Active clinical trials for "Ear Diseases"

The study is a epidemiological, cross-sectional study in a mainly rural area of Denmark in Denmark. Life expectancy is shorter, morbidity is higher, and social problems more prevalent than in the urban areas of the country. The population study aims at examining complexities of environmental, hereditary, lifestyle, and social factors as determinants and predisposing factors for morbidity, health, and quality of life. The study will cover physical, mental, and social dimensions and examine family patterns and subgroups. The study will provide baseline information for later follow-up.

Objectives To evaluate the impact of taste disturbance in different types of chronic middle ear diseases and after middle ear surgery. Hypothesis That patients with chronic otitis media and cholesteatoma has taste disturbance already before surgery due to the disease itself, of course depending on degree of the disease. That patients with otosclerosis, has a normal nerve function before surgery. That patients with normal taste before surgery are more likely to notices a taste disturbance. That nerve in continuity after surgery, even if it is maltreated, gives less taste disturbance than a divided nerve. Methods A clinical study has been launched that measures taste function with two different methods for taste measurements, electrogustometry (EGM) and the filter paper disc method (FPD) before and after middle ear surgery in patients operated with middle ear surgery because of otosclerosis, chronic otitis media and cholesteatoma. The investigators plan to include 120 patients in this study. A parallel study of the patients own experience of the symptom has also been launched were the patients answer a questionary and a quality of life document. The investigators plan to include 300 patients in this study. A histological study where specimens of CTN from healthy ears and from ears with chronic disease will be investigated with electron microscopy has also started.