Adam Politzer (1835-1920): The Founder of Clinical Otology.

Adam Politzer was a Hungarian surgeon and medical scientist, credited with describing the cochlear nucleus and otitis media, revolutionizing its treatment through his invention of "Politzerization." After receiving training from notable medical figures in Vienna and London, where he studied and trained as a surgeon respectively, he became Vienna's first professor of otology. In 1873, he established the first dedicated otology clinic in the world. His five-volume textbook, "Lehrbuch der Ohrenheilkunde," unified otologic knowledge in his time and remains a resource to this day. Politzer's contributions continue to influence modern otology, solidifying his legacy as a pioneering leader in medicine.

ESR Essentials: imaging of middle ear cholesteatoma-practice recommendations by the European Society of Head and Neck Radiology.

Although non-malignant, middle ear cholesteatoma can result in significant complications due to local bone erosion and infection. The treatment of cholesteatoma is surgical, but residual disease is common and may be clinically occult, particularly when the canal wall is preserved or reconstructive techniques are employed. Imaging plays a pivotal role in the management of patients with middle ear cholesteatoma-aiding clinical diagnosis, identifying complications, planning surgery, and detecting residual disease at follow-up. Computed tomography is the primary imaging tool in the preoperative setting since it can provide both a surgical roadmap and detect erosive complications of cholesteatoma. The ability of magnetic resonance imaging with non-echoplanar diffusion-weighted sequences to accurately detect residual disease has led to a shift in the diagnostic paradigm for post-surgical follow-up of cholesteatoma, such that routine "second-look" surgery is no longer required. The following practice recommendations are aimed at helping the radiologist choose appropriate imaging approaches and understand the key diagnostic considerations for the evaluation of pre- and post-surgical middle ear cholesteatoma. KEY POINTS: In the preoperative setting, CT is the first-line imaging modality and MRI is reserved for rare clinical scenarios (low evidence). Non-echoplanar imaging (EPI) DWI is the optimal MRI sequence for the detection of residual cholesteatoma (moderate evidence). Non-EPI DWI plays an important role in the postoperative surveillance of cholesteatoma (moderate evidence).

Uptake of gadolinium and dexamethasone in rat inner ear and facial nerve using different administrations.

BACKGROUND: The pathway by which drugs are injected subcutaneously behind the ear to act on the inner ear has not been fully elucidated. OBJECTIVES: To compare the uptake of gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) and dexamethasone (Dex) in the cochlea and facial nerve of rats following different administrations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging was applied to observe the distribution of Gd-DTPA in the facial nerve and inner ear. We observed the uptake of Dex after it was injected with different methods. RESULTS: Images of the intravenous (IV) and intramuscular (IM) groups showed that the bilateral cochlea of the rat was visualized almost simultaneously. While in the left post-auricular (PA) injection group, it was asynchronous. The maximum accumulation (Cmax) of the Gd in the left facial nerve of the PA group (35.406 ± 5.32) was substantially higher than that of the IV group (16.765 ± 3.7542) (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with systemic administration, PA has the advantages of long Gd and Dex action time and high accumulation concentration to treat facial nerve diseases. SIGNIFICANCE: The distribution of Gd and Dex in the inner ear and facial nerve of rats following PA injection might be unique.

