Audiology Research

13 pages, 619 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Intra-Operative Cochlear Nerve Function Monitoring in Hearing Preservation Surgery: A Systematic Review of the Literature

by Marzia Ariano, Sebastiano Franchella, Giulia Tealdo and Elisabetta Zanoletti

Audiol. Res. 2022, 12(6), 696-708; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres12060066 - 15 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1515

Abstract

With the recent scientific and technical developments, hearing preservation surgery is becoming a growing objective in inner ear pathologies, especially for vestibular schwannomas. In this review, we aim to describe the pros and cons of the following cochlear nerve monitoring techniques: ABRs (auditory [...] Read more.

With the recent scientific and technical developments, hearing preservation surgery is becoming a growing objective in inner ear pathologies, especially for vestibular schwannomas. In this review, we aim to describe the pros and cons of the following cochlear nerve monitoring techniques: ABRs (auditory brainstem responses), DENM (direct eighth cranial nerve monitoring), EcochG (electrocochleography), CNAP (cochlear compound nerve action potentials), DPOAE (distortion product otoacoustic emissions), PAMRs (postauricular muscle responses). The Cochrane library, Scopus, DynaMed, and PubMed databases were screened to obtain any relevant papers from October 2009 to the present day. Due to the heterogeneity of the existing studies in the literature, there is no way to tell whether a technique is better than another. All authors reported satisfactory outcomes with the cochlear nerve monitoring techniques tested, either alone or in combination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hearing and Balance in Acoustic Neuroma)

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16 pages, 993 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Study of Audiovestibular Symptoms between Early and Late Variants of COVID-19

by Ali A. Almishaal

Audiol. Res. 2022, 12(6), 680-695; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres12060065 - 04 Dec 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1919

Abstract

Audiovestibular symptoms during the acute phase of the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), have been reported for earlier waves of the pandemic, while no studies investigated nor compared audiovestibular manifestations during subsequent waves of COVID-19. In the current study, we aimed to compare [...] Read more.

Audiovestibular symptoms during the acute phase of the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), have been reported for earlier waves of the pandemic, while no studies investigated nor compared audiovestibular manifestations during subsequent waves of COVID-19. In the current study, we aimed to compare the occurrence of audiovestibular symptoms associated with COVID-19 between the alpha/beta, delta, and omicron variants. An online questionnaire was distributed to individuals with confirmed test results for COVID-19. We asked participants to report whether they experienced audiovestibular symptoms during the acute phase of the disease. The study included 939 participants; 120 un-infected controls and infected participants during alpha/beta (n = 301), delta (n = 102), and omicron (n = 416) predominance periods. Self-reported audiovestibular symptoms were found to be statistically significantly different between un-infected controls and COVID-19 infected individuals in all analyzed variants. Furthermore, our results showed no significant differences in audiovestibular symptoms among individuals infected during alpha/beta, delta, and omicron waves. Although individuals infected during the delta variant predominance period reported higher percentages of audiovestibular symptoms (ranging from 11.8% to 26.5% for auditory symptoms and from 12.7% to 34.3% for vestibular symptoms) than for the alpha/beta (ranging from 6.3% to 18.9% for auditory symptoms and 8.3% to 29.9% for vestibular symptoms) and omicron (ranging from 9.6% to 21.2% for auditory and 12.5 to 29.1% for vestibular symptoms) variants, this did not achieve statistical significance. With regards to auditory symptoms, the most commonly reported symptoms were aural fullness followed by hearing loss and tinnitus. With regards to vestibular symptoms, dizziness was the most commonly reported symptom followed by vertigo and unsteadiness. Logistic regression revealed that experiencing auditory symptoms were associated with other neurological symptoms, back and joint pain, and chest pain as COVID-19 symptoms. Vestibular symptoms were associated with anemia, gender, fatigue, headache, and breathing difficulties. In conclusion, our study shows that audiovestibular symptoms are common during the acute phase of early and late COVID-19 variants with no significant differences between them. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Audio-Vestibular Disorders in the COVID-19 Pandemics)

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6 pages, 940 KiB

Open AccessReview

Translational Research in Audiology: Presence in the Literature

by Agnieszka J. Szczepek, Ewa Domarecka and Heidi Olze

Audiol. Res. 2022, 12(6), 674-679; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres12060064 - 28 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1804

Abstract

Translational research is a process that focuses on advancing basic research-based clinical solutions and is characterized by a structured process accelerating the implementation of scientific discoveries in healthcare. Translational research originated in oncology but has spread to other disciplines in recent decades. A [...] Read more.

