The experience of Polish individuals who stutter based on the OASES outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Prior research has shown that stuttering is a complex and individualized condition. The Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering (OASES; Yaruss & Quesal, 2016) is a well-researched tool that measures the impact of stuttering on an individual's life. This study has used the Polish version of the OASES to examine the experience of stuttering among Polish people who stutter. METHOD: The original, English version of the OASES was translated into Polish. Reliability and validity for the Polish version were evaluated. Comparisons were made between samples from Poland and the United States for all of the sections and for the overall results of the OASES-S, OASES-T, and OASES-A. To explore the structure of the stuttering experience, a factor structure of the OASES was conducted. RESULTS: Like other versions of the OASES, the OASES-Polish (OASES-PL) demonstrated good reliability and validity. Cross-cultural comparisons have shown that Polish school-age children had significantly lower knowledge and awareness of stuttering than children in the United States (USA). Factor analysis further revealed that the structure of the experience of stuttering is similar across all age groups, but the importance of the particular aspects of stuttering varies at different stages of life. CONCLUSION: The OASES-PL is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring the impact of stuttering on Polish people who stutter and can therefore be used as a clinical tool. Polish results were relatively similar to those from the USA, though there were subtle cross-cultural differences that are worthy of further exploration. EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES: After reading the article, the participant will be able: (1) to describe the diverse experiences of Polish people who stutter at different ages, (2) to explain the importance of quality of life analysis in diagnosis and speech therapy with people who stutter, and (3) to explain the breadth of the stuttering phenomenon among Polish individuals who stutter.

Long-term results of a hearing test in patients operated for chronic otitis media.

<b> Introduction: </b>Chronic otitis media is characterized by tympanic membrane perforation and conductive hearing loss. In the active form of this disease, there will also be periodic or permanent otorrhea. With a number of surgical techniques available depending on intraoperative findings, otosurgery is the treatment of choice in such cases, the extent of which depends on the type and extent of the pathological changes. <br><b>Material and Method:</b> We carried out an analysis of 79 patients with chronic otitis media undergoing surgery at the Department of Otolaryngology, Jagiellonian University Medical College in Kraków between 2005 and 2014. Total audiometry was used as a part of hearing assessment, before the surgery, 6 months after the surgery and in the distant 10-year observation period. In addition, each patient completed the questionnaire and was examined by an otolaryngologist. <br><b> Results:</b> The analysis included 79 patients operated on due to chronic otitis media. The mean bone conduction (for frequencies 500,1000 and 2000 Hz) before surgery was 31.8 dB, it did not differ significantly (p = 0.355) after 6 months after surgery (32.8 dB), while it significantly increased (p < 0.001) in a distant 10-year control of 43.4 dB. The mean air conduction (for frequencies 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz) before the procedure was 57.6 dB, it significantly improved in the early control by 50.5 dB, at p < 0.001. In long-term follow-up it increased again to 61.3 dB and was significantly different from the early postoperative period (p < 0.001). The mean air-bone gap for frequencies 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz before surgery was on average 26.4 dB, it was significantly (p < 0.001) reduced in the postoperative period by 17.6 dB. The level of air-bone gap remained at a similar level in distant control. <br><b>Conclusions:</b> (1) A completely preserved ossicular chain in the absence of active chronic otitis media is the best prognosis for stable hearing improvement over the years with normal inner ear function; (2) Reoperation worsens the long-term results of a hearing test compared to the first operation.

Pre- and Post-operative Speech Audiometry Evaluation in Patients with Chronic Otitis Media.

OBJECTIVES: The primary function of the human auditory system is to ensure proper speech comprehension. Speech audiometry enables the assessment of the conductive and the sensory aspects of the ears, providing some insight into the central auditory processing function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted an analysis of 79 patients with chronic otitis media (COM) undergoing surgery at the Department of Otolaryngology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, in Kraków between 2005 and 2014. Tonal audiometry and speech audiometry were used as part of the hearing assessment. The pre-operative and long-term post-operative findings were compared, focusing mainly on speech audiometry. RESULTS: At the end of the mean 10-year follow-up, a significant percentage worsening in speech comprehension from the baseline was demonstrated in group III (hearing loss > 70 dB(decibels)), as compared with the remaining groups. There was a significant (p = 0.017) difference in speech comprehension between the treated and contralateral ears, with the mean maximum speech comprehension rates of 80% in the treated ear versus 92% in the contralateral ear. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated a correlation between the findings of tonal audiometry and speech audiometry. The severe damage caused by chronic middle ear diseases not only leads to conductive hearing loss but also acts as a significant contributor to poor speech comprehension in a long-term follow-up. The speech comprehension in a healthy ear is significantly better than in a diseased ear. Middle ear reconstructive surgery offers the maximum improvement in speech comprehension at the hearing loss of 41 to 70 dB in speech audiometry.