The views of parents and carers on managing acute otitis media in urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the views of parents and carers regarding the management of acute otitis media in urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who are at low risk of complications living in urban communities. STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative study; semi-structured interviews and short telephone survey. SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: Interviews: purposive sample of parents and carers of urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (18 months - 16 years old) screened in Aboriginal medical services in Queensland, New South Wales, and Canberra for the WATCH study, a randomised controlled trial that compared immediate antibiotic therapy with watchful waiting for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with acute otitis media. SURVEY: parents and carers recruited for the WATCH trial who had completed week two WATCH surveys. RESULTS: We interviewed twenty-two parents and carers, including ten who had declined participation in or whose children were ineligible for the WATCH trial. Some interviewees preferred antibiotics for managing acute otitis media, others preferred watchful waiting, expressing concerns about side effects and reduced efficacy with overuse of antibiotics. Factors that influenced this preference included the severity, duration, and recurrence of infection, and knowledge about management gained during the trial and from personal and often multigenerational experience of ear disease. Participants highlighted the importance of shared decision making by parents and carers and their doctors. Parents and carers of 165 of 262 WATCH participants completed telephone surveys (63%); 81 were undecided about whether antibiotics should always be used for treating acute otitis media. Open-ended responses indicated that antibiotic use should be determined by clinical need, support for general practitioners' decisions, and the view that some general practitioners prescribed antibiotics too often. CONCLUSIONS: Parents and carers are key partners in managing acute otitis media in urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Our findings support shared decision making informed by the experience of parents and carers, which could also lead to reduced antibiotic use for managing acute otitis media.

Is the promontory a promising site to diagnose otitis media in paleopathology? A search for evidence.

OBJECTIVE: The promontory of the middle ear was recently suggested to be an appropriate site for diagnosing otitis media (OM) in archaeological bones by endoscopic inspection. The present study scrutinized the underlying assumption that a bulgy, irregular promontorial surface represents a pathological condition. MATERIALS: We compared an allegedly healthy individual and an allegedly diseased individual in skeletal remains of two human individuals from the early Medieval period in Germany. METHODS: The specimens were studied using microscopic analyses of thin ground sections. RESULTS: The osseous architecture of the three-layered promontorial wall was the same in both specimens. Both the contour of the resorption front of the middle layer and the thickness of the overlying outer periosteal layer showed some variation, resulting in an either smooth or a bulgy promontorial surface, while signs of resorptive or proliferative changes at the periosteal surface were missing in both cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that an irregular promontorial surface represents normal variation in the development of the otic capsule rather than a pathological condition. We therefore conclude that the promontory is not an appropriate site for diagnosing OM in archaeological bone. SIGNIFICANCE: The study contributes to evidence-based diagnoses in paleo-otological studies. Our assumption is in line with clinical and experimental findings indicating that the otic capsule is protected against bone remodeling. LIMITATIONS: Only two specimens were studied. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: SEM-studies to detect more subtle changes to the promontorial surface.

Comparative Study Between Single Layer and Double Layer Graft Technique in Tympanoplasty for Subtotal Tympanic Membrane Perforation.

Introduction Tympanoplasty is the main treatment of mucosal type of chronic suppurative otitis media. Objective The aim of the present study was to compare clinical outcomes in terms of healing and audiological outcomes of two groups. The authors used single layer graft (perichondrium with cartilage island) graft in one group and double layer grafts (perichondrium cartilage island composite plus temporalis fascia) were used in the second group. Methods Forty patients complained of chronic suppurative otitis media safe type with subtotal perforation subdivided into two groups. The first group author used single-layer perichondrium with cartilage island graft (composite graft) while in the second group authors used double graft in the form of perichondrium/cartilage island (composite graft) plus temporalis fascia. Results There was no significant difference in the mean Air bone gap (ABG) between pre- and post-operative audiometry in subjects who had single layer tympanoplasty. There was a significant difference in the mean ABG between pre- and postoperative audiometry in subjects who had double layer tympanoplasty. There was a significant difference in in the mean ABG differences between subjects who had single layer tympanoplasty and double layer tympanoplasty. Also, there was a significant difference in the healing of the tympanic membrane between subjects who had single layer tympanoplasty and double layer tympanoplasty. Conclusion Tympanoplasty by double graft (temporalis fascia and tragal cartilage/perichondrium) achieved a considerable improvement in healing of the tympanic membrane ™ with lower risk for residual perforation or graft rejection.

Image-Based Artificial Intelligence Technology for Diagnosing Middle Ear Diseases: A Systematic Review.

