Perceptions of Hearing Health Care: A Qualitative Analysis of Satisfied and Dissatisfied Online Reviews.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the hearing health care experience of satisfied and dissatisfied consumers as reported on Google reviews.

Method: Using qualitative thematic analysis, open-text responses from Google regarding hearing health care clinics across 40 U.S.

Neonatal hearing screening using a smartphone-based otoacoustic emission device: A comparative study.

Objective: Increasing options are becoming available for clinicians and healthcare professionals who use smartphone-based applications (apps) to identify hearing loss. The use of smartphone-based apps for newborn hearing screening (NHS) has been proposed as an alternative screening method in NHS programs. This study aims to compare the screening outcomes of a smartphone-based otoacoustic emission (OAE) screening device to a commercially available OAE screening device.

Chirp-Evoked VEMPs: A Test-Retest Reliability Study.

Objectives: To determine the test-retest reliability of cervical and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (c&oVEMP) evoked by 500 Hz narrowband (NB) CE-Chirp and broadband (BB) CE-Chirp stimuli.

Design: Twenty healthy participants (10 female) were tested twice on the same day to determine the within-session reliability and 1 week later to determine the between-session reliability. The latency, amplitude, and asymmetry ratio of c&oVEMPs elicited by 95 dB nHL air-conducted (AC) 500 Hz NB CE-Chirp and BB CE-Chirp were recorded bilaterally.

Extended High-Frequency Audiometry for Ototoxicity Monitoring: A Longitudinal Evaluation of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Treatment.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe extended high-frequency (EHF) pure-tone audiometry monitoring of ototoxicity in a longitudinal treatment program for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DRTB).

Method: This was a retrospective record review of longitudinal conventional (0.25-8 kHz) and EHF (9-16 kHz) audiometry for ototoxicity monitoring of DRTB patients undergoing treatment at community-based clinics between 2013 and 2017.

A longitudinal community-based ototoxicity monitoring programme and treatment effects for drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment, Western Cape.

Background:  South Africa has a high burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DRTB) and until recently, ototoxic aminoglycosides were predominant in treatment regimens. Community-based ototoxicity monitoring programmes (OMPs) have been implemented for early detection of hearing loss and increased patient access.

Objectives:  A longitudinal study was conducted to describe the service delivery characteristics of a community-based OMP for DRTB patients facilitated by CHWs as well as observed ototoxic hearing loss in this population.

Wideband acoustic immittance in superior semicircular canal dehiscence.

Objective: The apparent effect of superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) on middle ear- and cochlear impedance has led researchers to investigate the use of wideband acoustic immittance as a screening tool when SSCD is suspected. The purpose of the study was to describe the absorbance characteristics and tympanometric values of ears with confirmed SSCD measured at tympanometric peak pressure (TPP) and at ambient pressure.

Methods: Wideband Acoustic Immittance was performed at ambient pressure and at TPP on ten participants (12 ears) with confirmed SSCD, as well as on an age- and gender matched control group (12 ears).

Community-Based Ototoxicity Monitoring for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in South Africa: An Evaluation Study.

In response to the drug-resistant tuberculosis (DRTB) ototoxicity burden in South Africa, ototoxicity monitoring has been decentralised, with community health workers (CHWs) acting as facilitators. This study describes a community-based ototoxicity monitoring programme (OMP) for patients with DRTB. Findings are compared to the recommended guidelines for ototoxicity monitoring, the OMP protocol and published studies.

Auditory Brainstem Response Test at Different Stimulus Rates in Normal-Hearing Adults Living With HIV.

Purpose The study investigated whether the auditory brainstem response (ABR) at a baseline and at higher repetition rates can detect if neurodegeneration has occurred in adults living with HIV who present with normal behavioral pure-tone thresholds. Method An exploratory research design was used. Forty adults with HIV (80 ears, 57.

The correlation between hair and eye colour and contralateral suppression of otoacoustic emissions.

Unlabelled: Genetics and environmental factors frequently influence individual's susceptibility to hearing loss. It is postulated that melanin in the inner ear is related to individual's susceptibility to noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). General pigmentation in turn, suspected to be related to the amount of pigmentation in the inner ear.

Diagnostic accuracy of CE Chirp.

