Results Of Pure Tone Audiometry Research Articles

Associations Between Noise Exposure Level, Noise Kurtosis, and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions in Young Workers With Normal Hearing.

Growing evidence has suggested that, in addition to noise exposure level, noise temporal structure (i.e., kurtosis) plays an important role in the development of noise-induced hearing loss, while most of the relevant research has been on the results of pure-tone audiometry. This study focuses on the combined effect of noise exposure level and noise kurtosis on distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) in young workers with normal hearing. A cross-sectional study among young workers in manufacturing industries was conducted in Zhejiang Province, China. Individual noise exposure measurements were performed on participants to obtain an A-weighted noise exposure level normalized to 8 hr (LAeq, 8hr), cumulative noise exposure (CNE), kurtosis, and kurtosis-adjusted CNE (CNE-K). The DPOAE test was performed on the participants and DPOAE levels were obtained. The relationships between noise exposure level, kurtosis, and DPOAE levels were explored by univariate analyses. Furthermore, multivariate regression models were conducted to estimate the combined effects of exposure level and kurtosis after adjusting for age, gender, and use of hearing protection devices. The overall DPOAE curves across frequency bands presented a fluctuating downward trend with increasing frequency. Both exposure level and kurtosis were found to be associated with decreases in DPOAE levels. The multivariate regression model including CNE-K as a joint indicator of complex noise showed an increased R2 compared with the model including CNE. After adjustment for age, gender, and the use of hearing protection devices, significant effects of CNE-K on DPOAE levels were observed at 3, 4, and 5 kHz frequencies, with maximum effect presented at 4 kHz. DPOAE is a sensitive test that can detect cochlear damage in limited areas that cannot be detected by conventional audiometry. The present study provided a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of complex noise on the DPOAE levels. It also suggested that CNE-K was an effective metric in assessing DPOAE levels associated with complex noise.

Differentiating Definite and Probable Ménière Disease: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Audio-Vestibular Function Testing Combined with Inner Ear MRI.

To evaluate the differences between audio-vestibular function testing and inner ear gadolinium magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in distinguishing definite Ménière disease (DMD) and probable Ménière disease (PMD), and to provide a reference for early clinical diagnosis and intervention. A total of 116 patients diagnosed with DMD (n = 80) and PMD (n = 36) were enrolled. The differences in the results of pure tone audiometry, caloric test, and tympanic injection of gadolinium for contrast-enhanced MRI between the two groups were compared and analyzed. Parameters that could differentiate between the two conditions were identified, and the sensitivity and specificity and the area under the curve (AUC) of individual and combined indices in the differential diagnosis of DMD and PMD were evaluated. The hearing threshold and hearing asymmetry rate of the DMD group were significantly higher than those of the PMD group (p < 0.001), 98.8% and 30.6%, respectively. The abnormal rates of canal paresis (CP) and severity of endolymphatic hydrops in the DMD group were higher than those in the PMD group (p < 0.05). When combined with high-frequency hearing thresholds, hearing asymmetry, hearing curve type, endolymphatic hydrops, and abnormal CP, the diagnostic accuracy of DMD was improved compared to using high-frequency alone (p < 0.05). This study showed that PMD and DMD may represent two different stages in the development of MD disease. The comprehensive assessment of audio-vestibular function testing and inner ear MRI proves beneficial for early diagnosis, potentially contributing to the preservation of inner ear function.

Demographic and Audiological Characteristics of Candidates for Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids in the United States.

This report presents descriptive data on the demographic and audiological characteristics of US adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss, the primary candidates for over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. The analyses are descriptive and present population-weighted responses for various self-reported demographic and audiological variables for adults with mild or moderate perceived hearing trouble. Results of pure-tone audiometry and immittance measures are also presented. Nationally representative datasets from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) for 2011 to 2012, 2015 to 2016, and 2017 to 2020, the three most recent NHANES datasets with audiological information, were used. The NHANES datasets indicated that there are 49.5 million adults in the United States with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing trouble. Results indicated that OTC hearing-aid candidates are most frequently 50 to 69 years of age, married, and identify as non-Hispanic White race/ethnicity. Most of these individuals graduated from high school, had several risk factors for hearing loss, had not had a hearing test in the past 5 years, and had never used hearing aids or assistive listening devices previously. The typical audiometric profile was a bilaterally symmetrical sloping hearing loss with slight to mild hearing loss above 2000 Hz. Group data showed normal immittance measures and absence of otoscopic abnormalities except for the presence of excessive (not impacted) cerumen in about 13% of the OTC hearing-aid candidates. Tens of millions of US adults have perceived mild-to-moderate hearing trouble but have not pursued assistance, either through obtaining a hearing test or acquiring prescription hearing aids.

