Arzu Kirbac

Background: To investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish Auditory Localization Questionnaire (ALQ) and to examine the correlation of this questionnaire with the Spatial Hearing Questionnaire (SHQ). Methods: Individuals aged 18–60 with normal hearing (55 adults) and bilateral hearing loss (HL) (65 adults) were included in the study. The adults with bilateral HL were divided into two groups: bilateral hearing aid (HA) users (35 adults) and non-HA users (30 adults). These participants were asked to complete a demographic information form, SHQ, and the ALQ. Results: In the HA group, the aided pure tone average (PTA) was 34.85 ± 10.58 dB, the unaided PTA was 66.97 ± 13.81 dB in the right ear, and the aided PTA was 33.22 ± 9.70 dB, the unaided PTA was 60.48 ± 12.88 dB in the left ear. For all individuals with HL who had never used HA, the group’s right ear PTA was 45.34 ± 14.28 dB, and the left ear PTA was 41.62 ± 11.39 dB. SHQ and ALQ had a moderately negative correlation for all groups. There was no significant difference between the ALQ and SHQ scores of those with HL (p > 0.05). Both questionnaire scores were worse in participants with HL, regardless of HA use than in those with normal hearing (p < 0.05). The analysis revealed that the ALQ consisted of a five-factor structure in the HL and a six-factor structure in the control. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of ALQ was determined to be 0.88 for the HL group and 0.90 for the control group. Conclusions: The ALQ is valid and reliable for evaluating individuals with HL. Although SHQ and the ALQ have no significant difference subscales, their subfactors evaluate auditory localization and spatial hearing in different situations. No significant positive effect of bilateral HA on spatial hearing and auditory localization was detected.

A New Intraoperative Method for Controlling Electrode Placement in Cochlear Implant Surgeries: Nucleus® SmartNav System and Preliminary Results - Journal of Academic Research in Medicine

Purpose To determine the frequency and clinical features of new- and early-onset benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) after different otologic surgical operations with and without surgical drilling. Methods All unilateral otologic operations performed at the otolaryngology clinic of a tertiary university hospital between January 2021 and May 2023 were screened, and 437 adult cases were included in the study. Of these patients, those who were diagnosed with BPPV within the first month postoperatively were examined. Results The overall incidence of BPPV after otologic operations was 2.28% (10 out of 437 patients). This incidence was 3% (8/266 patients) in cases where a drill was used and 1.16% (2/171 patients) in those where a drill was not used. There was no significant difference between the two groups (p > 0.05). Clinical symptoms related to BPPV appeared on average in 13.3 ± 6.8 (range: 3–25) days following surgery and presented as canalolithiasis. All cases involved the posterior semicircular canal (SCC) on the operated side. In addition, one patient with a cochlear implant had involvement of both the posterior and lateral SCCs. All patients responded well to repositioning maneuvers during follow-up. Conclusion Otologic surgery, especially operations involving drilling, is a potential risk factor for the development of BPPV. Postoperative BPPV, primarily presenting as canalolithiasis in the posterior SCC on the operated side, can be effectively managed with repositioning maneuvers. Clinicians should be vigilant for BPPV in patients experiencing vertigo/dizziness within four weeks following otologic surgery.

This study aimed to examine the results of the video head impulse test (vHIT), and suppression head impulse paradigm (SHIMP) in adult diagnosed with definite Meniere’s disease (MD). This study was conducted with 20 patients aged 18-45 years with canal paresis and sensorineural type hearing loss in symptomatic ears, who were diagnosed with unilateral definite MD. The subjects were assessed with conventional audiometry (0.125–8 kHz), the bithermal binaural air caloric test, vHIT, and SHIMP. The mean SHIMP vestibulo-ocular reflex (S-VOR) gain of the MD side was 0.69, and that of the healthy side was 0.77. The S-VOR gain values were statistically lower than the mean vHIT VOR gain (V-VOR) values on both sides (p0.05). In the MD group, the vHIT results were abnormal in 35% (7/20 ears) of the ears, and the SHIMP results were abnormal in 50% (10/20 ears). On the healthy side, the vHIT results were abnormal in 10% (2/20 ears) of the ears, and the SHIMP results were abnormal in 35% (7/20 ears). In this study, the V-VOR and S-VOR gains, vHIT saccades, SHIMP saccade latency, and SHIMP saccade amplitude were not found to be beneficial parameters in differentiating affected and healthy ears in the patients with MD. In other words, contrary to expectations, vHIT and SHIMP tests were not sufficient to detect pathological involvement in Meniere's disease.

This study aimed to compare spatial hearing performance between adult individuals with the unilateral sensorineural hearing loss and unilateral loss of horizontal semicircular canal function (termed canal paresis/weakness) in the same ear and adults with normal hearing thresholds and normal vestibular function and to examine associated factors (duration of hearing loss and rate of canal paresis).The study participants consisted of 20 adults (aged 48±11 years) with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss and unilateral canal paresis (unilateral weakness≥25%) in the same ear. The control group comprised 25 adults (aged 45±13 years) with normal hearing and a unilateral weakness rate below 25%. Pure tone audiometry, bithermal binaural air caloric test, Turkish Spatial Hearing Questionnaire (T-SHQ), and Standardized Mini-Mental State Exam were applied to all the individuals. When the performance of the participants in T-SHQ was examined both in terms of the subscales and the total scale, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in relation to the scores. A statistically significant, high, negative correlation was detected between the duration of hearing loss, the rate of canal paresis and all the subscale scores and total score of T-SHQ. According to these results, as the duration of hearing loss increased, the scores obtained from the questionnaire decreased. As the rate of canal paresis increased, vestibular involvement increased, and the T-SHQ score decreased. This study showed that adults with unilateral hearing loss and unilateral canal paresis in the same ear had lower spatial hearing performance than those with normal hearing and balance.

Akademisyen Yayınevi yöneticileri, yaklaşık 30 yıllık yayın tecrübesini, kendi tüzel kişiliklerine aktararak uzun zamandan beri, ticarî faaliyetlerini sürdürmektedir. Anılan süre içinde, başta sağlık ve sosyal bilimler, kültürel ve sanatsal konular dahil 2000 kitabı yayımlamanın gururu içindedir. Uluslararası yayınevi olmanın alt yapısını tamamlayan Akademisyen, Türkçe ve yabancı dillerde yayın yapmanın yanında, küresel bir marka yaratmanın peşindedir.Bilimsel ve düşünsel çalışmaların kalıcı belgeleri sayılan kitaplar, bilgi kayıt ortamı olarak yüzlerce yılın tanıklarıdır. Matbaanın icadıyla varoluşunu sağlam temellere oturtan kitabın geleceği, her ne kadar yeni buluşların yörüngesine taşınmış olsa da, daha uzun süre hayatımızda yer edineceği muhakkaktır.