Comparison of amplitude and latency of cognitive potential (P3)with high and low frequency stimuli in early and late onset blind subjects

AbstractThe aim of this study was to study P3 with high and low frequency stimulus in blind subjects to study neuroplasticity. The P3 was recorded in 70 dBnHL. Comparison of results between two groups showed that there were no statistically significant differences between amplitudes and latencies of P3 with high frequency stimuli. However, in low frequency the difference between amplitudes was significant. Neuroplasticity seemed to occur in visual cortex in both groups. The activation patterns of the occipital cortex varied between these two groups and this could be demonstrated with low frequency stimuli better than with high frequency stimuli

Combination of Vestibular Rehabilitation and Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation Improves Verbal and Visuospatial Memory: A Randomized Control Trial in Patients with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

Background and Aim: Considering the critical input of the vestibular system to the hippocampus as an area involved in cognition, and vestibular disorders reported in patients with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI), we aimed to investigate the effects of Vestibular Rehabilitation (VR) with and without noisy Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (nGVS) on cognitive function in patients with aMCI. Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, twenty-two patients with aMCI were randomly assigned to two groups receiving: 1) VR for four weeks (VR group); 2) VR for four weeks with nGVS for three sessions (GVS+VR group). Outcome measures were Rey's Auditory-Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Corsi blocks, Visual Search (VS), and match to sample tests. Results: Mean immediate and delayed recalls of RAVLT, all of the outcomes of Corsi blocks and VS tests, and the error rate of the match to sample tests improved significantly after intervention in VR and GVS+VR groups. Between-group differences were observed for learning and delayed recalls of RAVLT (p=0.001, d=0.444 and p<0.001, d=0.512 respectively), reaction times 1 and 2 in VS (p=0.007, d=0.325 and p=0.001, d=0.446 respectively), the total correct trial of Corsi blocks (p=0.026, d=0.235), and error rate of the match to sample (p=0.017, d=0.266) tests. Conclusion: The synergistic effect of VR and GVS suggested that simultaneous use of both stimulations improves verbal and visuospatial memory in aMCI patients. Study protocol location: https://irct.ir/trial/47249 Trial registration number: IRCT20160131026279N

Noise and Tinnitus

Tinnitus from the Latin word tinnire meaning ringing is the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound. The most common cause is noise induced hearing loss. Tinnitus may be induced by an acoustic trauma or a permanent noise in the workplace. In case that Tinnitus is induced by acoustic trauma the site of lesion is commonly the base of the cochlea. Tinnitus in the senile population is mostly accompanying presbycusis. Although the incidence of permanent tinnitus following noise exposure is high, little is published about this issue. In the current article we are aimed at studying the prevalence of tinnitus in Minoo and other manufactures

Auditory Perceptual and Visual-Spatial Characteristics of Gaze-Evoked Tinnitus

Auditory perceptual and visual-spatial characteristics of subjective tinnitus evoked by eye gaze were studied in two adult human subjects. This uncommon form of tinnitus occurred approximately 4-6 weeks following neurosurgery for gross total excision of space Occupying lesions of the cerebellopontine angle and hearing was lost in the operated ear. In both cases, the gaze evoked tinnitus was characterized as being tonal in nature, with pitch and loudness percepts remaining constant as long as the same horizontal or vertical eye directions were maintained. Tinnitus was absent when the eyes were in a neutral head referenced position with subjects looking straight ahead. The results and implications of ophthalmological, standard and modified visual field assessment, pure tone audio metric assessment, spontaneous otoacoustic emission testing and detailed psychophysical assessment of pitch and loudness are discusse

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

The Effect of Learning Disability on Contralateral Suppression of Otoacoustic Emissions in Primary Students

Background and Aim: One of the most significant complaints of children with learning disability (LD) is difficulty in understanding speech in the presence of background noise. Different studies have shown that the medial olivocochlear bundle(MOCB) may play a role in hearing in noise. The MOCB function can be evaluated by the contralateral suppression of tone burst evoked otoacoustic emissions (TBEOAEs).The aim of the present study was to evaluate frequency specifications of MOCB by the contralateral suppression of TBEOAEs at 1,2,3 and 4 KHz in response to contralateral white noise in LD students. Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 34 LD students aged 7-11 years and 31 normal students matched for age.The contralateral suppression of TBEOAEs was evaluated by comparing TBEOAEs amplitudes with and without contralateral white noise. Results: In the absence of noise there was no significant difference between TBEOAEs amplitudes of two groups. In the presence of noise significant decrease was seen in TBEOAEs amplitudes at 1,2,3 and 4 KHz in both groups. In LD students the amount of this decrement at 1,2 and 4 KHz was lower than in the normal students. Conclusion: A significant diminished suppression effect at 1,2 and 4 KHz in LD students indicates that at these frequency regions MOCB function was reduced. Therefore it suggests that the assessment of MOCB by evaluating the suppression effect of TBEOAEs included in the test battery approach used in the diagnostic of LD students