The effect of preserved stapedial superstructure on hearing improvement.

INTRODUCTION: Ossiculoplasty can be carried out in a number of ways, depending on the anatomical and functional conditions encountered during otosurgery and the experience of a given centre. The extent of damage to the ossicular chain determines the reconstruction method. AIM: The objective of the study was to analyse treatment effects in terms of postoperative hearing improvement in patients with chronic otitis media, with a particular emphasis on stapedial superstructure preservation. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The records of 294 consecutive patients undergoing their first ENT surgery due to chronic otitis media at the Department of Otolaryngology of Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University of Kraków in 2009-2013 were analysed. In order to assess the role of preserved stapedial superstructure, 96 patients were eligible for further analysis. RESULTS: The analysis points to a significant hearing improvement after ossiculoplasty with the preserved stapedial superstructure as compared with the patients after footplate mobilisation. On the other hand, the research results point to significantly smaller hearing improvement in those patients, in whom only stapes was preserved, as compared with those, in whom a more extensive reconstruction of the ossicular chain was possible. CONCLUSIONS: The air-bone gap measured before otosurgery often fails to reflect the extent of abnormalities and cannot, therefore, be considered as the only prognostic factor for postoperative hearing improvement. Stapes preservation is crucial for hearing improvement after middle ear surgery.

Analysis of hearing improvement in the patients operated on due to otosclerosis in the Otolaryngology Department of Jagiellonian University of Cracow, Poland.

BACKGROUND: Otosclerosis is the most common cause of condactive hearing loss between 15 and 50 years old. The most common symptoms are hearinglosss and tinnitus. Surgery is currently the preferred treatment method. AIM: The aim of our study was to analyze the outcomes of patients treated surgically due to otosclerosis in terms of the observed changes in pure tone audiometry and speech audiometryMaterial and methods:We observated 300 patients operated on middle ear for the fist time in the Department of Otolarygology at the Jagiellonian University of Cracow from 2010 to 2011. We used a special questinnaire which includes diagnostics of the ears disease,pure tone audiometry, speech audiometrii and longterm effects. RESULTS: We discuss 53 operated ears and analyze changes in pure tone audiometry. We divided patients into 2 groups depending on 100% speech understanding in speech auodiometry or not. CONCLUSION: 1. Lack of 100% speech understanding in speech audiometry correlated with greater sensorineural hearing loss than in patients who achieved 100% speech understanding prior to surgery. 2. Lack of 100% speech understanding in speech audiometry is a predictive factor for worse prognosis in improving hearing in patients operated on for otosclerosis. 3. Reconstruction of the ossicular chain in patients, regardless of the degree of speech understanding, did not produce significant changes in the average values of bone conduction.

Analysis of hearing improvement in the patients operated on due to otosclerosis in the Otolaryngology Department of Jagiellonian University of Cracow, Poland.

BACKGROUND: Otosclerosis is the most common cause of condactive hearing loss between 15 and 50 years old. The most common symptoms are hearinglosss and tinnitus. Surgery is currently the preferred treatment method. AIM: The aim of our study was to analyze the outcomes of patients treated surgically due to otosclerosis in terms of the observed changes in pure tone audiometry and speech audiometry Material and methods: We observated 300 patients operated on middle ear for the fist time in the Department of Otolarygology at the Jagiellonian University of Cracow from 2010 to 2011. We used a special questinnaire which includes diagnostics of the ear"s disease,pure tone audiometry, speech audiometrii and longterm effects. RESULTS: We discuss 53 operated ears and analyze changes in pure tone audiometry. We divided patients into 2 groups depending on 100% speech understanding in speech auodiometry or not. CONCLUSION: 1. Lack of 100% speech understanding in speech audiometry correlated with greater sensorineural hearing loss than in patients who achieved 100% speech understanding prior to surgery. 2. Lack of 100% speech understanding in speech audiometry is a predictive factor for worse prognosis in improving hearing in patients operated on for otosclerosis. 3. Reconstruction of the ossicular chain in patients, regardless of the degree of speech understanding, did not produce significant changes in the average values of bone conduction.

