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Clinical Management of Hearing Loss

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A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Otolaryngology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 July 2023) | Viewed by 10552

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Dr. Maoli Duan

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Department of Clinical Science,Intervention and Technology, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
Interests: sudden deafness; sensorineural hearing loss; vestibular disorders and earlier intervention and diagnosis of infant and children with hearing loss
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hearing loss (HL) is one of the most common disorders in modern society. HL can be divided into conductive HL, sensorineural HL and mixed one. The etiology of HL is broad, including both genetic and acquired HL. Conductive HL, caused by issues in the external ear canal and middle ear, can be treated through surgery to help patients hear normal and/or hear better. Sensorineural HL can be original from hair cell damage, synapse impairment, impairment of auditory nerve, different parts of central auditory system. Management of HL have been developed based on recently advanced knowledge on research of HL. In this Special Issue, we would like to invite authors worldwide to submit your recent finding on the management of HL focus on pharmacology, operative practice, habilitation/rehabilitation of HL from external ear canal to central auditory system. Authors are also welcome to more advanced research, such as gene/stem cell therapy in the field.

Dr. Maoli Duan
Guest Editor

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Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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Keywords

hearing loss
inner ear
management
habilitation
rehabilitation
surgery
pharmacological treatment
gene/stem cell therapy

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1165 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Etiology, Severity, Audiogram Type, and Device Usage in Patients with Unilateral Moderate to Profound Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Japan

by Hajime Koyama, Akinori Kashio, Shinichi Nishimura, Haruo Takahashi, Shinichi Iwasaki, Katsumi Doi, Takashi Nakagawa, Ken Ito and Tatsuya Yamasoba

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(13), 4290; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12134290 - 26 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1644

Abstract

Background: Few studies have reported on the etiology, severity, or device usage of unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (UHL) compared to bilateral hearing loss. Therefore, this study investigated the characteristics of UHL in adults and children. Methods: We performed a survey using questionnaires for secondary and tertiary otolaryngology institutions. Results: We included 15,981 patients (1549 children and 14,432 adults) from 196 institutions with otolaryngology residency programs and 2844 patients (336 children and 2508 adults) from 27 institutions with board members of the Japan Audiology Society. The latter submitted audiological data. Among children, most diagnoses were made at age 0. Approximately half of them had profound hearing loss, and 37 children (2.2%) used hearing devices. Among adults, the number of cases increased with age, but decreased when people reached their 80s and 90s. More than half of them had moderate hearing loss. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss was the most common cause of UHL of all ages; 4.4% of UHL patients used hearing devices, and most of the device users (98.6%) selected a conventional hearing aid. Conclusions: Hearing aid use is limited in children and adults with UHL in Japan. There could be many candidates with UHL for intervention such as a cochlear implant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Hearing Loss)

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12 pages, 2090 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Is There an Association between Concurrent Epstein–Barr Virus Infection and Sudden Hearing Loss?—A Case—Control Study in an East Asian Population

by Wei-Lun Lan, Chih-Hao Chen, Yuan-Chia Chu, Yen-Fu Cheng and Chii-Yuan Huang

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(5), 1946; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12051946 - 01 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1613

Abstract

Viral infection serves as the crucial etiology for the development of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). We aimed to investigate whether there is an association between concurrent Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection and SSNHL in an East Asian population. Patients who were older than 18 years of age and met the criteria of sudden hearing loss without an identifiable etiology were enrolled from July 2021 until June 2022, followed by the serological testing of IgA antibody responses against EBV-specific early antigen (EA) and viral capsid antigen (VCA) with an indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) of EBV DNA in serum before the treatment was initiated. After the treatment for SSNHL, post-treatment audiometry was performed to record the treatment response and degree of recovery. Among the 29 patients included during enrollment, 3 (10.3%) had a positive qPCR result for EBV. In addition, a trend of poor recovery of hearing thresholds was noted for those patients with a higher viral PCR titer. This is the first study to use real-time PCR to detect possible concurrent EBV infection in SSNHL. Our study demonstrated that approximately one-tenth of the enrolled SSNHL patients had evidence of concurrent EBV infection, as reflected by the positive qPCR test results, and a negative trend between hearing gain and the viral DNA PCR level was found within the affected cohort after steroid therapy. These findings indicate a possible role for EBV infection in East Asian patients with SSNHL. Further larger-scale research is needed to better understand the potential role and underlying mechanism of viral infection in the etiology of SSNHL. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Hearing Loss)

