Πέμπτη 2 Μαρτίου 2017

Clinical Practice Guideline: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (Update).

Clinical Practice Guideline: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (Update).

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017 Mar;156(3_suppl):S1-S47

Authors: Bhattacharyya N, Gubbels SP, Schwartz SR, Edlow JA, El-Kashlan H, Fife T, Holmberg JM, Mahoney K, Hollingsworth DB, Roberts R, Seidman MD, Steiner RW, Do BT, Voelker CC, Waguespack RW, Corrigan MD

Abstract
Objective This update of a 2008 guideline from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation provides evidence-based recommendations to benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), defined as a disorder of the inner ear characterized by repeated episodes of positional vertigo. Changes from the prior guideline include a consumer advocate added to the update group; new evidence from 2 clinical practice guidelines, 20 systematic reviews, and 27 randomized controlled trials; enhanced emphasis on patient education and shared decision making; a new algorithm to clarify action statement relationships; and new and expanded recommendations for the diagnosis and management of BPPV. Purpose The primary purposes of this guideline are to improve the quality of care and outcomes for BPPV by improving the accurate and efficient diagnosis of BPPV, reducing the inappropriate use of vestibular suppressant medications, decreasing the inappropriate use of ancillary testing such as radiographic imaging, and increasing the use of appropriate therapeutic repositioning maneuvers. The guideline is intended for all clinicians who are likely to diagnose and manage patients with BPPV, and it applies to any setting in which BPPV would be identified, monitored, or managed. The target patient for the guideline is aged ≥18 years with a suspected or potential diagnosis of BPPV. The primary outcome considered in this guideline is the resolution of the symptoms associated with BPPV. Secondary outcomes considered include an increased rate of accurate diagnoses of BPPV, a more efficient return to regular activities and work, decreased use of inappropriate medications and unnecessary diagnostic tests, reduction in recurrence of BPPV, and reduction in adverse events associated with undiagnosed or untreated BPPV. Other outcomes considered include minimizing costs in the diagnosis and treatment of BPPV, minimizing potentially unnecessary return physician visits, and maximizing the health-related quality of life of individuals afflicted with BPPV. Action Statements The update group made strong recommendations that clinicians should (1) diagnose posterior semicircular canal BPPV when vertigo associated with torsional, upbeating nystagmus is provoked by the Dix-Hallpike maneuver, performed by bringing the patient from an upright to supine position with the head turned 45° to one side and neck extended 20° with the affected ear down, and (2) treat, or refer to a clinician who can treat, patients with posterior canal BPPV with a canalith repositioning procedure. The update group made a strong recommendation against postprocedural postural restrictions after canalith repositioning procedure for posterior canal BPPV. The update group made recommendations that the clinician should (1) perform, or refer to a clinician who can perform, a supine roll test to assess for lateral semicircular canal BPPV if the patient has a history compatible with BPPV and the Dix-Hallpike test exhibits horizontal or no nystagmus; (2) differentiate, or refer to a clinician who can differentiate, BPPV from other causes of imbalance, dizziness, and vertigo; (3) assess patients with BPPV for factors that modify management, including impaired mobility or balance, central nervous system disorders, a lack of home support, and/or increased risk for falling; (4) reassess patients within 1 month after an initial period of observation or treatment to document resolution or persistence of symptoms; (5) evaluate, or refer to a clinician who can evaluate, patients with persistent symptoms for unresolved BPPV and/or underlying peripheral vestibular or central nervous system disorders; and (6) educate patients regarding the impact of BPPV on their safety, the potential for disease recurrence, and the importance of follow-up. The update group made recommendations against (1) radiographic imaging for a patient who meets diagnostic criteria for BPPV in the absence of additional signs and/or symptoms inconsistent with BPPV that warrant imaging, (2) vestibular testing for a patient who meets diagnostic criteria for BPPV in the absence of additional vestibular signs and/or symptoms inconsistent with BPPV that warrant testing, and (3) routinely treating BPPV with vestibular suppressant medications such as antihistamines and/or benzodiazepines. The guideline update group provided the options that clinicians may offer (1) observation with follow-up as initial management for patients with BPPV and (2) vestibular rehabilitation, either self-administered or with a clinician, in the treatment of BPPV.

PMID: 28248609 [PubMed - in process]



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Clinical Practice Guideline: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (Update) Executive Summary.

Clinical Practice Guideline: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (Update) Executive Summary.