Otolaryngological diagnoses, such as otitis media, are traditionally performed using endoscopy, wherein diagnostic accuracy can be subjective and vary among clinicians. The integration of objective tools, like artificial intelligence (AI), could potentially improve the diagnostic process by minimizing the influence of subjective biases and variability. We systematically reviewed the AI techniques using medical imaging in otolaryngology. Relevant studies related to AI-assisted otitis media diagnosis were extracted from five databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, Medline, Embase, and IEEE Xplore, without date restrictions. Publications that did not relate to AI and otitis media diagnosis or did not utilize medical imaging were excluded. Of the 32identified studies, 26 used tympanic membrane images for classification, achieving an average diagnosis accuracy of 86% (range: 48.7-99.16%). Another three studies employed both segmentation and classification techniques, reporting an average diagnosis accuracy of 90.8% (range: 88.06-93.9%). These findings suggest that AI technologies hold promise for improving otitis media diagnosis, offering benefits for telemedicine and primary care settings due to their high diagnostic accuracy. However, to ensure patient safety and optimal outcomes, further improvements in diagnostic performance are necessary.

Routine ear health and hearing checks for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged under 6 years attending primary care: a national consensus statement.

This consensus statement provides new recommendations for primary care assessment of ear health and hearing status of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who are not known to have, or are not being actively managed for, ear health and hearing problems. Any child identified with otitis media should be actively managed. This national consensus statement extends existing treatment and management guidelines. MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS: Undertake checks at least 6-monthly, commencing at 6 months until 4 years of age, then at 5 years. Undertake checks more frequently in high risk settings for children under 2 years, when acceptable to families, or in response to parent/carer concerns. Ask parents/carers about concerns, signs, and symptoms; check children's listening and communication skills; and assess middle ear appearance and mobility. Otoacoustic emissions testing is suggested when equipment is available, primary health practitioners have capability and confidence to use the equipment, and there is local preference for its use. Video otoscopy is suggested for health promotion purposes, and/or for sharing images with other health practitioners. Audiometry should be done as per existing guidelines: when there are parent/carer concerns, signs of persistent/recurrent otitis media, or when listening and communication development is not yet on track. CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT AS A RESULT OF THIS STATEMENT: Key practice changes include routine use of tympanometry, and listening and communication skills checklists. Implementation will require access to equipment and training; clear information on immediate, practical actions for families; timely pathways to referral services; and a change management process that shifts perception and tolerance of otitis media and its impacts and raises expectations that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can have healthy ears and hearing.

How chronic ear disease affects quality of life: a qualitative research study in Nepal.

OBJECTIVE: Hearing loss is the third leading cause globally for 'years lived with disability'. The majority of those affected live in low and middle-income countries. METHOD: This study used qualitative research methods to explore the impact of chronic ear disease on quality of life in Nepal. Twenty face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted during a visiting ear camp at the Britain Nepal Otology Service Ear Care Centre in Nepal. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and translated with thematic content analysis performed manually by two researchers. RESULTS: Chronic ear disease has a significant impact on social interactions, emotional well-being and functionality. Barriers to surgery are cost, accessibility, reputation, gender and fear of complications. CONCLUSION: This study provided valuable new insight into patient perspectives on living with chronic ear disease in Nepal. Patients with chronic ear disease experience discrimination and stigmatisation across all levels of personal, family and social life, with their function across all domains being directly limited by symptoms.

Comparative Study Between Single Layer and Double Layer Graft Technique in Tympanoplasty for Subtotal Tympanic Membrane Perforation

