The acute vestibular syndrome: prevalence of new hearing loss and its diagnostic value.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of new hearing losses in patients with acute vestibular syndrome (AVS) and to start to evaluate its diagnostic value for the differentiation between peripheral and central causes.

Design: We performed a cross-sectional prospective study in AVS patients presenting to our Emergency Department (ED) from February 2015 to November 2020. All patients received an MRI, Head-impulse test, Nystagmus test and Test of skew ('HINTS'), caloric testing and a pure-tone audiometry.

Vestibular function, subjective complaints, perceived disability in daily life, and sports activities in patients with cochlear implants performed during childhood: a prospective cross-section study.

Background: Vestibular function (VF) in patients with cochlear implantation (CI) performed during childhood is underinvestigated.

Objective: To study VF in patients receiving CI during childhood.

Material & Methods: Sixty patients (22 females) from 7-34 years old, unilaterally ( = 21) and bilaterally ( = 39) implanted, were included.

Hearing Results after Transmastoid Superior Semicircular Canal Plugging for Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: The transmastoid plugging of a superior semicircular canal is considered a safe and effective technique for the management of superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD). The aim of this meta-analysis is to assess the postoperative hearing outcomes after the transmastoid plugging of the superior semicircular canal. Search method and data sources: A systematic database search was performed on the following databases until 30 January 2023: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL, ICTRP, and clinicaltrials.

BPACE: A Bayesian, Patient-Centered Procedure for Matrix Speech Tests in Noise.

Matrix sentence tests in noise can be challenging to the listener and time-consuming. A trade-off should be found between testing time, listener's comfort and the precision of the results. Here, a novel test procedure based on an updated maximum likelihood method was developed and implemented in a German matrix sentence test.

Using a Bone Conduction Hearing Device as a Tactile Aid.

Background: With the advent of cochlear implants, tactile aids for the profoundly deaf became obsolete decades ago. Nevertheless, they might still be useful in rare cases. We report the case of a 25-year-old woman with Bosley-Salih-Alorainy Syndrome and bilateral cochlear aplasia.

Potentially Inadequate Real-Life Speech Levels by Healthcare Professionals during Communication with Older Inpatients.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate real-life speech levels of health professionals during communication with older inpatients in small group settings.

Methods: This is a prospective observational study assessing group interactions between geriatric inpatients and health professionals in a geriatric rehabilitation unit of a tertiary university hospital (Bern, Switzerland). We measured speech levels of health professionals during three typical group interactions (discharge planning meeting ( = 21), chair exercise group ( = 5), and memory training group = 5)) with older inpatients.

Performance with a new bone conduction implant audio processor in patients with single-sided deafness.

Purpose: The SAMBA 2 BB audio processor for the BONEBRIDGE bone conduction implant features a new automatic listening environment detection to focus on target speech and to reduce interfering speech and background noises. The aim of this study was to evaluate the audiological benefit of the SAMBA 2 BB (AP2) and to compare it with its predecessor SAMBA BB (AP1).

Methods: Prospective within-subject comparison study.

[The professional ear user-implications for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of ear diseases].

Background: Perfect hearing is crucial to the practice of various professions, such as instrument makers, musicians, sound engineers, and other professions not related to music, such as sonar technicians. For people of these occupational groups, we propose the term "professional ear user" (PEU) in analogy to "professional voice user". PEUs have special requirements for their hearing health, as they have well-known above-average auditory perceptual abilities on which they are professionally dependent.

Severity of hearing loss after platinum chemotherapy in childhood cancer survivors.

Background: Hearing loss is a potential side effect from childhood cancer treatment. We described the severity of hearing loss assessed by audiometry in a representative national cohort of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) and identified clinical risk factors.

Procedure: We included all CCS from the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry who were diagnosed ≤18 age and treated with platinum-based chemotherapy between 1990 and 2014.

Influence of Compression Thresholds and Maximum Power Output on Speech Understanding with Bone-Anchored Hearing Systems.

Bone-anchored hearing systems (BAHS) transmit sound via osseointegrated implants behind the ear. They are used to treat patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss, but speech understanding may be limited especially in users with substantial additional cochlear hearing losses. In recent years, BAHS with higher maximum power output (MPO) and more advanced digital processing including loudness compression have become available.

[Treatment of single-sided deafness by cochlear implantation].

Single sided deafness diminishes speech understanding in noise and sound localization and thereby globally auditory performance. Most patients also suffer from tinnitus and indicate reduced quality of life. Patients have the choice to adapt to the new situation without treatment, to restore pseudostereophonic hearing by contralateral routing of signal (CROS) hearing aids or to restore binaural hearing using a cochlear implant in the deaf ear.

The influence of preferred habitat and daily range of the European hare on its contamination by heavy metals: a case study from the West Carpathians.

The Spišská Magura mountain range, located in the Middle Spiš, is one of the regions in Slovakia most contaminated by heavy metals resulting from mining and smelting activities. Heavy metals and other potentially toxic elements have accumulated in mountain areas via atmospheric transport. The influence of the daily range size of the European hare on its contamination by heavy metals was investigated in three habitat types (forest, woodland edge, meadow) in the Spišská Magura mountain range in the West Carpathians.

Using a cochlear implant processor as contralateral routing of signals device in unilateral cochlear implant recipients.

