Active clinical trials for "Deafness"

Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) refers to idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss of at least 30 dB over at least three test frequencies occurring over a 72-hour period. Vertigo has been considered a risk factor of poor prognosis in patients with ISSNHL. However, the clinical outcome and development of vestibular function in these patients have not been reported yet. We'd like to conduct a study on the problem whether these patients resulted in a complete recovery of the peripheral vestibular functions or compensation of the central vestibular system. If the answer is the former one, these cases might be supportive evidence of regeneration of hair cells in vestibular disorders.

This study is aimed to characterize Russian population of Usher patients.

Among risk factors of neurodevelopmental disorder is congenital hearing loss. However, congenital deafness is neither necessary nor sufficient for the occurrence of warning signs of neurodevelopmental disorder. The investigative team hypothesizes that the co-occurrence of these two clinical entities results from a common origin, within a syndromic diagnosis including other medical issues. These situations would therefore be very different from those of babies suffering from isolated sensorineural deafness. This study aims to identify which factors are statistically correlated with the association of congenital deafness and early symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorder, thanks to a partnership between a regional center for psychiatry of deaf children (Therapeutic Childhood and Deafness Unit of St Maurice Hospitals, UTES) and a pediatric audiophonology department (ENT department of the Necker-Enfants Malades hospital). This work is based on a cohort of 26 children under ten months of age diagnosed with severe to profound congenital sensorineural hearing loss. As part of their pre-implantation cochlear assessment, a consultation was filmed to precisely analyze the interactional and sensorimotor skills of these children (clinical observations, administration of a specific evaluation grid called Olliac Grid), after reviewing the films. The investigative team will then be able to grade the neurodevelopmental risk. In order to clarify what factors are linked with a neurodevelopmental risk, medical data concerning the child's family context, birth, and audiological profile will also be collected, and put in perspective with the assessed neurodevelopmental risk gradation.

This study will look at the feasibility and acceptability of testing newborn babies who are referred after their newborn hearing screen for an infection called congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV). Around 1 in every 100 to 200 babies is born with this virus, and although most remain well it causes 1 in 5 cases of childhood deafness. Knowing that a baby is infected shortly after birth could have significant benefit since a treatment is now available, but screening programs need to be feasible and acceptable. This study aims to evaluate targeted screening for cCMV by taking samples (saliva and urine) from babies who do not pass their newborn hearing screening. The investigators want to see if we can find a quick, reliable and parentally acceptable way to screen babies who fail their hearing test for this virus.

Hearing impairment is a common disorder that affects at least 7% of individuals in our countries. Even the causes of hearing impairment are numerous, genetic causes represent the main factor of sensorineural deafness. Among hereditary non-syndromic deafness autosomal-dominant inheritance is observed in about 10-20% of the cases. These forms of deafness are usually post-lingual and progressive. To date more than 41 chromosomal localisation and 21 genes associated to non syndromic dominant deafness have been described. It represents an extreme genetic heterogeneity making difficult the studies of these forms of hearing impairment. But, genetic diagnostic testing is crucial in these cases. Indeed, therapeutic research are in the way to prevent the progression of the disorder. The aim of this work is to establish the prevalence of the different genes involved in these forms of deafness.

The LittlEARS Auditory Questionnaire is designed to assess the development of the auditory behavior in children during the first two (hearing) years. The questionnaire has been validated on children with normal hearing whose native language is German. A comparison was made between North American English speaking children with normal hearing and found that it was consistent with the German data. This study is to validate the questionnaire in children with cochlear implants.

The ageing process is known to be accelerated in HIV-infected patients, compared to the general population. Normal age-related hearing loss (presbyacusia) is a frequent phenomenon, affecting more than 70% of people above 65 years. It is believed to be mostly the consequence of a mitochondrial damage caused by oxidative stress. Risk factors for accelerated age-related hearing loss are present in many HIV-infected patients : chronic inflammation, smoking, diabetes, etc. The global aim is to measure the prevalence of presbyacusia in a well controlled HIV positive population in France, and to compare it to HIV negative controls matched for age and sex. 90 HIV positive patients and 90 age- and sex- matched HIV negative controls will undergo a screening for presbyacusia (pure-tone, speech and evoked-response audiometry). We expect to find an increased prevalence of presbyacusia in HIV-infected patients, as compared to controls matched for age and sex.