Abstract Introduction Tympanoplasty is the main treatment of mucosal type of chronic suppurative otitis media. Objective The aim of the present study was to compare clinical outcomes in terms of healing and audiological outcomes of two groups. The authors used single layer graft (perichondrium with cartilage island) graft in one group and double layer grafts (perichondrium cartilage island composite plus temporalis fascia) were used in the second group. Methods Forty patients complained of chronic suppurative otitis media safe type with subtotal perforation subdivided into two groups. The first group author used single-layer perichondrium with cartilage island graft (composite graft) while in the second group authors used double graft in the form of perichondrium/cartilage island (composite graft) plus temporalis fascia. Results There was no significant difference in the mean Air bone gap (ABG) between pre- and post-operative audiometry in subjects who had single layer tympanoplasty. There was a significant difference in the mean ABG between pre- and postoperative audiometry in subjects who had double layer tympanoplasty. There was a significant difference in in the mean ABG differences between subjects who had single layer tympanoplasty and double layer tympanoplasty. Also, there was a significant difference in the healing of the tympanic membrane between subjects who had single layer tympanoplasty and double layer tympanoplasty. Conclusion Tympanoplasty by double graft (temporalis fascia and tragal cartilage/perichondrium) achieved a considerable improvement in healing of the tympanic membrane ™ with lower risk for residual perforation or graft rejection.

Perforación timpánica y colesteatoma, una patología de niños y adultos / Tympanic perforation and cholesteatoma, a pathology of children and adults

INTRODUCCIÓN. La patología de oído es una enfermedad frecuente en nuestro medio, asociada a infecciones a repetición del oído, con la presencia de perforación timpánica y colesteatoma, que determinará la presencia de lesiones mucho más acentuadas en cuanto a la evolución auditiva o complicaciones locales o sistémicas. OBJETIVO. Determinar la asociación existente entre la presencia de colesteatoma y perforación timpánica en pacientes con otitis media crónica. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS. Estudio epidemiológico analítico retrospectivo. Población de 4 733 y muestra de 75 pacientes para casos y 75 para controles basados en historias clínicas tomadas del sistema informático AS 400, que acudieron a la consulta externa de torrinolaringología del Hospital de Especialidades Carlos Andrade Marín en el periodo de enero de 2018 a diciembre de 2019; Criterios de inclusión para grupo de casos: Hombres y mujeres de 20 a 65 años de edad, diagnóstico de otitis media crónica, diagnóstico de colesteatoma ótico. Criterios de inclusión para grupo controles: Hombres y mujeres de 20 a 65 años de edad, no presentar diagnóstico de colesteatoma. RESULTADOS. Se observó una relación fuerte entre el poseer perforación timpánica y el desarrollo de colesteatoma con un valor de OR 33,14 con un IC al 95% de 31,94 ­ 34,34, con lo que se comprobó la hipótesis del estudio. Se determinó que la perforación timpánica es un factor de riesgo asociado con el desarrollo de colesteatoma en pacientes con otitis media crónica, la prevalencia de colesteatoma en relación a la edad estuvo en un 72% en pacientes de 41 a 65 años, con mayor predominancia en mujeres en un 57,3%. DISCUSIÓN. La presencia de perforación timpánica de acuerdo a lo observado es un factor de riesgo para el desarrollo de colesteatoma, ligado en su mayoría a cuadros de Otitis Media Crónica. CONCLUSIONES. Se confirmó que la perforación timpánica, es un factor de riesgo en el desarrollo del colesteatoma en los pacientes que tienen otitis media crónica, lo que demuestra la necesidad de manejo actualizado y continuo en pacientes con esta patología de oído. Se requieren estudios con muestras más amplias para determinar otros factores de riesgo como sexo, nivel de educación y edad que podrían influir en el desarrollo de colesteatoma.

