Tehran University of Medical Sciences Auditory and Vestibular Research 2423-480X 34 4 2025 09 22 289 291 Nasrin Gohari Hearing Disorder Research Center, Avicenna Institute of Clinical Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran AND Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran Zahra Hosseini Dastgerdi Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran 2025 08 03 2025 09 03 No abstract available https://avr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/avr/article/view/1485

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Auditory and Vestibular Research 2423-480X 34 4 2025 05 11 292 299 EN Vibha Vinod Department of Audiology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore, India Animesh Barman Department of Audiology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore, India 2025 02 19 2025 05 10 Background and Aim: The vestibular system, which involves the peripheral vestibular apparatus and central vestibular pathways, is crucial for balance and posture. In addition to its primary functions, the vestibular system is closely linked with cognitive processes, as evidenced by its connections with the neocortex and limbic system. Vestibular dysfunction has been associated with cognitive impairments, particularly in areas of auditory cognition, where allocating cognitive resources for balance maintenance detracts from higher cognitive functions. This review examines the existing literature on the auditory-cognitive consequences of vestibular dysfunction. Recent Findings: This systematic review gives comprehensive information about the existing research on the impact of vestibular pathology on auditory cognitive abilities. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 226 articles were initially identified, with six studies meeting the inclusion criteria after thorough screening. The review highlights the varied effects of vestibular dysfunction on auditory cognition, revealing significant impairments in auditory working memory and attention, particularly in conditions like bilateral vestibulopathy and vestibular migraine. However, inconsistencies in the literature regarding specific vestibular pathologies and their impact on auditory cognition underscore the need for further targeted research. Conclusion: The findings suggest a complex interplay between vestibular function and auditory cognition, with implications for the diagnosis and management of cognitive deficits in individuals with vestibular disorders. https://avr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/avr/article/view/1424

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Auditory and Vestibular Research 2423-480X 34 4 2025 01 18 300 310 Samer Sami Azeez Alsaad Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mansoureh Adel Ghahraman Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Elham Tavanai Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Shohreh Jalaie School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Kazem Malmir Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Arafat Aldujaili Department of Psychiatry, Al-Kufa University, Najaf, Iraq 2024 12 03 2025 01 18 Background and Aim: Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) is a chronic vestibular disorder characterized by persistent dizziness, non-spinning vertigo, or unsteadiness exacerbated by moving visual stimuli and upright postures. Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) has shown favorable outcomes. While noisy Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (nGVS) has been associated with improvements in various psychiatric and neurological conditions, its efficacy in PPPD remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of VRT, nGVS, and their combination on patients with PPPD in terms of postural control, dizziness, anxiety, and depression. Methods: Twenty-seven patients diagnosed with PPPD were randomly assigned to three groups receiving treatment for six weeks: 1) VRT, 2) GVS, and 3) VRT+GVS. Outcome measures included static postural control parameters, Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores. Results: All groups demonstrated significant improvements in subjective measures (DHI and HADS) following treatment. Postural control improvements were observed only in specific conditions within each group, with no overall significant differences between the groups except for Mediolateral (ML) path length with eyes closed on a soft surface. Significant correlations were observed between improvements in postural control outcomes and questionnaire scores within each group. Conclusion: VRT and GVS, both individually and in combination, were effective in subjective measurements but had minimal impact on static postural control. Adding nGVS to VRT did not provide additional benefits for PPPD patients. The correlations between postural control and psychological outcomes suggest that improvements in perceived dizziness, anxiety, and depression may be linked to postural stabilization. Trial Registration Number: The study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials on 18 September 2023 (IRCT20160131026279N6). https://avr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/avr/article/view/1398

