Sudden Hearing Loss before, during, and after the Pandemic: Investigating COVID-19 Illness and Vaccine-Related Symptoms.

Introduction: Accumulating reports suggest an increase in sudden sensorineural hearing loss during the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination periods. However, clear evidence is lacking. The goal of this study was to determine if sudden sensorineural hearing loss is associated with COVID-19 illness or its vaccine.

Quality of Life With Cochlear Implantation Using the CIQOL-35 at a Tertiary Urban Medical Center: Our Experience.

Objective: Assessment of quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes after cochlear implantation (CI) using the Cochlear Implant Quality of Life-35 questionnaire (CIQOL-35).

Study Design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Single-institution tertiary care center.

Thermal Analysis of an Ultrasonic Aspirator Micro Claw Tool Compared With Standard High-Speed Drilling During Internal Auditory Canal Opening in a Cadaveric Model.

Background: The ultrasonic aspirator micro claw tool (UAmCT) can be used to remove the bone of the internal auditory canal (IAC) during vestibular schwannoma resection via the retrosigmoid approach (RSA) without the risk of a spinning drill shaft. However, the thermal profile of the UAmCT during IAC removal has not been reported.

Objective: To compare the thermal profile of the UAmCT during access of the IAC to that of a conventional high-speed drill (HSD) and to present an illustrative case of this application.

Natural History of Hearing Loss in Sporadic Vestibular Schwannoma.

Hearing loss is the most common and earliest symptom of sporadic vestibular schwannoma (VS). The most common pattern of hearing loss is asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss. Throughout its natural history, patients with serviceable hearing (SH) maintain SH at 94% to 95% after 1 year, 73% to 77% after 2 years, 56% to 66% after 5 years, and 32% to 44% after 10 years.

Exoscope-Assisted Middle Cranial Fossa Approach for Repair of Tegmental Defects: A Cadaveric and Clinical Study.

Background: Recent studies highlighted how exoscopes may be employed to approach the lateral skull base. The use of exoscope-assisted procedures to repair middle cranial fossa (MCF) defects has not been fully explored. The surgical microscope in the same circumstances has been associated with relevant limitations, such as its physical obstruction, among others.

Retrosigmoid Vestibular Neurectomy for Meniere Disease: A Technical Note.

Background: Meniere disease (MD) is an idiopathic peripheral pathology involving the acoustic apparatus. One of the most critical challenges in managing MD is intractable vertigo. In this context, retrosigmoid vestibular neurectomy has been described as a safe and effective technique to manage this symptom when it is resistant to first- and second-line treatments.

Current and Emerging Medical Therapies for Dizziness.

Medical therapies for dizziness are aimed at vertigo reduction, secondary symptom management, or the root cause of the pathologic process. Acute peripheral vertigo pharmacotherapies include antihistamines, calcium channel blockers, and benzodiazepines. Prophylactic pharmacotherapies vary between causes.

Racial Disparities in Adult Cochlear Implantation.

Objective: To compare rates of cochlear implant referral and cochlear implantation across different races and to compare audiometric profiles of these patients.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Academic tertiary care institution.

Coronavirus Disease-19 and Otology/Neurotology.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2, responsible for the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, has caused unprecedented changes to society as we know it. The effects have been particularly palpable in the practice of medicine. The field of otolaryngology has not been spared.

Cognitive Screening of Adults With Postlingual Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To systematically review the evidence for the use of cognitive screening tools for adults with postlingual hearing loss.

Data Sources: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, PsycINFO (EBSCO), CINAHL (EBSCO), and CENTRAL (Cochrane Library) electronic databases were searched from inception until October 4, 2018.

Review Methods: Articles were reviewed for inclusion by 2 independent reviewers.

Spontaneous Skull Base Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks and Their Relationship to Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension.

Background: The association between spontaneous skull base cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) has been suggested, but its significance remains unclear.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of IIH in spontaneous skull base CSF leak patients.

Methods: Systematic collection of demographics, neuro-ophthalmic and magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of spontaneous skull base CSF leak patients seen pre- and post-leak repair in one neuro-ophthalmology service.

Practices and perceptions of cognitive assessment for adults with age-related hearing loss.

Objectives: To investigate the landscape of cognitive impairment (CI) screening for adults with age-related hearing loss (ARHL) among otolaryngologists and audiologists. To identify provider factors and patient characteristics that impact rates of CI screening and referral.

Methods: A 15 question online survey was sent to members of the Georgia Society of Otolaryngology (GSO), Georgia Academy of Audiology (GAA), American Otological Society and American Neurotology Society (AOS/ANS), and posted on the web forum for two hearing disorders special interest groups within the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Postoperative Healthcare Utilization of Elderly Adults After Cochlear Implantation.

Objective: To determine the association between geriatric age and postoperative healthcare utilization after cochlear implantation.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

The Prevalence of Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence in Patients With Mastoid Encephalocele or Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea.

Objective: To evaluate the association between mastoid encephalocele or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea and concurrent superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD).

Study Design: Retrospective case-control study with chart and imaging review.

Setting: University-affiliated tertiary referral center.

When Preoperative Imaging and Audiometry Conflict: A Case of Cochlear Implantation in a Prelingually Deafened Adult.

Objective: To describe a unique case of excellent audiometric outcomes for a prelingually deafened adult after cochlear implantation and to caution on the limits of magnetic resonance imaging for a diagnosis of cochlear nerve aplasia.

