This study aimed to translate and validate the Attitude towards Loss of Hearing Questionnaire into the Arabic language and explore attitudes of working-age adults towards their hearing loss and hearing aids.

A cross-sectional investigation was conducted of 237 middle-aged Jordanians (18-65 years old) who have hearing loss using an online questionnaire during the period of October to December 2023.

The specialized experts in the field had an 88 per cent acceptance rate on all items of the Attitude towards Loss of Hearing Questionnaire. Five factors were loaded and explained a total of 58.37 per cent, confirming the validity of the Attitude towards Loss of Hearing Questionnaire Arabic version. All subscales of the Attitude towards Loss of Hearing Questionnaire surpass the normal values of Cronbach alpha. Several predictors of attitude towards loss of hearing were noted, including educational level, age, family members, income and marital status.

Addressing barriers to hearing aid use, such as psychosocial and economic, can improve hearing support and increase healthcare focus and collaboration among clinicians and stakeholders globally.

To identify changes in hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and migraine in individuals with Ménière’s disease diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 and during the UK national lockdown.

Patients were questioned regarding coronavirus disease 2019 status and how their symptoms of hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and migraine changed because of the pandemic. Of the 411 participants recruited into this study, 382 had a self-reported coronavirus disease 2019 status.

Of those individuals with a positive coronavirus disease 2019 diagnosis, 43 (11.3 per cent) were more likely to experience worsening symptoms of hearing loss and tinnitus. Worsening symptoms of hearing loss and tinnitus, but improved symptoms related to vertigo, were observed during the UK national lockdown.

A diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 and/or experiencing the consequences of a national lockdown potentially resulted in a worsening of hearing loss and tinnitus symptoms. Symptoms of vertigo were found to have improved during the same period.

This study aimed is to analyse the quality of stapedotomy videos as an educational tool and to test the feasibility of the IVORY grading system (IVORY-GS) in an otological procedure.

YouTube was searched using the terms “stapedectomy”, “stapedotomy” and “otosclerosis surgery.” Video length, upload date, view count and likes were evaluated. The included videos were scored according to the IVORY-GS.

Sixty-seven videos were evaluated. The mean IVORY-GS total score was 21.8. Video scores were higher in the ethics part. Case presentation items got the lowest scores in total. The total score showed a significantly positive correlation with like counts. No significant correlation was found between the total score and view count and video age.

The educational quality of most of the stapedotomy videos on YouTube is insufficient. The IVORY-GS is a comprehensive guideline in the otorhinolaryngology field. However, it may require some modifications based on the type of surgery.

This study aimed to evaluate clinical characteristics, treatments and outcomes of paediatric temporal bone fractures at our institute.

A retrospective study of paediatric skull fractures confirmed by imaging from January 2010 to December 2022. Data on demographics, clinical presentations, injury mechanisms and complications were analysed, and fractures were categorised into otic capsule sparing (OCS) and violating (OCV).

Of 369 skull fracture cases, 88 (24 per cent) involved temporal bones, predominantly caused by falls and vehicle accidents. Common symptoms were loss of consciousness, hematoma, and hemotympanum, with complications like facial nerve injury and cerebrospinal fluid leaks in 3.4 per cent of cases. OCV fractures led to more severe complications, including hearing loss. Audiology showed 65 per cent without hearing impairment, while others had various degrees of loss.

Paediatric temporal bone fractures, particularly OCV types, pose significant challenges. Early detection and thorough management are vital, underscoring the need for consistent data collection and regular audiometric monitoring.

The present study aimed to measure an association between the caloric test and vestibulo-ocular reflex gain and refixation saccades in individuals with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorders.

Twenty individuals (9 males and 11 females), in the age range of 17 to 38 years, diagnosed with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorders, and 20 normal-hearing individuals (age and gender matched) participated in the study. All the individuals underwent case history, pure tone audiometry, immittance evaluation, otoacoustic emissions, auditory brainstem response, caloric tests and video head impulse tests.

All the patients with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorders in the present study had hypoactive caloric responses, which suggested peripheral vestibular lesions. The mean vestibulo-ocular reflex gain was reduced in few patients with auditory neuropathy, whereas few patients had normal vestibulo-ocular reflex gain.

The present study revealed a discrepancy between the caloric and video head impulse test results in auditory neuropathy spectrum disorders. The vestibular evaluation should be done for all patients with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorders to understand the various types of vestibular nerve lesions.

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is characterised by recurrent, severe epistaxis. While nasal closure is a relatively well-established treatment for HHT patients with intractable epistaxis, recent studies highlight the efficacy of bevacizumab in this subgroup. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of nasal closure for patients with contraindications to bevacizumab.

