Hearing Performance in the Follicular-Luteal Phase of the Menstrual Cycle.

Hearing Performance in the Follicular-Luteal Phase of the Menstrual Cycle.

Int J Otolaryngol. 2018;2018:7276359

Authors: Emami SF, Gohari N, Ramezani H, Borzouei M

Abstract
Introduction: Estrogen has a protective role on auditory function. It may have an excitatory action on auditory nerve fibers and can have a neuroprotective effect. Progesterone has a mainly inhibitory action on the central nervous system, which may balance the mainly excitatory action of estrogen.
Objective: To determine changes in hearing performance with pure tone audiometry (PTA), tympanometry, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), and auditory brainstem responses (ABR) as hormonal changes occur from follicular to luteal phase.
Materials and Methods: Twenty healthy female volunteers (age 19 ± 30 years) with normal menstrual cycle and without any hearing problems are included in this case-control study. Hearing evaluation was performed on the 13th day of the menstrual cycle (follicular phase) and then on the 22nd day (luteal phase).
Results: All of the participants had normal results in follicular phase. In luteal phase, four cases showed abnormalities as follows: reduced hearing thresholds 250 Hz (mean= 15 dBHL), increased amplitudes of DPOAE (mean= 3 dBspl), decreased middle ear pressure (mean= -110 dapa), and delayed ABR interpeak latencies (mean of IPLs I-III= 0.4 and mean of IPLs III-V= 0.6 ms).
Conclusions: In some women, changing of ovarian hormones may induce fluctuating hearing and increased progesterone in luteal phase can lead to abnormal outcomes in auditory function. However, elevated estrogen modifies its consequences in follicular phase.

PMID: 30210546 [PubMed]

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2Mslu4J
via IFTTT

Gene Therapy in Mouse Models of Deafness and Balance Dysfunction.

Gene Therapy in Mouse Models of Deafness and Balance Dysfunction.

Front Mol Neurosci. 2018;11:300

Authors: Wang L, Kempton JB, Brigande JV

Abstract
Therapeutic strategies to restore hearing and balance in mouse models of inner ear disease aim to rescue sensory function by gene replacement, augmentation, knock down or knock out. Modalities to achieve therapeutic effects have utilized virus-mediated transfer of wild type genes and small interfering ribonucleic acids; systemic and focal administration of antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) and designer small molecules; and lipid-mediated transfer of Cas 9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. This work has established that gene or drug administration to the structurally and functionally immature, early neonatal mouse inner ear prior to hearing onset is a prerequisite for the most robust therapeutic responses. These observations may have significant implications for translating mouse inner ear gene therapies to patients. The human fetus hears by gestational week 19, suggesting that a corollary window of therapeutic efficacy closes early in the second trimester of pregnancy. We hypothesize that fetal therapeutics deployed prior to hearing onset may be the most effective approach to preemptively manage genetic mutations that cause deafness and vestibular dysfunction. We assert that gene therapy studies in higher vertebrate model systems with fetal hearing onset and a comparable acoustic range and sensitivity to that of humans are an essential step to safely and effectively translate murine gene therapies to the clinic.

PMID: 30210291 [PubMed]

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2NJf3yT
via IFTTT

Hearing Performance in the Follicular-Luteal Phase of the Menstrual Cycle.

Hearing Performance in the Follicular-Luteal Phase of the Menstrual Cycle.

Int J Otolaryngol. 2018;2018:7276359

Authors: Emami SF, Gohari N, Ramezani H, Borzouei M

Abstract
Introduction: Estrogen has a protective role on auditory function. It may have an excitatory action on auditory nerve fibers and can have a neuroprotective effect. Progesterone has a mainly inhibitory action on the central nervous system, which may balance the mainly excitatory action of estrogen.
Objective: To determine changes in hearing performance with pure tone audiometry (PTA), tympanometry, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), and auditory brainstem responses (ABR) as hormonal changes occur from follicular to luteal phase.
Materials and Methods: Twenty healthy female volunteers (age 19 ± 30 years) with normal menstrual cycle and without any hearing problems are included in this case-control study. Hearing evaluation was performed on the 13th day of the menstrual cycle (follicular phase) and then on the 22nd day (luteal phase).
Results: All of the participants had normal results in follicular phase. In luteal phase, four cases showed abnormalities as follows: reduced hearing thresholds 250 Hz (mean= 15 dBHL), increased amplitudes of DPOAE (mean= 3 dBspl), decreased middle ear pressure (mean= -110 dapa), and delayed ABR interpeak latencies (mean of IPLs I-III= 0.4 and mean of IPLs III-V= 0.6 ms).
Conclusions: In some women, changing of ovarian hormones may induce fluctuating hearing and increased progesterone in luteal phase can lead to abnormal outcomes in auditory function. However, elevated estrogen modifies its consequences in follicular phase.

PMID: 30210546 [PubMed]

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2Mslu4J
via IFTTT

Gene Therapy in Mouse Models of Deafness and Balance Dysfunction.

Gene Therapy in Mouse Models of Deafness and Balance Dysfunction.

