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Background and Aim: This study aimed to investigate the performance of visual search and attention functions of aeronauts based on transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Methods: This study was a non-randomized, semi-experimental, with a single-blind crossover design. The statistical population of the study was military aviators of a training center in Tehran in 2022. Twelve aeronauts (mean age 37.53 ± 4.82) were selected by purposive sampling method and were examined in three rounds under extracranial electrical stimulation with an interval of two days for each stimulation. measurement tools included continuous performance tests and Concentration Attention Test. Results: The results of testing the hypotheses using analysis of covariance showed that direct electrical stimulation of the brain has a significant effect on reducing the visual search response time and increasing the correct visual search response (P≤0.5). Also, direct electrical stimulation of the brain had a significant effect on reducing the response time of tinnitus and the correct response of tinnitus by aerobic trainers. Also, the study of the difference in stimulation position showed that Anodal stimulation is more effective than other stimulation positions (P≤0.05). Conclusion: It seems that transcranial electrical stimulation of the brain can be used to maintain concentration and manage the attention of the aeronaut (that is, they have awareness and control at any moment and their attention is best directed to the signals related to the goal). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Oxidative stress is one of the causes of tinnitus. The therapeutic effect of nanocurcumin on the antioxidant processes of various diseases has been confirmed; however, no study, to the best of our knowledge, has been conducted on its therapeutic effect on tinnitus. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effect of nanocurcumin on treating tinnitus. Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial (triple-blind intervention). A total of 62 patients with tinnitus were selected by randomized block design with observance of concealment. Then, the participants were divided into two groups of 31 and were treated with nanocurcumin and a placebo. Both groups were similar in terms of age and gender with frequency matching methods. Hearing tests were performed for all patients. Patients received 80 mg/day of nanocurcumin and similar placebo capsules for 21 days. Results: The mean and standard deviation of the age in the nanocurcumin and placebo groups were 44.77 ± 15.2 and 46.32 ± 15.2 years, respectively (P>0.05). The difference between the mean duration of tinnitus was not significant in both groups (P>0.05). The results indicated that the antioxidant nanocurcumin reduced the tinnitus score (P=0.02). However, nanocurcumin failed to affect the frequency, high score, degree of annoyance, mean score of speech discrimination, and speech reception threshold (P>0.05). Also, no side effect was reported from using nanocurcumin. Conclusion: Nanocurcumin is not effective in the treatment of tinnitus.

Background and Objective:Tinnitus is hearing a sound without an external source, which occurs anywhere in the head and one or both ears. It is one of the most common symptoms associated with hearing loss due to chronic otitis media. This study aimed to determine the effect of autologous primary ossicular reconstruction on the recovery of tinnitus due to chronic otitis media. Materials and Methods:This study was conducted based on a before-and-after design and included 25 patients aged 18-70 years with tinnitus and chronic otitis media. The participants had undergone initial reconstruction of the bone chain using an autologous graft in the Department of Ear, Nose, and Throat of the Hamadan Besat Hospital, Hamedan, Iran, in 2019. The Tinnitus Matching Test and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory were used to assess patients' tinnitus. Results:A total of 25 patients participated in this study, including 13 (52%) men and 12 (48%) women. The mean scores of the age of the subjects, duration of tinnitus, frequency of tinnitus were obtained at 45.76±12.76 years, 53.25±37.25 months, and 5,000 Hz, respectively. The difference between the mean values of tinnitus loudness was significant before (8 dB) and after the surgery (4 dB) (P

