ABSTRACT
Objective@#To explore the effects of bimodal intervention on the development of auditory and speech ability in the infants with unilateral cochlear implantation(CI).@*Methods@#Total 35 bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss infants with unilateral CI, aged 0.7 to 2.8 years old, were selected. The subjects were divided into two groups: the group with unilateral CI(cochlear implant alone, n= 15), and the bimodal group with CI and contralateral fitting hearing aid(n= 20). Their auditory and speech abilities were estimated at the different time points after switch-on(the 0th, 0.5th, 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th, and 24th month, respectively) using Infant Toddler-Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale(IT-MAIS), Meaningful Use of Speech Scale(MUSS), Categories of Auditory Performance(CAP), and Speech Intelligibility Rating(SIR) scores.@*Results@#The IT-MAIS scores of bimodal group after switch-on were higher than unilateral CI group(the 0.5th, 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th, and 18th month), the statistical significances were identified at the 0.5th, 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th month, respectively(P<0.05). The CAP scores of bimodal group before CI operation and after switch-on(the 0.5th, 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th month)were higher than unilateral CI group, the statistical significances were seen at the 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th month after switch-on(P<0.05). The MUSS scores of bimodal group after switch-on were higher than unilateral CI group(the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th month), the statistical significances were found at the 12th, 18th and 24th month, respectively(P<0.05). The SIR scores of bimodal group after switch-on were higher than unilateral CI group(the 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th month), and significant differences appeared at the 12th, 18th and 24th month after switch-on(P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#Bimodal intervention could be helpful to the development of auditory and speech ability of infants.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the therapeutic results of endoscopic orbital decompression for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.@*METHOD@#The records of nine patients (twelve orbits) received endoscopic orbital decompression for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy were analyzed for changes in visual acuity, intraocular pressure, proptosis, corneal ulceration and movement. The follow-ups ranged from two months to thirty-six months.@*RESULT@#Twelve orbits (100%) had improvement in visual acuity (range 0.1-0.7). Ten orbits (83.3%) decreased in intraocular pressure (range 0.2-21.4 mm Hg). Eight orbits (66.70%) decreased in proptosis (one-five mm). The orbit with corneal ulcer was healed after decompression. Diplopia was cured in one of four patients.@*CONCLUSION@#Endoscopic orbital decompression is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.