Diagnostics

Microvascular Compression and Vascular Loops

Gorrie et al (2010) substantively added to the literature with their new article regarding vascular loops (VLs) and microvascular compression (MVC) as a cause of unexplained unilateral auditory symptoms.

Since the 1970s, the pioneering work of Jannetta (with regard to VLs impinging upon cranial nerves) has potentially explained hemi-facial spasm, trigeminal neuralgia. Additionally, some authors have speculated as to the presence of VLs with regard to VIIIth nerve symptoms, such as unilateral tinnitus, vertigo, and unilateral hearing loss.

Seasonal Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss?

Jourdy et al (2010) revisited the question: "Does the incidence of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) vary across the year?" ISSNHL occurs in approximately 12 per 100,000 persons per year. Among the possible etiologies are vascular occlusion, labyrinthine membrane breaks, viral infections, and more. Viral infections are often considered because hearing loss is associated with many human viral diseases (herpesvirus, cytomegalovirus, umanimmunodeficiency virus, etc) and because ISSNHL often appears to be preceded by an upper respiratory infection (URI).

Cochlear Implants in Previously Radiated Ears

Patients with neurofibramatosis type 2 (NF2) require individual and challenging management/treatment decisions that may include observation, surgery, or stereotactic radiation therapy (RT). Although the majority of cases appear to have genetically inherited NF2, some 40 percent of new cases are spontaneous mutations. In NF2 patients, bilateral tumors represent multiple and complex management dilemmas.

Electrocochleography

Electrocochleography (ECochG) has been part of the audiologist's armamentarium since the 1930s. Ferraro (2010) offers a new and insightful review of the many applications for ECochG. In particular, he notes that external recordings (extratympanic, ET) are the most popular and optimal non-invasive method, as they avoid puncturing the tympanic membrane while providing the same features (summating potential, SP and action potential, AP) as transtympanic (TT) recordings.

When Cochlear Implants and Hearing Aids Overlap

Zhang, Spahr, and Dorman (2010) assessed speech recognition in eight adult, post-lingually deafened, monaurally fitted cochlear implant (CI) patients. Seven of the patients wore hearing aids (HAs) in the contralateral ear. An area of "frequency overlap" between HA and CI perceptions was present between approximately 250 and 750 Hz as all eight patients had residual hearing less than or equal to 65 dB HL at 500 Hz and below, and had residual hearing greater than or equal to 65 dB HL at 1000 Hz and higher.

Cochlear Implants and Hearing Preservation

For many patients with poor word recognition abilities, good low-frequency hearing and poor high-frequency hearing, cochlear implantation has historically been dismissed. These patients have typically not been implanted due to the potential for additional hearing loss (i.e., loss of residual hearing) through trauma sustained during deep electrode insertion. Further, It is well known that low-frequency hearing contributes to pitch and spectral resolution, as well as interaural timing differences (ITDs).

Predicting Acoustic Neuroma Growth

If one could predict which acoustic neuroma (AN) was likely to grow, which might remain stable, and which might regress, it would significantly impact treatment protocols. ANs represent 6 percent of all intracranial tumors and 85 percent of all tumors in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). In the United States, roughly 2000 to 3000 new cases are diagnosed annually.

The Clinical Utility of Electrocochleography

Nguyen, Harris, and Nguyen (2010) examined the clinical utility of electrocochleography (ECoG) as revealed through a 13-item survey from members of the American Otological Society (AOS) and the American Neurotology Society (ANS). The authors sent out 344 surveys that produced 143 responses (42 percent).

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Musicians

Presbyacusis is the most common sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the second most common. NIHL has a multitude of possible causes and risk factors including traumatic impulse sounds, repeated exposure to high intensity sounds, chemical exposure, ototoxic medications, smoking, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney failure, and more. However, susceptibility to NIHL varies among individuals.

Complex Stimuli and ABR

Clinicians and scientists were previously taught that ABR is/was essentially dependent on brief stimuli with very fast onset times, such as clicks and tone pips etc.