Priorities for hearing loss prevention and estimates of global cause-specific burdens of hearing loss: a systematic rapid review.

Background: Hearing loss affects approximately 1·6 billion individuals worldwide. Many cases are preventable. We aimed to estimate the annual number of new hearing loss cases that could be attributed to meningitis, otitis media, congenital rubella syndrome, cytomegalovirus, and ototoxic medications, specifically aminoglycosides, platinum-based chemotherapeutics, and antimalarials.

Examining relationships between parent-reported factors and recurring ear symptoms among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Issue Addressed: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child ear health is complex and multiple. We examined relationships between parent-reported sociodemographic, child health, health service access factors and ear symptoms among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 3 to 7 years.

Methods: The Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children is a large child cohort study with annual parent-reported data collection.

Self-reported dual sensory impairment and related factors: a European population-based cross-sectional survey.

Background: Data on population-based self-reported dual vision and hearing impairment are sparse in Europe. We aimed to investigate self-reported dual sensory impairment (DSI) in European population.

Methods: A standardised questionnaire was used to collect medical and socio-economic data among individuals aged 15 years or more in 29 European countries.

Perceived listening ability and hearing loss: Systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis.

Background: Hearing loss (HL) can affect communication in complex ways. Understanding how adults with HL reflect on and conceptualise the way they listen (metacognition) is required if interventions, and the outcome measures used to evaluate them, are to address barriers to functional communication arising from HL.

Objectives: This study describes how adults with HL experience and report the processes, behaviours, and components of listening, as presented in published studies.

Cross-modal functional connectivity supports speech understanding in cochlear implant users.

Sensory deprivation can lead to cross-modal cortical changes, whereby sensory brain regions deprived of input may be recruited to perform atypical function. Enhanced cross-modal responses to visual stimuli observed in auditory cortex of postlingually deaf cochlear implant (CI) users are hypothesized to reflect increased activation of cortical language regions, but it is unclear if this cross-modal activity is "adaptive" or "mal-adaptive" for speech understanding. To determine if increased activation of language regions is correlated with better speech understanding in CI users, we assessed task-related activation and functional connectivity of auditory and visual cortices to auditory and visual speech and non-speech stimuli in CI users (n = 14) and normal-hearing listeners (n = 17) and used functional near-infrared spectroscopy to measure hemodynamic responses.

Global burden of ototoxic hearing loss associated with platinum-based cancer treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents cisplatin and carboplatin are widely used in cancer treatment worldwide and may result in ototoxic hearing loss. The high incidence of cancer and salient ototoxic effects of platinum-based compounds pose a global public health threat. The purpose of this study was twofold.

Listening-Based Communication Ability in Adults With Hearing Loss: A Scoping Review of Existing Measures.

Introduction: Hearing loss in adults has a pervasive impact on health and well-being. Its effects on everyday listening and communication can directly influence participation across multiple spheres of life. These impacts, however, remain poorly assessed within clinical settings.

Development and validation of DeciBHAL-US: A novel microsimulation model of hearing loss across the lifespan in the United States.

Background: Hearing loss affects over 50% of people in the US across their lifespan and there is a lack of decision modeling frameworks to inform optimal hearing healthcare delivery. Our objective was to develop and validate a microsimulation model of hearing loss across the lifespan in the US.

Methods: We collaborated with the Lancet Commission on Hearing Loss to outline model structure, identify input data sources, and calibrate/validate DeciBHAL-US (Decision model of the Burden of Hearing loss Across the Lifespan).

Risk factors for Australian school-age children in socio-economically disadvantaged populations not passing ear and hearing screening.

Unlabelled: Objectives and importance of study: The consequences of sensorineural hearing loss in young children include poor speech and language development, poor educational outcomes,and delayed socio-emotional development. For children who face socio-economic disadvantage, middle ear disease is more prevalent, access to primary health care is more difficult, and psychosocial and education supports are limited. Because of this, the consequences may be amplified.

Older adults' perceptions of current and future hearing healthcare services in Australia, England, US and Canada.

Objective: A high prevalence of hearing loss in older adults contrasts with a small proportion of people who seek help. Emerging developments in hearing healthcare (HHC) could reduce costs but may not increase access. This study evaluated older adults' perceptions of current and future HHC services in Australia, England, US and Canada to explore potential levers and system improvements.

