Objective:To explore the feasibility of the multiple-choice auditory graphical interactive check（MAGIC） screening module in childhood hearing screening in children aged 3 to 6 years. Methods:A hearing screening was conducted on 366 children（732 ears） aged between 3 and 6 years. The screening methods included MAGIC, DPOAE, and acoustic immittance.The cooperation, screening time, pass rate, and correlation of the three screening methods were compared. Results:There was a statistically significant difference in the degree of cooperation among the three screeningmethods（P=0.004）.The MAGIC pure tone screening method was 98.6%, the screening DPOAE was 99.5%,and the acoustic immittance screening was 100%. For the screening duration, the MAGIC pure tone screening method was（116.3±59.1）s, the screening DPOAE was（27.2±19.7）s, and the acoustic impedance screening was（24.6±14.6）s. There was a significant statistical significance differences among the three or two groups（P<0.01）. The passing rates of MAGIC pure tone screening,screening DPOAE and acoustic immittance screening were 64.7%, 65.4%, and 69.3%, respectively, and there was no significant statistical difference among the three or two groups（P>0.05）. There was no significant difference between MAGIC pure tone screening method and screening DPOAE（P=0.827>0.05）, and acoustic impedance（P=0.653>0.05）, while the difference between screening DPOAE and acoustic impedance was statistically significant（P<0.01）. Conclusion:MAGIC pure sound screening method has good feasibility, can comprehensively reflect the hearing level of screened children, and can be promoted for hearing screening in children aged between 3 and 6 years.
Humans ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Female ; Male ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Mass Screening/methods* ; Feasibility Studies ; Acoustic Impedance Tests/methods* ; Hearing Loss/diagnosis* ; Hearing Tests/methods*

Objective:The auditory and speech rehabilitation effects were assessed by the Categories of Auditory Performance（CAP） and the speech intelligibility rating scale（SIR） after cochlear implantation（CI） in prelingually elderly patients by telephone follow-up or face-to-face conversation. Methods:The clinical data of the prelingually deaf patients who underwent unilateral CI in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Shanxi People's Hospital, from December 2016 to December 2021 were collected. Thirty-eight patients were divided into Group A（SIR 1, 17 cases）, Group B（SIR 2, 10 cases） and Group C（SIR 3, 11 cases） according to the preoperative SIR Score. Nineteen patients with post-lingual hearing impairment were selected as the control group（Group D, 19 cases）. The effects of hearing and speech rehabilitation were evaluated using CAP and SIR Scores before surgery, 6 months after startup, and 1 year after startup. Results:There were no significant differences in CAP scores among the three groups of patients with prelingually deaf patients at 6 months and 1 year after startup（P>0.05）, but there were significant differences between group A and group D at 6 months and 1 year after startup（P<0.05）; the SIR Score of group A had statistical difference before surgery and 6 months after startup（P<0.05）, group B had statistical difference before surgery and 1 year after startup（P<0.05）, and group C and D had no statistical difference before surgery and 6 months and 1 year after startup, respectively（P>0.05）. Conclusion:For the prelingually deaf elderly patients, hearing will develop rapidly 6 months after startup, and the effect of postoperative auditory rehabilitation was positively correlated with the preoperative speech ability. In the aspect of speech, the prelingually dear elderly patients who have poor preoperative speech ability could benefit more from CI early after surgery. CI is not contraindicated in prelingually deaf elderly patients, even those with poor preoperative speech function.
Humans ; Aged ; Cochlear Implantation/methods* ; Cochlear Implants ; Speech Perception ; Deafness/rehabilitation* ; Hearing Tests ; Speech Intelligibility ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pre-operative eustachian tube function (ETF) is an important factor for the postoperative success after tympanoplasty, though much debates have been reported. In this study, we investigated the tympanogram changes after tympanoplasty, indirectly checking up ETF, to find out the relationship between tympanogram changes and associated factors of tympanoplasty. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Included in this study were 238 cases of tympanoplasty (canal wall up mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty type I or tympanoplasty type I only) performed by one surgeon for chronic otitis media from January, 2012 to June, 2017. In all cases, tympanometric tests were undertaken at one month, three month, six month, and one year post-operatively, and pure tone audiometry tests were taken at 1 year, post operatively. RESULTS: The average hearing level and air-bone gap were 41.8±19.7 dB, and 17.1±9.3 dB, pre-operatively, and 29.9±21.1 dB, and 6.9±8.5 dB, 1 year post-operatively, respectively. Most of the cases showed improvement in hearing. The results of tympanometry showed that hearing improvement was greater for the A type than for the B or C type (p<0.001). The smaller the size of the tympanic membrane was, the higher, the type A tympanogram appeared to be (p=0.008). CONCLUSION: The estimation of pre-operative ETF using post-operative tympanogram changes can give insight to the degree and process of recovery of the normal middle ear after tympanoplasty.
Acoustic Impedance Tests ; Audiometry ; Ear, Middle ; Eustachian Tube ; Hearing ; Methods ; Otitis Media ; Otitis ; Prognosis ; Tympanic Membrane ; Tympanoplasty