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12 pages, 2737 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Clinical Profiles and Prognoses of Adult Patients with Full-Frequency Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Combination Therapy

by Yuanping Zhu, Sihai He, Kang Liao, Meihua Li, Zhibin Zhao and Hongyan Jiang

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(4), 1478; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12041478 - 13 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1425

Abstract

We aimed to characterize the clinical profiles and short-term outcomes of adult patients with full-frequency idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) treated uniformly with combination therapy, and to determine the prognostic predictors for the combination therapy. A total of 131 eligible cases hospitalized in our department from January 2018 to June 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. All enrolled cases received a standardized combination therapy employing intravenous methylprednisolone, batroxobin, and Ginkgo biloba extract during the 12 days of hospitalization. The clinical and audiometric profiles were compared between recovered patients and their unrecovered counterparts. The overall recovery rate was 57.3% in the study. Accompanying vertigo (odds ratio = 0.360, p = 0.006) and body mass index (BMI, odds ratio = 1.158, p = 0.016) were two independent predictors of hearing outcomes of the therapy. The male gender and cigarette-smoking history were marginally associated with good hearing prognosis (p = 0.051 and 0.070, respectively). Patients with BMI ≥ 22.4 kg/m² had a better chance of hearing recovery (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Accompanying vertigo and low BMI (<22.4 kg/m²) were independently associated with poor prognosis for full-frequency ISSNHL in combination therapy. Male gender and cigarette-smoking history might be considered positive effects on hearing prognosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Hearing Loss)

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9 pages, 944 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of IL-6 in Inner Ear Impairment: Evidence from 146 Recovered Patients with Omicron Infected in Tianjin, China

by Yu Chen, Xiang Mao, Manbao Kuang, Ziyue Zhang, Mingyu Bo, Yijing Yang, Peng Lin, Wei Wang and Zhongyang Shen

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(3), 1114; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12031114 - 31 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1162

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the effect of inflammatory factors on inner ear impairment in a sample of Omicron-infected patients with a high rate of vaccination in China. Methods: One hundred and forty-six recovered Omicron-infected patients performed the distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) test and serum test for inflammatory factors; demographic data and vaccination statuses were collected from the questionnaire. Results: Out of 146 patients, the DPOAE pass rate was 81.5% (119/146). Inner ear impairment was significantly correlated with IL-6 titer. The odds ratio (aOR) was 1.24 (95% CI: 1.04–1.49) after adjusting for age, sex, and vaccine characteristics. Notably, this relationship only existed in the 18–60 years group. There were no significant protective effects of vaccination on inner ear function. Conclusions: Inner ear impairment still exists in Omicron-infected patients, which was significantly correlated with IL-6 titer. This relationship was mainly observed in young and middle-aged people, possibly due to a stronger immune response in this age group. The protective effect of vaccination on the inner ear could not be proved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Hearing Loss)

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13 pages, 1143 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantifying the Influence of Factors on the Accuracy of Speech Perception in Mandarin-Speaking Cochlear Implant Patients

by Xiang Mao, Ziyue Zhang, Yu Chen, Yue Wang, Yijing Yang, Mei Wei, Yao Liu, Yuanxu Ma, Peng Lin and Wei Wang

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(3), 821; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12030821 - 19 Jan 2023