INTRODUCTION. Ear pathology is a frequent disease in our environment, associated with repeated ear infections, with the presence of tympanic perforation and cholesteatoma, which will determine the presence of much more accentuated lesions in terms of auditory evolution or local or systemic complications. OBJECTIVE. To determine the association between the presence of cholesteatoma and tympanic perforation in patients with chronic otitis media. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Retrospective analytical epidemiological study. Population of 4 733 and sample of 75 patients for cases and 75 for controls based on clinical histories taken from the AS 400 computer system, who attended the Otorhinolaryngology outpatient clinic of the Carlos Andrade Marín Specialties Hospital in the period from January 2018 to December 2019; Inclusion criteria for case group: Men and women aged 20 to 65 years, diagnosis of chronic otitis media, diagnosis of otic cholesteatoma. Inclusion criteria for controls group: men and women aged 20 to 65 years, no diagnosis of cholesteatoma. RESULTS. A strong relationship was observed between having tympanic perforation and the development of cholesteatoma with an OR value of 33,14 with a 95% CI of 31,94 - 34,34, thus proving the study hypothesis. It was determined that tympanic perforation is a risk factor associated with the development of cholesteatoma in patients with chronic otitis media, the prevalence of cholesteatoma in relation to age was 72% in patients aged 41 to 65 years, with greater predominance in women in 57,3%. DISCUSSION. The presence of tympanic perforation according to what was observed is a risk factor for the development of cholesteatoma, mostly linked to Chronic Otitis Media. CONCLUSIONS. It was confirmed that tympanic perforation is a risk factor in the development of cholesteatoma in patients with chronic otitis media, which demonstrates the need for updated and continuous management in patients with this ear pathology. Studies with larger samples are required to determine other risk factors such as sex, education level and age that could influence the development of cholesteatoma.

Smartphone-based artificial intelligence using a transfer learning algorithm for the detection and diagnosis of middle ear diseases: A retrospective deep learning study.

Background: Middle ear diseases such as otitis media and middle ear effusion, for which diagnoses are often delayed or misdiagnosed, are among the most common issues faced by clinicians providing primary care for children and adolescents. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to assist clinicians in the detection and diagnosis of middle ear diseases through imaging. Methods: Otoendoscopic images obtained by otolaryngologists from Taipei Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan between Jany 1, 2011 to Dec 31, 2019 were collected retrospectively and de-identified. The images were entered into convolutional neural network (CNN) training models after data pre-processing, augmentation and splitting. To differentiate sophisticated middle ear diseases, nine CNN-based models were constructed to recognize middle ear diseases. The best-performing models were chosen and ensembled in a small CNN for mobile device use. The pretrained model was converted into the smartphone-based program, and the utility was evaluated in terms of detecting and classifying ten middle ear diseases based on otoendoscopic images. A class activation map (CAM) was also used to identify key features for CNN classification. The performance of each classifier was determined by its accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. Findings: A total of 2820 clinical eardrum images were collected for model training. The programme achieved a high detection accuracy for binary outcomes (pass/refer) of otoendoscopic images and ten different disease categories, with an accuracy reaching 98.0% after model optimisation. Furthermore, the application presented a smooth recognition process and a user-friendly interface and demonstrated excellent performance, with an accuracy of 97.6%. A fifty-question questionnaire related to middle ear diseases was designed for practitioners with different levels of clinical experience. The AI-empowered mobile algorithm's detection accuracy was generally superior to that of general physicians, resident doctors, and otolaryngology specialists (36.0%, 80.0% and 90.0%, respectively). Our results show that the proposed method provides sufficient treatment recommendations that are comparable to those of specialists. Interpretation: We developed a deep learning model that can detect and classify middle ear diseases. The use of smartphone-based point-of-care diagnostic devices with AI-empowered automated classification can provide real-world smart medical solutions for the diagnosis of middle ear diseases and telemedicine. Funding: This study was supported by grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST110-2622-8-075-001, MOST110-2320-B-075-004-MY3, MOST-110-2634-F-A49 -005, MOST110-2745-B-075A-001A and MOST110-2221-E-075-005), Veterans General Hospitals and University System of Taiwan Joint Research Program (VGHUST111-G6-11-2, VGHUST111c-140), and Taipei Veterans General Hospital (V111E-002-3).

Role of Inner Ear Macrophages and Autoimmune/Autoinflammatory Mechanisms in the Pathophysiology of Inner Ear Disease.

Macrophages play important roles in tissue homeostasis and inflammation. Recent studies have revealed that macrophages are dispersed in the inner ear and may play essential roles in eliciting an immune response. Autoinflammatory diseases comprise a family of immune-mediated diseases, some of which involve sensorineural hearing loss, indicating that similar mechanisms may underlie the pathogenesis of immune-mediated hearing loss. Autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED) is an idiopathic disorder characterized by unexpected hearing loss. Tissue macrophages in the inner ear represent a potential target for modulation of the local immune response in patients with AIED/autoinflammatory diseases. In this review, we describe the relationship between cochlear macrophages and the pathophysiology of AIED/autoinflammatory disease.

