Prevalence of age-related hearing loss in Europe: a review.

Populations are becoming progressively older thus presenting symptoms of diminished organ function due to degenerative processes. These may be physiological or caused by additional factors damaging the organ. Presbyacusis refers to the physiological age-related changes of the peripheral and central auditory system leading to hearing impairment and difficulty understanding spoken language.

Inside-out technique cholesteatoma surgery: a retrospective long-term analysis of 604 operated ears between 1992 and 2006.

Objective: To retrospectively present the experience with 586 patients or 604 ears operated for cholesteatoma.

Patients: All patients, adults and children, with histologically confirmed cholesteatoma and a mean age of 36 years (3 to 86 yr).

Intervention: With the inside-out technique, cholesteatoma is eradicated from the epitympanum toward the mastoid: small cholesteatoma is removed by a transcanal approach, and medium-sized cholesteatoma is removed by a retroauricular atticotomy and cartilaginous reconstruction of the canal wall.