Relationship of cepstral analysis with voice self-assessments in dysphonic and normal speakers.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship of cepstral analysis (Cepstral Peak Prominence [CPP] and Cepstral Peak Prominence-Smoothed [CPPS]) with voice self-assessments (The Persian version of vocal tract discomfort [VTDp] scale and non-standard hoarseness self-assessment [NHS] questionnaire). METHODS: 223 participants (159 with and 64 without dysphonia) were asked to utter the vocal tasks namely vowels /a/ and /e/, six standard sentences, and a non-standard connected speech sample. CPP and CPPS were calculated in these three vocal tasks using the "Praat" software. The participants also asked to complete the VTDp scale and the NHS questionnaire. RESULTS: The means of frequency and severity the VTDp and the means of NHS were statistically different between the dysphonic and normal voice groups (P < 0.05), except for tickling (P > 0.05). There was a very low significant correlation between cepstral analysis with aching and in the dysphonic group (P < 0.05). However, a very low to low significant correlation between cepstral analysis with burning, tight, aching, tickling, sore, and both frequency and severity subscales scores of the VTDp in the normal voice group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the means of the cepstral analysis did not differ significantly between all scores of the NHS in the dysphonic the normal voice groups (P > 0.05), except for 1 with 3, 4, and 5 in the dysphonic group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The cepstral analysis can provide some information about the status of vocal tract and person's perception of his/her own voice quality.

The comparison between vocal facilitating techniques, manual circumlaryngeal therapy, and combined voice therapy in teachers with muscle tension dysphonia: a randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: Although voice therapy (VT) has been known effective in muscle tension dysphonia (MTD), it is not obviously clear which VT approach is more effective. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Vocal Facilitating Techniques (VFTs), Manual Circumlaryngeal Therapy (MCT), and combined VT in teachers with MTD. METHODS: This study was a double-blind parallel randomized clinical trial. Thirty elementary female teachers with MTD were divided into three treatment groups including VFTs; MCT, and combined VT. In addition, vocal hygiene was presented to all groups. All participants received 10 individual 45-min sessions of VT twice a week. The effectiveness was assessed using Vocal Tract Discomfort (VTD) scale and Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) before and after treatment and improvement measurement was calculated. The participants and data analyzer were blinded to the type of VT. RESULTS: All groups showed significantly better results on the subscales of VTD scale and DSI score after VT (p ≤ 0.001; η2 ≥ 0.90). There was a significant difference between the three groups on the results of VTD scale and DSI score (p ≤ 0.05). The improvement measurement on the VTD severity subscale and DSI score following the combined VT was the greatest compared with other groups (η2 = 0.99 and 0.98, respectively). The significant interactive effect of treatment and time was observed on the VTD severity subscale and DSI score (p < 0.05; η2 ≥ 0.56). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the VFTs, MCT, and combined VT were effective for MTD teachers, and the combined VT is the most effective one. It seems the combination of different approaches is recommended for the VT of MTD patients.

Hearing handicaps, communication difficulties and depression in the older adults: a comparison of hearing aid users and non-users.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Age-related hearing loss has potential effects on communication, cognitive, emotional, and social aspects of the older person's life. Evaluating the role of hearing aids in reducing these difficulties is important. This study aimed to evaluate communication difficulties, self-perceived handicaps, and depression in hearing-impaired older adults who are either hearing aid users or non-users. METHODS: A total of 114 older adults in the age range of 55-85 years with moderate to moderately severe hearing loss (two hearing-matched groups; hearing aid users: n = 57; hearing aid non-users: n = 57) took part in this study during the COVID-19 pandemic. Self-perceived hearing handicaps and communication were evaluated using the Hearing Handicap Inventory in the Elderly-Screening (HHIE-S) and Self-Assessment Communication (SAC) questionnaires. Depression was assessed using the geriatric depression scale (GDS). RESULTS: The average score of HHIE-S was significantly higher in the hearing aid users than the non-users (16.61 ± 10.39 vs. 12.49 ± 9.84; p = 0.01). Differences between groups were not significant for SAC or GDS scores (p ≥ 0.05). There were strong positive correlations between HHIE-S and SAC scores in both groups. Moderate correlations were found between SAC and GDS scores in the hearing aid users and between the duration of using hearing aid with SAC and HHIE-S scores. CONCLUSION: It seems that self-perceived handicaps, communication difficulties and depression are affected by many factors, and only receiving hearing aids without subsequent support such as auditory rehabilitation and programming services cannot bring the expected output. The effect of these factors was clearly observed due to reduced access to services in the COVID-19 era.