In Search of a Neurotologic Profile in COVID-19 - A Study in Health Care Workers.

Introduction COVID-19 is an emerging disease and the neurotologic symptoms are still not well understood. Furthermore, the development of a neurotological profile and its associated factors can help the clinician in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. The objective is to determine the neurotologic manifestations experienced by COVID-19 positive health care workers and their associated factors. Methods A symptoms survey was administered to health care workers who were positive to COVID-19 from September to October 2020. An informed consent form was digitally signed and Google Forms software was used for the survey. Frequencies and percentages were used for categorical variables, and associated clinical features were reported with odds ratios. Results We included 209 COVID-19 positive health care workers, 55.5% (n = 116) were women, and 44.5% (n = 93) were men. Fifty-three percent of patients were 20 to 30 years old and 56.4% had at least one comorbidity. The prevalence of neurotological manifestations was 18.6% (n = 39/209), the most frequent symptoms were vertigo (61.5%, n = 24/39), tinnitus (43.5%, n = 17/39), imbalance (43.5%, n = 17/39), and one case of facial paralysis (2.5%, n = 1/39). Neurotological manifestations were associated predominantly with asthenia (p = 0.021), loss of smell (p = 0.002) and taste dysfunction (p = 0.002). Conclusion The most common neurotological manifestations were vertigo, tinnitus and imbalance. Clinical features associated with a neurotologic profile were asthenia, hyposmia and dysgeusia.

A Study of Middle Ear Diseases in Children with Congenital Bilateral Severe to Profound Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

(1) To find the presence of middle ear diseases present in the patients with congenital bilateral severe to profound SNHL (2) If it poses as a threat to rehabilitative efforts for the existing severe to profound SNHL. Study setting: Department of ENT, C U Shah medical college and hospital. Study design: Prospective study Study population: Patients attending ENT department with complaints of congenital bilateral severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. A total of 50 cases were studied during the study period. Methods of data collection: The Proforma was designed based on objective of the study. Detailed history was taken followed by thorough ENT and systemic examinations. Otoscopy and otoendoscopy were carried out and all patients were subjected to hearing tests consisting of Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA), Impedance Audiometry (IA), Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA) and Oto Acoustic Emissions (OAE). HRCT and MRI scanning of temporal bones of all the patients was included as a part of the routine workup. Out of the 50 children with bilateral congenital hearing loss studied in this study, 13(26%) children were observed to have concurrent middle ear pathologies. 2 patients had bilateral retracted drum with tympanosclerosis; 3 had bilateral retraction pocketswith mastoiditis; 1 had bilateral SOM; 1 had right SOM and left retracted drum; 2 had bilateral PSQ cholesteatoma; 1 had left SOM and right sided tympanic membrane perforation, 3 had right sided tympanic membrane perforation with left sided normal ears. Children with congenital bilateral severe to profound hearing loss should be examined for middle ear pathologies, which can most often be overlooked otherwise, hence rendering the patient unfit for definitive management of the severe to profound SNHL in the form of Hearing Aid trial or Cochlear Implantation, further delaying the development of speech. Hence, all children with congenital bilateral severe to profound hearing loss should undergo regular screening for assessment of middle ear pathologies with prompt treatment when any middle ear pathology is encountered, therefore rendering the patient fit for fitting of cochlear implantation at the earliest possible to decrease permanent impairment of speech.

Leisure-time physical activity and incidence of objectively assessed hearing loss: The Niigata Wellness Study.