Viewed by 889

Abstract

Rehabilitation of hearing perception in cochlear implant (CI) patients is a challenging process. A comprehensive analysis of the characteristics of hearing rehabilitation in Mandarin-speaking CI patients was conducted. We measured the aided hearing threshold (AHT) and the speech perception accuracy (SPA) and collected clinical data. A total of 49 CI patients were included. Significant linear relationships existed between the AHT and SPA. The SPA increased by about 5–7% when the AHT decreased by 5 dB. An apparent individual difference in the SPA was observed under the same AHT, which in some patients was lower than the reference value fitted by the regression model. The timing of both of cochlear implantation and rehabilitation training was found to lead to significant improvement in SPA. The SPA increases by 2.1–3.6% per year of cochlear implantation and 0.7–1.5% per year of rehabilitation training. The time of auditory deprivation can significantly reduce the SPA by about 1.0–1.6% per year. The SPA was still poor in some CI patients when the hearing compensation seemed satisfying. Early cochlear implantation and post-operative rehabilitation are essential for recovery of the patient’s SPA if the indications for cochlear implantation are met. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Hearing Loss)

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7 pages, 953 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Missed Radiological Diagnosis of Otosclerosis in High-Resolution Computed Tomography of the Temporal Bone—Retrospective Analysis of Imaging, Radiological Reports, and Request Forms

by Mohamed Bassiouni, Hans-Christian Bauknecht, Gloria Muench, Heidi Olze and Julian Pohlan

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(2), 630; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12020630 - 12 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2093

Abstract

Objectives: Several studies reported low detection rates of otosclerosis in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), especially when the scans were reviewed by non-specialized general radiologists. In the present study, we conducted a retrospective review of the detection of otosclerosis in HRCT by general radiologists and the impact of inadequately filled radiological request forms on the detection rate. Methods: Retrospective analysis of hospital records, HRCT reports, and radiological referral notes of 40 patients who underwent stapedotomy surgery for otosclerosis. HRCT imaging data sets were retrospectively reviewed by a blinded experienced neuroradiologist, whose reading served as the gold standard. Results: General radiologists reading HRCT scans had an overall detection rate of otosclerosis of 36.1% in this cohort (13 of 36 available HRCT reports). The neuroradiologist had a much higher detection rate of 82.5% (33 of 40 cases). Interobserver agreement between the general radiologists and the subspecialist neuroradiologist was poor (Cohen’s kappa κ = 0.26). General radiologists missed the diagnosis in 15 of the 33 CT-positive scans, corresponding to a missed diagnosis rate of 45.4%. There was a highly significant association between a missed diagnosis and the lack of an explicitly mentioned clinical suspicion of otosclerosis in the request forms (Pearson’s chi-squared test, p < 0.005). Conclusion: The diagnosis of otosclerosis is frequently missed by radiologists on HRCT scans of the temporal bone in a clinical setting. Possible reasons include a relative lack of experience of general radiologists with temporal bone imaging as well as the failure of clinicians to unambiguously communicate their suspicion of otosclerosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Hearing Loss)

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15 pages, 543 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

The Effects of BCDs in Unilateral Conductive Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review

by Xin-Yue Wang, Liu-Jie Ren, You-Zhou Xie, Yao-Yao Fu, Ya-Ying Zhu, Chen-Long Li and Tian-Yu Zhang

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(18), 5901; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12185901 - 11 Sep 2023

Viewed by 860

Abstract

Bone conduction devices (BCDs) are widely used in the treatment of conductive hearing loss (CHL), but their applications on unilateral CHL (UCHL) patients remain controversial. To evaluate the effects of BCDs in UCHL, a systematic search was undertaken until May 2023 following the PRISMA guidelines. Among the 391 references, 21 studies met the inclusion criteria and were ultimately selected for review. Data on hearing thresholds, speech recognition, sound localization, and subjective questionnaire outcomes were collected and summarized. Moderate hearing threshold improvements were found in UCHL patients aided with BCDs. Their speech recognition abilities improved significantly. However, sound localization results showed wide individual variations. According to subjective questionnaires, BCDs had an overall positive influence on the daily life of UCHL patients, although several unfavorable experiences were reported by some of them. We concluded that the positive audiological benefits and subjective questionnaire results have made BCDs a credible intervention for UCHL patients. Before final implantations, UCHL patients should first go through a period of time when they were fitted with non-implantable BCDs as a trial. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Hearing Loss)

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