[AUDITORY OUTCOMES OF COCHLEAR IMPLANTATION IN MENIERE'S DISEASE].

BACKGROUND: Cochlear implants are valuable in the auditory rehabilitation of patients with severe to profound hearing loss. However, there is limited data on the outcomes of cochlear implantation in patients with Meniere's disease (MD). OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aim to evaluate the auditory outcomes of cochlear implantation in patients with MD. METHODS: A retrospective case series of patients with MD and severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), who underwent cochlear implantation at a tertiary academic center between 2006-2017. Patient's clinical characteristics and audiometric data were reviewed. RESULTS: The study included 20 ears in 19 patients with MD who underwent cochlear implantation with available pre- and postoperative audiometric data. There were 10 males and 9 females with a mean age of 63 years and a mean follow-up duration of 70.8 months. Pre- and post-implant CNC word recognition scores were 18.31% and 66.89%, respectively (p<0.001). Pre- and post-implant AzBio and/or HINT sentence recognition scores were 12.25% and 68.28% in quiet, respectively (p<0.001), and 18.25% and 63.43% in noise, respectively (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cochlear implantation resulted in an improvement of word and sentence recognition scores in MD patients. These results support the role of cochlear implants in the auditory rehabilitation of MD. DISCUSSION: Dr. Samy received research support from Cochlear Corporation.

Cochlear Fibrosis after Vestibular Schwannoma Resection via the Middle Cranial Fossa Approach.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of cochlear fibrosis after vestibular schwannoma (VS) resection via middle cranial fossa (MCF) approach. DESIGN: A retrospective case review was conducted. SETTING: The review was conducted in a tertiary care academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Patients who (1) underwent resection of VS via MCF approach between 2013 and 2018, (2) had complete pre- and post-audiometric testing, and (3) had clinical follow-up with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for at least 1 year after surgery were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The main outcome of this study was cochlear fibrosis as assessed by MRI 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients underwent VS resection via MCF technique during the study period. Of 31 patients with AAO-HNS class A or B preoperative hearing ability, 18 (58.0%) maintained class A, B, or C hearing postoperatively. Of 16 patients who lost hearing and had MRI 1 year after surgery, 11 (61.1%) had MRI evidence of fibrosis in at least some portion of the labyrinth and 4 (22.2%) showed evidence of cochlear fibrosis. Of 16 patients with preserved hearing and MRI 1 year after surgery, 4 (25%) had fibrosis in some portion of the labyrinth, with no fibrosis in the cochlea. CONCLUSIONS: In patients who lose hearing during VS resection with the MCF approach, there is usually MRI evidence of fibrosis in the labyrinth 1 year after surgery. However, there is also, but less commonly, fibrosis involving the cochlea. It is unclear if this will affect the ability to insert a cochlear implant electrode array.

Spectrum of genes for inherited hearing loss in the Israeli Jewish population, including the novel human deafness gene ATOH1.

Mutations in more than 150 genes are responsible for inherited hearing loss, with thousands of different, severe causal alleles that vary among populations. The Israeli Jewish population includes communities of diverse geographic origins, revealing a wide range of deafness-associated variants and enabling clinical characterization of the associated phenotypes. Our goal was to identify the genetic causes of inherited hearing loss in this population, and to determine relationships among genotype, phenotype, and ethnicity. Genomic DNA samples from informative relatives of 88 multiplex families, all of self-identified Jewish ancestry, with either non-syndromic or syndromic hearing loss, were sequenced for known and candidate deafness genes using the HEar-Seq gene panel. The genetic causes of hearing loss were identified for 60% of the families. One gene was encountered for the first time in human hearing loss: ATOH1 (Atonal), a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor responsible for autosomal dominant progressive hearing loss in a five-generation family. Our results show that genomic sequencing with a gene panel dedicated to hearing loss is effective for genetic diagnoses in a diverse population. Comprehensive sequencing enables well-informed genetic counseling and clinical management by medical geneticists, otolaryngologists, audiologists, and speech therapists and can be integrated into newborn screening for deafness.