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017 Mar;156(3):403-416

Authors: Bhattacharyya N, Gubbels SP, Schwartz SR, Edlow JA, El-Kashlan H, Fife T, Holmberg JM, Mahoney K, Hollingsworth DB, Roberts R, Seidman MD, Prasaad Steiner RW, Tsai Do B, Voelker CC, Waguespack RW, Corrigan MD

Abstract
The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation has published a supplement to this issue of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery featuring the "Clinical Practice Guideline: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (Update)." To assist in implementing the guideline recommendations, this article summarizes the rationale, purpose, and key action statements. The 14 recommendations developed emphasize diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, reducing the inappropriate use of vestibular suppressant medications, decreasing the inappropriate use of ancillary testing, and increasing the appropriate therapeutic repositioning maneuvers. An updated guideline is needed due to new clinical trials, new systematic reviews, and the lack of consumer participation in the initial guideline development group.

PMID: 28248602 [PubMed - in process]



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The Effects of Service-Delivery Model and Purchase Price on Hearing-Aid Outcomes in Older Adults: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Objectives
The objectives of this study were to determine efficacy of hearing aids in older adults using audiology best practices, to evaluate the efficacy of an alternative over-the-counter (OTC) intervention, and to examine the influence of purchase price on outcomes for both service-delivery models.
Design
The design of this study was a single-site, prospective, double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial with three parallel branches: (a) audiology best practices (AB), (b) consumer decides OTC model (CD), and (c) placebo devices (P). Outcome measures were obtained after a typical 6-week trial period with follow-up 4-week AB-based trial for those initially assigned to CD and P groups.
Setting
Older adults from the general community were recruited via newspaper and community flyers to participate at a university research clinic.
Participants
Participants were adults, ages 55–79 years, with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. There were 188 eligible participants: 163 enrolled as a volunteer sample, and 154 completed the intervention.
Intervention(s)
All participants received the same high-end digital mini-behind-the-ear hearing aids fitted bilaterally. AB and P groups received best-practice services from audiologists; differing mainly in use of appropriate (AB) or placebo (P) hearing aid settings. CD participants self-selected their own pre-programmed hearing aids via an OTC model.
Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures
Primary outcome measure was a 66-item self-report, Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (Cox & Gilmore, 1990). Secondary outcome measure was the Connected Speech Test (Cox, Alexander, & Gilmore, 1987) benefit. Additional measures of hearing-aid benefit, satisfaction, and usage were also obtained.
Results
Per-protocol analyses were performed. AB service-delivery model was found to be efficacious for most of the outcome measures, with moderate or large effect sizes (Cohen's d). CD service-delivery model was efficacious, with similar effect sizes. However, CD group had a significantly (p Conclusions

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The Effects of Service-Delivery Model and Purchase Price on Hearing-Aid Outcomes in Older Adults: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Objectives
The objectives of this study were to determine efficacy of hearing aids in older adults using audiology best practices, to evaluate the efficacy of an alternative over-the-counter (OTC) intervention, and to examine the influence of purchase price on outcomes for both service-delivery models.
Design
The design of this study was a single-site, prospective, double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial with three parallel branches: (a) audiology best practices (AB), (b) consumer decides OTC model (CD), and (c) placebo devices (P). Outcome measures were obtained after a typical 6-week trial period with follow-up 4-week AB-based trial for those initially assigned to CD and P groups.
Setting
Older adults from the general community were recruited via newspaper and community flyers to participate at a university research clinic.
Participants
Participants were adults, ages 55–79 years, with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. There were 188 eligible participants: 163 enrolled as a volunteer sample, and 154 completed the intervention.
Intervention(s)
All participants received the same high-end digital mini-behind-the-ear hearing aids fitted bilaterally. AB and P groups received best-practice services from audiologists; differing mainly in use of appropriate (AB) or placebo (P) hearing aid settings. CD participants self-selected their own pre-programmed hearing aids via an OTC model.
Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures
Primary outcome measure was a 66-item self-report, Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (Cox & Gilmore, 1990). Secondary outcome measure was the Connected Speech Test (Cox, Alexander, & Gilmore, 1987) benefit. Additional measures of hearing-aid benefit, satisfaction, and usage were also obtained.
Results
Per-protocol analyses were performed. AB service-delivery model was found to be efficacious for most of the outcome measures, with moderate or large effect sizes (Cohen's d). CD service-delivery model was efficacious, with similar effect sizes. However, CD group had a significantly (p Conclusions

