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JAMA Otolaryngology-- Head & Neck... Jul 2020Utility is a single-value, preference-based measure of health-related quality of life that represents the desirability of a health state relative to being dead or in...
IMPORTANCE
Utility is a single-value, preference-based measure of health-related quality of life that represents the desirability of a health state relative to being dead or in perfect health. Clinical, funding, and policy decisions rely on measured changes in utility. The benefit of hearing loss treatments may be underestimated because existing utility measures fail to capture important changes in quality of life associated with hearing loss.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a comprehensive profile of items that describe how quality of life is associated with hearing loss and its treatments that can be used to generate hearing-related quality of life measures, including a novel utility measure.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This qualitative study, performed from August 1, 2018, to August 1, 2019, in tertiary referral centers, comprised a systematic literature review, focus groups, and semistructured interviews. The systematic review evaluated studies published from 1982 to August 1, 2018. Focus groups included 8 clinical experts experienced in the measurement, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of hearing loss. Semistructured interviews included 26 adults with hearing loss recruited from an institutional data set and outpatient hearing aid and otology clinics using stratified convenience sampling to include individuals of diverse ages, urban and rural residency, causes of hearing loss, severity of hearing loss, and treatment experience.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
A set of items and subdomains that collectively describe the association of hearing loss with health-related quality of life.
RESULTS
The literature search yielded 2779 articles from the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, PsycINFO, and CINAHL databases. Forty-five studies including 1036 individuals (age range, 18-84 years) were included. The focus group included 4 audiologists and 4 otologists. Hour-long semistructured interviews were conducted with 26 individuals (13 women; median age, 54 years; range, 25-83 years) with a broad range of hearing loss causes, configurations, and severities. From all 3 sources, a total of 125 items were generated and organized into 29 subdomains derived from the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
The association of hearing loss with quality of life is multidimensional and includes subdomains that are not considered in the estimation of health utility by existing utility measures. The presented comprehensive profile of items can be used to generate or evaluate measures of hearing-related quality of life, including utility measures.
Topics: Academic Success; Auditory Threshold; Communication Aids for Disabled; Focus Groups; Hearing Loss; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Interviews as Topic; Leisure Activities; Music; Qualitative Research; Quality of Life; Sound Localization; Speech Perception; Tinnitus
PubMed: 32407468
DOI: 10.1001/jamaoto.2020.0674 -
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and... Dec 2023To investigate the effectiveness of computer-based auditory training on speech-in-noise perception in adults. With no language restriction, 11 databases were searched...
UNLABELLED
To investigate the effectiveness of computer-based auditory training on speech-in-noise perception in adults. With no language restriction, 11 databases were searched from 1990 to 2020. We included any clinical trial studies with concurrent comparison groups that examined the effectiveness of computer-based auditory training programs in adults. The primary outcome was a speech in noise perception that was estimated using the "difference pretest-posttest-control" index (d). The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane collaboration tool for assessing the risk of bias in randomized trials. The certainty of the evidence was investigated using the GRADE in two primary outcomes. Twenty three studies were included in two subgroups based on primary outcome: 12 studies with speech perception threshold and 11 studies with speech-in-noise test scores. Computer-based auditory training resulted in a speech in noise perception improvement (dppc: -0.69, 95%CI: -1.11 to -0.26; I = 69.6%, = 0.00) and (dppc: 0.71, 95%CI: 0.38-1.03, I2: 17.8%, = 0.27) respectively in both subgroups. 19 studies were judged to have a high risk of bias and 3 studies had a low risk of bias and the strength of the evidence was low in both primary outcomes. This finding indicates that computer-based auditory training can be a moderately effective intervention for speech-in-noise perception in adults. However, due to the low quality of primary studies and the low certainty of the evidence, the results are not yet definite. Prospero registration number: CRD42021233193.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-023-03920-0.
PubMed: 37974862
DOI: 10.1007/s12070-023-03920-0 -
Efficacy of behavioral audiological tests in identifying cochlear synaptopathy: a systematic review.European Archives of... Feb 2022Cochlear synaptopathy or hidden hearing loss is difficult to assess due to the lack of sensitivity with standard audiological tests. Poor speech perception, especially... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Cochlear synaptopathy or hidden hearing loss is difficult to assess due to the lack of sensitivity with standard audiological tests. Poor speech perception, especially in the presence of noise or tinnitus, is the most common complaint of these patients. The purpose of this systematic review is to identify articles in peer-reviewed journals that used behavioral measures in the effective assessment of cochlear synaptopathy or hidden hearing loss.
