C.
Single-sided deafness
Finbow J, Bance M, Aiken S, et al. A comparison between wireless CROS and bone-anchored
hearing devices for single-sided deafness: a pilot study.
Otol Neurotol
. 2015; 36(5):819-825.
EBM level 2........................................................................................................................148-154
Summary
: This study compared outcomes with a wireless contralateral routing of signal
(CROS) hearing aid to those with a bone-anchored hearing device (BAHD) in patients with
single-sided deafness. A within-subject design was used to compare the two devices with
regard to head shadow effect reduction, speech perception in quiet and noise, and self-
assessment questionnaires. Results showed no significant difference between the two devices
on either objective or subjective outcome measures.
Sladen DP, Frisch CD, Carlson ML, et al. Cochlear implantation for single-sided deafness: a
multicenter study.
Laryngoscope
. 2017; 127(1):223-228. EBM level 4.........................155-160
Summary
: This article is a multicenter retrospective review of a cohort of pediatric and adult
patients who underwent cochlear implantation for single-sided deafness of a variety of
etiologies. Pre- and postoperative testing was performed using both word and sentence testing
in quiet in the implanted ear alone, and sentence recognition in noise in the binaural condition.
Word and sentence scores for the implanted ear alone improved significantly by 3 months
postoperatively, while speech recognition in noise in the binaural condition did not change
significantly. The majority of patients reported reduction in tinnitus in the implanted ear.
Zeitler DM, Dorman MF, Natale SJ, et al. Sound source localization and speech understanding
in complex listening environments by single-sided deaf listeners after cochlear implantation.
Otol Neurotol
. 2015; 36(9):1467-1471. EBM level 2.......................................................161-165
Summary
: This article investigates sound localization ability and speech comprehension in
complex noise environments in patients who had unilateral cochlear implantation for single-
sided deafness (SSD) as compared to three control groups: normal hearing (NH) young adults,
NH older adults, and bilateral cochlear implant (BCI) users. All SSD-CI users showed poorer-
than-normal sound localization, typically performing as well as BCI subjects, with some
subjects localizing close to the 95
th
percentile of NH listeners. Speech understanding was
significantly improved in ambient noise with signal presented to the CI ear in the SSD-CI
listeners.
IV.
Temporal Bone/Skull Base
A.
Temporal bone and skull base lesions
McRackan TR, Wilkinson EP, Brackmann DE, Slattery WH. Stereotactic radiosurgery for
facial nerve schwannomas: meta-analysis and clinical review.
Otol Neurotol
. 2015; 36(3):
393-398. EBM level 3........................................................................................................166-171
Summary
: In this thorough meta-analysis, 10 studies are included comprising 45 patients with at
least a 2-year follow up. Of these patients, 93% had tumor control, 67% had stable facial nerve
function, 21% had improved function, and 13% had worsened facial nerve function. Hearing
results are not as favorable. The authors conclude that stereotactic radiosurgery is an effective
and reasonable option for treating facial schwannomas, though hearing loss is a substantial risk.