A scoping review of global aminoglycoside antibiotic overuse: A potential opportunity for primary ototoxicity prevention.

Background: Aminoglycosides are widely used, broad-spectrum antibiotics with significant potential for ototoxicity. Global efforts to prevent ototoxicity must account for aminoglycoside overuse and non-prescription use.

Objectives: The goals of this study were to a) estimate the prevalence of aminoglycoside overuse by synthesizing evidence on self-medication, over the counter (OTC) availability, and household antibiotic storage for later use, and to report the specific aminoglycosides used and the predictors of overuse, and b) leverage this information to comment on potential risk of ototoxicity.

Effectiveness of Computer-Based Auditory Training for Adult Cochlear Implant Users: A Randomized Crossover Study.

The aim of this study was to assess whether a computer-based speech-in-noise auditory training (AT) program would lead to short- and long-term changes in trained and untrained measures of listening, cognition, and quality of life. A secondary aim was to assess whether directly training the underlying cognitive abilities required for speech perception in noise, using a computer-based visual training (VT) program without the auditory component, would elicit comparable outcomes as the AT program. A randomized crossover study with repeated measures was conducted with 26 adult cochlear implant users.

Beyond Audition: Psychosocial Benefits of Music Training for Children With Hearing Loss.

Objectives: Children with hearing loss tend to have poorer psychosocial and quality of life outcomes than their typical-hearing (TH) peers-particularly in the areas of peer relationships and school functioning. A small number of studies for TH children have suggested that group-based music activities are beneficial for prosocial outcomes and help develop a sense of belonging. While one might question whether perceptual limitations would impede satisfactory participation in musical activities, findings from a few studies have suggested that group music activities may have similar benefits for children with hearing loss as well.

Prevalence of aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss in drug-resistant tuberculosis patients: A systematic review.

Objectives estimate the prevalence of ototoxic hearing loss in drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) patients treated with aminoglycoside antibiotics via a systematic review and meta-analysis. Estimate the annual preventable cases of hearing loss in DR-TB patients and leverage findings to discuss primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. Methods studies published between 2005 and 2018 that reported prevalence of post-treatment hearing loss in DR-TB patients were included.

Rasch Analysis of the Listening Effort Questionnaire-Cochlear Implant.

Objectives: Listening effort may be defined as the attentional and cognitive resources needed to understand an auditory message, modulated by motivation. Despite the use of hearing devices such as hearing aids or cochlear implants (CIs), the requirement for high listening effort remains a challenge for individuals with hearing loss. The Listening Effort Questionnaire-Cochlear Implant (LEQ-CI) is a hearing-specific patient-reported outcome measure (PROM), which has been designed for use in the CI candidacy and rehabilitation process to assess perceived listening effort in everyday life in adults with severe-profound hearing loss.

The inaugural World Report on Hearing: From barriers to a platform for change.

The inaugural World Report on Hearing was recently published by the World Health Organisation, and outlines the burden of hearing loss, and strategies to overcome this through preventative and public health approaches. Here, we identify barriers to wide-scale adoption, including historic low prioritisation of hearing loss against other public health needs, a lack of a health workforce with relevant training, poor access to assistive technology, and individual and community-level stigma and misunderstanding. Overcoming these barriers will require multi-sector stakeholder collaboration, involving ear and hearing care professionals, patients, communities, industry and policymakers.

Association between vision and hearing impairment and successful aging over five years.

Objective: We aimed to prospectively examine the relationship between vision and hearing loss and successful aging in a cohort of older adults.

Study Design: We analyzed 5-year data (1997-9 to 2002-4) from 1,085 adults aged 55+ years, who were free of cancer, coronary artery disease and stroke at baseline and who had complete data on sensory loss.

Main Outcome Measures: Visual impairment was defined as visual acuity <20/40 (better eye), and hearing impairment as average pure-tone air conduction threshold >25 dBHL (500-4000 Hz, better ear).

Associations between Intake of Dietary Flavonoids and 10-Year Incidence of Age-Related Hearing Loss.

Dietary flavonoids are vasoactive phytochemicals with promising anti-inflammatory properties. We aimed to assess the associations between baseline intakes of six commonly consumed flavonoid subclasses and 10-year incidence of age-related hearing loss. At baseline, 1691 participants aged 50+ years had information on dietary intakes and hearing status.