Clinical Practice Guideline: Age-Related Hearing Loss Executive Summary.

OBJECTIVE: Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a prevalent but often underdiagnosed and undertreated condition among individuals aged 50 and above. It is associated with various sociodemographic factors and health risks including dementia, depression, cardiovascular disease, and falls. While the causes of ARHL and its downstream effects are well defined, there is a lack of priority placed by clinicians as well as guidance regarding the identification, education, and management of this condition. PURPOSE: The purpose of this clinical practice guideline is to identify quality improvement opportunities and provide clinicians trustworthy, evidence-based recommendations regarding the identification and management of ARHL. These opportunities are communicated through clear actionable statements with an explanation of the support in the literature, the evaluation of the quality of the evidence, and recommendations on implementation. The target patients for the guideline are any individuals aged 50 years and older. The target audience is all clinicians in all care settings. This guideline is intended to focus on evidence-based quality improvement opportunities judged most important by the Guideline Development Group (GDG). It is not intended to be a comprehensive, general guide regarding the management of ARHL. The statements in this guideline are not intended to limit or restrict care provided by clinicians based on their experience and assessment of individual patients. ACTION STATEMENTS: The GDG made strong recommendations for the following key action statements (KASs): (KAS 4) If screening suggests hearing loss, clinicians should obtain or refer to a clinician who can obtain an audiogram. (KAS 8) Clinicians should offer, or refer to a clinician who can offer, appropriately fit amplification to patients with ARHL. (KAS 9) Clinicians should refer patients for an evaluation of cochlear implantation candidacy when patients have appropriately fit amplification and persistent hearing difficulty with poor speech understanding. The GDG made recommendations for the following KASs: (KAS 1) Clinicians should screen patients aged 50 years and older for hearing loss at the time of a health care encounter. (KAS 2) If screening suggests hearing loss, clinicians should examine the ear canal and tympanic membrane with otoscopy or refer to a clinician who can examine the ears for cerumen impaction, infection, or other abnormalities. (KAS 3) If screening suggests hearing loss, clinicians should identify sociodemographic factors and patient preferences that influence access to and utilization of hearing health care. (KAS 5) Clinicians should evaluate and treat or refer to a clinician who can evaluate and treat patients with significant asymmetric hearing loss, conductive or mixed hearing loss, or poor word recognition on diagnostic testing. (KAS 6) Clinicians should educate and counsel patients with hearing loss and their family/care partner(s) about the impact of hearing loss on their communication, safety, function, cognition, and quality of life. (KAS 7) Clinicians should counsel patients with hearing loss on communication strategies and assistive listening devices. (KAS 10) For patients with hearing loss, clinicians should assess if communication goals have been met and if there has been improvement in hearing-related quality of life at a subsequent health care encounter or within 1 year. The GDG offered the following KAS as an option: (KAS 11) Clinicians should assess hearing at least every 3 years in patients with known hearing loss or with reported concern for changes in hearing.

Clinical Practice Guideline: Age-Related Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVE: Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a prevalent but often underdiagnosed and undertreated condition among individuals aged 50 and above. It is associated with various sociodemographic factors and health risks including dementia, depression, cardiovascular disease, and falls. While the causes of ARHL and its downstream effects are well defined, there is a lack of priority placed by clinicians as well as guidance regarding the identification, education, and management of this condition. PURPOSE: The purpose of this clinical practice guideline is to identify quality improvement opportunities and provide clinicians trustworthy, evidence-based recommendations regarding the identification and management of ARHL. These opportunities are communicated through clear actionable statements with explanation of the support in the literature, evaluation of the quality of the evidence, and recommendations on implementation. The target patients for the guideline are any individuals aged 50 years and older. The target audience is all clinicians in all care settings. This guideline is intended to focus on evidence-based quality improvement opportunities judged most important by the guideline development group (GDG). It is not intended to be a comprehensive, general guide regarding the management of ARHL. The statements in this guideline are not intended to limit or restrict care provided by clinicians based on their experience and assessment of individual patients. ACTION STATEMENTS: The GDG made strong recommendations for the following key action statements (KASs): (KAS 4) If screening suggests hearing loss, clinicians should obtain or refer to a clinician who can obtain an audiogram. (KAS 8) Clinicians should offer, or refer to a clinician who can offer, appropriately fit amplification to patients with ARHL. (KAS 9) Clinicians should refer patients for an evaluation of cochlear implantation candidacy when patients have appropriately fit amplification and persistent hearing difficulty with poor speech understanding. The GDG made recommendations for the following KASs: (KAS 1) Clinicians should screen patients aged 50 years and older for hearing loss at the time of a health care encounter. (KAS 2) If screening suggests hearing loss, clinicians should examine the ear canal and tympanic membrane with otoscopy or refer to a clinician who can examine the ears for cerumen impaction, infection, or other abnormalities. (KAS 3) If screening suggests hearing loss, clinicians should identify sociodemographic factors and patient preferences that influence access to and utilization of hearing health care. (KAS 5) Clinicians should evaluate and treat or refer to a clinician who can evaluate and treat patients with significant asymmetric hearing loss, conductive or mixed hearing loss, or poor word recognition on diagnostic testing. (KAS 6) Clinicians should educate and counsel patients with hearing loss and their family/care partner(s) about the impact of hearing loss on their communication, safety, function, cognition, and quality of life (QOL). (KAS 7) Clinicians should counsel patients with hearing loss on communication strategies and assistive listening devices. (KAS 10) For patients with hearing loss, clinicians should assess if communication goals have been met and if there has been improvement in hearing-related QOL at a subsequent health care encounter or within 1 year. The GDG offered the following KAS as an option: (KAS 11) Clinicians should assess hearing at least every 3 years in patients with known hearing loss or with reported concern for changes in hearing.

