Objectives: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is defined as sensorineural hearing loss of 30 dB or more over at least three adjacent audiometric frequencies occurring within a 72-h period of time. One of the causes of SSNHL could be the progressive inflammatory state caused by an infection. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of SSNHL caused by various factors, most importantly those potentially related to Lyme disease. Material and Methods: The study includes a group of 86 patients between the ages of 20 and 70 who were hospitalized due to SSNHL between 2017 and 2018. All of these patients underwent a detailed medical interview and an otolaryngological examination, including audiological and diagnostic tests. Additionally, ELISA and Western blot tests were performed to confirm the diagnosis of Lyme disease. Results: In this group of 86 patients, nine patients presented with positive antibodies toward Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. This group was treated with antibiotics and experienced partial or complete regression of their deafness. This may suggest a relationship between SSNHL and Lyme disease. Conclusion: Infections caused by Borrelia burgdorferi may contribute to the development of inflammatory and angiopathic lesions, which are a possible cause of SSNHL. The longer the duration of the infection, the greater the likelihood of permanent and irreversible changes in the vessels of the cochlea or auditory nerve. Therefore, serological tests for Borrelia burgdorferi should be performed during the diagnosis of SSNHL as a possible cause of this illness.

The lack of abnormalities on the mucous of the middle ear (e.g. granulation,) and discharge has a positive impact on improvement of bone conduction after myringoplasty. Adhesions in the tympanic cavity, especially in the niche of the round window, have a negative impact on improvement of bone conduction in patients after myringoplasty.

1. We encountered the greatest diagnostic difficulties during the child's first year of life in chosen high-risk groups of children with congenital hearing loss in children with cleft palate or both cleft palate and lip. 2. The highest prevalence of not finished tests was in III and IV interval for all chosen high-risk groups with congenital hearing loss.

<b>Introduction:</b> Upon hearing that the “little” patient has trouble with hearing, we are mostly interested in the level of his hearing threshold. When the child is in the first year of life, results can only be achieved by means of ABR test. Subsequent control tests, especially in children from the hearing loss risk groups selected in this study, show that the obtained outcomes are subject to fluctuations. Their fluctuating nature is manifested by the instability of wave V threshold in subsequent diagnostic periods. Such variability often delays the implementation of the appropriate proceeding. Knowledge of the dissimilarity of behavior of the wave V threshold occurring in individual groups at risk of hearing loss allows for the correct interpretation of the obtained results, and thus, effective therapeutic measures. <br><b>Aim:</b> The aim of the paper is to analyze the stability of wave V threshold during the first year of life in children from selected risk groups for congenital hearing disorders. <br><b>Material and methods:</b> From the patient population of 2,114 individuals examined in 2015–2016 at a reference center participating in the Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening Program in 2015–2016, the results of 250 children were subjected to retrospective analysis. Furthermore, 4 groups of little patients were formed (children with Down syndrome; children with other diseases or damage to the nervous system; children with cleft palate or cleft lip and cleft palate; children with congenital cytomegaly) in whom diagnostic practice revealed variable results of the wave V threshold. We analyzed the results of tests obtained during the first year of the child’s life divided into 4 diagnostic periods. <br><b>Results:</b> The highest percentage of instability in the established threshold of wave V between individual diagnostic periods occurred in the group of children with cleft palate or cleft lip and cleft palate. In the group of children with Down syndrome, it was observed that the instability of the ABR test results decreased over time. In the group of children with other diseases or damage of the nervous system, the highest percentage of the lack of stable ABR wave V thresholds was observed between the 1st and 2nd as well the 1st and 4th diagnostic periods. On the other hand, in the group of children with congenital CMV, there was a relatively low percentage of instability of results. <br><b>Conclusions:</b> (1) Although the ABR test is a diagnostic standard, in particular groups of patients the study is burdened with high variability of measurement results in subsequent diagnostic periods. Such a group of patients are children with cleft palate or cleft lip and cleft palate; therefore, it must receive particular attention in treatment planning; (2) in selected groups at risk of hearing loss, due to the high percentage of children with hearing impairment (70%), the validity of performing newborn hearing screening tests was confirmed.

• Early implementation of treatment and/or rehabilitation in children with hearing disorders is crucial to prevent depression of speech and psychological development. I t is important in children with cleft palate or both cleft palate and lip even if surgical correction is discussed. • The highest proportion of children with the implemented course of proceedings, was in groups with children with congenital CMV. This children should be observed despite of right results of hearing tests. • In children with nervous system disorders 1 year period of observation is too short to exclude problems with hearing.

BackgroundThe Eustachian tube is a complex and inaccessible structure, which is responsible for the ventilation of the middle ear. The aim of the study was the assessment of an impact of chronic sinusitis on the auditory tube function. MethodsThe prospective analysis of 84 surgically treated chronic sinusitis patients was carried out. This study is based on preoperative results of impedance audiometry in correlation with the data from the medical history of chronic sinusitis, symptoms reported by the patients, results of Computered Tomography (CT) and the stage of inflammatory changes according to Lund and Mackay score. ResultsThe significant majority of patients of our study (65) had advanced auditory tube symptoms, while 4 patients suffered from symptoms significantly impacting daily life. In patients with chronic sinusitis the analysis demonstrated that tympanometry type B (12.67) and C (12.4) occured with significantly higher number of points of Lund-Mackay score than type A (9.2). In allergy sufferers type B of tympanometry was more often observed with characteristically bilaterally located inflammatory changes in maxillary and anterior ethmoid sinuses.ConclusionThe profile of chronic sinusitis patient in whom Eustachian Tube Dysfunction is more often observed, is as follows: Lund and Mackay score above 12pathological changes are bilaterally observed in maxillary and frontal ethmoid sinuses decrease of nasal patency nad postnasal dripAllergyoverusing alcohol and cigarettes, at least alcoholWorse result of Lund and Mackay score and the age of patients are 2 factors favoring the dysfunction of the Eustachian Tube

Behind routine audiometric diagnostics otoacoustic emissions can be useful in postoperative evaluation of effectiveness of middle ear surgery (especially in patients operated on otosclerosis and in individuals with chronic otitis media with intact ossicular chain).

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