ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether distance from a cochlear implant (CI) center can influences the ages of presentation and intervention for CI, which thus may influence CI outcomes in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This study comprised a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 221 patients who presented to the CI committee between March 2016 and March 2018 at King Abdullah Ear Specialist Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Through phone interviews and patients' files, age at suspicion, audiology testing, diagnosis, hearing aid fitting, and CI discussion were recorded for prelingually deaf children; additionally, demographic information were recorded. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on the distance between their place of residence and the nearest CI center (residing within 200 km, 200-500 km, and greater than 500 km). RESULTS: Patients living within 200 km showed the youngest mean age for all tested checkpoints; however, there were no statistically significant differences among the groups. CONCLUSION: In Saudi Arabia, distance from CI center does not have a significant effect on age of presentation for CI intervention.
Subject(s)
Cochlear Implants/statistics & numerical data , Delayed Diagnosis , Early Diagnosis , Health Services Accessibility/statistics & numerical data , Hearing Loss/congenital , Hearing Loss/rehabilitation , Age Factors , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Hearing Loss/diagnosis , Hearing Tests , Humans , Infant , Male , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Saudi ArabiaABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To introduce the endoscopic acoustic stapedial reflex (EASR) as a technique for assessing stapedial mobility in ears with chronic otitis media (COM). METHODS: This prospective study was performed from February 2008 to February 2009, patients with COM presented to the Otology Clinic, King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were examined with a rigid ear endoscope to visualize the stapedius tendon and the head of stapes. The reflex is elicited by pulsed sound stimuli. The stapedius muscle contraction and the mobility of the stapes are visualized during exposure ipsilaterally, and contralaterally to sound stimuli. RESULTS: Conventional tympanometry did not detect a stapedial reflex in any of the 10 patients. Acoustic stapedial reflex was detected in all ears. Despite a visible stapedial muscle contraction, one patient did not demonstrate stapes movement, and was confirmed to have stapes fixation at surgery. All patients tolerated the test with no complications, or side effects. CONCLUSION: The EASR was introduced for the first time. In addition to the well-known value of the stapedial reflex testing, it provides a safe, and reliable method for assessment of stapes mobility.
