Teleaudiology practice in COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt and Saudi Arabia

Objective:To evaluate the audiologists’attitudes and practice towards teleaudiology,as well as to assess the audiological services provided in Egypt and Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods:A cross sectional study was conducted among 112 audiologists who were recruited through convenience sampling.Multinomial logistic regression was used to test the association between practice of tele audiology as a dependent variable and some independent variables.Results:25.4%of the studied sample were practicing tele audiology.Participants’age and attitude toward telemedicine were the independent predictors of tele audiology practice at p value≤0.05.Conclusion:The tele audiology practice is essential.Therefore,raising the knowledge of audiologist about the great value of practicing tele audiology is very important,infrastructure,equipment,and technology especially telecommunication should be improved and facilitated for both audiologist and patients.

专访WS Audiology听力集团首席营销官Maarten Barmentlo:以最佳设计与技术关怀社会

近年来,越来越多的国际设计大奖开始注重嘉许那些帮助弱势群体的优异设计,iF设计奖也不例外。在今年的投稿作品中,就有一款为听障人士研发的名为'魅影助听器'的产品因其充满关怀的杰出设计备受iF国际评审团的青睐,荣获2019年的'iF金奖'。这款'魅影助听器'正是由WS Audiology听力集团邀请TEAMS设计公司合作为其旗下高端品牌西嘉研发的。WS Audiology听力集团由两家听力行业先驱企业——西万拓集团(前身为西门子听力技术)和唯听集团合并创建,于2019年3月1日正式成立后,成为全球听力行业新巨头,旗下拥有西嘉、唯听、力斯顿、奥德声等知名助听器品牌.

Auditory brainstem functioning in individuals with misophonia

Purpose:Misophonia is not investigated much from an audiological perspective.Our study aims to examine the processing of the auditory retro-cochlear pathways in individuals with misophonia.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted among university students who had misophonia.The revised Amsterdam Misophonia Scale was used to determine the severity of misophonia.Participants were divided into mild and moderate-severe misophonia and compared with the healthy control group.Auditory Brainstem Response testing was recorded from all the individuals with misophonia.The absolute latency,amplitude,inter-peak latency difference,and inter-rate latency difference were compared between the groups.Results:One-way ANOVA result showed no significant difference in all the parameters of auditory brainstem response between the groups.These results are suggestive of normal brainstem processing in individuals with misophonia.Conclusions:The study concludes that the auditory pathway up to brainstem areas is intact in individuals with misophonia.Further studies are essential on a larger population for generalizing the results.

听力学课程设置的思考与体会

首都医科大学开办的听力学教育课程通过对教学形式与内容的不断摸索,具备了多样性特色,培养了学生多方面能力。

互动教学在放大听力学授课中的应用

互动教学是在教学改革的进程中,在现代教学理论的指导下逐渐形成的一种先进的主体性的教学方法。有效的教学互动主要有双向、多向、网状三种模式。在放大听力学授课过程中运用互动教学方法,可提高教学质量、改善授课效果,但也应根据课程内容决定是否使用。

中国听力学教育二十年发展巡礼

随着近年蓬勃发展的人工耳蜗技术和新生儿听力筛查等防聋治聋工作的崛起,听力学这个名词逐渐被人们认识和接受,听力学相关技术走进了寻常百姓的生活,和千千万万大众发生了千丝万缕的联系,而承载着培养听力学专门人才的听力学教育项目在其中的重要性不言而喻。

低龄儿童的听力学评估

随着新生儿听力筛查和儿童听力保健各项技术规范的颁布，使得临床听力学评估的年龄越来越小。然而由于儿童处于生长发育阶段，每个年龄段其行为、认知、听力及语言发育均有不同特点，低龄儿童听力学评估具有一定的挑战性，因此，如何根据儿童的生长发育和患病栈点，对可疑听力损失的低龄儿童进行规范化听力学评估，将从以下几个层面进行阐述。

听力学教育办学模式的思考

我国听力学教育已经发展近二十年,教育部已经将"听力与言语康复学"作为普通高等学校本科专业面向全国招生。在听力学教育日趋规范化的今天,如何能够更优化的设置听力学的办学模式,更快更多的培养听力学专业人才,是值得思考的问题。

中美助听器验配师教育培训的比较

针对广大听力障碍人士,选配和佩戴助听器是帮助其回归主流社会的主要途径。随着助听器制造技术的改进,对验配师(直接为听障者选配助听器的专业人士)的严格培训常常为患者是否满意的关键因素。中美两国在国家层面、地方层面均已对验配师的培训、注册和继续教育立法(或开始立法)。虽然两国制度和文化差异很大,但是提高验配师技术服务水准的目的是一致的。通过对比两国的差异,改进我国验配师制度,将使得最先进的助听器技术更好的服务于听力障碍者,造福于大众。

中国听力学教育新模式——在线教育

全世界听力障碍者相当于世界人口的4%以上,听力损失的影响将会持续上升,而我国听力从业人员数量不足,无法满足日益增加的听力服务需求,我国听力师的培养机制又不能满足现在对于人才的需求。在这样的大背景下中国听力学教育需要有新的模式突破才能满足我国对于听力学教育的需求,而在线教育正是我们需要的打破时间、空间限制的模式。

Bell’s palsy workup:Does audiometry add value?