Pediatric Myringoplasty using the Periosteum: An Institutional Overview.

Introduction Myringoplasty is a common otologic procedure to restore the integrity of the tympanic membrane in cases of traumatic or pathologic perforations. Many grafting materials have been used with different techniques. Objective In the present work, we evaluate the surgical and audiological outcomes of periosteal graft overlying the mastoid cortex through a retroauricular incision in a pediatric cohort. Methods A retrospective study was carried out involving all children aged ≤ 16 years who underwent periosteal graft myringoplasty for the treatment of chronic suppurative otitis media with dry central perforation in our hospital from April 2019 to April 2021. All patients were followed up for one year to assess the anatomical success and functional outcomes by comparing the preoperative and postoperative (after six months) results of pure tone audiometry (PTA). Results The sample was composed of 36 patients; 20 of them were female (55.6%) and 16 were male (44.4%) subjects, with ages ranging from 7 to 16 (mean: 12.7) years. Four patients underwent surgery in both ears (with an interval of 6 to 9 months). Out of 40 surgeries performed, 38 ears have shown anatomical success (95%). A highly significant improvement in hearing was obtained (the mean difference between the pre- and postoperative results of the PTA was of 14.6 ± 3.45 dB ( p < 0.001). Conclusion We advocate the use of periosteal graft in the pediatric population as a good alternative for other types of grafts, with comparable and even better functional and anatomical outcomes.

Epidemiological Profile of Hearing Deficiency in a Tertiary Care Hospital (2019-2022)

Abstract Introduction This study is an attempt to view the demographic profile of individuals presenting with hearing loss in an urban referral hospital with the help of available database of pure tone audiometry results over a three years period. Materials and methods It is adescriptive epidemiologicalstudy over a period of 3 years conducted in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology (ORL) of an urban referral hospital.The subjects presented with a complain of hearing loss were investigated with pure tone audiometry. Subjects below 10 years of age or with gross mental or physical disabilities were excluded. The results of pure tone audiometry done were analyzed followed by systematic analysis. Results A total number of 3536individuals inclusive of1980 males and1556 females were studied. Nearly, 570 individuals suffered B/L hearing loss (16%) which was again mostly Sensori-neural. Sensori-neural hearing loss was the most common hearing loss near about 52%.Mixed Hearing loss accounted for 13%.Conductive hearing loss accounted for 35 %. Mild hearing loss (25-40dB) accounted for maximum bulk of the patients.The bulk of the population comprised of people in their middle age (30-60) and elderly (&gt;60 years). Conclusion The demographic profile of hearing loss in an urban population is the ground work for any comprehensive planning to resolve the issue. In our study the increased burden of mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss as seen in the elderly population and increased prevalence of conductive hearing loss as seen in the young population shows us how respective management protocols can be instituted for the target populations.

Audiological Characteristics of Vestibular Schwannoma Patients With Normal Pure-Tone Audiometry.

To investigate the audiological characteristics of vestibular schwannoma (VS) patients with normal pure-tone audiometry (PTA) results. A retrospective study. Forty-two VS patients with normal PTA results from October 2016 to October 2022 were included. Normal PTA was defined when the hearing threshold is ≤25 dB hearing loss (HL) in each test frequency and the PTA is ≤25 dB HL. Results of multiple audiological tests such as the auditory brainstem response (ABR), distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE), multiple auditory steady-state responses threshold (ASSR), and speech discrimination score were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data of these patients were also been collected. According to our results, the ABR and average ASSR threshold of the affected side were statistically significantly higher in VS patients with normal PTA. ABR waveforms on the affected side also showed more abnormalities. The DPOAE pass rates of the affected side were lower than the unaffected side while the amplitude and signal-to-noise ratio rate was also lower. In addition, we used magnetic resonance imaging 3-dimensional reconstruction images to measure the volume of tumors in these patients. We also found that higher ABR threshold means lager tumor size in patients with normal PTA. VS patients with normal PTA result cannot be assumed to have no impairment of hearing function. ABR, DPOAE, and ASSR results showed the characteristic changes in the affect ear. ABR threshold has the highest sensitivity for hearing abnormalities and is strong relative with tumor size in patients with normal PTA.

Audiological Profile in Adenoid Hypertrophy.