Translational research is a process that focuses on advancing basic research-based clinical solutions and is characterized by a structured process accelerating the implementation of scientific discoveries in healthcare. Translational research originated in oncology but has spread to other disciplines in recent decades. A translational project may refer to pharmacological research, the development of non-pharmacological therapies, or to disease monitoring processes. Its stages are divided into basic research focused on the clinical problem (T0), testing the developed means in humans (T1), conducting trials with patients (T2), implementation and dissemination of successful approaches (T3), and improving community health (T4). Many audiological studies are translational in nature. Accordingly, this scoping review aimed to evaluate the use of the terms “translational audiology” and “translational research in audiology” in the literature and examine the goals of the identified studies. PubMed and Web of Science search identified only two publications meeting the search criteria. We conclude that identifying translational audiological studies in the literature may be hampered by the lack of use of the terms “translational audiology” or “translational research”. We suggest using these terms when describing translational work in audiology, with a view to facilitating the identification of this type of research and credit it appropriately. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Translational Research in Audiology)

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21 pages, 6570 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adaptive Syllable Training Improves Phoneme Identification in Older Listeners with and without Hearing Loss

by Annette Schumann and Bernhard Ross

Audiol. Res. 2022, 12(6), 653-673; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres12060063 - 18 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1571

Abstract

Acoustic-phonetic speech training mitigates confusion between consonants and improves phoneme identification in noise. A novel training paradigm addressed two principles of perceptual learning. First, training benefits are often specific to the trained material; therefore, stimulus variability was reduced by training small sets of [...] Read more.

Acoustic-phonetic speech training mitigates confusion between consonants and improves phoneme identification in noise. A novel training paradigm addressed two principles of perceptual learning. First, training benefits are often specific to the trained material; therefore, stimulus variability was reduced by training small sets of phonetically similar consonant–vowel–consonant syllables. Second, the training is most efficient at an optimal difficulty level; accordingly, the noise level was adapted to the participant’s competency. Fifty-two adults aged between sixty and ninety years with normal hearing or moderate hearing loss participated in five training sessions within two weeks. Training sets of phonetically similar syllables contained voiced and voiceless stop and fricative consonants, as well as voiced nasals and liquids. Listeners identified consonants at the onset or the coda syllable position by matching the syllables with their orthographic equivalent within a closed set of three alternative symbols. The noise level was adjusted in a staircase procedure. Pre–post-training benefits were quantified as increased accuracy and a decrease in the required signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and analyzed with regard to the stimulus sets and the participant’s hearing abilities. The adaptive training was feasible for older adults with various degrees of hearing loss. Normal-hearing listeners performed with high accuracy at lower SNR after the training. Participants with hearing loss improved consonant accuracy but still required a high SNR. Phoneme identification improved for all stimulus sets. However, syllables within a set required noticeably different SNRs. Most significant gains occurred for voiced and voiceless stop and (af)fricative consonants. The training was beneficial for difficult consonants, but the easiest to identify consonants improved most prominently. The training enabled older listeners with different capabilities to train and improve at an individual ‘edge of competence’. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rehabilitation of Hearing Impairment)

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9 pages, 493 KiB

Open AccessReview

Methods, Applications, and Limitations of Somatic Maneuvers for the Modulation of Tinnitus

by Sumin Lee, Tae-Jun Jin and In-Ki Jin

Audiol. Res. 2022, 12(6), 644-652; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres12060062 - 18 Nov 2022

Viewed by 3345

Abstract

The modulation of tinnitus through somatic maneuvers is a well-documented phenomenon in tinnitus patients with somatic disorders. The purpose of this study was to review the methods, applications, and limitations of somatic maneuvers. First, 35 somatic maneuvers proposed by various research groups were [...] Read more.

