To explore the difficulties and obstacles of hearing-technology users during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Descriptive, cross-sectional study. Individuals with permanent hearing...

Aim: To investigate the relationship between COVID-19 infection and subsequent long-term mental consequences among patients recovering from the disease. Methods: A cross-sectional and survey-based study was conducted in Jordan using Google Forms during the period from March to July of 2022. The requirement to participate was that individuals be at least 18 years old and have at least one symptomatic COVID-19 infection. A total of 2,055 subjects recruited in the study. Mental health was assessed using mental health inventory-38 (MHI-38). Results: Females represent 64.8% (n=1,182) of the sample. The mean age of the participants was 39.9±14.4 years. Subjects who recovered from COVID-19 scored slightly higher than moderate on different scales of MHI-38. These include anxiety, depression, loss of behavioral and emotional control, general positive affect, emotional ties, and life-satisfactions. The prevalence of depression among participants was 46.3% (n=952). The prevalence of anxiety among participants was 45.8% (n=942). The prevalence of loss of physical and emotional control was 47.2% (n=970). Multiple regression showed that employment status, tobacco use, and severe COVID-19 infection were associated with mental illness. Not working, using tobacco, and having severe COVID-19 infection were more likely to develop mental illness (p<0.01). Conclusion: Individuals who recover from COVID-19 are susceptible to developing mental illnesses. Factors associated with such susceptibility include employment status, tobacco use and severity of infection. The current findings can be used in mental health interventions targeting individuals who recovered from COVID-19.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of physicians regarding hearing loss and its management among children in Jordan as an example of developing countries. Method: The cross-sectional survey composed of 18 questions was used to fulfill the aim of the study. The study population consisted of 335 physicians working in Jordan, with different specialties. The data were collected through site visits to a variety of health care facilities, as well as an online version of the survey to facilitate data collection and ensure participants' comfort. Results: The majority of physicians (30.7%) were general practitioners or family doctors, followed by pediatricians (12.8%). Most of the physicians (88.7%) had experience ranging from 1 to 10 years; the majority of physicians (60.3%) were younger than 30 years of age. Most of the physicians identified the importance of newborn hearing screening. Physicians showed limited knowledge about the management and intervention of infants with permanent hearing loss. Only 11.5% of respondents would refer a child with confirmed hearing loss to an audiologist, and 1.9% of them would refer to a speech therapist. Even though the majority of the physicians (69.0%) reported not receiving any training to deal with deaf and hard of hearing children, they felt confident in talking with parents about hearing loss and its management. Conclusions: This study revealed that physicians have limited knowledge regarding hearing loss in children as well as its management and intervention. Furthermore, this study illustrates the need for more ongoing medical education programs regarding hearing loss in children.

Introduction One of the main factors that affect the early diagnosis and intervention of hearing loss is inadequate knowledge by the health care workers. Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists are the main source of information about hearing loss and its management in most developing countries, such as Jordan. Objective The purpose of the present study is to explore the level of knowledge and the practice of hearing screening and hearing loss management for children among ENT physicians in Jordan as an example of health care providers in developing countries of the Middle East. Methods This was a cross-sectional study, adapting a questionnaire of knowledge and the practice of hearing screening and hearing loss management for children. The questionnaire consisted of 2 sections with 20 questions. A total of 40 ENT physicians completed the questionnaire. Results The majority of the respondents acknowledged the importance of hearing screening for children; however, there was limited knowledge regarding hearing loss management and testing. Only 10 of the ENT physicians believed that a referral to an audiologist is warranted, and the majority of the respondents were not aware that a child with a confirmed permanent hearing loss should be referred to a speech pathologist or to a rehabilitation center. Managing unilateral and mild sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was another area about which ENT physicians have limited knowledge. Conclusion There is a strong need for professional intervention programs, providing the latest updates and standardizations in the field of audiology and pediatric rehabilitation for ENT physicians.

Background: Hearing loss is a common disorder, affecting both children and adults worldwide. Individuals with hearing loss suffer from mental health problems that affect their quality of life. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the social and emotional consequences of hearing loss in a Jordanian population using Arabic versions of the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA) and the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE). Methods: This study included 300 Jordanian participants aged 18–90 years with hearing loss. Each participant underwent a complete audiological evaluation before answering the questionnaires. Results: The median overall scores of the HHIA and HHIE groups were 39 and 65, respectively. Both HHIA (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.79, p < 0.001) and HHIE (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.78, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with the social, emotional, and overall scores. Compared to the adult group, the median emotional and social scores of the older adults group were significantly higher than the adults group (Z = -4.721, p = 0.001), using the Mann-Whitney test. Conclusion: The present research revealed that psychological disabilities associated with hearing loss in the adult Jordanian population are more frequent and severe than in other nations. This may be attributed to the lack of awareness of the mental consequences of hearing loss among Jordanian healthcare providers and the public.

Background: Noise exposure is the primary cause of acquired hearing loss in several occupational settings, including dental laboratories and clinics. However, the impact of noise exposure on the vestibular system is not as well researched. Purpose: To investigate the nature of vestibular damage caused by working in dental laboratories and clinics with high levels of noise exposure due to loud dental equipment. Research Design: A descriptive, case study design was used to evaluate the vestibular function of dental technicians. Study Sample: Out of 30 dental technicians, 5 males who had been working for several years in dental settings were selected based on their reports of severe symptoms of imbalance. Data Collection: Audiologic evaluations were conducted in the vestibular unit of the Doctor Tarek Khrais Center in Amman, Jordan, for one year. Each subject underwent several hearing tests, which included otoscopic examination, pure tone audiometry (PTA), impedance measurements, and speech testing. Assessment of vestibular function was then conducted using a diagnostic test battery which included electrocochleography, ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMP), cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP), positional testing using the Thomas Richard-Vitton (TRV) chair, and standing stability testing. Results: All test subjects experienced some form of vestibular impairment, including benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), endolymphatic hydrops (Meniere disease), or a combination of both. Three out of five cases displayed little or no hearing loss, indicating that vestibular function is more at risk than hearing acuity to continuous noise exposure in dental settings. Conclusions: Exposure to loud noise in dental laboratories severely impacts the functioning of the vestibular system of the inner ear more than the cochlea. The main clinical implication of this study is that regular vestibular assessments are a necessity for dental technicians.