Effects of tinnitus masking therapy in tinnitus patients with and without hearing loss

Aim: The aim of the study is to determine the effects of tinnitus masking therapy on patients with and without hearing loss. Material and Methods: This study includes a total 34 of patients with tinnitus, between 27 and 70 years of age, 16 of whom with and 18 of whom without hearing loss. The patients with and above 25 dB were added to the group without hearing loss and those below 25 dB to the group with hearing loss. The patients had one session each day. Previously determined and appropriate for tinnitus mapping, sound was made to be listened through TDH 39-P model earphones for 30 minutes during the therapy. Before and after the ten-sessions therapies, the effects of masking therapy on the patients were assessed through Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. Result: Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores were found significantly low in patients with and without hearing loss after tinnitus masking therapy (p =0.026 and p = 0.023). And, in comparison made between the groups, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores before and after tinnitus masking therapy were found to be similar(p<0.05). Conclusion: Both groups benefited from masking therapy at similar levels. Tinnitus masking therapy is effective on both patients with and without hearing loss. The success of masking therapy is related to proper patient selection. Regular follow-up is essential

Comparison eCAP and behaviour thresholds in post lingual medel cochlear implant users

Aim: Our purpose with this study is to determine the most effective and suitable cochlear implant programming method for CI users’ implants to experience quality hearing and for the users to achieve efficiency from their implants. Materials and Methods:Twenty-five cochlear implant users with post lingual progressive hearing loss were included in the study. Twelve electrodes’ ART (auditory nerve response telemetry) thresholds were determined and were statistically analyzed to be evaluated in the study. For 12 electrodes whose AutoART threshold was determined, the MCLs (most comfortable loudness) were determined behaviorally. Results: No correlations were found between the 12 electrodes and AutoART. It was seen that there was a correlation between the pure tone average obtained from 500-1000-2000 and 4000Hz and the speech reception threshold. Conclusion: The use of two test batteries together to determine thresholds can be helpful in the programming of the speech processor. The more audiologists work with cochlear implant patients and do programming, the more they accumulate data and gain occupational experience. With the occupational experience acquired in this manner, more accurate programming can be done

Effects of tinnitus masking therapy in tinnitus patients with and without hearing loss

Aim: The aim of the study is to determine the effects of tinnitus masking therapy on patients with and without hearing loss. Material and Methods: This study includes a total 34 of patients with tinnitus, between 27 and 70 years of age, 16 of whom with and 18 of whom without hearing loss. The patients with and above 25 dB were added to the group without hearing loss and those below 25 dB to the group with hearing loss. The patients had one session each day. Previously determined and appropriate for tinnitus mapping, sound was made to be listened through TDH 39-P model earphones for 30 minutes during the therapy. Before and after the ten-sessions therapies, the effects of masking therapy on the patients were assessed through Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. Result: Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores were found significantly low in patients with and without hearing loss after tinnitus masking therapy (p =0.026 and p = 0.023). And, in comparison made between the groups, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores before and after tinnitus masking therapy were found to be similar(p<0.05). Conclusion: Both groups benefited from masking therapy at similar levels. Tinnitus masking therapy is effective on both patients with and without hearing loss. The success of masking therapy is related to proper patient selection. Regular follow-up is essential

Effects of craniosacral osteopathy in patients with peripheral vestibular pathology

Introduction: Vertigo appears as a result of a sudden neural activity imbalance of the vestibular system. The vertigo prevalence is higher in patients over 60 years of age compared to patients under 40 years of age. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of craniosacral osteopathy on dizziness and balance in individuals who have peripheral vestibular pathology. Methods: A total of 30 individuals, aged 24-50 years, participated in this study. Twenty-four of the participants were female (80%) and 6 were male (20%). The participants were separated into 2 groups, with 15 patients included in the cranial osteopathy treatment group (study group) and 15 patients included in the group that used dimenhydrinate (control group). The individuals were evaluated in terms of dizziness and balance. A visual analog scale was used to evaluate dizziness. Balance was evaluated using the Berg balance scale and the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence scale. The craniosacral treatment program was applied once per week for 6 sessions. All of the individuals included in this study were evaluated 3 times, i.e., prior to treatment, on the third week of treatment, and on the sixth week of treatment. Results: Significant improvement was noted within each group in terms of dizziness and balance (p < 0.05). When the groups were compared with each other, it was observed that craniosacral osteopathy was more effective than dimenhydrinate treatment for dizziness and balance (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Craniosacral osteopathy is an effective treatment choice in individuals who have chronic peripheral vestibular pathology. In individuals who have resistant and chronic vestibular pathology, craniosacral osteopathy should be evaluated among the treatment choices. © 2020 Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved

