BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dizziness has been known as a prognostic factor in sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL), but it is difficult to describe and quantify its subjective symptoms. Also, dizziness itself cannot imply vestibular dysfunction in SSHL. Comprehensive evaluation of vestibular function may help us understand the extent of lesions in sudden deafness. The purpose of this study is to determine whether an impaired caloric response is associated with disease severity and hearing outcome. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective chart review was conducted of 488 patients diagnosed as unilateral SSHL. The patients were divided into two, an abnormal caloric group (canal paresis >20%) and normal caloric group (canal paresis ≤20%). Initial demographic and audiologic findings and final hearing outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The initial pure tone averages of SSHL patients of abnormal caloric group and normal caloric group were 75.4±28.4 dB HL and 68.2±25.4 dB HL (p=0.004), respectively. Patients of abnormal caloric test group showed worse hearing outcome across all frequencies compared to those of the normal caloric group. Also, a significant correlation was noted between the magnitude of hearing recovery and canal paresis (r=-0.223, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: SSHL patients of abnormal caloric test showed worse initial hearing level and poorer hearing outcome. Evaluation of vestibular function in SSHL patients is important because subjective symptoms alone cannot account for vestibular hypofunction patients, and the caloric test can help in the counseling of patients and prediction of hearing outcome in SSHL patients.
Caloric Tests* ; Counseling ; Dizziness ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing Loss, Sudden* ; Humans ; Methods ; Paresis ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To analyze the 125 Hz pure-tone thresholds in patients with acute low frequency sensorineural hearing loss (LFHL) and to investigate the value of 125 Hz thresholds for the assessment of LFHL. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Hearing tests including 125 Hz pure-tone were performed in 91 patients with acute LFHL ≤500 Hz and in 46 subjects with normal hearing. Patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss or Meniere's disease were excluded. Inter-group and intra-group comparison of 125 Hz was made between LFHL and the control groups. RESULTS: There was a significant difference of mean pure-tone thresholds at 125 Hz between the acute LFHL and the normal groups (39.8±8.9 vs. 14.3±6.7 dB). Eight (8.8%) patients in the LFHL group showed normal thresholds at 125 Hz, but all other subjects were normal at 125 Hz in the control group. None with the average hearing thresholds at 250 and 500 Hz ≥40 dB had normal threshold at 125 Hz. There was a significant correlation between 125 Hz and other low frequencies in the LFHL group (250 Hz; r=0.81, 500 Hz; r=0.63). CONCLUSION: Not all patients with acute LFHL show abnormal hearing threshold at 125 Hz although every subject with normal hearing is within the normal limits at 125 Hz. Threshold assessment should be made at 125 Hz when a mild LFHL exists in the conventional pure tone audiometry.
Audiometry ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Auditory Threshold ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural* ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Meniere Disease ; Methods

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of binaural bi-modal fitting (one cochlear implant and a contralateral hearing aid) on speech recognition of cochlear implant recipients with low frequency electrodes incompletely implanted. METHOD: A total of 15 cochlear implant(CI) users who have low residual hearing (250 Hz 45-90 dBHL, 500 Hz 75 - 100 dBHL) of their non surgery ears. We closed the top three electrodes to simulate the state of low-frequency electrodes incompletely implanted by fitting software. (1) The same tester received twice speech recognition tests in incompletely implanted state, one test used single CI model and the other used binaural bi-modal fitting model. (2)The same tester received above twice speech recognition tests again, but in completely implanted state. Then we compared the results of tests. RESULT: The CI users used binaural bi-modal fitting have higher speech recognition score than the same users used unilateral cochlear implant model in low-frequency electrodes incompletely implanted state(P<0. 05). The gap between the scores of the tests by using two usage patterns in low frequency electrodes incompletely implanted state was more than that in completely implanted state (P<0. 05). CONCLUSION Binaural bi-modal fitting can help CI users to improve their speech recognition ability in low-frequency electrodes incompletely implanted state.
Cochlear Implantation ; methods ; Cochlear Implants ; Electrodes, Implanted ; Hearing ; Hearing Aids ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Speech ; Speech Perception

Audiology ; methods ; Hearing Tests ; methods ; Humans ; Time Factors

Cochlear Implantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; rehabilitation ; Hearing Tests ; Humans

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Various hearing tests and vestibular function tests are used to diagnose acoustic neuroma. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and the results of audiovestibular function tests between patients of intrameatal and extrameatal acoustic neuroma. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Reviewing the medical records for 64 patients with acoustic neuroma between March 2007 and February 2014, we divided the patients into two groups, intrameatal (31 patients) and extrameatal acoustic neuroma (33 patients) according to the involvement of cerebropontine angle. We compared the clinical characteristics, pure tone audiograms, speech audiometry, caloric test, and vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) between the two groups. RESULTS: While hearing loss was the most frequent presenting symptom in patients with intrameatal acoustic neuroma, dizziness was the most common symptom in patients with extrameatal acoustic neuroma. Hearing thresholds measured by pure tone audiometry and speech discrimination scores were significantly worse for patients with extrameatal acoustic neuroma. Abnormal unilateral canal paresis of caloric test was significantly higher for extrameatal acoustic neuroma than for intrameatal acoustic neuroma. Most patients with acoustic neuroma showed abnormal findings in the VEMP test, but the number of patients between intrameatal and extrameatal acoustic neuroma did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION: Clinical symptoms and the results of audiovestibular function tests differed according to the tumor size of acoustic neuroma. Physicians should counsel patients presenting with audiovestibular symptoms of the possibility of acoustic neuroma.
Acoustics* ; Audiometry ; Audiometry, Speech ; Caloric Tests ; Dizziness ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Methods ; Neuroma, Acoustic* ; Paresis ; Speech Perception ; Vestibular Function Tests

