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Conduction Thresholds (conduction + threshold)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Hearing loss among Ohio farm youth: A comparison to a national sample

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 3 2009
Katherine M. Renick MS
Abstract Background Hearing loss is prevalent among adults in the farming community, with some evidence it begins in childhood. Our objective was to compare hearing thresholds of Ohio farm youth to published data on national norms. Methods Baseline data were collected on youth (n,=,212) in 1994,1996 with follow-up (n,=,132) in 2003,2004 including pure-tone air conduction thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 kHz. Results When compared to nationally-representative data, study youth had a higher prevalence of hearing loss. The high-frequency range was most affected, particularly at 6 kHz where nearly 50% of the farm youth exhibited some degree of hearing loss at baseline testing. The prevalence of noise-induced threshold shifts, characterized by an audiometric notch, was nearly twice that of the national sample. Conclusions These data suggest that hearing loss, which is common among adult farmers, may be problematic for farm youth as well. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:233,239, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Titanium versus Nontitanium Prostheses in Ossiculoplasty,

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 9 2008
Charles S. Coffey MD
Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: To compare the hearing outcomes and complications observed using either titanium or nontitanium prostheses in a 7-year consecutive series of ossiculoplasties performed by a single surgeon. Study Design: Retrospective. Methods: A database of ossicular reconstruction surgeries was reviewed for preoperative and postoperative audiometric data including air and bone conduction thresholds at four frequencies and speech reception thresholds. Outcomes were evaluated at time points less than and greater than 6 months postoperatively. Baseline demographic and surgical characteristics and postoperative complications were also noted. Results: A total of 105 cases had sufficient audiometric data available for analysis, including 80 performed with titanium and 25 with nontitanium implants. Follow-up ranged from 1.2 to 74.2 months, with a mean of 14.9 months. Mean air-bone gap at initial follow-up was 21.7 dB in the nontitanium group and 15.4 dB in the titanium group; this difference was significant (P = .01). Postoperative air-bone gap of less than 20 dB at initial follow-up was achieved in 50.0% of nontitanium cases and 77.1% of titanium cases (P = .012). This difference in "success" rates persisted at longer follow-up but did not achieve statistical significance. Mean speech reception thresholds at <6 months was 29.7 dB in the nontitanium group and 22.6 dB in the titanium group (P = .049). Extrusion was observed with two nontitanium prostheses (8.0%) and three titanium prostheses (3.8%) (P > .05). Conclusions: Titanium ossicular prostheses provide hearing outcomes superior to those of nontitanium prostheses when evaluated within 6 months after ossiculoplasty. [source]

The Erasmus Atelectasis Classification: Proposal of a New Classification for Atelectasis of the Middle Ear in Children

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 7 2007
Johannes Borgstein MD
Abstract Objectives: Atelectasis presents a challenging, often progressive, problem in children. Because of the lack of a clinically practical classification, we introduce a new classification, which in our opinion is more useful in the pediatric age group. This alternative classification enables a more clinically relevant correlation between stage of disease and clinical sequelae and technical difficulty at surgery. Study Design: Observational study of patients seen and operated at the Sophia Children's Hospital in Rotterdam, The Netherlands between 1989 and 2005. Methods: Based on clinical appearance, each ear was placed into one of the five groups of the proposed classification and into one of the four stages of Sadé's classification. Preoperative air and bone conduction thresholds and air-bone gaps (ABG) were calculated using the four-tone pure-tone (500, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 Hz) averages for bone and air conduction. Results: Of the 248 ears in the study group, 72 were in stage I, with an ABG of 18.2 ± 12.3 dB. Twenty-two were in stage II, with an ABG of 12.9 ± 9.5 dB. In stage III, there were 32 ears, with an ABG of 11.6 ± 10.0 dB. Thirty-one ears were in stage IV, with an ABG of 16.1 ± 11.5 dB. Eighty-five ears were in stage V, with an ABG of 26.1 ± 13.3 dB. When grouped according to Sadé's classification, 92 ears could not be classified. Conclusions: We found the currently proposed classification more useful in that it follows the natural progression of the disease and is more practical in determining operative procedures at each stage. [source]

Does Pregnancy Affect Otosclerosis?,

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 10 2005
William H. Lippy MD
Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effect of pregnancy on the hearing of women with otosclerosis. Study Design: A retrospective study of women who had undergone stapedectomy. The women were equally divided into two groups: one group with children and a control group without children. Air and bone conduction, as well as discrimination, were measured before and after stapedectomy in both groups. Patients: Ninety-four women (47 with children and 47 without) were evaluated. Because many of the women had bilateral otosclerosis, the total number of ears studied was 128. Results: Mean pure tone air and bone conduction thresholds were not worse in women with children versus those women without children. In fact, mean pre- and postoperative pure tone air and bone conduction thresholds from 500 Hz through 4,000 Hz in women with children were slightly but significantly better than women without children. There was no difference in discrimination scores between groups. Within the group with children, no significant correlation was found between number of children and hearing loss. Also, no correlation was found between breastfeeding and the amount of hearing loss. Conclusion: We found no adverse effect on hearing in otosclerotic women who had children compared with women without children. Even with increasing numbers of pregnancies, no deleterious impact was noted. Air conduction, bone conduction, and discrimination were not worse in women with children versus childless women. No significant correlation was found between the number of children and hearing loss, and neither did breastfeeding affect the amount of hearing loss. [source]