Facial Schwannoma

Background: Facial schwannoma is a rare tumor arising from any part of the nerve. Probable symptoms are partial or facial weakness, hearing loss, visible mass in the ear, otorrhea, loss of taste, rarely pain, and sometimes without any symptoms. Patients should undergo a complete neurotologic history, examination with documentation of facial and auditory function, specially C.T. scan or M.R.I. Surgery is the only treatment option although the decision of when to remove facial schwannoma in the presence of normal facial function is difficult. Case: A 19-year-old girl with all above symptoms in the right side except loss of taste is diagnosed having facial schwannoma with full examination, audiometric, and radiological tests. She underwent surgery. In follow-up facial function were mostly restored. Conclusion: The need for careful assessment of patients with Bell's palsy cannot be overemphasized. In spite of the negative results if still there is any suspicoin, total facial nerve exploration is necessary

Ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Background and Aim: Since utricle is the main damaged organ in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) may be an appropriate method to evaluate the utricule dysfunction and the effect of disease recurrence rate on it. This study aimed to record myogenic potential in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.Methods: In a cross-sectional study, ocular myogenic potential was recorded in 25 healthy subjects and 20 patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo using 500 Hz-tone bursts (95 dB nHL).Results: In the affected ear, mean amplitude was lower and mean threshold was higher than those in the unaffected ear and in the normal group (p<0.05). Mean amplitude asymmetry ratio of patients was more than the healthy subjects (p0.05). Frequencies of abnormal responses in the affected ears were higher than in unaffected ears and in the normal group (p<0.05). Furthermore, the patients with recurrent vertigo showed more abnormalities than the patients with non-recurrent (p=0.030).Conclusion: In the recurrent benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential showed more damage in the utricle, suggesting this response could be used to evaluate the patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Benefit of Analog, Programmable and Digital Hearing Aids

Background and Aims: As the hearing aid technology progressively promotes toward replacing analog hearing aids with digital and programmable ones, comparison of the patient satisfaction of those kinds of hearing aids by means of a valuable tool seems so necessary. So, the aim of this study was to compare self-reported benefit of analog, digitally controlled programmable and digital hearing aids for reducing disability caused by hearing impairment in mild to severe sensorineural hearing impaired persons. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 90 persons with mild to severe sensorineural hearing loss dividing into three groups: 43 subjects were fitted with digital, 15 with programmable, 32 with analog hearing aids. After pure tone audiometry, Abbreviated profile of hearing aid benefit (APHAB) was completed before and one month after using hearing aids to determine the benefit of them. Results: Global APHAB mean scores for digital, programmable and analog hearing aids were 49.05, 33.19 and 39.53, respectively. Ease of Communication subscale mean scores were 53.46 for digitals, 37.66 for programmables and 39.09 for analogs. Background noise subscale mean scores for digital programmable and analog hearing aids were 46.36, 25.53 and 35.31, respectively. Global and also both subscale mean scores showed significant difference between digital hearing aids and programmable and analog ones. There was no significant difference between reverberation subscale mean scores of three groups. Conclusion: It seems digital hearing aids may be more beneficial to reduce disability caused by hearing loss than analog and programmable hearing aids are

Improvement of Speech Perception in Children with Cochlear Implant

Background and Aim: Although the ability of speech perception has been improved in implanted subjects with recent progress in technology, cochlear implantation alone is not enough and more aural rehabilitation is necessary. The aim of this study was to assess improvement of speech perception in children with cochlear implant.Methods: Fourteen cochlear implanted children with a mean age of 5.5 years participated in this study. Auditory training was performed in 10 to 43 sessions. Speech recognition and perception were evaluated every 3 months. Third evaluation was done only for 4 patients.Results: Mean total score of the first evaluation was 43.21%, of the second was 63.76%, and of the third evaluation was 78%. All children obtained complete score for sound awareness at the first evaluation. In environmental sounds discrimination, 71.3%, 84.36%, and 100% answered completely to the questions of three evaluations respectively. In speech sounds discrimination, 34.7% in the first, 57.04% in the second, and 85% in the third evaluation obtained the complete score, and in auditory memory, complete responses were 21% for the first, 57.12% for the second, and 83% for third evaluation. In story rephrasing and comprehension, no one answered to questions completely. However, 12.83% obtained the complete score in the second and third evaluations. There were statistically significant differences between the first and the second evaluation (p=0.002)Conclusion: Sound awareness ability seems to be achieved rapidly. Development of speech and environmental sound discrimination abilities, particularly speech comprehension which is the most important skill, need more impressive training