The study aims to investigate the correlation between grade of adenoid hypertrophy and severity of hearing loss and to profile tympanometric findings in children with Adenoid Hypertrophy. A within group comparison study was carried out in Father Muller College, Department of Speech and Hearing, Mangalore where 123 patients diagnosed with Adenoid Hypertrophy (86 males and 37 females; mean age 7.146; range 2 to 12 years) were analyzed using detailed case history, Pure tone audiometry (PTA) and Tympanometry. The most prevalent presenting problems with adenoid hypertrophy were snoring (68.29%), mouth breathing (57.72%)and reduced hearing (35.77%). PTA results showed majority had bilateral hearing loss (60.27%). In the 230 ears that were tested, 50.85% had hearing loss. Majority of these ears had a minimal loss (23.91%), followed by mild loss (18.69%), moderate loss (7.82%), and moderately severe loss (0.43%). No correlation was found between the grade of Adenoid hypertrophy and the severity of hearing loss noted (p > 0.05). According to tympanometric findings, the most common tympanogram pattern was 'B' type (39.15%), 'A' type (31.60%), and 'C' type (18.39%). A small proportion of the population had 'As' (4.71%), 'Cs' (5.66%), and 'Ad' (0.47%).No correlation was found between the grade of adenoid hypertrophy and the type of tympanogram obtained (p > 0.05). In a significant percentage of cases, Adenoid hypertrophy affects the middle ear leading to conductive hearing loss. If left untreated it can lead to delayed speech and language development, auditory processing disorders, mental retardation, and physical and social complications. These are avoidable through primary health care education, accurate diagnosis, and effective treatment. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-024-04714-8.

The research of the contralateral ear hearing thresholds and the hearing prognosis in unilateral Meniere's disease

Objective:This study analyzed the pure tone audiometry results of the affected ear and the contralateral ear of unilateral Meniere's disease to investigate the correlation of the hearing threshold of the contralateral ear and the hearing prognosis of unilateral Meniere's disease. Methods:In this study, the follow-up data of 135 patients with unilateral Meniere's disease in Beijing Tongren Hospital were used to analyze the pure tone audiometry results of the affected and contralateral ears at the first visit and 1 year later. Results:①At the first visit, there was no statistically significant difference between the mean hearing thresholds of the affected ear in the normal hearing group and the high-frequency hearing loss group of the contralateral ear（P>0.05）. ②The range of improvement of hearing thresholds in the affected ear was greater in the contralateral ear normal hearing group than in the contralateral ear high-frequency hearing loss group. In the normal hearing group of the contralateral ear, the hearing thresholds of the affected ear at 0.25 kHz（P<0.01）, 0.50 kHz（P<0.01）, 1.00 kHz（P<0.01）, and 2.00 kHz（P<0.05） were significantly improved; and in the high-frequency hearing loss group of the contralateral ear, the hearing thresholds at 0.25 kHz（P<0.01） hearing thresholds improved significantly, and there was no significant difference between the rest of the frequencies before and after treatment（P>0.05）. A consistent pattern was observed in both higher and lower age groups. ③After 1 year of follow-up, the low and mid-frequency hearing of the affected ear improved. 0.25 kHz（P<0.01）, 0.50 kHz（P<0.01）, 1.00 kHz（P<0.01） hearing thresholds improved significantly; 8.00 kHz hearing thresholds decreased slightly（P<0.05）. Conclusion:After standardized treatment, the results of 1-year follow-up suggested that the low-frequency hearing of MD patients could be improved, but the high-frequency hearing was slightly decreased. The hearing prognosis of the affected ear with normal hearing threshold of the contralateral ear may be better.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Different Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Methods in Patients with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is one of the treatment methods in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). It is recommended as an elective treatment in patients undergoing steroid therapy. According to current scientific reports, HBOT should be implemented within two weeks after the first symptoms. However, as far as the profile of HBOT is concerned, there are no straightforward recommendations. The data obtained from the medical records of 218 patients undergoing HBOT for SSNHL at the Military Institute of Medicine-National Research Institute were analyzed statistically for the impact of the duration and the delay in implementing HBOT on the end results of pure-tone audiometry (PTA). A statistically significant hearing improvement in patients undergoing more than 15 cycles of HBOT was detected at all frequencies except for 1500 Hz; in the group reporting for treatment with a delay of more than 10 days, hearing improvement was statistically unsignificant at frequencies of 1500, 3000, and 4000 Hz. The statistical analysis showed that the urgent onset of HBOT could be a significant factor in the therapy of SSNHL.

