Speech-in-Noise Assessment in the Routine Audiologic Test Battery: Relationship to Perceived Auditory Disability.

OBJECTIVES: Self-assessment of perceived communication difficulty has been used in clinical and research practices for decades. Such questionnaires routinely assess the perceived ability of an individual to understand speech, particularly in background noise. Despite the emphasis on perceived performance in noise, speech recognition in routine audiologic practice is measured by word recognition in quiet (WRQ). Moreover, surprisingly little data exist that compare speech understanding in noise (SIN) abilities to perceived communication difficulty. Here, we address these issues by examining audiometric thresholds, WRQ scores, QuickSIN signal to noise ratio (SNR) loss, and perceived auditory disability as measured by the five questions on the Speech Spatial Questionnaire-12 (SSQ12) devoted to speech understanding (SSQ12-Speech5). DESIGN: We examined data from 1633 patients who underwent audiometric assessment at the Stanford Ear Institute. All individuals completed the SSQ12 questionnaire, pure-tone audiometry, and speech assessment consisting of ear-specific WRQ, and ear-specific QuickSIN. Only individuals with hearing threshold asymmetries ≤10 dB HL in their high-frequency pure-tone average (HFPTA) were included. Our primary objectives were to (1) examine the relationship between audiometric variables and the SSQ12-Speech5 scores, (2) determine the amount of variance in the SSQ12-Speech5 scores which could be predicted from audiometric variables, and (3) predict which patients were likely to report greater perceived auditory disability according to the SSQ12-Speech5. RESULTS: Performance on the SSQ12-Speech5 indicated greater perceived auditory disability with more severe degrees of hearing loss and greater QuickSIN SNR loss. Degree of hearing loss and QuickSIN SNR loss were found to account for modest but significant variance in SSQ12-Speech5 scores after accounting for age. In contrast, WRQ scores did not significantly contribute to the predictive power of the model. Degree of hearing loss and QuickSIN SNR loss were also found to have moderate diagnostic accuracy for determining which patients were likely to report SSQ12-Speech5 scores indicating greater perceived auditory disability. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these data indicate that audiometric factors including degree of hearing loss (i.e., HFPTA) and QuickSIN SNR loss are predictive of SSQ12-Speech5 scores, though notable variance remains unaccounted for after considering these factors. HFPTA and QuickSIN SNR loss-but not WRQ scores-accounted for a significant amount of variance in SSQ12-Speech5 scores and were largely effective at predicting which patients are likely to report greater perceived auditory disability on the SSQ12-Speech5. This provides further evidence for the notion that speech-in-noise measures have greater clinical utility than WRQ in most instances as they relate more closely to measures of perceived auditory disability.

Sporadic vestibular schwannoma in a pediatric population: a case series.

PURPOSE: To describe the characteristics, management, and outcomes of pediatric patients with sporadic vestibular schwannoma (sVS). METHODS: This was a case series at a tertiary care center. Patients were identified through a research repository and chart review. Interventions were microsurgery, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and observation. Outcome measures were tumor control, facial nerve function, and hearing. RESULTS: Eight patients over 2006-2022 fulfilled inclusion criteria (unilateral VS without genetic or clinical evidence of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2); age ≤ 21) with a mean age of 17 years (14-20). Average greatest tumor length in the internal auditory canal was 9.7 mm (4.0-16.1). Average greatest tumor dimension (4/8 tumors) in the cerebellopontine angle was 19.1 mm (11.3-26.8). Primary treatment was microsurgery in five (62.5%) patients, observation in two (25%), and SRS in one (12.5%). Four (80%) surgical patients had gross total resections, and one (20%) had regrowth post-near total resection and underwent SRS. One observed patient and the primary SRS patient have remained radiographically stable for 3.5 and 7 years, respectively. The other observed patient required surgery for tumor growth after 12 months of observation. Two surgical patients had poor facial nerve outcomes. All post-procedural patients developed anacusis. Mean follow-up was 3 years (0.5-7). CONCLUSIONS: We describe one of the largest reported cohorts of pediatric sVS in the USA. Diligent exclusion of NF2 is critical. Given the high likelihood of eventually requiring intervention and known adverse effects of SRS, microsurgery remains the preferred treatment. However, observation can be considered in select situations.

Evaluation of Asymmetries in Speech-in Noise Abilities in Audiologic Screening for Vestibular Schwannoma.

