Background: Ménières disease is a complex neurological disease that varies greatly from individual to individual with symptoms such as dizziness and tinnitus. There are few studies that examines the differences regarding balance and dizziness related perception of disabilitiy between men and women with Ménière’s disease. Purpose: Investigate self-assessed perception of disability and balance of people with Ménières disease. The study also aimed to investigate whether there were any differences between men and women regarding the above mentioned variables. Method: Retrospective study with quantitative, correlative and comparative design. 41 subjects, 21 women, 20 men were included in the study. Results: No significant difference between men and women regarding scores on DHI-S or result on Romberg’s test could be shown in this study. Neither could any significant connection between self-assessed perception of disability and balance measured with DHI-S and Romberg’s respectively could be made. Conclusion: No relation between self-assessed disability and balance was detected between men and women. The study also did not find any differences between the sexes on how they perform on balance measurement or rate their disability. More studies are needed to further investigate and map this area. / Bakgrund: Ménières sjukdom är en neurologisk sjukdom med symtom som yrsel och tinnitus. I dagsläget finns få studier som undersöker skillnader gällande balans och yrsel relaterad upplevelse av funktionsnedsättning mellan män respektive kvinnor med Ménières sjukdom. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka eventuella samband mellan självskattad funktionsnedsättning och balans samt skillnader mellan män och kvinnor. Metod: Retrospektiv studie med kvantitativ, korrelerande och komparativ design. 41 antal försökspersoner, 21 kvinnor, 20 män inkluderades i studien. Resultat: Ingen skillnad mellan män och kvinnors värde på DHI-S kunde påvisas. Det förelåg ingen signifikant skillnad mellan män och kvinnor gällande resultat på Rombergs test. Inget samband mellan upplevelse av funktionsnedsättning och balans mätt med DHI-S respektive Rombergs test för kvinnor och män gick att påvisa. Konklusion: Inget samband mellan självskattad funktionsnedsättning och balans kunde påvisas hos män och kvinnor. Studien fann inte heller några skillnader mellan könen gällande hur de presterar på balansmätning eller skattar sin funktionsnedsättning. Vidare studier behövs för att kunna ytterligare undersöka och kartlägga detta område.

Hearing impairment (HI) is a growing health issue in today’s ageing society. Research has suggested that individuals with HI may experience increased levels of anxiety. Previous research has mainly focused on anxiety as a trait; recent research, however, has looked at state anxiety in the hearing impaired population. Cognitive anxiety is a state anxiety that occurs when people encounter a situation which does not lie within their construct system. As a result, they may experience anxiety as they are unable, or only partially able, to interpret the event meaningfully and are therefore unable to judge the implications of this event. The following study aimed to use the Cognitive Anxiety Scale to investigate relationships between cognitive anxiety and client variables in hearing impaired individuals, adding to the small amount of research currently available in this area. The following research questions were investigated: (1) Is there a relationship between cognitive anxiety level and (a) age, (b) gender, (c) audiometric variables, and (d) quality of life? (2) Is there a significant difference between the level of cognitive anxiety for the participants who purchased and kept hearing aids and those who did not? Twenty-five hearing impaired individuals who were consulting an audiologist for the first time participated in this study, with the cognitive anxiety interview conducted prior to the audiological assessment. The results indicated that cognitive anxiety was significantly related to an ability to understand speech in noise and quality of life, and that hearing aid adopters exhibited greater levels of cognitive anxiety than non-adopters. These results confirm that cognitive anxiety is indeed experienced by adults with HI, and suggest that it may be a factor which motivates people to adopt hearing aids. Further research is needed to confirm and further investigate the relationships with client variables. By listening for signs of cognitive anxiety, an audiologist may be able to gauge if a client is ready for rehabilitation, and encourage the process by exploring the effects of HI on communication situations, employing speech in noise testing, and including the significant other in the process.

Purpose: To determine whether symptoms of dizziness and fall rates change due to routine cataract surgery and to determine the influence of visual and refractive factors on these common problems in older adults. Methods: Self-reported dizziness and falls were determined in 287 subjects (mean age of 76.5±6.3 years, 55% females) before and after routine cataract surgery for the first (81, 28%), second (109, 38%) and both eyes (97, 34%). Six-month falls rates were determined using self-reported retrospective data. Dizziness was determined using the short-form of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory. Results: The number of patients with dizziness reduced significantly after cataract surgery (52% vs. 38%; χ2 = 19.14 , p < 0.001), but the reduction in number of patients who fell in the 6-months post surgery was not significant (23% vs. 20%; χ2= 0.87, p=0.35). Multivariate logistic regression analyses found significant links between post-operative falls and change in spectacle type (increased risk if switched into multifocal spectacles). Post-operative dizziness was associated with changes in best eye visual acuity and changes in oblique astigmatic correction. Conclusions: Dizziness is significantly reduced by cataract surgery and this is linked with improvements in best eye visual acuity, although changes in oblique astigmatic correction increased dizziness. The lack of improvement in falls rate may be associated with switching into multifocal spectacle wear after surgery.

