Transcutaneous Osseo-integrated Auditory Devices: Analysis of Two Different Implants in Adults With Different Audiological Inclusion Criteria.

Objective: To determine and compare audiological and speech/language discrimination results in patients with osteo-integrated auditory devices, by comparing two different systems including different audiological indications in adult population.

Study Design: Descriptive and analytic, cross-sectional, cohort, and retrospective case review.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Air traffic controllers' long-term speech-in-noise training effects: A control group study.

Introduction: Speech perception in noise relies on the capacity of the auditory system to process complex sounds using sensory and cognitive skills. The possibility that these can be trained during adulthood is of special interest in auditory disorders, where speech in noise perception becomes compromised. Air traffic controllers (ATC) are constantly exposed to radio communication, a situation that seems to produce auditory learning.

Transeptal suturing - a cost-efficient alternative for nasal packing in septal surgery.

Introduction: Nasal packing is routinely used in septal surgery to prevent postoperative bleeding.

Objective: To demonstrate the possibility of transeptal suture as a safe and effective way to avoid nasal packing and to improve efficiency.

Methods: This is a prospective, descriptive, inferential cost study comprising 92 patients.

A comparative study on speech in noise understanding with a direct acoustic cochlear implant in subjects with severe to profound mixed hearing loss.

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a direct acoustic cochlear implant (DACI) for speech understanding in noise in patients suffering from severe to profound mixed hearing loss (MHL) due to various etiologies compared to the preoperative best-aided condition. The study was performed at five tertiary referral centers in Europe (Belgium, Germany, Poland and Spain). Nineteen adult subjects with severe to profound MHL due to (advanced) otosclerosis, ear canal fibrosis, chronic otitis media, tympanosclerosis or previous cholesteatoma were implanted with a DACI (Codacs™ Investigational Device) combined with a conventional stapes prosthesis.

Effect of changing pulse rate on profile parameters of perceptual thresholds and loudness comfort levels and relation to ECAP thresholds in recipients of the Nucleus CI24RE device.

The Nucleus CI24RE ‘Freedom' device offers higher stimulation rates and lower noise levels in action potential measurements (ECAPs) than previous devices. A study including ten European implant teams showed that the effect of changes in rate from 250 to 3500 pulses per second on tilt and curvature of the T and C profiles is insignificant. When changing rate one may change the levels at all electrodes by the same amount.

An evaluation of the preservation of residual hearing with the Nucleus Contour Advance electrode.

Conclusion: Our study results confirm that it is possible to preserve preoperative hearing levels in the majority of subjects when using the Nucleus 24 Contour Advance provided that there is adherence to the major principles of 'soft surgery'. Our study group demonstrated that 71-86% of subjects showed preservation of preoperative hearing thresholds at 6 months to varying degree.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the degree of residual hearing preserved postoperatively in a group of standard cochlear implant (CI) candidates following implantation via soft surgery with a Nucleus 24 Contour Advance CI.

Serous otitis media in children: implication of Alloiococcus otitidis.

Objective: Otitis media with effusion (OME) has long been considered to be a noninfective disease resulting from a eustachian tube dysfunction. However, several microbiological techniques have shown bacteria in the middle ear fluids from patients with OME. Alloiococcus otitidis has been detected in the middle ear fluid from patients with OME.

Residual hearing conservation and electroacoustic stimulation with the nucleus 24 contour advance cochlear implant.

Objective: To assess the conservation of residual hearing in recipients of the Nucleus 24 Contour Advance cochlear implant (CI) and the benefits of combined electrical and acoustic stimulation.

Study Design: Prospective multicenter study.

Setting: CI clinics in Western Europe.

Preservation of residual hearing with cochlear implantation: how and why.

Conclusions: Hearing may be conserved in adults after implantation with the Nucleus Contour Advance perimodiolar electrode array. The degree of hearing preservation and the maximum insertion depth of the electrode array can vary considerably despite a defined surgical protocol. Residual hearing combined with electrical stimulation in the same ear can provide additional benefits even for conventional candidates for cochlear implantation.