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Audiology Research Oct 2023The cochlear implant (CI) is a widely accepted option in patients with severe to profound hearing loss receiving limited benefit from traditional hearing aids. CI... (Review)
Review
The cochlear implant (CI) is a widely accepted option in patients with severe to profound hearing loss receiving limited benefit from traditional hearing aids. CI surgery uses a default setting for frequency allocation aiming to reproduce tonotopicity, thus mimicking the normal cochlea. One emerging instrument that may substantially help the surgeon before, during, and after the surgery is a surgical planning software product developed in collaboration by CASCINATION AG (Bern, Switzerland) and MED-EL (Innsbruck Austria). The aim of this narrative review is to present an overview of the main features of this otological planning software, called OTOPLAN. The literature was searched on the PubMed and Web of Science databases. The search terms used were "OTOPLAN", "cochlear planning software" "three-dimensional imaging", "3D segmentation", and "cochlear implant" combined into different queries. This strategy yielded 52 publications, and a total of 31 studies were included. The review of the literature revealed that OTOPLAN is a useful tool for otologists and audiologists as it improves preoperative surgical planning both in adults and in children, guides the intraoperative procedure and allows postoperative evaluation of the CI.
PubMed: 37887851
DOI: 10.3390/audiolres13050070 -
Seminars in Hearing Feb 2022Many barriers to accessibility exist for Medicare beneficiaries seeking hearing and balance care such as availability of providers, coverage for services, and ability to... (Review)
Review
Many barriers to accessibility exist for Medicare beneficiaries seeking hearing and balance care such as availability of providers, coverage for services, and ability to pay. Other statutory and administrative barriers exist including the need for physician orders to have audiology services covered, the classification of audiologists as suppliers of "other diagnostic tests" under Medicare payer policy, and non-coverage of certain audiologic management and treatment services. Nearly two decades of legislative efforts have not resulted in any substantial changes to U.S. health policy, while the need for audiology services has increased due to a growing demographic of older adults. The Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act (MAASA) has been introduced in the 116th and 117th Congress and proposes amendments to the Social Security Act that would address statutory barriers to accessing hearing and balance care among Medicare beneficiaries and would recognize audiologists for their scope of practice within the Medicare program. Objectives of the present review are to provide a summary of statutes in the Social Security Act and Standard Occupational Classification system which affect audiologists, audiology services, and Medicare beneficiaries and to discuss previous and current legislative health policy efforts to address these statutory barriers to hearing and balance care access.
PubMed: 35719744
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1743123 -
Seminars in Hearing May 2019The loss of vestibular function, typically bilateral, due to chemical solvents and pharmacological agents is not rare and has been investigated and reported for many... (Review)
Review
The loss of vestibular function, typically bilateral, due to chemical solvents and pharmacological agents is not rare and has been investigated and reported for many years. The successful treatment of bacterial infections and sepsis with IV antibiotics and cancer-fighting drugs like cisplatin makes the decision to use these life-saving drugs less of a debate, despite their potential deleterious effect on balance and equilibrium. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with an overview of the more common substances found in industry and medicine which may decrease or permanently destroy peripheral and/or central vestibular function. A review of bedside and clinical evaluation protocols will be discussed as well as best practice intervention with balance retraining therapy. Finally, the role of the audiologist and opportunities for participation in an interdisciplinary approach to evaluation and management will be presented.
PubMed: 31036991
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1684043 -
Seminars in Hearing Feb 2023A counseling tool routinely used by pediatric audiologists and early intervention-specialists is the often-named "common sounds audiogram" (CSA). Typically, a child's... (Review)
Review
A counseling tool routinely used by pediatric audiologists and early intervention-specialists is the often-named "common sounds audiogram" (CSA). Typically, a child's hearing detection thresholds are plotted on the CSA to indicate that child's audibility of speech and environmental sounds. Importantly, the CSA may be the first item that parents see when their child's hearing loss is explained. Thus, the accuracy of the CSA and its associated counseling information are integral to the parents' understanding of what their child can hear and to the parents' role in the child's future hearing care and interventions. Currently available CSAs were collected from professional societies, early intervention providers, device manufacturers, etc., and analyzed ( = 36). Analysis included quantification of sound elements, presence of counseling information, attribution of acoustic measurements, and errors. The analyses show that currently-available CSAs are wildly inconsistent as a group, not scientifically justified, and omit important information for counseling and interpretation. Variations found among currently available CSAs can lead to very different parental interpretations of the impact of a child's hearing loss on his/her access to sounds, especially spoken language. Such variations, presumably, could also lead to different recommendations regarding intervention and hearing devices. Recommendations are outlined for the development of a new, standard CSA.
PubMed: 36970646
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1764128 -
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and... Dec 2022Alagille Syndrome (ALGS) is a rare, autosomal dominant inherited disorder that causes abnormalities of liver, eye, heart, skeleton and distinctive facial appearance....