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The association between hearing impairment and cognitive function has been established in previous studies. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of conventional hearing aids and middle ear implants on cognitive function. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: This study included 22 participants who underwent middle ear implantation between October 2013 and September 2016. Their mean age at surgery was 70 years. Using Pure tone audiometry (PTA), the Speech discrimination test (SDT), and the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) questionnaire, we compared audiologic benefits of three conditions [without hearing aids, with conventional hearing aids, or with Vibrant Sound bridge (VSB)]. Cognitive ability was evaluated using neuropsychological testings (Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery) at intervals of approximately eight weeks. RESULTS: The results of PTA showed a 7.96 dB HL gain with conventional hearing aids and a 10.00 dB HL gain with the use of VSB. SDT results showed a 4.10% gain with conventional hearing aids and a 10% gain with the use of VSB. Results of the APHAB questionnaire showed a significant increase with the use of VSB compared to conventional hearing aids. In the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination, a slight improvement was observed after middle ear implantation. In the Digit Span Test and Korean-Boston Naming Test, a significant improvement was seen with the use of VSB compared to conventional hearing aids. CONCLUSION: The use of middle ear implants in rehabilitation of hearing communication in patients showed improvements in cognitive abilities, compared to the use of conventional hearing aids.
Audiometry ; Cognition* ; Ear, Middle* ; Hearing Aids* ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Methods ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Ossicular Prosthesis* ; Rehabilitation ; Speech Discrimination Tests

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To analyze the difference in audiologic-vestibular and clinical characteristics between acute cochlea-vestibulopathy (ACV) and idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics of 91 patients diagnosed as sudden hearing loss (ACV; n=20, ISSNHL; n=71). Patients with vestibular hypofunction were categorized as ACV and all others as ISSNHL. Demographics and clinical findings were compared. Audiologic features such as degree of hearing loss, type of audiometric configuration and hearing improvements were analyzed. In addition, vestibular function test results and hearing recovery were further analyzed among ACV group. RESULTS: Demographics and other clinical findings were not much different between groups. There was a significant difference with respect to audiologic features between the ACV group and ISSNHL group: the initial hearing threshold of the ACV group was higher than that of the ISSNHL group, and their treatment onset was also shorter. There was also a significant difference in the hearing outcome showing very low rate of complete recovery in ACV group. The final hearing threshold of the ACV group was higher than that of the ISSNHL group. Dizziness was the only significant variable in the multiple regression analysis. In the ACV group, the cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential inter-aural amplitude difference (cVEMP IAD) ratio showed a correlation to the hearing recovery in some frequencies; patients with no cVEMP response showed poor outcome compared to those with cVEMP waveform. CONCLUSION: The ACV group shows a poor prognosis just as in the case of sudden hearing loss defined in the traditional sense of vertigo. The IAD value of the vestibular evoked myogenic potentials test will be helpful in assessing hearing improvement, especially when a high IAD value at the middle frequency is associated with a poor prognosis.
Demography ; Dizziness ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; Humans ; Methods ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Vertigo ; Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials ; Vestibular Function Tests

OBJECTIVE: Tried to find the relationship between tinnitus and each testing method, provided information for objective diagnosis and treatment for tinnitus patients with sensorineural hearing loss. METHOD: The characteristics of audiology tests, including pure tone audiometric, acoustic immittance, middle ear muscle reflexes, matching test, distortion products otoacoustic emission(DPOAE) were compared in 79 ears of 69 tinnitus patients with sensorineural hearing loss. RESULT: The RI positive rate was higher in Convergence curve in tinnitus patients of sensorineural hearing loss, with the rate being 51.3%. The detection rates of DPOAE were 15.2% in patients of sensorineural hearing loss tinnitus groups, which were significant lower than those in control group. CONCLUSION Psychoacoustic techniques can produce a useful amount of clinical data regarding tinnitus in different aspects, these data can help clinicians design needed based managements. DPOAE test is helpful for the diagnosis of lesions in some tinnitus patients.
Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; complications ; physiopathology ; Hearing Tests ; methods ; Humans ; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous ; Psychoacoustics ; Tinnitus ; complications ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) used for hearing monitoring in the oto-neurosurgery operation. METHOD: Twenty-four rabbits were equally divided into 3 groups: none operation (group A, n = 8); pressing the cerebella after the cerebellopontine angle was exposed (group B, n = 8); Blood flow of internal auditory artery were occlusion for 5 min after the facial-acoustic nerve complex was pressed(group C, n = 8). DPOAE value and histologic were observed. RESULT: In the state of pressing the cerebellar and blood flow of inner hearing artery were occlusion, DPOAE amplitude values changed, part of the frequencies could not be induced, DPOAE amplitude values of induced frequencies descend and nael significant difference (P < 0.05) to preoperation, as well as correspond to histology changes. CONCLUSION DPOAE could monitor the hearing loss effectively and would be one of ideal monitoring methods in the oto-neurosurgery operation.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hearing Loss ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Hearing Tests ; methods ; Neurosurgery ; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous ; Otologic Surgical Procedures ; Rabbits