Speech Intelligibility Measurements in Tinnitus Patients with and without Hearing Loss

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of hearing loss on speech intelligibility in tinnitus patients. Two new Polish tests for speech intelligibility measurements (the Polish Sentence Test-PST and the Polish Digit Triplet Test-PDTT) were used in the investigation. Tinnitus patients (56 persons) with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and 28 tinnitus patients with normal hearing thresholds participated in the study. For tinnitus patients with hearing loss, two slopes of the audiograms for higher frequencies were chosen. The speech reception threshold (SRT) for sentence test $(SRT_{S})$ and for triplet test $(SRT_{T})$ were determined. Results showed that for tinnitus patients (without hearing loss), the mean $SRT_{S}$ = - 4.2 dB and was higher by -1.9 dB than that for normal hearing subjects (control group). For the triplet test, the mean $SRT_{T}$ = - 8.1, and was by -1.3 dB higher than $SRT_{T}$ for the control group. This meant that the PST reflected a greater tinnitus influence on the speech intelligibility than the PDTT. The mean $SRT_{S}$ values for tinnitus patients with sloping audiogram up to 15 dB/oct were within the range from -3.2 to -0.7 dB, while for the larger slopes the mean $SRT_{S}$ values changed from -2.2 dB to 0.48 dB

Synergistic Effect of ELF-Magnetic Field and IR-Radiation on Tinnitus Patients

The LED light therapy and magnetostimulation is an innovative method of treatment used in Viofor JPS System. Simultaneous application of both types of electromagnetic radiation increases the therapy effectiveness by the synergy effect. It is recommended in analgesic, anti-inflammatory treatment, and to support immune system of the organism. The mechanism of biological effect of variable magnetic fields and light are of similar nature at the tissue level. When applying magnetostimulation and light together, it shortens the time of therapy. The LED light therapy and magnetostimulation is supposed to be an alternative supporting method to therapies used to treat tinnitus so far

Effect of ELF Magnetic Stimulation on Distortion Product of Otoacoustic Emission in Tinnitus Patients

One of the methods for objective evaluation of the hearing system is based on acoustic otoemissions. Particularly promising is the method based on measurement of the distortion product of otoacoustic emission as it is connected to the problem of tinnitus. Slow-varying magnetic field of low induction has been used in therapy of many diseases and ailments. It is expected that magnetostimulation will be effective in treatment of certain types of tinnitus by inducing the return of the organism to homeostasis. The aim of this study was to identify the changes in distortion product of otoacoustic emission levels in patients, prior and after the magnetostimulation. However any significant changes were found among patients with tinnitus, for the control group statistically important changes in distortion product of otoacoustic emission levels were observed

Cochlear implantation through the middle fossa approach.

The inner part of cochlear implant is inserted into inner ear during surgery through mastoid and middle ear. It is a classical method, used in the majority cochlear centers in the world. This is not a suitable method in case of chronic otitis media and middle ear malformation. In these cases Colletti proposed the middle fossa approach and cochlear implant insertion omitting middle ear structures. In patient with bilateral chronic otitis media underwent a few ears operations without obtaining dry postoperative cavity. Cochlear implantation through the middle fossa approach was performed in this patient. The bone fenster was cut, temporal lobe was bent and petrosus pyramid upper surface was exposed. When the superficial petrosal greater nerve, facial nerve and arcuate eminence were localised, the cochlear was open in the basal turn and electrode were inserted. The patient achieves good results in the postoperative speech rehabilitation. It confirmed Colletti tesis that deeper electrode insertion in the cochlear implantation through the middle fossa approach enable use of low and middle frequencies, which are very important in speech understanding