Critical Issues in the Management of Newborn Hearing Screening in the Time of COVID-19 in Umbria, Italy.

Hearing impairment is the most frequent of the sensorial defects in humans, and if not treated promptly, can severely impair cognitive and spoken language skills. For this reason, a universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) has been established. The purpose of our study is to examine, by means of a retrospective analysis, the results of the UNHS program in the Umbria region during the spread of COVID-19 (2020-2021), comparing the same data from the years 2011-2012, to understand if the program has improved.

Long-Term Results of Tinnitus Retraining Therapy in Patients Who Failed to Complete the Program.

We aimed to evaluate the results of Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) in patients who did not complete the program. We divided 90 patients who failed to complete the TRT program were into 3 groups: 36 patients who only completed the first phase of the TRT program (Missing group; M), 34 patients who attended counselling for less than 6 months (Noncompliant group; NC) and 20 patients who attended counselling for more than 6 months but did not complete the TRT program (Compliant group; C). The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), tinnitus Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) and a questionnaire regarding the reasons for dropout were obtained through a telephone survey.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Newborns Hospitalized in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: An Observational Study.

Children hospitalized in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) present an increased risk for Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL) due to prematurity, hypoxia-ischemia, hyperventilation, low birth weight and the use of ototoxic drugs. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of SNHL in newborns hospitalized in a NICU using Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (TEOAE) and Automated Auditory Brainstem Responses (A-ABR) and analyze the associated risk factors. A sample of 153 newborns hospitalized in NICU underwent TEOAE, A-ABR and clinical ABR to evaluate the presence of hearing deficits.

Universal newborn hearing screening in Umbria region, Italy.

Objective: In Italy, universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) was first introduced in some regions from 1997. Umbria Region has launched a UNHS program in all hospitals, which has been implemented throughout the region since July 2010. Before UNHS implementation in Umbria region, the average age of identification of congenital hearing loss was around 32 months of age with an average age of initial amplification treatment at least 2 months later.

Impact of identifying factors which trigger bothersome tinnitus on the treatment outcome in tinnitus retraining therapy.

The aim of this work was to ascertain any differences in the effectiveness of rehabilitation therapy in relation to the presence or absence of a known negative reinforcement responsible for the tinnitus-related pathology. Between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2008, we recruited 294 subjects suffering from incapacitating tinnitus and/or hyperacusis. The patients underwent tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) according to the methods described by Jastreboff and Hazell [Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: Implementing the Neurophysiological Model.

Cochlear implantation in children with "CHARGE syndrome": surgical options and outcomes.

CHARGE syndrome is a rare, polymalformative disease, representing one of the major causes of associated blindness and deafness. Bilateral, severe-profound, sensorineural hearing loss is common in CHARGE children. Aim of this study is to present our results in children with "CHARGE syndrome" submitted to cochlear implantation (CI).

Personal experience with tinnitus retraining therapy.

We present the results of tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) in a group of patients suffering from tinnitus and/or hyperacusia. Based on the scores from a specific questionnaire and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), the patients were classified into five categories and began therapy according to Jastreboff's criteria. Depending on the individual case, therapy envisaged counselling sessions, ambient sound enrichment, sound generators and hearing aids.

Determining subjective visual vertical: dynamic versus static testing.

Objective: Comparative evaluation of two tests that, as a visual reference, respectively use a static light source (static testing) and a dynamic one (dynamic testing) to analyze subjective visual vertical in patients with unilateral vestibular dysfunction.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Otolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery Division, Department of Medical-Surgical Specialization, University of Perugia, Italy.

Study of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in unilateral vestibulopathy: Otolithic versus canal function testing.

Objective: The study provides a qualitative evaluation of unilateral vestibulopathy by comparing otolithic and canal function, to establish possible relationships between the type of dysfunction observed and the evolving clinical pictures associated with it.

Study Design: Retrospective study of a series of cases.

Setting: Department of Medical-Surgical Specialization, Otolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery Division, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.