Voltage matrix algorithm for intraoperative detection of cochlear implant electrode misplacement.

Objective To develop an algorithm, based on the voltage matrix, for detecting regular cochlear implant (CI) electrode position during the implantation procedure, tip fold-over or basal kinking for lateral-wall electrodes. The availability of an algorithm would be valuable in clinical routine, as incorrect positioning of the electrode array can potentially be recognized intraoperatively. Design In this retrospective study intraoperative voltage matrix and postoperative digital volume tomography of 525 CI recipients were analyzed.

Conventional one-handed compared to two-handed endoscopic ear surgery using an endoscope holder: a single center study.

Introduction: One-handedness is a challenge in conventional endoscopic ear surgery (EES). We present results on the first-ever application of the passive endoscope holder 'Endofix exo' (Co. AKTORmed GmbH, Neutraubling, Germany) in EES, which enables two-handed surgery.

Influence of cochlear implantation on the working ability of hearing-impaired patients: A prospective study on potential influencing factors.

Purpose: This study evaluates the effect of cochlear implantation (CI) on work ability. The influences of quality of life (QOL), age, mental health, and hearing were analyzed.

Methods: Seventy-nine patients undergoing CI surgery were evaluated preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively.

Word Recognition with a Cochlear Implant in Relation to Prediction and Electrode Position.

Background: the word recognition score (WRS) achieved with cochlear implants (CIs) varies widely. To account for this, a predictive model was developed based on patients' age and their pre-operative WRS. This retrospective study aimed to find out whether the insertion depth of the nucleus lateral-wall electrode arrays contributes to the deviation of the CI-achieved WRS from the predicted WRS.

Influence of depressive disorders, stress, and personality traits on quality of life after cochlear implantation.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether preoperative depressiveness, stress, and personality influence quality of life (QOL) after cochlear implant (CI) surgery.

Methods: In this prospective study, 79 patients undergoing CI surgery were evaluated preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively. Disease-specific QOL was assessed with the Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire (NCIQ) and general QOL with the WHOQOL-BREF.

Validation of the German language version of the Chronic Ear Survey and its psychometric comparison with an established German measurement instrument.

Background: With the Chronic Ear Survey (CES), a validated measurement instrument for the assessment of disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been available internationally since 2000. The aim of this study was to provide a validated German version of this international instrument and to compare it with the German Chronic Otitis Media Outcome Test 15 (COMOT-15).

Methodology: The CES was translated into German via a forward-backward translation process.

Value of patient-reported outcome measures for evaluating the benefit of speech processor upgrading in patients with cochlear implants.

Background: Patients with a cochlear implant (CI) should be evaluated for a new speech processor every 6 years. The aim of this analysis was to assess the subjective and audiological benefit of upgrades.

Methods: Speech understanding and subjective benefit were analyzed in 99 patients with the old and the new speech processor after 4 weeks of wearing.

[Validation of the German language version of the Chronic Ear Survey and its psychometric comparison with an established German language measurement instrument. German version].

Background: With the Chronic Ear Survey (CES), a validated measurement instrument for the assessment of disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been available internationally since 2000. The aim of this study was to provide a validated German version of this international instrument and to compare it with the German Chronic Otitis Media Outcome Test 15 (COMOT-15).

Methodology: The CES was translated into German via a forward-backward translation process.

[Value of patient-reported outcome measures for evaluating the benefit of speech processor upgrading in patients with cochlear implants. German version].

Background: Patients with a cochlear implant (CI) should be evaluated for a new speech processor every 6 years. The aim of this analysis was to assess the subjective and audiological benefit of upgrades.

Methods: Speech understanding and subjective benefit were analyzed in 99 patients with the old and the new speech processor after 4 weeks of wearing.

Influence of the Coupling on the Hearing Outcome After Implantation of an Active Middle Ear Implant: Comparison of the Transmission Behavior in Temporal Bone Experiments With Clinical Data.

Objectives: The active middle ear implant, Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB), can be implanted with a variety of couplers. Hearing outcome after implantation has been investigated in both temporal bone (TB) experiments and patient studies, but the relationship between experimental and clinical data is still weak in the literature. Therefore, experimental data from TB experiments should be compared with patient data in a retrospective study, in which the floating mass transducer is used with couplers of the third generation.

Results and Quality of Life after Implantation of Active Middle Ear Implants.

The provision of implantable hearing aids represents an area with high development and innovation potential. On the one hand, this review article provides an overview of current indication criteria for the treatment with active middle ear implants. On the other hand, outcome parameters as well as functional results after implantation of active middle ear implants are demonstrated and discussed.

