OBJECTIVES: Diabetes mellitus is closely associated with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), but no definitive evidence has established a causal relationship between type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and SSNHL. This study aims to investigate the impact of T1DM on SSNHL from a genetic perspective, providing insights for risk prediction and treatment strategies. METHODS: Genetic data related to exposure (T1DM) and outcome (SSNHL) were obtained from publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Instrumental variables were selected, and Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to explore the causal association between T1DM and SSNHL. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) analysis was used as the primary method, with random-effects IVW serving as the main analytical approach. MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode analyses were utilized as supplementary methods. Cochran's Q test was applied to evaluate the heterogeneity of the selected instrumental variables, MR-PRESSO was applied to detect outliers, MR-Egger regression was used to assess horizontal pleiotropy and leave-one-out analysis was conducted to examine the robustness of individual single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the overall results. RESULTS: A total of 127 SNPs were selected as instrumental variables for the MR analysis. IVW analysis demonstrated a genetically determined association between T1DM and SSNHL (OR=1.036, 95% CI 1.002 to 1.071, P=0.038). Forest plots and scatter plots indicated a causal relationship, suggesting that T1DM increases the risk of SSNHL. Cochran's Q test demonstrated no significant heterogeneity among SNPs (MR-Egger: Q=126.030, P=0.356; IVW: Q=126.450, P=0.373). The funnel plot appeared symmetrical, indicating that the selected instrumental variables were primarily related to exposure rather than potential confounding factors. The MR-Egger intercept was not significantly different from zero (P=0.527), indicating no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy among the SNPs. MR-PRESSO analysis did not identify any outlier SNPs (P=0.356). Leave-one-out analysis confirmed the robustness of the findings, as the results remained stable after removing individual SNPs. CONCLUSIONS Two-sample MR analysis supports the conclusion that T1DM patients have an increased risk of developing SSNHL.
Humans ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/etiology* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/genetics* ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Hearing Loss, Sudden/etiology* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk Factors ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease

Objective: To explore the value of electrically evoked auditory brainstem response (EABR) monitoring combined with brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) and compound action potential (CAP) monitoring during vestibular schwannoma resection for the protection of the cochlear nerve. Methods: Clinical data from 12 patients with vestibular schwannomas who had useful hearing prior to surgery were analyzed at the PLA General Hospital from January to December 2021. Among them, there were 7 males and 5 females, ranging in age from 25 to 59 years. Before surgery, patients underwent audiology assessments (including pure tone audiometry, speech recognition rate, etc.), facial nerve function evaluation, and cranial MRI. They then underwent vestibular schwannoma resection via the retrosigmoid approach. EABR, BAEP, and CAP were simultaneously monitored during surgery, and patients' hearing preservation was observed and analyzed after surgery. Results: Prior to surgery, the average PTA threshold of the 12 patients ranged from11 to 49 dBHL, with a SDS of 80% to 100%. Six patients had grade A hearing, and six patients had grade B hearing. All 12 patients had House-Brackman grade I facial nerve function prior to surgery. The MRI indicated tumor diameters between 1.1 and 2.4 cm. Complete removal was achieved in 10/12 patients, while near-total removal was achieved in 2/12 patients. There were no serious complications at the one-month follow-up after surgery. At the three-month follow-up, all 12 patients had House-Brackman grade I or II facial nerve function. Under EABR with CAP and BAEP monitoring, successful preservation of the cochlear nerve was achieved in six of ten patients (2 with grade B hearing, 3 with grade C hearing, and 1 with grade D hearing). Successful preservation of the cochlear nerve was not achieved in another four patients (all with grade D hearing). In two patients, EABR monitoring was unsuccessful due to interference signals; however, Grade C or higher hearing was successfully preserved under BAEP and CAP monitoring. Conclusion: The application of EABR monitoring combined with BAEP and CAP monitoring during vestibular schwannoma resection can help improve postoperative preservation of the cochlear nerve and hearing.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Neuroma, Acoustic/complications* ; Hearing/physiology* ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem/physiology* ; Cochlear Nerve ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/etiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Postoperative Complications/prevention & control*

Deafness ; Hearing Loss/etiology* ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal/diagnosis*