OBJECTIVES: Measures of speech-in-noise, such as the QuickSIN, are increasingly common tests of speech perception in audiologic practice. However, the effect of vestibular schwannoma (VS) on speech-in-noise abilities is unclear. Here, we compare the predictive ability of interaural QuickSIN asymmetry for detecting VS against other measures of audiologic asymmetry. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients in our institution who received QuickSIN testing in addition to a regular audiologic battery between September 2015 and February 2019 was conducted. Records for patients with radiographically confirmed, unilateral, pretreatment VSs were identified. The remaining records excluding conductive pathologies were used as controls. The predictive abilities of various measures of audiologic asymmetry to detect VS were statistically compared. RESULTS: Our search yielded 73 unique VS patients and 2423 controls. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that QuickSIN asymmetry was more sensitive and specific than pure-tone average asymmetry and word-recognition-in-quiet asymmetry for detecting VS. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that QuickSIN asymmetry was more predictive of VS (odds ratio [OR] = 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.10, 1.38], p < 0.001) than pure-tone average asymmetry (OR = 1.04, 95% CI [1.00, 1.07], p = 0.025) and word-recognition-in-quiet asymmetry (OR = 1.03, 95% CI [0.99, 1.06], p = 0.064). CONCLUSION: Between-ear asymmetries in the QuickSIN appear to be more efficient than traditional measures of audiologic asymmetry for identifying patients with VS. These results suggest that speech-in noise testing could be integrated into clinical practice without hindering the ability to identify retrocochlear pathology.

Comprehensive measures of sound exposures in cinemas using smart phones.

OBJECTIVES: Sensorineural hearing loss from sound overexposure has a considerable prevalence. Identification of sound hazards is crucial, as prevention, due to a lack of definitive therapies, is the sole alternative to hearing aids. One subjectively loud, yet little studied, potential sound hazard is movie theaters. This study uses smart phones to evaluate their applicability as a widely available, validated sound pressure level (SPL) meter. Therefore, this study measures sound levels in movie theaters to determine whether sound levels exceed safe occupational noise exposure limits and whether sound levels in movie theaters differ as a function of movie, movie theater, presentation time, and seat location within the theater. DESIGN: Six smart phones with an SPL meter software application were calibrated with a precision SPL meter and validated as an SPL meter. Additionally, three different smart phone generations were measured in comparison to an integrating SPL meter. Two different movies, an action movie and a children's movie, were measured six times each in 10 different venues (n = 117). To maximize representativeness, movies were selected focusing on large release productions with probable high attendance. Movie theaters were selected in the San Francisco, CA, area based on whether they screened both chosen movies and to represent the largest variety of theater proprietors. Measurements were analyzed in regard to differences between theaters, location within the theater, movie, as well as presentation time and day as indirect indicator of film attendance. RESULTS: The smart phone measurements demonstrated high accuracy and reliability. Overall, sound levels in movie theaters do not exceed safe exposure limits by occupational standards. Sound levels vary significantly across theaters and demonstrated statistically significant higher sound levels and exposures in the action movie compared to the children's movie. Sound levels decrease with distance from the screen. However, no influence on time of day or day of the week as indirect indicator of film attendance could be found. CONCLUSIONS: Calibrated smart phones with an appropriate software application as used in this study can be utilized as a validated SPL meter. Because of the wide availability, smart phones in combination with the software application can provide high quantity recreational sound exposure measurements, which can facilitate the identification of potential noise hazards. Sound levels in movie theaters decrease with distance to the screen, but do not exceed safe occupational noise exposure limits. Additionally, there are significant differences in sound levels across movie theaters and movies, but not in presentation time.

Glomangiopericytoma Presenting as a Middle Ear Mass.

We describe an unusual case of glomangiopericytoma presenting as a mass filling the middle ear, enveloping the ossicles, and extending into the mastoid antrum without bony destruction. Management involved three surgeries and stereotactic radiosurgery, which achieved short-term local control with no evidence of disease on MRI imaging 12 months after radiation. Facial nerve function and hearing were preserved. This is the first report to our knowledge of a glomangiopericytoma presenting as a primary temporal bone lesion. Treatment with surgery and stereotactic radiosurgery for residual or recurrent disease is a reasonable approach to achieve local control and functional preservation. Laryngoscope, 134:1426-1430, 2024.