METHODS
The manuscripts were searched in various international databases, and the manuscripts were screened based on titles, abstracts, and full-length content. A total of 14 human studies were selected after the appropriate exclusion of other articles.
RESULTS
Results showed that high-frequency audiometry could be used for the early identification of cochlear synaptopathy. The tone in noise detection test can also be added in the test battery along with speech perception in noise. The amplitude modulation detection test, interaural phase difference, and differential sensitivity tests require more research before using them for the assessment of cochlear synaptopathy or hidden hearing loss.
CONCLUSIONS
Self-reports and questionnaires also help in determining the extent of noise exposure.
Topics: Auditory Threshold; Cochlea; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced; Humans; Noise
PubMed: 34106328
DOI: 10.1007/s00405-021-06927-x -
Ear and HearingCurrent evidence supports the growing application of extended high-frequency (EHF: 9 to 20 kHz) audiometry in hearing research, which likely results from the high... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
Current evidence supports the growing application of extended high-frequency (EHF: 9 to 20 kHz) audiometry in hearing research, which likely results from the high vulnerability of this frequency region to damage induced by known auditory risk factors. The present systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to investigate whether adults with a normal audiogram and tinnitus show increased EHF hearing thresholds relative to control peers.
DESIGN
A comprehensive search was undertaken on electronic databases consisting of PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley, and Google Scholar using combined keywords: "tinnitus," "extended high frequency," "normal audiogram," and "hidden hearing loss."
RESULTS
From 261 articles found by searching databases, nine studies met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. A significant difference was observed between tinnitus and control groups in the effect size analysis of hearing thresholds at 10, 12.5, 14, 16, and 18 kHz ( p ≤ 0.001), and the I-square heterogeneity analysis was below 50% in all studies ( p ≥ 0.131). Visual inspection by the Funnel plot and Egger's regression test ( p ≥ 0.211) also exhibited no publication bias in the meta-analyses.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings are in support of the idea that in most cases, tinnitus is associated with some degree of cochlear mechanical dysfunction, which may not be detected by conventional audiometry alone. This finding underscores the significance of EHF audiometry in clinical practice, which may help both early identification of individuals susceptible to developing tinnitus and reduce the number of new cases through preventive counseling programs.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Tinnitus; Auditory Threshold; Hearing; Audiometry; Hearing Loss; Audiometry, Pure-Tone
PubMed: 35612517
DOI: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000001229 -
Current Pharmaceutical Design Jun 2023Although chemotherapy and radiotherapy are effective in cancer treatment, different adverse effects induced by these therapeutic modalities (such as ototoxicity)...
BACKGROUND
Although chemotherapy and radiotherapy are effective in cancer treatment, different adverse effects induced by these therapeutic modalities (such as ototoxicity) restrict their clinical use. Co-treatment of melatonin may alleviate the chemotherapy/radiotherapy-induced ototoxicity.
OBJECTIVE
In the present study, the otoprotective potentials of melatonin against the ototoxicity induced by chemotherapy and radiotherapy were reviewed.
METHODS
According to the PRISMA guideline, a systematic search was carried out to identify all relevant studies on "the role of melatonin against ototoxic damage associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy" in the different electronic databases up to September 2022. Sixty-seven articles were screened based on a predefined set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Seven eligible studies were finally included in this review.
RESULTS
The in vitro findings showed that cisplatin chemotherapy significantly decreased the auditory cell viability compared to the control group; in contrast, the melatonin co-administration increased the cell viability of cisplatin-treated cells. The results obtained from the distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) tests demonstrated a decreased amplitude of DPOAE and increased values of ABR I-IV interval and ABR threshold in mice/rats receiving radiotherapy and cisplatin; nevertheless, melatonin co-treatment indicated an opposite pattern on these evaluated parameters. It was also found that cisplatin and radiotherapy could significantly induce the histological and biochemical changes in the auditory cells/tissue. However, melatonin co-treatment resulted in alleviating the cisplatin/radiotherapy-induced biochemical and histological changes.