The incidence of blast injury has increased recently. As the ear is the organ most sensitive to blast overpressure, the most frequent injuries seen after blast exposure are those affecting the ear. Blast overpressure affecting the ear results in sensorineural hearing loss, which is untreatable and often associated with a decline in the quality of life. Here, we review recent cases of blast-induced hearing dysfunction. The tympanic membrane is particularly sensitive to blast pressure waves, since such waves exert forces mainly at air-tissue interfaces within the body. However, treatment of tympanic membrane perforation caused by blast exposure is more difficult than that caused by other etiologies. Sensorineural hearing dysfunction after blast exposure is caused mainly by stereociliary bundle disruption on the outer hair cells. Also, a reduction in the numbers of synaptic ribbons in the inner hair cells and spiral ganglion cells is associated with hidden hearing loss, which is strongly associated with tinnitus or hyperacusis.
Blast Injuries/complications* ; Ear/injuries* ; Hearing Loss, Conductive/etiology* ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/etiology* ; Humans ; Tympanic Membrane Perforation/complications*

BACKGROUNDThe prevalence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in children (CSSNHL) is consistently increasing. However, the pathology and prognosis of CSSNHL are still poorly understood. This retrospective study evaluated clinical characteristics and possible associated factors of CSSNHL.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-six CSSNHL patients treated in Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Institute of Otolaryngology at Chinese PLA General Hospital between July 2008 and August 2015 were included in this study. These patients were analyzed for clinical characteristics, audiological characteristics, laboratory examinations, and prognostic factors.

RESULTSAmong the 136 patients (151 ears), 121 patients (121 ears, 80.1%) were diagnosed with unilaterally CSSNHL, and 15 patients (30 ears, 19.9%) with bilateral CSSNHL. The complete recovery rate of CSSNHL was 9.3%, and the overall recovery rate was 37.7%. We found that initial degree of hearing loss, onset of treatment, tinnitus, the ascending type audiogram, gender, side of hearing loss, the recorded auditory brainstem response (ABR), and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) had prognostic significance. Age, ear fullness, and vertigo had no significant correlation with recovery. Furthermore, the relevant blood tests showed 30.8% of the children had abnormal white blood cell (WBC) counts, 22.1% had elevated homocysteine levels, 65.8% had high alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 33.8% had high IgE antibody levels, and 86.1% had positive cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG antibodies.

CONCLUSIONSCSSNHL commonly occurs unilaterally and results in severe hearing loss. Initial severe hearing loss and bilateral hearing loss are negative prognostic factors for hearing recovery, while positive prognostic factors include tinnitus, gender, the ascending type audiogram, early treatment, identifiable ABR waves, and DPOAEs. Age, vertigo, and ear fullness are not correlated with the recovery. Some serologic indicators, including the level of WBC, platelet, homocysteine, ALP, positive CMV IgG antibody, fibrinogen, and some immunologic indicators, are closely related to CSSNHL.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; blood ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: Analyze the data of the patients with sensorineural hearing loss in China and study the classification and incidence of inner ear malformationsby the high-resolution computed tomography. METHOD: The investigation took a retrospective review of CT findings relating to the 2,747 cases of outpatients. The inner ear malformations diagnosed by CT were classified according to the methods proposed by Sennaroglu. RESULT: (1)843 cases of inner ear malformations were found in 2747 cases of patients with sensorineural hearing loss by CT examination. The incidence of inner ear malformation was 30.69%(843/2747). (2) The epidemiological information of 843 cases of inner ear malformation according to Sennaroglu's classification was as follows: cochlea was 52. 31%(441/843), simple vestibular aqueduct was 40.33%(340/843), simple vestibular/ semicircular canal/internal auditory canal were 7. 35%(62/843) of the group. (3) 441 cases of cochlea malformation were consisted of these types of malformation: Michel deformity was 1.13% (5/441), cochlear aplasia was 1. 81% (8/441), common cavity deformity was 3. 17% (14/441), incomplete partition type I was 8. 62% (38/441), cochlea hypoplasia was 9. 07% (40/441) and incomplete partition type II was 76. 19% (336/441) of the group. CONCLUSION The results suggested that 30. 69% cases of inner ear malformation can be found in patients with sensorineural hearing loss, which is more higher than reported by the high-resolution computed tomography. Sennaroglu's classification is instructively significant in investigating the status of inner ear malformations.
China ; Cochlea ; Ear, Inner ; abnormalities ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; etiology ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Retrospective Studies ; Semicircular Canals ; Temporal Bone ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vestibular Aqueduct ; Vestibule, Labyrinth

