Anjali Lepcha

Chronic adenoid hypertrophy in children — is steroid nasal spray beneficial?

ObjectivTo the efficacy of naial btvlomethosone spry in the treatmrnl of chronic adenoid hypertrophy in children.Method.-1 randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study Setting: Tertiary academic referral center Patients: Aged 3-12 years diagnosed to have chronic nasal obstruction due to hypertrophied adenoids.InterventionIntranasal beclomethasone at the dose of 200 microgramslday to one group and placebo to the other group in matched dispensers for 8 weeks. Outcome measures: Reduction of symptoms due to hypertrophied adenoids and the size of enlarged adenoids. Variables were noted at the beginning and end of the study for symptoms score severity. X-ray and flexible nasal endoscopie findings.ResultsAnalysis was done to find any significant improvement between the two groups. The Chisquare test was used to investigate the relationship between discrete variables. 26 children completed the study with 13 each in the drug and placebo group. There were 17 male and 9 female patients from 3 to 12 years of age. There was no significant difference in nasal obstruction, snoring or nasal discharge between the two groups. Comparison of x-rays and endoscopy also showed no significant difference between the 2 groups significant (P value =1.000 and P=0.0666 respectively).ConclusionThis study indicates that intranasal beclomelhasone therapy is not useful in treatment of ehronic adenoid hypertrophy in the general pediatrie population.

Neonatal hearing screening — Experience from a tertiary care hospital in Southern India

ObjectiveTo implement a neonatal hearing screening program using automated auditory brainstem response audiometry in a tertiary care set-up and assess the prevalence of neonatal hearing loss.DesignDescriptive study.SettingTertiary care hospital in Southern India.Participants9448 babies born in the hospital over a period of 11 months.InterventionThe neonates were subjected to a two stage sequential screening using the BERAphone. Neonates suspected of hearing loss underwent confirmatory testing using auditory steady state response audiometry. In addition, serological testing for TORCH infections, and connexin 26 gene was done.Main outcome measuresFeasibility of the screening program, prevalence of neonatal hearing loss and risk factors found in association with neonatal hearing loss.Results164 babies were identified as suspected for hearing loss, but of which, only 58 visited the audiovestibular clinic. Among 45 babies who had confirmatory testing, 39 were confirmed to have hearing loss and were rehabilitated appropriately. 30 babies had one or more risk factors; 6 had evidence of TORCH infection and 1 had connexin 26 gene mutation.ConclusionNeonatal hearing screening using BERA phone is a feasible service. The estimated prevalence of confirmed hearing loss was comparable to that in literature. Overcoming the large numbers of loss to follow-up proves to be a challenge in the implementation of such a program.

X-rays in the evaluation of adenoid hypertrophy: It's role in the endoscopic ERA

ObjectivesTo evaluate the reliability of X-rays in the diagnosis of adenoid hypertrophy and to validate this with flexible nasopharyngoscopy which is the existing gold standard.MethodLateral radiograph of the neck and a flexible nasopharyngeal endoscopy was done to evaluate adenoid enlargement in children aged 3–12 years who were included in a S week randomized double-blind placebo controlled study for the effect of beclomethasone in adenoid hypertrophy. These were graded independently by both the co-investigor and investigator X-ray and nasal endoscopy for reevaluation of adenoid size was done at the completion of the study. Variables of both the procedures were scored at the beginning and end of the study. The agreement between the two groups was assessed using weighted kappa statistic.ResultsThere were 26 patients in the study, 17 of them had complete correlation between the X-ray and endoscopy findings. The agreement between these findings was statistically significant (p<01) with the weighted kappa 0.51.ConclusionThis study shows that lateral X-rays of the neck, besides being a noninvasive procedure, still remains a very reliable and valid diagnostic test in the evaluation of hypertrophied adenoids.

