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This article focuses on experiences of teenage cochlear implantees in Hong Kng, China. A retrospective analysis of all implantees in a single centre in Hong Kong who were between the ages of 10 and 18 at the time of implant surgery from 1995 to 2002 was performed. The results of speech perception tests were analysed and discussed. Sixteen children aged 10 to 18 were included in the analysis. Open-set recognition was achievable in adolescent implantees especially for those who are 15 or below.

The use of cognitive-based strategies for improving social communication behaviours for individuals who have solid language and cognition is an important question. This study investigated the outcome of teaching Social Thinking®, a framework based in social-cognition, to Chinese adolescents with social communication deficits. Thirty-nine students (33 with Autism Spectrum Disorders and six without), ranging in age from 12 to 15 years with social communication deficits, participated in a 12-week intervention. Students’ pre- and post-intervention social behaviours were measured by six aspects of the Social Thinking-ILAUGH Scale involving 115 familiar raters. Students showed significant improvement in all the six subscales of the Social Thinking-ILAUGH except humour after training. Agreements on ratings among parents and school personnel were satisfactory. A framework based in social cognitive strategies, with appropriate linguistic and cultural adaptations, appears to be a promising tool for Chinese adolescents with social learning issues. Social behaviours improved across school and home settings as noted by groups of raters familiar with the students. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background The purpose of this study of human papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), p21, and p53 in sinonasal inverted papilloma (IP) was to help elucidate its pathogenesis. Methods Seventy-three IPs, 48 nasal polyps, and 85 hypertrophied turbinates were subjected to HPV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) study. Seventy-three IPs, 30 nasal polyps, and 32 hypertrophied turbinates were subjected to EBV in situ hybridization (ISH), p21, and p53 immunohistochemical (IHC) studies. Results HPV was positive in 3 of 73 IPs (4.1%). All specimens were EBV negative. In all, 99% of IPs showed strong and diffuse p21 nuclear reactivity. Most nasal polyps and hypertrophied turbinates showed weak to moderate immunoreactivity of the basal and parabasal cells. Only focal p53 immunoreactivity of the basal and parabasal cells was found in 19% of IPs and 40% of nasal polyps. Conclusions HPV prevalence of our IP is low. EBV is not present in IP. High p21 and low p53 expression in IP suggests a non-p53-dependent regulation pathway. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a retrospective study which examines the incidence of otitis media with effusion and hearing loss in Chinese children with cleft palate in Hong Kong, China. Findings reveal that the case of otitis media with effusion was 76.1%, while the patients associated with both effusion and deaf were 16.9%. It concludes that infants with cleft palate are more likely to develop such disease.