Front Mol Neurosci. 2018;11:300

Authors: Wang L, Kempton JB, Brigande JV

Abstract
Therapeutic strategies to restore hearing and balance in mouse models of inner ear disease aim to rescue sensory function by gene replacement, augmentation, knock down or knock out. Modalities to achieve therapeutic effects have utilized virus-mediated transfer of wild type genes and small interfering ribonucleic acids; systemic and focal administration of antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) and designer small molecules; and lipid-mediated transfer of Cas 9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. This work has established that gene or drug administration to the structurally and functionally immature, early neonatal mouse inner ear prior to hearing onset is a prerequisite for the most robust therapeutic responses. These observations may have significant implications for translating mouse inner ear gene therapies to patients. The human fetus hears by gestational week 19, suggesting that a corollary window of therapeutic efficacy closes early in the second trimester of pregnancy. We hypothesize that fetal therapeutics deployed prior to hearing onset may be the most effective approach to preemptively manage genetic mutations that cause deafness and vestibular dysfunction. We assert that gene therapy studies in higher vertebrate model systems with fetal hearing onset and a comparable acoustic range and sensitivity to that of humans are an essential step to safely and effectively translate murine gene therapies to the clinic.

PMID: 30210291 [PubMed]

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2NJf3yT
via IFTTT

Assessment of Subjective Visual Vertical (SVV) Using the “Bucket Test” and the Virtual SVV System

Objective

The purpose of this study was to describe the variability and test–retest reliability of a commercially available subjective visual vertical (SVV) system known as Virtual SVV (Interacoustics). In addition, the study aimed to compare the reliability of the Virtual system with a previously established bucket test of SVV.

Study Design

Fifteen participants with normal hearing, normal middle ear function, and normal utricular function were included in the study. Each participant underwent static SVV testing using both the Virtual system and the bucket test. Subjects completed 2 testing sessions to determine test–retest reliability. For each test, data were collected with the head at 0°, tilted 45° to the right, and tilted 45° to the left.

Setting

This study was conducted in a balance function laboratory embedded in a large, tertiary care otology clinic.

Results

The mean SVV values obtained with the Virtual system were within 1°–2° from 0 with the head positioned at 0°, which is in agreement with many other studies of SVV with the head at 0° (Akin & Murnane, 2009; Halmagyi & Curthoys, 1999; Zwergal, Rettinger, Frenzel, Dieterich, & Strupp, 2009). Using the intraclass correlation coefficient, test–retest reliability of the Virtual system was excellent in the 45° left position and fair to good in the 45° right and 0° position. Test–retest reliability of the bucket test was poor in all head positions.

Conclusions

The Virtual system is a more reliable measure of static SVV than the bucket test. Therefore, the Virtual system could be utilized as a screening device for utricular dysfunction in busy clinical settings.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2IvhuOW
via IFTTT

Audiology Faculty Author Impact Metrics as a Function of Institution

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to develop a method for the assessment of audiology author impact as a function of institution and compare these results to a recent college ranking of audiology graduate programs.

Method

Scopus author impact metrics (i.e., number of documents, number of citations, and h index) from a previous study (Stuart, Faucette, & Thomas, 2017) were generated for 79 accredited graduate programs in audiology in the United States and Canada. Author impact metrics were summed to represent the total institution output, and median values were calculated to reflect a measure of central tendency of individual faculty performance.

Results

Three hundred and seventy-nine audiology faculty members were identified and of those 86.0% (n = 326) were found in Scopus. Database presence increased with increasing rank (p = .003). Scopus index values were positively skewed. The total summed number of documents, citations, and h indices were positively correlated with the total number of faculty in the institutions and with the summed number of coauthors (p < .001). The median number of documents, citations, and h indices were not significantly correlated with the total number of faculty in the institutions but were positively correlated with the median number of coauthors (p < .001). In general, indices were higher for research/doctoral versus nonresearch universities. Higher college program rankings were statistically related with better Scopus index values.

Conclusion

These institutional metrics may be used to serve as a benchmark for institutional production, attracting students, hiring faculty, and assessing allocation of institutional funding.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2lQalQv
via IFTTT

Parenting Stress and Maternal Coherence: Mothers With Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Children

Purpose

The aim of this study was to develop a substantive theory that explains parenting stress among mothers of deaf or hard-of-hearing (D/HH) children.

Method

Fifteen hearing mothers of children with severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss were interviewed. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and a grounded theory approach was used to inductively analyze parental stress in mothers of D/HH children. Theory generation was achieved through triangulation of data sources and systematic organization of data into codes. The coding process identified salient themes that were constantly cross-checked and compared across data to further develop categories, properties, and tentative hypotheses.

Results

In general, two main themes emerged from the interviews: the contextual stressors and stress-reducing resources. The contextual stressors were labeled as distress over audiology-related needs, pressure to acquire new knowledge and skills, apprehension about the child's future, and demoralizing negative social attitudes. The stress-reducing resources that moderated parenting stress were identified to be the child's progress, mother's characteristics, professional support, and social support. The interaction between the identified stressors and adjustment process uncovered a central theme termed maternal coherence.

Conclusion

The substantive theory suggests that mothers of D/HH children can effectively manage parenting stress and increase well-being by capitalizing on relevant stress-reducing resources to achieve maternal coherence.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2Ljncph
via IFTTT