Evaluating the hearing screening effectiveness of active noise cancellation technology among young adults: A pilot study.

Background: The population of young adults who are hearing impaired increases yearly, and a device that enables convenient hearing screening could help monitor their hearing. However, background noise is a critical issue that limits the capabilities of such a device. Therefore, this study evaluated the effectiveness of commercial active noise cancellation (ANC) headphones for hearing screening applications in the presence of background noise.

Objective Signal Analysis for Investigating Feasibility of Active Noise Cancellation in Hearing Screening.

With the development of active noise cancellation (ANC) technology, ANC has been used to mitigate the effects of environmental noise on audiometric results. However, objective evaluation methods supporting the accuracy of audiometry for ANC exposure to different levels of noise have not been reported. Accordingly, the audio characteristics of three different ANC headphone models were quantified under different noise conditions and the feasibility of ANC in noisy environments was investigated.

Combination Therapy and Single-Modality Treatment for Acute Low-Tone Hearing Loss: A Meta-Analysis with Trial Sequential Analysis.

Acute low-tone hearing loss (ALHL) is a common clinical disease and was first proposed by Abe in 1981 as sensorineural hearing loss confined to low frequencies. The best strategy for initiating medication is still unclear, as the superiority of steroids and diuretics is still debated, and combination therapy might yield additional benefits. However, no study regarding combination therapy has been published.

Smartphone-Enabled versus Conventional Otoscopy in Detecting Middle Ear Disease: A Meta-Analysis.

Traditional otoscopy has some limitations, including poor visualization and inadequate time for evaluation in suboptimal environments. Smartphone-enabled otoscopy may improve examination quality and serve as a potential diagnostic tool for middle ear diseases using a telemedicine approach. The main objectives are to compare the correctness of smartphone-enabled otoscopy and traditional otoscopy and to evaluate the diagnostic confidence of the examiner via meta-analysis.

Efficacy of Ventilation Tube Insertion with Palatal Repair for Otitis Media in Cleft Palate: Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis.

Cleft palate is the most common congenital facial deformity and may result in multiple sequelae and disabilities. One common comorbidity is refractory otitis media with effusion (OME), as patients with cleft palate have impaired eustachian tube function with alteration of the nearby muscular structures. Ventilation tube insertion (VTI) is regarded as an effective mean to address OME in addition to palatal repair surgery.

Hearing characteristics of infantile-onset Pompe disease after early enzyme-replacement therapy.

Background: Studies suggest that enzyme-replacement therapy (ERT) is crucial to the survival of patients with infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD). Hearing impairment (HI) is one of the clinical sequelae observed in long-term survivors. However, the benefits of early ERT for hearing outcomes have not yet been reported.

Audiological and otologic manifestations of glutaric aciduria type I.

Background: Glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA-1) is a rare disease connected with speech delay and neurological deficits. However, the audiological and otologic profiles of GA-1 have not yet been fully characterized. To our knowledge, this is the largest study of comprehensive audiological and otologic evaluation in patients with GA-1 to date.

A Smartphone-Based Approach to Screening for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Cross-Sectional Validity Study.

Background: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is an otologic emergency that warrants urgent management. Pure-tone audiometry remains the gold standard for definitively diagnosing SSNHL. However, in clinical settings such as primary care practices and urgent care facilities, conventional pure-tone audiometry is often unavailable.

Developing a novel meatal areolar tissue autograft for minimally invasive tympanoplasty.

Background: We developed an easy and minimally invasive method of transmeatal tympanoplasty using meatal areolar tissue (MAT) grafts to achieve less postoperative morbidity or surgical scarring. We compared the functional and anatomical results of the developed method with conventional endaural tympanoplasty with a temporalis fascia (TF) graft.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 58 patients (59 ears) with simple chronic otitis media who underwent type I tympanoplasty between January 2016 and August 2018 were included.

Controversial issues of optimal surgical timing and patient selection in the treatment planning of otosclerosis.

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of clinical factors on the outcomes of otosclerosis surgery and support patients' access to evidence-based information in pre-operative counseling to optimize their choices. A total of 109 ears in 93 patients undergoing stapes surgery in a tertiary referral center were included. Variables with a potential impact on hearing outcomes were recorded, with an emphasis on factors that were readily available pre-operatively.