Spectral resolution and speech perception after cochlear implantation using the round window versus cochleostomy technique.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the spectral resolution achieved with a cochlear implant in users who were implanted using round window route electrode insertion versus a traditional cochleostomy technique. METHODS: Twenty-six patients were classified into two groups according to the surgical approach: one group (n = 13) underwent cochlear implantation via the round window technique and the other group (n = 13) underwent surgery via cochleostomy. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was found in spectral ripple discrimination scores between the round window and cochleostomy groups. The round window group performed almost two times better than the cochleostomy group. Differences between Turkish matrix sentence test scores were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The spectral ripple discrimination scores of patients who had undergone round window cochlear implant electrode insertion were superior to those of patients whose cochlear implants were inserted using a classical cochleostomy technique.

[Publication rates of audiology master and doctoral theses in peer-reviewed journals]. / Odyoloji alaninda yapilan yüksek lisans ve doktora tezlerinin bilimsel dergilerde yayinlanma oranlari.

OBJECTIVES: Theses are the prime indicators of the scientific productivity of a country and one of the main and strongest resources for the emergence of scientific articles. This study aims to examine, by using the survey method, how many of the audiology master and/or doctoral theses in Turkey were turned into a scientific work. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Individuals who received a master's degree in audiology were surveyed whether their theses had been reviewed as a paper or publication. RESULTS: Forty-five of the 230 audiology specialists and 22 audiologists with a doctorate degree working in Turkey participated in the study by answering the survey questions. In general, while 45.4% of master theses were presented orally or as a poster presentation in a national convention, 20.4% were presented orally or as a poster presentation in an international convention. While 18.1% of theses were published as an article in a national journal, 15.9% were published as an article in an international SCI or SCI-E journal. The distribution of the doctoral theses is 26.6%, 33.3%, 13.3% and 26.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: We found the rate of theses in audiology turning into a scientific article to be below the desired level, as in other fields. The reasons for this should be emphasized and efforts should be made to raise these rates to the desired level.

Brainstem auditory evoked potentials and middle latency auditory evoked potentials in patients with impaired glucose tolerance.

AIMS: The aim was to investigate the effects of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) on the central nervous system via brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) and middle latency auditory evoked potentials (MLAEPs), and on the peripheral nervous system via nerve conduction studies (NCS). METHODS: Thirty patients with IGT and 20 control subjects underwent NCS, BAEPs and MLAEPs. RESULTS: Tibial distal motor latencies were significantly prolonged in the IGT group; no differences in other parameters, including BAEPs and MLAEPs, were observed between the IGT and control subjects. CONCLUSION: Brainstem involvement may not be seen in IGT patients as in DM. The was no obvious electrophysiological finding indicating peripheral nervous system disfunction in our patients.

500Hz logon versus click ABR maturation.

OBJECTIVES: To provide age-equivalent norms for a 500Hz logon evoked ABR obtained in a group of children ranging 40 weeks-4 years old and compare these 500Hz tonal norms to age-equivalent norms for click-evoked ABR. METHODS: Seventy-seven infants and children ranging from conceptional age of 40 weeks (term babies) to 4 years were tested with both click and tonal ABR without any risk factors for hearing loss. RESULTS: Data analyses were consisted of 6 age groups. Mean wave V latencies were compared with the adult norms. Latencies were decreased by age in both click and tonal ABR recordings. CONCLUSION: Five hundred Hertz of tonal ABR wave V latency did not mature until to 2-4 years old but, click ABR wave V latency reached maturity at the same age range.

Prognostic value of auditory brainstem response for neurologic outcome in patients with neonatal indirect hyperbilirubinemia.

To investigate the value of the auditory brainstem response as a reliable test for the neurologic prognosis of infants with neonatal indirect hyperbilirubinemia, auditory brainstem response studies were performed in 22 infants. The patients were followed up until 12 months of age. Two patients demonstrated pathologic auditory brainstem response consistent with auditory neuropathy but had no neurologic finding except a lack of speech at 12 months of age. Two other patients had neurologic sequelae, one showing severe dyskinetic cerebral palsy, the other mild hypotonia and motor retardation, but their auditory brainstem response results were normal. These results suggested that auditory brainstem response examination might not provide reliable information for the neurologic prognosis. Neurologic disturbances resulting from bilirubin neurotoxicity can be seen in patients with a normal auditory brainstem response, but patients with an abnormal auditory brainstem response may not have any neurologic dysfunction apart from speech retardation.

Effects of topical otic preparations on hearing in chronic otitis media.

Most of the topical otic preparations have been shown to cause ototoxicity. In this study ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, a relatively new topical agent, and gentamicin sulfate were studied in two groups of 20 patients with chronic otitis media. Patients were randomly selected to receive either ciprofloxacin (200 microg/ml) or gentamicin sulfate (5 mg/ml) locally, five drops three times a day for 10 days. Clinical response was seen in 20 of 20 patients in the ciprofloxacin group compared with 6 of 20 patients in the gentamicin group. Audiometric evaluation revealed no significant ototoxic effect in either group. In fact, hearing thresholds were slightly better than pretreatment levels in both groups.