To explore the audiological features in children who were sever sensorineural hearing loss infected with rubella virus. There were two cases of rubella virus infection in children who were deaf, they conducted the distortion product otoacoustic emission, ABR and auditory steady-state evoked response (ASSR) examination, then analyzed the results comprehensively. Two patients' mothers were prompted to have infected rubella virus during the early three months pregnant period by history and laboratory tests. The two patients were not detected deafness gene mutation. Audiology results implied the two patients were very severe binaural sensorineural deafness, so they were recommended to equipped with hearing aids and cochlear implant surgery. Early pregnancy women infected with rubella virus can cause very severe offspring sensorineural deafness. The crowd whose mother were suspected to infect with rubella virus in early pregnancy, that should be tracked and detected hearing in order to achieve early detection, early intervention and early treatment.
Child ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory ; Female ; Hearing Aids ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; etiology ; virology ; Humans ; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous ; Pregnancy ; Rubella ; complications ; Rubella virus ; pathogenicity

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of meteorological factors on the onset of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Meteorological data from 2005 to 2011 were obtained from the web-based "Monthly Weather Reports of the Meteorological Administration" database. Patients with ISSHL who visited our hospital during this same period and presented the precise day on which hearing loss developed were included in this retrospective study. Twelve meteorological factors were analyzed between the days when ISSHL onset was observed as well as the days when ISSHL did not occur. The weather conditions occurring 1-7 days before ISSHL onset were also analyzed to assess any possible delayed effects of meteorological factors on the onset of ISSHL. RESULTS: During the study period, 607 patients were included for the study. Although mean and maximal wind velocities were higher for the days when ISSHL occurred than the days without ISSHL onset, after adjusting the value for multiple comparisons, we cannot find any significant relationship between any of meteorological factors and the onset of ISSHL. However, in analysis of time lag effect of the weather conditions, we found that there was still a significant difference in maximum wind speed on 5 days before ISSHL onset even after applying Bonferroni correction. CONCLUSION: The result of this study suggests that stronger wind speed may be related to the occurrence of ISSHL.
Adult ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/diagnosis/*etiology ; Hearing Loss, Sudden/diagnosis/*etiology ; Humans ; Male ; *Meteorological Concepts ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; *Wind

OBJECTIVE: To investigate cochlear implantation surgical techniques and postoperative results in patients with cochlear ossification. METHOD: Twenty-nine cochlear ossification patients with cochlear implantation in our department were retrospectively studied during 1997-2011. Preoperative imaging and electrophysiological assessment were done to classify the cochlear ossification of all the patients. Categories of auditory performance and speech intelligibility rating were detected to assess the outcome of cochlear implant postoperatively. RESULT: Among 29 cases with cochlear ossification, 19 cases were grade II, 4 cases were grade I, 4 cases were grade III, and 2 cases were apical turn ossification. Among 23 patients with cochlear ossification grade I and II, 17 cases were totally cochlear array insertion, and 6 cases were partial cochlear array insertion. Patients with cochlear ossification grade III were all partial cochlear array insertion. Most patients achieved good hearing and language ability after cochlear implantation. CONCLUSION Cochlear implantation can be successfully performed on the basis of systematic preoperative assessment and some patients can achieve good postoperative results in patients with cochlear ossification. Intraoperative electrical stimulation of the auditory evoked response provides a good method to assess the residual spiral nerve function.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cochlea ; pathology ; Cochlear Implantation ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; etiology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: This article evaluates the auditory and speech perception outcomes of sensorneural hearing loss with cerebral white matter abnormalities after cochlear implantation. METHOD: A retrospective analysis was performed on the cochlear implantatees with cerebral white matter abnormalities by using the categories of auditory performance and speech intelligibility rating, and compared with the non-syndrome patients with sensorineural hearing loss. Paired t-test was used for statistical analysis. RESULT: There was statistical difference between normal group and white matter changes group with sensorineural hearing loss after 6 month. No statistical difference was found after 12 month and 24 month. CONCLUSION In the short term, the cochlear implant can be performed safely in patients with white matter changes. After a formal rehabilitation training,no significant difference in auditory or language ability was found between normal group and white matter changes group with sensorineural hearing loss.
Child, Preschool ; Cochlear Implantation ; rehabilitation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; etiology ; surgery ; Humans ; Leukoencephalopathies ; complications ; Male