CONCLUSION
According to the findings, it was shown that melatonin co-treatment alleviates the ototoxic damage induced by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Mechanically, melatonin may exert its otoprotective effects via its anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory activities and other mechanisms.
Topics: Rats; Mice; Animals; Cisplatin; Antineoplastic Agents; Melatonin; Ototoxicity; Antioxidants
PubMed: 37138418
DOI: 10.2174/1381612829666230503145707 -
European Archives of... Jun 2024The indications of Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) have been expanded to include patients with conductive and mixed hearing loss due to congenital aural atresia (CAA).... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
The indications of Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) have been expanded to include patients with conductive and mixed hearing loss due to congenital aural atresia (CAA). However, the current evidence supporting the auditory outcomes of VSB is based mainly on case reports and retrospective chart reviews. Therefore, the present systematic review aims to summarize and critically appraise the current evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of VSB in children and adult patients with CAA.
METHODS
A systematic literature search retrieved studies that evaluated the outcomes of unilateral or bilateral implantation of VSB in patients with CAA. The bibliographic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases from January 2000 to December 2022.
RESULTS
Twenty-seven studies were included in the present systematic review. Overall, the speech perception after VSB was good, with a mean word recognition score (WRS) score ranging from 60 to 96.7%. The mean postoperative speech recognition threshold (SRT) after implantation ranged from 20.8 to 50 dB. The effective gain was reported in 15 studies, ranging from 31.3 to 45.5 dB. In terms of user satisfaction with VSB, the included studies showed significant improvements in the patient-reported outcomes, such as the Speech Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale and Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile. The VSB implantation was generally safe with low incidence of postoperative complications.
CONCLUSION
VSB provides significant benefits to individuals with hearing loss owing to CAA, with very good subjective outcomes and a low risk of complications.
Topics: Humans; Congenital Abnormalities; Ear; Hearing Aids; Hearing Loss, Conductive; Hearing Loss, Mixed Conductive-Sensorineural; Speech Perception
PubMed: 38647685
DOI: 10.1007/s00405-024-08629-6 -
International Journal of Audiology Jan 2022Telecommunication can be difficult in the presence of noise or hearing loss. The purpose of this study was to systematically review evidence regarding the effects of...
OBJECTIVE
Telecommunication can be difficult in the presence of noise or hearing loss. The purpose of this study was to systematically review evidence regarding the effects of text supplementation (e.g. captions, subtitles) of auditory or auditory-visual signals on speech intelligibility for listeners with normal or impaired hearing.
DESIGN
Three databases were searched. Articles were evaluated for inclusion based on the Population Intervention Comparison Outcome framework. The Effective Public Health Practice Project instrument was used to evaluate the quality of the identified articles.
STUDY SAMPLE
After duplicates were removed, the titles and abstracts of 2019 articles were screened. Forty-six full texts were reviewed; ten met inclusion criteria.
RESULTS
The quality of all ten articles was moderate or strong. The articles demonstrated that text added to auditory (or auditory-visual) signals improved speech intelligibility and that the benefits were largest when auditory signal integrity was low, accuracy of the text was high, and the auditory signal and text were synchronous. Age and hearing loss did not affect benefits from the addition of text.
CONCLUSIONS
Although only based on ten studies, these data support the use of text as a supplement during telecommunication, such as while watching television or during telehealth appointments.
Topics: Auditory Threshold; Deafness; Dietary Supplements; Hearing; Hearing Loss; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural; Humans; Speech Intelligibility; Speech Perception; Telecommunications
PubMed: 34154488
DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2021.1937346 -
Current Medicinal Chemistry May 2023Ototoxicity is one of the major adverse effects of cisplatin therapy which restrict its clinical application. Alpha-lipoic acid administration may mitigate...
PURPOSE
Ototoxicity is one of the major adverse effects of cisplatin therapy which restrict its clinical application. Alpha-lipoic acid administration may mitigate cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. In the present study, we reviewed the protective potentials of alpha-lipoic acid against the cisplatin-mediated ototoxic adverse effects.
METHODS
Based on the PRISMA guideline, we performed a systematic search for the identification of all relevant studies in various electronic databases up to June 2022. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the obtained articles (n=59) were screened and 13 eligible articles were finally included in the present study.