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Auditory and Vestibular Research 2423-480X 34 4 2025 01 18 311 321 Vishal Kooknoor Department of Audiology, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysuru, India Hemanth Narayana Shetty Department of Audiology, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysuru, India 2024 10 15 2025 01 15 Background and Aim: To understand the difficulties of elderly in natural listening situations, the present study assessed the ability of participants to extract phonetic information and semantic information in noise. The main objective was to evaluate the relationship between age and performance in Semantic Information Processing (SIP) and Phonetic Information Processing (PIP) tasks. Methods: Fifty-three normal hearing participants aged 40 to 65 years were categorized into five age groups. Participants underwent information processing assessments using standardized semantic and phonetic questions from Kannada stories under Signal-to-Noise Ratios (SNR) i.e., quiet, 0 dB SNR, and –4 dB SNR conditions. Results: Younger participants outperformed older participants in both SIP and PIP tasks. Performance was optimal in quiet conditions, followed by 0 dB and –4 dB SNR. Except at –4 dB, PIP scores exceeded SIP scores. A significant differences was observed between the groups 1–4 and group 5 at 0 dB SNR in PIP condition only. A moderate negative correlations indicated that performance in both SIP and PIP declined with age, with linear regression revealing reductions of 0.216 and 0.210 each year in SIP and PIP respectively. Conclusion: Age-related declines in PIP were noted at one SNR, while SIP remained stable, aligning with the Transmission Deficit Hypothesis (TDH). Nonetheless, regression analyses indicated a general decline in both SIP and PIP with age, supporting the Inhibitory Deficit Hypothesis (IDH). https://avr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/avr/article/view/1389

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Auditory and Vestibular Research 2423-480X 34 4 2025 02 02 322 327 Nooshin Sayadi Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Saeid Farahani Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Farzaneh Fatahi Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Vida Rahimi Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Shohreh Jalaie School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Seyyedeh Maryam Khodami Department of Speech Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2024 12 16 2025 01 29 Background and Aim: The comprehension of speech prosody, the nonlinguistic elements of speech that convey emotions, is crucial for social interactions and speech comprehension. This study aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of the Speech Prosody Comprehension Test (SPCT) for Persian-speaking children aged 7–10. Methods: In this study, face validity, construct validity, discriminant validity, testretest reliability by calculating the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), and internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the SPCT were examined on 32 children aged 7–10 years, including 22 with normal hearing (mean age=8.63±1.04 years) and 10 with unilateral Cochlear Implant (CI) (mean age=9.20±0.78 years) Results: The result demonstrated good face validity (face validity index=88.75). Construct validity was confirmed due to the existence of strong correlations within the subscale items and between the subscale items and the total score. A significant difference in mean scores was found between the normal-hearing and CI groups (p<0.001), indicating discriminant validity. High test-retest reliability was demonstrated for the overall scale (ICC=0.99) and for all subscales (ICC=0.91–0.97). The test also had high internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.89 for the overall scale. Conclusion: The SPCT is a valid and reliable clinical tool for assessing speech prosody comprehension in children aged 7–10 with normal hearing and unilateral CI. Further research with larger samples is recommended to confirm the generalizability of the findings to children with other hearing conditions and age groups. https://avr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/avr/article/view/1402 https://avr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/avr/article/download/1402/623

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Auditory and Vestibular Research 2423-480X 34 4 2025 03 01 328 335 EN Manoosh Sobhany Department of Audiology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran Younes Lotfi Department of Audiology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran Saeed Talebian Motor Control Laboratory, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Enayatollah Bakhshi Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohanna Javanbakht Department of Audiology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Pediatric Neurorehabilitation Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2024 11 18 2025 02 22 Background and Aim: Recent studies try to clarify the difference of neuro-physiological responses of people with tinnitus. Quantitative Electroencephalography (QEEG) analysis is different in the eyes-closed or eyes-open conditions. This study aimed to compare the EEG activity of tinnitus patients between eyes-closed and eyes-open conditions at rest position. Methods: Participants were 46 people with tinnitus (34 males and 12 females). Their QEEG was recorded in two eye conditions (close/open) for three minutes at resting position. Relative power of delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma bands were estimated. Paired t-test was used for comparison of Delta/Alpha Ratio (DAR), and Delta+Theta/Alpha+Beta Ratio (DTABR) between the two eye conditions. Results: The DAR and DTABR ratios were significantly higher in the eyes-open condition compared to the eyes-closed condition (p=0.009 and p=0.016, respectively). The delta power increased and alpha power decreased significantly in the eyes-open condition compared to the eyes-closed condition (p<0.001). Conclusion: People with tinnitus have different EEG activities in eyes open/closed conditions. Increased delta power and decreased alpha power in the eyes-open condition may be an indicative of severe tinnitus. It seems better to record EEG activity with eyes open. Increased DAR is a good indicator in the eyes-open condition which is recommended to be used as a potential biomarker for comparing the severity of tinnitus. https://avr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/avr/article/view/1394

