Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the potential impact of earphone use on the occurrence of otitis externa (OE) by conducting a survey. Subjects and Methods: This study included 517 participants. The questionnaire comprised 22 items divided into three categories; general information, earphone use, and OE. The questionnaire was designed using Google Forms and distributed through a notice posted on a hospital bulletin board. This notice included a QR code that enabled any interested individual to participate, and the responses were collected automatically. Results: The proportion of respondents who had experienced OE at least once was 21%. Among them, 33.7% experienced OE within the preceding month. For “adhering to the recommendation usage time,” individuals who responded “likely” had a 0.440 (odds ratio=0.440, 95% confidence interval=0.195-0.993) times higher likelihood; they were at lower risk of experiencing OE compared to those who responded “very unlikely.” Conclusions Our findings suggest that proper earphone use can reduce the risk of OE. Despite the lack of a significant relationship between earphone type, physical activity, and cleaning practices, continued adherence to these factors is recommended to prevent OE.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of hearing aids (HAs) on reducing symptoms of dizziness in patients with hearing loss (HL) and dizziness. Subjects and Methods: A pre- and post-intervention study was conducted between February 2022 and July 2022 at the outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Ten participants (four males and six females) with HL and dizziness were recruited. Participants were screened using pure-tone audiometry and visual analog scale scores at baseline. Selected participants underwent the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB) and Korean Dizziness Handicap Inventory (K-DHI) in the unaided state. Thereafter, participants were provided HAs and instructed to use them for at least 6 hours every day. At the 1-month follow-up, all participants were assessed in the aided state using the same tests as at baseline. All tests were performed bilaterally. Results: In the mCTSIB, a significant difference was observed in the foam surface-eyes closed score before (median=2.35) and after (median=2.2) HA use (p=0.049). No significant differences were observed in the K-DHI scores before and after HA use. Conclusions HA use may improve the static and subjective perception of balance in patients with HL and dizziness. Future research should explore the benefits of HAs under various balance conditions such as dynamic balance and gait.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the potential impact of earphone use on the occurrence of otitis externa (OE) by conducting a survey. Subjects and Methods: This study included 517 participants. The questionnaire comprised 22 items divided into three categories; general information, earphone use, and OE. The questionnaire was designed using Google Forms and distributed through a notice posted on a hospital bulletin board. This notice included a QR code that enabled any interested individual to participate, and the responses were collected automatically. Results: The proportion of respondents who had experienced OE at least once was 21%. Among them, 33.7% experienced OE within the preceding month. For “adhering to the recommendation usage time,” individuals who responded “likely” had a 0.440 (odds ratio=0.440, 95% confidence interval=0.195-0.993) times higher likelihood; they were at lower risk of experiencing OE compared to those who responded “very unlikely.” Conclusions Our findings suggest that proper earphone use can reduce the risk of OE. Despite the lack of a significant relationship between earphone type, physical activity, and cleaning practices, continued adherence to these factors is recommended to prevent OE.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of hearing aids (HAs) on reducing symptoms of dizziness in patients with hearing loss (HL) and dizziness. Subjects and Methods: A pre- and post-intervention study was conducted between February 2022 and July 2022 at the outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Ten participants (four males and six females) with HL and dizziness were recruited. Participants were screened using pure-tone audiometry and visual analog scale scores at baseline. Selected participants underwent the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB) and Korean Dizziness Handicap Inventory (K-DHI) in the unaided state. Thereafter, participants were provided HAs and instructed to use them for at least 6 hours every day. At the 1-month follow-up, all participants were assessed in the aided state using the same tests as at baseline. All tests were performed bilaterally. Results: In the mCTSIB, a significant difference was observed in the foam surface-eyes closed score before (median=2.35) and after (median=2.2) HA use (p=0.049). No significant differences were observed in the K-DHI scores before and after HA use. Conclusions HA use may improve the static and subjective perception of balance in patients with HL and dizziness. Future research should explore the benefits of HAs under various balance conditions such as dynamic balance and gait.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the potential impact of earphone use on the occurrence of otitis externa (OE) by conducting a survey. Subjects and Methods: This study included 517 participants. The questionnaire comprised 22 items divided into three categories; general information, earphone use, and OE. The questionnaire was designed using Google Forms and distributed through a notice posted on a hospital bulletin board. This notice included a QR code that enabled any interested individual to participate, and the responses were collected automatically. Results: The proportion of respondents who had experienced OE at least once was 21%. Among them, 33.7% experienced OE within the preceding month. For “adhering to the recommendation usage time,” individuals who responded “likely” had a 0.440 (odds ratio=0.440, 95% confidence interval=0.195-0.993) times higher likelihood; they were at lower risk of experiencing OE compared to those who responded “very unlikely.” Conclusions Our findings suggest that proper earphone use can reduce the risk of OE. Despite the lack of a significant relationship between earphone type, physical activity, and cleaning practices, continued adherence to these factors is recommended to prevent OE.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of hearing aids (HAs) on reducing symptoms of dizziness in patients with hearing loss (HL) and dizziness. Subjects and Methods: A pre- and post-intervention study was conducted between February 2022 and July 2022 at the outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Ten participants (four males and six females) with HL and dizziness were recruited. Participants were screened using pure-tone audiometry and visual analog scale scores at baseline. Selected participants underwent the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB) and Korean Dizziness Handicap Inventory (K-DHI) in the unaided state. Thereafter, participants were provided HAs and instructed to use them for at least 6 hours every day. At the 1-month follow-up, all participants were assessed in the aided state using the same tests as at baseline. All tests were performed bilaterally. Results: In the mCTSIB, a significant difference was observed in the foam surface-eyes closed score before (median=2.35) and after (median=2.2) HA use (p=0.049). No significant differences were observed in the K-DHI scores before and after HA use. Conclusions HA use may improve the static and subjective perception of balance in patients with HL and dizziness. Future research should explore the benefits of HAs under various balance conditions such as dynamic balance and gait.

