Objectives. Chronic otitis media (COM) with hearing loss (HL) occurs frequently in many populations with limited access to specialized treatment. This article reports on the hearing outcomes following mobile ear surgery in Greenland. Study design. The study was longitudinal and prospective with pre-and post-operative followup data compiled at 1-and 2-year intervals. Methods. Selection criterion included individuals with COM with or without suppuration (CSOM) and with associated HL. Hearing tests were obtained by using a simple air-conduction (AC) audiometry. The median age of the 274 participants was 27 years (8-60 years), and 45% were males. Sixty-one percent had COM and 34% had CSOM. Myringoplasty or tympanoplasty type I was performed in 88% of the cases. Results. The median pre-operative AC pure-tone average was 38 dB. The follow-up rate was 75% and 61% at 1-and 2-years. Hearing gain was found in 78% at both follow-ups and was ≥10 dB in 62% and 56%, respectively. The median hearing gain was 15 dB and 12 dB, respectively. Independent predictors of hearing gain were pre-operative tympanic membrane atrophy and closure of perforations. Conclusions. Long-term hearing gain can be achieved with mobile ear surgery and this, in addition to tympanic membrane closure, is important for hearing rehabilitation in populations with poor access to health care.
We have evaluated the subjective outcome of the use of HAs and documented changes in the benefit of the instruments in terms of satisfaction, use, manipulation and need for follow-up in a cross-sectional longitudinal perspective. Responses were sought to a postal questionnaire three to four months after HA fitting in 1995, 2000 and 2005 and these were analysed. In 1995 only analogue HAs were fitted; in 2000, 23% and in 2005 up to 89%, were fitted with DSP-HAs. The response rate was 69% in 1995 and 2000, but only 50% in 2005. The numbers of responses included in the analysis are: 3178 in 1995, 3017 in 2000 and 3666 in 2005.In 1995: 70.4% (95% CI 68.8Á72.0) were very satisfied/satisfied, 3.0% (95% CI 2.4Á3.6) never used the HAs, 74.9% (95% CI 73.4Á76.4) could manipulate the HA and 31.3% (95% CI 29.7Á32.9) needed followup. In 2000: 72.0% (95% CI 70.4Á73.6) were very satisfied/satisfied, 2.9% (95% CI 2.3Á3.5) never used the HAs, 82.7% (95% CI 81.3Á84.1) could manipulate the instrument and 42.4% (95% CI 40.6Á44.1) needed follow-up. In 2005: 66.4% (95% CI 64.9Á68.0) were very satisfied/satisfied, 3.7% (95% CI 3.1Á4.3) never used the Has, 78.4% (95% CI 77.4Á79.8) could manipulate the instrument and 68.6% (95% CI 67.4Á 69.8) needed follow-up.The study concluded that DSP-HAs, which have by and large replaced analogue HAs, do not in general represent more benefit to the consumers than the earlier analogue HAs. The outcome of DSP-HAs use should be analysed according to the degree of hearing loss, which has not been possible in this context. The many potential features in DSP-HAs may in the future prove that the additional costs of these instruments are warranted. The demand for better training of fitting staff and more expensive equipment should also be taken into account in this context.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.