To Evaluate the Correlation between Preoperative Otoscopic Features, Pure Tone Audiometric Findings and Intraoperative Ossicular Chain Status in Patients with Chronic Otitis Media

Aim: Chronic otitis media (COM) is chronic muco purulent discharge through a perforated tympanic membrane. Theossicular chain damage is found in both mucosal and squamosal types of COM. We aim to evaluate relationship between preoperative otologic features, pure tone audiometric findings and intraoperative ossicular chain status in patients with chronic otitis media. Material and Methods: 100 patients of either sex aged between 12 to 60 years operated for active or inactive, squamosal or mucosal chronic otitis media attending Ram Lal Eye and ENT Hospital, Government Medical College Amritsar were taken. The preoperative ossicular chain status based on set parameters was compared with the intraoperative ossicular chain status. Results: The ossicular chain integrity is more commonly compromised in squamosal COM and the most common ossicle eroded is Incus. Pure tone audiogram has got a very important role in determining the ossicular chain integrity preoperatively and must be done in all cases with accuracy. Conclusion: It is concluded that on the basis of otoscopic examination and pure tone audiometry values, we can accurately classify the COM as mucosal or squamosal type and get an idea of the ossicular chain integrity preoperatively hence planning the extent of surgery.

Clinical characteristics and analysis of vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss in different ages

BACKGROUND Numerous studies have found that patients experiencing sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSHL),with or without accompanying vertigo,often show impaired vestibular function.However,there is a dearth of studies analyzing vestibularevoked myogenic potentials(VEMPs)in SSHL patients across various age groups.AIM To investigate vestibular condition in SSHL patients across various age demographics.METHODS Clinical data of 84 SSHL patients were investigated retrospectively.Audiometry,cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials(c-VEMPs),and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials(o-VEMPs)were conducted on these patients.Parameters assessed included the latencies of P1 and N1 waves,as well as the amplitudes of P1–N1 waves.Moreover,the study evaluated the influence of factors such as sex,affected side,configuration of hearing loss,and presence of accompanying vertigo.RESULTS Among the 84 SSHL patients,no significant differences were observed among the three groups in terms of gender,affected side,and the presence or absence of vertigo.Group II(aged 41–60 years)had the highest number of SSHL cases.The rates of absent o-VEMPs in the affected ears were 20.83%,31.58%,and 22.72%for the three age groups,respectively,with no statistically significant difference among them.The rates of absent c-VEMPs in the affected ears were 8.3%,34.21%,and 18.18%for the three age groups,respectively,with significant differences.In the unaffected ears,there were differences observed in the extraction rates of o-VEMPs in the unaffected ears among the age groups.In the three age groups,no significant differences were noted in the three age groups in the latencies of P1 and N1 waves or in the amplitude of N1–P1 waves for c-VEMPs and o-VEMPs,either on the affected side or on the unaffected side,across the three age groups.CONCLUSION The extraction rate of VEMPs is more valuable than parameters.Regardless of the presence of vertigo,vestibular organs are involved in SSHL.Notably,SSHL patients aged 41–60 appear more susceptible to damage to the inferior vestibular nerve and saccule.

Auditory function in symptomatic patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 and unexposed patients:An analytical cross-sectional study

Objective:To describe audiological symptoms,audiometric profile,and distortion product otoacoustic emission in symptomatic patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection(positive RT-PCR test)and asymptomatic patients(negative RT-PCR test).Methods:An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using data obtained from clinical charts,physical examination,audiometry,and distortion product otoacoustic emission on 40 patients[case patients(CP)]recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosed by a positive RT-PCR test and 22asymptomatic participants with a negative RT-PCR test[non-case(NC)].Results:Sixty-two patients(mean age:31.1 and 28.2 years in the CP and NC groups,respectively)were included.All participants were young without significant comorbidities,risk factors for hearing loss or otological history.Vertigo(5%),tinnitus(17.5%)and aural fullness/hearing loss(35%)were found in the CP group.A statistically significant difference was found in specific frequencies(1000,4000,and 8000 Hz)and pure tone average(low and high conversational frequencies with increased threshold in the PC group compared with the NC group),which was not found in distortion product otoacoustic emission.Conclusion:Audiovestibular symptoms are frequent in symptomatic patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection.SARS-CoV-2 infection was consistently associated with an increased audiometric hearing threshold at specific frequencies and low tone average.