RESULTS
The findings of in-vitro experiments showed that cisplatin treatment significantly reduced the auditory cell viability in comparison with the control group; nevertheless, the alpha-lipoic acid co-administration protected the cells against the reduction of cell viability induced by cisplatin treatment. Moreover, the in-vivo results of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) tests revealed a decrease in DPOAE and an increase in ABR threshold of cisplatin-injected animals; however, it was shown that alpha-lipoic acid co-treatment had an opposite pattern on the evaluated parameters. Other findings demonstrated that cisplatin treatment could significantly induce the biochemical and histopathological alterations in inner ear cells/tissue; in contrast, alpha-lipoic acid co-treatment ameliorated the cisplatin-mediated biochemical and histological changes.
CONCLUSION
The findings of audiometry, biochemical parameters, and histological evaluation showed that alpha-lipoic acid co-administration alleviates the cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. The protective role of alpha-lipoic acid against the cisplatin-induced ototoxicity can be due to different mechanisms of anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory activities, and regulation of cell cycle progression.
PubMed: 37165582
DOI: 10.2174/0929867330666230509162513 -
International Journal of Environmental... Mar 2020The present study explores the scientific evidence on whether music exposure temporarily or permanently affects hearing sensitivity in young adults. Six electronic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
The present study explores the scientific evidence on whether music exposure temporarily or permanently affects hearing sensitivity in young adults. Six electronic databases were searched using related keywords for the four categories of personal listening devices, listening habits, hearing outcomes, and age. The Hedges' g and its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. A Higgins was also used to check for heterogeneity. To test for publication bias, funnel plots were drawn using Egger's regression. Based on the inclusion criteria, 16 studies were divided into two groups to identify short-term hearing changes ( = 7) and long-term hearing changes ( = 9). In the short term, there was no significant immediate change in the thresholds or amplitudes after the music exposure, although pure-tone thresholds (PTAs) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) did show the highest effect size (-0.344, CI -0.727 to 0.038) and (0.124, CI -0.047 to 0.296) at 4 kHz. On the other hand, for long-term hearing changes, the PTA provided the highest effect size at 6 kHz (-0.525, CI -0.897 to -0.154) and 8 kHz (-0.486, CI -0.819 to -0.152), while also implying that habitual and repeated personal listening device (PLD) usage can act on some significant hearing changes in audiological tests. We conclude that the use of a PLD produces a few temporary hearing changes at 4 kHz after its use but that the changes are then reversed. However, it is important to note heavy PLD users' experience regarding permanent changes in their hearing thresholds at high frequencies, and the public should be educated on this issue.
Topics: Auditory Perception; Auditory Threshold; Habits; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced; Humans; Music; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; Young Adult
PubMed: 32245244
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17062091 -
Otology & Neurotology : Official... Oct 2019To conduct systematic review and meta-analyses of preclinical studies describing the efficacy of glucocorticoids administered via different routes for hearing... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
To conduct systematic review and meta-analyses of preclinical studies describing the efficacy of glucocorticoids administered via different routes for hearing preservation after cochlear implantation.
DATA SOURCES
A literature search was performed in PubMed to identify peer-reviewed articles published before December 31, 2017, with no language restrictions. Search components were "Cochlear implant," "Glucocorticoids," and "Hearing preservation." The results were specified for animal studies.
STUDY SELECTION
Original studies in which glucocorticoids were administered before or during cochlear implantation in animal models and hearing threshold shifts were measured using auditory brainstem response.
DATA EXTRACTION
Quality of included studies was assessed using the SYstematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation protocol. Threshold Shift reduction between the "study" and "control" groups at 1-month postimplantation was the parameter used to evaluate hearing preservation.
DATA SYNTHESIS
The random-effects models were used to combine the results of selected studies. Separate meta-analyses were performed for drug-eluting electrodes, systemic, and local administration.
CONCLUSIONS
Administering either systemic or topical glucocorticosteroids had a significant effect on preserving low and high-frequency hearing. Topical administration was equally effective across a range of concentration levels and provided maximal hearing preservation when applied 120 minutes before implantation. The effect of systemic treatment was achieved with high doses, equivalent to 26 mg of dexamethasone per day in humans. No significant effect was found with the use of drug-eluting electrodes and more studies are needed to characterise the utility and efficacy of this administration method.
Topics: Animals; Auditory Threshold; Cochlear Implantation; Dexamethasone; Disease Models, Animal; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; Glucocorticoids; Hearing
PubMed: 31498296
DOI: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000002383