Unprecedented quarantine due to COVID-19 exposes individuals to withdraw from face-to-face interactions, which may influence communication and self-esteem (SE). Therefore, the overarching aims of this study are to examine the communication apprehension levels among female college students, and thus to investigate the moderating role of self-esteem on the relationship between communication apprehension and academic achievement. In this cross-sectional study, 287 female college students completed the survey, which was circulated through email. The survey included the following questionnaires: General Health Characteristics, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, and Personal Report of Communication Apprehension Scale. The results showed that 28.2% of participants were categorized as having a high level of communication apprehension, and only 9.8% had a low level of communication apprehension. The SE reported an overall score of 24.3 ± 2.14, indicating a high self-esteem level among students. The students’ grade point average (GPA) was positively correlated with SE. However, self-esteem as a moderator variable had no significant effect on the relationships between all predictors and GPA. The finding of the study highlights the need to implement different strategies to enhance students’ group discussions, meetings, and interpersonal communication to ensure the best learning outcomes. Future studies are required to investigate gender-based disparities in the relationship between communication apprehension and SE.

BACKGROUND: Schwann cell sheaths are the source of benign, slowly expanding tumours known as acoustic neuromas (AN). The diagnostic and treatment approaches for AN must be patient-centered, taking into account unique factors and preferences. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate how machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) can revolutionise AN management and diagnostic procedures. METHODS: A thorough systematic review that included peer-reviewed material from public databases was carried out. Publications on AN, AI, and deep learning up until December 2023 were included in the review’s purview. RESULTS: Based on our analysis, AI models for volume estimation, segmentation, tumour type differentiation, and separation from healthy tissues have been developed successfully. Developments in computational biology imply that AI can be used effectively in a variety of fields, including quality of life evaluations, monitoring, robotic-assisted surgery, feature extraction, radiomics, image analysis, clinical decision support systems, and treatment planning. CONCLUSION: For better AN diagnosis and treatment, a variety of imaging modalities require the development of strong, flexible AI models that can handle heterogeneous imaging data. Subsequent investigations ought to concentrate on reproducing findings in order to standardise AI approaches, which could transform their use in medical environments.

This study examines the moderating effects of various factors on the relationship between physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among 287 female college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected through an online questionnaire covering health issues, PA, self-esteem, HRQoL, and sociodemographic information, supplemented by semi-structured interviews and focus groups with six participants. Results showed that 46% of respondents had good HRQoL, and 38% were physically active. The interactions of age, socioeconomic status (SES), and academic performance with PA on HRQoL were insignificant. However, physical and mental health problems significantly moderated the PA–HRQoL relationship, accounting for 1% and 4% of the variance, respectively. The qualitative analysis highlighted the need for student activity clubs and mental health support to enhance coping strategies and overall HRQoL. In conclusion, age and SES did not moderate the PA–HRQoL relationship, while physical and mental health issues did. Programs targeting students with health problems are crucial to improving their physical and mental health, thereby enhancing their well-being.

To assess self-perceived balance function in adults after cochlear implantation and explore factors associated with postoperative vertigo. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among adult cochlear implant recipients (≥18 years). Collected data included demographics, hearing history, vestibular symptoms before and after implantation, and satisfaction with hearing outcomes. Chi-square analysis was used to examine associations between vertigo and clinical variables. A total of 50 adult participants were included. Perception of vertigo was reported by 38% prior to implantation and 48% post-implantation. Among those with post-implant symptoms, 58.3% experienced vertigo daily, and 54.2% rated their symptoms as moderate in severity. The majority of symptoms developed within one month post-surgery. Male sex was significantly associated with a higher incidence of post-implant vertigo (p = 0.049), while no significant associations were observed with other factors. Nearly half of adult cochlear implant recipients reported postoperative vertigo, with many describing symptoms of moderate severity that interfered with daily activities. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating systematic pre- and post-operative vestibular assessment and follow-up into standard cochlear implant care.

Background: Ear health is an important yet often overlooked aspect of preventive health, particularly among young adults. This study aimed to assess the awareness and practices related to ear health among university students to identify knowledge gaps and inform targeted educational interventions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 565 participants using an electronic questionnaire covering demographic data, hearing status, ear health knowledge, and ear health practices. Awareness was classified into high, medium, or low based on mean scores. Chi-square tests and Spearman’s rank correlation were applied to examine associations between demographic variables and awareness or practices. Results: Most participants recognized sudden hearing loss as an emergency (91.2%) and acknowledged the risks of Q-tip use (78.9%). However, misconceptions were common, with 82.4% believing that ear canals should be routinely cleaned of wax and 61.6% considering Q-tips beneficial. Unsafe practices included listening to music at maximum volume (86.4%), not using earplugs while swimming (96.3%), and inserting sharp objects into the ear canal (23.4%). Awareness scores indicated medium levels for noise exposure (1.67) and ear cleaning (1.74), and high awareness for general knowledge (1.44). No significant associations were observed for age, university type, or college. Females showed boarderline higher awareness ( p = 0.05) and academic degree correlated weakly but significantly with practices ( p = 0.03). Conclusion: Students demonstrated awareness in some areas but misconceptions and unsafe practices remain common. Educational interventions and health promotion efforts are recommended to improve ear-care behaviors among young adults.

Background: Counseling is a core component of audiological practice, addressing both informational and psychosocial needs of individuals with hearing loss. Despite its recognized importance, audiologists often report limited confidence in delivering personal adjustment counseling. In Saudi Arabia, evidence on counseling preparedness remains limited. This study examined audiologists' perceptions, confidence, training experiences, and perceived barriers related to counseling. Methods: A cross-sectional electronic survey was distributed to licensed audiologists across Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire assessed perceptions of counseling importance, self-reported confidence, barriers, and training experiences. Descriptive statistics, non-parametric comparisons, correlation analyses, and multiple linear regression were conducted. Results: Ninety-seven audiologists completed the survey. Counseling importance was rated high, while confidence was moderate, particularly for personal adjustment counseling skills. Barriers were generally low, though patient resistance and limited family involvement were moderately challenging. Confidence was associated with age and years of experience and was positively correlated with perceived importance and negatively correlated with perceived barriers. In the multivariable model, a perceived need for training was associated with lower confidence, while workshop participation was associated with higher confidence. Adequate training was independently associated with fewer perceived barriers. Conclusions: Audiologists in Saudi Arabia strongly value counseling but report moderate confidence, highlighting the central role of structured education and professional development in strengthening counseling competence and supporting patient-centered audiological care. However, the findings should be interpreted with caution, as the sample was predominantly composed of early- and mid-career clinicians and relied on self-reported data, which may limit generalizability to the broader national workforce.