Acoustic Features of Cry of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Infants.

Previous research has demonstrated differences in the acoustic features of crying signals between deaf and typical hearing (TH) infants. This study aims at comparing the acoustic parameters of cries of infants with different degrees of deafness versus TH infants. About 110 infants aged 6-12 months (61 TH infants, 34 infants with bilateral deafness of variable degrees and 15 infants with unilateral deafness) were enrolled in the study. Results indicated that the most important acoustic parameters to demonstrate the difference between the crying of TH infants and deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) infants as well as between the crying of infants with different degrees of deafness are F0, cry duration, intensity, F2, and F4. In terms of accuracy, the parameter that showed the highest accuracy to differentiate between TH infants and DHH infants was F0 (74.5%). The accuracy of the combined acoustic parameters (F0, cry duration, intensity, and F4) was 70%. F0 was considered the best predictor and F4 the second best predictor of severity of deafness.

Assessment of auditory functions in chronic hepatitis C patients treated by sofosbuvir.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluating the auditory function in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with sofosbuvir and ribavirin. METHODS: This study involved 80 patients with chronic hepatitis C who agreed to receive sofosbuvir and ribavirin. All participants were subjected to baseline otological and audiological assessment just before treatment. The audiological assessment included standard pure tone audiometry, extended high-frequency audiometry, immitancemetry and otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) (transient and distortion product). According to baseline hearing threshold measurements, the study population was divided into 2 groups. Group 1 included 42 patients with normal hearing sensitivity (250-8000 Hz), and Group 2 included 38 patients with sensorineural hearing loss. After 24 weeks of therapy, otological and audiological assessments were repeated and compared between the two groups and before and after therapy. RESULTS: Post-treatment hearing threshold evaluation showed no significant difference from pretreatment evaluation at all tested frequencies. There was no statistically significant difference between pre and post-treatment otoacoustic emissions results. CONCLUSION: Therapy with sofosbuvir and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C has no noticeable effects on cochlear functions.

Home particle repositioning maneuver to prevent the recurrence of posterior canal BPPV.

OBJECTIVE: To check the value of home particle repositioning maneuver in the prevention of the recurrence of posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (pc-BPPV). METHODS: In this study, patients diagnosed as unilateral posterior canal BPPV were selected following an accurate evaluation using video goggle VNG system. All patients were managed by particle repositioning maneuver (PRM). Patients were instructed to do home PRM once weekly for five years. Then, they were divided into two groups (according to choice of patient to do PRM). The first group (control group) consisted of 144 patients who did not do home PRM; whereas the second group (study group) included 165 patients who performed home PRM. All patients (control & study groups) were followed up every four months for five years. RESULTS: The study found out that the recurrence rate of pc-BPPV in control group was 33 patients in the first year (27.2%), 11 patients in second year (9%), 5 patients in third year (4%), 3 patients in fourth year (2.5%) and 3 patients in fifth year (2.5%). The recurrence of pc-BPPV in the treated side (study group) of patients was reported as 5 patients in the first year (3.5%), 3 patients in the second year (2%), 2 patients in the third year (1.4%), 2 patients in the fourth year (1.4%), and 1 patient in the fifth year (0.7%). There was statistically significant difference between the control and the study groups regarding the recurrence rates in the first year follow up which was the highest in first four months. CONCLUSION: Home particle repositioning maneuver has the capacity to prevent the recurrence of pc-BPPV. It proved to be more successful and functional in minimizing the recurrence of the disease in the study than in the control group. Hence, home particle repositioning maneuver is highly recommended for one year at least in pc-BPPV.

