ABR disturbances in children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

A number of papers present the research on hearing disturbances in the course of diabetes mellitus. Some authors report the damage of inner ear cells, whereas others maintain that it is located in the retrocochlear part of the hearing pathway. The objective of the paper was to find the location of the auditory pathway disturbances in children suffering from diabetes mellitus. The analysis concerns 37 insulin treated children aged 6-18 years. The following audiometric methods were applied: pure-tone audiometry, impedance audiometry as well as auditory brainstem response (ABR). We observed conduction disturbances within the stem in ABR, in the children without hearing loss in pure-tone audiometry.

Hearing defects in children born of mothers suffering from rubella in the first trimester of pregnancy.

The investigations concerned women that had suffered from symptomatic rubella in the first trimester of pregnancy. The presence of immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M antibodies in mothers and their children was detected, and the hearing organ was examined. In early childhood (up to 3 years of age), hearing loss was confirmed in 50% of the children born of mothers with rubella.

ABR differences before and after dialyses.

The aim of the study was the objective evaluation of the hearing organ in children. Seven children aged 6-17 with end stage renal failure treated by haemodialysis were examined. Four- to five-hour dialyses were performed 2-3 times a week. Pure-tone audiometry was normal in five children. The reactions of brain stem responses (latency and interpeak latency) were analysed before and after haemodialyses. We conclude that the ABR differences were connected with biochemical parameters of uraemia. The present study is a preliminary one and will be continued in the future.

[A nineteen year observation of a boy with branchio-oto-renal syndrome and chronic renal failure]. / Dziewietnastoletnia obserwacja chlopca z zespolem skrzelowo-uszno-nerkowym i przewlekla niewydolnoscia nerek.

Branchio-oto-renal syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder of the first and second embryonic branchial arches and the urinary tract. It is characterized in its full expression by branchial fistulas or cysts, preauricular pits, outer, middle and inner ear defects, hearing loss, lachrymal duct stenosis, facial paralysis and mental retardation. Renal anomalies may range from mild hypoplasia to complete absence. Our report demonstrates the patient with classical BOR syndrome and severe renal insufficiency since infancy up to end stage renal failure at 18 years of age caused by bilateral renal hypoplasia. Although no definitive histological diagnosis was made, the clinical findings in our patients, like mild proteinuria, normal blood pressure, polyuria, polydypsia, hyperchloremic acidosis and typical course of renal failure support the diagnosis of oligomeganephronia in this case.

[Familial occurrence of hearing loss following streptomycin (SM) treatment]. / Rodzinne wystepowanie niedosluchu odbiorczego zwiazanego z leczeniem streptomycyna.

References data indicate the probability of inheritance of predisposition to post-streptomycin hearing loss. Ototoxicity after SM is transmitted by women. It is considered as autosomal dominant inheritance, but the transmission to the next generation is not explained by the Mendelian inheritance rule. The aim of our presentation is showing different kinds of hearing loss after SM occurring in siblings with probable inherited susceptibility to SM.

[Speech disorders in Alajouanine syndrome]. / Zaburzenia mowy w zespole Alajouanine'a.

Alajouanine syndrome includes congenital, bilateral, central facial and abducens nerves palsy and clubfoot. The authors present speech disorders and helpful influence of early rehabilitation.

Hearing loss in chronic alcoholics.

Alcohol has a local and general influence. A specially harmful effect is observed when it is abused--used frequently and in high concentrations. Chronic excessive drinking of alcohol results in sight deterioration, hearing loss and psychical disorders. The study aimed at evaluating the degree and place of the hearing organ damage in 30 alcoholics. They were subjected to audiologic examinations including: pure-tone and impedance audiometry, otoacoustic emissions and evoked brain stem responses tests. The patients were diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss, lack of otoemission indicating the damage of outer hear cells as well as hearing pathway damage in the brain stem.