Seeking help for tinnitus and satisfaction with healthcare providers including diagnosis, clinical services, and treatment : a scoping review

The objective of this scoping review was to describe the extent and type of evidence related to seeking help for tinnitus and satisfaction with healthcare providers including diagnosis, services and treatments along the clinical pathway. The selection criteria were adults aged 18 and over with tinnitus who sought help and where patient satisfaction with healthcare providers was reported. Online databases MEDLINE (OvidSP), Embase (OvidSP), PsycINFO (OvidSP) and CINAHL plus (EBSCO) were searched for original studies in English. The search had no date limit. Twenty-one records were eligible for data extraction. Studies reported that the most common healthcare providers seen were general practitioners, ear, nose and throat specialists and audiologists. Depression and tinnitus severity were related to an increase in the number of times help was sought and the type of healthcare provider seen may also impact patient satisfaction. The majority of participants were unlikely to receive a referral to a specialist at the initial GP consultation. Although there is limited research in this area, help-seekers for tinnitus were generally dissatisfied and reported negative interactions with healthcare providers. However, once in a specialised tinnitus clinical setting, studies reported that most help-seekers were satisfied and had positive interactions with healthcare providers.journals.sagepub.com/home/ehpam2024Speech-Language Pathology and AudiologySDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein

Genomic Characterisation of an Isolate of Brassica Yellows Virus Associated with Brassica Weed in Tasmania

Brassica yellows virus (BrYV), a tentative species in the genus Polerovirus, of the Solemoviridae family, is a phloem-restricted and aphid-transmitted virus with at least three genotypes (A, B, and C). It has been found across mainland China, South Korea, and Japan. BrYV was previously undescribed in Tasmania, and its genetic variability in the state remains unknown. Here, we describe a near-complete genome sequence of BrYV (genotype A) isolated from Raphanus raphanistrum in Tasmania using next-generation sequencing and sanger sequencing of RT-PCR products. BrYV-Tas (GenBank Accession no. OM469309) possesses a genome of 5516 nucleotides (nt) and shares higher sequence identity (about 90%) with other BrYV isolates. Phylogenetic analyses showed variability in the clustering patterns of the individual genes of BrYV-Tas. Recombination analysis revealed beginning and ending breakpoints at nucleotide positions 1922 to 5234 nt, with the BrYV isolate LC428359 and BrYV isolate KY310572 identified as major and minor parents, respectively. Results of the evolutionary analysis showed that the majority of the codons for each gene are evolving under purifying selection, though a few codons were also detected to have positive selection pressure. Taken together, our findings will facilitate an understanding of the evolutionary dynamics and genetic diversity of BrYV

The impact of tinnitus upon cognition in adults : a systematic review

OBJECTIVE : To systematically review and analyse experimental outcomes of studies exploring the impact of tinnitus upon cognitive function and their implications for clinical management of invasive tinnitus. DESIGN : A systematic and descriptive review. STUDY SAMPLE : Eighteen studies were identified investigating the impact of tinnitus on cognitive function. RESULTS : The 18 studies evaluated cognitive function using 24 different objective behavioural tests, nine electrophysiological recordings, one oculomotor test, and one self-report questionnaire. The studies spanned 18 years and revealed numerous interactions potentially contributing to the cognitive difficulties frequently reported by people with invasive tinnitus. The studies indicate a clear association between tinnitus and aspects of cognitive function, specifically the executive control of attention. CONCLUSIONS : Tinnitus impairs cognitive function by way of impact upon executive control of attention. Clinical management of patients reporting tinnitus and cognitive difficulties requires an understanding of the reciprocal relationship between tinnitus and cognitive function, with additive effects of anxiety, depression, and somatic cognitive bias. Further study is required to establish the impact of advancing age, hearing loss, anxiety, depression tinnitus duration, and distress upon cognitive function in people with invasive tinnitus.The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the Ear Science Institute Australia and the Lions Hearing Clinic.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/iija202017-05-31hb2017Speech-Language Pathology and Audiolog

Investigating the prevalence and impact of device-related problems associated with hearing aid use

