Association of Subjective Hearing Loss and Apolipoprotein E ε4 Allele on Alzheimer's Disease Neurodegeneration.

OBJECTIVE: Hearing loss (HL) and apolipoprotein E ε4 (ApoE4) allele are both dementia risk factors. No research has investigated the association of these variables regarding dementia, specifically Alzheimer's disease. Our goal was to evaluate HL and ApoE4 allele positivity toward degree of Alzheimer's neurodegeneration. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Academic. PATIENTS: Alzheimer's neuropathology obtained from brain tissue databank. Documented demographics, subjective hearing status, cognition, and ApoE4. Subjects divided into four groups based on hearing status and ApoE4 positivity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in cognition (clinical dementia rating, mini mental state examination (MMSE), geriatric depression score) and Alzheimer's neuropathology staging (Braak, CERAD) between groups. RESULTS: Two-hundred and fifty-nine subjects. No significant difference between groups, with regard to hearing status or ApoE4 positivity, in premorbid cognition, including scores for clinical dementia rating and MMSE (p = 0.2332). HL subjects had less severe neuropathology, as compared with normal hearing subjects. For example, high grade Braak stage was present in 27.1 and 51.0% of HL and normal hearing subjects, respectively (p = 0.0263). This finding was in context of equivocal clinical cognition between groups. ApoE4+ individuals had more severe neurodegeneration; for example, 65.7 and 33.5% with high grade Braak stage for ApoE4+ and ApoE4- subjects, respectively (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Subjective HL subjects had less severe neuropathology with no difference in cognition, suggesting an additive effect of HL to cognitive burden of Alzheimer's neuropathology. HL appeared to increase cognitive burden, but wasn't manifested by greater neurodegeneration. This is clinically relevant in that treating HL could slow Alzheimer's disease progression.

Middle Cranial Fossa Encephalocele and Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage: Etiology, Approach, Outcomes.

Objective To compare outcome data for surgical approaches in the management of a middle cranial fossa encephalocele or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and, secondarily, to evaluate the role of obesity and the etiology of the defect. Design Retrospective Setting Quaternary referral center Participants The study included 73 patients who underwent surgical repair of middle cranial fossa tegmen defects, two of which underwent bilateral repair. Outcome Measures Demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, etiology, imaging, audiometry, surgical findings, method and material for repair, and postoperative course. Results Fifty cases were spontaneous in origin, 2 were iatrogenic, and 23 were because of chronic otitis media. Of the 50, 18 underwent middle fossa craniotomy, 29 underwent a transmastoid approach, and 28 underwent a combined approach for repair. A postoperative CSF leak was seen in five patients: one who had undergone a transmastoid approach and four after a combined approach. There was no significant difference between the three approaches and risk of postoperative CSF fistulae. Two of the CSF fistulae resolved after a lumbar drain, and the remaining three patients required revision surgery. Conclusions Middle cranial fossa tegmen defects are most commonly seen in obese females and are spontaneous in origin. The most common location was the tegmen mastoideum, and these defects were most commonly repaired through the transmastoid approach, with no greater risk of recurrence.

Trends in Opioid Usage Following Tympanoplasty and Mastoidectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate opioid prescribing patterns following tympanoplasty/mastoidectomy and assess factors associated to recurrent opioid use. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: National pharmaceutical database recording opioid fulfillment (Truven Health Marketscan Commercial Claims/Encounters and Medicare Claims/Encounters database). PARTICIPANTS: Patients who 1) underwent tympanoplasty and/or mastoidectomy, 2) filled postoperative opioid prescriptions between 2011 and 2016, and 3) had no opioid prescriptions filled 60 days before surgery. Cohort 1 filled only one prescription and cohort 2 filled more than one prescription in the 12 months following surgery. Univariate/multivariate analysis was performed to assess for associations with recurrent opioid use. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Opioid prescription details and recurrent opioid use. RESULTS: The study included 398 patients (cohort 1 = 233, cohort 2 [recurrent opioid user] = 165). Hydrocodone 5 mg was most frequently used. The average duration opioids were prescribed was 5.8 days with an average quantity of tablets of 36.51. Recurrent opioid use in cohort 2 was associated with total morphine milligram equivalents prescribed/d in the first postoperative week (odds ratio [OR] = 1.02, p < 0.001), post-op chronic pain disorder (OR = 2.00, p = 0.04), post-op substance abuse (OR = 2.12, p = 0.05), and post-op anxiety (OR = 1.96, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Recurrent opioid use following tympanoplasty/mastoidectomy is associated with the amount prescribed per day but not opioid type or duration of treatment. Postoperative diagnoses such as chronic pain disorder, substance abuse, or anxiety could be predictive of or coexistent with recurrent opioid use. Limiting opioids prescribed per day and use of anti-inflammatory medications could decrease the risk of recurrent opioid use.

Opioid Prescribing Patterns and Usage Following Cochlear Implantation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate opioid prescribing patterns following cochlear implantation (CI) and assess factors associated with recurrent opioid use. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: National pharmaceutical database recording opioid fulfillment (Truven Health Marketscan Commercial Claims and Encounters and Medicare Claims and Encounters database) PARTICIPANTS:: CI recipients who filled opioid prescriptions between January 2011 and December 2016. All patients had no previous opioid prescriptions filled 60 days before implantation and filled at least one opioid prescription within 1 week after surgery. Cohort 1 filled only one prescription and cohort 2 filled more than one prescription in the 12 months following CI. Univariate/multivariate analysis was performed to assess for associations with recurrent opioid use. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Opioid prescription details and recurrent opioid use. RESULTS: The study included 98 patients (cohort 1 = 57, cohort 2 (recurrent opioid use) = 41). Hydrocodone 5 mg was most frequently used. The average duration opioids were prescribed was 5.49 days with an average quantity of tablets of 36.1. Recurrent opioid use in cohort 2 was associated with both total morphine milligram equivalents (MME) prescribed/day in the first postoperative week (OR = 1.03, p = 0.01) and use of stronger MME opioids (OR = 7.20, p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Prescribing patterns following CI can influence recurrent opioid use in patients. Each additional tablet of hydrocodone 5 mg beyond 8 tablets/d or oxycodone 5 mg beyond 5.33 tablets/d, increases the likelihood of recurrent opioid use by 15 or 22.5%, respectively. Limiting opioids prescribed per day to no more than 40 MME could lower the likelihood of patients becoming recurrent opioid users postoperatively.