A case series of five patients with HHT and severe refractory transfusion-dependent epistaxis who were treated with nasal closure.

All patients had subjective improvement in epistaxis. Haemoglobin concentrations increased in all patients, with none requiring transfusion for epistaxis post-operatively. Four patients experienced complete cessation in epistaxis. Four returned positive Glasgow Benefit Inventory scores.

Nasal closure appears to be a safe and effective option for the management of epistaxis in patients with severe, refractory HHT-related epistaxis. Treatment improved quality of life, reduced severity of epistaxis and increased haemoglobin concentrations. Nasal closure should be considered for HHT patients with severe, refractory epistaxis, particularly in cases where bevacizumab is contraindicated.

Ménière’s disease is a chronic inner-ear disease attributed to endolymphatic hydrops. Magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium allows visualisation of endolymphatic hydrops in vivo and may be an adjunct to diagnosis.

Thirty-eight patients suspected of having Ménière’s disease underwent T2 weighted three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and true inversion recovery sequence magnetic resonance imaging 4 hours post double-dose intra-venous gadolinium. Presence of endolymphatic hydrops was graded by two radiologists at 0 and 4 months. Correlation to clinical diagnosis was assessed using Fisher’s exact test.

Hydrops was identified in 88 per cent, 17 per cent and 27 per cent of patients with Definite Ménière’s, Probable Ménière’s and Undifferentiated disease, respectively. A significant correlation existed between diagnosis and presence of hydrops. Sensitivity and specificity were 88 per cent and 67 per cent, respectively. Intra- and inter-observer agreement for presence and grading of hydrops was near-perfect and substantial to near-perfect, respectively.

Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates radiographic hydrops with significant correlation to clinical diagnosis and good intra- and inter-observer agreement.

To assess the effects of intratympanic gentamicin on the recovery of patients with large vestibular schwannomas undergoing retrosigmoid resection.

We conducted a prospective case-control pilot study over 24 months, including 13 patients with large vestibular schwannomas (25–41 mm intracranial diameter); seven patients received intratympanic gentamicin pre-operatively, while six did not. Outcome measures were duration of stay (main), age, gender, vestibular schwannoma size, body mass index and financial costs.

Age had the highest association with longer inpatient stay. The non-gentamicin patients had longer hospital stays, were older, had lower body mass indices and larger vestibular schwannomas. A trend towards shorter stay was seen in patients receiving gentamicin with tumours less than 35 mm in size, but not in patients with larger tumours. Costs were lower for the gentamicin group.

Although not statistically significant, there was a positive trend in patients with vestibular schwannomas greater than 35 mm in size; thus, intratympanic gentamicin as prehabilitation could be considered.

This study aimed to examine the efficacy of the automated mechanical repositioning chairs compared to canalith repositioning manoeuvres for elderly patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

A retrospective study included 969 patients with BPPV who were first diagnosed at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2020. Patients were followed up for one year. Demographics, disease status, treatment and various outcomes were collected through medical record reviews and follow-up interviews.

Based on the criteria for evaluating treatment efficacy using objective and subjective indicators, BPPV patients treated with automated mechanical repositioning chair therapy showed a significantly better prognosis and lower recurrence rates.

Automated mechanical repositioning chair therapy is an effective approach for BPPV treatment, with advantages over conventional manual canalith repositioning procedures.

To assess the value of corrected calcium decline at 6 hours as a predictor of hypocalcaemia post total thyroidectomy by comparing it to the currently widely used intact parathyroid hormone.

A retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent total thyroidectomy from January 2016 to February 2020. Serum intact parathyroid hormone and corrected calcium data pre-operatively and 6 hours post-operatively were obtained. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to compare corrected calcium decline at 6 hours versus 6 hours for relative intact parathyroid hormone decline as predictors of hypocalcaemia, and the area under the curve for each metric was reported.

Patients included in this analysis totalled 209. The receiver operating characteristic analysis suggested that corrected calcium decline at 6 hours has a similar predictive value to 6 hours relative intact parathyroid hormone. The areas under the curves for predicting hypocalcaemia were 0.797 for corrected calcium decline at 6 hours and 0.737 for 6 hours relative intact parathyroid hormone, but the difference (0.06) was not statistically significant.

Our results suggest that corrected calcium decline at 6 hours has a similar predictive value to 6 hours relative intact parathyroid hormone and hence has the potential to predict post-operative hypocalcaemia.