Objective: To validate the locally developed surgical inpatient satisfaction instrument (SIPS) across a diverse population of perioperative patients and to identify independent contributors to patient satisfaction. Methods: Patients over 18 years of age who had undergone surgery either as a day or inpatient in three public hospitals within the eastern area of the New Territories in Hong Kong were recruited prior to discharge. Seven hundred and sixty-five patients completed our 40-item seven-factor surgical patient satisfaction instrument along with an existing European measure of inpatient satisfaction in cancer patients (EORTC In-Pats 32). Analysis included factorial validity by exploratory factor analyses, unidimensionality, item fit, differential item functioning and concurrent validity. Univariate and linear logistic regression analysis of overall satisfaction was carried out. Results: Psychometric testing demonstrated the instrument to be robust and generalizable and did not support removal of any of the items. The independent predictor of overall surgical inpatient satisfaction was the quality of nursing care and age over 50 years. Satisfaction was not confounded by gender, length of hospital stay or educational level. Conclusions: SIPS was shown to be valid across a range of surgical procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of a Chinese (Cantonese) version of the Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ), which is a psychometric self-report measure of perceived tinnitus-related distress. The subjects were 114 adults who attended audiology clinics with a primary or secondary complaint of tinnitus. They completed the Chinese versions of the TQ (TQ-CH), Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The subjective severity of tinnitus and tinnitus-related problems were scored using rating scales. The TQ-CH and its subscales had good internal consistency reliability estimates (α=0.75-0.94), which were comparable to those of the original version. Significant correlations were observed between the TQ-CH and psychological distress, tinnitus-related problem ratings, and severity ratings. Factor analysis showed the high construct validity of the TQ-CH subscales. High test-retest reliablity (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.96) was observed. The results suggest that the TQ-CH is a reliable and valid measure of general tinnitus-related distress that can be used in clinical settings to quantify the impact of tinnitus on daily living. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To establish the reliablity and validity of the Chinese (Cantonese) version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory to measure the self-perceived handicapping effect and severity of the condition in patients with chronic tinnitus. Design: Cross-sectional psychometric validation study. Setting: Audiology clinics in a hospital setting. Participants: Subjects were 114 adult Chinese who attended the audiology clinics with a complaint of tinnitus. Main outcome measures: Test-retest and internal consistency reliability; construct validity. Results: The Chinese version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and its subscales showed good internal consistency reliabilities (α = 0.72–0.94) that are comparable to those of the original version. High correlations were observed between the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and psychological distress, tinnitus-related problem ratings and severity ratings. Factor analysis showed that the Chinese version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory has a unifactorial structure. A high degree of test-retest reliablity was observed (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.88). Conclusions: The results suggest that the Chinese (Cantonese) version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory is a reliable and valid measure of general tinnitus-related distress that can be used in clinical settings to quantify the impact of tinnitus on daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion. High convergent and discriminant validity between subscales was achieved after the translation of EORTC QLQ-H&N35 into Cantonese. Most subscales were assessing distinct components of quality of life (QoL). Objectives. The study aimed to translate the EORTC QLQ-H&N35 cancer module into Cantonese and to confirm validity and reliability for use in a Hong Kong head and neck (H&N) cancer population. Subjects and methods. An ethnocentric forward-backward translation of EORTC QLQ-H&N35 was conducted by bilingual head and neck health professionals. Discrepancies were identified and problematic wording and concepts revised. Further review preceded pilot testing in 119 postoperative H&N cancer patients. Internal consistency within each subscale, convergent and discriminant validity to check the item relevance and item representativeness within and between subscales were examined. Mean and standard deviations of each subscale and single item and Cronbach's α coefficients for subscales were calculated. Results. Six of seven subscales achieved standard reliability (Cronbach's α coefficient >0.7). Correlation coefficients between an item and its own subscale were significantly higher than the coefficients with other subscales. Scaling success was found in all subscales. Pearson's correlation coefficient between subscales was <0.70, except between the subscales swallowing and trouble with social eating (r = 0.795), and speech problems and social contact (r = 0.754). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS The objective was to describe the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) on the services of the division of otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery at an academic tertiary referral hospital in Hong Kong.STUDY DESIGN Descriptive.METHODS Records of general and subspecialty outpatient attendance, ward admissions, ward bed occupancy, and elective and emergency surgery were obtained for the period since the SARS outbreak and for an equivalent period before the outbreak. The changes in these parameters were determined against the background of new SARS cases.RESULTS Since the outbreak of SARS in March 2003, the weekly outpatient clinic attendance has declined by 59%, the number of operations performed by 79%, the average ward bed occupancy rate by 79% and the daily admission rate by 84%. A dramatic increase of 300% in the number of patients defaulting on their outpatient appointments was recorded.CONCLUSION The substantial decrease in otorhinolaryngological services at an academic tertiary referral hospital in Hong Kong has been multifaceted. The decrease in attendance at the outpatient clinics reflects the increased number of patients defaulting on their appointments. Nonessential elective surgery was suspended soon after the outbreak, accounting for the decrease in the number of surgical procedures performed and partially for the decrease in ward bed occupancy and ward admissions. The temporary closure of the accident and emergency department contributed to the decrease in ward admissions and emergency surgical procedures. The reduced service offered by the hospital is having an impact on the quality of care available to patients with non-life-threatening otorhinolaryngological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which determined the prevalence of otitis media with effusion among school children in Hong Kong, China. Documentation of otitis media; Materials and methods used in the study; Results and discussion.