Audiovestibular functioning of post-menopausal females with osteoporosis and osteopenia

Introduction:Osteoporosis and osteopenia are progressive disorders characterized by decreased bone mass,especially in postmenopausal women.These can be associated with body pain,fractures,hearing loss and balance disorders.The present study aims to evaluate audio-vestibular function in postmenopausal patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis.Methods:The study included 48 postmenopausal women(new subjects)diagnosed with osteoporosis(n=23)or osteopenia(n=25)in the age range of 50e66 years,as well as 28 normal women as controls.Audiological testing included pure tone audiometry(conventional and extended high-frequency audiometry),speech audiometry,impedance audiometry and otoacoustic emissions,including both transient evoked otoacoustic emissions(TEOAEs)and distortion product otoacoustic emissions(DPOAEs).All subjects also underwent vestibular evoked myogenic potentials testing(both ocular and cervical VEMPs).Results:In the present study,hearing was worse at all frequencies in the osteoporosis group in comparison with the osteopenia and control groups,with worse speech recognition and discrimination scores and OAEs.Vestibular function was affected in 95.65%of women with osteoporosis and 76%of those with osteopenia.Conclusion:Osteoporosis and osteopenia are risk factors for vestibular dysfunction and hearing deficits in postmenopausal women.Thus,hearing and vestibular function should be monitored by audiological and vestibular testing periodically in these individuals.

Hearing Impairment in Senile Dementia of Alzhaimer's Type

Objectives To evaluate peripheral auditory dysfunction in senile dementia of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and its relationship with cognitive dysfunction. Methods Pure tone thresholds,word recognition scores (WRS), acoustic immittance and auditory brain-stem responses (ABR) were tested to evaluate the auditory function in 43 AD patients and 50 normal subjects. The test reliability in these subjects was examined before the test results were evaluated for their correlation with the Mini Mental State Examination(MMSE) score. Results There were no statistically significant differences in peripheral auditory functions between the two ears in the tested subjects or between the two groups when the auditometric results of the right ear were compared(P > 0.05). Also, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups when audiometric test reliability, acoustic impedance and ABR results were compared(P > 0.05). Conclutions The pure tone audiometric threshold and WRS in AD patients are similar to those in comparable non-AD senile subjects. Peripheral auditory dysfunction is not related to cognitive dysfunction.

Early on Set Presbyacusis in Gwagwalada Area Council of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja

Background: Presbyacusis is a major cause of hearing loss among seniors. The condition attracts attention following the prediction of World Health Organization that elderly population is expected to hit 1.2 billion by 2025 out of which more than 500 million of them will suffer from sensorineural hearing loss(SHL) worldwide. The studies have shown that this begins to reflect on audiograms as from the third decade, mainly in the high frequencies. Aim/objective: This study evaluated the early on-set presbyacusis at Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal capital territory-Abuja. Method: It was a multi-stage sampling, prospective, cross-sectional study done in FCT, Abuja. Participants from age 20 years and above were recruited into the study after signing informed consent. The presumed risk factors as highlighted in the questionnaire were screened out. Results: Two hundred and two participants were recruited into the study, out of which twelve were excluded from the analysis on account of various exclusion criteria. The age range of the participants was 20 to 79 years, with an average age of 54.8 ± 5.6 years. One hundred and fourteen (60.0%) males and seventy-six (40.0%) females participated in the study. The commonly reported associated symptom was tinnitus. About 32.0% of the participants had moderate sensorineural hearing loss. However, the prevalence of presbyacusis was 28.2% for age below 65 years and 78.8% for 65 years and above. The cumulative prevalence was 54.2%. Conclusion: The study has shown that presbyacusis occur as early as the third decade of life, possibly subclinical before age 65 years. The prevalence was 28.2% before age 65 years and 78.8% from age 65 years, there was a steady increase in percentage of participants with SNHL from age 20 years, and a significant sudden increase from 65 years was observed with a sloping tracing at high frequency.

Deafness: Epidemiological, Clinical and Therapeutic Aspects in 15 Year Olds and over at the University Hospital Center Gabriel Toure of Bamako

Objective: To study the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of hearing loss in 15-year-olds and over at the CHU GT of Bamako. Materials and Method: This is a longitudinal prospective study carried out in the ENT department of the University hospital Gabriel Toure in Bamako over 13 months (from September 2018 to September 2019). We carried out an exhaustive sampling of all the patients who consulted in the department for hearing loss and whose deafness was confirmed at pure tone audiometry with age greater than or equal to 15 years. The exclusion criteria were all patients under the age of 15 as well as a hearing loss related to earwax or foreign bodies and refusals to participate in the study. Results: Two hundred and thirty (230) patients were collected during the study. Dominated by the male sex with a sex ratio of 1.5 or 3 men for 2 women, with an average age of 38.16 ± 19 years with extremes ranging from 15 to 86 years. Among our patients, 37.40% had unilateral deafness, progressive installation evolving more than 12 weeks with a rate of cases had headaches 41% and had a history of chronic otitis media (CMO) 27%. There were a few cases of mixed type deafness, 30% had mild deafness, 22% moderate deafness and 40% severe deafness, according to the BIAP classification. Among our patients, 22.16% had conductive hearing loss, and those with sensorineural hearing loss accounted for 15.24%. Conclusion: Pure tone audiometry remains essential in the diagnosis of deafness. It not only makes it possible to confirm or invalidate the deafness, but also to define the type of deafness and especially to classify the deafness according to the degree of the average hearing loss established by the BIAP.