Deep Learning Method for Rapid Simultaneous Multistructure Temporal Bone Segmentation.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a deep learning algorithm for the automated segmentation of key temporal bone structures from clinical computed tomography (CT) data sets. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: A total of 325 CT scans from a clinical database. METHOD: A state-of-the-art deep learning (DL) algorithm (SwinUNETR) was used to train a prediction model for rapid segmentation of 9 key temporal bone structures in a data set of 325 clinical CTs. The data set was manually annotated by a specialist to serve as the ground truth. The data set was randomly split into training (n = 260) and testing (n = 65) sets. The model's performance was objectively assessed through external validation on the test set using metrics including Dice, Balanced accuracy, Hausdorff distances, and processing time. RESULTS: The model achieved an average Dice coefficient of 0.87 for all structures, an average balanced accuracy of 0.94, an average Hausdorff distance of 0.79 mm, and an average processing time of 9.1 seconds per CT. CONCLUSION: The present DL model for the automated simultaneous segmentation of multiple structures within the temporal bone from CTs achieved high accuracy according to currently commonly employed objective analysis. The results demonstrate the potential of the method to improve preoperative evaluation and intraoperative guidance in otologic surgery.

Estimation of Cochlear Implant Insertion Depth Using 2D-3D Registration of Postoperative X-Ray and Preoperative CT Images.

OBJECTIVE: To improve estimation of cochlear implant (CI) insertion depth in postoperative skull x-rays using synthesized information from preoperative CT scans. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Ten adult cochlear implant recipients with preoperative and postoperative temporal bone computed tomography (CT)scans and postoperative skull x-ray imaging. INTERVENTIONS: Postoperative x-rays and digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRR) from preoperative CTs were registered using 3D Slicer and MATLAB to enhance localization of the round window and modiolus. Angular insertion depth (AID) was estimated in unmodified and registration-enhanced x-rays and DRRs in the cochlear view. Linear insertion depth (LID) was estimated in registered images by two methods that localized the proximal CI electrode or segmented the cochlea. Ground truth assessments were made in postoperative CTs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Errors of insertion depth estimates were calculated relative to ground truth measurements and compared with paired t t ests. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess inter-rater reliability of two reviewer's measurements of AID in unmodified x-rays. RESULTS: In postoperative x-rays, AID estimation errors were similar with and without registration enhancement (-1.3 ± 20.7° and -4.8 ± 24.9°, respectively; mean ± SD; p = 0.6). AID estimation in unmodified x-rays demonstrated strong interrater agreement (ρ = 0.79, p < 0.05) and interrater differences (-15.0 ± 35.3°) comparable to estimate errors. Registering images allowed measurement of AID in the cochlear view with estimation errors of 14.6 ± 30.6° and measurement of LID, with estimate errors that were similar between proximal electrode localization and cochlear segmentation methods (-0.9 ± 2.2 mm and -2.1 ± 2.7 mm, respectively; p = 0.3). CONCLUSIONS: 2D-3D image registration allows measurement of AID in the cochlear view and LID using postoperative x-rays and preoperative CT imaging. The use of this technique may reduce the need for postimplantation CT studies to assess these metrics of CI electrode position. Further work is needed to improve the accuracy of AID assessment in the postoperative x-ray view with registered images compared with established methods.

From microscope to head-mounted display: integrating hand tracking into microsurgical augmented reality.

PURPOSE: The operating microscope plays a central role in middle and inner ear procedures that involve working within tightly confined spaces under limited exposure. Augmented reality (AR) may improve surgical guidance by combining preoperative computed tomography (CT) imaging that can provide precise anatomical information, with intraoperative microscope video feed. With current technology, the operator must manually interact with the AR interface using a computer. The latter poses a disruption in the surgical flow and is suboptimal for maintaining the sterility of the operating environment. The purpose of this study was to implement and evaluate free-hand interaction concepts leveraging hand tracking and gesture recognition as an attempt to reduce the disruption during surgery and improve human-computer interaction. METHODS: An electromagnetically tracked surgical microscope was calibrated using a custom 3D printed calibration board. This allowed the augmentation of the microscope feed with segmented preoperative CT-derived virtual models. Ultraleap's Leap Motion Controller 2 was coupled to the microscope and used to implement hand-tracking capabilities. End-user feedback was gathered from a surgeon during development. Finally, users were asked to complete tasks that involved interacting with the virtual models, aligning them to physical targets, and adjusting the AR visualization. RESULTS: Following observations and user feedback, we upgraded the functionalities of the hand interaction system. User feedback showed the users' preference for the new interaction concepts that provided minimal disruption of the surgical workflow and more intuitive interaction with the virtual content. CONCLUSION: We integrated hand interaction concepts, typically used with head-mounted displays (HMDs), into a surgical stereo microscope system intended for AR in otologic microsurgery. The concepts presented in this study demonstrated a more favorable approach to human-computer interaction in a surgical context. They hold potential for a more efficient execution of surgical tasks under microscopic AR guidance.