Previous cohort study reported that high physical activity was associated with a low risk of self-reported hearing loss in women. However, no studies have examined the association between physical activity and the development of hearing loss as measured using an objective assessment of hearing loss in men and women. Here, we used cohort data to examine the association between leisure-time physical activity and incidence of objectively assessed hearing loss in men and women. Participants included 27 537 Japanese adults aged 20-80 years without hearing loss, who completed a self-administered physical activity questionnaire between April 2001 and March 2002. The participants were followed up for the development of hearing loss as measured by audiometry between April 2002 and March 2008. During follow-up, 3691 participants developed hearing loss. Compared with the none physical activity group, multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for developing hearing loss were 0.93 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.86-1.01) and 0.87 (0.81-0.95) for the medium (<525 MET-min/week) and high (≥525 MET-min/week) physical activity groups, respectively (p for trend = 0.001). The magnitude of risk reduction was slightly greater in vigorous-intensity activity than in moderate-intensity activity (p for interaction = 0.01). Analysis by sound frequency showed that the amount of physical activity was inversely associated with high frequency hearing loss development (p for trend <0.001), but not with low frequency hearing loss development (p for trend = 0.19). Higher level of leisure-time physical activity was associated with lower incidence of hearing loss, particularly for vigorous-intensity activities and high sound frequencies.

The prevalence of tinnitus in the Australian working population.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of tinnitus in Australian working people; to identify occupational and demographic factors associated with tinnitus. DESIGN: Cross-sectional national telephone survey of self-reported frequency and duration of tinnitus. SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: Australian Workplace Exposure Survey (AWES) - Hearing; 4970 currently employed people aged 18-64 years, recruited by random digit dialling, representative by sex of the workforce population, 7 June 2016 - 20 March 2017. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of occasional, intermittent, and constant tinnitus, and of any tinnitus, by occupational group, sex, and other demographic characteristics; estimated numbers of working people with constant or any tinnitus, by occupational group and sex. RESULTS: Of 4970 respondents, 1317 reported experiencing tinnitus (26.5%): 713 people had occasional tinnitus (14.3%), 259 intermittent tinnitus (5.2%), and 345 constant tinnitus (6.9%). The sample prevalence of constant tinnitus was greater among men (7.5%; 95% CI, 6.2-8.7%) than women (3.3%; 95% CI, 2.3-4.3%), and was higher in older age groups. After rake weighting our survey responses, we estimated that 2.4 million workers (24.8%; 95% CI, 23.2-26.4%) experience tinnitus, including 529 343 with constant tinnitus (5.5%; 95% CI, 4.6-6.3%). The estimated prevalence of constant tinnitus was highest for automotive workers (16.7%; 95% CI, 9.5-23.8%), drivers (13.0%; 95% CI, 7.3-18.6%), farmers (12.1%; 95% CI, 5.9-18.4%), and workers in other trades (10.4%; 95% CI, 4.6-16.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of tinnitus in the Australian workforce is high, particularly in certain occupations. Workplace practices and conditions that increase the risk of tinnitus should be examined, and targeted workplace prevention strategies developed.

Hearing healthcare gaps in LMICS: snapshot from a semi-urban community in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Low and middle-income countries (LMICs) have high prevalence of hearing loss which are mainly due to preventable causes. While urban communities in LMICs are likely to have functional hearing healthcare delivery infrastructure, rural and semi-urban communities may have different reality. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to provide: (i) a snapshot of the burden of ear diseases and (ii) a description of available hearing healthcare resources in a semi-urban Nigerian community. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of households selected by multistage random sampling technique. Seventy-four participants: 39 males and 35 females with mean age of 34 years ± 5.24 were recruited and answered a structured questionnaire. In addition, the availability of hearing healthcare services in 15 health centers within the community were determined. RESULTS: All participants reported recent occurrence of ear complaints or gave similar history in a household member. Common complaints were ear discharge, ear pain and hearing loss. Medical intervention was sought from patent medicine stores, hospitals and traditional healers. None of the assessed hospitals within the study site was manned by an ENT surgeon or ENT trained nurse. CONCLUSION: Despite the heavy burden of ear complaints there is inadequate hearing healthcare delivery in a typical LMIC community. This highlights the need for urgent improvement of hearing healthcare.