Effects of aging on spatial hearing.

BACKGROUND: Aging has several effects on auditory processing with the most important effect known as speech perception impairment in noise. AIMS: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of aging on spatial hearing using quick speech in noise (QSIN) and binaural masking level difference (BMLD) tests and speech, spatial, and qualities of hearing scale (SSQ) questionnaire. METHODS: The study was carried out on 34 elderly people, aged 60-75 years, with normal peripheral hearing and 34 young participants, aged 18-25 years. Using SSQ questionnaire and QSIN and BMLD tests, the spatial auditory processing ability was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Comparison of mean scores using independent t test showed that there was a significant difference in the mean scores of QSIN, BMLD tests and SSQ questionnaire between the two groups (p < 0.001). Sex was not found to have any effect on the results (p > 0.05). DISCUSSION: Structural and neurochemical changes that occur in different parts of the central nervous system by aging affect various aspects of spatial auditory processing, such as localization, the precedence effect, and speech perception in noise. CONCLUSIONS: Lower scores of older adults with normal hearing in SSQ questionnaire and behavioral tests, compared with younger participants, may be considered as their weak performance in spatial auditory processing. The results of the present study reconfirm the effects of aging on spatial auditory processing, such as localization and speech perception in noise.

Statistical validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Western Ontario Meniscal Evaluation Tool (WOMET) according to the COSMIN checklist.

BACKGROUND: The Western Ontario Meniscal Evaluation Tool (WOMET) is the only questionnaire available to assess quality of life in patients with isolated meniscal injuries. The aims of this study were to prepare the Persian version of the WOMET (PWOMET) and validate it in Iranian patients with isolated meniscal tears. METHODS: In the first stage, the English version of WOMET was translated into Persian. Content validity, and qualitative and quantitative (impact score) face validity were tested by specialists and in a sample of 30 patients. In the second stage, PWOMET was assessed for the evaluation of psychometric properties in 100 patients with isolated meniscal injury and 50 healthy people based on the COSMIN checklist. Construct validity was tested based on structural validity (factor analysis) and hypothesis testing. Correlation with the total scores on the SF-36, IKDC and KOOS were used for concurrent criterion validity. Test-retest reliability and internal consistency were calculated using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach's alpha, respectively. In addition the standard error of measurement (SEM) and smallest detectable change were calculated. Interpretability was investigated as the ceiling and floor effects and minimal important difference. RESULTS: The PWOMET had acceptable qualitative face validity and content validity. The impact score (quantitative face validity) was more than 1.5 for all items. For construct validity, structural validity (factor analysis) and hypothesis testing ability were confirmed. Correlations between the PWOMET total score and IKDC, SF-36, KOOS scores were 0.61, 0.54 and 0.63, respectively (p < 0.001), thus confirming concurrent criterion validity. The intraclass correlation coefficient, Cronbach's alpha, SEM and smallest detectable change for the PWOMET were 0.73, 0.89, 9.43 and 26.13, respectively. The PWOMET had no ceiling or floor effects, and minimal important difference was 9.07. CONCLUSION: The PWOMET provides valid and reliable scores for assessment of the quality of life in patients with isolated meniscal injury.

Effect of late-onset blindness on cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials.

PURPOSE: Approximately 1.3 billion people worldwide have vision impairment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of Late-Onset blindness on cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP) responses. Accordingly, this study was performed to investigate and compare the parameters of the cVEMP test in sighted and late-onset blind individuals. MATERIALS AND METHOD: In this cross-sectional- comparative study, cVEMP was recorded by presenting a tone burst stimulus of 500 Hz with an intensity of 95 dBnHL in 20 sighted and 20 late-onset blind individuals aged between 18 and 30 years old. RESULTS: cVEMP was observed in all the individuals (100%). The average latency of P13 and N23, amplitude, amplitude ratio, and VEMP threshold did not differ significantly between the two groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings of the study revealed that the formation of the neural pathway and reflex arch of cVEMP is similar between late-onset blind and sighted individuals. Thus, cVEMP can be a suitable test for assessing the vestibular function of late-onset blind people.

Development, validity, reliability and normative data of the Persian Phonemic Synthesis Test (P-PST).