Artificial Intelligence Tracking of Otologic Instruments in Mastoidectomy Videos.

OBJECTIVE: Develop an artificial intelligence (AI) model to track otologic instruments in mastoidectomy videos. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Tertiary care center. SUBJECTS: Six otolaryngology residents (PGY 3-5) and one senior neurotology attending. INTERVENTIONS: Thirteen 30-minute videos of cadaveric mastoidectomies were recorded by residents. The suction irrigator and drill were semi-manually annotated. Videos were split into training (N = 8), validation (N = 3), and test (N = 2) sets. YOLOv8, a state-of-the-art AI computer vision model, was adapted to track the instruments. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Precision, recall, and mean average precision using an intersection over union cutoff of 50% (mAP50). Drill speed in two prospectively collected live mastoidectomy videos by a resident and attending surgeon. RESULTS: The model achieved excellent performance for tracking the drill (precision 0.93, recall 0.89, and mAP50 0.93) and low performance for the suction irrigator (precision 0.67, recall 0.61, and mAP50 0.62) in test videos. Prediction speed was fast (~100 milliseconds per image). Predictions on prospective videos revealed higher mean drill speed (8.6 ± 5.7 versus 7.6 ± 7.4 mm/s, respectively; mean ± SD; p < 0.01) and duration of high drill speed (>15 mm/s; p < 0.05) in attending than resident surgery. CONCLUSIONS: An AI model can track the drill in mastoidectomy videos with high accuracy and near-real-time processing speed. Automated tracking opens the door to analyzing objective metrics of surgical skill without the need for manual annotation and will provide valuable data for future navigation and augmented reality surgical environments.

Virtual Reality Simulation for the Middle Cranial Fossa Approach: A Validation Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Virtual reality (VR) surgical rehearsal is an educational tool that exists in a safe environment. Validation is necessary to establish the educational value of this platform. The middle cranial fossa (MCF) is ideal for simulation because trainees have limited exposure to this approach and it has considerable complication risk. Our objectives were to assess the face, content, and construct validities of an MCF VR simulation, as well as the change in performance across serial simulations. METHODS: Using high-resolution volumetric data sets of human cadavers, the authors generated a high-fidelity visual and haptic rendering of the MCF approach using CardinalSim software. Trainees from Neurosurgery and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at two Canadian academic centers performed MCF dissections on this VR platform. Randomization was used to assess the effect of enhanced VR interaction. Likert scales were used to assess the face and content validities. Performance metrics and pre- and postsimulation test scores were evaluated. Construct validity was evaluated by examining the effect of the training level on simulation performance. RESULTS: Twenty trainees were enrolled. Face and content validities were achieved in all domains. Construct validity, however, was not demonstrated. Postsimulation test scores were significantly higher than presimulation test scores ( P < .001 ). Trainees demonstrated statistically significant improvement in the time to complete dissections ( P < .001 ), internal auditory canal skeletonization ( P < .001 ), completeness of the anterior petrosectomy ( P < .001 ), and reduced number of injuries to critical structures ( P = .001 ). CONCLUSION: This MCF VR simulation created using CardinalSim demonstrated face and content validities. Construct validity was not established because no trainee included in the study had previous MCF approach experience, which further emphasizes the importance of simulation. When used as a formative educational adjunct in both Neurosurgery and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, this simulation has the potential to enhance understanding of the complex anatomic relationships of critical neurovascular structures.

Single-cell transcriptomic atlas reveals increased regeneration in diseased human inner ear balance organs.

