• Korean Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
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• v.61 no.12
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• pp.705-709
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• 2018

It is challenging to achieve sufficient hearing gain in patients with mixed hearing loss. In chronic middle ear diseases, conventional passive reconstructive surgeries often result in suboptimal hearing gain and additional hearing aids may have limitations due to insufficient sound amplification, occlusion effect, acoustic feedback, and skin irritation. Middle ear implantation (MEI) using Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) is another option for auditory rehabilitation in mixed hearing loss as well as sensorineural hearing loss. The floating mass transducer of VSB can be placed on various middle ear structures either directly or using different types of couplers in order to deliver vibratory mechanical energy to the cochlea. We report a patient who presented with bilateral mixed hearing loss due to chronic otitis media and had limitations using conventional hearing aids in the worse hearing ear. The patient was successfully treated with MEI using the Bell coupler together with middle ear surgery in a single step.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.20.1-20.20
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• 2018

Genetic hearing loss crosses almost all the categories of hearing loss which includes the following: conductive, sensory, and neural; syndromic and nonsyndromic; congenital, progressive, and adult onset; high-frequency, low-frequency, or mixed frequency; mild or profound; and recessive, dominant, or sex-linked. Genes play a role in almost half of all cases of hearing loss but effective treatment options are very limited. Genetic hearing loss is considered to be extremely genetically heterogeneous. The advancements in genomics have been instrumental to the identification of more than 6,000 causative variants in more than 150 genes causing hearing loss. Identification of genes for hearing impairment provides an increased insight into the normal development and function of cells in the auditory system. These defective genes will ultimately be important therapeutic targets. However, the auditory system is extremely complex which requires tremendous advances in gene therapy including gene vectors, routes of administration, and therapeutic approaches. This review summarizes and discusses recent advances in elucidating the genomics of genetic hearing loss and technologies aimed at developing a gene therapy that may become a treatment option for in the near future.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.704-713
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• 2009

As using recruitment phenomenon, SISI test and Bekesy audiometry are employed to differentially diagnose both the cochlear hearing loss and the retrocochlear hearing loss. The main purpose of this study is to find out the sensitivity and specificity of the SISI test within the scope of 1 KHz to 4 KHz in diagnosing various types of hearing losses. In this study, the Bekesy audiometry was conducted for Bekesy audiograms of certain groups according to Jerger's classification, which included persons with normal hearing and patients with hearing impairment. Subject persons of the SISI test were categorized into the several groups with normal hearing, mild hearing loss, moderate hearing loss, moderate-severe hearing loss and severe hearing loss, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of certain groups were evaluated according to the SISI scores of 20 % below, 25 ${\sim}$ 65 %, and more than 70%. Also, the Bekesy audiometry is conducted on the several subject groups with normal hearing, mixed hearing loss, and sensori-neural hearing loss.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.110-114
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• 2021

We report a case of hearing rehabilitation following combined cochlear implantation and ossiculoplasty. A 71-year-old patient visited the clinic for right-sided mixed hearing loss. We targeted neural and conductive components, performing two different operations simultaneously. At two months post-operative, the patient showed satisfactory results with respect to hearing threshold and speech comprehension. Our experience suggests that careful evaluation of patients and consideration of the diverse array of available treatment strategies can be used to provide personalized rehabilitation with maximal effectiveness. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to take such an integrated approach to treat hearing impairment and is thus likely to have clinical importance for otologists.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.110-114
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• 2021

We report a case of hearing rehabilitation following combined cochlear implantation and ossiculoplasty. A 71-year-old patient visited the clinic for right-sided mixed hearing loss. We targeted neural and conductive components, performing two different operations simultaneously. At two months post-operative, the patient showed satisfactory results with respect to hearing threshold and speech comprehension. Our experience suggests that careful evaluation of patients and consideration of the diverse array of available treatment strategies can be used to provide personalized rehabilitation with maximal effectiveness. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to take such an integrated approach to treat hearing impairment and is thus likely to have clinical importance for otologists.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.79-90
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• 1996

A research project was conducted to assess the levels of noise exposed to "Noraebang" users and potential hazards to noise-induced hearing loss due to commercial Noraebang noise. A two-way, mixed-factors factorial design was employed for the experiment using independent variables of "noise source" (no- singer, 1-singer, and 2-singer conditions) and "music type" (Trot, Ballad, and Rock music) with 18 normal hearing subjects. Each singer group sang 5 popular songs of each music type in each signing condition, whereas background music was just played for the no-singer condition. For each music played/sung, equivalent continuous sound pressure levels and maximum sound pressure levels were measured for data analysis purposes. Pure-tone audiometry was applied for measuring subjects' hearing threshold levels before and after exposure to Noraebgang noise. The statistical analyses indicate that average continuous noise levels due to Noraebang leisure environment were very serious, especially when two people were singing (higher than 95 dBA). Furthermore, maximum noise levels often exceeded the OSHA's non-premissible 115 dBA level. Worse yet, hearing loss assessment implies that Noraebang facilities may pose a serious threat to noise-induced hearing loss, based on 6-8 dB loss at 125 Hz and 8 dB loss at 4000 Hz after about 1-hour Noraebang noise exposure.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.84-87
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• 2011