Correlation Between the Sleep-Position Habits and the Affected Posterior Semicircular Canal in Patients with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

BACKGROUND: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo. It is assumed that sleep is involved in the pathogenesis of BPPV, and that habitual head-lying side during sleep correlates with the affected side in the posterior semicircular canal BPPV. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between the preferred sleeping position and the affected semicircular canal in patients with BPPV. METHODS: We performed a retrospective data review of patients seeking help for vertigo/dizziness who had undergone clinical evaluation including a Dix-Hallpike test. Patients diagnosed with posterior canal BPPV (p-BPPV) were asked to define their preferred lying side (right, left, supine, or variable) during the night sleep. Affected semicircular canal (right posterior or left posterior) was registered along with demographic data. RESULTS: In all, 237 patients were diagnosed with p-BPPV. Patients with horizontal semicircular canal BPPV (n=11) were excluded. Patient mean age was 57 years (range 14-87). There were 150 patients with right p-BPPV and 87 patients with left p-BPPV. Among the patients, 122 (52%) habitually slept on the right side. Of those, 102 (84%) were diagnosed with right p-BPPV (P = 0.0006), while 82 patients (34%) habitually slept on the left side. Fifty-three (65%) were diagnosed with left p-BPPV (P < 0.0001). There were no differences in right vs. left p-BPPV in the 33 patients (14%) who expressed no preference concerning their sleeping positions. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the etiology of BPPV and showed that changing sleep position habits might be helpful in preventing recurrent BPPV.

The admission patterns of octogenerians nonagenerians and centenarians to the Department of Otoloaryngology.

Life expectancy in Israel has risen by almost 6 years during the last 25 years, and the proportion of people 65 years of age or older is expected to reach 12 % of the total population by 2020. A substantial increase in the workload for Otolaryngologists and Head and Neck surgeons is anticipated. Our goal was to characterize the admissions of patients 80 years of age and older to the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery in a tertiary medical center. The study group included all patients 80 years of age and older who were admitted to the Department of OTOHNS in our institute between 2009 and 2013. There were two control groups for comparison divided by age; one group 40-59 years old and the other group 60-79 years old. There were 385 admissions of 317 patients aged 80-103 years (4.2 % of overall admissions). Over the study period, admissions of patients over 80 years increased on average by 3 % per annum (p = 0.4), and those patients over 90 years old by 52 % per annum (p < 0.001). The most common indication was HN malignancy (28.8 %) followed by otologic disorders (22.0 %). Of the overall 158 operations conducted, 131 patients (82.9 %) underwent elective procedures (mainly oncology) and 27 patients (17.1 %) underwent emergent procedures. The distribution of the reasons for admission of the patients older than 80 years is surprisingly different from that of the "younger" patients. With life expectancy rising, our study predicts a workload increase mainly in the HN oncologic and otologic services.

Type I-II laryngeal cleft: clinical course and outcome.

BACKGROUND: Laryngeal cleft (LC) is a rare congenital anomaly manifesting in a variety of symptoms, including swallowing disorders and aspirations, dyspnea, stridor and hoarseness. The mild forms (types I-II) may be underdiagnosed, leading to protracted symptomatology and morbidity. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic process, clinical course, management and outcome in children with type I-II laryngeal clefts. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case analysis for the years 2005-2012 in a tertiary referral center. RESULTS: Seven children were reviewed: five boys and two girls ranging in age from birth to 5 years. The most common presenting symptoms were cough, aspirations and pneumonia. Evaluation procedures included fiber-optic laryngoscopy (FOL), direct laryngoscopy (DL) and videofluoroscopy. Other pathologies were seen in three children. Six children underwent successful endoscopic surgery and one child was treated conservatively. The postoperative clinical course was uneventful in most of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Types I-II LC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of children presenting with protracted cough and aspirations. DL is crucial for establishing the diagnosis. Endoscopic surgery is safe and should be applied promptly when conservative measures fail.

Efficacy of myringoplasty in older people.

The aim of current investigation was to analyze the efficacy of myringoplasty in an elderly population. The medical records of 12 males and 9 females, aged 65-90 years (mean 70.7 years), who underwent myringoplasty between 2007 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed for age, gender, co-morbidities, perforation size and location, pre- and postoperative pure tone averages of air/bone thresholds at 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000 Hz, graft material, postoperative complications and surgical outcome. The most frequent co-morbidities included hypertension (n = 8), hyperlipidemia (n = 7), diabetes mellitus (n = 5) and ischemic heart disease (n = 4). Fifteen patients had two or more co-morbidities. All surgeries were performed via a trans-canal approach. Seventeen patients had central perforations and four patients had marginal perforations. Temporalis fascia, perichondrium or chondro-perichondrial graft and fat were used as grafting material in 9, 11 and 1 patient, respectively. The post-operative complications were infection (n = 4) and tragal seroma (n = 1). Surgical outcome was successful in 16/21 patients with graft take rates of 89, 72 and 0% for temporalis fascia, perichondrium/cartilage, and fat, respectively. Pre-operative audiometric data were available for all 21 patients; however, the post-operative data were available for only 15 of them. Myringoplasty in older people was a safe procedure with a 76.2% surgical success rate in the current study. The choice of graft material, perforation size, gender and associated co-morbidities had no significant effect on achieving an intact tympanic membrane and a dry ear. The audiometric results did not show significant changes following myringoplasty.