Skull Base Osteomyelitis: Historical Perspective, Diagnosis and Management Update.

SBO is a life-threatening disease that requires a high index of suspicion based on these patients complex underlying medical co-morbidities and clinician's acumen. Once a diagnosis is made, is it critical to communicate and work closely with other multidisciplinary teams (neuroradiology for appropriate choice of imaging study and interpretation; infectious disease for appropriate medical treatment and duration; internist to properly manage their underlying medical co-morbidities). Despite advances in imaging, the diagnosis is first made based on clinical judgment, appropriate culture, and tissue biopsy.

Characterization of otologic symptoms appearing after COVID-19 vaccination.

OBJECTIVES: Anecdotal reports of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) following COVID-19 vaccination have emerged in the otolaryngology community. Studies have demonstrated no association between COVID-19 vaccination and SSNHL. We aim to characterize the spectrum of otologic symptoms following COVID-19 vaccination. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of patients seen in the otology clinic at an academic center was performed. Patients completed a questionnaire on the development of new otologic symptoms within 4 weeks of COVID-19 vaccination. Diagnostic and audiometric data was collected retrospectively for patients reporting otologic symptoms. RESULTS: Between May and July 2021, 500 patients were screened. Median age was 56.6 years old, with 59.4 % female and 40.2 % male. 420 patients (84.0 %) were vaccinated, with 58.4 % receiving Pfizer, 29.1 % receiving Moderna, and 3.8 % receiving Johnson & Johnson. 61 patients (14.5 %) reported one or more otologic symptoms within 4 weeks of vaccination, including 21 (5.0 %) with hearing loss, 26 (6.2 %) with tinnitus, 33 (7.9 %) with dizziness, and 19 (4.5 %) with vertigo. Of the 16 patients (3.2 %) reporting tinnitus with no associated hearing loss, 8 were diagnosed with subjective tinnitus and 4 were diagnosed with temporomandibular joint syndrome. Of the 18 patients reporting hearing loss, 11 had exacerbations of underlying pathologies (e.g. Meniere's disease, presbycusis) and 7 were newly diagnosed with SSNHL (1.4 %). CONCLUSIONS: Patients reporting otologic symptoms following COVID-19 vaccination received various diagnoses of uncertain etiology. The incidence of SSNHL in these patients is comparable to the general otology patient population. Additional studies are required to determine the incidence of specific diagnoses following vaccination.

Myosin Mutations and Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Results of Whole Exome Sequencing.

OBJECTIVE: Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) affects 66,000 patients per year in the United States. Genetic mutations have been associated with progressive hearing loss; however, genetic mutations associated with ISSNHL have not been identified. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of adults older than 18 years presenting with ISSNHL at a tertiary academic medical center. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was conducted using Genome Analysis Toolkit best practices. An automated diagnostic screen employing a variety of models for pathogenicity was conducted across all genes with no specific targets. Candidate pathogenic variants were reviewed by a team of geneticists and clinicians. Variants were crossed-referenced with 92 known hearing loss associated genes. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients with SSNHL were screened using WES. The average age of patients was 53 ± 17.1 years, and most patients were White (62%) and men (55%). The mean pure tone average was 64.8 ± 31.3 dB for the affected ear. Using a 0.1% allele frequency screen, 12 (41%) cases had a mutation in any of the nine selected myosin genes. When we restrict to singletons (allele frequency = 0%), 21% (n = 6) of cases have qualifying variants, whereas only 3.8% (n = 481) of 12,577 healthy controls carry qualifying variants (p < 0.01). Most mutations (80%) were missense mutations. Of the novel mutations, one was a frameshift mutation, and two were a stop-gained function. Three were missense mutations. CONCLUSION: Myosin mutations may be associated with ISSNHL. However, larger population screening is needed to confirm the association of myosin mutation with ISSNHL and steroid responsiveness.