Subjective Visual Vertical and Horizontal in Vestibular Migraine

OBJECTIVE To assess the functional status of the otolithic pathway in vestibular migraine by comparing the results of static and dynamic subjective visual vertical and horizontal [subjective visual vertical (SVV) and subjective visual horizontal (SVH)] testing in patients with vestibular migraine with that of normal individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS This hospital-based prospective study was conducted in 82 normal adults and 66 adults with vestibular migraine. The SVV and SVH angles were measured under static and dynamic conditions using a software-based test protocol. The arithmetic mean of six readings in each situation was considered. The results were further analyzed by stratifying cases and controls into two age groups 20-40 years and 41-60 years and into gender. RESULTS The clinical profile of the patients with vestibular migraine was comparable to the available literature. The dynamic SVV and SVH in both age groups and the static SVH in the 41-60 years age group were significantly higher compared to normal individuals (p<0.05). The dynamic SVV and SVH were significantly higher in the cases compared to controls among both males and females (p<0.05). CONCLUSION There is evidence of otolithic pathway abnormalities in individuals with vestibular migraine. The inclusion of SVV and SVH testing for the evaluation of patients with vestibular migraine may be useful in the interpretation and rehabilitation of symptoms in these patients.

Subjective visual vertical and horizontal: Normative values using a software-based test in the Indian population

Aims and Objectives: To determine the normative values for static and dynamic subjective visual vertical and horizontal (SVV and SVH) in a group of Indian volunteers. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based, prospective, cross-sectional study was done on 82 normal adults. The SVV and SVH angles were measured under static and dynamic conditions using the software MUS_VS-V1.3.2.Rev B (Synapsis, France). Six readings each were taken for SVV and SVH in both static and dynamic situations. Results: The obtained mean value for static SVV, dynamic SVV, static SVH, and dynamic SVH were 1.52° ± 0.70°, 1.96° ± 0.65°, 1.64° ± 0.81°, and 1.99° ± 0.78°, respectively. Static SVV for females was 1.4° ± 0.68°; static SVV for males was 1.58° ± 0.71°; dynamic SVV for females was 1.82° ± 0.64°; dynamic SVV for males was 2.04° ± 0.65°; static SVH for females was 1.63° ± 0.76°; static SVH for males was 1.65° ± 0.84°; dynamic SVH for females was 1.80° ± 0.60°, and dynamic SVH for males was 2.1° ± 0.86°. There was no significant difference between the sexes and between the age groups 20–40 years and 41–60 years. Conclusions: This is the only study in the Indian population, and the normative data obtained in this study can serve as a reference for future studies and vestibular testing, especially in those suffering from chronic vertigo and suspected to have otolithic pathway abnormalities.

Neurological associations in auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder: Results from a tertiary hospital in South India

Aims: To find out the prevalence and types of neurological abnormalities associated in auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder in a large tertiary referral center. Settings and Design: A prospective clinical study was conducted on all patients diagnosed with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder in the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) and neurology departments during a 17-month period. Patients with neurological abnormalities on history and examination were further assessed by a neurologist to determine the type of disorder present. Results: The frequency of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder was 1.12%. Sixty percent were found to have neurological involvement. This included cerebral palsy in children, peripheral neuropathy (PN), spinocerebellar ataxia, hereditary motor-sensory neuropathy, spastic paresis, and ponto-bulbar palsy. Neurological lesions did not present simultaneously with hearing loss in most patients. Sixty-six percent of patients with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder were born of consanguineous marriages. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of neurological lesions in auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder which has to be kept in mind while evaluating such patients. Follow-up and counselling regarding the appearance of neuropathies is therefore important in such patients. A hereditary etiology is indicated in a majority of cases of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder.

