Journal Reviews
Robot-assisted paediatric cochlear implantation
Cochlear implantation has a recognised therapeutic role in children with severe to profound hearing loss. The surgery requires expertise in learning the technical skill together with adaptation to variation in anatomy. There is growing interest in healthcare to integrate robotic...
The role of stapedotomy techniques in predicting surgical outcomes
Several techniques have evolved in the surgery of stapedotomy for otosclerosis, especially with availability of laser. In this multicentre retrospective study, comprising 615 stapedotomies, the authors have compared three different methods: diode laser stapedotomy (group A), sole use of microdrill...
Understanding cough
The prevalence of chronic cough in the adult population is 10–12%. Chronic cough is common and costly, and represents a substantial clinical and economic burden. Duration-based classification guides evaluation. Distinguishing acute (<3 weeks), subacute (3–8 weeks), and chronic (>8 weeks)...
Optimal timing of radiological follow-up in detection of cholesteatoma recurrence
This is a meta-analysis assessing the optimal timing of postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for surveillance in detecting cholesteatoma recurrence. A systematic literature review of searches of articles between 2013 and 2024 in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane were conducted according...
Why are we here?
This small study, based on 10 semi-structured interviews, clearly highlights the importance of the audiologist’s role at a pivotal stage of educational and social transition. The interviews explored themes including deaf identity and connections, self-acceptance, preparation for further education and...
To question or not to question
Misophonia is a complex condition in which individuals experience a strong negative emotional response to specific sounds, such as chewing, breathing, swallowing or foot tapping. These reactions are not primarily determined by the volume of the sound. Although relatively few...
For a better evaluation of neonatal hearing loss
The authors conducted a retrospective observational study on 112 neonates tested with auditory brainstem response (ABR) and auditory steady-state response (ASSR). The main aim was to compare hearing thresholds obtained by ASSR, ABR and behavioural audiometry at different frequencies and...
Platelet-rich plasma-cartilage tympanoplasty
This systematic review and meta-analysis of five studies (n=234 patients) reports the effectiveness of type I tympanoplasty with cartilage and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) compared with type I cartilage tympanoplasty alone for closure of dry tympanic membrane perforations. This is an...
Quicker than reading the BNF
It has long struck me that it might be helpful to search medication-induced side effects by symptom, rather than having to look up each individual drug. For many years, there have also been regularly cited categories of medications to be...
Association of eustachian tube dysfunction in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy for sleep-disordered breathing
The need for this study arises from the fact that after undergoing adenotonsillectomy, some children continue to suffer from symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) which overlap with symptoms of eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD), such as cognitive and behavioural impairment, resulting...
A dizzying response to the silent killer
In this recent case control report by Kandemir and colleagues, we are asked to consider the association between hypertensive disease and hearing impairment, tinnitus and dizziness. A 200-strong cohort of normotensive and newly-diagnosed hypertensive patients underwent pure tone audiometry, Tinnitus...
Does surgical complexity influence hearing preservation after perimodiolar cochlear implantation?
In this prospective study, 34 adults underwent perimodiolar cochlear implantation with an extended round window approach. Three investigators reviewed fluoroscopic, electrocochleography (ECochG) and video data recorded simultaneously during the surgeries. Surgical complexity was also recorded as straightforward or complex. Residual...