The modulation of tinnitus through somatic maneuvers is a well-documented phenomenon in tinnitus patients with somatic disorders. The purpose of this study was to review the methods, applications, and limitations of somatic maneuvers. First, 35 somatic maneuvers proposed by various research groups were summarized according to four body areas (jaw, head and neck, eye, and limbs), following which their applications and limitations were assessed. Although some studies have shown that somatic maneuvers can aid in screening for somatic tinnitus and may help alleviate symptoms with repeated practice, the limited number of studies and inconsistent results among studies make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Therefore, follow-up studies are required to overcome these limitations and determine whether the treatment of somatic disorders can also aid in alleviating somatic tinnitus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insights on Somatosensory Tinnitus and Research Needs)

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Graphical abstract

9 pages, 248 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Postoperative Impact of Pontocerebellar Angle Surgery on the Quality of Life in Patients with Vestibular Schwannoma

by Valentina Foscolo, Luigi de Gennaro, Alessandra Murri, Luca Speranzon, Francesco Signorelli, Nicola Quaranta and Raffaella Messina

Audiol. Res. 2022, 12(6), 635-643; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres12060061 - 17 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1636

Abstract

Background: Vestibular Schwannomas are benign tumors arising from the VIII CN. Surgical treatment is indicated in case of tumors larger than 2.5 cm in the cerebellopontine angle or in the case of cranial nerve dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to [...] Read more.

Background: Vestibular Schwannomas are benign tumors arising from the VIII CN. Surgical treatment is indicated in case of tumors larger than 2.5 cm in the cerebellopontine angle or in the case of cranial nerve dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the QoL by means of the PANQOL questionnaire in a group of surgically treated patients mainly affected by large and giant VS Methods: All patients underwent preoperative and postoperative otoneurological evaluation and gadolinium enhanced MRI and they completed, independently, the PANQOL questionnaire at last follow up. Results: 70% of patients presented with large Koos III or IV VS Each domain of PANQOL showed a strong correlation with the total PANQOL score. In relation to the postoperative facial nerve function, patients with poorer function showed significantly lower score in the facial dysfunction and pain, patients with postoperative balance problems showed a significantly lower PANQOL score for domains of balance and pain. Conclusions: This study showed that postoperative QoL of patients was acceptable even if there were some domains that were more affected, such as hearing and balance domains; therefore, the lowest scores suggest the need for vestibular rehabilitation programs and strategies that improve postoperative hearing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hearing and Balance in Acoustic Neuroma)

15 pages, 509 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Using an Online Tool to Apply a Person-Centred Approach in Audiological Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study

by Nerina Scarinci, Kristen Tulloch, Carly Meyer, Katie Ekberg and Christopher Lind

Audiol. Res. 2022, 12(6), 620-634; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres12060060 - 02 Nov 2022

Viewed by 2313

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the experiences of adult clients with hearing loss and their audiologists in using an online tool, the Living Well Tool (LWT), during initial audiology appointments. The LWT is designed to help clients identify when and where it is [...] Read more.

This study aimed to explore the experiences of adult clients with hearing loss and their audiologists in using an online tool, the Living Well Tool (LWT), during initial audiology appointments. The LWT is designed to help clients identify when and where it is most important for them to communicate effectively and live well with hearing loss. A total of 24 adult clients with hearing loss and two audiologists participated in this study. Clients were invited to complete the LWT prior to their next audiology appointment, however, most clients chose to use the LWT in-session with their audiologist. Following the appointment, clients and audiologists participated in individual qualitative semi-structured interviews to explore their experiences of using the LWT, and the extent to which the LWT facilitated person-centred care. Qualitative analysis five key themes which reflected participants’ experiences and perceptions of using the LWT: (1) the LWT enhances audiological care; (2) the LWT supports person-centred audiological care; (3) the use of the LWT should be individualised; (4) users value comprehensiveness; and (5) users value accessibility. This study demonstrated that the LWT supported the provision of person-centred audiological care, providing a flexible, comprehensive and accessible means for audiologists to gain an understanding of their clients’ needs and preferences. However, it was also noted that the use of a tool must be individualised and accessible for all. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rehabilitation of Hearing Impairment)