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

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: 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: This study reviewed our experience and outcomes of surgery via transcrusal approach to the skull base lesions. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We performed transcrusal approach technique on five patients with skull base lesions (Cavernous malformation, Petroclival meningioma, Craniopharyngioma, Anaplastic astrocytoma, and Trigerminal epidermoid cyst) aiming at preserving hearing. Pre-and post-operative pure tone audiometry (PTA) and caloric test were performed in all patients. The transcrusal approach technique was performed as reported in the previous references. The approach included trephination of the superior and posterior semicircular canals from the ampullae to the common crus. The main outcome of this study was preserving hearing and the vestibular function after surgery, which was determined by PTA and caloric test. RESULTS: The average diameter of skull base lesion of the five patients was 3.68 cm. The mean follow up period was 114.2 days. The pre-operative mean PTA of five patients was 11 dB. The mean PTA of five patients within seven days after surgery was 28 dB. The last measured mean PTA was 29.8 dB. The pre and post-operative caloric results measured revealed vestibular function deficit in all of the patients after surgery (mean decreased value: 64%). All patients were stable during the surgery. Complications included two cerebrospinal fluid leak (40%) and one cranial VI nerve deficit (20%). CONCLUSION: Transcrusal approach is a method that can simultaneously preserve hearing and afford enough exposure of the skull base lesion if appropriately combined with other transcranial approach. We performed transcrusal approach targeting skull base lesion with hearing preservation, and we found excellent hearing result with this technique.
Astrocytoma ; Audiometry ; Caloric Tests ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak ; Craniopharyngioma ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Meningioma ; Methods ; Semicircular Canals ; Skull Base* ; Skull* ; Trephining

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

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: This study aimed to verify and compare the results of newborn hearing screening (NHS) with that of 1000 Hz tympanometry conducted for newborns. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: For the hospitalized group, NHS and the portable 1000 Hz tympanometry were performed for 148 newborns (296 ears) from June through October in 2015. For the outpatient group, 93 newborns (186 ears) who had been referred after the 1st NHS results were reviewed from 2009 to 2014. We conducted NHS with the automated otoacoustic emissions for healthy babies and automated auditory brainstem response for the babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). NHS and 1000 Hz tympanometry were performed for all newborns simultaneously. For the impedance audiometry, B type was categorized separately from A and C type. RESULTS: There was a significantly higher incidence of B type of tympanometry in the referred newborns compared to the other newborns in both hospitalized and outpatient group (p<0.01). In the outpatient group, the ears referred from the 1st NHS showed middle ear effusion in 100% of the well babies and 78.6% of the NICU babies. CONCLUSION: 1000 Hz tympanometry can help estimate the causes and middle ear function of the referred newborns after the hearing screening test. Parents could feel relieved by being explained that the refer result of NHS was due to middle ear or ear canal problem rather than to inner ear or neural problem.
Acoustic Impedance Tests* ; Ear ; Ear Canal ; Ear, Inner ; Ear, Middle ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Mass Screening* ; Methods ; Neonatal Screening ; Otitis Media with Effusion ; Outpatients ; Parents