This study aimed to describe outcomes of paediatric stapes surgery at an academic tertiary care centre.

Electronic medical records of patients younger than 21 years who underwent stapedotomy between September 2013 and July 2020 were reviewed.

A total of 17 patients (7 male, 10 female) were included in our study; 14 underwent surgery on one ear while 3 underwent surgery on both ears (20 ears total). Mean pre-operative air-bone gap was 34.5 dB (standard deviation, 11). At three months, the mean post-operative air-bone gap was 20.6 dB (standard deviation, 10.2), with a mean improvement of 17 dB (standard deviation, 12.1). Sixty-four per cent of patients had closure of their air-bone gap to 20 dB or less. A negative correlation between pre-operative body-mass index and post-operative air-bone gap was statistically significant (n = 14, p = 0.03, r = -0.57 [95% confidence interval -0.85, -0.04]).

Paediatric stapedotomy can be effective and safe. In this cohort, age was not correlated with improvement in air-bone gap; pre-operative body mass index was significantly correlated with post-operative air-bone gap.

Deafness is a leading cause of disability worldwide. This prospective cohort study investigates the impact of cochlear implants on self-reported quality of life in post-lingually deaf adults.

The self-administered 36-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 and the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale questionnaires were prospectively used to investigate the impact of cochlear implants in 98 post-lingually deaf adults aged more than or equal to 50 years.

Quality of life improved post-cochlear implant in the cumulative scores and scores for all domains of the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (p < 0.05). QoL improved post-cochlear implant in the sub-domains related to cognition and participation in society of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the cumulative score. Subgroup analysis showed improvement in the participation in society domain only and only in males and participants aged younger than 75 years (p < 0.05).

Cochlear implant improves quality of life in post-lingually deaf adults.

This study demonstrates a national programme which has been accepted in Wales as a mandatory part of the induction process for the rotating ENT SHO cohort.

The ENT Induction Bootcamp was established based on the learning needs of ENT SHOs. Pre- and post-course assessment of the subjective and objective benefit of the 1-day course was captured.

Between 2022 and 2024, 152 participants have attended the bootcamp; all of whom (100 per cent) found the course beneficial. The greatest improvements in participant confidence were observed in emergency tracheostomy management, flexible nasendoscopy and nasal examination (all p < 0.01). Based on objective assessment, participant knowledge improved from a mean of 68.5 per cent to 96.5 per cent.

This initiative highlights the value of a bootcamp approach to standardise junior doctors’ abilities to manage ENT emergencies. This bootcamp is now a mandatory component for all SHO entering ENT attachments in Wales, in an easily adoptable format.

The success of tympanoplasty is mainly defined by the post-operative integrity of the tympanic membrane, as well as the absence of any need for further operating. Among the factors affecting the outcome, the surgical grafting technique is still a matter of debate. Our aim is to report the results of the split two-layer cartilage–perichondrium technique.

We carried out a retrospective study of 108 consecutive adult patients undergoing myringoplasty, assessing both surgical and audiological outcomes of the split two-layer cartilage–perichondrium technique, including primary and revision cases.

Complete perforation closure was observed in 97/108 (89.7 per cent) of the cases; 101/108 (93.5 per cent) had no need for further intervention. Failures were observed only in cases with total perforations without any differences between primary and revision cases. The average air–bone gap improved from 29.75 dB pre-operatively to 5.8 dB post-operatively.

The results indicate high success rates of the technique with failures occurring only in total perforations.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of vitamin D deficiency on vestibular function and recurrence in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

This study enrolled 138 patients diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Vestibular function was evaluated, including ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials and caloric tests. Vitamin D levels were recorded.

There was a significant difference in mean vitamin D levels between the normal and abnormal groups of the caloric test, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. The likelihood of abnormal vestibular function was lower in patients with normal vitamin D levels than those with deficient levels (< 10 ng/ml). Vitamin D levels were the only predictive factor for recurrence among patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

A deficiency in vitamin D is more likely to result in abnormalities in the caloric test, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo patients. The interaction among these factors may contribute to the recurrence.

To investigate the effect of heated-cigarette smoking on voice.

Participants completed a survey including three sections: section-1 comprised demographic data, section-2 comprised visual analogue scale grading of voice changes and fatigue and section-3 consisted of the voice handicap index-10.

