The Role of Preoperative Steroids for Hearing Preservation Cochlear Implantation: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Objectives: To determine whether preoperative steroids can improve hearing outcomes in cochlear implantation (CI).Methods: This is a randomized controlled trial involving 30 postlingual deaf CI patients. Subjects had preoperative thresholds of better than or equal to 80 dB at 125 and 250 Hz, and better than or equal to 90 dB at 500 and 1,000 Hz. The subjects were randomized to a control group, an oral steroid group (receiving 1 mg/kg/day of prednisolone for 6 days prior to surgery), or a transtympanic steroid group (receiving a single dose of 0.5 mL of 10 mg/mL dexamethasone at 24 h prior to surgery).Results: The subjects ...
Source: Audiology and Neurotology - January 12, 2018 Category: Audiology Source Type: research
Toward Optimizing Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials: Normalization Reduces the Need for Strong Neck Muscle Contraction
Conclusion: Muscle contraction amplitude strongly affects VEMPpp amplitude, but contractions 45-300 μV r.m.s. produce stable VEMPn and VEMPid values. Clinically, there may be no need for subjects to exert high contraction effort. This is especially beneficial in patients for whom maintaining high SCM contraction amplitudes is challenging.Audiol Neurotol 2017;22:282-291 (Source: Audiology and Neurotology)
Source: Audiology and Neurotology - January 11, 2018 Category: Audiology Source Type: research
Effect of Cochlear Implantation on Quality of Life in Adults with Unilateral Hearing Loss
Conclusions: Cochlear implantation in cases of substantial UHL may offer significant improvements in quality of life. Quality of life measures revealed a reduction in perceived tinnitus severity and subjective improvements in speech perception in noise, spatial hearing, and listening effort. While self-report of difficulties were lower for the UHL cohort than the conventional CI and EAS cohorts, subjects in all 3 groups reported an improvement in quality of life with CI use.Audiol Neurotol 2017;22:259-271 (Source: Audiology and Neurotology)
Source: Audiology and Neurotology - January 3, 2018 Category: Audiology Source Type: research
Quality of Life and Cost-Effectiveness of Cochlear Implants: A Narrative Review
Conclusions: Considerable work has been done on the QoL attainment and health economic implications of CI. Unilateral CI across all age groups leads to reported sustained benefits in the recipients' overall and disease-specific QoL. With increased cost associated with bilateral CI, further study is needed to characterize its costs and benefits with respect to the recipients' health, well-being, and contributions to society.Audiol Neurotol 2017;22:236-258 (Source: Audiology and Neurotology)
Source: Audiology and Neurotology - December 20, 2017 Category: Audiology Source Type: research
A Multicenter Clinical Evaluation of Data Logging in Cochlear Implant Recipients Using Automated Scene Classification Technologies
In this study, we report data logged for the different scenes and different loudness levels of 1,366 CI patients, as recorded by SCAN. Monitoring device use in cochlear implant recipients of all ages provides important information about the listening conditions encountered in recipients' daily lives that may support counseling and assist in the further management of their device settings. The findings for this large cohort of active CI users confirm differences between age groups concerning device use and exposure to various noise environments, especially between the youngest and oldest age groups, while similar levels of ...
Source: Audiology and Neurotology - December 12, 2017 Category: Audiology Source Type: research
Evidence of Osteoclastic Activity in the Human Temporal Bone
Bone remodeling within the otic capsule has been reported to be inhibited especially at or near the cochlea, except under some pathological conditions such as otosclerosis, Paget's disease, or mastoiditis, when bone remodeling can occur. Microcavitations found in periosteal and endosteal layers of human temporal bone specimens without otosclerosis, Paget's disease, or inflammation as reported in the current study are consistent with osteoclastic bone resorption. Thirty-three temporal bones from 33 patients were prepared for light microscopy and classified into 4 groups: histologically proven dehiscence of the superior semi...