A Comparative Study of Hearing Handicap Inventory and Pure-Tone Audiometry Scores in Unilateral Hearing Impaired Patients.

Objective: To investigate the consistency between the hearing handicap inventory (HHI) and pure-tone audiometry (PTA) scores in assessing hearing status to provide valuable insights for clinical application. Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical data and the HHI reporting status of 6540 patients admitted between April 2020 and July 2022 for self-reported unilateral hearing loss who met the study inclusion and exclusion criteria. The kappa coefficient was used to evaluate the consistency of HHI and PTA in assessing the hearing status of the participants. Results: The PTA results showed that among the 6540 participants, 3895 exhibited normal hearing, 1434 showed mild hearing loss, 809 presented with moderate hearing loss, and 402 showed severe hearing loss. The mean hearing thresholds from 0.5 to 4 kHz in healthy ears ranged from 3.65 to 18.45 dB HL, with a mean of 10.83 ± 5.29 dB HL; in ears affected by hearing loss, this ranged from 35 to 125 dB HL, with a mean of 69.63 ± 28.45 dB HL. The HHI scores showed that 4820 people had normal hearing, 1245 had mild-to-moderate hearing loss, and 475 had severe hearing loss. The kappa coefficients of normal, mild-to-moderate, and severe hearing loss were 0.312, 0.223, and 0.716, respectively (P = .001). The consistency between the 2 groups was particularly significant in the assessment of severe hearing loss. Using the PTA results as a benchmark, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the HHI were found to be 73.08%, 87.83%, 95.60%, and 70.98%, respectively. Conclusion: The HHI and PTA results were consistent in the assessment of hearing status, particularly in the assessment of severe hearing loss, and the level of consistency between the 2 methods was high. The combined use of these tools can facilitate a comprehensive assessment of the auditory status of patients with hearing loss.

Noise-induced Hearing Loss: Continuous versus Impact/impulse Noise.

Impact/impulse and continuous noise are two main causes of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in workplaces. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of impulse/impact noise and continuous noise on hearing status. In this study, 259 workers referred to the occupational medicine clinic of Shahid Rahnemoun hospital, Yazd, Iran, entered the study and were divided into two groups: with exposure to impact/impulse noise and with exposure to continuous noise. Hearing thresholds were measured and compared between the two groups by pure-tone audiometry (PTA). The frequency of hearing loss and audiometric notch according to the results of PTA was compared between the two groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS (ver. 16) using Student's t-test, Chi-square test, and Mann-Whitney U test. Hearing thresholds were significantly higher at all frequencies in the impact noise group. The hearing threshold at 6000 Hz was higher than other frequencies in both groups. The frequency of hearing loss at high frequencies was higher in the impact group. The frequency of audiometric notch was not significantly different between the two groups. The results of this study showed that hearing loss after exposure to impact/impulse noise is probably more frequent and more severe than exposure to continuous noise, but the pattern of hearing loss is similar in both types of noise exposure.

Bilateral simultaneous cochlear implants in children: Best timing of surgery and long-term auditory outcomes

PurposeEvaluate the hearing outcomes of bilateral deaf children implanted simultaneously and define the most appropriate timing for surgery. Materials and methodsAudiological CI results were retrieved in both the short-term and long-term period and compared by stratifying the patients into different subcohorts according to their age at surgery. Additional data collected were age at implant activation, etiology and timing of onset of deafness, presence of psychomotor delay. Resultsfifty-six bilaterally implanted children were included. The short-term outcomes differed significantly when comparing groups of different ages at implantation: younger patients achieved better aided pure tone audiometry results. Considering long-term follow-up, a significant correlation was identified between an early age at implantation and the hearing outcome at ages 2 to 5 years. Perceptive levels were better at 4 years of age in the younger group. No significant differences were found between children implanted at before 12 months and between 12 and 16 months of age. ConclusionsThe results of the analyzed follow-up data support the hypothesis that children implanted at before 24 months are expected to have better hearing performances. Nevertheless, these results are referred to a widely heterogeneous group of patients and the duration of auditory deprivation should be considered.

Do Flights Affect Hearing in Hot Air Balloon Pilots?