Two hundred and eighty-two participants filled the survey. Heated-cigarette smokers had a significantly higher mean voice handicap index-10 score compared to non-smokers (p < 0.05). The difference in voice handicap index-10 scores between heated- and combustion-cigarette smokers was not statistically significant. The number of abnormal voice handicap index-10 scores was higher in heated-cigarette smokers compared to non-smokers (p < 0.05) and significantly higher in combustion-cigarette and dual heated- and combustion-cigarette smokers compared to the other 2 groups (p < 0.05). Non-smokers had significantly lower grades of voice changes and fatigue when compared to combustion and dual heated- and combustion-cigarette smokers (p < 0.05).

Smokers of heated cigarettes have a significantly higher mean voice handicap index-10 score compared to non-smokers and higher grade of voice changes and fatigue.

To study the clinicopathological features of collision tumours of the thyroid and to develop a logical management regimen in view of the rarity of these tumours.

A retrospective study on collision tumours of the thyroid, diagnosed over the previous 15 years in a tertiary cancer care centre. The inclusion criteria were proven cases of collision tumours of medullary thyroid carcinoma with papillary thyroid carcinoma and/or follicular thyroid carcinoma.

Among the 470 patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma, 24 were found to harbour collision tumours (5.1 per cent). Amongst 18 patients (75 per cent) with lymph node metastases, 88.8 per cent originated from medullary thyroid carcinoma and 22.2 per cent from the papillary thyroid carcinoma component. Two patients (8.3 per cent) presented with distant metastases. Eight patients underwent radioactive iodine scan, of whom seven demonstrated neck uptake and received radioactive iodine therapy. Fifteen patients (62.5 per cent) were disease free, eight patients (33.33 per cent) harboured biochemical and/or structural residual disease, and one patient died due to an unrelated aetiology.

Thyroid collision tumours are relatively rare entities and are usually undiagnosed pre-operatively. The prognosis of the disease primarily depends on tumour aggressiveness the of medullary thyroid carcinoma component. A combined follow up with tumour markers and imaging, including positron emission tomography/computed tomography molecular imaging approaches should be adopted.

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of tobramycin dexamethasone eye ointment combined with a catheter in endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy.

Eighty chronic dacryocystitis patients were randomly divided into two groups: observation (n = 39) and control (n = 41). Both groups underwent endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy. The observation group used tobramycin dexamethasone eye ointment and catheter support, while the control group used only the eye ointment.

No statistical differences were found in gender, age, disease course or eye type. However, the anastomotic formation time and bleeding amount were significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.001). After six months of follow up, there were no significant complications differences (p > 0.05). The fluorescein disappearance test time in the observation group was significantly shorter (p < 0.001), and the clinical effective rate was significantly higher (97.4 per cent vs 78 per cent, p < 0.05) in the observation group.

Using tobramycin dexamethasone eye ointment combined with a catheter slightly prolongs the operation time and increases bleeding, but promotes anastomotic healing, accelerates tear drainage, improves the operation success rate and is economically efficient.

This study investigated the risk factors for developing pharyngocutaneous fistula, the most common complication following total laryngectomy.

We included all patients who underwent total laryngectomy and bilateral neck dissection from 2009 to 2021. Patients excluded were those with hypopharyngeal involvement, total or partial pharyngectomy, base of the tongue resection, large pharyngeal defects requiring free/pedicle flap reconstruction, or salvage laryngectomy.

A total of 164 patients participated in the study. Multivariate regression analysis identified two independent predictors of pharyngocutaneous fistula formation: pharyngeal reconstruction with simple interrupted sutures (odds ratio: 3.12, 95 per cent confidence interval: 1.31–17.00, p = 0.010) and radical neck dissection (odds ratio: 3.16, 95 per cent confidence interval: 1.13–8.82, p = 0.028).

Our findings suggest that pharyngeal reconstruction using simple interrupted sutures and radical neck dissection are independent risk factors for pharyngocutaneous fistula development. Based on this, we recommend using the modified Cushing suture technique over simple interrupted sutures due to its association with a significantly lower pharyngocutaneous fistula rate.

In this study, the presence of dizziness in the late period was investigated in patients working in the Armed Forces who were exposed to blast trauma with a test battery consisting of cervical and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory.

Twenty-two healthy adult volunteers (44 healthy ears) and 25 military personnel (43 patient ears) who had blast trauma were included in the study. The cervical and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential tests were applied to the control and patient groups. The patient group also filled in the Dizziness Handicap Inventory.

The mean score of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory of the patient group was 14.80 ± 23.38. In cervical and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential tests there was no significant difference in the comparison of P1 latency, N1 latency and P1N1 amplitude between control and patient groups.

It was observed that the functions of otolith organs were not affected in the late period after blast trauma.