Objectives: This study was conducted to develop the Persian version of the Phonemic Synthesis Test, evaluate its psychometric properties and generate normative data.Design: Test development, including the optimisation of materials, determining content and face validities and assessing the psychometric properties.Study samples: Overall, 425 subjects participated in this study in three different stages. Ten experts participated in the content validity assessment stage. The face validity was determined by taking the views of 17 subjects, including children diagnosed with APD, normal children and experts. The psychometric properties were evaluated with 395 normal children aged 7 to 11, divided into five age groups. All the participants were retested after four weeks for evaluating the test-retest reliability.Results: The results revealed the strong content and face validity of the test. No significant differences were observed between the genders. Significant differences were observed in the quantitative and qualitative scores among the age groups. The Spearman correlation coefficient showed that the scores of the test and retest were strongly and positively correlated (r > 0.9). The findings showed many similarities with the data reported in the original American English Phonemic Synthesis Test.Conclusions: The Persian Phonemic Synthesis Test is a reliable and valid test for auditory processing assessments in Persian-speaking children.

The Development of a New Test for Consecutive Assessment of Narrative Skills in Iranian School-Age Children.

BACKGROUND: The assessment of narrative skills in young children is essential for early identification of potential learning and literacy-related difficulties. The present study aimed to develop a validated and reliable test for consecutive assessment of narrative skills in Iranian school-age children. METHODS: To elicit story retelling by the children, 14 pictures (each a discrete test) were developed based on which 14 stories were scripted in accordance with the Stein and Glenn model. The pictures were presented to 50 typically developing (TD) children and seven children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Kerman, Iran, 2018. The recorded audio of retold stories by the children was transcribed and analyzed using the monitoring indicator of scholarly language (MISL) instrument. The SPSS software (Version: 18.0) was used to analyze the data with the significance level set at 0.05. RESULTS: A high correlation between the total MISL score of each test and each MISL item (r>0.5) confirmed the construct validity of our test. A comparison of the mean total MISL score between the TD and ASD groups showed significant differences (P<0.001) for all pictures. The internal consistency coefficient was >0.7 between all the MISL items and the intraclass correlation coefficient between the test and retest scores was >0.96 for all pictures. The repeated measures ANOVA did not indicate significant differences (P=0.15) between the total MISL scores of the pictures. CONCLUSION: The validity and reliability of the developed test were confirmed, suggesting it can be used for consecutive assessment and monitoring of the narrative skills in school-aged children.

A prophylactic effect of local vibration on quadriceps muscle fatigue in non-athletic males: a randomized controlled trial study.

[Purpose] This study was conducted to investigate the immediate prophylactic effects of local vibration on quadriceps muscle fatigue in young non-athletic males. [Participants and Methods] Thirty healthy young males were randomly assigned to vibration and sham control groups. Participants in the local vibration group received a single session vibration (2 minutes, 30 Hz). They also in the control group received a 2-minute vibration, while the vibration system was off. MVC, RMS and median frequency of EMG findings and time to reach fatigue were measured. [Results] Time to reach fatigue and MVC in the local vibration group was significantly high than those in the sham control group. [Conclusion] It seems that the prior local muscle vibration may be useful to attenuate some signs and symptoms of muscle fatigue.

Development of the Persian version of the Vertigo Symptom Scale: Validity and reliability.

BACKGROUND: Vertigo Symptom Scale (VSS) is a proper instrument for assessing the patient status, clarifying the symptoms, and examining the relative impact of the vertigo and anxiety on reported handicap. Our aim is the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the VSS into Persian language (VSS-P) and investigating its validity and reliability in patients with peripheral vestibular disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: VSS was translated into Persian. Cross-cultural adaptation was carried out on 101 patients with peripheral vestibular disorders and 34 participants with no history of vertigo. They completed the Persian versions of VSS, dizziness handicap inventory (DHI), and Beck anxiety inventory (BAI). Internal, discriminant, and convergent validities, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability were determined. RESULTS: The VSS-P showed good face validity. Internal validity was confirmed and demonstrated the presence of two vertigo (VSS-VER) and autonomic-anxiety (VSS-AA) subscales. Significant difference between the median scores for patient and healthy groups was reported in discriminate validity (P <0.001). Convergent validity revealed high correlation between both BAI and DHI with VSS-P. There was a high test-retest reliability; with intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.89, 0.86, and 0.91 for VSS-AA, VER, and VSS-P, respectively. The internal consistency was good with Cronbach's alpha 0.90 for VER subscale, 0.86 for VSS-AA subscale, and 0.92 for the overall VSS-P. CONCLUSION: The Persian version of the VSS could be used clinically as a valid and reliable tool. Thus, it is a key instrument to focus on the symptoms associated with dizziness.

Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score in patients with isolated meniscus injury; Validity and reliability.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is evaluation of the validity and reliability of the Persian version of Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) in patients with isolated meniscus injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred people with isolated meniscal injury (29 females and 71 males with a mean age ± standard deviation [SD] = 32.37 ± 9.97 years) and fifty normal people with no knee problems (34 females and 16 males with a mean age ± SD = 28.42 ± 8.84 years) participated in this study. In patients, the duration of meniscus injury ranged from 1 month to 4 years. For evaluation of discriminate validity, we compared scores of KOOS questionnaire between patients and healthy people, and for concurrent validity, in addition to filling KOOS questionnaire, patients completed Short Form (SF-36) questionnaire, test-retest reliability with intraclass correlation coefficient) ICC), and internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha was calculated. RESULTS: Mean scores of patients (49.51 ± 17.13) and healthy people (86.01 ± 13.44) were different significantly (P < 0.001). The correlation between total score of SF-36 and KOOS was significant (r = 0.77, P < 0.001). ICC was 0.80 (ranged from 0.64-0.75) and Cronbach's alpha was 0.96 (ranged from 0.72 to 0.94). CONCLUSION: The Iranian version of KOOS is a reliable and valid tool for patients with isolated meniscus injury, so the clinicians and investigators may use this questionnaire in clinical settings and their researches.

A systematic review on diagnostic procedures for specific language impairment: The sensitivity and specificity issues.

BACKGROUND: Identification of children with specific language impairment (SLI) has been viewed as both necessity and challenge. Investigators and clinicians use different tests and measures for this purpose. Some of these tests/measures have good psychometric properties, but it is not sufficient for diagnostic purposes. A diagnostic procedure can be used for identification a specific population with confidence only when its sensitivity and specificity are acceptable. In this study, we searched for tests/measures with predefined sensitivity and specificity for identification of preschool children with SLI from their typically developing peers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A computerized search in bibliographic databases from 2000 to August 2015 was performed with the following keywords: "specific language impairment" or SLI" and "primary language impairment" or 'PLI' with at least one of the followings: "diagnosis," "identification," "accuracy," "sensitivity," and "specificity." In addition, the related citations and reference lists of the selected articles were considered. RESULTS: The results of reviewing 23 included studies show that the index measures used in studies vary in accuracy with the sensitivity ranging from 16% to 100% and the specificity ranging from 14% to 100%. CONCLUSION: These varieties in sensitivity and specificity of different tests/measures confirm the necessity of attention to the diagnostic power of tests/measures before their use as diagnostic tool. Further, the results indicate there are some promising tests/measures that the available evidence supports their performances in the diagnosis of SLI in preschool-aged children, yet the place of a reference standard for the diagnosis of SLI is vacant among investigations.

Prevalence of cleft lip and palate among four provinces in the West and North-West of Iran.

BACKGROUND: One of the most common anomalies in newborn infants is cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P). In spite of several studies about the prevalence of this, no investigation evaluated this prevalence in the West and North-West of Iran. With due attention to different ethnic groups in this area, the aim of this study is to investigate whether the distribution of CL/P live births varies regionally in this area of Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using hospital registry records to identify all children born with CL/P. The hospitals with a maternity unit were selected in the capital cities of four provinces in the West and North-West of Iran, East Azarbaijan, Kurdestan, Gilan, and Markazi. The population under study included all infants born alive from 2008 to 2012. RESULTS: During the study period, 107,317 live births were registered in the hospitals with a maternity unit of four cities, and 52 infants (0.485/1000 live births) were born with CL/P. The prevalence in Rasht, Arak, Sanandaj, and Tabriz cities was 0.557, 0.352, 0.503, and 0.559/1000 live births, respectively (P < 0.05), and in cleft types (P < 0.05). Of the 52 infants who were born with CL/P, 24 (46.15%) were girls and 28 (53.85%) were boys (P > 0.05), whereas the prevalence of CL/P based on sex was statistically different among the four provinces (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study shows regional variations in the birth prevalence of clefts and various cleft types. The different effects of gender on the birth prevalence of CL/P from city-to-city may be explained environmentally and/or by genetic factors affecting the development of oral clefts.

