What are the disparities in socioeconomic status and health care utilization in hearing-impaired children? Background: Multiple barriers potentially contribute to health disparities experienced by children with hearing loss. These can include […]
Patients Report Long-Term Benefits with Bone-Anchored Hearing Device
For the long-term use of a bone-anchored hearing device for single-sided deafness or profound unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), what are the perceived benefits, complications and device malfunction rate? Background: For […]
High-Resolution CT and Diffusion-Weighted MRI Combo Improves Pediatric Cholesteatoma Detection
Does the technique of fusing MRI images with high-resolution CT images improve the efficiency of detecting recurrent cholesteatoma in children, in particular for small cholesteatomas? Background: Radiographic documentation of small recurrent […]
Hearing Conservation Program Helps Elementary School Children
What is the efficacy of a hearing conservation program in changing acoustic risk taking and hearing conservation behaviors in elementary school children? Background: Approximately 30 million North Americans have speech-frequency hearing […]
Disposable Sterile Sheaths Effective Against Cross-Contamination
What is the efficacy of sterile sheath use to prevent cross-contamination when using a fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscope (FNPL) in an otolaryngology clinic? Background: After each use of FNPL, the endoscope must be […]
Babbling Is Necessary for Speech and Language Development
What is the importance of pre-linguistic vocalization? Background: The characterization and significance of pre-linguistic vocalization has long been the subject of research and debate. Pre-linguistic vocalization can generally be classified into […]
New Interview Questions for Better Resident Selection
Can commercially available business tools be used to identify competencies specific to the junior otolaryngology resident and to develop behavioral-based interview questions and techniques? Background: The resident selection process cannot predict […]
Systemic and Otic Administration of Ofloxacin Are Comparable
Does topical application of ofloxacin to the intact tympanic membrane (TM) compare to systemic administration? Background: Acute otitis media (AOM) is routinely treated with systemic antibiotics, which have been linked to […]
Is Comprehensive ASNHL Screening Always Needed?
What are the costs and diagnostic yield of screening patients presenting with asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL)? Background: The magnitude of workup on a patient with ASNHL of an uncertain onset […]
Demographic Disparities Exist Among Children with Otitis Media
What are the current racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in the prevalence of frequent ear infections (FEI) among children in the U.S.? Background: There has been an increase in the prevalence of […]