Background and Aim: Exposure to impact noise (short-term, high intensity) higher than permitted levels results in injury to the auditory system. Armed forces are one of the occupational groups exposed to these types of noises resulting from gunshots. In this study, relevant articles and research on the adverse effects of impact noise, hearing loss, and tinnitus in armed forces and effective control methods are reviewed. Methods: In this review study, the databases of Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Science Information Database (SID), Islamic World Science Citation Center (ISC), and Science Direct were searched with the keywords including noise-induced hearing loss, armed forces, impact noise, control and exposure in armed forces and shooting range. Through determining entrance and exit indicators and consultations among writers, from 68 evaluated articles, 42 entered the study, and 26 were removed. Results: Several studies measured the gunshot noise level and found that exposure to this noise resulted in different auditory complications depending on the frequency and intensity of exposure. Baseline characteristics and lifestyle are parameters involved in developing noise-induced hearing loss. Active and passive noise control methods and the use of hearing protection devices are among the measures adopted to reduce the intensity of exposure and decrease the detrimental effects of noise on the auditory system. Conclusion: The use of hearing protection with an active noise cancellation has been developing during the past years, however, it is recommended to use both noise control engineering and hearing protection to reduce the highest level of harmful noise possible when firing a weapon. It should be noted that to prevent hearing loss in the military staff, it is necessary to build medical records upon recruitment for hearing monitoring and conduct periodic examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Tinnitus is the perception of sound without external acoustic stimuli that has a great impact on quality of life. This disorder can affect sleep, daily activities, and social functioning. It also entails great costs to affected individual and society. Despite many studies of modern medicine, the exact pathophysiology of tinnitus is unknown. Hence, there is increasing attention to complementary medicine for management and control of the disease. The purpose of this investigation was to study the sources of Persian medicine for the causes of tinnitus to establish an appropriate model for its prevention and treatment. Materials and methods: We conducted a qualitative study (summative content analysis) and analyzed Persian medicine books and electronic databases. Results: One of the most important causes of tinnitus is accumulation of waste products and winds in ears and brain due to mistemper, indigestion, participatory diseases, formation of ripples and their movement in brain vapors, and stimulation of auditory nerve. In order to prevent and treat tinnitus, Iranian medicine places great emphasis on the six core pillars for a healthy life. Conclusion: It seems that lifestyle modification could be of great help in preventing tinnitus and its management could also be done using methods that are associated with less complications.

Introduction: Tinnitus is a condition where a person perceives a sound without any external source. It is a psychological-auditory phenomenon that affects around 10 to 15% of adults. Due to the complexity of tinnitus and its origins, there are various assumptions and difficulties in treating it. Some treatments include sound stimulation and ultrasonic therapy. This study was conducted to compare the effects of sound stimulation and bone-conducted ultrasound (BCU) stimulation in controlling tinnitus..Materials and Methods: For this study, 21 patients with persistent tinnitus were selected using convenience sampling method. These patients did not have a curable cause for their tinnitus and did not have conductive hearing loss or retrocochlear lesions. Radiological evaluations were conducted before and after sound and BCU stimulation. These evaluations included audiometry, tympanometry, stapes muscle reflex test, stapes muscle reflex decay test, auditory brainstem responses, and psychoacoustic tinnitus indicators. The psychoacoustic indicators measured included pitch, loudness, maskability, comparison of loudness of tinnitus, and duration of residual inhibition.Results: The average loudness of tinnitus, measured in dB Sensation level (dBSL), did not significantly decrease (P = 0.080) after receiving sound and BCU stimulation. The mean loudness of tinnitus, as determined by standard-visual criteria, also did not significantly decrease (P = 0.200) after sound and BCU stimulation. However, there was a significant increase in the duration of residual inhibition (RI) after BCU compared to sound stimulation (P = 0.001). The study also found that the maskability of tinnitus and the type of RI did not depend on the type of stimulation used, with a Kappa coefficient of agreement of 0.69.Conclusion: BCU stimulation of the inner ear may inhibit tinnitus by targeting the basal part of the cochlea, where tinnitus is most likely to occur. BCU stimulation leads to longer inhibition in tinnitus compared to sound stimulation.

Introduction: This study aims to determine the serum zinc level in patients with hearing loss and its relation with tinnitus. Materials & Methods: In this Cross-Sectional study, 110 patients older than 20 years old with Complaining of hearing loss and tinnitus were involved. Participating patients were first visited by an ear, nose, and throat specialist with a history and physical examination, and were assessed for standard hearing loss as well as the intensity and frequency of tinnitus by standard audiometric tests. Then, fasting blood samples were taken to check serum zinc levels. Results:The mean serum level was 85.32 ± 27 27.62, and the mean frequency of tinnitus was 4.94 ± 2.76, both of which had significant differences between different groups (P = 0.001). The mean intensity of tinnitus was 7.77 ± 4.56, and there was no significant difference between different groups (P = 0.677). Serum zinc level and tinnitus frequency were associated with a correlation coefficient of 0.205 (P = 0.032), and serum zinc level and tinnitus severity were associated with a correlation coefficient of 0.249 (P = 0.009). Conclusion: According to the present study results, the positive effect of serum zinc levels on the severity and frequency of tinnitus has been determined so that with decreasing serum zinc levels, tinnitus occurs at lower frequencies.

