Terapia sonora en sordera súbita / Sound therapy in sudden deafness

Introducción y objetivos: La hipoacusia neurosensorial súbita idiopática es un trastorno auditivo de causa desconocida. El índice de recuperación espontánea puede variar, según la literatura, en un rango del 50-75% de los pacientes. Experimentos científicos mediante terapia sonora en animales hipoacúsicos avalan el presente estudio en pacientes con sordera súbita tratados con sonidos. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio sin aleatorización de una serie retrospectiva de casos. Durante el período 2003-2009, pacientes con hipoacusia neurosensorial súbita idiopática fueron tratados con corticosteroides, piracetam y antioxidantes, en presencia y ausencia de terapia sonora de música y palabra. Resultados: Cuando se comparan los resultados de los pacientes tratados con medicación(n = 65) y los tratados con medicación más terapia sonora (n = 67), se observa que los segundos tienen mayor recuperación. En este grupo, 25 (37%) se recuperaron completamente, 28 (42%) tuvieron buena recuperación, 11 (16%) ligera recuperación y 3 (5%) pobre recuperación o ninguna recuperación. Conclusión: El 54% de los pacientes del grupo con medicación ha recuperado más de la mitad de la audición perdida y el 79% del grupo que recibió medicación y terapia sonora. La recuperación auditiva no sufrió alteraciones, al menos, en los siguientes 12 meses del tratamiento(AU)

Introduction and goals: Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a hearing disorder of unknown cause. The spontaneous recovery rate ranges from 50 to 75% of the patients. Scientific experiments on animals support the present study in patients with sudden deafness treated with sounds. Patients and methods: During the period 2003-2009, patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss were administered steroids, piracetam and antioxidants, together with the addition of sounds by means of music and words. Results: Comparing the results of patients treated with medication (n = 65) and those treated with medication and sounds (n = 67), it was observed that patients treated with medication and sounds had higher recovery. Within the group of patients treated with medication and sounds,25 (37%) experienced complete recovery, 28 (42%) good recovery, 11 (16%) slight recovery and3 (5%) poor or no recovery .Conclusion: The patients who recovered more than half of their audition accounted for 54% in the group treated with medication and for 79% in the group of patients receiving medication and sounds. Auditory recuperation showed no alterations, at least up to 12 months after therapy(AU)

Medición de acúfenos con audiómetro convencional versus audiómetro de alta frecuencia / Tinnitus measurement with conventional audiometer versus high-frequency audiometer

Introducción y objetivos: Las determinaciones de las características psicoacústicas del acúfeno (frecuencia e intensidad) son válidas para el diagnóstico, tratamiento, seguimiento y fines de investigación. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer si se encuentran diferencias entre las determinaciones de la frecuencia e intensidad del acúfeno con metodología convencional o metodología de alta frecuencia. Métodos: Se utiliza audiómetro convencional (rango de frecuencias: 125-12.000Hz) y audiómetro de alta frecuencia (rango de frecuencias: 125-18.000Hz) para medir la frecuencia e intensidad de los acúfenos en 47 pacientes con acúfenos continuos en forma de pitidos. Resultados: Se han encontrado diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las determinaciones de la frecuencia del acúfeno efectuadas con audiómetro convencional y audiómetro de alta frecuencia, así como correlación entre los acúfenos de alta frecuencia y las molestias manifestadas por los pacientes. Conclusiones: 1) La frecuencia del acúfeno determinada con audiómetro de alta frecuencia es mayor que la frecuencia determinada con audiómetro convencional; 2) cuanto mayor es la frecuencia del acúfeno, más molestias manifiesta el paciente; y 3) no hay relación entre la intensidad y la molestia producida por el acúfeno(AU)

Introduction and objectives: Determinations of the psychoacoustic characteristics of tinnitus (frequency and intensity) are valid for diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and research purposes. The aim of this work is to compare the frequency of the tinnitus measured with a standard audiometer and a high frequency audiometer. Methods: We used a conventional audiometer (frequency range: 125-12 000Hz) and a high-frequency audiometer (frequency range: 125-18 000Hz) to measure the frequency and intensity of tinnitus in 47 patients with tinnitus as a continuous ringing. Results: We found statistically-significant differences between the determination of the frequency of tinnitus made with conventional and high-frequency audiometers, as well as a correlation between high-frequency tinnitus and distress expressed by patients. Conclusions: 1) The frequency of tinnitus determined by high-frequency audiometer is greater than the frequency determined by conventional audiometer; 2) the higher the frequency of tinnitus, the more discomfort the patient manifests; and 3) there is no relationship between the intensity and discomfort caused by tinnitus(AU)

[Tinnitus measurement with conventional audiometer versus high-frequency audiometer]. / Medición de acúfenos con audiómetro convencional versus audiómetro de alta frecuencia.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Determinations of the psychoacoustic characteristics of tinnitus (frequency and intensity) are valid for diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and research purposes. The aim of this work is to compare the frequency of the tinnitus measured with a standard audiometer and a high frequency audiometer. METHODS: We used a conventional audiometer (frequency range: 125-12,000 Hz) and a high-frequency audiometer (frequency range: 125-18,000 Hz) to measure the frequency and intensity of tinnitus in 47 patients with tinnitus as a continuous ringing. RESULTS: We found statistically-significant differences between the determination of the frequency of tinnitus made with conventional and high-frequency audiometers, as well as a correlation between high-frequency tinnitus and distress expressed by patients. CONCLUSIONS: 1) The frequency of tinnitus determined by high-frequency audiometer is greater than the frequency determined by conventional audiometer; 2) the higher the frequency of tinnitus, the more discomfort the patient manifests; and 3) there is no relationship between the intensity and discomfort caused by tinnitus.

[Sound therapy in sudden deafness]. / Terapia sonora en sordera súbita.

INTRODUCTION AND GOALS: Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a hearing disorder of unknown cause. The spontaneous recovery rate ranges from 50 to 75% of the patients. Scientific experiments on animals support the present study in patients with sudden deafness treated with sounds. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During the period 2003-2009, patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss were administered steroids, piracetam and antioxidants, together with the addition of sounds by means of music and words. RESULTS: Comparing the results of patients treated with medication (n=65) and those treated with medication and sounds (n=67), it was observed that patients treated with medication and sounds had higher recovery. Within the group of patients treated with medication and sounds, 25 (37%) experienced complete recovery, 28 (42%) good recovery, 11 (16%) slight recovery and 3 (5%) poor or no recovery. CONCLUSION: The patients who recovered more than half of their audition accounted for 54% in the group treated with medication and for 79% in the group of patients receiving medication and sounds. Auditory recuperation showed no alterations, at least up to 12 months after therapy.

Sequential sound therapy in tinnitus.

Sequential sound therapy, which uses wide-band white noise distinguished by some unique characteristics, is applied in the treatment of tinnitus. The methodology is described, as are the differences from and similarities to tinnitus retraining therapy. We have performed sequential sound therapy in 26 patients from 2002 through part of 2003. Thirty-eight generators of sounds were adapted for use in this therapy and, of these, 34 incorporated an earphone. The results of sequential sound therapy in our 26 patients were compared with the results of tinnitus retraining therapy in 15 patients treated during the years 2000 and 2001. Satisfactory results obtained with sequential sound therapy totaled 100%, whereas only 33% of subjects treated with tinnitus retraining therapy obtained satisfactory results. In 6 patients who received sequential sound therapy, tinnitus disappeared altogether. In addition, no patient receiving sequential sound therapy has left the treatment protocol, whereas 53% of patients receiving tinnitus retraining therapy abandoned the treatment protocol.