Thinking Beyond the Temporal Bone Lab: A Systematic Process for Expanding Surgical Simulation in Otolaryngology Training.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a temporary lapse in the development of otolaryngology trainee operative skills due to the cancellation of elective procedures and redeployment of trainees and attendings to COVID-19 units. Although transient, this disruption provided an opportunity for otolaryngology programs to develop contingency plans and formalize nascent simulation training curricula. Integration of formal simulation training alongside current didactic and surgical education may offset lost exposure during surgically lean times while providing the framework and resources for enhanced baseline training. Here, we provide an up-to-date overview of surgical simulation models in otolaryngology and identify easily implementable, low-cost, low fidelity models for junior trainees. By taking advantage of rapid advancements in technology and a paradigm shift to a more hands-on approach in medical education, formal simulation training may prove to be a beneficial tool at all stages of residency training, allowing for expanded peer-mentored skill development and providing a safe haven during unforeseen disruptions in surgical case volume.

A precision medicine tool to understand who responds best to hearing aids in late-life depression.

OBJECTIVES: Accumulating evidence suggests that hearing loss (HL) treatment may benefit depressive symptoms among older adults with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), but the specific individual characteristics of those who stand to improve most are unknown. METHODS: N = 37 patients ≥60 years with HL and MDD received either active or sham hearing aids in this 12-week double-blind randomized controlled trial. A combined moderator approach was utilized in the analysis in order to examine multiple different pretreatment individual characteristics to determine the specific qualities that predicted the best depressive symptom response to hearing aids. Pretreatment characteristics included: Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE-S), pure tone average (PTA), speech reception threshold (SRT), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), cognition (Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status). RESULTS: The analysis revealed a combined moderator, predicting greater improvement with active versus sham hearing aids, that had a larger effect size than any individual moderator (combined effect size [ES] = 0.49 [95% CI: 0.36, 0.76]). Individuals with worse hearing-related disability (HHIE-S: individual ES = -0.16), speech recognition (SRT: individual ES = -0.14), physical performance (SPPB: individual ES = 0.41), and language functioning (individual ES = 0.19) but with relatively less severe audiometric thresholds (PTA: individual ES = 0.17) experienced greater depressive symptom improvement with active hearing aids. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults with relatively worse HL-related, physical, and cognitive functioning may stand to benefit most from hearing aids. Given the large number of older adults experiencing HL and MDD, a non-invasive and scalable means of targeting those most likely to respond to interventions would be valuable.

Clinical Practice Guideline: Tympanostomy Tubes in Children (Update).

