Friedmann DR, Ahmed OH, McMenomey SO, et al. Single-sided deafness cochlear
implantation: candidacy, evaluation, and outcomes in children and adults.
Otol Neurotol
.
2016; 37(2):e154-e160. EBM level 4.............................................................................125-131
Summary
:
This is a r
etrospective case series of 16 patients (four children) with unilateral
severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss who underwent ipsilateral cochlear
implantation. The consonant-nucleus-consonant (CNC) and hearing-in-noise test scores were
significantly improved from the preoperative condition.
Greinwald J, DeAlarcon A, Cohen A, et al. Significance of unilateral enlarged vestibular
aqueduct.
Laryngoscope.
2013; 123(6):1537-1546. EBM level 2...............................132-141
Summary
: The authors identified 144 children with unilateral and bilateral enlarged vestibular
aqueducts (EVA) as well as a comparison group of children with hearing loss but no EVA.
They looked at the incidence of ipsilateral and contralateral hearing loss as well as the rate of
hearing loss progression. They found that children with unilateral EVA have a significant
risk of progression of hearing loss in the ipsilateral and/or contralateral ear, and that they are
more likely to progress than children with hearing loss without an EVA on imaging. This is a
slightly older paper, but a revolutionary one.
Sloan-Heggen CM, Bierer AO, Shearer AE, et al. Comprehensive genetic testing in the
clinical evaluation of 1119 patients with hearing loss.
Hum Genet
. 2016; 135(4):441-450.
EBM level 4....................................................................................................................142-151
Summary
: This study details the results of samples from 1119 sequential patients referred to
the University of Iowa for comprehensive genetic testing for hearing loss. Researchers
identified the underlying genetic cause in 39% of samples. The diagnostic rate was highest
for patients with autosomal dominant hearing loss, congenital onset, and bilateral symmetric
hearing loss. The authors offer an algorithm for workup of patients based on phenotype.
Wang MC, Wang YP, Chu CH, et al. The protective effect of adenoidectomy on pediatric
tympanostomy tube re-insertions: a population-based birth cohort study.
PLOS One
. 2014;
9(7):e101175. EBM level 2............................................................................................152-158
Summary
: This article analyzed the rate of second set of tympanostomy tube insertion in
cohorts of children in that underwent tube insertion alone vs. tube insertion with
adenoidectomy. They found that adenoidectomy with the first set of tubes decreased the rate
of tube reinsertion, especially for children over the age of 4 years at the time of their first tube
surgery.