BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to find out how candidacy criteria have evolved differently across the globe. METHODS: Candidacy criteria and outcome measurements applied in 19 HEARRING clinics were analyzed. RESULTS: Candidacy criteria vary between clinics. Overall, both bilateral implantation and cochlear implantation in patients with single-sided deafness are becoming more frequent. CONCLUSION: Standardized outcome measurement instruments need to be applied to provide access to the hearing world to all patients with hearing loss who would benefit from cochlear implantation. Cite this article as: Van de Heyning P, Gavilán J, Godey B, et al. Worldwide variation in cochlear implant candidacy. J Int Adv Otol. 2022;18(3):196-202.

Conclusion: Bone conduction implants are useful in patients with conductive and mixed hearing loss for whom conventional surgery or hearing aids are no longer an option. They may also be used in patients affected by single-sided deafness. Objectives: To establish a consensus on the quality standards required for centers willing to create a bone conduction implant program. Method: To ensure a consistently high level of service and to provide patients with the best possible solution the members of the HEARRING network have established a set of quality standards for bone conduction implants. These standards constitute a realistic minimum attainable by all implant clinics and should be employed alongside current best practice guidelines. Results: Fifteen items are thoroughly analyzed. They include team structure, accommodation and clinical facilities, selection criteria, evaluation process, complete preoperative and surgical information, postoperative fitting and assessment, follow-up, device failure, clinical management, transfer of care and patient complaints.

Neuro-otology is the only field of otolaryngology in which diagnoses are mainly deductive. Although many technological advances have indeed occurred, the patient history still remains the most important part of the evaluation of a patient complaining of vertigo and/or dizziness. The use of artificial intelligence methods as an aid for the solution of clinical problems is not new. “Carrusel” is a Prolog build-up expert system dealing with the diagnosis of vestibular disorders that achieves a success rate of 97 % when compared to the human experts involved in its design.

Research from JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery — Ossifying Hemangioma of the Temporal Bone

In this report, we describe the clinical course, diagnostic features and management of a patient with fibrous dysplasia of the temporal bone 7 years after middle ear surgery on the same side. A 16-year-old Caucasian girl presented to our hospital with a growing bone lesion in the roof of the left temporal bone. She had undergone a previous tympanoplasty at 7 years of age because of a cholesteatoma. At the time of that first surgery, no radiological or histological signs indicated a bone disorder. A computed tomographic scan of the temporal bone showed a lesion with rarefaction areas and lytic images inside that affected the roof of the cavity to the tegmen tympani without alterations in the inner ear. A surgical revision of the ear cavity was performed by resecting the lesion and regularizing the cavity. The histopathologic study confirmed fibrous dysplasia. The patient progressed satisfactorily after surgery with no evidence of recurrence. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of fibrous dysplasia of the temporal bone secondary to ear surgery.

Conclusions: Cochlear implantation in the poorer ear of an elderly patient does not predict poorer post-operative audiological, quality-of-life (QoL), and quality of sound results. Objectives: To determine whether choosing the ‘better’ or the ‘poorer’ ear for cochlear implantation impacts performance outcome in an elderly population. Methods: Forty-two out of 73 elderly (≥ 60 years) cochlear implant users with some residual hearing in at least one ear were selected. Three criteria were used to group the patients as ‘better’ or ‘poorer’ ear implanted; (C1) based on previous use of hearing aid, (C2) pre-operative PTA, and (C3) pre-operative speech discrimination. The Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) and the Hearing Implant Sound Quality Index (HISQUI) were used to measure QoL and quality of sound, respectively. Results: The mean post-operative PTA was 38.7 ± 7.2 dBHL. In quiet, the mean disyllabic SDS at 65dBSPL was 75.4 ± 18.5, whereas the discrimination of sentences was 95.0% ± 6.9. The mean total GBI score was 30.9 ± 21.8, 92.9% of patients reporting a positive score. The mean HISQUI score was 111.3 ± 36.0, which corresponds to ‘moderate’ sound quality. No significant differences were found between both groups in terms of audiological outcomes, HISQUI scores or GBI scores when considering each of the three criteria.