Neuropathological Findings of Dementia Associated With Subjective Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between hearing loss and cognitive decline is of great importance with growing evidence of hearing loss as an independent modifiable risk factor for dementia. Our goal was to evaluate for differences in dementia neuropathology between subjective normal hearing and hearing loss subjects, as well as subjects who wore hearing aids. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective database. SETTING: Tertiary academic center. PATIENTS: Brain tissue analyzed from our Center on Aging. Demographics, subjective hearing status, hearing aid use, cognitive status, and dementia neuropathology documented. INTERVENTIONS: Dementia neuropathology analyzed in brains of normal hearing and hearing loss subjects. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in dementia neuropathology between hearing groups. Groups were compared using logistic regression and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). RESULTS: Two-hundred and seventy-three subjects were included, 189 normal hearing and 84 subjective hearing loss subjects. No significant difference demonstrated in Alzheimer's disease neuropathology (p > 0.05) or pathologic stage (p = 0.2471). No significant difference observed in neuropathology of other major dementia types, specifically, presence of Lewy bodies (p > 0.05), Lewy body disease pathologic stage (p = 0.9778), or presence of micro-infarcts, macro-infarcts, or arteriosclerosis (p > 0.05). Hearing aid-wearing subjects had a lower prevalence of clinical dementia (39.1% versus 57.9%; p = 0.0208) with no significant difference in dementia neuropathology (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Subjective hearing loss was not found to be associated with significantly different dementia neuropathology, which counters hypotheses on hearing loss causing permanent neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Hearing aid users were found to have a lower prevalence of dementia for similar levels of neurodegeneration, suggesting a potential neuroprotective effect of hearing aids.

Audiology Telemedicine Evaluations: Potential Expanded Applications.

There is underutilization of cochlear implants with delays in implantation linked to distance from implant centers. Telemedicine could connect cochlear implant specialists with patients in rural locations. We piloted telemedicine cochlear implant testing in a small study, largely composed of normal-hearing volunteers to trial this new application of teleaudiology technology. Thirteen subjects (8 with normal hearing and 5 with hearing loss ranging from mild to profound) underwent a traditional cochlear implant evaluation in person and then via telemedicine technology. Routine audiometry, word recognition testing, and Arizona Biological Test (AzBio) and consonant-nucleus-consonant (CNC) testing were performed. Mean (SD) percent difference in AzBio between in-person and remote testing was 1.7% (2.06%). Pure tone average (PTA), speech reception threshold (SRT), and word recognition were similar between methods. CNC testing showed a mean (SD) difference of 6.8% (10.2%) between methods. Testing conditions were acceptable to audiologists and subjects. Further study to validate this method in cochlear implant candidates and a larger population is warranted.

Disparities in access to pediatric hearing health care.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: There are significant disparities in care facing children with hearing loss. The objective of this review is to assess the current disparities in pediatric hearing healthcare delivery, describe the barriers of efficient and effective pediatric hearing health care, and explore the innovations to improve pediatric hearing healthcare delivery. RECENT FINDINGS: Children with hearing loss from certain geographic regions or ethnic background are significantly delayed in diagnosis and treatment. Multiple patient characteristics (presentation of hearing loss), parental factors (insurance status, socioeconomic status, educational status, and travel distance to providers), and provider barriers (specialist shortage and primary care provider challenges) prevent the delivery of timely hearing health care. Advances, such as improved screening programs and the expansion of care through remote services, may help to ameliorate these disparities. SUMMARY: Timely identification and treatment of pediatric hearing loss is critical to prevent lifelong language complications. Children from vulnerable populations, such as rural residents, face significant disparities in care. Careful assessment of these barriers and implementation of culturally acceptable interventions are paramount to maximize communication outcomes of children with hearing loss.

Facial Nerve Schwannomas Mimicking as Vestibular Schwannomas.

Objective The objective of this study was to identify preoperative and intraoperative findings that may aid in distinguishing facial nerve schwannomas (FNS) from vestibular schwannomas (VSs), particularly in cases limited to the internal auditory canal (IAC) and cerebellopontine angle (CPA). Study Design This was a retrospective study. Setting This study was set at a Tertiary Referral Center. Patients Seventeen cases from October 2002 to July 2015 with an IAC/CPA mass presumed to be a VS who were found to have a FNS intraoperatively. Main Outcome Measures The main outcome measures included preoperative presentation, intraoperative findings, and subsequent intervention. Results Preoperative hearing loss and imbalance were seen in 70.5 and 64.7%, respectively. Suspicious intraoperative findings included: facial nerve incorporated intimately with the tumor capsule in 12 cases; spontaneous action potentials noted while drilling the bony IAC in 3 cases; and action potentials noted on stimulation of the entire tumor capsule in 10 cases. The mean long-term facial function was House-Brackmann grade II and the mean length of follow-up was 4.86 years. Conclusion FNSs are rare and may be difficult to distinguish from VS preoperatively. Surgical findings that should raise concern include spontaneous action potentials during drilling the bony IAC, absence of a plane of dissection between the facial nerve and tumor, or stimulation of the tumor capsule.