Common causes of hearing impairment among children less than 8 years of age in District Bahawalpur, Punjab Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To find out the common causes of hearing loss among young children, and to compare the causes along gender lines. Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2020 to March 2021 at two government hospitals and one private clinic in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, and comprised children of either gender aged <8 years with complaint of decreased hearing. They were examined and tested for hearing impairment. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. RESULTS: Of the 328 subjects, 164(50%) each were girls and boys. The overall mean age was 4.20±2.08 years. Sensorineural hearing loss was found in 178(54.3%), cases, conductive in 118(36%) and mixed type in 32(9.8%). Otitis media with effusion 89(27.1%) was the commonest cause of hearing impairment, followed by consanguinity 73(22.3%). There was no significant difference between the male and female children (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Otitis media with effusion was the commonest cause of hearing impairment, followed by consanguinity. Gender had no significant role to play in this regard.

The effectiveness of script training to restore lost communication in a patient with Broca's aphasia.

Aphasia is considered as an acquired neurological disorder of communication, which is characterised by the symptoms on all levels of language dysfunction. The current study was planned to explore the outcomes of script training in a patient with Broca's aphasia through quantitative approach using a single-subject-multiple-baseline research design across behaviours. The probes were obtained during the baseline, treatment, maintenance and generalisation phases for tracking the spoken use of scripted content. All the probes were transcribed verbatim and no value of Cohen's Kappa Coefficient (K) was below 0.61, indicating robust inter-rater reliability. The subject learned all six scripts successively and over 80% of mastery level on all dependent variables was achieved. The largest effect size, above 10.1, was reported for the percent of intelligible scripted words (PISW). Script training was found to be an effective therapy for rejuvenating lost communication of patients with severe Broca's aphasia.

Frequency of post-stroke dysphagia in Pakistan: a hospital based study.

OBJECTIVE: Purpose of the study is to determine the frequency of dysphagia after stroke and to see the factors associated with it. METHODS: Cross Sectional study design was used by including individuals pre-diagnosed as stroke on the basis of CT scan or MRI findings. Study was conducted in three hospitals of Lahore within six months. Sample size of 150 patients of any age and both gender was taken by using convenient sampling technique. To assess the conscious level, Glasgow coma scale was administered and those who scored mild or moderate on GCS were included in the study. Modified Massey Bedside Swallow Screener was used to screen out the patients for dysphagia. SPSS-19 was used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: In the sample of 150 individuals with stroke 53% of patients had dysphagia. Females were 38% while males were 62%. Individuals who were older were more likely to have dysphagia. Among dysphagic individuals 65% had ischemic stroke while 35% were with haemorrhagic. There were 87% of dysphagic individuals who presented with history of smoking and 13% were without any. These factors demonstrate significant relationship by showing p-value <0.05. While no significant difference was seen between levels of alertness and risk of dyspagia by showing p-value 0.2. CONCLUSIONS: Dysphagia after stroke occurs frequently that should be actively assessed and factors like type of stroke and history of smoking are significantly related to this condition.