Does smoking influence the surgical outcome of a myringoplasty?

AIM: To investigate the relationship between a patient's smoking habits and surgical outcome of his/her myringoplasty. METHOD: The medical records of patients who had undergone myringoplasty were retrospectively reviewed for age, gender, smoking habits, perforation size, perforation location, surgical technique, graft material, and surgical outcome. Surgical success was defined as the perforation having remained closed 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The study group included 65 patients (41 females and 24 males, age range 18-79, average 35.9 years). Eight females were smokers (19.5%) compared to 10 male smokers (41.7%, p = 0.054). The overall surgical success rate was 63/65 (96.9%) with the 2 failures occurring in nonsmoker females. The graft taken was temporalis fascia in 20/21 (95.2%) and tragal perichondrium in 43/44 (97.7%) cases (p = 0.587). There was no significant gender-based (39/41 vs. 24/24, p = 0.272) or smoker status-based (45/47 for nonsmokers vs. 18/18 for smokers, p = 0.374) success rate. There was no significant difference in fascia versus perichondrium grafting success for smokers (p = 0.421) versus nonsmokers (p = 0.583). CONCLUSION: Primary myringoplasty performed by an experienced otologist had a surgical success rate of 96.9% for closure of tympanic membrane defects, regardless of the choice of graft material, perforation size or location, and patient's age, gender and smoking habits.

Use of the vessel sealing system in tracheostomy.

BACKGROUND: Tracheostomy is a frequent, and at times semiurgent, surgical procedure. It is performed in close proximity to the thyroid gland, and in many cases requires division of its isthmus, putting a patient in danger of significant bleeding. OBJECTIVES: To examine prospectively the feasibility of vessel sealing in tracheostomy. METHODS: A vessel-seating device was used in 24 consecutive patients undergoing tracheostomy. There were no exclusion criteria for enrolling the patients. No other hemostatic technique was used for dividing the isthmus. RESULTS: There were no bleeding events throughout the postoperative period. The operating time saving was 5-10 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the vessel sealer was found to be straightforward, efficacious, rapid and safe.

Early death from papillary thyroid carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The natural history of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is characterized by a slow growth rate and an excellent prognosis at 20 and 30 years. However, there is a small subset of patients with poorer outcome. METHODS: Twenty patients who died of PTC within 10 years of diagnosis were studied to identify prognostic indicators and biological markers of early death. Findings were statistically compared with a previous review of all patients with PTC treated in the same institute and studies in the literature. RESULTS: The study group included 6 men and 14 women with a mean age of 65 years at diagnosis. Average tumor size was 3.6 cm; 16 patients had extracapsular extension. All tumor samples studied histologically stained poorly for p53, Ki67, and CD34. Regional metastases were present in half the patients, and distal metastases in all. All patients had an advanced disease stage (Tumor, Node, Metastases classification), and only 4 had a low score on the Metastases, Age, Completeness of resection, local Invasion, tumor Size risk stratification. Analysis of the findings against data in the literature for the whole population of patients with PTC, who had a considerably better survival (<8% mortality within 8-15 years vs 100% within 10 years in our sample), yielded significant differences for rates of extrathyroidal extension (P = .0001), regional metastases (P = .016), and distant metastases (P = .0001). CONCLUSION: Extrathyroid extension, late regional metastases, and distant metastases may be risk factors for early death from PTC.

The Effect of Hearing Aids on Sound Localization in Mild Unilateral Conductive Hearing Loss.