Source: Audiology and Neurotology - December 8, 2017 Category: Audiology Source Type: research
The Protean Neuropsychiatric and Vestibuloauditory Manifestations of Neurosarcoidosis
Conclusions: Neurosarcoidosis is an elusive diagnosis and can cause hearing loss and psychiatric symptoms. Cochlear implantation for patients with severe hearing loss should be considered once the diagnosis is confirmed, as it is possible to achieve a successful level of hearing. Psychiatric symptoms can manifest with the onset of neurosarcoidosis, result from CN deficits, or develop as a side effect from long-term, high-dose corticosteroids, and should be monitored carefully in patients with neurosarcoidosis.Audiol Neurotol 2017;22:205-217 (Source: Audiology and Neurotology)
Source: Audiology and Neurotology - November 22, 2017 Category: Audiology Source Type: research
Tinnitus and Hearing Survey: A Polish Study of Validity and Reliability in a Clinical Population
In conclusion, the THS-POL is a valid and reliable screening tool to assist in deciding about the optimal management approach.Audiol Neurotol 2017;22:197-204 (Source: Audiology and Neurotology)
Source: Audiology and Neurotology - November 10, 2017 Category: Audiology Source Type: research
Electrophysiological Evidence of the Basilar-Membrane Travelling Wave and Frequency Place Coding of Sound in Cochlear Implant Recipients
Conclusions: Direct evidence for the travelling wave was observed. Electrocochleography from cochlear implant electrodes provides site-specific information on hair cell and neural function of the cochlea with potential diagnostic value.Audiol Neurotol 2017;22:180-189 (Source: Audiology and Neurotology)
Source: Audiology and Neurotology - October 30, 2017 Category: Audiology Source Type: research
Evaluation of Vestibular Functions in Patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease
Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease is an idiopathic, multisystem autoimmune disorder characterized by bilateral, diffuse granulomatous uveitis associated with neurological, audiovestibular, and dermatological manifestations. The purpose of this study is to investigate vestibular functions in patients with VKH disease. A total of 43 patients with VKH disease in Hokkaido University Hospital were enrolled in this study. Subjective symptoms such as dizziness or vertigo and the results of various vestibular examinations including nystagmus testing, caloric testing, and vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) testing were in...
Source: Audiology and Neurotology - October 27, 2017 Category: Audiology Source Type: research
Resistance of Gerbil Auditory Function to Reversible Decrease in Cochlear Blood Flow
The objective was to design in gerbils a model of reversible decrease in cochlear blood flow (CBF) and analyze its influence on cochlear function. In Mongolian gerbils injected with ferromagnetic microbeads, a magnet placed near the porus acusticus allowed CBF to be manipulated. The cochlear microphonic potential (CM) from the basal cochlea was monitored by a round-window electrode. In 13 of the 20 successfully injected gerbils, stable CBF reduction was obtained for 11.5 min on average. The CM was affected only when CBF fell to less than 60% of its baseline, yet remained>40% of its initial level in about 2/3 of such cases....
Source: Audiology and Neurotology - October 25, 2017 Category: Audiology Source Type: research
The miR-34a/Bcl-2 Pathway Contributes to Auditory Cortex Neuron Apoptosis in Age-Related Hearing Loss
Conclusion: Our results support a link between age-related apoptosis in auditory cortex neurons and miR-34a/Bcl-2 signaling, which may serve as a potential mechanism of the expression of AHL in the auditory cortex.Audiol Neurotol 2017;22:96-103 (Source: Audiology and Neurotology)
Source: Audiology and Neurotology - October 25, 2017 Category: Audiology Source Type: research
Perception of Iterated Rippled Noise Periodicity in Cochlear Implant Users
Pitch perception is more challenging for individuals with cochlear implants (CIs) than normal-hearing subjects because the signal processing by CIs is restricted. Processing and perceiving the periodicity of signals may contribute to pitch perception. Whether individuals with CIs can discern pitch within an iterated rippled noise (IRN) signal is still unclear. In a prospective controlled psychoacoustic study with 34 CI users and 15 normal-hearing control subjects, the difference limen between IRN signals with different numbers of iterations was measured. In 7 CI users and 15 normal-hearing control listeners with single-sid...
Source: Audiology and Neurotology - October 25, 2017 Category: Audiology Source Type: research
Histopathology of the Human Inner Ear in the Cogan Syndrome with Cochlear Implantation
The Cogan syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by nonsyphilitic interstitial keratitis and audiovestibular symptoms. Profound sensorineural hearing loss has been reported in approximately half of the patients with the Cogan syndrome resulting in candidacy for cochlear implantation in some patients. The current study is the first histopathologic report on the temporal bones of a patient with the Cogan syndrome who during life underwent bilateral cochlear implantation. Preoperative MRI revealed tissue with high density in the basal turns of both cochleae and both vestibular systems consistent with fibrous tissue due to ...
Source: Audiology and Neurotology - October 25, 2017 Category: Audiology Source Type: research
Brimonidine Protects Auditory Hair Cells from in vitro-Induced Toxicity of Gentamicin
This study investigated the effects of brimonidine on auditory HCs that were also exposed to gentamicin, which is toxic to HCs. Organ of Corti explants were exposed to gentamicin in the presence or absence of brimonidine, and the α2-AR protein expression levels and Erk1/2 and Akt phosphorylation levels were determined. Brimonidine had a protective effect on auditory HCs against gentamicin-induced toxicity that was blocked by yohimbine. This suggested that the protective effect of brimonidine on HCs was mediated by the α2-AR. None of the treatments altered α2-AR protein expression levels, and brimonidine did not signific...
Source: Audiology and Neurotology - October 25, 2017 Category: Audiology Source Type: research
