Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between tinnitus pitch and loudness, the frequency of hearing loss, hearing level, and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) scores reported by patients. Methods: In total, 139 patients (50 men and 89 women; mean age ± SD, 60.19 ± 11.47 years) who suffered from chronic primary tinnitus associated with sensorineural hearing loss were included in the study. Participants underwent pure-tone audiometry and tinnitus pitch matching assessments. Additionally, all participants completed the Hungarian version of the THI questionnaire. Correlations were assessed using simple linear, Spearman’s, and Pearson’s correlation tests, and a linear regression model was applied. The Mann–Whitney U test was also used. Results: This study identified a significant correlation between the pitch of tinnitus and the frequency of hearing loss (p = 0.000 *; rho = 0.549). There was also a significant correlation between tinnitus noise and hearing levels (p = 0.000 *; rho = 0.375). Age was shown to significantly affect tinnitus loudness (p = 0.016 *) and hearing levels (p = 0.000 *) as determined by a linear regression model. Tinnitus duration only significantly influenced tinnitus loudness (p = 0.022). There was no significant effect of sex on tinnitus or audiometry parameters. Total THI scores were influenced solely by tinnitus loudness (p = 0.021 *). Furthermore, sex did have an effect on total THI scores, with women reporting higher scores (p = 0.000 *). Conclusions: This study concluded that there is a significant correlation between the pitch and loudness of tinnitus and hearing levels, suggesting a connection in their underlying mechanisms. The intensity of tinnitus and hearing level are primarily affected by ageing processes. Furthermore, the severity of self-perceived tinnitus is mainly related to the loudness of tinnitus.

Purpose: Our aim was to determine whether perioperatively administered corticosteroid treatment has any beneficial effect on the outcome of stapes surgery, with special regard to the audiological results and early postoperative morbidity. Methods: 84 CO₂ laser stapedotomies performed in our institute between 2013 and 2018 were included in our investigation. All cases underwent preoperative and mid-term postoperative pure-tone audiometric evaluation. Vestibular complications were also evaluated. The cases were subdivided into two groups, 23 patients received perioperative i.v. methylprednisolone treatment (“S”) while the other 61 patients (“nS”) did not receive any adjuvant pharmacological therapy. The data were analyzed retrospectively using IBM SPSS Statistics. Results: CO₂ laser stapedotomy proved to be a successful intervention with a significant improvement in ABG and AC thresholds as well. Long-term BC levels were significantly better compared to preoperative ones in the S group; however, in the nS group, no difference could be shown. Hearing and ABG gain were significantly superior in group S [28.1 dB (SD11.2) vs. 18.1 dB (SD 10.9) and 23.9 dB(SD 9.8) vs. 17.2 dB (SD 9.5), respectively]. Conclusion: No significant inner ear damage was detectable in the results of our CO₂ laser stapedotomy method; however, the positive effect of corticosteroid treatment could be demonstrated through the postoperative hearing levels. We found no statistical difference in early postoperative morbidity. According to our data, the routine administration of corticosteroids during stapes surgery could be an issue worthy of consideration. The effects of perioperative treatment vs that on the first day after surgery, and topical vs. systemic treatment could be the subject of further investigation in a prospective manner.

Objective: Odontogenic sinusitis (OS) is a well-known and important border of specialties in otorhinolaryngology and dentoalveolar surgery. Odontogenic sinusitis can develop due to iatrogenic harm or odontogenic infection. The gold standard diagnostic method is clinical and radiological—CBCT (cone beam computed tomography)—examination. The treatment of this condition requires collaboration between ENT and dentoalveolar surgery specialists and can be non-surgical or surgical based on staging. This paper aims to share the results of our clinical study whereby complex therapy was administered by a dentoalveolar surgeon and an otorhinolaryngologist in cooperation. Patients and methods: We conducted a retrospective study comprising 111 OS patients who underwent complex therapy between 2016 and 2023 at Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. All patients were treated with concurrent FESS (functional endoscopic sinus surgery) and dentoalveolar surgery. Follow-up was based on symptoms, clinical examination and CBCT imaging. Results: Of the 111 patients, 107 were successfully treated with concurrent FESS and dentoalveolar surgery, and only 4 had further symptoms following the complex therapy and needed retreatment. Conclusions: The complex, single-session therapy involving FESS and oral surgery is an effective treatment method, which is less invasive and associated with fewer complications compared to previous interventions, such as the Luc–Caldwell procedure.