Vestibular evoked myogenic potential in sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Aim and Objective: To investigate saccular damage in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) with or without vertigo and to evaluate the saccular damage according to the hearing loss and presence or absence of vertigo. Materials and Methods: All tests done in this study were performed in the audio vestibular unit of ENT department from September 2009 to November 2010. Statistical Analysis Used: The association between the severity of hearing loss and changes in the vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) recordings were assessed using descriptive statistics. The pattern of VEMP in different diseases and also the behavior of VEMP in presence or absence of vertigo were evaluated using SPSS 15. Results: Among 27 patients there were 11 cases of idiopathic SSNHL. Out of nine unaffected ears, 88% had normal and 12% had absent VEMP. Whereas out of 13 affected ears, only 53.9% had normal VEMP. Among all the 54 ears, 17 ears had normal hearing. In this group 76.47% had normal VEMP. The group with hearing loss > 90 dB had 61.53% absent VEMP. Conclusions: In patients with unilateral SSNHL, there was a tendency for the affected ear to have absent VEMP indicating the saccular involvement. The extent of saccular damage did not correspond to the amount of hearing loss or presence or absence of vertigo.

Simultaneous labyrinthectomy and cochlear implantation for a case of otosclerosis with intractable vertigo

Stapedotomy, though a common surgical procedure for otosclerosis, if inadequately performed, can cause dreaded complications of vertigo and profound hearing loss. Labyrinthectomy with cochlear implantation can be considered in cases of intractable vertigo, as numerous reports have shown that the cochlea still remains responsive to electrical stimulation postlabyrinthectomy. This report presents a case of otosclerosis, with severe to profound deafness and intractable vertigo poststapedotomy surgery, which was treated with simultaneous labyrinthectomy and cochlear implantation. This patient had good control of vertigo postoperatively and the Dizziness Handicap Index score pre- and post-operative were 80 and 38, respectively, with significant improvement in speech perception.

Auditory function in vestibular migraine

Introduction: Vestibular migraine (VM) is a vestibular syndrome seen in patients with migraine and is characterized by short spells of spontaneous or positional vertigo which lasts between a few seconds to weeks. Migraine and VM are considered to be a result of chemical abnormalities in the serotonin pathway. Neuhauser′s diagnostic criteria for vestibular migraine is widely accepted. Research on VM is still limited and there are few studies which have been published on this topic. Materials and Methods: This study has two parts. In the first part, we did a retrospective chart review of eighty consecutive patients who were diagnosed with vestibular migraine and determined the frequency of auditory dysfunction in these patients. The second part was a prospective case control study in which we compared the audiological parameters of thirty patients diagnosed with VM with thirty normal controls to look for any significant differences. Results: The frequency of vestibular migraine in our population is 22%. The frequency of hearing loss in VM is 33%. Conclusion: There is a significant difference between cases and controls with regards to the presence of distortion product otoacoustic emissions in both ears. This finding suggests that the hearing loss in VM is cochlear in origin.

Automated auditory brainstem response: Its efficacy as a screening tool for neonatal hearing screening in the postnatal ward

Introduction: This observational study was carried out to determine the sensitivity and specificity of MB11 BERAphone® , when used for neonatal hearing screening in a postnatal ward setting in comparison against the gold standard, auditory brainstem response (ABR). Materials and Methods: Thirty-seven consecutive newborns (74 ears) who either unilaterally or bilaterally failed hearing screening with MB11 BERAphone in the postnatal ward were recruited and a second screening with BERAphone was performed after 1 week along with confirmatory testing using ABR. Results: MB11 BERAphone showed sensitivity of 92.9%, specificity of 50%, positive predictive value of 30.23%, and negative predictive value of 96.77% for the diagnosis of hearing loss. The prevalence of confirmed hearing impairment was 18.9%. The rate of unilateral impairment was 10.8%, and the rate of bilateral impairment was 13.5%. The average ambient noise levels in the postnatal ward setting was 62.1 dB. Conclusion: Although the sensitivity of MB11 BERAphone is good, the specificity is significantly lower when the test is performed in the postnatal ward setting with high ambient noise. Neonates who fail the two-step screening should undergo auditory response for confirming the diagnosis of hearing loss.