Evaluation of Acoustic Reflex Thresholds in COVID-19 Patients With Taste Disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, can result in persistent loss of taste and smell. This study was performed to assess acoustic reflex threshold (ART) in patients with taste disorders caused by SARS-CoV-2. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 11 patients (9 men, 2 women; average age = 22.3 years) with a history of COVID-19 and had complaints of taste disorder and sensitivity to loud sounds. The control group consisted of 13 healthy participants (10 men, 3 women; average age = 23.4 years). Anamnesis, neuro-otological, ear, nose and throat, and eye examinations, as well as a taste test, pure tone audiometry, speech discrimination test, and impedance audiometry were performed in all participants. RESULTS: All participants in the study group had a negative taste test result. In addition, ART values were significantly higher in the study group than the control group at all frequencies. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 could be a neurotropic virus that can cause facial nerve neuropathy.

Effects of a sequential cochlear implant of minimum comfort, impedance and electrically evoked compound action potential values of the initial cochlear implant.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of sequential second CI on the electrophysiological parameters of the initial CI. METHODS: Totally, 30 children who received sequential CIs between January and July 2018 were included in the study. All patients received the same brand of CI (Advanced Bionics, HIRES 90K Advantage 1J). Of 16 CI electrodes, 3rd (E3), 7th (E7) and 11th (E11), and 15th (E15) electrodes which were corresponding to the apical, middle, and basal cochlea were used in the measurements. The tNRI, electrode impedance and M levels were recorded as the contralateral CI was switched off and on, respectively. RESULTS: As the second CI was switched off, the impedance, tNRI and M values of initial CI 1st, 3rd and 6th months were not significantly different (p > 0.05). There was a significant difference between the impedance, tNRI and M values of initial CI as the second CI was switched on (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Activation of the sequential second CI leads to a decrease in the tNRI and M levels of the initial CI. This condition can increase the efficiency obtained by CIs. However, these changes should be remembered during CI programming.

Comparison of Endolymphatic Duct Dimensions and Jugular Bulb Abnormalities Between Meniere Disease and a Normal Population.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of Meniere disease (MD) has not been fully understood. According to the widely accepted theory, imbalances due to overproduction and/or impaired absorption of endolymph may cause endolymphatic hydrops, which is the hallmark pathological finding in MD. Some developmental temporal bone abnormalities may impair endolymph circulation and absorption, and these abnormalities could be a part of MD pathophysiology. However, structural features of the temporal bone cannot explain MD pathophysiology definitively. The authors aimed to determine the length and width of the endolymphatic duct (ED) along with jugular bulb (JB) abnormalities in MD patients and normal controls using high-resolution computed tomography, and to discuss the results supporting and opposing endolymphatic hydrops based on the data obtained. METHODS: Thirty-six ears of 18 patients with unilateral MD and 34 ears of 17 normal subjects were enrolled. Jugular bulb abnormalities and ED dimensions were evaluated in 3 groups: affected and unaffected ears of MD patients, and healthy controls. The ED dimensions and JB abnormalities were evaluated with high-resolution computed tomography. RESULTS: The ED was found to be significantly shorter and narrower in the affected ears of the MD patients than in the healthy control group. In addition, more JB abnormalities were detected in the affected ears of the MD patients than in the healthy control group. However, there was no difference between the affected and unaffected ears of the MD patients. CONCLUSION: Structural ED abnormalities and JB abnormalities may be predisposing factors for the development of Meniere disease, but cannot fully explain MD pathophysiology.