Objective:To investigate if routine audiometry in Bell’s palsy patients has prognostic value.Methods:Retrospective case review was conducted on all Bell’s palsy patients(n紏191)seen at the tertiary otolaryngology specialist outpatient clinic from 2015 to 2017.Correlation of ipsilesional audiometric thresholds with patients’time-to-recovery and initial clinical severity(measured by House-Brackmann(HB)scoring)were used for the prognostic outcome measure.Audiometry results were analyzed using three contiguous frequency pure-tone average(1kHz,2kHz,4kHz).Statistical analysis was done via Stata(v13.1),significance tests were 2-sided at 5%significance level.Results:There was no significant difference between audiometric thresholds between the ipsilesional ear and the contralateral ear(p=0.87).Time-to-recovery was significantly longer for patients with severe initial presentation as compared to mild and moderate severity(p<0.01).There was no correlation found between the audiometry results and HB score at presentation(p=0.39).There was no correlation found between ipsilesional audiometric thresholds and time-to-recovery(p=0.58).Conclusion:Our study suggests that routine audiometry has limited prognostic value in Bell’s palsy patients.

Auditory symptoms and autistic spectrum disorder:A scoping review and recommendations for future research

Introduction:Auditory symptoms in individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder(ASD)are well described within the neurodevelopmental literature,yet there is minimal mention of ASD in Otolaryngology literature.This is surprising considering the potential clinical and diagnostic implications of this link,and the potential for ASD to present to Otolaryngologists in the form of unexplained auditory symptoms.The aims of this literature review were to explore the intersection of auditory symptoms and ASD from the perspective of clinical Otolaryngology,and to outline a clinically focused research agenda based on emerging themes relevant to Otolaryngology.Methods:We searched Pubmed,Embase,Ovid and Cochrane library for studies until November 2021.Four authors independently reviewed 227 publications identified.39 were filtered into the final analysis.The PRISMA 2020 guidelines were followed.The heterogeneity of literature meant that a Systematic Review was not feasible.Included studies were therefore classified thematically,forming the basis of the scoping review.Results:Diagnostic theories for auditory symptoms in ASD include the entire auditory pathway and brain.There is a growing body of literature on auditory symptoms in ASD,suggesting that a primary diagnosis of ASD should be considered in patients presenting with otherwise unexplained auditory symptoms,and indicating a learning need for Otolaryngologists and audiologists,to whom these patients may present.Conclusion:We recommend a research agenda focusing on multidisciplinary collaboration,stakeholder engagement,responsible clinical screening,and clarification of pathophysiological mechanisms and terminology.

Autosomal recessive hereditary auditory neuropathy

Objectives: Auditory neuropathy (AN) is a sensorineural hearing disorder characterized by absent or abnormal auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) and normal cochlear outer hair cell function as measured by otoacoustic emissions (OAEs). Many risk factors are thought to be involved in its etiology and pathophysiology. Three Chinese pedigrees with familial AN are presented herein to demonstrate involvement of genetic factors in AN etiology. Methods: Probands of the above - mentioned pedigrees, who had been diagnosed with AN, were evaluated and followed up in the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, China PLA General Hospital. Their family members were studied and the pedigree diagrams were established. History of illness, physical examination,pure tone audiometry, acoustic reflex, ABRs and transient evoked and distortion- product otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs and DPOAEs) were obtained from members of these families. DPOAE changes under the influence of contralateral sound stimuli were observed by presenting a set of continuous white noise to the non - recording ear to exam the function of auditory efferent system. Some subjects received vestibular caloric test, computed tomography (CT)scan of the temporal bone and electrocardiography (ECG) to exclude other possible neuropathy disorders. Results: In most affected subjects, hearing loss of various degrees and speech discrimination difficulties started at 10 to16 years of age. Their audiological evaluation showed absence of acoustic reflex and ABRs. As expected in AN, these subjects exhibited near normal cochlear outer hair cell function as shown in TEOAE & DPOAE recordings. Pure- tone audiometry revealed hearing loss ranging from mild to severe in these patients. Autosomal recessive inheritance patterns were observed in the three families. In Pedigree Ⅰ and Ⅱ, two affected brothers were found respectively, while in pedigree Ⅲ, 2 sisters were affected. All the patients were otherwise normal without evidence of peripheral neuropathy at the time of this writing. Conclusions: In this study, patients with feature of non- syndromic hereditary auditory neuropathy were identified in three Chinese families.Pedigree analysis indicates autosomal recessive inheritances in the pedigrees. The observed inheritance and clinical audiologic findings are different from those previously described for non-syndromic low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss. This information should facilitate future molecular candidate genes screening for understanding the mechanism of AN.

