The purpose of this investigation was to prospectively examine performance on the pure-tone air-conduction threshold, speech-recognition threshold, and suprathreshold word-recognition tests over time in 21 monaurally aided (experimental group) and 28 unaided adults (control group) with asymmetric, sensorineural hearing impairment. The results revealed significant declines on the mean suprathres...

Vestibular hearing in human is evoked as a result of the auditory sensitivity of the saccule to low-frequency high-intensity tone. The objective was to investigate the relationship between vestibular hearing using cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) and speech processing via word recognition scores in white noise (WRSs in wn). Intervention comprised of audiologic examination...

This study evaluated 13 adult patients with tympanic membrane (TM) perforations in one or both ears. Probe microphone real ear unaided responses (REURs) for mean peak frequency and peak dB gain showed no substantial differences among patients, across ears with intact TMs, ears with TM perforations (regardless of size), or between measures taken before and after closure of the perforations. Insp...

BACKGROUND Otoplasty is the current standard of care for treating prominent ears, a psychologically and sometimes functionally disabling disorder. The technically demanding procedure carries many risks such as poor aesthetic outcome, need for revision surgery, and need for general anesthesia. This study investigates the use of laser irradiation combined with cryogen skin cooling and stenting to...

1. Serviço de Otorrinolaringologia. Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra. Coimbra. Portugal. 2. MED-EL. Innsbruck. Áustria. 3. Centro de Estudos e Investigação em Saúde. Faculdade de Economia. Universidade de Coimbra. Coimbra. Portugal. Recebido: 24 de Maio de 2013 Aceite: 26 de Maio de 2013 | Copyright © Ordem dos Médicos 2014 Marisa ALVES1, Daniela RAMOS1, Graça OLIVEIRA1, Helena ALVE...

The surgical results of ossicular chain reconstruction using a hydroxyapatite prosthesis were evaluated in 106 ears of 101 patients who were followed up for > 5 years. Successful reconstruction was defined as: (1) postoperative air-bone gap of </= 20 db; or (2) postoperative air conduction better than 40 db; or (3) hearing gain better than 15 db. Success in hearing was obtained in 63/106 ears (...

In this paper we present the EARS-CTRL tool for synthesizing and validating controller software for embedded systems. EARS-CTRL has as starting point requirements written in (English) natural language, more specifically in the EARS (Easy Approach to Requirements Syntax) language invented at Rolls-Royce and currently in use at numerous organizations around the world. After expressing the require...

The effectiveness of tranexamic acid treatment for sudden deafness was studied in detail. The results of treatment with tranexamic acid administration in 19 cases (25 ears) of sudden deafness and two historical control groups using various treatments were compared by the chi square contingency test. The data suggested that tranexamic acid treatment may be superior to traditional treatments espe...

We present a robust and portable visual-based skin and face detection system developed for use in a multiple speaker teleconferencing system, employing both audio and video cues. An omni-directional video sensor is used to provide a view of the entire visual hemisphere, thereby allowing for multiple dynamic views of all the participants. Regions of skin are detected using simple statistical met...

A 68-year-old male patient was admitted to the internal medicine department due to a 10 kg weight loss in a 6 month period. This was accompanied by night sweating and red spots on the arms and legs which were painful, lingered on for several days and disappeared leaving a hyperpigmented lesion. The patient had also been constipated for a month before his admission. He had no history of contact ...