No description available.

No description available.

Background: The consequences of hearing loss vary and can include both emotional and social impacts, such as social isolation and decreased self-confidence. Communication limitations resulting from hearing loss can also affect participation in social relationships, which can lead to social withdrawal. Previous research has shown that audiological rehabilitation can be an effective method to help individuals manage their hearing loss and increase their self-confidence. Studies have shown that women with hearing loss reported higher levels of stress and anxiety compared to men with hearing loss. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate how perceived disability due to hearing impairment affected individuals socially and emotionally among men and women in the age group of 18-64 years. Furthermore, potential gender differences in this impact were examined, as well as the relationship between perceived benefits of audiological rehabilitation and the use of hearing aids. Method: Method: In this quantitative cross-sectional study, a questionnaire survey was conducted using the HHIE instrument, supplemented with demographic and background questions. The survey was distributed through HRF's associations, online forums, groups for individuals with hearing impairment, and informational pamphlets containing a QR code for the survey were distributed in the waiting areas of audiological clinics and the Audiological Clinic's Education Reception (AudU) in Örebro. Statistical software SPSS was employed for data analysis. Mann-Whitney U-test was utilized to investigate potential differences between men and women in their emotional and social experiences related to hearing impairment. To examine the correlation between perceived benefits of hearing aids, perceived benefits of rehabilitation, the social subscale, and the emotional subscale, Spearman's correlation was employed. Results: The results of the current study showed no significant difference between men and women in how they experience the impact of hearing impairment emotionally and socially. However, there was a significant positive correlation between perceived benefit of hearing aids, perceived benefit of rehabilitation, and the subscales in HHIE. These findings indicated a relationship between the perceived benefit of hearing aids and rehabilitation, leading to an improved emotional and social function among individuals with hearing impairment. Conclusions: The study found no significant difference between men and women regarding how hearing impairment affected them socially and emotionally. However, the study did find a significant positive correlation between perceived benefits of hearing aids, audiological rehabilitation, and subscales in the HHIE instrument. / Bakgrund: Konsekvenserna av hörselnedsättning varierar och kan inkludera både emotionella och sociala påverkningar, såsom social isolering och minskat självförtroende. Begränsningar i kommunikationen till följd av hörselnedsättning kan också påverka delaktigheten i sociala relationer, vilket kan leda till socialt tillbakadragande. Det finns studier som har visat att kvinnor med hörselnedsättning rapporterade högre nivåer av stress och ångest jämfört med män med hörselnedsättning. Tidigare forskning har visat att audiologisk rehabilitering kan vara en effektiv metod för att hjälpa personer att hantera sin hörselnedsättning och öka deras självförtroende. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur upplevt funktionshinder på grund av hörselnedsättning bland män och kvinnor i åldersgruppen 18-64 år påverkade dem socialt och emotionellt. Vidare undersöktes eventuella könsskillnader i denna påverkan samt sambandet mellan upplevd nytta av audiologisk rehabilitering och upplevd nytta av hörapparaterna. Metod: I denna kvantitativa tvärsnittsstudie utfördes en enkätstudie som använde mätinstrumentet HHIE, kompletterat med demografiska och bakgrundsfrågor. Enkäten publicerades i HRF:s föreningar, online-forum, grupper för personer med hörselnedsättning samt informationsblad med en QR-kod till enkäten delades ut till audiologiska kliniken och audiologiska klinikens utbildningsmottagnings (AudU) väntrum i Örebro. För analys av resultaten användes statistikprogrammet SPSS. Mann-Whitney U-test användes för att undersöka eventuella skillnader mellan män och kvinnor i deras emotionella och sociala upplevelser av hörselnedsättning. För att undersöka om det fanns samband mellan upplevd nytta av hörapparaterna, upplevd nytta av rehabilitering, sociala delskalan och emotionella delskalan användes Spearmans korrelation. Resultat: Resultaten av den aktuella studien visade ingen signifikant skillnad mellan män och kvinnor i hur de upplever påverkan av hörselnedsättning emotionellt och socialt. Däremot fanns det en signifikant positiv korrelation mellan upplevd nytta avhörapparat/er, upplevd nytta av rehabilitering och delskalorna i HHIE. Dessa resultat indikerade att det fanns ett samband mellan upplevd nytta av hörapparat/er och rehabilitering, vilket ledde till en förbättrad emotionell och social funktion hos personer med hörselnedsättning. Slutsatser: Studien fann ingen signifikant skillnad mellan män och kvinnor gällande hur hörselnedsättningen påverkade dem socialt och emotionellt. Däremot fann studien att det fanns en signifikant positiv korrelation mellan upplevd nytta avhörapparat/er, audiologisk rehabilitering och delskalor i mätinstrumentet HHIE.

