Normal hearing and verbal discrimination in real sounds environments.

Introduction: Human beings are constantly exposed to complex acoustic environments every day, which even pose challenges for individuals with normal hearing. Speech perception relies not only on fixed elements within the acoustic wave but is also influenced by various factors. These factors include speech intensity, environmental noise, the presence of other speakers, individual specific characteristics, spatial separatios of sound sources, ambient reverberation, and audiovisual cues.

Prospective study of sound localisation in patients with single sided deafness and asymmetric hearing loss treated with cochlear implant.

Background And Objective: Sound localization plays a crucial role in our daily lives, enabling us to recognize voices, respond to alarming situations, avoid dangers, and navigate towards specific signals. However, this ability is compromised in patients with Single-Sided Deafness (SSD) and Asymmetric Hearing Loss (AHL), negatively impacting their daily functioning. The main objective of the study was to quantify the degree of sound source localization in patients with single-sided deafness or asymmetric hearing loss using a Cochlear Implant (CI) and to compare between the two subgroups.

Variation of electrical impedance over 5 years post-implantation and relationship with the maximum comfort level (MCL) in adults with cochlear implants.

Introduction: The maximum comfort level (MCL), threshold level (THR) and electrical impedance change in the postoperative period of the cochlear implant for months until they stabilize. The objective of this article is to establish the variation during 5 post-surgical years of impedance, and its relationship with MCL in unilaterally implanted adults.

Methods: Retrospective study over 5 years, with 78 adult patients implanted with MED-EL in a tertiary hospital from the year 2000 to 2015.

Power output and hearing performance in osseointegrated auditory devices.

Background And Objective: Osseointegrated auditory devices are hearing gadgets that use the bone conduction of sound to produce hearing improvement. The mechanisms and factors that contribute to this sound transmission have been widely studied, however, there are other aspects that remain unknown, for instance, the influence of the processor power output. The aim of this study was to know if there is any relationship between the power output created by the devices and the hearing improvement that they achieve.

Power output and hearing performance in osseointegrated auditory devices.

Background And Objective: Osseointegrated auditory devices are hearing gadgets that use the bone conduction of sound to produce hearing improvement. The mechanisms and factors that contribute to this sound transmission have been widely studied, however, there are other aspects that remain unknown, for instance, the influence of the processor power output. The aim of this study was to know if there is any relationship between the power output created by the devices and the hearing improvement that they achieve.

Dimensional analysis of the upper airway in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome patients treated with mandibular advancement device: A bi- and three-dimensional evaluation.

Background: The efficiency of the mandibular advancement device (MAD) in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) has been demonstrated. Nevertheless, the behaviour of the upper airway once MAD is placed and titrated, and its correlation with the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) is still under discussion.

Objectives: To analyse the morphological changes of the upper airway through a bi- and three-dimensional study and correlate it with the polysomnographic variable, AHI.

Clinical Performance Assessment of a New Active Osseointegrated Implant System in Mixed Hearing Loss: Results From a Prospective Clinical Investigation.

Objective: Evaluation of a new active osseointegrated bone-conduction hearing implant in moderate to severe mixed-hearing loss.

Study Design: Prospective observational study of a series of cases.

Setting: Tertial referral center.

Effects of Omalizumab Treatment in Patients With Recalcitrant Nasal Polyposis and Mild Asthma: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a clinical entity with specific features that impacts significantly on patient quality of life (QoL). CRSwNP is often associated with asthma and is difficult to control and manage despite pharmacological and/or surgical treatment. Omalizumab, a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, has emerged as a putative therapeutic option.

A Multinational Cost-Consequence Analysis of a Bone Conduction Hearing Implant System-A Randomized Trial of a Conventional vs. a Less Invasive Treatment With New Abutment Technology.

It is hypothesized that, for patients with hearing loss, surgically placing an implant/abutment combination whilst leaving the subcutaneous tissues intact will improve cosmetic and clinical results, increase quality of life (QoL) for the patient, and reduce medical costs. Here, incremental costs and consequences associated with soft tissue preservation surgery with a hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated abutment (test) were compared with the conventional approach, soft tissue reduction surgery with an all-titanium abutment (control). A cost-consequence analysis was performed based on data gathered over a period of 3 years in an open randomized (1:1) controlled trial (RCT) running in four European countries (The Netherlands, Spain, France, and Sweden).

Cervical spine radiographs in patients with vertigo and dizziness.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of cervical radiography in the study of patients with vertigo and dizziness.