Static balance function in children with a history of preterm birth.

BACKGROUND: The incomplete maturation of brain in preterm children results in long-term neurodevelopmental impairment. This study aimed to investigate the static balance function in children with a history of preterm birth. METHODS: Participants were 31 preterm children including 21 moderately preterm (MPT), 10 very preterm (VPT), and 20 term children aged 5.5 and 6.5 years. The cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) test and four static balance subscales of BOT-2 were performed. RESULTS: The VPT children showed a significant increase in P1 and N1 wave latencies in cVEMP test compared to those in the term children (p= 0.041). Mean scores in the four static balance subscales of BOT-2 were significantly lower in the preterm children compared to those in the term children (p= 0.025). The P1 wave latency (p= 0.003) and mean score of standing on a balance beam with open eyes (p= 0.039) were significantly lower in the VPT children compared to those in the MPT children. A significant correlation was observed between the mean score in exercise 4 (standing on one leg on a balance beam with closed eyes) of static balance subscales of BOT-2 and P1 (r= -0.267, p= 0.036) and N1 (r= -0.304, p= 0.016) wave latencies of cVEMP. CONCLUSION: The longer latency of cVEMP waves along with a poor performance of children with a history of preterm birth suggests a possible defect in central vestibular pathway.

Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune systemic disease. Most common autoimmune diseases are multisystem disorders that may also present with otological manifestations, and autoimmune inner ear disease accompanied by vestibular dysfunction. This study aimed to compare the vestibular function between RA patients and normal subjects using cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs). METHODS: In this cross- sectional study, 25patients with RA (19 female and 6 male: mean (±SD) age, 40.00 (±7.92) years) and 20 healthy subjects (15 female and 5 male: mean (±SD) age, 35.35 (±10.48) years) underwent cVEMPs, using 500 Hz-tone bursts at 95 dB nHL intensity level. Data were analyzed using independent sample t-test through SPSS software v. 16. RESULTS: The mean peak latency of p13 was significantly higher in RA patients (p<0.001). The mean peak latency of n23 was significantly higher in patients in the left ear (p=0.03). Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) responses were present in all (100%) of the participants. There were no significant differences in mean peak to peak amplitude and amplitude ratio between the two groups. CONCLUSION: According to the prolonged latency of VEMP responses in RA patients, lesions in the retrolabyrinthine, especially in the vestibulospinal tract are suspected.

Auditory memory function in expert chess players.

BACKGROUND: Chess is a game that involves many aspects of high level cognition such as memory, attention, focus and problem solving. Long term practice of chess can improve cognition performances and behavioral skills. Auditory memory, as a kind of memory, can be influenced by strengthening processes following long term chess playing like other behavioral skills because of common processing pathways in the brain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the auditory memory function of expert chess players using the Persian version of dichotic auditory-verbal memory test. METHODS: The Persian version of dichotic auditory-verbal memory test was performed for 30 expert chess players aged 20-35 years and 30 non chess players who were matched by different conditions; the participants in both groups were randomly selected. The performance of the two groups was compared by independent samples t-test using SPSS version 21. RESULTS: The mean score of dichotic auditory-verbal memory test between the two groups, expert chess players and non-chess players, revealed a significant difference (p≤ 0.001). The difference between the ears scores for expert chess players (p= 0.023) and non-chess players (p= 0.013) was significant. Gender had no effect on the test results. CONCLUSION: Auditory memory function in expert chess players was significantly better compared to non-chess players. It seems that increased auditory memory function is related to strengthening cognitive performances due to playing chess for a long time.

Systemic review on highly qualified screening tests for swallowing disorders following stroke: Validity and reliability issues.