[Update cochlear-implantation: indications and surgical aspects].

In childhood, inadequately rehabilitated hearing loss leads to impaired language acquisition and social, mental and emotional development. In adults, social withdrawal due to limited communication skills is often a consequence of unsatisfactory hearing rehabilitation. Therefore, in patients with profound hearing loss, the indication for cochlear implantation should be considered.

Comparison of two disease‑specific instruments assessing health-related quality of life in patients with chronic otitis media.

Purpose: Evaluating the current health state in chronic otitis media (COM), audiologic results are complemented by subjective outcomes, such as health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Two disease-specific instruments assessing HRQoL in COM in German-speaking patients exist, i.e.

Impact of depressive disorders on quality of life after middle ear surgery in patients with chronic otitis media.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether preoperative depressive symptoms influence health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after middle ear surgery in patients with chronic otitis media (COM).

Methods: This prospective clinical case study was conducted at a tertiary referral center. All 102 patients who had undergone middle ear surgery for COM were assessed clinically and by audiometric testing (pure tone audiometry) in pre- and postoperative settings.

[Learning curve of the ENT mirror examination : Goal-oriented curriculum planning for psychomotor learning].

Background: Learning complex psychomotor sequences requires a high number of training sessions to achieve precise execution. In the current student curriculum there are only few study sessions available to achieve this level of competence.

Objective: The objective of the current study was to record the learning curve of psychomotor proficiency using the example of the ENT mirror examination.

Panel 5: Impact of otitis media on quality of life and development.

Objective: To summarize recent advances in knowledge on otitis media (OM) and quality of life (QoL) and development by synthesizing relevant research in this field published between June 1., 2015 until June 1., 2019.

Outcome parameters in speech audiometry: retrospective analysis of data and reporting quality in clinical studies.

Objectives: The use of standardized outcome parameters is essential for the comparability of clinical studies. Pure-tone audiometry and speech audiometry are widely used, but there is no systematic evaluation of the outcome parameters in clinical application. Nevertheless, there is presumably a great heterogeneity especially in the field of speech audiometry.

[Active hearing implants in chronic otitis media].

In patients with inadequate hearing improvement after tympanoplasty and failure of conventional hearing aid fitting, active hearing implants provide an alternative treatment option. Active middle ear implants function as a vibromechanical bypass of the stiffness and damping effect of a poorly oscillating tympanic membrane and the (reconstructed) ossicular chain. The selection of the hearing system depends on the maximum output levels of the hearing system and the anatomical conditions in mostly multiply operated ears.

The vibrating ossicular prosthesis in children and adolescents: a retrospective study.

Purpose: The primary objective of the retrospective study was to collect speech intelligibility data on children and adolescents implanted with the vibrating ossicular prosthesis (VORP) 503.

Methods: This was a retrospective, multicentre study on 55 children and adolescents from 6 German clinics aged between 5 and 17 years suffering from mixed or conductive hearing loss implanted with a VORP 503. Pre- and postoperative bone-conduction pure tone thresholds were measured at 0.

The Obliteration of Noncritical Size Bone Defects With Bone Dust or Bone Replacement Material (Bioactive Glass S53P4).

Hypothesis: Bone dust (BD) harvested during operation may be suitable as an autologous obliteration material for noncritical size defects. Bioactive glass (BA) can be an alternative.

Background: To treat noncritical size defects, BD and BA are commonly used for obliteration techniques.

[State of the art of quality-of-life measurement in patients with chronic otitis media and conductive hearing loss].

The evaluation of results after middle ear reconstruction has been mainly based on functional parameters. In clinical practice as well as in otological research, the pure tone audiogram represents the gold standard in the assessment of the postoperative outcome. In order to assess the patient's subjective outcome, outcome analyzes focus increasingly on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Living with otosclerosis: disease-specific health-related quality-of-life measurement in patients undergoing stapes surgery.

Introduction: Otosclerosis is associated with hearing disability, leading to communication deficits and social and psychological restrictions. The objective of our study was to analyze disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after stapes surgery and compare the outcome of HRQOL with audiometric parameters. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Our clinical case study was conducted at two tertiary referral centers.

[Development and validation of the Stapesplasty Outcome Test 25 (SPOT-25)].

Background: Otosclerosis affects health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Until now, measurements have only been performed using audiometric data or non-validated quality of life questionnaires.

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop the first validated disease-specific HRQOL measuring instrument to determine HRQOL in otosclerosis.