Branchio-otic syndrome(BOS) is a relatively uncommon genetic malformation associated with dysmorphogenesis of the first and second branchial arches and is characterized by branchial fistulae, congenital preauricular fistulae, and anomalies of the pinnae, external, middle, and inner ears, accompanied by hearing loss. Recently, we experienced a case of BOS in a 10 years old female patient and report this case with a review of literature. 10-year-old girl presented with hearing impairment, bilateral preauricular fistula and cervical fistula. The pure tone audiometry revealed that she had 60dB sensorineural hearing loss on right side and 90dB mixed hearing loss on left. Bilateral branchial fistula was found on the neck CT scan and bilateral ossicular and cochlear abnormality combined with enlarged internal auditory canal was noted on the temporal bone CT scan. To investigate the association with EYA1 gene, we performed DNA sequncing with peripheral white blood cell and found the point mutations on Exon 7, 12 and 16 of EYA1 gene. The preauricular fistula and branchial fistula was excised surgically and hearing aid was applied on her left side. There was no sign of fistula recurrence for seven years after the surgery.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1981.05a
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• pp.39.1-39
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• 1981

The author presents clinical study for 111 cases of tinnitus with pure tone audiometry from Jan. 1, 1978 to Dec. 31, 1980 in department of otolaryngology, Ewha Womans University Hospital. The results were as follows; 1) Male to Female ratio was as 1 : 1, and peak age incidence was in the age group of 21 to 30. 2) Most frequent duration was 1 month to 1 year in the cases of the tinnitus. 3) The patient who complained tinnitus only was 10.0% and the patient who complained tinnitus with hearing impairment was 72.0% in the cases of tinnitus. 4) The affected site in the tinnitus, in order of frequency were; Both ear 38.7% Left ear 32.4% Right ear 28.9% 5) The drum finding, in order frequency were; Normal 48.0% Retraction 33.1% Perforation 8.4% 6) The degree of hearing loss in the audiometry were; Normal 29.2% Moderate severe 22.7% 7) The shape of hearing impairments were; High tone loss 46.9% Flat 33.0% Low tone loss 11.9% 8) The occurrence of $C_{5}$ dip was 11.0% in cases of the tinnitus. 9) The classification of hearing loss were; Sensorineural hearing loss 46.9% Mixed hearing loss 33.1 % Conductive hearing loss 20.1%

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.146-151
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: The relationship between hearing aid (HA) use and improvement in cognitive function is not fully known. This study aimed to determine whether HAs could recover temporal resolution or hearing in noise functions. Materials and Methods: We designed a prospective study with two groups: HA users and controls. Patients older than 45 years, with a pure tone average threshold of worse than 40 dB and a speech discrimination score better than 60% in both ears were eligible. Central auditory processing tests and hearing in noise tests (HINTs) were evaluated at the beginning of the study and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the use of a monaural HA in the HA group compared to the control group. The changes in the evaluation parameters were statistically analyzed using the linear mixed model. Results: A total of 26 participants (13 in the HA and 13 in the control group) were included in this study. The frequency (p<0.01) and duration test (p=0.02) scores showed significant improvements in the HA group after 1 year, while the HINT scores showed no significant change. Conclusions: After using an HA for one year, patients performed better on temporal resolution tests. No improvement was documented with regard to hearing in noise.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.146-151
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: The relationship between hearing aid (HA) use and improvement in cognitive function is not fully known. This study aimed to determine whether HAs could recover temporal resolution or hearing in noise functions. Materials and Methods: We designed a prospective study with two groups: HA users and controls. Patients older than 45 years, with a pure tone average threshold of worse than 40 dB and a speech discrimination score better than 60% in both ears were eligible. Central auditory processing tests and hearing in noise tests (HINTs) were evaluated at the beginning of the study and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the use of a monaural HA in the HA group compared to the control group. The changes in the evaluation parameters were statistically analyzed using the linear mixed model. Results: A total of 26 participants (13 in the HA and 13 in the control group) were included in this study. The frequency (p<0.01) and duration test (p=0.02) scores showed significant improvements in the HA group after 1 year, while the HINT scores showed no significant change. Conclusions: After using an HA for one year, patients performed better on temporal resolution tests. No improvement was documented with regard to hearing in noise.