BACKGROUND: Binaural hearing is of utmost importance for communicating in noisy surroundings and localizing the direction of sound. Unilateral hearing loss (UHL) affects the quality of life in both childhood and adulthood, speech development, and academic achievements. Sound amplification using air-conducting hearing aids (HAs) is a common option for hearing rehabilitation of UHL. The processing time of digital HAs can significantly delay the acoustic stimulation in 3 to 10 milliseconds, which is far longer than the maximal natural interaural time difference (ITD) of 750 microseconds. This can further impair spatial localization in these patients. PURPOSE: We sought to assess whether HA effects on ITD and interaural level difference (ILD) impair localization among subjects with unilateral conductive hearing loss (UCHL). RESEARCH DESIGN: "Normal"-hearing participants underwent localization testing in different free field settings. STUDY SAMPLE: Ten volunteers with "normal"-hearing thresholds participated. INTERVENTION: Repeated assessments were compared between "normal" (binaural) hearing, UCHL induced by insertion of an inactivated HA to the ear canal (conductive HL), and amplification with a HA. RESULTS: In UCHL mode, with HA switched-off, localization was significantly impaired compared to "normal" hearing (NH; η2 = 0.151). Localization error was more pronounced when sound was presented from the front and from the side of the occluded ear. When switched-on, amplification with HAs significantly improved localization for all participants compared to UCHL. Better localization with HAs was seen in high frequencies compared to low frequencies (η2 = 0.08, 0.03). Even with HAs, localization did not reach that of NH (η2 = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Mild UCHL caused localization to deteriorate. HAs significantly improved sound localization, albeit the delay caused by the device processing time. Most of the improvements were seen in high-frequency sounds, representing a beneficial effect of amplification on ILD. Our results have potential clinical value in situations of mild CHL, for instance, otitis media with effusion.

Predictive Effect of Bone Conduction Pattern on Hearing Outcomes of Stapes Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Examine the effect of preoperative bone conduction pattern on outcomes of stapedotomy/stapedectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Tertiary-care academic medical center. PATIENTS: Patients who underwent stapedotomy or stapedectomy from 2013 to 2019. INTERVENTIONS: Primary small-fenestra stapedotomy or partial stapedectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Association between preoperative bone conduction patterns and hearing after stapes surgery. RESULTS: Complete audiometric data were available for 137 patients who had surgery. The mean preoperative air-bone gap (ABG) was 26.8 dBHL. The ABG was closed to less than 20 and 10 dBHL in 88.7 and 65.2% of patients, respectively. A notch at 2000 Hz was present in 32.1% of operated ears and was rarely found at other frequencies. There was no statistically significant association between the presence of a notch and hearing outcomes. The slope of the bone conduction line had no association with hearing outcomes, though an increased bone conduction PTA compared with the contralateral ear was associated with ABG closure less than 10 dBHL and overclosure (odds ratio: 2.14, p = 0.027 and odds ratio: 2.20, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: In properly selected otosclerosis patients, depressions in bone conduction other than near 2000 Hz are rare and hearing outcomes are generally favorable regardless of the preoperative bone conduction pattern. Despite the association with otosclerosis, the presence of a notch at 2000 Hz is not associated with better hearing outcomes with surgery.

Multi-Disciplinary Skull Base Conference and its Effects on Patient Management.

OBJECTIVE: Examine the effects of a multi-disciplinary skull base conference (MDSBC) on the management of patients seen for skull base pathology in a neurotology clinic. METHODS: Retrospective case review of patients who were seen in a neurotology clinic at a tertiary academic medical center for pathology of the lateral skull base and were discussed at an MDSBC between July 2019 and February 2020. Patient characteristics, nature of the skull base pathology, and pre- and post-MDSBC plan of care was categorized. RESULTS: A total of 82 patients with pathology of the lateral skull base were discussed at a MDSBC during an 8-month study period. About 54 (65.9%) had a mass in the internal auditory canal and/or cerebellopontine angle while 28 (34.1%) had other pathology of the lateral skull base. Forty-nine (59.8%) were new patients and 33 (40.2%) were established. The management plan changed in 11 (13.4%, 7.4-22.6 95% CI) patients as a result of the skull base conference discussion. The planned management changed from some form of treatment to observation in 4 patients, and changed from observation to some form of treatment in 4 patients. For 3 patients who underwent surgery, the planned approach was altered. CONCLUSIONS: For a significant proportion of patients with pathology of the lateral skull base, the management plan changed as a result of discussion at an MDSBC. Although participants of a MDSBC would agree of its importance, it is unclear how an MDSBC affects patient outcomes.

Extended Middle Cranial Fossa Approach for Placement of Auditory Brainstem Implants.