Background and Objectives: Several studies have proven that listening efforts cause neuroanatomical and physiological changes in the frontal lobe in adults with hearing loss as well as in the elderly with normal hearing. However, there is still a lack in research into how brain function changes when the cognitive load is increased based on noise level. We conducted a preliminary study using functional near-infrared spectroscopy to determine differences in listening effort according to varying listening conditions.Subjects and Method Five adults with normal hearing participated in the study. Listening effort was measured in three listening environments (resting, quiet, and noise) using NIRSIT Lite (OBELAB, Seoul, Korea). The measures variables were concentration changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (ΔHbO2) and the percent correct response rate. Results: As a result of ΔHbO2, channels 1 (p=0.045), 5 (p=0.042) and 7 (p=0.033) (right channels) showed significantly higher ΔHbO2 in the noise condition than in the resting condition. In addition, in channel 1, ΔHbO2 was significantly higher even in the quiet condition than in the resting condition (p=0.041). The percent correct response rate was significantly decreased in the noise condition (35.6%) as compared to the quiet condition (64.4%) (p=0.024). Conclusion We observed that a decrease in cerebral localization to compensate through the right hemisphere was presented with increased listening effort. The results of the study will be useful in situations where listening effort need to be accurarely measured.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the feasibility of the Apple AirPods Pro with the headphone accommodation feature as a hearing assistive device for patients with mild to moderate hearing loss (HL). Materials and Methods: The study included a total of 35 participants with mild to moderate HL. To determine the degree of HL in the participants, a screening test using pure-tone audiometry was conducted prior to the main tests of functional gain, word recognition score (WRS), and sentence recognition in noisy environments. The study employed two hearing devices: the Bean (a personal sound amplification product, PSAP) and the AirPods Pro. Results: Regarding functional gain, there were no significant differences between the Bean and the AirPods Pro at all frequencies, except 8 kHz. In terms of WRS, both the Bean and the AirPods Pro had higher scores than the unaided condition. In sentence recognition, both the Bean and the AirPods Pro had higher scores than the unaided condition. During real-ear measurement, the Bean demonstrated consistent frequency responses, while the AirPods had a deviation exceeding 10 dB SPL at 6 kHz in the left ear.This deviation was absent for all other frequencies. Conclusion This study shows that the Apple AirPods Pro, with its headphone accommodation feature, performed similarly to a validated PSAP and improved hearing compared to unaided conditions.

Purpose: Tinnitus is one of the most common health conditions worldwide. Although various methods of treatment have been used, the condition is still difficult to manage or cure. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of transcutaneous trigeminal electrical stimulation (TTES) combined with notched sound therapy (NST) on patients with tinnitus. Materials and Methods: A clinical trial was conducted prospectively from September 2020 to September 2021 at a single center in South Korea. In total, 14 patients took part in this trial. Periodic visits and tele-monitoring were used to assess treatment compliance and collect data, including electroencephalography (EEG), photoplethysmography (PPG), tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), tinnitus magnitude index, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and 36-item short-form survey (SF-36) results. Results: Changes after intervention were analyzed with paired t-test. This study showed that alpha waves in the left hemisphere measured by EEG (p=0.024), autonomic nervous system balance (p=0.007), and stress level (p=0.022) measured by PPG significantly changed after intervention. Also, THI scores especially emotional symptoms (p=0.029) and catastrophic symptoms (p=0.043) decreased after treatment. The SF-36 score, both mental component summary and physical component summary score (each p<0.001), increased significantly, whereas the PSQI score (p<0.001) and BDI score (p<0.001) decreased after TTES and NST. Conclusion Based on the results of our study, we could confirm that TTES combined with NST can significantly improve tinnitus, catastrophic symptoms, and the overall quality of life of patients.

Objectives: . This study was conducted to investigate the electroacoustic characteristics of personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), to identify whether PSAPs provide adequate gain and output for three common hearing loss (HL) configurations, and to compare the benefits of a representative PSAP (RPSAP) and a conventional hearing aid (HA) for clinical hearing outcomes as a pilot study. Methods: . The study comprised three phases: electroacoustic analysis, simulated real-ear measurements (REMs), and clinical hearing experiments. Electroacoustic analysis and simulated REMs were performed for three basic PSAPs (BeethoSOL, EarJJang, and Geniesori2) and three high-end PSAPs (Hearing Able, Olive Smart Ear, and SoriIn) using the Aurical Hearing Instrument Test box with a 2-mL coupler. Four electroacoustic characteristics (maximum output sound pressure level at 90 dB SPL, frequency range, equivalent input noise, and total harmonic distortion) were investigated. By simulated REMs, appropriate levels of the six PSAPs for three common HL configurations (mild-to-moderate high-frequency HL, moderate to moderately severe sloping HL, and moderate flat HL) were determined. Clinical experiments compared the performance of RPSAP to HA, both of which were fitted by audiologists using REMs. Clinical experiments were administered using functional gain, a word recognition test, and the Korean version of the Hearing in Noise Test in six participants with bilateral moderate sensorineural HL. Results: . The two high-end devices met all tolerances. One basic and two high-end PSAPs showed appropriate levels for three common HL configurations. In the clinical experiments, the RPSAP showed better performance than unaided, but slightly worse than HA under all test conditions. Conclusion . Certain PSAPs met all specified tolerances for electroacoustic analysis and approximated prescriptive targets in well-controlled laboratory conditions. The pilot clinical experiments explored the possibility that the RPSAP could serve as a hearing assistive device for patients with moderate HL.