Background and purpose: Tinnitus is the perception of sound without external acoustic stimuli that has a great impact on quality of life. This disorder can affect sleep, daily activities, and social functioning. It also entails great costs to affected individual and society. Despite many studies of modern medicine, the exact pathophysiology of tinnitus is unknown. Hence, there is increasing attention to complementary medicine for management and control of the disease. The purpose of this investigation was to study the sources of Persian medicine for the causes of tinnitus to establish an appropriate model for its prevention and treatment. Materials and methods: We conducted a qualitative study (summative content analysis) and analyzed Persian medicine books and electronic databases. Results: One of the most important causes of tinnitus is accumulation of waste products and winds in ears and brain due to mistemper, indigestion, participatory diseases, formation of ripples and their movement in brain vapors, and stimulation of auditory nerve. In order to prevent and treat tinnitus, Iranian medicine places great emphasis on the six core pillars for a healthy life. Conclusion: It seems that lifestyle modification could be of great help in preventing tinnitus and its management could also be done using methods that are associated with less complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tinnitus is a multi-factorial disorder. Many oxidative pathologies in different loci of auditory pathway can cause it. In this regard oxidative processes result in an imbalance in the trace elements in ear incorporated into the structure of enzymes responsible for antioxidant protection. Therefore, the present study is aimed to compare the concentration of iron (Fe) and cupper (Cu) as the trace elements in the serum of patients with tinnitus and the healthy subjects. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with idiopathic tinnitus (n=55) and the healthy volunteers (n=47) referred to the ENT clinic of Alzahra hospital (Isfahan, Iran) during 2014-2015. Among the healthy participants 47 age- and sex-matched cases were selected based on convenient sampling. The concentration of Fe and Cu were measured by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results: There was a significant decrease in mean serum Cu level in patients with tinnitus (112.48±27.59) compared to the control group (139.52±14.24), (P

Tinnitus understands a sound in the ear and sometimes in the head without external source or stimulus. Any disorder in the brain, especially the auditory system, can cause tinnitus. About 10-15% of people experience it in part of their lifetime. The purpose of this article is to discuss the pathophysiology of this disease, to identify and prevent this problem, and to look at the future of the treatment and to help the complications of the disease decrease by providing new strategies. The study examines Tinnitus disease by categorizing the topics studied and important known aspects associated with tinnitus disease. In order to gather information about tinnitus disease, the content of the keywords was searched at the sites. Among the cases of Tinnitus acute exposure to acute respiratory distress, autoimmune drugs, chemotherapy, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Therapeutic measures include sound therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and music therapy. Protecting the ears against loud noises and controlling the volume of sound devices and the use of plaques in the face of very high sounds can also be effective in preventing the disease. Although much research has been done, no effective drugs have ever been identified for the treatment of this disease. Auditory pathways and musculoskeletal disorders is a good option for treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Tinnitus is a common symptom associated with hearing loss and its related disorders. Awareness of audiological features is of paramount importance for effective management of tinnitus. This study aimed to evaluate audiological characteristics of tinnitus in patients referring to otolaryngology clinics of Babol, Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 patients with tinnitus (47 male, 73 female) with mean age of 47.12±15.285 years referring to otolaryngology clinics of Babol, Iran. Patients were examined via pure tone audiometry at frequency of 250-8000 Hz to determine the location and type of tinnitus. FINDINGS: In this study, 104 patients (88.7%) had hearing loss, 103 patients had tonal tinnitus with dizziness, 17 patients had loud tinnitus with no dizziness, 45 cases (37.5%) had bilateral tinnitus, 75 patients (62.5%) had unilateral tinnitus, and 17 patients had family history of tinnitus. Among female patients, two cases (1.7%) experienced tinnitus during pregnancy, while in four patients (3.3%), it was reported immediately after pregnancy. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss has a higher prevalence among patients with tinnitus.