OBJECTIVE: Insertion of tympanostomy tubes is the most common ambulatory surgery performed on children in the United States. Tympanostomy tubes are most often inserted because of persistent middle ear fluid, frequent ear infections, or ear infections that persist after antibiotic therapy. All these conditions are encompassed by the term otitis media (middle ear inflammation). This guideline update provides evidence-based recommendations for patient selection and surgical indications for managing tympanostomy tubes in children. The guideline is intended for any clinician involved in managing children aged 6 months to 12 years with tympanostomy tubes or children being considered for tympanostomy tubes in any care setting as an intervention for otitis media of any type. The target audience includes specialists, primary care clinicians, and allied health professionals. PURPOSE: The purpose of this clinical practice guideline update is to reassess and update recommendations in the prior guideline from 2013 and to provide clinicians with trustworthy, evidence-based recommendations on patient selection and surgical indications for managing tympanostomy tubes in children. In planning the content of the updated guideline, the guideline update group (GUG) affirmed and included all the original key action statements (KASs), based on external review and GUG assessment of the original recommendations. The guideline update was supplemented with new research evidence and expanded profiles that addressed quality improvement and implementation issues. The group also discussed and prioritized the need for new recommendations based on gaps in the initial guideline or new evidence that would warrant and support KASs. The GUG further sought to bring greater coherence to the guideline recommendations by displaying relationships in a new flowchart to facilitate clinical decision making. Last, knowledge gaps were identified to guide future research. METHODS: In developing this update, the methods outlined in the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation's "Clinical Practice Guideline Development Manual, Third Edition: A Quality-Driven Approach for Translating Evidence Into Action" were followed explicitly. The GUG was convened with representation from the disciplines of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, otology, pediatrics, audiology, anesthesiology, family medicine, advanced practice nursing, speech-language pathology, and consumer advocacy. ACTION STATEMENTS: The GUG made strong recommendations for the following KASs: (14) clinicians should prescribe topical antibiotic ear drops only, without oral antibiotics, for children with uncomplicated acute tympanostomy tube otorrhea; (16) the surgeon or designee should examine the ears of a child within 3 months of tympanostomy tube insertion AND should educate families regarding the need for routine, periodic follow-up to examine the ears until the tubes extrude.The GUG made recommendations for the following KASs: (1) clinicians should not perform tympanostomy tube insertion in children with a single episode of otitis media with effusion (OME) of less than 3 months' duration, from the date of onset (if known) or from the date of diagnosis (if onset is unknown); (2) clinicians should obtain a hearing evaluation if OME persists for 3 months or longer OR prior to surgery when a child becomes a candidate for tympanostomy tube insertion; (3) clinicians should offer bilateral tympanostomy tube insertion to children with bilateral OME for 3 months or longer AND documented hearing difficulties; (5) clinicians should reevaluate, at 3- to 6-month intervals, children with chronic OME who do not receive tympanostomy tubes, until the effusion is no longer present, significant hearing loss is detected, or structural abnormalities of the tympanic membrane or middle ear are suspected; (6) clinicians should not perform tympanostomy tube insertion in children with recurrent acute otitis media who do not have middle ear effusion in either ear at the time of assessment for tube candidacy; (7) clinicians should offer bilateral tympanostomy tube insertion in children with recurrent acute otitis media who have unilateral or bilateral middle ear effusion at the time of assessment for tube candidacy; (8) clinicians should determine if a child with recurrent acute otitis media or with OME of any duration is at increased risk for speech, language, or learning problems from otitis media because of baseline sensory, physical, cognitive, or behavioral factors; (10) the clinician should not place long-term tubes as initial surgery for children who meet criteria for tube insertion unless there is a specific reason based on an anticipated need for prolonged middle ear ventilation beyond that of a short-term tube; (12) in the perioperative period, clinicians should educate caregivers of children with tympanostomy tubes regarding the expected duration of tube function, recommended follow-up schedule, and detection of complications; (13) clinicians should not routinely prescribe postoperative antibiotic ear drops after tympanostomy tube placement; (15) clinicians should not encourage routine, prophylactic water precautions (use of earplugs or headbands, avoidance of swimming or water sports) for children with tympanostomy tubes.The GUG offered the following KASs as options: (4) clinicians may perform tympanostomy tube insertion in children with unilateral or bilateral OME for 3 months or longer (chronic OME) AND symptoms that are likely attributable, all or in part, to OME that include, but are not limited to, balance (vestibular) problems, poor school performance, behavioral problems, ear discomfort, or reduced quality of life; (9) clinicians may perform tympanostomy tube insertion in at-risk children with unilateral or bilateral OME that is likely to persist as reflected by a type B (flat) tympanogram or a documented effusion for 3 months or longer; (11) clinicians may perform adenoidectomy as an adjunct to tympanostomy tube insertion for children with symptoms directly related to the adenoids (adenoid infection or nasal obstruction) OR in children aged 4 years or older to potentially reduce future incidence of recurrent otitis media or the need for repeat tube insertion.

Executive Summary of Clinical Practice Guideline on Tympanostomy Tubes in Children (Update).