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Auditory and Vestibular Research 2423-480X 34 4 2025 03 01 336 346 Ali Jahangard Student Research Committee, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Majid Ashrafi Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Fatemeh Heidari Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2025 01 14 2025 02 25 Background and Aim: Previous studies have demonstrated that uncompensated Unilateral Vestibular Neuritis (UVN) is the most prevalent cause of dizziness. Use of Conventional Vestibular Rehabilitation (CVR) has some limitations. The use of tool-based rehabilitation methods can be more pleasant to these patients and encourage them to complete the rehabilitation course. This study aimed to compare the effects of combining CVR with Whole Body Vibration (WBV) and Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) on balance function in patients with UVN. Methods: In this study, 51 patients with uncompensated UVN aged 30-50 years were randomly divided into three groups of 17, including CVR (group 1), CVR+WBV (group 2), and CVR+WBV+GVS (group 3). The interventions included four weeks of CVR, twenty 5-minute sessions of WBV, and eight 20-minute sessions of GVS. Outcome measures were postural control parameters, Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex (VOR) gain asymmetry, cervical Joint Position Sense Error (JPSE), and Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) score that were assessed before and after interventions. Results: Of 51 patients, 45 completed the study. There was a significant improvement in all measured variables in all groups, where the group 2 and group 3 showed significantly greater improvement than the group 1 in posturography results, cervical JPSE, and DHI score (p<0.05). There was no significant difference among the groups in the VOR gain asymmetry (p>0.05). Conclusion: The CVR, CVR+WBV a.4±1.2, with pediatric patients scoring significantly higher than adults (4.1±0.8 vs. 2.7±1.1, respectively; p=0.01). Conclusion: Early CI and computed tomography imaging are critical for achieving better outcomes in post-meningitic deafness. Anticipatory CI within three months of postmeningitis enhances outcomes. Advanced imaging and adaptable surgical strategies can alleviate ossification-related challenges. https://avr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/avr/article/view/1432

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Auditory and Vestibular Research 2423-480X 35 1 2025 08 02 66 73 Tayebe Taghizade Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Saeid Farahani Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Ali Kouhi Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Amir A’lam Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Otorhinolaryngology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Ali Balooch Noorimentajhiz Company, Science and Technology Park, Kashan, Iran Alireza Akbarzade-Baghban Proteomics Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Biostatistics, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Esmaili Municipality Organization, Qom, Iran 2025 04 24 2025 08 02 Background and Aim: Accurate diagnosis of Middle Ear Effusion (MEE) is a challenging task due to the lack of reliable diagnostic tools available to physicians and audiologists. This study aimed to develop a hyperspectral imaging tympanoscope for diagnosing MEE and evaluate its diagnostic ability. Methods: The tympanoscope system was constructed using an ear endoscope, lens, camera, and near-infrared wavelengths. Its diagnostic ability was evaluated with a middle earmimicking phantom. Additionally, a pilot study was conducted on middle ear images from 10 children (five healthy and five with MEE). Results: Phantom experiments revealed a Weber contrast difference of 0.16 and 0.49 between phantoms with and without fluid in visible otoscopy and hyperspectral tympanoscopy, respectively. As a result, in hyperspectral tympanoscopy, the contrast difference between fluid presence and absence was nearly tripled. Furthermore, in the pilot study, a significant difference was found in Weber contrast between healthy children and those with MEE (p<0.001), with higher contrast in the MEE group. Conclusion: The hyperspectral imaging tympanoscope can quantitatively distinguish between the presence or absence of fluid in the middle ear. It has potential as a diagnostic and monitoring tool for MEE. https://avr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/avr/article/view/1438

