Persian version of attitudes towards loss of hearing questionnaire

Background and Aim: Investigations have shown that the patient’s attitudes toward hearing loss and hearing aids impact hearing aid benefits and its use. In this regard, Saunders and Cien­kowski (1996) developed the “attitudes towards loss of hearing questionnaire” to examine some of the psychosocial factors underlying the use of hearing aids. This study has focused on pre­paring a Persian version of this questionnaire and analyzing its validity and reliability. Methods: The original English version of the questionnaire was translated into Persian, and its content and face validities were determined by related experts. The final questionnaire was administered to 100 hearing impaired people (52 males and 48 females) aged 30 to 65 years with the mean (SD) age of 54.54 (12.05) years. The test-retest reliability was assessed in 20 pat­ients. Results: The results of face validity assessment revealed that our questionnaire has a high quality in translation, intelligibility, and cultural compatibility. The mean scores of the content validity ratio and content validity index of this questionnaire was 0.71 and 0.98, respectively. The mean (SD) total score of this questionnaire was 60.46 (10.02) and the mean scores of denial of hearing loss, negative associations, negative coping strategies, manual dexterity and vision and hearing-related esteem were 15.58, 12.10, 20.40, 5.30, and 7.08, respectively. The overall Cronbach α value was 0.798. The test-retest reliability showed good results for the global score (Intraclass correlation = 0.989). Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, the Persian version of the questionnaire possesses satisfactory validity and reliability.

Predictors of Thyroid Gland Invasion in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) can invade the thyroid gland leading to unnecessary thyroidectomies with subsequent hypothyroidism and hyperparathyroidism. Thus, clinicopathological variables should be defined in order to predict thyroid gland invasion preoperatively.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of 1,465 patients with laryngeal SCC referred to our center between March 2009 and January 2016. Among these patients, 60 individuals underwent total laryngectomy and either thyroid lobectomy and isthmectomy or total thyroidectomy.

RESULTS

Thyroid gland invasion was observed in 20% of samples. The following variables were associated with thyroid gland invasion: transglottic spread of the tumor (odds ratio [OR]: 2.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-5.81, P=0.004), thyroid cartilage involvement (OR: 1.53, 95% CI: 0.94-2.50, P=0.02), and anterior commissure involvement (OR: 5.75, 95% CI: 0.86-38.42, P=0.01). In addition, the largest dimension of the tumor was significantly associated with thyroid gland involvement (r=0.36, 95% CI 0.05-0.67, P=0.004). Multivariate linear regression analysis confirmed these findings.

CONCLUSION

The rate of thyroidectomies performed in cases of laryngeal SCC is much higher than the actual rate of thyroid gland invasion. Thus, preoperative evaluation to find transglottic spread of the tumor, thyroid cartilage, and anterior commissure involvement should be considered.

Intratympanic Injection of Dexamethasone and Electrocochleographic Data in Cases of Definite One Sided Refractory Meniere's Disease

INTRODUCTION

Meniere's disease (MD) is a disease of the inner ear that presents itself with repeated episodes of vertigo (96.2%), tinnitus (91.1%), and sensorineural hearing loss (87.7 %). In this article we sought to assess the effects of intratympanic (IT) injections of dexamethasone on definite cases of MD using electrocochleography (ECOG).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this hospital-based case series in 36 patients, we measured audiometric values and ECOG in all patients before, 1 month and 6 months after 4-mg/mL IT injections of dexamethasone.

RESULTS

Four patients (11%) had improved hearing following the intervention. No difference in pure tone audiometry (PTA) was observed following IT injections (P=0.492), while speech discrimination score (SDS) was significantly improved (P=0.008). There was a significant improvement in vertigo 1 month after IT injections (P<0.001), although this effect did not last for 6 months. No significant change in ECOG was observed between before and after treatment (P=0.052).

CONCLUSION

IT dexamethasone injections can improve vertigo in definite cases of MD, although it seems that the effect is only temporary.