Prior to the introduction of MP3 players, hearing loss among children was estimated at around 12.5 percent. More recent studies, however, estimate that 16 percent of teenagers, or approximately 6 million children, suffer from permanent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).
In a modern society that is constantly “on,” with 24-hour news channels, Internet connection, cell phones, video games, and a rapid pace of life unequaled in previous generations, sleep deprivation and sleep disorders are not only a risk—they are a given.
SAN DIEGO-A change in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) policy for national carrier determination on coverage for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has created an opportunity for otolaryngologists who want to pursue incorporation of home sleep studies to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) into their practices.
With the rising prevalence of food allergies and their associated potentially fatal consequences, understanding the pathophysiology of food allergies along with their diagnosis and treatment remains a critical part of otolaryngologic practice.
SAN DIEGO-Trauma care in the United States is on or heading toward life support. Although this may sound hyperbolic, it points to a need, seen by many otolaryngologists and other surgeons, to raise awareness of the growing gap between the numbers of people in need of trauma services and the accessibility of getting those services.
Each month, Product Watch offers readers the latest information on new and innovative products for otolaryngologists-head and neck surgeons.
Hearing aids-external electronic devices used to help individuals with hearing loss-traditionally consist of a microphone, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital signal processor, a digital-to-analog converter, and a receiver that delivers an acoustic signal into the external auditory canal. In 2008, 97% of all hearing aids sold used digital processing. Catherine V. Palmer, PhD, provides a review of current digital hearing aids.
In a recent debate-style panel, five otolaryngologists addressed topical clinical issues relating to the pediatric airway ranging from adenotonsillectomy in children with obstructive sleep symptoms, to whether cidofovir should be used as a standard treatment in children with recurrent respiratory papillomas.
SAN DIEGO-Hearing aids can become a reliable source of ancillary income for otolaryngologists, according to four speakers in the miniseminar, Hearing Aids: The Dollars and Cents of Dispensing, presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS).
SAN DIEGO-Weighing whether or not to perform tonsillectomy boils down to a balance between benefit and harm, declared Richard Rosenfeld, MD, MPH, at the lively and well-attended miniseminar on evidence-based tonsillectomy at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery annual meeting here.