Objective: To investigate the relationship between hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). Methods: Clinical data including the symptom of vertigo of 149 SSHL patients were investigated retrospectively. Pure tone audiometry, ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) evoked by air-conducted sound (ACS), and caloric test were employed for cochlear and vestibular function assessment. The relationship between hearing level and vestibular dysfunction was analyzed. Results: The pure tone averages (PTAs) (mean ± SD) of SSHL patients with and without vertigo were 88.81 ± 21.74 dB HL and 72.49 ± 21.88 dB HL (Z = −4.411, p = 0.000), respectively. The PTAs of SSHL patients with abnormal and normal caloric test were 84.71 ± 22.54 dB HL and 70.41 ± 24.07 dB HL (t = −2.665, p = 0.009), respectively. Conversely, vertigo and abnormal caloric results also happened more frequently in patients with profound hearing loss. However, no consistent tendency could be found among vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) responses or hearing loss. Conclusions: SSHL patients with vertigo or abnormal caloric test displayed worse hearing loss; and vice versa, vertigo and abnormal caloric results happened more frequently in SSHL patients with profound hearing loss.

Objective: Vestibular dysfunction may delay the achievement of balance and perception milestones in pediatric patients after cochlear implantation (CIM).Methods: A strategic literature search was done following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We searched the PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to July 2022. Studies were included on the otoliths, semicircular canals, and balance function changes in children after CIM. Two reviewers independently assessed the level of evidence, methodological limitations, risk of bias, and characteristics of the cases. Matched pre- and postoperative vestibular functional test data, including ocular and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP and cVEMP), caloric test, video head impulse test (vHIT), and Bruininks-Oseretsky Test 2 (BOT-2), were used to calculate the relative risk of vestibular disorders. Subgroup analyses were performed according to surgical approach, CIM device status, and etiology.Results: Twenty studies that met the inclusion criteria were selected for the meta-analysis. We observed significant vestibular dysfunction in pediatric patients with CIM. The results showed a statistically significant increase in abnormal cVEMP response (RR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.87, 2.58, P < 0.0001), abnormal oVEMP response (RR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.50, 2.94, P < 0.0001), and abnormal caloric test results (RR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.20, 2.19, P = 0.0018) after implantation. Statistically significant differences were not found in the vHIT test results of all three semicircular canals before and after the operation (P > 0.05). Regarding static and dynamic balance, we found significantly poorer BOT-2 scores in children with CIM than in the normal group (mean difference = −7.26, 95% CI = −10.82, −3.70, P < 0.0001).Conclusion: The results showed that vestibular dysfunction might occur after CIM in pediatric patients. Some children experience difficulties with postural control and balance. Our results suggest that a comprehensive evaluation of vestibular function should be performed before and after CIM.

Objective: Risk factors for chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) were not clearly established. The study was to investigate the etiological factors for CSOM from a population of Han adults in China. Methods: A case-control study was conducted at Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, School of Medicine in China. A total of 416 individuals participated in this study, which included 206 cases and 210 controls. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed male (OR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.21–0.83), BMI increasing (OR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.77–0.93), URTI (OR = 152.85; 95% CI: 34.11–684.93), smoke/passive smoke (OR = 7.11; 95% CI: 3.36–15.07), residential location (urban area) (OR = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.13–0.56), serum calcium increasing (OR = 0.09; 95% CI: 0.01–0.71) were prime risk factors for CSOM. Univariate analysis revealed that low socioeconomic status (OR= 2.33; 95% CI: 1.57–3.45) and hepatitis B (OR = 4.90; 95% CI: 1.82–13.21) were risk factors together with the above variables. Conclusion: This study has identified several variables as risk factors for CSOM, suggesting better healthcare, living condition, as well as better nutrition might decrease the development of CSOM. Further studies are necessary to assess the outcome of CSOM after interventions in the etiological factors.