Background and Objectives: This study aims at investigating different school systems (public schools, private schools, and United Nations Relief and Works Agency "UNRWA" schools) and whether different seasons can affect outer/middle ear function in school-age children in Jordan. Patients and Methods: Otoscopic examination and tympanometry were performed to test outer and middle ear functions for 1578 children (938 boys, 640 girls) with a mean age of 8 years from different school systems; public schools, private schools, and UNRWA Schools. Children were either tested during autumn, winter, or spring. Differences in outer/middle ear function across children studying in different school systems and in different seasons were investigated. Results: From a total of 1578 children, 429 (27%) were found to have abnormal outer/middle ear function according to the tympanometry test results. The percentage of children with abnormal outer/middle function in public schools (38.1%) was significantly higher than that in UNRWA (23.3%) and private schools (22%). The Percentages of children with abnormal outer/middle function in Spring (29.05%) and in Autumn (28.87%) were significantly higher than that in Winter (19.07%) p=0.001. Conclusion: The relatively high percentage of abnormal outer/middle ear function among school-age children in Jordan; specially in the public schools, might negatively impact their performance at school, if the cause is left untreated. Regular screening, including tympanometry for school-age children, is essential to ensure children continue their school life without sustaining disabilities caused by outer and middle ear disorders.
Background: To evaluate the extent of hyperacusis, different validated questionnaires have been published in English, such as the Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ) developed by Khalfa. However, there is currently no reliable and validated Arabic version of the HQ for use in clinical settings. This study aimed to translate the Khalfa modified HQ into Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and to determine its validity and reliability in assessing the severity of hyperacusis in Arabic-speaking countries. Material and methods:The original English version of the Khalfa modified HQ was translated into MSA. The translated version was applied to 142 patients who were divided into two groups: subjects aware of their hyperacusis and subjects not aware of their hyperacusis condition. Internal consistency reliability and Pearson correlation coefficient were calculated. Pairwise comparison of the total score and the score for each dimension was performed using unpaired t-tests. Validity assessment, consisting of Construct and Content validity, were also assessed.Results: Results show high internal consistency and reliability coefficient. Results of correlation analysis suggest an overall strong and significant correlation between the average score of each item and the overall average score of all items in the questionnaire. The mean difference between the group reporting hyperacusis and the group reporting no hyperacusis was not statistically significant. Also, the gender effect was not statistically significant. Conclusions:The Arabic version of the modified HQ shows high reliability and validity, suggesting it is a useful tool for the assessment of the severity of hyperacusis of Arabic-speaking patients with hyperacusis.
SLC26A4 is one of the most common genes causing autosomal recessive non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). It has been reported to cause Pendred Syndrome (PDS) and DFNB4 which is deafness with enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA). However, mutated SLC26A4 is not conclusive for having either DFNB4 or PDS. Three unrelated Jordanian families consisting of eight affected individuals with congenital bilateral hearing loss (HL) participated in this study. Whole-exome and Sanger sequencing were performed to investigate the underlying molecular etiology of HL. Further clinical investigations, including laboratory blood workup for the thyroid gland, CT scan for the temporal bone, and thyroid ultrasound were performed. Three disease-causing variants were identified in SLC26A4 in the three families, two of which were novel. Two families had a novel pathogenic homozygous splice-site accepter variant (c.165-1G>C), while the third family had compound heterozygous pathogenic variants (c.1446G>A; p.Trp482* and c.304G>A; p.Gly102Arg). Our approach helped in redirecting the diagnosis of several affected members of three different families from non-syndromic HL to syndromic HL. Two of the affected individuals had typical PDS, one had DFNB4, while the rest had atypical PDS. Our work emphasized the intra- and inter-familial variability of SLC26A4-related phenotypes. In addition, we highlighted the variable phenotypic impact of SLC26A4 on tailoring a personalized healthcare management.
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.