OBJECTIVE: This executive summary of the guideline update provides evidence-based recommendations for patient selection and surgical indications for managing tympanostomy tubes in children. The summary and guideline are intended for any clinician involved in managing children aged 6 months to 12 years with tympanostomy tubes or children being considered for tympanostomy tubes in any care setting as an intervention for otitis media of any type. The target audience includes specialists, primary care clinicians, and allied health professionals. PURPOSE: The purpose of this executive summary is to provide a succinct overview for clinicians of the key action statements (recommendations), summary tables, and patient decision aids from the update of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation's "Clinical Practice Guideline: Tympanostomy Tubes in Children (Update)." The new guideline updates recommendations in the prior guideline from 2013 and provides clinicians with trustworthy, evidence-based recommendations on patient selection and surgical indications for managing tympanostomy tubes in children. This summary is not intended to substitute for the full guideline, and clinicians are encouraged to read the full guideline before implementing the recommended actions. METHODS: The guideline on which this summary is based was developed using methods outlined in the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation's "Clinical Practice Guideline Development Manual, Third Edition: A Quality-Driven Approach for Translating Evidence Into Action," which were followed explicitly. The guideline update group represented the disciplines of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, otology, pediatrics, audiology, anesthesiology, family medicine, advanced practice nursing, speech-language pathology, and consumer advocacy. ACTION STATEMENTS: Strong recommendations were made for the following key action statements: (14) Clinicians should prescribe topical antibiotic ear drops only, without oral antibiotics, for children with uncomplicated acute tympanostomy tube otorrhea. (16) The surgeon or designee should examine the ears of a child within 3 months of tympanostomy tube insertion AND should educate families regarding the need for routine, periodic follow-up to examine the ears until the tubes extrude.Recommendations were made for the following key action statements: (1) Clinicians should not perform tympanostomy tube insertion in children with a single episode of otitis media with effusion (OME) of less than 3 months' duration, from the date of onset (if known) or from the date of diagnosis (if onset is unknown). (2) Clinicians should obtain a hearing evaluation if OME persists for 3 months or longer OR prior to surgery when a child becomes a candidate for tympanostomy tube insertion. (3) Clinicians should offer bilateral tympanostomy tube insertion to children with bilateral OME for 3 months or longer AND documented hearing difficulties. (5) Clinicians should reevaluate, at 3- to 6-month intervals, children with chronic OME who do not receive tympanostomy tubes, until the effusion is no longer present, significant hearing loss is detected, or structural abnormalities of the tympanic membrane or middle ear are suspected. (6) Clinicians should not perform tympanostomy tube insertion in children with recurrent acute otitis media (AOM) who do not have middle ear effusion (MEE) in either ear at the time of assessment for tube candidacy. (7) Clinicians should offer bilateral tympanostomy tube insertion in children with recurrent AOM who have unilateral or bilateral MEE at the time of assessment for tube candidacy. (8) Clinicians should determine if a child with recurrent AOM or with OME of any duration is at increased risk for speech, language, or learning problems from otitis media because of baseline sensory, physical, cognitive, or behavioral factors. (10) The clinician should not place long-term tubes as initial surgery for children who meet criteria for tube insertion unless there is a specific reason based on an anticipated need for prolonged middle ear ventilation beyond that of a short-term tube. (12) In the perioperative period, clinicians should educate caregivers of children with tympanostomy tubes regarding the expected duration of tube function, recommended follow-up schedule, and detection of complications. (13) Clinicians should not routinely prescribe postoperative antibiotic ear drops after tympanostomy tube placement. (15) Clinicians should not encourage routine, prophylactic water precautions (use of earplugs or headbands, avoidance of swimming or water sports) for children with tympanostomy tubes.Options were offered from the following key action statements: (4) Clinicians may perform tympanostomy tube insertion in children with unilateral or bilateral OME for 3 months or longer (chronic OME) AND symptoms that are likely attributable, all or in part, to OME that include, but are not limited to, balance (vestibular) problems, poor school performance, behavioral problems, ear discomfort, or reduced quality of life. (9) Clinicians may perform tympanostomy tube insertion in at-risk children with unilateral or bilateral OME that is likely to persist as reflected by a type B (flat) tympanogram or a documented effusion for 3 months or longer. (11) Clinicians may perform adenoidectomy as an adjunct to tympanostomy tube insertion for children with symptoms directly related to the adenoids (adenoid infection or nasal obstruction) OR in children aged 4 years or older to potentially reduce future incidence of recurrent otitis media or the need for repeat tube insertion.

Hearing Rehabilitative Treatment for Older Adults With Comorbid Hearing Loss and Depression: Effects on Depressive Symptoms and Executive Function.

OBJECTIVES: Recent research has revealed important neural and psychiatric consequences of hearing loss (HL) in older adults. This pilot study examined the neural effects of HL and the impact of hearing aids on neuropsychiatric outcomes in major depressive disorder (MDD). DESIGN: Twelve-week, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS/INTERVENTION: N = 25 (≥60 years) with MDD and moderate-profound HL were randomized to receive hearing aids (100% gain targets) or sham hearing aids (flat 30 dB HL) in addition to psychiatric treatment-as-usual. MEASUREMENTS: Depressive symptoms (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression [HRSD]), executive functioning (NIH Toolbox Flanker), integrity of auditory brain areas (structural MRI, diffusion tensor imaging). RESULTS: At baseline, worse speech discrimination was associated with auditory cortical thinning (Left anterior transverse temporal gyrus: r = 0.755, p = 0.012) and lower integrity of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (FA: Left r = 0.772, p = 0.025, Right r = 0.782, p = 0.022). After 12-weeks, hearing aids were effective at improving hearing functioning (Hearing Handicap for the Elderly: active -12.47 versus sham -4.19, t = -2.64, df = 18, p = 0.016) and immediate memory (active +14.9 versus sham +5.7, t = 2.28, df = 16, p = 0.037). Moderate improvement was observed for hearing aids on executive functioning but did not reach statistical significance (Flanker: active +4.8 versus sham -2.4, t = 1.95, df = 15, p = 0.071). No significant effect on depression was found (HRSD: active -5.50 versus sham -7.32, t = 0.75, df = 19, p = 0.46). CONCLUSIONS: HL can affect brain regions important for auditory and cognitive processing, and hearing remediation may have beneficial effects on executive functioning in MDD. Future studies may evaluate whether impairment in cognitive control consequent to HL may be an important risk mechanism for MDD.