Purpose: In unilateral cochlear implant (CI) recipients, a contralateral routing of signals (CROS) device enables to receive auditory information from the unaided side. This study investigates the feasibility as well as subjective and objective benefits of using a CI processor as a CROS device in unilateral CI recipients.

Methods: This is a single-center, prospective cohort study.

Association of candidate pharmacogenetic markers with platinum-induced ototoxicity: PanCareLIFE dataset.

Genetic association studies suggest a genetic predisposition for cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Among other candidate genes, thiopurine methyltransferase () is considered a critical gene for susceptibility to cisplatin-induced hearing loss in a pharmacogenetic guideline. The PanCareLIFE cross-sectional cohort study evaluated the genetic associations in a large pan-European population and assessed the diagnostic accuracy of the genetic markers.

Usefulness of current candidate genetic markers to identify childhood cancer patients at risk for platinum-induced ototoxicity: Results of the European PanCareLIFE cohort study.

Background: Irreversible sensorineural hearing loss is a common side effect of platinum treatment with the potential to significantly impair the neurocognitive, social and educational development of childhood cancer survivors. Genetic association studies suggest a genetic predisposition for cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Among other candidate genes, thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) is considered a critical gene for susceptibility to cisplatin-induced hearing loss in a pharmacogenetic guideline.

Pinna-Imitating Microphone Directionality Improves Sound Localization and Discrimination in Bilateral Cochlear Implant Users.

Objectives: To compare the sound-source localization, discrimination, and tracking performance of bilateral cochlear implant users with omnidirectional (OMNI) and pinna-imitating (PI) microphone directionality modes.

Design: Twelve experienced bilateral cochlear implant users participated in the study. Their audio processors were fitted with two different programs featuring either the OMNI or PI mode.

Cochlear implants in single-sided deafness - clinical results of a Swiss multicentre study.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of this multicentre, prospective, open, nonrandomised clinical trial was to demonstrate the clinical efficiency and outcomes of cochlear implants (CIs) in adult patients with post-lingual single-sided deafness (SSD).

Methods: A group of five left and five right SSD participants were investigated with various clinical tests and questionnaires before and 12 months after CI activation. Changes in hearing thresholds, speech understanding in noise, sound localisation, tinnitus (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory; THI), subjective hearing ability (Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale; SSQ), and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) were assessed.

Influence of maximum power output on speech understanding with bone anchored hearing systems.

Maximum power output (MPO) levels of bone anchored hearing systems (BAHS) vary between different devices, but are significantly lower than those of conventional hearing aids, potentially limiting speech understanding. To investigate, how MPO influences speech understanding in quiet and in noise in BAHS users. 12 adult BAHS users with a bilateral conductive hearing loss and additional sensorineural hearing components between 4 and 45 dB (500-4000 Hz) participated in the study.

Musical Ear Syndrome and Cochlear Explantation: Case Report and Proposal for a Theoretical Framework.

Objective: To report an unusual case of musical ear syndrome, and to present a theoretical framework for this condition, merging information from the presented case and from former case reports.

Patient: A 67-year-old semi-professional musician, who underwent bilateral cochlear implantation and experienced musical ear syndrome, i.e.

Robotic middle ear access for cochlear implantation: First in man.

To demonstrate the feasibility of robotic middle ear access in a clinical setting, nine adult patients with severe-to-profound hearing loss indicated for cochlear implantation were included in this clinical trial. A keyhole access tunnel to the tympanic cavity and targeting the round window was planned based on preoperatively acquired computed tomography image data and robotically drilled to the level of the facial recess. Intraoperative imaging was performed to confirm sufficient distance of the drilling trajectory to relevant anatomy.

Round window and promontory movements during bone conduction with different middle ear conditions in Thiel embalmed specimens.

Background: Thiel conservation is mainly based on a watery solution of salts. We have shown that bone conduction (BC) evokes motion in normal middle ears of Thiel embalmed specimens that is comparable to the motion for other cadaveric models.

Aims/objectives: We evaluated whether promontory and round window (RW) motion identifies differences in BC transmission for different middle ear conditions.

Efficacy of Auditory Implants for Patients With Conductive and Mixed Hearing Loss Depends on Implant Center.

Introduction: Although from a technological point of view, progress is impressive, most implantable hearing devices for conductive or mixed hearing loss have a limited capacity. These devices all bypass the impaired middle ear; therefore, the desired amplification (gain) should be based on the cochlear hearing loss (component) only. The aim of the study is to review the literature with regard to accomplished gain with current implantable devices.

Voluntary increase of acoustic middle ear impedances with simultaneous sound attenuation associated with mild hyperacusis (VIMH).

Background: Acoustic impedances, as measured with tympanometers, change with the pressure in the middle ears, or reflexively as a response to a range of stimuli. A few persons are able to influence their acoustic impedances voluntarily.

Aims/objectives: To describe this phenomenon and its clinical consequences.

Mobile Internet Telephony Improves Speech Intelligibility and Quality for Cochlear Implant Recipients.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the benefit of mobile Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) over conventional mobile phone calls (Global System for Mobile Communications, GSM) on speech intelligibility and quality for cochlear implant (CI) recipients.

Study Design: Cross-sectional, prospective.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.