23.8–56.0 years) participated in the characterisation of the speech material. Another thirteen participants (18.4–59.1 years) participated in a pilot test to determine the SNR to use at the validation stage. Finally, twenty-four new participants (20.0–56.9 years) participated in the validation of the test. Results The results of the validation of the test showed that recall and identification scores were significantly better when the binary mask noise reduction algorithm was on compared to off. Conclusions The SWIR-Aus test was developed using Australian speech material and can be used for assessing task difficulty at high speech intelligibility levels.

Effects of Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF-1) in Patients with Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

Objectives:(1) To test the effect of local administration of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). (2) To test the effect of local administration of IGF-1 in patients with ototoxicity.Methods:Forty patients with SNHL were included in the study. Their hearing thresholds at different frequencies (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) along with the average hearing threshold were noted. The patients were then randomly allocated to 2 groups and were treated with IGF-1 via one of the following routes: (1) intratympanic injection and (2) Gelfoam.

Transmastoid Superior Semicircular Canal Plugging: A Prospective Analysis of Surgical Outcomes.

To assess the outcomes of the transmastoid superior semicircular canal plugging in patients with superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD). Prospective cohort study. Tertiary, university center. Patients with SSCD undergoing transmastoid superior semicircular canal plugging within a 30-month period. Transmastoid superior semicircular canal occlusion. We documented the surgical technique, pre- and postoperative (3-month review) dizziness handicap inventory scores, average hearing thresholds, low-frequency air-bone gap, six-canal video head-impulse-test responses, improvement of the auditory symptoms and complications. Out of 30 patients with SSCD, 11 patients (12 ears) were enrolled with an average age 41.17 years (range 32-65 years). Oscillopsia resolved in all patients; DHI score improved from 56.7 (range 22-84) preoperatively to 25.83 (10-46) postoperatively (p = 0.001), while out of the nine patients with troublesome auditory symptoms, five patients noticed an improvement. The average pre- and postoperative hearing thresholds were 15.2 dB (range 3-32.5 dB) and 14.17 dB (range 5-30 dB) (p = 0.73), respectively. The average pre- and postoperative low-frequency air bone gap was 12.3 dB (range 5-20 dB) and 9.4 dB (range 0-20 dB), respectively (p = 0.24) (Table 1). There were no major complications; two patients developed postoperative benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Transmastoid plugging of the superior semicircular canal can safely and significantly improve the vestibular symptoms of the patients with SCDS, as well as the auditory symptoms in a substantial number of patients in a hearing-preservation way.

Relationship between binaural high-frequency mean hearing threshold and hypertension in female worker exposed to noise

Objective: To explore the relationship between the binaural high-frequency mean hearing threshold and the hypertension of female workers exposed to noise, and to understand the application significance of the binaural high-frequency mean hearing threshold as an internal effect indicator of the risk of hypertension in female workers exposed to noise. Methods: From January to December 2018, a total of 20882 female workers exposed to noise in Guangzhou were selected by cluster sampling. Pure tone audiometry, blood pressure, age and length of service were collected. Trend test was used to evaluate the effects of exposure to noise and binaural high-frequency mean hearing threshold on blood pressure. Binary logistic regression model was used to evaluate the risk of hypertension associated with exposure to noise and binaural high-frequency mean hearing threshold. Results: The detection rate of normal hearing threshold, mild hearing loss and severe hearing loss was 80.73% (16858/20882) , 16.21% (3384/20882) and 3.06% (640/20882) respectively. The prevalence of hypertension was 6.04% (1018/16858) in normal hearing group, 10.28% (348/3384) in patients with high frequency mild hearing loss, and 11.25% (72/640) in patients with high frequency severe hearing loss. There was a linear relationship between the increase of working age and high-frequency mean hearing threshold and the increase of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P< 0.05) . Compared with those exposed to noise for less than 1 year, the risk of hypertension in female workers with 7-9 years and more than 9 years was decreased (OR= 0.79, 0.75, P<0.05) . Compared with normal hearing group, the risk of hypertension in high frequency mild hearing loss group was increased (OR=1.31, P<0.05) . Conclusion: The increase in the binaural high-frequency mean hearing threshold of female workers exposed to noise can increase the blood pressure level and the risk of hypertension, and attention should be paid to female workers with high-frequency mild hearing loss.

