The effect of induction loop system use training on adults with hearing aids

Background/aim: The study aimed to investigate the effect of training on hearing aid users to benefit from induction loop systems. Materials and methods: A five-question scale was developed to evaluate whether individuals using hearing aids could use the induction loop system effectively. In the first step, validity-reliability studies were performed with 264 individuals using hearing aids. In the second step, 30 individuals using hearing aids were given verbal and hands-on training on the induction loop system. Before and after training with hearing aids (noiseless, noise, noise + induction system active) in three different environments, questions on the scale were asked twice in total from the beginning to the end of the study. Results: The significance of the differences between the values obtained as a result of the application of word lists in three different test settings was examined by repeating the measurements variance analysis. As a result of the post hoc analysis, P = 0.002 between test 3 (10.7, 1.53) and test 1 (11.7, 0.7) was calculated. There appears to be a statistically significant difference with the present situation (P < 0.01). The average scores of the scale between pre and posttraining applications as a preliminary and final test were analysed with a t-test. The final test average was statistically significantly greater than the preliminary test (P < 0.01). Conclusion: This study shows how important it is for hearing aid users to be informed and to receive the necessary training in order to gain the expected benefit from induction loop systems developed to improve speech intelligibility in noisy environments.

Changes in P1 latencies of children with normal hearing and those with cochlear implants

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to determine the age-related latency interval of P1 latencies of children with normal hearing, and to evaluate the P1 latency changes after surgery in children who underwent cochlear implantation. Materials and methods: We evaluated 60 children with normal hearing and 16 children with cochlear implants aged 0­6 years using cortical auditory evoked potentials. P1 latencies were measured only once in the children with normal hearing, and on the postoperative first day, and the first, third, and sixth postoperative months in the children with cochlear implants. Results: There was a statistically significant decrease in the P1 latencies as the age increased in children with normal hearing (P < 0.001). It was determined that when the external partof the cochlear implant was applied, the P1 latencies of children with cochlear implants were significantly longer than those of age-matched children with normal hearing (P < 0.001). This difference disappeared in 10 children with implants at the third and sixth months, but significant differences remained in 6 children. Conclusion: P1 latency could be used as an objective tool to evaluate the normal development of auditory pathways, and may be helpful in the effective programming of children undergoing cochlear implantation.

The Reliability and Validity of "Dokuz Eylül University Meniere's Disease Disability Scale".

OBJECTIVE: Ménière's Disease (MD) is a chronic, non-life threatening inner ear disease, with attacks of disabling vertigo, progressive hearing loss, and tinnitus as the major symptoms. All three symptoms, separately or in combination, cause great distress and have a considerable impact on the quality of life of the patients. The aims of this study were to develop a disease-specific quality of life survey for patients with MD and to analyze the relationships between the audiovestibular findings and the survey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following Ear-Nose-Throat examination and audiovestibular tests, the Dokuz Eylül University Meniere's Disease Disability Scale (DEU-MDDS) and Turkish version of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI-T) were administered to 93 patients with definite MD. Reliability and validity analyses of the scale were performed. RESULTS: There were 45 (48.4%) male and 48 (51.6%) female patients and the mean age was 48.9±12.1 years. Cronbach's alpha was 0.92 and intraclass correlation coefficients of the DEU-MMDS were significant (p<0.001). Results of the Goodness of Fit Statistics showed that the expression levels of the items were high and the correlation coefficients of each item with the scale were sufficient. There was a statistically significant correlation between DHI-T scores and MDDS. DEU-MDDS was not related to the vestibular tests, age or gender (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The MDDS is a valid and reliable scale as a disease-specific quality of life questionnaire for patients with MD.