This study aimed to reveal occupational effects on the hearing of hot air balloon (HAB) pilots and examine the relationship between the duration of experience and these effects. This study included 31 male HAB pilots and a control group of 32 male participants. Tympanometry, eustachian tube function (ETF) test, pure-tone audiometry, and transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) tests were performed. Pure-tone audiometry results were significantly worse at 125, 500, and 6000 Hz in the right ear and 125, 500, 4000, and 6000 Hz in the left ear in the HAB group than the control group. Although tympanometry evaluation parameters did not differ between the HAB and control groups, ETF test was significantly worse in the HAB group than the controls bilaterally. TEOAE results were significantly worse at 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz in the right ear and 4000 Hz in the left ear in the HAB group than the controls. There was a significant positive correlation for 125, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz between the duration of experience and right ear hearing thresholds. For the left ear, the duration of experience showed a significant positive correlation at 3000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz. When the relationship between the duration of experience and TEOAE results was evaluated, a significant negative correlation was found at 4000 Hz in the left ear. In HAB pilots, in whom eustachian tube dysfunction is quite common, noise and high altitude affected hearing, especially low and high frequencies, and the duration of experience was found to be associated with hearing thresholds.

The characteristics of hearing loss in outpatients with tinnitus over the age of 60: a 11-year cross-sectional study

Background Presbycusis with tinnitus has a significant impact on the quality of life of elderly patients, becoming a serious socioeconomic problem. Objectives We conducted an 11-year cross-sectional analysis of the audiometry results of elderly patients with tinnitus from 2011 to 2021. Methods 9642 patients aged 60 and over were divided into three groups: young-old (YO) (60–74), old–old (OO) (75–89), and longevous (LON) (90 and over). Pure-tone audiometry results of all patients were analyzed. Results Among 9642 patients, the cases of female with tinnitus were more than male in all years. The hearing curve showed a typical age-related decline. Hearing level of air conduction in female declined significantly at low frequencies while that of male was worse at high frequencies in YO and OO groups. Compared with right, left hearing level of air conduction was significantly decreased at all frequencies except 0.125 kHz. Conclusions When the chief complaint was tinnitus, women were likely to experience more distress than men. However, men suffered from more hearing loss than women, at least in high frequencies. The influence weight of presbycusis and tinnitus on the auditory cortices might be a possible reason for the lateral distinction of hearing loss at different ages.

Comparison of quick speech-in-noise test and pure tone audiometry in noise-induced hearing loss

Objective Complaints of speech understanding in situations where background noise exists, can be seen from early stages of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL); therefore, speech-in-noise tests including Quick speech-in-noise (Q-SIN) tests may be a suitable method for screening NIHL. The Q-SIN test uses the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) to evaluates speech perception in the presence of noise. This study aimed to compare pure tone audiometry and Q-SIN tests in patients with NIHL and normal hearing subjects. Methods In this cross-sectional study, according to the result of audiometry, subjects were classified into two groups: 45 individuals with audiograms suggestive of NIHL as a case group and 57 normal-hearing individuals as controls. The Persian version of the Quick-SIN test was performed for two study groups. The Mann-Whitney U Test was used for the comparison of mean SNR and hearing thresholds between the study groups. Spearman test was implemented for evaluation of the correlation between mean SNR and mean hearing thresholds in high and low frequencies in both ears. Results The median SNR loss was significantly higher in the NIHL group [0.75 (IQR: −0.75, 2.75)] than in the normal hearing group [−1.25 (−0.25, 1.25)] (p < 0.0001). It was also found that in the NIHL group, SNR loss had a direct and significant correlation with the high frequencies of both ears and the low frequency of the left ear, as the average hearing threshold increases at high frequencies and low frequencies of the left ear, the SNR loss mean increases as well. Conclusion The present study showed that the Q-SIN test as a rapid, easily applicable test has a positive correlation with pure tone audiometry results, especially at higher frequencies.

Analysis of Clinical Efficacy and Influencing Factors of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) Treatment for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

Objective: This study aims to examine the clinical efficacy and prognostic factors associated with nerve growth factor (NGF) treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 101 patients with moderate or more severe SSHL who underwent secondary treatment at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 2019 and July 2020. Prior to treatment, all patients were assessed using Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA), auditory brainstem response, otoacoustic emission, temporal bone computed tomography, or inner ear magnetic resonance imaging. Fifty-seven patients received conventional systemic treatment and served as the control group, while 44 patients received NGF in conjunction with conventional systemic treatment, forming the experimental group. PTA results were compared between the two groups before treatment and at 1 week, 2 weeks, and 1 month post-treatment. Additionally, the impact of age, sex, affected side, hypertension, and other factors on patient prognosis was analyzed. Results: Both groups demonstrated significant PTA improvements following treatment, with a statistically significant difference (P < .05). The hearing recovery effective rate in the control group was 42.1%, while that of the experimental group reached 70.5%, with a statistically significant difference between the groups (P < .05). Most patients experienced notable hearing improvements 1 week after treatment, with some patients still showing progress 2 weeks post-treatment. Multifactor analysis revealed that hypertension and onset days were associated with treatment outcomes. Conclusion: Secondary treatment remains clinically significant for patients with SSHL who have not achieved a satisfactory response or show no clear improvement following initial treatment. The presence of hypertension and delayed treatment are negative factors related to treatment efficacy.

