Awareness of middle ear pathologies in South Africa: Towards a primordial preventive audiology.

Background:  Public awareness of auditory pathologies, has been explored in the literature. However, there is limited evidence regarding public awareness of middle ear pathologies and their risk factors in South African communities.

Objectives:  The aim of this study was to describe public awareness regarding middle ear pathologies and their associated risk factors in the community of Giyani, Limpopo province, South Africa.

Development of an artificial intelligence based occupational noise induced hearing loss early warning system for mine workers.

Introduction: Occupational Noise Induced Hearing Loss (ONIHL) is one of the most prevalent conditions among mine workers globally. This reality is due to mine workers being exposed to noise produced by heavy machinery, rock drilling, blasting, and so on. This condition can be compounded by the fact that mine workers often work in confined workspaces for extended periods of time, where little to no attenuation of noise occurs.

An Analysis of Risk Factors for Hearing Function in Adults Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Gauteng, South Africa.

The aim of this study was to explore risk factors for hearing loss or affecting hearing function in adults living with HIV. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed. A non-probability purposive sampling method was used to select and recruit 132 participants aged 18 years and above from an HIV clinic within the Academic Hospital in Gauteng Province, South Africa.

Erratum: Conducting clinical research in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic: Challenges and lessons for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology research.

No abstract available.

Middle ear pathologies in children living with HIV: A scoping review.

Background:  Middle ear pathologies are associated with and persist in individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Yet, limited research exists on middle ear pathologies in children living with human immunodeficiency viruses.

Objective:  To systematically review evidence of middle ear pathologies in children living with HIV, how it is described, measures used to describe it and other relevant information.

Simulations as a mode of clinical training in healthcare professions: A scoping review to guide planning in speech-language pathology and audiology during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Background:  Simulation plays an important role as an alternative method for training of students, particularly in health education. As a result of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions of face-to-face interactions, traditional teaching methods have been disrupted, increasing the need for alternative methods to supplement modes of student clinical training in healthcare programmes.

Objectives:  The scoping review aimed to determine what has been documented about simulation as a mode of clinical training in healthcare professions (HCPs) in order to guide speech-language pathology and audiology (SLPA) professions during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Middle ear status - structure, function and pathology: A scoping review on middle ear status of COVID-19 positive patients.

Background:  The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is the latest public health emergency that has presented challenges globally. Limited evidence exists on the association between COVID-19 and middle ear pathologies, regardless of the respiratory nature of some of the core symptoms.

Objective:  This scoping review aimed at exploring evidence on the effects of COVID-19 on middle ear functioning as part of symptom mapping and preventive planning for ear and hearing care.

Conducting clinical research in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic: Challenges and lessons for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology research.

Background: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presented new and unanticipated challenges to the academic training and performance of clinical research at undergraduate and postgraduate levels of training. This highlighted the need for reimagining research designs and methods to ensure continued generation of knowledge - a core function of a research-intensive university. Whilst adhering to government regulations geared towards protecting both the research participants and researchers, innovative research methods are required.

Investigation of the Interaction between Hearing Function and Comorbidities in Adults Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Adults living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have a high prevalence of co-existing comorbidities. While research indicates that adults living with HIV are at risk of developing hearing impairment, limited research exists on the interaction between hearing function and comorbidities in this population. The objective of this study was to determine and compare the hearing function of a group of adults living with HIV and comorbidities and those without comorbidities.

The sensitivity and specificity of wideband absorbance measure in identifying pathologic middle ears in adults living with HIV.

Background: Limited research exists on the sensitivity and specificity of wideband acoustic immittance (WAI) in adults living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study forms part of the bigger study titled 'wideband acoustic immittance in adults living with HIV'.

Objectives: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the wideband absorbance measure at tympanic peak pressure (TPP), as a screening tool for detecting middle ear pathologies in adults living with HIV.

Undergraduate audiology students' perceived competence and confidence in conducting otoscopic examination following video otoscopic training.

Background: Emerging research indicates that video otoscopy can be used as a teaching tool to enhance students' ability to identify outer and middle ear pathologies. However, there is little research on the perceptions of audiology students regarding their competence and confidence following video otoscopic training, and how they view the use of video otoscopy as a teaching tool. Therefore, this study aimed to determine undergraduate (UG) audiology students' perceived competence and confidence in conducting otoscopy following training by video otoscopic examination.

The Use of Tele Practice in Assessment of Middle Ear Function in Adults Living with HIV During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is the latest threat to global health that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Tele-practice has inadvertently sprung to the forefront to become a common practice amongst healthcare providers during COVID-19. Limited evidence exists on the use of tele-practice in assessing middle ear function in adults living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Acoustic immittance measures and middle ear assessment: Current practice by South African audiologists.

Background: Limited research exists regarding South African audiologists' practice with acoustic immittance. This study was part of a bigger study titled 'Wideband acoustic immittance in adults living with human immunodeficiency virus'.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to explore current practice of South African audiologists regarding acoustic immittance measures, and to explore their perceived knowledge and views on acoustic immittance advancements.

Factors influencing speech language pathologists' and audiologists' decision to pursue postgraduate studies in South Africa.

Background: Factors that influence various professionals to pursue postgraduate studies have been investigated. However, there is a dearth of evidence of factors that influence South African speech language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists (As) to pursue their postgraduate studies.

Objective: Therefore, this study aimed to determine factors that influence the decision of South African SLPs and As to pursue postgraduate studies and potential barriers to this pursuit.

Middle ear pathologies in adults within the mining industry: A systematic review.

Background: Literature suggests that risk factors for middle ear pathologies, such as traumatic injuries and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), exist in mines. However, studies on hearing health in mines seem to focus primarily on occupational noise-induced hearing loss and ignore middle ear pathologies. As a result, there is little documented evidence on the trends of middle ear pathologies in mine workers.

Middle ear Pathologies in Adults Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Middle ear pathologies have been linked with HIV. The onset and development of these pathologies in individuals with HIV have not been categorized; and clarity has not been gained regarding whether their presentation is any different in this population when compared to HIV negative control group.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore and document published evidence reflecting trends in middle ear pathologies in adults living with HIV.

A comparison between video otoscopy and standard tympanometry findings in adults living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in South Africa.

Literature suggests that there is a correlation between video otoscopy and standard tympanometry findings. However, there is limited evidence on whether these two measures are comparable in the identification of middle ear pathologies in adults living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Objective: This study aimed to determine the correlation between video otoscopy and standard tympanometry with 226 Hz probe tone in the identification of middle ear pathologies in adults living with HIV in Limpopo, South Africa.

Public awareness of audiology, hearing and hearing health in the Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Background: The burden of hearing loss is on the increase, especially in low-income countries such as South Africa. The need for urgent action to prevent ear and hearing problems is a priority, especially as in many cases permanent hearing loss is preventable. In South Africa, as in other developing countries, there is a limited number of hearing health professionals and audiological resources.

The prevalence of hearing impairment within the Cape Town Metropolitan area.

Background: There is a lack of data on the prevalence of hearing impairment in South Africa. Current data is unreliable as it is based on national census information which tends to underestimate the prevalence of hearing impairment.

Aim: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hearing impairment in the Cape Town Metropolitan area and to determine factors associated with hearing impairment.