OBJECTIVE: Traditionally, auditory brainstem implants (ABIs) have been placed via the translabyrinthine or retrosigmoid approaches. In select patients, a modified extended middle cranial fossa (xMCF) approach with tentorial ligation may be advantageous for vestibular schwannoma (VS) resection and auditory rehabilitation. This manuscript describes the application of this modification of the MCF approach for simultaneous VS resection and ABI placement. PATIENTS: Patients with neurofibromatosis type 2, profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, single functioning sigmoid/jugular venous system, and giant (>4 cm) VS. INTERVENTIONS: Simultaneous VS resection and ABI placement via a modified xMCF approach with tentorial ligation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Extent of tumor removal and brainstem decompression, access to lateral recess of the fourth ventricle, functional hearing improvement, surgical complications. RESULTS: Two patients met indications and underwent surgery. There were no immediate or delayed surgical complications. Both had subtotal tumor removal with significant decompression of the brainstem and ABI placement. One patient achieved voice and environmental sound awareness at 35 to 55 dbHL across frequencies. The second patient presented with failure to thrive and multiple lower cranial neuropathies in addition to the above-listed indications. She was hospitalized multiple times after surgery due to failure to thrive and recurrent aspiration pneumonia. Her device was never activated, and she expired 1 year after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The xMCF with tentorial ligation is an additional approach for tumor resection and ABI placement in selected patients with neurofibromatosis type 2. Future studies will further define when this approach is most applicable as well as the challenges and pitfalls.

Middle Cranial Fossa Approach to Vestibular Schwannoma Resection in the Older Patient Population.

OBJECTIVE: Compare outcomes of middle cranial fossa approach (MCF) to vestibular schwannoma (VS) resection in patients 60 years of age and older to patients under 60. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Charts of 216 consecutive VS patients over 18 years of age were reviewed to identify 67 patients who underwent MCF approach to VS resection between 2006 and 2017. INTERVENTION(S): Age at time of surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Measured outcomes included postoperative hearing results, facial nerve function, length of hospital stay, wound complications, cerebrospinal fluid leak, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, seizure, deep vein thrombosis, 30-day readmission, and return to operating room. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients underwent VS resection via MCF approach including 16 patients > = 60 years (mean 64.4 SD 3.3) and 51 patients < 60 years (mean 45.7 SD 10.2). Between these two groups, there were no differences in sex, tumor laterality, tumor size (10.4 mm versus 9.8 mm, p = 0.6), or other demographic characteristics. Postoperatively, there were no differences between groups in complication rates. Rates of HB 1 or 2 facial nerve function were similar (93.8% versus 88.2%, p = 0.7) as were rates of maintenance of class A or B hearing (58.3% versus 44.4%, p = 0.7). CONCLUSIONS: Patients over 60 undergoing MCF for VS resection experienced similar rates of postoperative complications, facial nerve outcomes, and hearing preservation compared with younger patients. MCF for VS may be considered in the older population. Further research is warranted to evaluate appropriate limitations for this approach based on age.

Real-World Compliance With Follow-up in 2,554 Cochlear Implant Recipients: An Analysis of the HERMES Database.

BACKGROUND: Traditional paradigms of care recommend close audiology follow-up and regular speech perception outcomes assessment indefinitely for cochlear implant (CI) recipients after device activation. However, there is scant published data on actual compliance with this paradigm in clinical practice. METHODS: A multi-center cochlear implant database was queried to identify follow-up rates after cochlear implantation. Follow-up rates where speech perception outcomes assessment occurred at 1-, 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-months post-activation were determined by tabulating observed follow-up divided by expected follow-up (O/E ratio) expressed as a percentage. To determine all-cause audiology follow-up rates (with or without testing speech perception outcomes assessment), the database patients from two participating centers (one private practice and one academic center) were similarly analyzed using electronic health record (EHR) data to calculate O/E rates where audiology follow-up occurred for any reason. RESULTS: O/E follow-up rates where speech perception outcomes assessment occurred was 42, 40, 31, 29, 5, and 22% for 1-, 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-months post-activation, respectively (n = 2,554). All-cause audiology follow-up rates (with or without speech perception outcomes assessment) using EHR-confirmed data from two individual centers were 97, 94, 81, 66, 41, and 35% at 1-, 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-months post-activation visits, respectively (n = 118). CONCLUSIONS: Compliance with audiology follow-up and speech perception outcomes assessment is generally low and decreases significantly as time post-activation increases. Future paradigms of care for CI should be designed recognizing the significant attrition that occurs with CI follow-up.