BACKGROUND: Oropharyngeal dysphagia following stroke enhances the risk of dehydration, malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, persistent disablement, and even death. Screening of dysphagia has been shown to positively change health outcomes. The aim of the present study was to systematically introduce the published swallowing screening methods in patients with stroke and their appropriateness for detecting swallowing disorders following stroke with an emphasis on the methodological quality of their research studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A computerized search through the Medline (PubMed), Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar; databases from 1990 through 20 July 2013 was performed. In addition, the related citations and reference lists of the selected articles were considered. RESULTS: A total of 264 papers were retrieved and 19 articles finally met inclusion criteria. Sixty-eight percent of included papers did not have a sufficient quality and only six articles were scored as having evidence level 'I' and were reported descriptively. The most prevalent bias in the included studies was probably a kind of spectrum bias that could lead to select just a subgroup of admitted stroke patients. The screening tests' sensitivities ranged from 47 to 100%, while their specificities ranged from about 63 to 100%. Strengths and limitations of each test have been discussed. CONCLUSION: We ultimately found four simple, valid, reliable, sensitive, and specific tests for screening swallowing disorders in the almost all acute alert stroke patients. Further validation and reliability assessing of screening tests need to follow a very accurate and well-established method in a large sample of the almost all acute alert stroke patients admitted to the hospitals.

A Systematic Review on methods of evaluate sentence production deficits in agrammatic aphasia patients: Validity and Reliability issues.

BACKGROUND: The grammar assessment in aphasia has been done by few standard tests, but today these tests cannot precise evaluate the sentence production in agrammatic patients. In this study, we review structures and contents of tests or tasks designed to find more frequent methods for sentence production ability in aphasia patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched the Cochrane library, Medline by PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar from 1980 to October 1, 2013 and evaluated all of exist tests or tasks included in the articles and systematic reviews. The sentence production has been studied in three methods. It contains the use of sentence production in spontaneous speech, tasks designed and both methods. The quality of studies was assessed using Critical Appraisal Skills Program. RESULTS: The 160 articles were reviewed and 38 articles were studied according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were classified into three categories based on assessment methods of sentence production. In 39.5% studies, researchers have used tasks designed, 7.9% articles have applied spontaneous speech and 52.6% articles have used both methods for evaluation production. Inter-rater reliability was between 90% and 100% and intra-rater reliability was between 96% and 98% in studied. CONCLUSION: Agrammatic aphasia has syntax disorders, especially in sentence production. Most researchers and clinicians used both methods for evaluation production.

Validity and reliability of the Persian version of the dizziness handicap inventory.

BACKGROUND: Dizziness as a common symptom affecting many aspects of the patient's life and it is hard to be fully evaluated. The dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) is a reliable self-perceived questionnaire in the evaluation of dizziness impacts. The purposes of this study are translation of the DHI to Persian language and measuring its psychometric properties, including face, content, discriminate and construct validity, internal consistency and reliability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The English version of the DHI is translated to Persian language based on international quality of life assessment protocol. 97 participants, including 57 patients with mean age of 44.5-year-old and 40 healthy people (mean age of 34.1) participated in this study during the period of November 2012 to June 2013 in audiology clinics of Tehran University of medical sciences. RESULTS: The Persian version of DHI showed good face and content validity. The internal consistency of DHI-P was good, the Cronbach's alpha was 0.79, 0.82, 0.83, and 0.90 for total and emotional, physical and functional subscales; respectively, in reliability, There was a high correlation between test re-test scores (r = 0.90, P = 0.000). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.96 for total score and 0.92, 0.92, and 0.96 for emotional, physical and functional subscales; respectively. CONCLUSION: Considering good psychometric properties, we suggest that DHI-P can use for evaluating the dizziness effects on quality of life in Persian population.

The effect of preterm birth on vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in children.

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth is a significant global health problem with serious short- and long-term consequences. This study examined the long term effects of preterm birth on vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) among preschool-aged children. METHODS: Thirty-one children with preterm and 20 children with term birth histories aged 5.5 to 6.5 years were studied. Each child underwent VEMPs testing using a 500 Hz tone-burst stimulus with a 95 dB nHL (normal hearing level) intensity level. RESULTS: The mean peak latencies of the p13 and n23 waves in the very preterm group were significantly longer than for the full-term group (p≤ 0.041). There was a significant difference between very and mildly preterm children in the latency of peak p13 (p= 0.003). No significant differences existed between groups for p13-n23 amplitude and the interaural amplitude difference ratio. The tested ear and gender did not affect the results of the test. CONCLUSION: Prolonged VEMPs in very preterm children may reflect neurodevelopmental impairment and incomplete maturity of the vestibulospinal tract (sacculocollic reflex pathway), especially myelination. VEMPs is a non-invasive technique for investigating the vestibular function in young children, and considered to be an appropriate tool for evaluating vestibular impairments at the low brainstem level. It can be used in follow-ups of the long-term effects of preterm birth on the vestibular system.