This article focuses on the comparison of speech-perception performance in noise with different coding strategies for Cantonese-speaking children in Hong Kong. Twelve Cantonese-speaking children with unilateral Nucleus 24M cochlear implants were recruited. The age of children at testing ranged from 4;05 to 11;08. The age at implantation ranged from 2;02 to 10;07. Performance of all children decreased with increasing noise levels. Individual variations on the speech perception performances were remarkable. For the tone-perception task, most children were performing at slightly above chance level only, except one, who managed up to about 80% accuracy.

The article reports on the use of student telecast teaching sessions in otorhinolaryngology. It discusses the attempt of the Division of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong to provide medical students with a comprehensive exposure to clinical material during their two-week attachment. The article highlights the benefits of student telecast teaching.

Assesses the competence, knowledge, skills and attitudes of medical students using the objective structured video examination at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong, China. Examination of the students in ear, nose and throat surgery at the same sitting; Instruction for students to evaluate a history, interpret findings, propose management strategies and justify treatment; Analysis of the content of videotaped recordings of patient histories, physical findings, special investigations and therapies.

Studies the basis of clinical teaching for medical students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong, China. Importance of patients in the clinical practice for doctors; Emphasis of a problem-based medical education on the students' ability to integrate basic knowledge, diagnostic skills, problem solving abilities and clinical judgment; Involvement of the students in the construction and solution of clinical case scenarios.

Purpose of Review: Over a short period, China has adopted cochlear implants and emerged as a burgeoning market. This represents a valuable case study for emerging countries in terms of planning, initiating, and growing cochlear implant programs., Recent Findings: Although many challenges such as funding, establishing infrastructure, and recipient community support have been addressed, many more remain. Consistent rapid escalation in numbers has been driven by push-and-pull factors. Federal, state, and private funding have all played a role., Summary: The review highlights the massive need for hearing rehabilitation that currently exists in China. The shortfall can only be addressed by a purposeful and coordinated approach involving government policy, The China Disabled Persons Federation, the industry partnering with hearing and medical professionals and the deaf community.

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the cross-cultural validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Abbreviated Profile of the Hearing Aid Benefit questionnaire (APHAB-CH)., Design: A convenience sampling method was used to identify and recruit subjects. The subjects completed a history form seeking demographic data, the APHAB-CH, and a questionnaire seeking a subjective rating of hearing aid performance and overall satisfaction with their hearing aid., Study Sample: The subjects were 134 experienced hearing aid users., Results: The APHAB-CH had a good internal consistency reliability estimate (α = 0.85) comparable to that of the original version. Significant correlation was observed between the APHAB-CH scores and other subjective ratings for hearing aid performance and the overall satisfaction measure. A high test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.84) was observed. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the APHAB-CH had a two-factor structure comprising "hearing disability" and "averviseness." Normative data in terms of equal-percentile profiles were dervied for the APHAB-CH., Conclusion: The results suggest that the APHAB-CH is a reliable and valid measure of the outcomes of hearing aid fitting.

Cantonese is a tone language with six lexical tones. Each word has a distinctive tone, signaled by fundamental frequency variations at the syllable level. We investigated the relative efficiency of alaryngeal Cantonese speakers in conveying tonal variations in words in citation form. Isolated tone tokens were produced by three esophageal speakers, two tracheoesophageal speakers, two pneumatic artificial laryngeal speakers, and two electrolaryngeal speakers for perceptual tests. The correct responses from 22 listeners were highest for the pneumatic artificial laryngeal speakers, and could be graded in order of proficiency as esophageal, tracheoesophageal, and electrolaryngeal speakers. These results provide a linguistic perspective for guiding voice rehabilitation and the choice of voice in alaryngeal patients who speak a tone language.