Individualized treatment of tinnitus during sleep using combined tinnitus signal and music

Introduction: Tinnitus is a widely seen otological symptom that interferes with daily activities and causes discomfort. Tinnitus treatments can be classified into 4 main groups: pharmacological treatments, cognitive and behavioral therapy, psychological treatments, and combined treatment approaches made up of at least 2 of these 3 treatment methods. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether it would be possible to develop an individualized treatment method of tinnitus by application of a combined tinnitus signal and music during sleep. Methods: Forty-three ears of 30 patients who had subjective tinnitus were included. The patients were evaluated using Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Visual Analogue Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory. The psychoacoustic parameters of tinnitus, such as tinnitus frequency and loudness, and minimal masking levels, were determined. The patients were asked to select musical melodies that they liked. The tinnitus frequency of each patient was taken as the central frequency according to ANSI 2004. All sound files were prepared as stereo channels, with 16-bit resolution and 44,100 Hz sampling rate. The root mean square power value of the music and the band noise's average root mean square power value were equalized with the "Amplification" command, and 70% of the music and 30% of wide/narrow-band noise were mixed as a stereo channel by the "Mix Paste" command. The patients were instructed to listen to that individualized music/narrow-band noise (tinnitus signal) for 2 h during sleep for a duration of 6 months. Results: Tinnitus frequencies of the patients measured prior to treatment and at the second, fourth, and sixth months of follow-up were not significantly different. A statistically significant decrease was seen in tinnitus loudness, minimal masking levels, and residual inhibition during the follow-up. Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores decreased significantly during follow-up, and the number of patients who complained of tinnitus decreased (p < 0.05). The Visual Analogue Scale scores significantly decreased during follow-up (p < 0.05). Beck Depression Inventory scores decreased significantly during follow-up (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Stimulation of the auditory and limbic systems during sleep by the tinnitus signal combined with individualized musical melodies seems an alternative, effective, and cheap method in the treatment of tinnitus

OSAS' lı hastalarda işitme kaybının S100B ve NSE ile ilişkisi

Objective: The aim of the current study was to determine the relationship between serum S100B levels, NSE levels and hearing function in patients with OSAS. Material and Methods: Thirty-five subjects and 30 controls were included in the study. The study group included 35 patients with moderate and severe apnoea (AHI > 15) who were diagnosed by polysomnography (PSG). Control subjects were selected with ESS (Epworth Sleepiness Scale). Serum S100B and NSE levels in the study and control groups were analyzed by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and high-frequency audiometry was done for all subjects. Results: Mean S100B levels and NSE levels of the OSAS group were significantly higher than that of the controls (p = 0.039; p = 0.002, respectively). The hearing thresholds between 125-1,000 Hz and between 4,000-12,000 Hz in the study group were found to be significantly higher than the control group. Conclusion: We suggest that hearing function should be evaluated in OSAS patients and a professional consultation should be sought for OSAS treatment. In addition, serum S100B and NSE measurements may be valued as biochemical indicators in determining hearing loss risk caused by OSAS.Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı OUAS'lı hastalarda serum S100B düzeyleri, NSE düzeyleri ve işitme fonksiyonu arasındaki ilişkiyi belirlemekti. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmaya 35 hasta ve 30 kontrol dahil edildi. Çalışma grubu, polisomnografi (PSG) tanısı almış, orta ve şiddetli apneli (AHİ> 15) 35 hastayı içermekteydi.Kontrol grubu ESS (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) testi kullanılarak seçildi.Serum NSE ve S100B seviyeleri, enzime bağlı immünosorbent tahlili (ELISA) yöntemi ile tahlil edildi. Tüm denekler için yüksek frekanslı odyometri yapıldı. Bulgular: OUAS grubunun ortalama S100B düzeyleri ve NSE düzeyleri kontrol grubundan anlamlı derecede yüksekti (sırasıyla, p = 0.039; p = 0.002). Çalışma grubunda 125-1.000 Hz ve 4.000-12.000 Hz arasındaki işitme eşik değerlerinin kontrol grubundan anlamlı derecede yüksek olduğu bulundu. Sonuç: İşitme fonksiyonunun OUAS hastalarında değerlendirilmesi gerektiğini ve OUAS tedavisi için profesyonel bir konsültasyon aranması gerektiğini öneriyoruz. Ek olarak, serum S100B ve NSE ölçümleri, OUAS'ın neden olduğu işitme kaybı riskini belirlemede biyokimyasal göstergeler olarak değerlendirilebilir