Pulsatile tinnitus is the result of blood flow related sounds transmitted to the inner ear and coincides with heartbeat. Although pulsatile tinnitus is a rare entity, this symptom is most often indicative of a serious underlying disease in central nervous system. Unfortunately, this symptom is often not properly assessed by clinician that leads to delayed diagnosis of underlying brain pathology. In this report, a patient is presented with chief complaint of tinnitus that had many medical visits for 2 years. Finally, a cerebral vascular malformation was diagnosed with regards to physical examination and neuroimaging findings.

Aims: Sudden terrible sound, like the sound of landmine explosion, can rupture the eardrum, disruption of the ossicular chain, ear nervous system disorders and in some cases causes complete deafness. Accordingly, this study aimed to data collection and assesses the hearing health of Iranian landmine survivors less than 18 years old. Methods: All mine survivors less than 18 with hearing disorder enrolled and after obtaining demographic information, hearing status, clinical and treatment data were evaluated by an ENT specialist. Frequencies were reported as number, percentage and mean ± SD. Results: About one third of landmine survivors suffered from hearing disorders that their average age was 16.13±2.05 years and mean duration of hearing loss was 6.7±2.5 years. The most common negative side issue was headache, 81.3%. More subjects were in trouble in crowded environments with high frequency sound (65%) and tinnitus was a common problem among them (87%). Sensorineural hearing loss had a frequency near to 50% for both right and left ear. No significant association was found between duration of injury and degree of hearing loss. The mean number of speech perception threshold test was less than half of the standard value and the mean score of ability to separate speech was within normal limits. Conclusion: Sudden exposure to sound like landmine explosion may cause hearing disorders such as hearing loss and side problems such as headache, dizziness, and tinnitus that are able to dramatically affect the quality of life. The prevalence of hearing impairments in young survivors of landmine explosion is very high and long after the casualties, some of them continue to suffer from hearing problems. Due to the sensitivity age of study group, further studies in this regard and regular checkups seem to be necessary.

Background and Aim: Subjective Tinnitus is one of the common problems in the world whose prevalence is estimated to be 7-20 percent in the community. In the present study, effectiveness of Ginkgo biloba with that of cinnarizine on subjective tinnitus were compared and assessed in order to determine the effective dose of Ginko on .patients. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial study conducted on 61 patients with subjective tinnitus who had been referred or had come to Shahrekord ENT clinic .The patients who did not have certain pathologic physical problems .were randomly divided into two groups (Cinnarizine & Ginko biloba).The patients filled out .Tinnitus Severity Index (TSI) form and after 2 months they were assessed. The obtained data was analyzed by means of SPSS software (V: 17) using chi-square, paired t test, and independent T test. Results: According to the findings in Ginkgo Biloba group the two criteria the severity of tinnitus and the .adverse changes in quality of life significantly reduced after treatment (P=0.001, P=0.006), respectively. In Cinnarizine group, both criterion reduced after treatment, but just the severity of tinnitus decreased significantly (P=0.006). The overall response to treatment in Ginkgo Biloba group was significantly higher than Cinnarizine group, but the difference was not significant (P>0.05). Conclusion: It was found that after two months of treatment with Ginkgo biloba (120-140 mg daily) tinnitus severity and the adverse changes on quality of life significantly decreased in the patients, whereas Cinnarizine did not reduce the latter significantly. However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups (Cinnarizine & Ginko biloba).