Patient: Adult man with congenital bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss.

Intervention (s): Cochlear implantation.

Idiopathic, Infectious and Reactive Lesions of the Ear and Temporal Bone.

A number of infectious, inflammatory and idiopathic lesions develop within otologic tissues that may share similar clinical and/or microscopic features. This review first provides a working classification for otitis externa, and then otitis media and includes two recently described entities, eosinophilic otitis media and otitis media with ANCA-associated vasculitis. Next, the microscopic findings of a spectrum of otopathologic conditions are described, including post-inflammatory conditions such as tympanosclerosis and aural polyps, an overview of animate aural foreign body as well as iatrogenic aural foreign body reactions.

Spontaneous Labyrinthine Hemorrhage: A Case Series.

Objectives: To describe patient characteristics, audiometric outcomes, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal patterns in patients with suspected labyrinthine hemorrhage.

Study Design: Retrospective review.

Setting: Tertiary medical center.

Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines on Otologic and Audiologic Screening for Patients With Vestibular Schwannomas.

Question 1: What is the expected diagnostic yield for vestibular schwannomas when using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate patients with previously published definitions of asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss?

Target Population: These recommendations apply to adults with an asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss on audiometric testing.

Recommendation: Level 3: On the basis of an audiogram, it is recommended that MRI screening on patients with ≥10 decibels (dB) of interaural difference at 2 or more contiguous frequencies or ≥15 dB at 1 frequency be pursued to minimize the incidence of undiagnosed vestibular schwannomas. However, selectively screening patients with ≥15 dB of interaural difference at 3000 Hz alone may minimize the incidence of MRIs performed that do not diagnose a vestibular schwannoma.

Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines on Hearing Preservation Outcomes in Patients With Sporadic Vestibular Schwannomas.

Question 1: What is the overall probability of maintaining serviceable hearing following stereotactic radiosurgery utilizing modern dose planning, at 2, 5, and 10 yr following treatment?

Recommendation: Level 3: Individuals who meet these criteria and are considering stereotactic radiosurgery should be counseled that there is moderately high probability (>50%-75%) of hearing preservation at 2 yr, moderately high probability (>50%-75%) of hearing preservation at 5 yr, and moderately low probability (>25%-50%) of hearing preservation at 10 yr.

Question 2: Among patients with AAO-HNS (American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery hearing classification) class A or GR (Gardner-Robertson hearing classification) grade I hearing at baseline, what is the overall probability of maintaining serviceable hearing following stereotactic radiosurgery, utilizing modern dose planning, at 2, 5, and 10 yr following treatment?

Recommendation: Level 3: Individuals who meet these criteria and are considering stereotactic radiosurgery should be counseled that there is a high probability (>75%-100%) of hearing preservation at 2 yr, moderately high probability (>50%-75%) of hearing preservation at 5 yr, and moderately low probability (>25%-50%) of hearing preservation at 10 yr.

Question 3: What patient- and tumor-related factors influence progression to nonserviceable hearing following stereotactic radiosurgery using ≤13 Gy to the tumor margin?

Recommendation: Level 3: Individuals who meet these criteria and are considering stereotactic radiosurgery should be counseled regarding the probability of successful hearing preservation based on the following prognostic data: the most consistent prognostic features associated with maintenance of serviceable hearing are good preoperative word recognition and/or pure tone thresholds with variable cut-points reported, smaller tumor size, marginal tumor dose ≤12 Gy, and cochlear dose ≤4 Gy.

Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines on Intraoperative Cranial Nerve Monitoring in Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery.

Question 1: Does intraoperative facial nerve monitoring during vestibular schwannoma surgery lead to better long-term facial nerve function?

Target Population: This recommendation applies to adult patients undergoing vestibular schwannoma surgery regardless of tumor characteristics.

Recommendation: Level 3: It is recommended that intraoperative facial nerve monitoring be routinely utilized during vestibular schwannoma surgery to improve long-term facial nerve function.

Question 2: Can intraoperative facial nerve monitoring be used to accurately predict favorable long-term facial nerve function after vestibular schwannoma surgery?

Target Population: This recommendation applies to adult patients undergoing vestibular schwannoma surgery.

Otopolyposis With Middle Ear Allergic Mucin in a Patient With Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to report a case of otopolyposis and middle ear allergic mucin in a patient with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) and no history of middle ear disease and introduce these as possible otologic manifestations of the AFRS.

Methods: A case of a 31-year-old female with the aforementioned findings is reported. A review of the pertinent literature was performed.

Internal auditory canal meningocele-perilabyrinthine/translabyrinthine fistula: Case report and imaging.

The case of a 17-year-old patient with progressive unilateral sensorineural hearing loss and temporal bone malformations concerning for internal auditory canal meningocele with translabyrinthine/perilabyrinthine cerebrospinal fluid fistula is presented with associated computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. As the second reported case of an unruptured internal auditory canal meningocele with translabyrinthine/perilabyrinthine fistula, the case presents several clinically relevant points for otologists, neurotologists, and neuroradiologists. Although rare, it is an additional entity to consider as a cause of unilateral sensorineural hearing loss and may pose a risk for developing meningitis and possible "gushing" of cerebrospinal fluid should surgical intervention be attempted.