Occupational Hearing Loss Associated With Non-Gaussian Noise: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Epidemiological characteristics of occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) associated with non-Gaussian noise are still unclear and have been rarely reported in the literature. The relationships between non-Gaussian noise exposure and occupational NIHL were analyzed based on the published papers. Systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies were performed. Of 78 epidemiological studies (47,814 workers) selected, there were seven cohort studies and 71 cross-sectional studies. The incidence of high-frequency NIHL (HFNIHL) and speech-frequency NIHL (SFNIHL) in the seven cohort studies was 10.9 and 2.9%, respectively. In 71 cross-sectional studies, the prevalence of HFNIHL and SFNIHL was 34.2 and 18.9%, respectively. The average hearing threshold level at the high frequencies was 42.1 ± 17.4 dB HL. Workers exposed to non-Gaussian noise had a higher risk of developing HFNIHL than those not exposed to noise (overall-weighted odds ratio [OR] = 4.46) or those exposed to Gaussian noise (overall-weighted OR = 2.20). The Chi-square trend test demonstrated that the prevalence of HFNIHL was positively correlated with age, cumulative noise exposure, and exposure duration (p < 0.001). Workers exposed to non-Gaussian noise suffered from greater NIHL than those exposed to Gaussian noise or not exposed to noise. Age, exposure duration, noise level, and noise temporal structure were the main risk factors for occupational NIHL. The A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure level (LAeq) is not a sufficient measurement metric for quantifying non-Gaussian noise exposure, and a combination of kurtosis and noise energy metrics (e.g., LAeq) should be used. It is necessary to reduce the exposure of non-Gaussian noise to protect the hearing health of workers.

Auditory brainstem response test results in normal hearing adolescents with subjective tinnitus

ObjectivesThe objective of the study was to analyze the auditory brainstem response (ABR) test results of adolescents with normal hearing threshold who have subjective tinnitus in an effort to determine the probable site of origin of tinnitus. MethodsAmong the patients who visited the outpatient clinic of the Department of Otolaryngology at our tertiary hospital from January 2016 to December 2019, adolescents aged 13–18 years with the chief complaint of unilateral subjective tinnitus and pure tone audiometry (PTA) within 25 dB HL were enrolled and retrospectively reviewed. The ABR test parameters (amplitudes and latencies of waves I, III, and V and interpeak latencies [IPLs] of waves I–III, III–V, and I–V) were analyzed and compared between tinnitus ears and contralateral ears without tinnitus. Study participants were divided into the chronic tinnitus (tinnitus duration ≥6 months) and non-chronic tinnitus (tinnitus duration <6 months) groups, and the difference between the two groups was analyzed. ResultsTen adolescents were included in the study, and their ABR test results were reviewed. IPL III–V was significantly prolonged in tinnitus ears compared to non-tinnitus ears (p = 0.035). Although other parameters were found to be statistically non-significant, there was preponderance in ABR wave I amplitude; it was smaller in tinnitus ears of chronic tinnitus adolescents than in those of non-chronic tinnitus adolescents (p = 0.114). ConclusionThe probable site of origin of tinnitus in adolescents with normal hearing might be in the upper brainstem of the auditory pathway. Further analysis of ABR test results in adolescents with tinnitus and normal hearing can help clarify the pathophysiology of tinnitus in adolescents.

Effectiveness of electroacupuncture for the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss

This retrospective study investigated the use of electroacupuncture (EA) for the treatment of patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).Between May 2016 and April 2020, 140 patients with SSNHL were retrospectively analyzed. They were allocated to a treatment group (n = 70, received EA) and a control group (n = 70, received acupuncture). They received EA or acupuncture for a total of 3 months. The outcomes included average hearing threshold (AHT), tinnitus (as assessed by tinnitus handicap inventory [THI]), dizziness (as measured by dizziness handicap inventory [DHI]), and adverse events (AEs).After treatment, patients in both groups exerted more reduction in HT (P < .01), THI (P < .01), and DHI (P < .01), than those before the treatment. Furthermore, patients in the treatment group showed more relief in HT (P < .01), THI (P < .01), and DHI (P < .01), than those of patients in the control group. When it comes to AEs, both modalities had similar safety profile.The findings of this retrospective study indicated that the effectiveness of EA is superior to acupuncture in treating SSNHL. Future high quality studies are needed to warrant the present findings.