Abstract Background and aims: Occupational noise is a major cause of hearing loss and tinnitus. In the present study, acoustic characteristics of tinnitus were evaluated and their relation with hearing loss and nervousness was studied. Methods: Our study was performed on 56 male workers aged between 40 to 56 years including 28 workers with accompanied hearing loss and tinnitus and a long history of working in environments with excessive noise and 28 matched workers with normal hearing. Acoustic characteristics and the effects of tinnitus were assessed by case history, and Mini-Mental State Examination Test was performed for all subjects. Results: In the most cases, tinnitus had high pitch and moderate stable loudness. It was continuous with moderate to high annoying effect and often with an impact on sleep and concentration of individuals. Significant relation was observed between hearing threshold in 4000 Hz frequency and acoustical characteristics of tinnitus (P

Introduction: Temporomandibular disorders are one of the most common reasons for patients attending dental clinics. Considering the complex anatomy of temporomandibular joint and its proximity to ear, joint disorders have been known as one the major reasons for aural symptoms such as tinnitus, otalgia, ear stuffiness feeling and vertigo. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of low level laser therapy (LLLT) in treating tinnitus originating from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Materials & Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, patients with symptoms and signs of tinnitus and otalgia were examined by an otolaryngologist. Patients with tinnitus and otalgia originating from TMJ were included in the study based on diagnoses reached by an oral medicine specialist. The subjects were randomized into the laser (n = 16) and control (n = 17) groups, using off-mode laser in the control group. In the laser group, the patients were treated with LT-R laser for 4 weeks in 12 sessions. The patients received laser beams in the ear area with a wavelength of 660 nm and a dose of 2.9 J/cm2. In addition, the patients received laser with a dose of 8 J/cm2 in the TMJ area and sensitive muscular regions. The tinnitus and otaliga intensity was evaluated with THI (tinnitus handicap inventory) and VAS (visual analog scale) at 4 time intervals and analyzed with paired t-test and Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney and Friedman tests. Results: In the laser group, both the THI and VAS scores decreased significantly (p value = 0.004). However, in the control group, pain intensity and tinnitus did not show any significant differences between the 4 time intervals (p value = 0.641). Conclusion: The results of this study showed the positive effect of low-level laser therapy on tinnitus and otalgia. However, long-term effects were not detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of an auditory stimulus and it is a common symptom in hearing system disorders. Chronic form affecting 5 to 15% of general population and in 1 to 3% of the population, it cause severe impairment of quality of life. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) effects on tinnitus have been evaluated in recent decades and has been shown that rTMS treatments may improve tinnitus symptoms. In this study the effects of Burst rTMS on patients with chronic tinnitus have been investigated. Methods: The study was a clinical trial. 28 patients, including 4 women (14.3%) and 24 men (85.7%) were treated with Burst rTMS in 4 sessions and severity of tinnitus was evaluated with visual analog scale before, after and on month after treatment. Results: the severity of tinnitus significantly reduced after treatment and one month later, with statistically significant difference (P value=0.001). Conclusion: According to the results of treatment including reducing the intensity of tinnitus with statistically significant difference and lasting effects even after one month of treatment, Burst rTMS can be considered as an effective treatment.

Background: Tinnitus is one of the most prevalent causes of the patients to the ear and hearing clinics that despite widespread effort of physicians and researchers all over the world, yet no comprehensive and low complication treatment have been provided for it. This study aimed to offer a new method to treat tinnitus using transcutaneous electrical stimulation. Method: This was an interventional experimental method study in Borujerd, Iran on 100 referral patients to the ENT (Ear Nose & Throat) clinic while complaining about drug-resistant permanent severe tinnitus. After complete audiometry examination and evaluating the cause of tinnitus, these patients underwent transcutaneous electrical stimulation by transcutaneus electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device. To do so, an electrode covered by damp cloth with 12 mm diameter was placed on the ear of the patients and electrical stimulation with 150 kHz frequency was done for 10 minutes. This was done for 5 consecutive days. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: In this study, 70 out of 100 patients at least experienced two times of tinnitus for a few hours. Ten patients (10%) announced that they have achieved complete remission i.e. their tinnitus stopped completely. Twenty patients (20%) also stated that TENS device had not influenced on their tinnitus. Conclusion: Young people with short history of tinnitus with high frequency would be suitable candidates for implementing TENS. However, using TENS seems logical for those who were helpless due to tinnitus and the conventional therapies could not effect on it.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) are common among individuals. Occlusal changes can be responsible for otalgia, hearing loss, tongue and throat irritation, and tinnitus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of tinnitus in students with temporomandibular disorder in medical sciences and technology universities in Babol, Iran.METHODS: This cross sectional study was performed on 592 students of both universities of medical sciences and technology of Babol, Iran during 2007-2008. All participants were asked to fulfill a RDC/TMD revised questionnaire and were subjected to a standardized clinical examination readapted from the RDC for TMD (Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders). Tinnitus cases were examined by an ENT specialist and underwent audiometry and tympanometry.FINDINGS: In this study, TMD prevalence was 28.9% (171 patients) that was seen more in males (p=0.04). Tinnitus was seen in 21 cases (12.3%) with TMD and in 38 cases (9.02%) without TMD that there was no significant difference. Tinnitus was seen in 42 cases (13%) of medical students and 17 (6.3%) of technology university students that this difference was significant (p=0.04). Hearing loss was seen in 14 cases (8.18%) with TMD and 26 (6.17%) without TMD that there was no significant difference.CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that there was not a significant relationship between temporomandibular joint disorders and tinnius.

