Evaluation of investigations to diagnose the cause of dizziness in elderly people: a community based controlled study.

Objective: To compare the findings in dizzy elderly people with those in controls of a similar age to identify which investigations differentiate dizzy from non-dizzy patients and to design an investigational algorithm.

Design: Community based study of clinical and laboratory findings in dizzy and control elderly people.

Setting: Research outpatient clinic at a teaching hospital.

The prognostic value of facial electroneurography in Bell's palsy.

Twenty six patients with Bell's palsy were studied at presentation using electroneurography. Ninety-four per cent of those who recovered completely could have been predicted by ENoG within 10 days of onset. Of the 18 patients who recovered completely, 13 had a total palsy at presentation.

The evaluation of dizziness in elderly patients.

Twenty-one elderly patients with dizziness underwent a comprehensive medical and otoneurological evaluation. The majority had vertigo, limited mobility and restricted neck movements. Poor visual acuity, postural hypotension and presbyacusis were also frequent findings.

Ototoxicity of cis-platinum and its relationship to eye colour.

The following hypothesis is presented: that the susceptibility of an individual patient to hearing loss as a result of cis-platinum administration can be predicted on the basis of eye colour. The rationale is that the melanin content of the inner ears is related to that of the eyes; dark eyes contain more melanin than light-coloured eyes; and melanin causes the accumulation of the ototoxic drug within the inner ear. Hence those with dark eyes will suffer greater damage to the hearing than those with pale eyes.

Ear wax removal: a survey of current practice.

Objective: To determine the methods of removing ear wax used by local general practitioners and the incidence of associated complications.

Design: Postal survey of 312 general practitioners serving a population of about 650,000; supplementary study of ear, nose, and throat outpatients to quantify the improvement in aural acuity after wax removal.

Setting: Catchment area of the Edinburgh otolaryngological unit.

Facial electroneurography. Standardization of electrode position.

Electroneurography is now regarded as a valuable method for quantitatively assessing facial nerve function. Controversy, however, still surrounds some aspects of the technique because of the large number of associated variables. This study establishes by experiment the optimum site for both the recording and stimulating electrodes and recommends that this be adopted as a standard to ensure consistency in results between different study groups.

The cupped hand as an aid to hearing.

The acoustic effects of cupping the hand behind the ear were measured by means of a miniature microphone placed at the entrance to the ear canal. Pure tone signals from 0.2 to 10 kHz, at 1/3-octave intervals, were used.

A theoretical approach to the loop induction system.

In a study of the properties of hearing aids with loop induction coils, it was observed that a group of high-powered aids used primarily for their extended low frequency responses had poor low frequency responses when used on loop input. The consequences of these characteristics are discussed. To asisst in the problem of loop design, equations are presented expressing the magnetic field strength at any point in terms of the electric current and loop location.

Relief of the occluded ear sensation to improve earmold comfort.

Earmold comfort is an important factor in the overall satisfaction a hearing-impaired person has with a hearing aid system. Recent research into the subjective effects of earmold venting indicates that, for the naive hearing-aid user, the solid mold produces a "closed" and "blocked" sensation that is relieved to a degree, depending on the vent diameter. To improve earmold comfort, all earmolds should be vented.