Patients: This is a retrospective single-institution case series study of 493 patients suffering from vertigo and dizziness who were referred (from January 2011 to December 2012) to the hospital to study those symptoms.

Methods: We studied cervical radiographies, CT and MRI of the cervical spine made in the sample and the radiological findings.

First experiences with the Ponto™ SuperPower osseointegrated device.

Osseointegrated hearing devices Power and SuperPower present indications for bone thresholds of 55 and 65 dB respectively. We conducted a prospective observational study of a series of six cases with mixed hearing loss for whom implantation of the DAO Ponto™ Super-Power was performed. Tonal and verbal evaluations without and with background noise (HINTS) were performed prior to implantation and six months after adaptation.

Effectiveness of a mandibular advancement device in obstructive sleep apnea patients: a prospective clinical trial.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a mandibular advancement device in a sample of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients by the evaluation of respiratory and neurophysiologic parameters and clinical symptoms. Second, the influence of certain predictor factors related with the patient and the intraoral device, were considered in the final response with this treatment option.

Methods: Forty-one patients constituted the final sample.

Vertigo and dizziness in hospital: Attendance, flow and characteristics of patients.

Introduction And Objectives: Vertigo and dizziness as symptoms are frequent in the population. They are present in a wide range of pathologies and it is usually difficult to make an accurate diagnosis. The general objective of this study is to obtain the information to evaluate vertigo and dizziness in the hospital setting.

Lessons from healthcare utilization in children with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.

Introduction And Objectives: Paediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnoea-Hypopnoea Syndrome (OSAS) is a multisystemic condition affecting child's health status that may be investigated analyzing demand for healthcare.

Objective: to quantify the frequency of medical consultations in children with OSAS over a 5-year period, compared to a healthy population.

Methods: A longitudinal, case-control, ambispective study was conducted at a hospital pertaining to the national public health system.

Audiologic and subjective evaluation of Baha Attract device.

We included 9 patients implanted with Baha Attract. All our patients were evaluated by free field tonal audiometry, free field verbal audiometry and free field verbal audiometry with background noise, all the tests were performed with and without the device. To evaluate the subjective component of the implantation, we used the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) and Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB).

Extra-tympanic electrocochleography in a normal population. A descriptive study.

Introduction And Objectives: Extra-tympanic electrocochleography is an electrophysiological register obtained after stimulating the cochlea with an audible stimulus. This stimulus is applied using an earphone over the external auditory canal, while the electrical activity is registered by surface electrodes. There are few studies that analyse normal electrocochleography in our environment.

Comparative study between unilateral and bilateral cochlear implantation in children of 1 and 2 years of age.

Introduction: The studies that have evaluated the effectiveness of bilateral cochlear implantation in children suggest an improvement in hearing about sound localization and speech discrimination. In this paper we show the differences in audio-linguistic achievements with early bilateral cochlear implantation versus unilateral, and differences between simultaneous and sequential bilateral implantation.

Material And Methods: We present 88 children with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss, treated with bilateral cochlear implantation in 32 cases and unilateral in 56 cases, during the first 12 months (27 children) of life and between 12 and 24 months (61 children).

Relationship between video head impulse test (vHIT) and caloric test in patients with vestibular neuritis.

Introduction And Objectives: The caloric test is the gold standard for the loss of vestibular function diagnosis. The Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT) assesses the same reflex by using a video- assisted examination of the impulsive maneuver. We intend to compare the variation of results of the vHIT and the caloric test in patients with vestibular neuritis with respect to their initial condition at two different moments of their evolution and to check the level of correlation between them and with that of the DHI test

Methods: We explored 20 patients with neuritis by using both vHIT and the caloric test on the same day.

Effectiveness of mandibular advancement appliances in treating obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: A systematic review.

Objectives/hypothesis: Mandibular advancement devices are an alternative to continuous positive airway pressure for patients with mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). The main aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of different devices in treating OSAHS, based on polysomnographic measurements such as the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) and oxygen saturation, and on changes in the upper airway and improvements in the most common symptoms: snoring and somnolence. Their adverse effects were also noted.

Epistaxis and dabigatran, a new non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant.

Objective: Dabigatran is a new non-vitamin K antagonist (VKA) anticoagulant with anti-thrombin action, with supposedly fewer haemorrhagic complications. However, there are actually no established agents to reverse its effect, nor specific coagulation time tests for monitoring it.

Materials And Methods: An observational prospective study was developed, noting epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic features among subjects with epistaxis treated with dabigatran.