Retrospective air bone gap evaluation of patients with tympanic membrane central perforation.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate hearing recovery and air-bone gap (ABG) before and after tympanoplasty surgery in patients with tympanic membrane central perforation. METHODS: Histories and audiological assessments of 160 cases (total of 26 ears from 22 patients; 11 men and 11 women) from patients who had undergone tympanoplasty surgery and hearing reconstruction due to tympanic membrane central perforation were evaluated. Pre-postoperative audiograms and the pure tone, air-bone hearing thresholds and ABG gains were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 38.6 years (± 16.04). The mean postoperative follow-up period was 13.4 months (± 15.5). The mean preoperative ABG was 25.36 dB (± 9.9) and postoperative ABG was 17.36 dB (± 11.68) (p = 0.001). When four groups were compared before surgery and after surgery period as 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 1-2 years and 2 years in terms of pre- and postoperative ABG values, no statistically significant difference was observed (p>0.05). All patients were divided into three groups: < 20 years of age; between the ages of 21-40; and, >41 years of age, and no statistically significant difference were found between the groups (p> 0.05). Surgeries of the patients 21-40 years of age were more successful (ABG gain) than other age groups. No statistically significant gender differences were found in ABG averages (p = 0.33), but clinical results were significantly better in women as compared with men. CONCLUSION: In patients with central tympanic membrane perforation, tympanoplasty surgery with temporal fascia is beneficial in terms of hearing recovery.

Does Tinnitus Lead to Depression?

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between THI (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory) and BDS (Beck Depression Scale). MATERIALS AND METHODS: High frequency thresholds and PTA (Pure Tone Audiometer) thresholds for the patients were measured in 44 patients with tinnitus (bilateral=13; unilateral=31). Tinnitus frequency and intensity were measured using one-pair method with high frequency audiometer Interacoustic AC40. Applied BDS and THI scores are evaluated for all patients. Our findings are analysed statistically with SPSS v.21 and BDS and THI correlation with tinnitus intensity and frequency was executed. RESULTS: The mean value of tinnitus frequency was 10 kHz (min 0.25 kHz, max16 kHz and SD 4.26), mean tinnitus intensity was 50.6 dB (min 15 dB, max 110 dB and SD 26.9 dB) mean THI score was 38.04 (min 10, max 86 and SD 20.03) and mean BDS score was 9.45 (min 0, max 28 and SD 6.49). There was no statistical correlation between THI score and tinnitus frequency (r=0.055, p=0.787). Moderate correlation is obtained between tinnitus frequency and depression (r=0.6, p=0.001). There were weak correlations between tinnitus intensity and THI score and (r=0.3, p=0.09) and between tinnitus intensity and BDS score (r=0.28, p=0.13). Although a statistically significant difference was observed between THI scores of patients with bilateral and unilateral tinnitus (p0.05). High frequency thresholds and UCL scores of ears with tinnitus were not statistically different from ears with no tinnitus (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: No correlation was seen between THI and tinnitus frequency, but a moderate correlation was seem between BDS score and tinnitus frequency. There were also weak correlations between tinnitus intensity and THI and BDS scores.

Evaluation of Acoustic Reflex and Reflex Decay Tests in Geriatric Group.

OBJECTIVE: To determine average acoustic reflex thresholds in geriatric groups by assessing ipsilateral and contralateral acoustic reflex and reflex decay tests. METHODS: A total of 25 elders between ages 65-84 years (74.3±5.4) and 25 individuals between ages 18-45 years (30.4±4.2) were recruited for the study. After ear, nose, and throat examination, ipsilateral and contralateral acoustic reflex thresholds at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hertz (Hz) were determined and a reflex decay test at contralateral 500 Hz was conducted. Ipsilateral acoustic reflex thresholds were obtained with high-frequency band, low-frequency band, and wide band noise, and the results were compared with ipsilateral acoustic reflexes at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in ipsilateral and contralateral acoustic reflex measurements at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz (p>0.05). Negative reflex decay was obtained in all participants and no statistically significant difference between the two groups was observed in terms of reflex decay thresholds (p>0.05). Acoustic reflex with high-frequency band noise was observed in five of nine elders whose acoustic reflexes were not obtained at 2000 and 4000 Hz, whereas acoustic reflex with low-frequency band noise was observed in one of six elders who did not show reflexes at 500 and 1000 Hz. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that although some changes were observed due to age, middle ear and stapes muscles work normally in geriatric group. In the reflex decay test, reliable results were obtained at contralateral 500 Hz. Acoustic reflex measurements with low- and high-frequency band noise may also be used to assess middle ear functions.