Alagille Syndrome (ALGS) is a rare, autosomal dominant inherited disorder that causes abnormalities of liver, eye, heart, skeleton and distinctive facial appearance. ALGS is caused by mutation in one of two genes: JAG1 and NOTCH2. There are some reports of Hearing Loss in patients with ALGS raising the possibility of involvement of both structural components of middle ear and sensorineural components of the inner ear. The present case study was to emphasize audiological perspectives of Alagille Syndrome in a nine year old female child. Audiologists must be well aware of the typical features and clinical perspectives of ALGS and should be an expert in selecting appropriate tests and in interpreting findings.
PubMed: 36742831
DOI: 10.1007/s12070-020-02293-y -
Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare 2021Alport syndrome is a multisystem disorder that universally affects the kidney and frequently involves the inner ear and the eye. Over the course of a lifetime,... (Review)
Review
Alport syndrome is a multisystem disorder that universally affects the kidney and frequently involves the inner ear and the eye. Over the course of a lifetime, addressing the health care needs of a person with Alport syndrome and their family entails the services of primary providers, nephrologists, genetic counselors, audiologists, ophthalmologists, transplant physicians, kidney dieticians, and social workers as well as other healthcare professionals. This article attempts to provide context and guidance regarding the multidisciplinary care of Alport syndrome based on the natural history of the condition.
PubMed: 34045864
DOI: 10.2147/JMDH.S284784 -
Ear and HearingHearing impairment commonly co-occurs with dementia. Audiologists, therefore, need to be prepared to address the specific needs of people living with dementia (PwD). PwD... (Review)
Review
Hearing impairment commonly co-occurs with dementia. Audiologists, therefore, need to be prepared to address the specific needs of people living with dementia (PwD). PwD have needs in terms of dementia-friendly clinical settings, assessments, and rehabilitation strategies tailored to support individual requirements that depend on social context, personality, background, and health-related factors, as well as audiometric HL and experience with hearing assistance. Audiologists typically receive limited specialist training in assisting PwD and professional guidance for audiologists is scarce. The aim of this review was to outline best practice recommendations for the assessment and rehabilitation of hearing impairment for PwD with reference to the current evidence base. These recommendations, written by audiology, psychology, speech-language, and dementia nursing professionals, also highlight areas of research need. The review is aimed at hearing care professionals and includes practical recommendations for adapting audiological procedures and processes for the needs of PwD.
Topics: Audiologists; Audiology; Dementia; Hearing; Hearing Loss; Humans
PubMed: 34966160
DOI: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000001174 -
Seminars in Hearing Aug 2019Every audiology curriculum features coursework and clinical practicum experiences on the knowledge and skills necessary to complete a basic audiological evaluation,... (Review)
Review
Every audiology curriculum features coursework and clinical practicum experiences on the knowledge and skills necessary to complete a basic audiological evaluation, diagnose the source of any abnormalities, and a plan for intervention. More advanced coursework typically includes information on balance disorders, newborn infant hearing screening, hearing conservation, amplification, and other electrophysiological tests. In addition, most programs include at least one course on the basic management principles on how to start and maintain a private practice in audiology. However, educational programs rarely include any type of coursework on how to handle common objections to obtaining help in the form of amplification. This is rather surprising considering that more than 90% of patients whom an audiologist evaluates have sensory neural hearing loss where the primary treatment is amplification, except for people with severe hearing losses who are candidates for cochlear implants. This lack of training and experience often leaves clinicians intimidated by common objections to treatment involving purchasing amplification. This article will discuss common objections that patients voice each day to obtaining amplification and will offer possible solutions.
PubMed: 31413441
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1693491 -
Seminars in Hearing Feb 2017A structured counseling protocol is described that, when combined with low-level broadband sound therapy from bilateral sound generators, offers audiologists a new tool... (Review)
Review
A structured counseling protocol is described that, when combined with low-level broadband sound therapy from bilateral sound generators, offers audiologists a new tool for facilitating the expansion of the auditory dynamic range (DR) for loudness. The protocol and its content are specifically designed to address and treat problems that impact hearing-impaired persons who, due to their reduced DRs, may be limited in the use and benefit of amplified sound from hearing aids. The reduced DRs may result from elevated audiometric thresholds and/or reduced sound tolerance as documented by lower-than-normal loudness discomfort levels (LDLs). Accordingly, the counseling protocol is appropriate for challenging and difficult-to-fit persons with sensorineural hearing losses who experience loudness recruitment or hyperacusis. Positive treatment outcomes for individuals with the former and latter conditions are highlighted in this issue by incremental shifts (improvements) in LDL and/or categorical loudness judgments, associated reduced complaints of sound intolerance, and functional improvements in daily communication, speech understanding, and quality of life leading to improved hearing aid benefit, satisfaction, and aided sound quality, posttreatment.
PubMed: 28286367
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1598068