Evaluation of Hearing and Auditory Pathways in Fabry Disease Patients

Background Hearing and the auditory pathway are affected in Fabry diseases (FD). There is limited data on hearing and auditory pathways in this population. Therefore, we aimed to investigate auditory functions and auditory pathways using auditory brainstem responses (ABR), otoacoustic distortion emission (DPOAE), pure tone audiometry (PTA), and tympanometry in patients with FD and to compare these results with those of healthy individuals.&#x0D; Material and Methods This study included 16 patients with FD (F/M: 8/8, age: 33.5±15.4 years) and 16 healthy controls (F/M: 5/11, age: 33.6±6.3 years). Hearing functions and auditory pathways were assessed with ABR, DPOAE, PTA, and tympanometry.&#x0D; Results According to the results of PTA, conductive hearing loss was detected in 4 (25%) of the patients with FD. When the 500-4,000 Hz frequencies were assessed, the bone pathway hearing threshold in both ears was significantly higher in the patients with FD than in the control group (p=0.014 and p=0.014, respectively). When we compared the DPOAE measurements of the patients with FD and the control groups, the dB value measured at 2.8 kHz was significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group (p=0.018). When we compared the ABR measurements, the right ear's 3-5 interpeak latency at 60 dB was significantly lower in the patient with FD than in the control group (1.8±0.3 ms vs 2±0.2 ms, p=0.033).&#x0D; Conclusions We found that the hearing loss rate and hearing threshold were statistically significantly higher in FD patients than in the control group. Hearing screening should be systematically performed in these patients.

Multi-Frequency Hearing Improvement Analysis as a method evaluating recovery in patients with Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Introduction and objectiveHearing improvement assessment in patients with Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (ISSNHL) is complex. Methods used to evaluate the effectiveness of ISSNHL therapy do not include variety of PTA (Pure Tone Audiometry) curves. The aim of this paper is to assess usefulness of Multi-Frequency Hearing Improvement Analysis (MHIA) as an alternative method employed to evaluate the effectiveness of the ISSNHL treatment.Material and methodsMedical records of 218 patients with ISSNHL were statistically analysed in a retrospective study with regard to PTA results. Achieved results were compared using the following methods: Siegel’s criteria, Wilson’s criteria, and MHIA.ResultsThe analysis based on Siegel’s criteria, which concerned the effectiveness of therapy, was as follows: complete recovery: 94 (43,1%), partial recovery: 20 (9,2%), slight recovery: 17 (7,8%), no recovery: 87 (39,9%). The MHIA analysis revealed the following weighted arithmetic mean recovery rate: Air Conduction and Bone Conduction respectively – complete recovery (23,5%; 43,14%), partial recovery: (9,12%; 20,51%); slight recovery (6,65%; 7,4%), no recovery (68,36%; 54,98%).ConclusionsMHIA corrects the overestimation of complete recovery rate based on Siegel’s criteria. Using mean auditory threshold stimulus as a baseline to evaluate hearing improvement in studies could distort the interpretation of research findings. Clinical features and usability of MHIA in diverse groups of patients require further studies.

The Accuracy of Sensorineural Acuity Level Test in Predicting Bone Conduction Thresholds in Unilateral Hearing Loss Cases

The sensorineural acuity level (SAL) test is useful to determine the type of hearing loss if overmasking occurs in pure-tone audiometry (PTA) testing. In this article, we report two unilateral hearing loss cases to highlight the accuracy of the SAL test in predicting bone conduction (BC) thresholds in unilateral hearing loss cases, as well as the importance of using the appropriate SAL normative data. As found, the estimated BC thresholds (provided by the SAL test) were in good agreement with the actual BC thresholds (from the PTA) (i.e. within ± 5 dB) for both sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing loss cases. The accuracy of the SAL test is adequate to support the PTA results. Implementing inappropriate normative data may result in the misdiagnosis of the type of hearing loss.

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.