Outcome prediction in endoscopic surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis - a multidimensional model.

PURPOSE: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is one of the most common diseases in the modern society. In recent years endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) has become the treatment of choice for patients with CRS refractory to medical therapy. ESS proved to be successful in most, but not all patients with CRS. Currently there is no direct method available to distinguish between patients who are likely to benefit from ESS and those who are not. The aim of this study was to build multidimensional models (artificial neural networks) to predict early outcomes of ESS in individual patients. MATERIAL/METHODS: The study group comprised of 115 patients operated for CRS in the Department of Otolaryngology, Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum, Cracow. The neural models were created using the Statistica Neural Network computer software package. The models required only information easily achievable for every patient before surgery. Consequently, the models could be readily applicable in everyday clinical practice. To define the results of surgery three different mathematical descriptions were compared. The models' predictions were compared with the actual results of surgery 3-6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The models were able to predict the early outcome of surgery in 90% of the patients but their quality depended on mathematical representation of the surgery result. The best models were characterized by 93% sensitivity and 86% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The results of ESS depend on many factors, so reliable outcome prognoses can be produced only by multidimensional models. Artificial neural networks are a promising multidimensional tool facilitating clinical decision making in patients with CRS.

[Bone dehiscences in the middle ear in patients operated on ear diseases in the Otolaryngology Department of Jagiellonian University, Poland from 2008 to 2012]. / Uszkodzenia scian kostnych ucha srodkowego u chorych operowanych z powodu schorzen ucha w Klinice Otolaryngologii CM UJ w latach 2008-2012.

BACKGROUND: We perform the middle ear operation to remove pathological tissue and in the next step present ossicular chain reconstruction. Otosurgeon has to also identify bone dehiscences, as a potential way to develop otogenic intracranial and intratemporal complications. AIM: We analyzed the patients with bone defects in the middle and/or posterior cranial fossa who present also defects of the bony wall of the facial nerve canal and lateral semicircular canal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We observed 537 patients who were operated on middle ear for the first time in the Department of Otolaryngology at the Jagiellonian University of Cracow from 2008 to 2012. We used a special questionnaire that includes diagnostics of the ear's disease, method of the operation and short- and long-term effects. RESULTS: We discuss 45 patients with the skull base defects in the middle and/or posterior cranial fossa. Dehiscence of the bony wall of the facial nerve canal was present in 7 patients. In 4 cases semicircular canal fistula coexisted. The most common cause of bone dehiscence was granulation tissue, less frequently cholesteatoma.

[Prognostic factors in patients operated on eardrum perforation with intact ossicular chain]. / Czynniki prognostyczne u chorych leczonych operacyjnie z powodu perforacji blony bebenkowej przy nieuszkodzonym lancuchu kosteczek sluchowych.

BACKGROUND: Ear drum perforation is a typical feature in chronic otitis media. It can have posttraumatic etiology or it is observed in acute otitis media too. AIM: This paper is intended to evaluate effectiveness of tympanic membrane reconstruction and indicate factors which have an influence on hearing improvement after myringoplasty. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Analysis involves ca. 500 individuals operated on ear in Department of Otolaryngology at the Jagiellonian University between 2004 and 2009. RESULTS: 120 individuals were operated on for the first time due to chronic otitis media with intact ossicular chain. Statistically significant heating improvement was observed in patients with discharge, without discharge and in group with scars. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of granulation changes is an unfavorable prognostic condition in the patients with ear drum perforation. In clinical practice, the criterion which often determines the application of either of the materials in myringoplasty are operator's preferences, as well as the availability of given material for transplanting.

[Isolated inverted papilloma of the sphenoid sinus - case report]. / Izolowany brodawczak odwrócony zatoki klinowej - opis przypadku.

BACKGROUND: Primary inverted papilloma of the sphenoid sinus is rare. The tumor is considered locally aggressive. In selected cases inverted papilloma can be associated with squamous cell carcinoma. Radiologic imaging is a key to an accurate diagnosis. AIM: We analyzed patient with inverted papilloma in sphenoid sinus which was removed with endoscopic surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We discuss patient with isolated inverted papilloma located in the sphenoid sinus. RESULTS: Performed endoscopic treatment enabled removal of tumour with no complications. CONCLUSIONS: Transnasal endoscopic large sphenoidotomy remains an effective modality for management of patients with inverted papilloma. This method does not require external approach and it is performed with no scars, with minimal injury of tissues.