Auditory Gain, Quality of Life, and Audiological Benefits in Bone-Anchored Hearing Device Users in Fundación SantaféDe Bogotá, Colombia

The objective of this study is to determine the auditory gain, quality of life, audiological benefits, in bone-anchored hearing device users (BAHA). It is a retrospective and concurrent evaluation of thirty patients fitted unilaterally and seven fitted bilaterally for at least six months. Patients were assessed with audiometric testing and application of Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) and Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB). Regarding sound-field pure audiometry results, we found a statistically significant gain in all frequencies using the bone-anchored device. APHAB scores showed statistically significant subjective audiological gains in all subscales except for the aversiveness subscale. GBI mean scores for all items in both groups were all above 3, suggesting quality of life improvement in conductive and mixed hearing loss patients. BP100 users showed a greater clinical gain in the APHAB global score and subscales compared with Divino users. In conclusion the BAHA provides significant auditory gain, subjective audiological benefits and improves quality of life in all BAHA users. This study shows a significant clinical and statistical benefit of BAHA measured by audiometric testing and by the APHAB and GBI questionnaires.

我国听力学的崛起

回顾 5 0年来我国听力学的发展历程及其涉及的研究领域。从《耳科学》问世到《听力学及言语疾病杂志》的创办 ,从听力学教育的开始到临床医学 7年制听力学专业硕士的招生 ,噪声性聋、药物中毒性耳聋、遗传性聋和自身免疫性内耳病的基础与临床研究 ,都标志着我国听力学在基础研究、临床研究以及听力学教育方面取得了可喜的成绩。耳聋基因的基础研究、新生儿听力筛查以及人工耳蜗的研究 ,已跻身于世界研究行列。

多频稳态在低龄儿童人工耳蜗植入术前的评估价值

多频稳态是近年发展起来的临床听力学检查方法,具有频率特性好、最大声输出高、客观性好、检查快速便捷、不受睡眠和麻醉的影响等特点,尤其适用于低龄极重度感音神经性聋儿童术前听力检查,因此在人工耳蜗植入术前的听力评估中占有相当重要的地位。目前人工耳蜗植入患者日趋低龄化,而其他听力检查方法对于低龄患者的听力评估尚有不足之处,多频稳态对此是一个很好的补充。

临床听力学本科生临床带教模式的探讨

临床听力学在国外作为独立的学科已经有数十年的历史,其培养体系及培养内容已经非常成熟[1]。我国临床听力学的发展落后于国外,但随着人民生活质量的改善,平均寿命的延长,听力问题已成为人们多关注的健康和生活质量中的重要方面。临床听力学作为一个新兴的学科,正在逐渐从耳鼻咽喉科学中分离出来,形成一门相对年轻而又发展迅速的分支科学,特别是近年来我国耳内科学的蓬勃发展,

助听器反馈控制技术的应用现状与进展

在助听器放大系统中，当放大器件和反馈环路同时存在于声处理系统时，从麦克风采集到的声音通过放大器由扬声器输出后，经传播又再次从麦克风进入系统。这样反复放大造成声输出超过系统的最大输出能力而使输出信号发生的高强度震荡，称为声反馈。声反馈是助听器使用中的主要问题之一，据国外的统计，大约有24％的助听器使用者认为助听器的声反馈严重影响了助听器的正常使用。在近期国外对2428名用户的调查显示，反馈问题高居助听器不满意原因的第3位。

保障人工植入助听装置的听力学评估

人工植入助听装置（implantable hearing devices, IHD）由于其创伤少、风险小、效果好，已经日益成为国际上热门的、有效解决患者听力问题的不可缺少的重要手段。我国听力障碍，听力残疾的患病率与世界其他国家一样也是相当高的，再加上庞大的人口基数，对于IHD的需求较世界上其他国家就更为迫切。正如鼻内镜的诞生对于鼻科学迅猛发展、成熟的重要意义一样，IHD也必将大力促进我国耳科学和听力学的发展，成为耳科学和听力学发展史上一个新的、重要的里程碑。