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The Effects of Service-Delivery Model and Purchase Price on Hearing-Aid Outcomes in Older Adults: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Objectives
The objectives of this study were to determine efficacy of hearing aids in older adults using audiology best practices, to evaluate the efficacy of an alternative over-the-counter (OTC) intervention, and to examine the influence of purchase price on outcomes for both service-delivery models.
Design
The design of this study was a single-site, prospective, double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial with three parallel branches: (a) audiology best practices (AB), (b) consumer decides OTC model (CD), and (c) placebo devices (P). Outcome measures were obtained after a typical 6-week trial period with follow-up 4-week AB-based trial for those initially assigned to CD and P groups.
Setting
Older adults from the general community were recruited via newspaper and community flyers to participate at a university research clinic.
Participants
Participants were adults, ages 55–79 years, with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. There were 188 eligible participants: 163 enrolled as a volunteer sample, and 154 completed the intervention.
Intervention(s)
All participants received the same high-end digital mini-behind-the-ear hearing aids fitted bilaterally. AB and P groups received best-practice services from audiologists; differing mainly in use of appropriate (AB) or placebo (P) hearing aid settings. CD participants self-selected their own pre-programmed hearing aids via an OTC model.
Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures
Primary outcome measure was a 66-item self-report, Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (Cox & Gilmore, 1990). Secondary outcome measure was the Connected Speech Test (Cox, Alexander, & Gilmore, 1987) benefit. Additional measures of hearing-aid benefit, satisfaction, and usage were also obtained.
Results
Per-protocol analyses were performed. AB service-delivery model was found to be efficacious for most of the outcome measures, with moderate or large effect sizes (Cohen's d). CD service-delivery model was efficacious, with similar effect sizes. However, CD group had a significantly (p Conclusions

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Braunes Rauschen Download

What Is Brown Noise?

Brown noise is a type of noise that is used to soothe people. It can also be used to treat tinnitus. Brown noise is sometimes referred to as Braunes Rauschen. Brown noise sounds a lot like white noise. However, the sounds are deeper than white noise. Brown noise sounds a lot like a waterfall or thunderstorm. Many people use a Braunes Rauschen download before they go to sleep.

The term “Brown Noise” was coined by a botanist named Robert Brown. He discovered the brown motion. Robert discovered that a graphic representation of the noise shows a brown pattern.

Benefits of Using Brown Noise

There are many reasons that people choose to use a Braunes Rauschen download. Many people are able to get temporarily relief from tinnitus by using brown noise. People whose tinnitus responds best to low rumbling sounds should use brown noise. Researchers believe that brown noise helps alleviate tinnitus symptoms by making the auditory system less sensitive to sound.

Tinnitus sufferers often have trouble sleeping because of the constant ringing in their ears. Fortunately, people who use brown noise will have an easier time sleeping. The noise helps you relax and clear your mind.

Many people who suffer from migraines also suffer from tinnitus. Brown noise can also be helpful for alleviating migraines. Noise can be a migraine trigger. Because brown noise can cancel out other sounds, it can be effective for treating and preventing migraines.

In order to get the most out of any type of sound therapy, you should use it for at least one hour per day. Most people will notice an improvement after using sound therapy for several days. It is important to note that tinnitus suffers are not the only ones who can benefit from brown noise. Anyone who wants to relax can use brown noise.

People who are trying to study will also benefit from using brown noise. Even though some people like to study in silence, total silence can actually make it more difficult for you to concentrate. On the other hand, you may have an easier time concentrating if you use brown noise.

Braunes Rauschen Download

If you are interested in downloading brown noise, then you should visit our masker here. You will then need to click on the sound that you would like to download and save it. You can even set up an account with Audio Notch.



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Τετάρτη 1 Μαρτίου 2017

Multidimensional Assessment of the Effectiveness of Group Voice Therapy

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Publication date: Available online 1 March 2017
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Giovanna Cantarella, Sara Torretta, Silvia Ferruta, Annaclara Ciabatta, Claudia Manfredi, Lorenzo Pignataro, Philippe Dejonckere
ObjectiveGroup voice therapy has been successfully used in patients with dysphonia, but there is little objectively documented evidence of its effects on voice quality and the self-perception of voice fatigue. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of group therapy in patients with functional dysphonia and minor anatomic vocal fold pathologies linked by appearance and history to voice use in an objective and multidimensional manner.Study designThis is a prospective longitudinal study.MethodsBefore and after treatment, 34 adult women underwent perceptual voice assessments using the grade of dysphonia, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and strain (GRBAS) scale, Evaluation Vocale Assistée (EVA) system aerodynamic and acoustic assessments, and maximum phonation time measurements, and made subjective evaluations using the Voice Handicap Index. The pretreatment baseline values of the participants were obtained by means of two examinations separated by an interval of 1 week. The parameters belonging to each main dimension were clustered by means of Z-transformation, and the corresponding Z-scores were analyzed.ResultsGroup therapy was associated with a statistically significant improvement in the perceptual (P = 0.008), acoustic (P = 0.040), aerodynamic (P = 0.009 and <0.001), and self-evaluation parameters (P = 0.011).ConclusionsOur findings provide evidence that group voice therapy can be associated with improvements in perceptual, acoustic, aerodynamic, and self-evaluated parameters in some patients with dysphonia. Controlled, randomized studies are needed in follow-up. This method of treatment may be a means of reducing the costs and waiting lists associated with rehabilitative treatment, and enhancing patients' motivation and compliance.



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