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Objective: The aim of this study was to discover Turkish regional differences in the risk factors of newborn hearing loss., Method: A multi-centered retrospective design was used. A total of 443 children, registered to the national newborn hearing screening programme, with bilateral hearing loss, from five different regions of Turkey, were evaluated in terms of the types of hearing loss, the degree of hearing loss, the types of risk factors, parental consanguinity, age at diagnosis and age of auditory intervention, respectively., Results: There was no significant difference in the prevalence of hearing loss between regions (χ 2  = 3.210, P = 0.523). Symmetric Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL) was the most common type of HL in all regions (91.8%). Profound HL was the most common degree of HL in all regions (46.2%). There were statistically significant differences between regions in terms of types of HL (χ 2  = 14.151, P = 0.000). As a total, 323 (72.9%) of subjects did not have any risk factors. There were statistically significant differences between regions in terms of the types of risk factors (pre, peri and post-natal) for SSNHL (χ 2  = 16.095, P = 0.000). For all regions, the age of diagnosis was convenient with the JCIH criteria. However the age of hearing aid application was prolonged in some regions. There were statistically significant differences between regions in terms of the age of diagnosis (χ 2  = 93.570, P = 0.000) and the age of auditory intervention (χ 2  = 47.323, P = 0.000). The confounding effects of gender, age of diagnosis, age of hearing aids applications, HL in the family, types of risk factors for HL on SSNHL were detected., Conclusion: To reach the goal of a high quality newborn hearing screening, there is a need to develop an evidence-based standard for follow up guideline. In addition, risk factors should be re-evaluated according to regional differences and all regions should take their own precautions according to their evidence based data., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Cisplatin, an effective therapeutic agent for various human cancers, has dose-limiting side effects of ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Cisplatin ototoxicity is thought to result from increased amounts of toxic free radicals or cell membrane changes leading to increased intracellular calcium content. Ginkgo biloba extract prevents lipid peroxidation, decreases intracellular free oxygen radical levels, regulates the cell membrane calcium transport mechanism and prevents cell death. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Ginkgo biloba extract against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in rats., Methods: Twenty Wistar albino rats with normal hearing (confirmed by distortion product otoacoustic emission testing prior to cisplatin application) were randomly allocated to two groups. Both groups received a single intraperitoneal dose of cisplatin (12 mg/kg). Group two also received daily intraperitoneal doses of Ginkgo biloba extract (100 mg/kg) for 10 days. Distortion product otoacoustic emission measurements were repeated on days 10 and 17 and signal-to-noise ratios were compared., Results: Compared with group one, group two had significantly better distortion product otoacoustic emission results at 3, 4, 6 and 8 kHz on days 10 and 17., Conclusion: These findings suggest that Ginkgo biloba extract protects the inner ear against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.