Introduction & Objective: Tinnitus is one of the most common otologic complaints. This study was designed for evaluation of different kinds of hearing aids effectiveness in treatment of tinnitus in elderly patients in Hamadan. Materials & Methods: In this clinical trial study 27 referral patients with complaint of tinnitus and hearing loss to otolaryngology clinics in Hamadan during 2006-7 were evaluated. All patients evaluated by PTA, SRT, SDS and Tinnitus matching tests. Persons with more than 40db SNHL and SDS above 60% were referred for hearing aid fitting. In each case behind the ear analogue type of hearing aid were fitted for 3-month course and then it was changed to the digital type for another 3 months. At the end of each course tinnitus evaluation were done and the effect of hearing aids on SDS were reevaluated. Subjective patient satisfaction and the degree of tinnitus diminution were evaluated by designed questionnaire. Results: From 27 cases17 were female and 10male and the mean of SDS and severity of hearing loss were 77.5% and 60db respectively. Moderately to severe hearing loss (35%) and downward sloping pattern (63%) were the most frequent types of hearing loss and audiogram patterns. Complete recovery of tinnitus were achieved in 55.6% of digital and 33.3% of analogue hearing aids users and the difference between them were significant(p=0.02). Digital and analogue hearing aids performance were satisfactory in 70.4% and 33.3% of the patients respectively and the difference between them were significant too (p< 0,001). Diminution of tinnitus intensity in digital group were more than analogue one (p=0.03) and improvement of SDS before and after fitting of digital hearing aid were better than analogue group) p

AbstractBackground and Purpose: Tinnitus is a troublesome disease that may cause several problems, including the following: insomnia decreased concentration and diminished quality of life. This study was designed in order to evaluate depression and anxiety in patients with tinnitus.Materials and Methods: This study was an experimental survey and carried out with case – control method. There were 50 persons in case and control groups, case group included patients with non-organic tinnitus. The patients in case and control group completed Beck and Spiel Berger questionnaire, in order to evaluate their level of depression and anxiety.Results: Age, sex, marital status and smoking of case and control groups were similar. Case groups included 50 patients in which 20 of those were smokers and their level of depression and anxiety were higher than non smokers and this difference was significant (P=0.03). Level of depression in patients with tinnitus was higher than control group (p=0.03), patients with tinnitus experienced more anxiety than control group.Conclusion: The patients with tinnitus suffered more depression and anxiety in comparison to patients without tinnitus.