This study will explore clinical and genetic aspects of Usher syndrome, an inherited disease causing deafness or impaired hearing, visual problems, and, in some cases, unsteadiness or balance problems. Patients with type 1 Usher syndrome usually are deaf from birth and have speech and balance problems. Patients with type 2 disease generally are hearing impaired but have no balance problems. Patients with type 3 disease have progressive hearing loss and balance problems. All patients develop retinitis pigmentosa, an eye disease that causes poor night vision and eventually, blindness. Patients of any age with Usher syndrome may be eligible for this study. Patients who have had eye and hearing evaluations are asked to send their medical records to the research team at the National Eye Institute (NEI) for review. They are also asked to have a blood sample drawn by a medical professional and sent to NEI for genetic analysis. Finally, they are interviewed about their family histories, particularly about other relative with eye disease. Patients who have not been evaluated previously have the following tests and procedures at NIH: Family medical history, especially regarding eye disease. A family tree is drawn. Blood draw for genetic studies of Usher syndrome. Eye examination to assess visual acuity and eye pressure, and to examine pupils, lens, retina, and eye movements. Electroretinogram (ERG) to test the function of visual cells. Wearing eye patches, the patient sits in a dark room for 30 minutes. Electrodes are taped to the forehead and the eye patches are removed. The surface of the eye is numbed with eye drops and contact lenses are placed on the eyes. The patient looks inside a hollow, dark globe and sees a series of light flashes. Then a light is turned on inside the globe and more flashes appear. The contact lenses sense small electrical signals generated by the retina when the light flashes. Fluorescein angiography to evaluate the eye's blood vessels. A yellow dye is injected into an arm vein and travels to the blood vessels in the eyes. Pictures of the retina are taken using a camera that flashes a blue light into the eye. The pictures show if any dye has leaked from the vessels into the retina, indicating possible blood vessel abnormality. Hearing tests to help determine the patient's type of Usher syndrome. Tests to evaluate hearing include examination of both ears with an otoscope, evaluation of the middle ear and inner ear, and hearing tests using earphones that deliver tones and words the subject listens and responds to. Vestibular testing for balance function. Balance testing involves three procedures: Videonystagmography: This test records eye movements with little cameras. First the patient follows the movements of some small lights. Next, while wearing goggles, the patient lies on an exam table and turns to the right and left. Lastly, a soft stream of air is blown into the patient's ears four times, once in each ear with cool air and once in each ear with warm air. Rotary chair test: With electrodes placed on the forehead, the patient sits in a rotary chair in a dark room. Several red lights appear on the wall of the room and the patient follows the lights as they move back and forth. Then the chair turns at several speeds, all slower than a merry-go-round. Vestibular evoked potential: Electrodes are placed behind the patient's ear and at the base of the neck. Seated in a reclining chair and wearing earphones, the patient hears a brief series of loud clicking sounds. When the sounds are on, the patient is asked to lift his or her head up a few inches from the chair. The electrodes record information from the muscles in the neck as the sounds enter the ear.

Over the last few decades, the classical two-stage surgical procedure for inserting bone-anchored hearing implants (BAHIs) has been modified in adults into a single-stage procedure. This approach has several advantages since it avoids a second surgical procedure. The single-stage approach is proven to be safe and feasible in adults and is nowadays referred to as the standard surgical technique in adults. Despite favorable outcomes and advantages of the single-stage surgery, most Ear Nose Throat (ENT) surgeons still perform two-stage surgery when inserting BAHI in the pediatric population. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare implant loss between single-stage BAHI surgery and two-stage BAHI surgery in children aged 4 to 9 years.

Over the last few decades, the classical two-stage surgical procedure for inserting bone-anchored hearing implants (BAHIs) has been modified in adults into a single-stage procedure. This approach has several advantages since it avoids a second surgical procedure. The single-stage approach is proven to be safe and feasible in adults and is nowadays referred to as the standard surgical technique in adults. Despite favorable outcomes and advantages of the single-stage surgery, most Ear Nose Throat (ENT)-surgeons still perform two-stage surgery when inserting BAHI in the pediatric population. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare implant loss between single-stage BAHI surgery and two-stage BAHI surgery in children aged 4 to 9 years.