Increased noise sensitivity refers to the abnormal subjective response to external sounds, with a prevalence of between 8% and 15.2% in the adult population as suggested by epidemiological studies. The basic neural mechanism of hyperacusis still remains obscure, so therapies for this often-devastating symptom remain elusive. The aim of this study was to assess psychological profiles in patients with presbycusis without tinnitus in a perspective case-control design. All subjects were initially submitted to audiological evaluation (tympanometry, recordings of the acoustic reflex thresholds, pure tone audiometry) and subsequently were administered the following questionnaires: the hyperacusis questionnaire (HQ), the brief symptom inventory (BSI), and the modified somatic perception questionnaire (MSPQ). Patients with hyperacusis reported a total score and subscales (attentional, social, and emotional) of the HQ significantly higher than controls. They also reported higher scores of the MSPQ and significantly higher mean values with concern to the somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, and anxiety subscales of the BSI. These results show that psychological distress, as expressed by higher level of somatic attention, somatization, anxiety, and depression, is a significant factor to consider for a complete diagnosis and effective treatment of hyperacusis. For a correct diagnosis of patients seeking help for hyperacusis, their psychological distress should also be assessed, regardless of their hearing abilities. Further studies are required to investigate the pathological mechanisms that are involved in the onset of hyperacusis in patients with normal hearing and those with sensorineural hearing loss.

Background: Gestational SARS-CoV-2 infection can impact maternal and neonatal health. The virus has also been reported to cause newborn sensorineural hearing loss, but its consequences for the auditory system are not fully understood. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy on newborn’ hearing function during the first year of life. Methods: An observational study was conducted from 1 November 2020 to 30 November 2021 at University Modena Hospital. All newborns whose mother had been infected by SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy were enrolled and underwent audiological evaluation at birth and at 1 year of age. Results: A total of 119 neonates were born from mothers infected by SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy. At birth, five newborns (4.2%) presented an increased threshold of ABR (Auditory Brainstem Evoked Response), but the results were confirmed only in 1.6% of cases, when repeated 1 month later, while the ABR thresholds in all other children returned to normal limits. At the 1-year follow-up, no cases of moderate or severe hearing loss were observed, while concomitant disorders of the middle ear were frequently observed. Conclusions: Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection, regardless of the trimester in which it was contracted, appears not to induce moderate or severe hearing loss in infants. It is important to clarify the possible effect of the virus on late-onset hearing loss and future research is needed.

Background: Hearing loss is a highly prevalent condition in the world population that determines emotional, social, and economic costs. In recent years, it has been definitely recognized that the lack of physiological binaural hearing causes alterations in the localization of sounds and reduced speech recognition in noise and reverberation. This study aims to explore the psycho-social profile of adult workers affected by single-sided deafness (SSD), without other major medical conditions and otological symptoms, through comparison to subjects with normal hearing. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, case-control study. Subjects aged between 24 and 65 years, all currently employed and affected by SSD, were enrolled. They were administered both disease-specific and psychometric tests, such as the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA), the Profile Questionnaire for Rating Communicative Performance, the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI), and the Social Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ). Results: A total of 149 subjects (mean age = 49.9; SD ± 8.5) were enrolled in the period 2021–2023; 68 were males (45.6%), and 81 were females (54.4%). The normal hearing group was composed of 95 subjects, and the SSD sample was composed of 54 subjects. The results of our study show that the levels of psychological well-being and social functioning in subjects with SSD are statistically worse than in the group of subjects with normal hearing in most subscales. Conclusions: This study definitely outlined evidence for a significantly worse psychological health status and a poorer social attitude of working adults affected by SSD with respect to their normal-hearing counterparts. Understanding the impact of SSD on patients’ work environment suggests a multidisciplinary approach to such patients in order to increase their quality of life through adequate counseling, acceptance, and role modeling.

Background: Cochlear implantation (CI) following endoscopic transcanal infrapromontorial vestibular schwannoma (VS) dissection is a feasible intervention in intracanalicular VS, with minimal extension into the cerebellopontine angle, but no audiologic results have ever been reported in the literature. Methods: From 2015 to 2021 in the Otorhynolaryngology Departments of Modena and Verona, three patients underwent this intervention. All were suffering from sporadic left-sided intracanalicular Koos I VS. Intraoperative electrically evoked auditory brainstem responses and electrophysiological measurements were performed before and after the placement of the electrode array, respectively. Since device activation one month after the surgery, each patient was followed up with audiometric tests, data logging, electrode impedance measurements and neural response telemetry performed at each scheduled fitting session at 15 days and 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. Results: Only in patient No. 3, an auditory benefit was observed and still evident even 36 months after activation. Impedances increased progressively in patient No. 1 and a benefit was never reported. Patient No. 2 left the follow-up for worsening comorbidities. Conclusions: CI following transcanal infrapromontorial VS resection is a beneficial intervention. The residual cochlear nerve after the tumour dissection and the course of electrophysiological measurements in the postoperative period were the main predictive factors for audiological outcomes.

Studies about the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on pregnant women and children born to positive women are controversial with regard to possible inner ear-related damage but most of them do not detect the involvement of this virus in auditory function. However, only a few studies on long-term effects on language development are currently available because of the recent onset of the pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on perceptual and expressive abilities and the emerging development of communication in young children. To this purpose, the MacArthur–Bates Communicative Development Inventory—Words and Gestures form (CDI-WG), was administered to parents. In total, 115 children whose mother was infected by SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy were enrolled in the study and evaluated at the Audiology Service of the Modena University Hospital. All children underwent Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) at birth: 114/115 had a “pass” result bilaterally, while 1 case had a unilateral “refer” result. Overall, 110/115 newborns (95.65%) underwent audiological evaluation between 10–18 months of age. In 5/110 patients (3.6%), the Pure Tone Average (PTA) result was equal to 35 dB; one case had a hearing threshold of around 50 dB due to a bilateral effusive otitis media. A notable finding was the percentage of children with tubal dysfunction in both evaluations, within 2 months of age and around 12 months of age. Most children revealed normal hearing. The CDI-WG was completed by 56/115 families. The rate of children below the fifth percentile was 8.9% for sentences understood, 12.5% for words understood, and 5.4% for words produced. Concerning CDI-Gestures, only 2 children (3.6%) were below the fifth percentile. A structured audiological follow-up in association with the evaluation of communication skills of children appears fundamental, particularly in the years of maximum neuroplasticity. Long-term studies are still necessary to evaluate the possible consequences of the pandemic.

Background and Objectives: Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is influenced by various causes, including thyroid diseases. For example, hypothyroidism and thyroid autoimmunity can damage the inner ear through hormonal, immune, and vascular mechanisms. Vestibular disorders like Ménière’s disease (MD) and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) also show possible associations with thyroid dysfunction. Materials and Methods: A review following PRISMA guidelines searched PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for studies linking thyroid disorders with inner ear dysfunction. Results: Out of 985 screened records, 30 studies met inclusion criteria, involving various thyroid disorders, primarily hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis. Scientific evidence supports a correlation between hypothyroidism and hearing impairment. However, some studies also suggest a link between hyperthyroidism and inner ear disorders, particularly focusing on the role of autoimmunity in this context. Concerning vestibular dysfunction, the available studies are less abundant and support a significant association between thyroid disease and Meniere’s disease. Conclusions: There is a clear correlation between hypothyroidism and auditory function. A substantial body of literature also supports an association with vestibular disorders, although some discrepancies remain. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms (e.g., autoimmune, vascular, metabolic) involved with this correlation.