Comparative Performance of Lateral Wall and Perimodiolar Cochlear Implant Arrays.

OBJECTIVE: The physical shape of cochlear implant (CI) arrays may impact hearing outcomes. The goal of this study was to compare post-operative speech and melody perception between patients with lateral wall (LW) and perimodiolar (PM) electrode arrays across a range of lengths and manufacturers. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Tertiary Care Hospital. PATIENTS: 119 adult patients with post-lingual hearing loss who underwent cochlear implantation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A total of seven different electrodes were evaluated including 5 different LW electrodes (CI422 [Cochlear American], 1J [Advanced Bionics], Medium [Med El], Standard [Med El], Flex28 [Med El]) and 2 PM electrodes (Contour [Cochlear American], MidScala [Advanced Bionics]). Speech perception outcomes (n = 119 patients) were measured by Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant (CNC) scores collected 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after implantation. Melody perception outcomes (n = 35 CI patients and n = 6 normal hearing patients) were measured by Melodic Contour Identification (MCI). RESULTS: CNC scores increased over time after implantation across all array designs. PM designs exhibited higher CNC scores compared to LW electrodes, particularly 6-months after implantation. Pre-operative pure tone averages did not correlate with post-operative CNC scores. PM arrays outperformed LW electrodes in terms of MCI scores. CONCLUSIONS: The physical shape of cochlear implant electrode arrays may impact hearing performance. Compared to LW designs, PM arrays appear to offer superior speech perception during the first 6 months after implantation, with performance equalizing between groups by 24 months. Compared to LW designs, PM arrays also appear to afford superior melody perception.

Comparison of Speech Performance in Bimodal versus Bilateral Cochlear Implant Users.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether listening with two cochlear implants (bilateral) offers significant benefits in terms of speech perception over listening with one cochlear implant and one hearing aid (bimodal). METHODS: Retrospective review of bilateral cochlear implant recipients (24 pediatric and 26 adult). Bimodal listening was compared to bilateral listening in terms of speech perception performance at 1-year post second implant under three listening conditions: 50 dBHL, 35 dBHL, and 50 dBHL+5 SNR. Changes in speech performance from bimodal (before second implant) to bilateral (after second implant) listening were determined within subjects and compared to a separate control group of bimodal users matched for age of first implantation who never received a second implant (10 pediatric and 20 adult). RESULTS: In the pediatric group, compared to bimodal listening prior to a second implant, speech perception scores with bilateral implants increased significantly when measured at 50 dBHL, 35 dBHL, and 50 dBHL+5 SNR. By contrast, pediatric bimodal controls who never received a second implant failed to demonstrate similar improvement over 1 year's time. In the adult group, compared to bimodal listening prior to a second implant, speech perception scores with bilateral implants increased when measured at 50 dBHL, but were not significantly different at 35 dBHL and 50 dBHL + 5 SNR. Adult bimodal controls who never received a second implant failed to demonstrate significant improvement in all conditions over 1 year's time. CONCLUSION: Bilateral listening with two cochlear implants improved speech perception performance relative to bimodal listening in the pediatric population. Improvement in the adult population was not as significant. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4, Retrospective Chart Review. Laryngoscope, 131:E1322-E1327, 2021.

A pilot randomized controlled trial of hearing aids to improve mood and cognition in older adults.