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24 pages, 309 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Qualitative Investigation of Clients, Significant Others, and Clinicians’ Experiences of Using Wireless Microphone Systems to Manage Hearing Impairment

by Nerina Scarinci, Mansoureh Nickbakht, Barbra H. Timmer, Katie Ekberg, Bonnie Cheng and Louise Hickson

Audiol. Res. 2022, 12(6), 596-619; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres12060059 - 27 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1924

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of adults with hearing impairment (HI), their significant others (SOs), and clinicians regarding the use and provision of wireless microphone systems (WMS). A qualitative descriptive methodology was used, with a total of 43 participants [...] Read more.

This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of adults with hearing impairment (HI), their significant others (SOs), and clinicians regarding the use and provision of wireless microphone systems (WMS). A qualitative descriptive methodology was used, with a total of 43 participants across three groups: (1) 23 adults with HI who used WMS; (2) 7 SOs of adults who used WMS; and (3) 13 clinicians who provided WMSs to adults with HI. Participants completed an individual semi-structured in-depth interview to explore their experiences, with the data analysed using thematic analysis. The analysis revealed five themes encompassing the perceptions and experiences of WMSs: (1) with experience and clear expectations, users believe that WMS can make a difference; (2) the trial and decision-making process is important; (3) clients’ experiences using WMS; (4) issues with WMS and technology; and (5) users require ongoing training and support to use WMS. These findings highlight the complexities of providing and using WMS with adults with HI. However, clients, SOs, and clinicians all reported that, with appropriate experience, expectations, training, and support, WMS can make a real difference in listening and communicating in different situations. There is also an opportunity to involve SOs more throughout the rehabilitation process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rehabilitation of Hearing Impairment)

7 pages, 243 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness in Episodic Vestibular Disorders

by Valeria Gambacorta, Alessandra D’Orazio, Vincenzo Pugliese, Alfredo Di Giovanni, Giampietro Ricci and Mario Faralli

Audiol. Res. 2022, 12(6), 589-595; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres12060058 - 27 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2705

Abstract

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), Vestibular Migraine (VM), and Meniere Disease (MD) are among the most common episodic vestibulopathies. Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) is a chronic functional vestibular disorder that can arise in patients suffering from one or more of these conditions. [...] Read more.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), Vestibular Migraine (VM), and Meniere Disease (MD) are among the most common episodic vestibulopathies. Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) is a chronic functional vestibular disorder that can arise in patients suffering from one or more of these conditions. We analyzed the role of these vestibular disorders as single or multiple associated comorbidities and as a precipitating condition for PPPD. A total of 376 patients suffering from dizziness with a known history of single or multiple vestibular disorders were preliminarily evaluated. We conducted a careful anamnesis to determine whether the reported dizziness could meet the diagnostic criteria for PPPD. PPPD was diagnosed in 24 cases; its incidence in patients with history of a single comorbidity or multiple vestibular comorbidities was 3.9% and 22.4%, respectively. BPPV, VM, and MD were identified as a precipitating condition in 2.34%, 16.45%, and 3.92%, respectively. BPPV constituted a precipitating condition mainly at the first episode. We observed that the presence of multiple vestibular comorbidities (BPPV, VM, and MD) in patients’ clinical history increased the risk of PPPD. VM plays a significant role in representing a precipitating condition for PPPD, both when present individually or in association with the other vestibular disorders. Full article

4 pages, 586 KiB

Open AccessObituary

In Memoriam: David Mark Baguley

by Don McFerran and Laurence McKenna

Audiol. Res. 2022, 12(6), 585-588; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres12060057 - 24 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1932

Abstract

Reverend Professor David (Dave) Mark Baguley, audiologist, hearing scientist, tinnitus clinician, educator, and Church of England priest, died suddenly and unexpectedly in Nottingham, UK on 11 June 2022, at the age of 61 (Figure 1) [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Translational Research in Audiology)

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Audiol. Res., Volume 12, Issue 6 (December 2022) – 10 articles

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