Otolaryngic Allergy Patient Journey Mapping: A Framework for Allergy Immunotherapy Adherence.

Objectives: Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is an effective treatment for allergic disease but requires long treatment duration and premature cessation is of significant concern. Drivers of premature cessation remain poorly understood and no predictive models currently exist. We hypothesized that a novel patient journey map and de novo real-time patient electronic health status instruments (eHSIs) could effectively capture patient perceived cost, commitment, and treatment benefit to identify individual patients at risk for premature AIT cessation.

Assessment of cochlear synaptopathy by electrocochleography to low frequencies in a preclinical model and human subjects.

Cochlear synaptopathy is the loss of synapses between the inner hair cells and the auditory nerve despite survival of sensory hair cells. The findings of extensive cochlear synaptopathy in animals after moderate noise exposures challenged the long-held view that hair cells are the cochlear elements most sensitive to insults that lead to hearing loss. However, cochlear synaptopathy has been difficult to identify in humans.

Cochlear Implantation for Unilateral and Asymmetric Hearing Loss: Long-Term Subjective Benefit.

Objectives: Assess the long-term patterns of perceived tinnitus severity and subjective benefit for adult cochlear implant (CI) users with asymmetric or unilateral hearing loss (AHL or UHL).

Methods: Forty adults underwent cochlear implantation as part of a prospective clinical trial assessing the outcomes of CI use in cases of AHL (n = 20) and UHL (n = 20). Subjective measures included the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), the Speech, Spatial, & Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ), and the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB).

Worldwide Variation in Cochlear Implant Candidacy.

Background: The aim of this study was to find out how candidacy criteria have evolved differently across the globe.

Methods: Candidacy criteria and outcome measurements applied in 19 HEARRING clinics were analyzed.

Results: Candidacy criteria vary between clinics.

Long-Term Improvement in Localization for Cochlear Implant Users with Single-Sided Deafness.

Objectives/hypothesis: To assess whether early, significant improvements in sound source localization observed in cochlear implant (CI) recipients with normal hearing (NH) in the contralateral ear are maintained after 5 years of CI use.

Study Design: Prospective, repeated measures study.

Methods: Participants were recruited from a sample of CI + NH listeners (n = 20) who received their device as part of a prospective clinical trial investigating outcomes of CI use for adult cases of single-sided deafness.