Mammalian inner ear hair cell loss leads to permanent hearing and balance dysfunction. In contrast to the cochlea, vestibular hair cells of the murine utricle have some regenerative capacity. Whether human utricular hair cells regenerate in vivo remains unknown. Here we procured live, mature utricles from organ donors and vestibular schwannoma patients, and present a validated single-cell transcriptomic atlas at unprecedented resolution. We describe markers of 13 sensory and non-sensory cell types, with partial overlap and correlation between transcriptomes of human and mouse hair cells and supporting cells. We further uncover transcriptomes unique to hair cell precursors, which are unexpectedly 14-fold more abundant in vestibular schwannoma utricles, demonstrating the existence of ongoing regeneration in humans. Lastly, supporting cell-to-hair cell trajectory analysis revealed 5 distinct patterns of dynamic gene expression and associated pathways, including Wnt and IGF-1 signaling. Our dataset constitutes a foundational resource, accessible via a web-based interface, serving to advance knowledge of the normal and diseased human inner ear.

The effect of haptic degrees of freedom on task performance in virtual surgical environments.

Force and touch feedback, or haptics, can play a significant role in the realism of virtual reality surgical simulation. While it is accepted that simulators providing haptic feedback often outperform those that do not, little is known about the degree of haptic fidelity required to achieve simulation objectives. This article evaluates the effect that employing haptic rendering with different degrees of freedom (DOF) has on task performance in a virtual environment. Results show that 6-DOF haptic rendering significantly improves task performance over 3-DOF haptic rendering, even if computed torques are not displayed to the user. No significant difference could be observed between under-actuated (force only) and fully-actuated 6-DOF feedback in two surgically-motivated tasks.

Signal to noise ratio quantifies the contribution of spectral channels to classification of human head and neck tissues ex vivo using deep learning and multispectral imaging.

Significance: Accurate identification of tissues is critical for performing safe surgery. Combining multispectral imaging (MSI) with deep learning is a promising approach to increasing tissue discrimination and classification. Evaluating the contributions of spectral channels to tissue discrimination is important for improving MSI systems. Aim: Develop a metric to quantify the contributions of individual spectral channels to tissue classification in MSI. Approach: MSI was integrated into a digital operating microscope with three sensors and seven illuminants. Two convolutional neural network (CNN) models were trained to classify 11 head and neck tissue types using white light (RGB) or MSI images. The signal to noise ratio (SNR) of spectral channels was compared with the impact of channels on tissue classification performance as determined using CNN visualization methods. Results: Overall tissue classification accuracy was higher with use of MSI images compared with RGB images, both for classification of all 11 tissue types and binary classification of nerve and parotid ( p < 0.001 ). Removing spectral channels with SNR > 20 reduced tissue classification accuracy. Conclusions: The spectral channel SNR is a useful metric for both understanding CNN tissue classification and quantifying the contributions of different spectral channels in an MSI system.

Stereoscopic calibration for augmented reality visualization in microscopic surgery.

PURPOSE: Middle and inner ear procedures target hearing loss, infections, and tumors of the temporal bone and lateral skull base. Despite the advances in surgical techniques, these procedures remain challenging due to limited haptic and visual feedback. Augmented reality (AR) may improve operative safety by allowing the 3D visualization of anatomical structures from preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans on real intraoperative microscope video feed. The purpose of this work was to develop a real-time CT-augmented stereo microscope system using camera calibration and electromagnetic (EM) tracking. METHODS: A 3D printed and electromagnetically tracked calibration board was used to compute the intrinsic and extrinsic parameters of the surgical stereo microscope. These parameters were used to establish a transformation between the EM tracker coordinate system and the stereo microscope image space such that any tracked 3D point can be projected onto the left and right images of the microscope video stream. This allowed the augmentation of the microscope feed of a 3D printed temporal bone with its corresponding CT-derived virtual model. Finally, the calibration board was also used for evaluating the accuracy of the calibration. RESULTS: We evaluated the accuracy of the system by calculating the registration error (RE) in 2D and 3D in a microsurgical laboratory setting. Our calibration workflow achieved a RE of 0.11 ± 0.06 mm in 2D and 0.98 ± 0.13 mm in 3D. In addition, we overlaid a 3D CT model on the microscope feed of a 3D resin printed model of a segmented temporal bone. The system exhibited small latency and good registration accuracy. CONCLUSION: We present the calibration of an electromagnetically tracked surgical stereo microscope for augmented reality visualization. The calibration method achieved accuracy within a range suitable for otologic procedures. The AR process introduces enhanced visualization of the surgical field while allowing depth perception.

