Hearing health survey of the population in Bangkok.

In this cross-sectional random survey among Thai adults living in Bangkok, we aimed to identify the prevalence of hearing problems and examine their relationship with individual factors. We administered a self-report questionnaire and performed pure-tone air conduction threshold audiometry. A total of 2463 participants (1728 female individuals) aged 15-96 years were included. The hearing loss prevalence was 53.02% and increased with age. The prevalence of a moderate or greater degree of hearing impairment was 2.8%. Participants aged 65 years and over had 8.56 and 6.79 times greater hearing loss and hearing impairment than younger participants, respectively. Male participants were twice as likely to have hearing loss and hearing impairment as female individuals. Participants with higher education levels showed less likelihood of having hearing loss and hearing impairment than those with no or a primary school education. Participants who ever worked under conditions with loud noise for > 8 h per day had 1.56 times greater hearing loss than those without such exposure. An inconsistent correlation was found between hearing loss, hearing impairment and noncommunicable diseases (diabetes, hypertension, and obesity). Although most participants had mild hearing loss, appropriate care and monitoring are necessary to prevent further loss in such individuals. The questionnaire-based survey found only people with hearing problems that affect daily communication.

The Association Between Serum Vitamin D Levels and Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum vitamin D levels and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: This prospective study consisted of 137 participants. There were 69 participants in the BPPV group compared with 68 healthy participants. Blood samples from both groups were collected from all participants to assess serum vitamin D levels. RESULTS: No significant difference in demographic data between BPPV and control groups. The results showed that the mean serum vitamin D levels in the BPPV group was lower than that of the control group (P value = .001). Among BPPV participants, there was no statistically significant difference between mean serum vitamin D levels of participants with recurrent BPPV, and that of newly diagnosed BPPV participants (P value = .313). CONCLUSION: A statistically significant association between lower mean serum vitamin D levels in the BPPV group compared with that of the control group. Therefore, low serum vitamin D levels may be one of the risk factors for BPPV.

The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in the Management of Tinnitus.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has been suggested as an effective modality in reducing the effects of tinnitus and improving quality of life. This article aimed to compare the effectiveness of MBCT with that of standard treatment in the management of tinnitus in Thai patients. All participants were voluntarily divided into experimental MBCT and control groups depending on their availability. In addition to educational sessions and standard treatment, the MBCT group completed four weekly 120-minute sessions of mindfulness practicing skills. The Thai version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI-T) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADs-T) were administered at baseline, 4th week, and 12th week. Tinnitus intensity (dB) was measured at baseline and 12th week. All data were compared between the different time points, within each group, and between the two groups. A total of 45 patients were enrolled, 24 in the MBCT group and 21 in the control group. When comparing baseline to post-treatment measurements, statistically significant improvements were observed in all outcomes except tinnitus intensity in both groups. The THI-T and HADs-T scores in the MBCT group were significantly lower than those in the control group at the 12th week. The reduction in the THI-T scores, HADs-T scores, and tinnitus intensity tended to be greater in the MBCT group after the 4-week course and at the 3-month follow-up assessment. The MBCT showed benefits in the management of tinnitus in terms of improved THI-T and HADs-T scores, and overall quality of life.