OBJECTIVES: Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a prevalent condition associated with increased risk for depression and cognitive decline. This 12-week prospective, double-blind pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) of hearing aids (HAs) for depressed older adults with ARHL evaluated the feasibility of a novel research design. METHODS/DESIGN: N = 13 individuals aged ≥60 years with Major Depressive Disorder or Persistent Depressive Disorder and at least mild hearing loss (pure tone average ≥ 30 dB) were randomized to receive full- (active) vs low-amplification (sham) HAs added to psychiatric treatment as usual. Duration of HA use in hours/day, adverse events frequency, attrition rate, and maintenance of the study blinding were the primary outcome measures. RESULTS: Compliance with HAs was excellent (>9 hours/day for both groups) and rates of adverse events and drop-outs did not differ between groups. Preliminary data demonstrated differential improvement for active vs sham HAs on hearing functioning (Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly [nonparametric effect size (np-ES) = 0.62]), depressive symptoms (Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology [np-ES = 0.31]), cognition (Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status Immediate Memory [np-ES = 0.25]), and general functioning (World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule [np-ES = 0.53]). Significantly greater than 50% of both groups correctly guessed their treatment assignment, indicating incomplete concealment of treatment allocation. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot RCT for ARHL and late-life depression was feasible to execute and showed clinical promise, but improved methods of blinding the experimental treatments are needed. Larger studies should investigate whether hearing remediation may be an effective preventative and/or therapeutic strategy for late-life depression and cognitive decline.

Impact of Underlying Diagnosis on Speech and Quality of Life Outcomes After Cochlear Implantation for Single-Sided Deafness.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to compare outcomes in speech and quality of life in those undergoing cochlear implantation for single-sided deafness (SSD), with the aim to characterize the clinical impact of underlying diagnosis in the affected ear and pre-operative hearing status. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective case series. SETTING: Academic Cochlear Implant Center. PATIENTS: 42 adult patients implanted with the diagnosis of SSD. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were evaluated at 3-, 6-, and 12-months post-operatively using AZBio sentence and speech, and consonant-nucleus-consonant (CNC) depending on appropriate testing level. Our previously validated Comprehensive Cochlear Implant Quality of Life (CCIQ) questionnaire was administered. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Speech perception, quality of life. RESULTS: Subjects were stratified by the underlying diagnosis: Meniere's Disease (MD; n = 10), sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL; n = 13), and Other (eg TBI, acoustic neuroma, progressive, noise-induced; n = 19). Mean preoperative PTA of the implanted ear was 82dB ±â€Š17; that of the nonimplanted ear was 32dB ±â€Š17. SSNHL and MD demonstrated the highest speech perception score at 3 months (93 and 95%), and "Other" demonstrated the lowest scores at 88%. All 3 groups demonstrated nadir in speech scores at 6 months before improving at 12 months, but the "Other" diagnoses maintained the lowest speech testing across all time points. All 3 groups reported improved quality of life on CCIQ. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with SSNHL and MD demonstrate excellent speech perception and quality of life outcomes after cochlear implantation for SSD. Subjects with "Other" diagnoses underlying their SSD demonstrated lower scores on speech testing but nonetheless reported improved quality of life.

Subclinical Hearing Loss is Associated With Depressive Symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the relationship between hearing and depressive symptoms is present among older adults classified as normal hearing (≤25 dB). DESIGN: Cross-sectional epidemiologic study (Hispanic Community Health Study). SETTING: US multicentered. PARTICIPANTS: Adults ≥50 years old (n = 5,499) with normal hearing or hearing loss (HL). MEASUREMENTS: The primary exposure was hearing, defined continuously by the 4-frequency pure-tone average threshold (dB) on audiometry. Hearing was additionally categorized into normal hearing (≤25 dB) and HL (>25 dB). The main outcome was depressive symptoms, measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-10 (CESD-10). Depressive symptoms were defined both continuously and binarily (where CESD-10 ≥10 was categorized as clinically significant depressive symptoms). Multivariable linear, logistic, and generalized additive modeling (GAM) regressions were performed. RESULTS: Among those with normal hearing, the CESD-10 score increased by 1.04 points (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.70, 1.37) for every 10 dB decrease in hearing, adjusting for age, gender, education, cardiovascular disease, and hearing aid use. Among those with HL, the CESD-10 score increased by 0.62 points (95% CI: 0.23, 1.01) for every 10 dB decrease in hearing, adjusting for the same confounders. Similar findings were noted when the outcome was clinically significant depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio: 1.28 [1.14, 1.44] in normal hearing versus 1.26 [1.11, 1.44] in HL). In certain sensitivity analyses, the relationship between hearing and depressive symptoms was significantly stronger among those with normal hearing than in those with HL. CONCLUSION: The relationship between hearing and clinically significant depressive symptoms is present among older adults with normal hearing (<25 dB). We introduce the term subclinical HL as imperfect hearing that is classically defined as normal (1-25 dB). The relationship between hearing and late life depressive symptoms may be more sensitive than previously recognized.

A New Lateral Wall Electrode: Evaluation of Surgical Handling, Radiographic Placement, and Histological Appraisal of Insertion Trauma.