Automated Radiomic Analysis of Vestibular Schwannomas and Inner Ears Using Contrast-Enhanced T1-Weighted and T2-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging Sequences and Artificial Intelligence.

OBJECTIVE: To objectively evaluate vestibular schwannomas (VSs) and their spatial relationships with the ipsilateral inner ear (IE) in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using deep learning. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PATIENTS: A total of 490 adults with VS, high-resolution MRI scans, and no previous neurotologic surgery. INTERVENTIONS: MRI studies of VS patients were split into training (390 patients) and test (100 patients) sets. A three-dimensional convolutional neural network model was trained to segment VS and IE structures using contrast-enhanced T1-weighted and T2-weighted sequences, respectively. Manual segmentations were used as ground truths. Model performance was evaluated on the test set and on an external set of 100 VS patients from a public data set (Vestibular-Schwannoma-SEG). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dice score, relative volume error, average symmetric surface distance, 95th-percentile Hausdorff distance, and centroid locations. RESULTS: Dice scores for VS and IE volume segmentations were 0.91 and 0.90, respectively. On the public data set, the model segmented VS tumors with a Dice score of 0.89 ± 0.06 (mean ± standard deviation), relative volume error of 9.8 ± 9.6%, average symmetric surface distance of 0.31 ± 0.22 mm, and 95th-percentile Hausdorff distance of 1.26 ± 0.76 mm. Predicted VS segmentations overlapped with ground truth segmentations in all test subjects. Mean errors of predicted VS volume, VS centroid location, and IE centroid location were 0.05 cm 3 , 0.52 mm, and 0.85 mm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A deep learning system can segment VS and IE structures in high-resolution MRI scans with excellent accuracy. This technology offers promise to improve the clinical workflow for assessing VS radiomics and enhance the management of VS patients.

The user experience design of a novel microscope within SurgiSim, a virtual reality surgical simulator.

PURPOSE: Virtual reality (VR) simulation has the potential to advance surgical education, procedural planning, and intraoperative guidance. "SurgiSim" is a VR platform developed for the rehearsal of complex procedures using patient-specific anatomy, high-fidelity stereoscopic graphics, and haptic feedback. SurgiSim is the first VR simulator to include a virtual operating room microscope. We describe the process of designing and refining the VR microscope user experience (UX) and user interaction (UI) to optimize surgical rehearsal and education. METHODS: Human-centered VR design principles were applied in the design of the SurgiSim microscope to optimize the user's sense of presence. Throughout the UX's development, the team of developers met regularly with surgeons to gather end-user feedback. Supplemental testing was performed on four participants. RESULTS: Through observation and participant feedback, we made iterative design upgrades to the SurgiSim platform. We identified the following key characteristics of the VR microscope UI: overall appearance, hand controller interface, and microscope movement. CONCLUSION: Our design process identified challenges arising from the disparity between VR and physical environments that pertain to microscope education and deployment. These roadblocks were addressed using creative solutions. Future studies will investigate the efficacy of VR surgical microscope training on real-world microscope skills as assessed by validated performance metrics.

Content Validity of a High-Fidelity Surgical Middle Ear Simulator: A Randomized Prospective International Multicenter Trial.

OBJECTIVE: After demonstration of face validity of a surgical middle ear simulator (SMS) previously, we assessed the content validity of the simulator with otolaryngology residents. STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter randomized prospective international study. SETTING: Four academic institutions. METHODS: Novice participants were randomized into control, low-fidelity (LF), and high-fidelity (HF) groups. Control and LF produced 2 recordings from 2 attempts, and HF produced 4 recordings from 10 attempts, with trials 1, 4, 7, and 10 used for scoring. Three blinded experts graded videos of the simulated stapedectomy operation using an objective skills assessment test format consisting of global and stapedotomy-specific scales. RESULTS: A total of 152 recordings from 61 participants were included. Baseline characteristics did not differ significantly between groups. Depending on the step of the operation, inter-rater reliability ranged from 24 to 90%. For LF and HF, years of training was significantly associated with improved scores in certain objective skills assessment test subparts. HF outperformed the control group on stapes and global scores ( p < 0.05). The HF group demonstrated improvement in global score over trials, but plateaued after four trials. Scores varied greatly for participants from different institutions in certain operative steps, such as transecting incudostapedial joints, likely due to differences in instrumentation and time elapsed since manufacture. CONCLUSION: Practice with SMS led to better performance in both global and stapes-specific scores. Further studies are needed to examine construct validity and to create otology-appropriate grading systems. Variables like instrumentation and decline in flexibility of the simulator after 12 months greatly affect performance on the simulator.