Intratympanic Injections of Dexamethasone in Delayed Endolymphatic Hydrops: A Prospective Clinical Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of intratympanic dexamethazone (ITD) for the treatment of ipsilateral delayed endolymphatic hydrops (DEH). METHODS: Forty-one patients were diagnosed with ipsilateral DEH. Only 37 patients completed this study. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group A (n = 16) received oral medication, and group B (n = 21) received ITD once weekly for 4 consecutive weeks. RESULTS: In group A, 6 patients showed improvement in their vertigo. Four patients (25%) showed complete vertigo control, and 2 patients (12.5%) showed substantial vertigo control. In group B, 21 patients showed improvement in their vertigo, 11 patients (52%) showed complete vertigo control, and 10 patients (47%) showed substantial vertigo control. Only 1 case did not show any improvement in their vertigo. CONCLUSION: ITD is proven to be a valuable and promising alternative modality for the management of ipsilateral DEH.

Corticosteroids versus vestibular rehabilitation in long-term outcomes in vestibular neuritis.

BACKGROUND: The management strategy for functional recovery after vestibular neuritis (VN) has not yet been established. Therapeutic choices involve corticosteroids, vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) and the combination of corticosteroids with VRT. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of corticosteroids, vestibular rehabilitation, and combination of them in terms of subjective and objective improvement in patients with VN. METHODS: A prospective randomized study was conducted on 60 patients with acute vestibular neuritis within 3 days after symptom onset. The patients were divided into three groups; steroid group treated with corticosteroids (n = 20), VRT group (n = 20) managed with vestibular rehabilitation exercises and combination group (n = 20) received combined (corticosteroids and vestibular exercises). Groups were compared by caloric lateralization, vestibular myogenic potential amplitude asymmetry and Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores, both at presentation and up to 12 months. RESULTS: The study found no statistically significant difference between the three groups of the study at the end of the follow up period. CONCLUSION: Corticosteroids and VRT seem to be equivalently effective in patients with VN. The study proposes that corticosteroids may accelerate the recovery of VN, with no more beneficial role in the long-term prognosis of the disease.

Evaluation of Cervical Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential in Subjects with Chronic Noise Exposure.

OBJECTIVE: Noise has been recognized as a major cause of cochlear damage resulting in both tinnitus and hearing loss. On the other hand, damage to the vestibular system, especially the saccule, can be considered as a potential problem. The cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) have been established as a clinical test of measuring both sac-cular and inferior vestibular nerve function. Therefore, it is thought to be sensitive to the noise-induced damage to the vestibular system. Accordingly, this study was designed to assess the vestibular system in subjects exposed to noise during work by using cVEMPs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed in over 60 adult males who were divided into a study group (consisting of 40 adult males) with history of chronic occupational noise exposure and with variable degree of hearing levels and a control group consisting of 20 healthy adults with normal peripheral hearing, with no history of noise exposure and no vestibular complaints. cVEMP recordings were elicited using 95dB nHL click stimuli. RESULTS: There was statistically significant prolonged cVEMP latency of the P13 and N23 waves of the study versus the control groups. As regard to the sense of imbalance, there were significant prolonged cVEMPs latencies in present versus absent sense of imbalance. However, there were statistically insignificant reduced cVEMP amplitudes in present versus absent sense of imbalance. CONCLUSION: Chronic noise exposure damages the vestibular system especially the saccule in addition to cochlear damage.

Assessment of auditory and vestibular functions in vitiligo patients.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate audiological and vestibular functions via basic audiological evaluation, otoacoustic emissions and videonystagmography (VNG) in vitiligo patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 30 vitiligo patients (8 acrofacial and 22 mixed types) as the study group and 30 normal healthy adults as the control group were included in the study. All participants were submitted to basic audiological evaluation, transient and distortion product otoacoustic emmisions (TEOAEs and DPOAEs), vestibular assessment including history taking, office tests and videonystagmography (VNG) and dermatological assessment to determine type, percent of body surface area involvement and duration of vitiligo. RESULTS: This study showed statistically significant difference between control and study groups in pure tone audiometry (PTA) and otoacoustic emissions results. Fifty percent of vitiligo patients had peripheral vestibular disorders (10 vestibular neuritis and 5 posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. CONCLUSION: The results in this study showed that 50% of vitiligo patients suffered from peripheral vestibular disorders in addition to auditory affection. Vitiligo patients require routine monitoring for auditory and vestibular functions for early identification and monitoring of changes as the disease progress.