A study was conducted to compare the new MED-EL TEMPO+ ear-level speech processor with the CIS PRO+ body-worn processor in the COMBI 40/COMBI 40+ implant system. Speech tests were performed in 46 experienced subjects in two test sessions approximately 4 weeks apart. Subjects were switched over from the CIS PRO+ to the TEMPO+ in the first session and used only the TEMPO+ in the time between the two sessions. Speech tests included monosyllabic word tests and sentence tests via the telephone. An adaptive noise method was used to adjust each subject’s scores to approximately 50%. Additionally, subjects had to complete a questionnaire based on their 4 weeks of experience with the TEMPO+. The speech test results showed a statistically significant improvement in the monosyllabic word scores with the TEMPO+. In addition, in the second session, subjects showed a significant improvement when using the telephone with the TEMPO+, indicating some learning in this task. In the questionnaire, the vast majority of subjects found that the TEMPO+ allows equal or better speech understanding and rated the sound quality of the TEMPO+ higher. All these objective and subjective results indicate the superiority of the TEMPO+ and are mainly attributed to a new coding strategy called CIS+ and its implementation in the TEMPO+. In other words, based on the results of this study, it appears that after switching over from the CIS PRO+ to the TEMPO+, subjects are able to maintain or even improve their own speech understanding capability.

The imaging protocol allows for rapid and comprehensive visualization of various IE dysplasias, based on a limited number of VR reconstructions.

Using NHS, OME can be diagnosed and treated early, thus, preventing potential problems in the linguistic, social and intellectual development of children.

In the present study we investigated resected tympanic membranes taken during tympanoplasty. Tissue from 111 patients with chronic otitis media was analyzed after being embedded in paraffin and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. In 67 patients (60%) the tympanic membrane epidermis did not extend beyond the margin of the perforation rim, so that no epithelial migration was observed on the inner side of the tympanic membrane. In 27 specimens (24%) we found an epithelial migration on the inner side of the tympanic membrane, but this did not extend to the margins of the excised tissue. In 17 tissue specimens (16%) epithelial migration extended to the margins of the resected tissue. Clinically, these patients were found to have non-functioning Eustachian tubes. The size of the tympanic membrane perforation was not found to impact on epithelial migration. However, there was a correlation between the extent of the epithelial migration seen in the specimens and the occurrence of a permanent tympanic membrane perforation after tympanoplasty. Of 17 patients with these findings, 4 (23%) had consistent reperforations. The tympanic membrane rims of these patients were completely covered with squamous epithelium. Patients with no or only little epithelial migration to the inner side of the tympanic membrane were found to have a significantly lower postoperative rate of recurrent infection and drum reperforation.

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Difficulties in solving musical tasks are observed in clinical practice in children with an auditory processing disorder (APD). There is a paucity of research on musical ability in children with an APD. To assess musical skills we had 15 children aged 6-11 years with the diagnosis of APD perform a test, and compared them to a control group of 15 children. APD children did significantly worse in pitch discrimination, reproduction of rhythm and singing. Correlations between language-based and musical skills in the APD-group were observed. Greater attention should be paid to musical skills in APD diagnostics. The positive impact of musical training on language development and cognitive abilities in general has been demonstrated in numerous studies. Musical training should be the focus of further discussion for therapeutic methods of APD in the presence of musical deficits.

ZusammenfassungOhne Hören sind Sprache und damit menschliche Kommunikation nicht möglich. Zu spät erkannte angeborene Hörstörungen können zu tiefgreifenden Entwicklungsstörungen führen. Die hohe Prävalenz steigt weiter, wenn Risikofaktoren hinzutreten. Ein Screening ist unerlässlich, führt alleine aber nicht zum Erfolg. Wird die Diagnose bestätigt, müssen die Kinder individuell gefördert und ihre Familien sozialpädagogisch, ggf. psychologisch betreut werden.

No abstract