Remote Intraoperative Neural Response Telemetry: Technique and Results in Cochlear Implant Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Present results with remote intraoperative neural response telemetry (NRT) during cochlear implantation (CI) and its usefulness in overcoming the inefficiency of in person NRT. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Tertiary academic otology practice. PATIENTS: All patients undergoing primary or revision CI, both adult and pediatric, were enrolled. INTERVENTIONS: Remote intraoperative NRT performed by audiologists using a desktop computer to control a laptop in the operating room. Testing was performed over the hospital network using commercially available software. A single system was used to test all three FDA-approved manufacturers' devices. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Success rate and time savings of remote NRT. RESULTS: Out of 254 procedures, 252 (99.2%) underwent successful remote NRT. In two procedures (0.7%), remote testing was unsuccessful, and required in-person testing to address technical issues.Both failed attempts were due to hardware failure (OR laptop or headpiece problems). There was no relation between success of the procedure and patient/surgical factors such as difficult anatomy, or the approach used for inner ear access. The audiologist time saved using this approach was considerable when compared with in-person testing. CONCLUSIONS: Remote intraoperative NRT testing during cochlear implantation can be performed effectively using standard hardware and remote-control software. Especially important during the Covid-19 pandemic, such a procedure can reduce in-person contacts, and limit the number of individuals in the operating room. Remote testing can provide additional flexibility and efficiency in audiologist schedules.

Fully Automated Measurement of Cochlear Duct Length From Clinical Temporal Bone Computed Tomography.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To present and validate a novel fully automated method to measure cochlear dimensions, including cochlear duct length (CDL). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: The computational method combined 1) a deep learning (DL) algorithm to segment the cochlea and otic capsule and 2) geometric analysis to measure anti-modiolar distances from the round window to the apex. The algorithm was trained using 165 manually segmented clinical computed tomography (CT). A Testing group of 159 CTs were then measured for cochlear diameter and width (A- and B-values) and CDL using the automated system and compared against manual measurements. The results were also compared with existing approaches and historical data. In addition, pre- and post-implantation scans from 27 cochlear implant recipients were studied to compare predicted versus actual array insertion depth. RESULTS: Measurements were successfully obtained in 98.1% of scans. The mean CDL to 900° was 35.52 mm (SD, 2.06; range, [30.91-40.50]), the mean A-value was 8.88 mm (0.47; [7.67-10.49]), and mean B-value was 6.38 mm (0.42; [5.16-7.38]). The R2 fit of the automated to manual measurements was 0.87 for A-value, 0.70 for B-value, and 0.71 for CDL. For anti-modiolar arrays, the distance between the imaged and predicted array tip location was 0.57 mm (1.25; [0.13-5.28]). CONCLUSION: Our method provides a fully automated means of cochlear analysis from clinical CTs. The distribution of CDL, dimensions, and cochlear quadrant lengths is similar to those from historical data. This approach requires no radiographic experience and is free from user-related variation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 132:449-458, 2022.

Influence of electrode to cochlear duct length ratio on post-operative speech understanding outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the pre-operative electrode to cochlear duct length ratio (ECDLR), is associated with post-operative speech recognition outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective chart review study. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: The study included sixty-one adult CI recipients with a pre-operative computed tomography scan and a speech recognition test 12 months after implantation. INTERVENTIONS: The average of two raters' cochlear duct length (CDL) measurements and the length of the recipient's cochlear implant electrode array formed the basis for the electrode-to-cochlear duct length ratio (ECLDR). Speech recognition tests were compared as a function of ECDLR and electrode array length itself. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The relationship between ECDLR and percent correct on speech recognition tests. RESULTS: A second order polynomial regression relating ECDLR to percent correct on the CNC words speech recognition test was statistically significant, as was a fourth order polynomial regression for the AzBio Quiet test. In contrast, there was no statistically significant relationship between speech recognition scores and electrode array length. CONCLUSIONS: ECDLR values can be statistically associated to speech-recognition outcomes. However, these ECDLR values cannot be predicted by the electrode length alone, and must include a measure of CDL.