Objective: There has been an increase in the use of the CE-Chirp stimulus in automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) equipment for neonatal hearing screening. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the LS CE-Chirp-evoked auditory brainstem response (ABR) compared to the click-evoked ABR for the identification of different degrees and configurations of sensorineural (SNHL) hearing loss.

Method: 49 ears with mild to moderate SNHL were assessed: 16 ears with rising SNHL and 33 ears with sloping high frequency SNHL.

Short-Term Test-Retest Reliability of Electrically Evoked Cortical Auditory Potentials in Adult Cochlear Implant Recipients.

Late latency auditory evoked potentials (LLAEPs) provide objective evidence of an individual's central auditory processing abilities. Electrically evoked cortical auditory evoked potentials (eCAEPs) are a type of LLAEP that provides an objective measure of aided speech perception and auditory processing abilities in cochlear implant (CI) recipients. To determine the short-term test-retest reliability of eCAEPs in adult CI recipients.

P300 Event-Related Potentials in Normal-Hearing Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background P300 event-related potentials can be used to measure auditory processing speed, working memory, and attention. Purpose The purpose of the study was to compare P300 event-related potentials in normal-hearing adults with those of adults with Type II diabetes mellitus. Research Design A two-group (with diabetes and controls) comparative study (age- and sex-matched) with a nonprobability sampling method was used.

Extended High-Frequency Smartphone Audiometry: Validity and Reliability.

Background: Extended high-frequency (EHF) audiometry (8-16 kHz) has an important role in audiological assessments such as ototoxicity monitoring, and for speech recognition and localization. Accurate and reliable EHF testing with smartphone technologies has the potential to provide more affordable and accessible hearing-care services, especially in underserved contexts.

Purpose: To determine the accuracy and test-retest reliability of EHF audiometry with a smartphone application, using calibrated headphones.

Hearing loss in preschool children from a low income South African community.

Objective: This study aimed to determine and describe hearing loss among preschool children in a South African community representative of typical low- and middle income countries (LMIC).

Method: Children between the ages of 3-6 years received a hearing screening at their early childhood development (ECD) center. If a child failed the hearing screening, he/she was seen for a follow-up rescreen and diagnostic assessment if necessary at their ECD center or closest referral clinic.

Community-based hearing screening for young children using an mHealth service-delivery model.

Background: Hearing loss is one of the most common developmental disorders identifiable at birth with its prevalence increasing throughout school years. However, early detection programs are mostly unavailable in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where more than 80% of children with hearing loss reside.

Objective: This study investigated the feasibility of a smartphone-based hearing screening program for preschool children operated by community healthcare workers (CHWs) in community-based early childhood development (ECD) centers.

Knowledge and attitudes of early childhood development practitioners towards hearing health in poor communities.

Objective: Within the educational sector of low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), formal and informal early childhood development (ECD) centers are often the first point of contact for majority of children. Since early hearing detection services are mostly absent in LMICs, these ECD centers may serve as the first point of access to screenings for these children. ECD practitioner awareness regarding hearing and hearing loss is essential for the successful implementation of hearing screening programs.

Wideband acoustic immittance for assessing middle ear functioning for preterm neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Background: The primary aim of newborn hearing screening is to detect permanent hearing loss. Because otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) and automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) are sensitive to hearing loss, they are often used as screening tools. On the other hand, false-positive results are most often because of transient outer- and middle ear conditions.

Diagnostic accuracy of a general practitioner with video-otoscopy collected by a health care facilitator compared to traditional otoscopy.

Objective: Video-otoscopy is rapidly developing as a new method to diagnose common ear disease and can be performed by trained health care facilitators as well as by clinicians. This study aimed to compare remote asynchronous assessments of video-otoscopy with otoscopy performed by a general practitioner.

Method: Children, aged 2-16 years, attending a health center in Johannesburg, South Africa, were examined.

Smartphone hearing screening in mHealth assisted community-based primary care.

Introduction: Access to ear and hearing health is a challenge in developing countries, where the burden of disabling hearing loss is greatest. This study investigated community-based identification of hearing loss using smartphone hearing screening (hearScreen™) operated by community health workers (CHWs) in terms of clinical efficacy and the reported experiences of CHWs.

Method: The study comprised two phases.