Background and Aim: Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) is an emergency situation, and is one of the most controversial subjects in domain of otolaryngology. In this article, we have analyzed some Epidemiologic Characteristics, clinical features, audiological Characteristics, and other findings in routine serological tests and MRI of 48 cases with SSNHL ,who came or were referred to us in the past 2 years. Study design: Cross sectional. Materials and Methods: In 48 patients with chief complaint of SSNHL, from June 2003 to Feb. 2005, who were admitted in clinic of otolaryngology- in Kashani Hospital -Isfahan- Iran, physical examination and history taking, audiological evaluation, MRI,and serological tests were performed in a similar way , and data were analyzed by SPSS software. Results: From 48 cases(M:28 ,F:20) with mean age of 40.9(+/-15.9) years, left ear was involved in 26 cases (54.1%) ,and right ear in 19 cases (39.5%) ,and in 3 cases (6.3%),both sides were involved. The severity of hearing loss was “subjectively” HIGH in 78% of patients, and the mean threshold of hearing had been calculated as 69 dB. The most common pattern in pure tone audiometry curves ,was ‘flat pattern’(75%) ,and then ,’down sloping pattern’(16%).The most adjunctive clinical symptom was “tinnitus”(in 78.7%), and 40% of patients had “true vertigo”. 44.4% of our patients had some evidences of upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) during recent 2 weeks. Positive family history, smoking, alcohol intake ,oral contraceptive and ototoxic drugs consumption were uncommon. 24% of cases (11 of 39) had increased ESR, and 100% of 39 patients had negative VDRL. Diabetes mellitus was the most common underlying disease (in 6 cases).From 20 patients ,who were succeeded to perform brain and ear MRI, 2 cases had tumor in internal auditory canal and cerebellopontine angle. Conclusion: SSNHL has some limitations in being studied histopathologically or in the form of clinical trials, and in nearly all of its aspects there are some mysteries to be cleared. Our ‘Iranian’ patients demonstrated some special characteristics.

Introduction: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) can cause some of the symptoms and diseases in ENT field. However, there are a few reports from developing countries and there is not any report on this issue. On the other hand, the prevalence of HIV positive (symptomatic or asymptomatic) patients is increasing across the nation. Awareness of these complications of hearing system can result in early intervention and improve patients' quality of life. Objective: Determining the otologic and audiologic findings in HIV positive patients Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed on the 30 HIV positive patients referred from number-10 medical-therapeutic center of Rasht to Amiralmomenin hospital from April 2011 to March 2012. The senior resident of ENT- HNS took a comprehensive medical history and performed full clinical examination in the auditory system. In all patients, audiometric tests including tympanometry, pure tone audiometry, transient otoacoustic emissions (TOAEs) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) were done. Results: Of the 30 HIV -positive patients, 21 were male and 9 were female. Of these, 2 patients were in the AIDS phase The mean age of patients was 36.27 ± 9.71 years (range 24-56), and 8 patients complained of otic symptoms: dizziness (7 cases), tinnitus (4 cases), otalgia and fullness (each 3 cases). In audiometry, we found hearing loss in 8 of 60 ears (6 patients). The conductive and sensorineural hearing losses were found in 4 and 4 ears, respectively. As revealed, 21 out of 30 patients (70%) had abnormal TOAE. Also, in 9 out of 30 patients (30%), we observed ABR abnormality, with increased interpeak of wave I-III (14 ears)being the most frequent. Conclusion: Given the high prevalence of TOAEs abnormality in these patients and increased interpeak of waves I-III in ABR, it seems that the locus of ear damage is the outer hair cells of cochlea and distal part of the central auditory pathway and TOAEs is more sensitive than PTA and with ABR test it can help early detection of hearing loss in such patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tinnitus is one of the most prevalent causes of the patients to the ear and hearing clinics that despite widespread effort of physicians and researchers all over the world, yet no comprehensive and low complication treatment have been provided for it. This study aimed to offer a new method to treat tinnitus using transcutaneous electrical stimulation. Method: This was an interventional experimental method study in Borujerd, Iran on 100 referral patients to the ENT (Ear Nose & Throat) clinic while complaining about drug-resistant permanent severe tinnitus. After complete audiometry examination and evaluating the cause of tinnitus, these patients underwent transcutaneous electrical stimulation by transcutaneus electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device. To do so, an electrode covered by damp cloth with 12 mm diameter was placed on the ear of the patients and electrical stimulation with 150 kHz frequency was done for 10 minutes. This was done for 5 consecutive days. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: In this study, 70 out of 100 patients at least experienced two times of tinnitus for a few hours. Ten patients (10%) announced that they have achieved complete remission i.e. their tinnitus stopped completely. Twenty patients (20%) also stated that TENS device had not influenced on their tinnitus. Conclusion: Young people with short history of tinnitus with high frequency would be suitable candidates for implementing TENS. However, using TENS seems logical for those who were helpless due to tinnitus and the conventional therapies could not effect on it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]