Imaging findings in pediatric single-sided deafness and asymmetric hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the imaging findings on computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in pediatric single-sided deafness (SSD) and asymmetric hearing loss (ASH). METHODS: The medical records of 189 pediatric patients with SSD and ASH were retrospectively reviewed, and imaging findings were compared. SSD was defined as unilateral profound hearing loss and contralateral normal hearing ear. In the ASH group, ASHw was defined as the worse hearing ear with profound hearing loss, while ASHb was defined as the better hearing ear with mild-moderate hearing loss. RESULTS: There were 170 patients with SSD and 19 patients with ASH. In the SSD group, 83 patients (48.8%) had imaging findings associated with hearing loss. In the ASH group, such imaging findings were found in six (31.6%) of the ASHw and in five (26.3%) of the ASHb ears. The most common finding in the SSD group was cochlear nerve deficiency (50.6%), followed by cochlear dysplasia (39.8%) and enlarged vestibular aqueduct (26.5%). In the ASH groups, cochlear dysplasia was seen in three (50%) of ASHw ears and in two (40%) of the ASHb ears, and enlarged vestibular aqueduct was seen in three (50%) of ASHw ears and in two (40%) of the ASHb ears. CONCLUSION: Imaging studies identified the etiology in half of the cases of SSD and in one-third of ASH patients. Our findings strongly support the use of imaging studies in the evaluation of pediatric SSD and ASH. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 130:1007-1010, 2020.

Socioeconomic Disparities in Pediatric Single-Sided Deafness.

OBJECTIVE: To explore socioeconomic disparities in pediatric single-sided deafness (SSD) treatment. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Tertiary referral academic center. METHODS: The charts of 190 pediatric patients with SSD were reviewed for demographic and clinical characteristics. Socioeconomic variables included race and insurance status. ZIP codes were used to obtain additional socioeconomic data from the American Community Survey, including mean and median income, percentage of families below the poverty level, and employment status. Socioeconomic status (SES) was classified by insurance status and income. Treatment outcomes were analyzed by socioeconomic variables. RESULTS: There were 105 males and 85 females with a mean follow-up of 55.2 months and a mean age at diagnosis of 4.4 years. Sixty-three percent of children received treatment at last follow-up. Thirty-five percent of children had public insurance and 65% had private insurance. Treatment rates were similar in the private and public insurance groups (60.6% vs 66.7%, P = .42), but device type was different between groups (P = .02). Consistent device use was associated with private insurance (47.5% vs 38.9%, P = .003) and high SES (94.4% vs 80%, P = .04) on univariate but not on multivariate analysis. Aided audiometry results were similar between SES groups. No association was found between sex, race, income level, poverty level, or employment status and treatment outcomes. CONCLUSION: Insurance type and SES were not associated with SSD treatment outcomes in children, although device use may be higher in children with private insurance and higher SES. Further research should focus on strategies to reduce barriers to treatment and improve adherence.

Hemifacial Spasm as a Rare Clinical Presentation of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: Case Report and Literature Review.

OBJECTIVES: To report a rare case of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) presenting with hemifacial spasm (HFS) and review the current literature. METHODS: Case report and literature review. The patient's medical record was reviewed for demographic and clinical data. For literature review, all case reports or other publications published in English literature were identified using PUBMED. RESULTS: A 43-year-old obese female presented with a 2-year history of left HFS.Electroencephalography and head computed tomography were unremarkable. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated bilateral anterior inferior cerebellar artery vascular loops involving the internal auditory canals as well as IIH-associated findings. A lumbar puncture was performed and revealed an elevated opening pressure of 26 cm H20 cerebrospinal fluid. Acetazolamide treatment was then initiated, resulting in complete resolution of the HFS. CONCLUSION: HFS may be a rare presenting manifestation of IIH, and treatment of IIH may result in improvement of HFS symptoms. This is the first report of IIH presenting with HFS in the absence of headache or visual change. As a result, this is the first report of HFS as a presenting manifestation of IIH in Otolaryngology literature.

Oncolytic virotherapy: a potential therapeutic approach for cholesteatoma.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the principles of oncolytic virotherapy and summarize the recent preliminary evidence on the efficacy of oncolytic virotherapy for cholesteatoma (CHST) treatment in vitro in human CHST cells and in a gerbil CHST model. RECENT FINDINGS: The use of oncolytic virotherapy for nonmalignant lesions is innovative. In-vitro results showed that oncolytic herpes simplex virus 1 (oHSV) selectively targets and kills CHST cells. In a gerbil model of CHST, local oHSV injections were associated with a decrease in CHST volume and modulation of bony changes. SUMMARY: Surgical treatment options for CHST are limited by high morbidity and recidivism, emphasizing the need for developing treatment alternatives. Preliminary results support the potential therapeutic effect of oncolytic virotherapy on CHST, yet further research is needed to evaluate this novel approach.