Purpose: In 2015 a new regulation and guidelines for the universal newborn hearing screening by AABR measurement have been implemented in Hungary. The aim of our study was to analyse (1) the past 5 years of data from our diagnostic centre about the incidence and types of congenital hearing losses, and (2) the first experiences with the National Newborn Hearing Screening Registry, started in 2019, and (3) the influence of the screening on the pediatric cochlear implant program. Methods: 1269 children referred to our diagnostic centre between 2017 and 2021 were investigated. A third AABR measurement and full audiological evaluation were performed. Furthermore, one-year period data of the screening registry, and the number of implanted children at or under the age of 3 were analysed using the national databases. Results: Altogether 276 newborns (22% of the referred cases after the two-stage screening) had hearing loss, 134 (49%) out of them was conductive origin, almost twice frequent in male as in female. Permanent sensorineural hearing impairment was found in 142 (51%), 58 (40%) of them had bilateral, severe to profound hearing loss, occurring more frequently in male as in female. The national digital registration of the screening data within 12 months concerned 68%. The number of early cochlear implantation in one year increased from 1 to 23 children in the past 15 years. Conclusion: A third AABR after the two-stage screening increased the efficiency and filtered the 78% false-positive cases. The audiological diagnostics verified and typed the hearing losses ensuring the early intervention.

Although otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common cause of hearing impairment in children, little is known about its microbiological background. We aimed to analyse the microbiome of the middle ear fluid (MEF) in OME to identify microbiological, demographic and environmental factors that may potentially influence the middle ear microbiome. In addition, we aimed to compare the results of conventional culture techniques and PCR-based methods. 39 samples from children with OME were investigated using conventional culture and 16S rRNA sequencing. Bioinformatic analyses were carried out to assess the microbial communities and their association with clinical data. By conventional culture technique bacteria could be cultured in 33 % of the MEF samples; the most frequent bacterium was Haemophilus influenzae, followed by Staphylococcus species, Cutibacterium acne, and Streptococcus species. The 16S rRNA analysis showed that Alloiococcus was the most abundant bacterium, followed by Haemophilus, Streptococcus. and Sphingobium. A “High Alloiococcus group” with significantly lower and a “Low Alloiococcus group” with significantly higher alpha and beta diversity could be defined. Children born by Caesarean sections had lower beta and Shannon diversity than patients born by natural birth. Breastfeeding for at least six months showed a negative correlation with alpha diversity. Age, previous antibiotic treatment, parental smoking, duration of symptoms, existence of siblings, did not alter the significantly bacterial composition of MEF samples and there were no significant differences in regard to alpha or beta diversity. The conventional culture technique and 16S rRNA results were not congruent. Remarkably, Alloiococcus could not be cultured at all, even by 16S rRNA analysis the presence of Alloiococcus seems to be important. Based on our results, A. otitidis possibly impacts the diversity of middle ear microbiome in children with OME. However, further studies are required to determine the role of A. otidis in middle ear pathologies.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of ossicular chain reconstruction (OCR) in primary and revision surgeries, and to investigate the impact of the number of previous surgeries on hearing outcomes. Methods: Retrospective analysis of cases with OCR due to chronic otitis in a tertiary center between January 2018 and September 2021. Results: Altogether, 147 cases of ossicle involvement were assessed. In 91.83% (n = 135) OCR was performed, 96.26% of them with titanium TORP/PORP (n = 130), two cases with autologous prosthesis and three with piston. Mean follow-up was 8.8 months. The ABG significantly improved in the total group (TORP/PORP) from a mean (SD) of 30.94 (15.55) to 19.76 (13.36) dB (p < 0.0001) with 60.86% success. The best results were achieved in primary OCR with PORP implantation without cholesteatoma (89.47%). Primary cases have a significantly higher success rate in contrary to revision surgeries (72.27%, vs. 52.00%, p = 0.032). The only relevant predictive factor proved to be the fact of revision (p = 0.029). A statistically significant correlation between the number of previous surgeries and hearing results could not be proved. There was no difference in hearing outcomes between patients with only one or more than one previous surgeries in the revision groups. Neither the presence of cholesteatoma, nor the type of OCR (TOPR/PORP) and the indication of revision had an impact on postoperative ABG. Conclusions: Titanium prostheses are effective in OCR both in primary and revision cases. It is not the number of previous surgeries, but the fact of revision that influences postoperative hearing results.