OBJECTIVE : To explore the prevalence of device-related problems associated with hearing aid use, participants’ help-seeking behaviours for these problems, and factors associated with hearing aid problems. DESIGN : A prospective convenience cohort design surveying 413 adult hearing aid users (34–97 years of age) recruited from seven clinics across Australia. RESULTS : Almost all participants (98%) indicated that they were experiencing at least one of the hearing aid problems included on the survey. The number of hearing aid related problems reported by participants ranged from 0 to 25 (of a possible 26), with a mean of 10 problems (SD = 5). The three most reported problems were related to difficulty hearing in noisy environments, hearing in windy environments, and understanding certain voices. Participants had reported less than half (46.33%) of the total problems identified to their clinic (range = 0–100%, mean = 43.40, SD = 13.92). Participants who reported experiencing a greater number of hearing aid problems also reported lower levels of hearing aid benefit, and satisfaction with their hearing aids. CONCLUSIONS : The majority of hearing aid owners experience problems with their hearing aids. Addressing these problems would likely contribute to improved hearing aid outcomes.Portions of this article were presented at the ACAud National Congress 2017, Adelaide, SA, August 2017, at the Audiology Australia Chapter conferences in Perth, Adelaide and Hobart, November 2017, at the HAASA National Conference, Sydney NSW, May 2018, and at the Audiology Australia National Congress, Sydney NSW, May 2018.Australian Postgraduate Award scholarship through The University of Western Australia.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/iija20hj2021Speech-Language Pathology and Audiolog

Prevalence of Hyperacusis and Its Relation to Health: The Busselton Healthy Ageing Study

ImportanceThe prevalence of hyperacusis and its relationship with mental and general health is unknown in a nonclinical sample. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence of hyperacusis and its relation with hearing, general and mental health in a population-based study.Study DesignProspective population-based study.Material and MethodsThis study uses data from the Busselton Healthy Ageing Study (BHAS). A sample of 5,107 eligible inhabitants aged 45 to 70 years completed a detailed questionnaire and a clinical assessment. A positive answer to “Do you consider yourself sensitive or intolerant to everyday sounds” was used to indicate hyperacusis. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between hearing, mental and general health factors, and hyperacusis.ResultsOf 5,107 participants, 775 (15.2%) reported hyperacusis. The majority of participants with hyperacusis reported an occasional effect on daily life (72.0%). Being female, older in age, having a lower income, physical or mental health difficulties, more severe hearing loss, and tinnitus were all associated with the presence of hyperacusis. Individuals who experience hearing impairment, poorer general or mental health have a higher possibility of hyperacusis having an effect on their daily life.ConclusionsIn this community population-based cohort study, we found a prevalence of hyperacusis of 15.2%. Individuals with hearing loss, mental health problems, and lower physical health have a higher possibility of experiencing effects on their daily life associated with their hyperacusis. Unravelling the relationship between hyperacusis hearing, general and mental health can be of major importance for a better understanding of the condition and its consequences.Level of EvidenceII-2 Laryngoscope, 202

Resistance to Multiple Tuber Diseases Expressed in Somaclonal Variants of the Potato Cultivar Russet Burbank

Multiple disease resistance is an aim of many plant breeding programs. Previously, novel somatic cell selection was used to generate potato variants of “Russet Burbank” with resistance to common scab caused by infection with an actinomycete pathogen. Coexpression of resistance to powdery scab caused by a protozoan pathogen was subsequently shown. This study sought to define whether this resistance was effective against additional potato tuber diseases, black scurf, and tuber soft rot induced by fungal and bacterial pathogens. Pot trials and in vitro assays with multiple pathogenic strains identified significant resistance to both tuber diseases across the potato variants examined; the best clone A380 showed 51% and 65% reductions in disease severity to tuber soft rot and black scurf, respectively, when compared with the parent line. The resistance appeared to be tuber specific as no enhanced resistance was recorded in stolons or stem material when challenged Rhizoctonia solani that induces stolon pruning and stem canker. The work presented here suggests that morphological characteristics associated with tuber resistance may be the predominant change that has resulted from the somaclonal cell selection process, potentially underpinning the demonstrated broad spectrum of resistance to tuber invading pathogens