OBJECTIVE: To describe histologic and radiographic findings associated with insertion of a new lateral wall electrode in human temporal bones, as well as quantify the ease of insertion as characterized by multiple cochlear implant surgeons. SETTING: Multi-institutional cadaveric study. METHODS: The Slim J electrode was inserted in cadaveric temporal bones via a standard mastoidectomy and facial recess approach. Insertion was performed by five cochlear implant surgeons with no previous experience with the Slim J electrode array. Electrode array insertion was performed via a round window, an extended round window, or a cochleostomy approach. Intracochlear trauma, and angular insertion depth was assessed histologically and radiologically, respectively, after placement of the Slim J electrode array. RESULTS: Scala tympani insertion was accomplished in all 40 specimens. Thirty-eight specimens (95%) showed minimal trauma (Esrhaghi grade 0 or 1). One patient had rupture of basilar membrane (grade 2 trauma) at 380 degrees. One patient had grade 4 trauma with scalar translocation beginning at 210 degrees. The mean angular insertion depth was 416.4 degrees (range: 338.7-509.2 degrees, SD 44 degrees). Surgical handling was described as easy in 38 cases (95%). CONCLUSION: In a human cadaveric model the lateral wall Slim J electrode produced minimal intracochlear trauma that was positioned completely within the scala tympani in 97.5% of cases.

Electroacoustic Stimulation.

Electric acoustic stimulation (EAS), also known as hybrid stimulation, is indicated for individuals with intact low-frequency hearing and profound high-frequency hearing loss. Although low frequencies contribute to speech perception, these individuals are usually only able to detect vowels, but few or no consonants, and thus have difficulty with word understanding and hearing in noise. EAS uses the cochlear implant electrode array to stimulate the high frequencies within the basal turn of the cochlea coupled with a hearing aid to convey the low frequencies at the apical turn in the same ear.

Association of Audiometric Age-Related Hearing Loss With Depressive Symptoms Among Hispanic Individuals.

Importance: Age-related hearing loss is highly prevalent and has recently been associated with numerous morbid conditions of aging. Late-life depression is also prevalent and can be resistant to available treatments. Preliminary studies examining the association between hearing loss and late-life depression have been limited by subjective hearing measures, small sample sizes, and primarily white populations. Objective: To assess whether a cross-sectional association exists between objective audiometric hearing loss and depressive symptoms in older Hispanic adults. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study uses 2008-2011 Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos data collected in Miami, Florida, San Diego, California, Chicago, Illinois, or the Bronx, New York, from 5328 Hispanic adults 50 years or older who had exposure, outcome, and covariate data. Data analyses were conducted from March 2018 to September 2018. Exposure: Audiometric hearing loss (pure-tone average). Main Outcomes and Measures: Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, 10-item version (CESD-10) score of 10 or higher, which indicates clinically significant depressive symptoms. Results: The median age (interquartile range) of the 5328 participants was 58 (53-63) years, and 3283 participants (61.6%) were female. The mean (SD) CESD-10 score was 7.7 (6.4). Of the 5328 included participants, 1751 (32.9%) had clinically significant depressive symptoms. The odds of having these symptoms increased 1.44 (95% CI, 1.27-1.63) times for every 20 dB of hearing loss, adjusting for hearing aid use, age, sex, educational level, study site, geographic background, cardiovascular disease, and antidepressant use. Compared with those for individuals with normal hearing (0 dB), the odds of having clinically significant depressive symptoms was 1.81 (95% CI, 1.48-2.22) times as high in individuals with mild hearing loss (median threshold, 32.5 dB), 2.38 (95% CI, 1.77-3.20) times as high in individuals with moderate hearing loss (median threshold, 47.5 dB), and 4.30 (95% CI, 2.61-7.09) times as high in individuals with severe hearing loss (median threshold, 80 dB). Conclusions and Relevance: Objective hearing loss appears to be associated with clinically significant depressive symptoms in older Hispanic people, with greater hearing loss seemingly associated with greater odds of having depressive symptoms. Given the high prevalence of untreated hearing loss in older adults, hearing loss may be a potentially modifiable risk factor for late-life depression.

Common Otologic Surgical Procedures: Clinical Decision-Making Pearls and the Role of Imaging.

Neuro-otologists rely on the expertise and judgment of a skilled neuroradiologist to identify radiographic abnormalities in the complicated regional anatomy of the temporal bone and middle and posterior fossa, and more importantly, to alert the surgeon to potential operative pitfalls. This article highlights some of the common otologic surgical procedures that stress this important dynamic. The surgical perspective on quick and effective clinical decision-making pearls to keep in mind during a thorough radiographic analysis of the ear and lateral skull base is presented.