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Auditory and Vestibular Research 2423-480X 35 1 2025 09 15 74 84 Negar Azizi Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Vida Rahimi Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Elham Tavanai Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Elham Faghihzadeh Independent Researcher, Tehran, Iran Ghassem Mohammadkhani Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Sirvan Najafi Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran 2025 06 01 2025 08 02 Background and Aim: Noise can lead to temporary or permanent changes in the structure and function of the peripheral and central auditory systems when experienced at high sound pressure levels over time. This study aimed to examine the effects of industrial noise and leisure noise from Personal Listening Devices (PLDs) on central auditory processing and cognitive functions in men with normal hearing. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 136 men aged 20–40 were divided into three groups: leisure noise-exposed group due to PLD use (n=45), industrial noise-exposed group (n=46; average Leq<90 dB (A)/8 hours), and control group (n=45, with no history of noise exposure). All participants had normal audiograms. To evaluate central auditory processing, we used the dichotic digits test, the duration pattern sequence test, and the quick speech-innoise test. Cognitive abilities were assessed using the Rey auditory verbal learning test and the semantic Stroop test. Results: The industrial noise-exposed group had significantly lower scores in all central auditory and cognitive tests compared to the leisure noise-exposed and non-exposed groups (except for the reaction time and the semantic Stroop test). The leisure noise-exposed group also showed impairments in speech-in-noise perception, short-term memory, and selective attention relative to the non-exposed group. Additionally, a negative correlation was found between noise exposure level and speech-in-noise performance. Conclusion: Both industrial and PLD noise exposure can impair central auditory and cognitive functions in men with normal hearing, highlighting the need for broader assessments in noise exposure monitoring. https://avr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/avr/article/view/1457

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Auditory and Vestibular Research 2423-480X 35 1 2025 07 12 85 95 Hossein Bagheripour Hearing Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Nader Saki Hearing Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran AND Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Amal Saki Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Arash Bayat Hearing Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran AND Department of Audiology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran 2025 05 16 2025 07 07 Background and Aim: Cochlear Implants (CIs) can successfully improve the speech and auditory perception in patients with a severe to profound hearing loss. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Persian Hearing Implant Sound Quality Index (P HISQUI19) for measuring the perceived auditory benefits of Iranian adult CI users in everyday listening situations. Methods: Participants included 70 Iranian CI users with post-lingual deafness aged 18–64 years. After translation and cross-cultural adaptation, the content and construct validity of the P HISQUI19 were examined, followed by internal consistency and test–retest reliability assessments using Cronbach’s α and Intra-Class Correlation Coefficient (ICC), respectively. Results: The mean total P HISQUI19 score was 78.22, indicating a moderate sound quality perception. The P HISQUI19 had excellent internal consistency (Guttman’s splithalf coefficient=0.912; Cronbach’s α=0.956) and test-retest reliability (ICC=0.962). Using factor analysis, the items were loaded on three factors. Age at implantation, duration of deafness, side of implantation, gender, and MED EL implant system (CONCERTO Mi1000 vs. SONATA Ti100) did not significantly affect the sound quality perception. Conclusion: The P HISQUI19 is a valid and reliable tool to be used in both research and clinical settings for evaluating the auditory benefits of Iranian adults using CI. https://avr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/avr/article/view/1447

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Auditory and Vestibular Research 2423-480X 35 1 2025 07 01 96 102 Rasool Panahi Otorhinolaryngology Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran AND Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran Shadman Nemati Otorhinolaryngology Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran AND Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran Mir Mohammad Jalali Otorhinolaryngology Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran AND Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran 2025 04 26 2025 06