Cognitive aging research has documented a strong increase in the covariation between sensory and cognitive functioning with advancing age. In part, this finding may reflect sensory acuity reductions operating during cognitive assessment. To examine this possibility, the authors administered cognitive tasks used in prior studies (e.g., Lindenberger & Baltes, 1994) to middle-aged adults under age-simulation conditions of reduced visual acuity, auditory acuity, or both. Visual acuity was lowered through partial occlusion filters, and auditory acuity through headphone-shaped noise protectors. Acuity manipulations reduced visual acuity and auditory acuity in the speech range to values reaching or approximating old-age acuity levels, respectively, but did not lower cognitive performance relative to control conditions. Results speak against assessment-related sensory acuity accounts of the age-related increase in the connection between sensory and cognitive functioning and underscore the need to explore alternative explanations, including a focus on general aspects of brain aging.

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Further technical improvements are necessary to make the SV an established part of the rehabilitation of the olfactory function after laryngectomy.

We present our concept for treating patients suffering from recurrent sinusitis with coagulating lasers (Nd:YAG 1024 nm, Diode 810 or 904 nm). In these patients, the middle meatus is often narrowed by a hyperplastic middle turbinate, septum spurs and ridges, or by isolated polyps that block an ostium. We treat these patients by linear or punctate coagulation of the lateral wall of the middle turbinate, reducing the size of septum spurs, and blunting septal ridges or coagulating polyps. The outpatient procedure is performed with a laser fiberoptic system of 400 nm in contact mode with an energy of 3-5 watts. The amount of total energy applied to a specific tissue depends on the duration of laser contact at that point. The patient is anaesthesized superficially. Patients with a high degree of nasal hyperreactivity also receive antihistaminic preoperative treatment. Initial results show a significant increase of nasal flow with a decrease of sinus symptoms.

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