Auditory and speech performance in cochlear implanted ANSD children.

BACKGROUND: Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) is a distinct type of SNHL that is characterized by the presence of otoacoustic emissions and/or cochlear microphonics. Cochlear implantation was initially not recommended for ANSD children, later studies showed variable outcomes among those subjects. OBJECTIVE: To assess the auditory and speech performance of cochlear implanted children with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) and to compare these results to those obtained from cochlear implanted children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) Material and methods: 18 cochlear implanted children with ANSD and 40 cochlear implanted children with SNHL were included in this study. Auditory and speech performance results were compared across both subject groups using the Category of Auditory Performance (CAP) and Speech Intelligibility Rate (SIR) tests, with measurements recorded one year post implantation. RESULTS: Cochlear implanted children with ANSD showed clinically significant improvements that were comparable to those observed from cochlear implanted subjects without ANSD. CONCLUSIONS: Children with ANSD benefit from early cochlear implantation and can reach similar auditory and speech performance results as that achieved by children without ANSD.

Association of Exposure to Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Field Radiation (RF-EMFR) Generated by Mobile Phone Base Stations with Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Installation of mobile phone base stations in residential areas has initiated public debate about possible adverse effects on human health. This study aimed to determine the association of exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic field radiation (RF-EMFR) generated by mobile phone base stations with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. For this study, two different elementary schools (school-1 and school-2) were selected. We recruited 159 students in total; 96 male students from school-1, with age range 12-16 years, and 63 male students with age range 12-17 years from school-2. Mobile phone base stations with towers existed about 200 m away from the school buildings. RF-EMFR was measured inside both schools. In school-1, RF-EMFR was 9.601 nW/cm² at frequency of 925 MHz, and students had been exposed to RF-EMFR for a duration of 6 h daily, five days in a week. In school-2, RF-EMFR was 1.909 nW/cm² at frequency of 925 MHz and students had been exposed for 6 h daily, five days in a week. 5-6 mL blood was collected from all the students and HbA1c was measured by using a Dimension Xpand Plus Integrated Chemistry System, Siemens. The mean HbA1c for the students who were exposed to high RF-EMFR was significantly higher (5.44 ± 0.22) than the mean HbA1c for the students who were exposed to low RF-EMFR (5.32 ± 0.34) (p = 0.007). Moreover, students who were exposed to high RF-EMFR generated by MPBS had a significantly higher risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (p = 0.016) relative to their counterparts who were exposed to low RF-EMFR. It is concluded that exposure to high RF-EMFR generated by MPBS is associated with elevated levels of HbA1c and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.