The results of this study suggest that adding intratympanic methylprednisolone to systemic therapy increases the probability of hearing recovery in ISSHL patients.

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Background The following position statement from the Union of the European Phoniatricians, updated on 25th May 2020 (superseding the previous statement issued on 21st April 2020), contains a series of recommendations for phoniatricians and ENT surgeons who provide and/or run voice, swallowing, speech and language, or paediatric audiology services. Objectives This material specifically aims to inform clinical practices in countries where clinics and operating theatres are reopening for elective work. It endeavours to present a current European view in relation to common procedures, many of which fall under the aegis of aerosol generating procedures. Conclusion As evidence continues to build, some of the recommended practices will undoubtedly evolve, but it is hoped that the updated position statement will offer clinicians precepts on safe clinical practice.

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We conclude that IT methylprednisolone injection provides more significant hearing improvement for patients that failed with previous high-dose systemic corticosteroid administration than systemic corticosteroid treatment alone. So it may be the first-step medical treatment of idiopathic SSHL alone or at least may be combined with the systemic corticosteroid administration.

Unilateral vocal cord paralysis (VCP) affects the objective properties of voice by diminished neurologic control and degenerative changes in laryngeal tissue. The goal of this study was to compare the acoustic parameters of VCP patients with control volunteers using the software Praat. Acoustic analysis results of 18 unilateral VCP patients were compared with age and sex matched 72 normal adult volunteers. Comparison of acoustic analysis results of male and female VCP patients with their age and sex matched control groups revealed statistically significant difference in jitter, shimmer, and noise-to-harmonics ratio values (P < 0.01) in both groups. There were no differences in mean fundamental frequency and intensity values. We conclude that these differences were in accordance with the results obtained by commercially available voice analysis programs. This study reflects the first results obtained with Praat software in VCP patients. Using the software Praat, is free and easy, that supports the clinician to rely on objective scientific data.

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The aim of this study is to prospectively compare rigid videolaryngostroboscopy with microlaryngoscopy for the diagnosis of benign vocal cord lesions. Eighty-five adult patients with benign vocal cord lesions were evaluated with videolaryngostroboscopy and later underwent microlaryngoscopy. During microlaryngoscopy, systematic examination of the glottis was conducted, including careful inspection and meticulous palpation of the vocal cords from anterior commissure to arytenoids. Preoperative and intraoperative diagnoses were analyzed. One hundred and forty-one lesions were diagnosed preoperatively with rigid videolaryngostroboscopy in 85 patients. Microlaryngoscopy revealed a total of 199 lesions in these patients, demonstrating a 41.1 % higher diagnostic yield. Forty-five (77.6 %) of the 58 additional lesions involved structural abnormalities, including sulcus vocalis, microwebs, vascular ectasia, mucosal bridges, and anterior web. The preoperative diagnosis was consistent with the postoperative diagnosis in only 29 patients (34.2 %). For the rest of the patients (n = 56, 65.8 %), the preoperative diagnosis was either changed, or new lesions were identified during microlaryngoscopy. Intraoperative diagnosis of benign vocal cord lesions differs significantly from preoperative diagnosis, regarding both the type and number of lesions present. A large proportion of patients diagnosed with videolaryngostroboscopy have additional lesions, particularly structural abnormalities. Precise inspection and palpation of vocal cords are thus essential during microlaryngoscopy.