Purpose: To determine whether symptoms of dizziness and fall rates change due to routine cataract surgery and to determine the influence of visual and refractive factors on these common problems in older adults. Methods: Self-reported dizziness and falls were determined in 287 subjects (mean age of 76.5±6.3 years, 55% females) before and after routine cataract surgery for the first (81, 28%), second (109, 38%) and both eyes (97, 34%). Six-month falls rates were determined using self-reported retrospective data. Dizziness was determined using the short-form of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory. Results: The number of patients with dizziness reduced significantly after cataract surgery (52% vs. 38%; χ2 = 19.14 , p<0.001), but the reduction in number of patients who fell in the 6-months post surgery was not significant (23% vs. 20%; χ2= 0.87, p=0.35). Multivariate logistic regression analyses found significant links between post-operative falls and change in spectacle type (increased risk if switched into multifocal spectacles). Post-operative dizziness was associated with changes in best eye visual acuity and changes in oblique astigmatic correction. Conclusions: Dizziness is significantly reduced by cataract surgery and this is linked with improvements in best eye visual acuity, although changes in oblique astigmatic correction increased dizziness. The lack of improvement in falls rate may be associated with switching into multifocal spectacle wear after surgery. / The Dunhill Medical Trust

A tontura é um sintoma que acomete a população mundial, sendo observada maior prevalência em idosos devido ao processo de deterioração funcional dos sistemas auditivo e vestibular com o envelhecimento e também devido à alta sensibilidade destes sistemas a problemas clínicos situados em outras partes do corpo humano, comumente relacionados à etiologia vascular e metabólica. A Reabilitação Vestibular (RV) tem se mostrado uma importante e efetiva estratégia no tratamento de indivíduos com desordens do equilíbrio corporal, proporcionando uma acentuada melhora na qualidade de vida. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar prospectivamente o efeito da RV como forma de tratamento das labirintopatias de origem vascular e metabólica sobre a qualidade de vida de indivíduos idosos. O estudo foi delineado como um ensaio clínico prospectivo, longitudinal, observacional, com a participação de 40 indivíduos idosos de ambos os gêneros, com faixa etária entre 60 e 84 anos, divididos em 2 grupos conforme o diagnóstico médico, tontura de origem vascular ou metabólica. Os pacientes passaram por anamnese, aconselhamento, avaliação da qualidade de vida (escala de quantificação da tontura e Dizziness Handicap Inventory brasileiro) e a RV propriamente dita que se baseou no protocolo de Cawthorne e Cooksey. A análise estatística dos dados foi feita através do teste t-Student, para comparações de amostras pareadas, usando um teste de hipótese bilateral; os coeficientes de Pearson e de Spearman foram usados no estudo de correlações. Observou-se que o idoso portador de labirintopatia de origem metabólica ou vascular, possui idade média de 70,2 anos, diagnóstico prevalente no grupo metabólico de diabetes mellitus e no grupo vascular de hipertensão arterial sistêmica. Pelas escalas utilizadas podemos observar que os aspectos avaliados por meio do DHI (físico, emocional, funcional e geral) e escala de quantificação de tontura, melhoraram após a intervenção terapêutica pela Reabilitação Vestibular nos idosos portadores de labirintopatias de origem vascular e metabólica. Contudo não se observou diferença significativa nas escalas do DHI e quantificação da tontura pós RV entre os grupos metabólico e vascular. Observou-se ainda, neste estudo, correlação significativa entre a escala de quantificação da tontura com o DHI pré e pós-tratamento. Pelas questões abordadas no DHI houve um incremento na qualidade de vida de todos os idosos em estudo. O período de terapia mediante RV variou de quatro a dez sessões terapêuticas. Assim, levando em consideração os dados epidemiológicos do envelhecimento no Brasil e sabendo que a grande parte dos idosos com afecções otoneurológicas tem origem vascular e metabólica, conclui-se que a RV baseada nos protocolos de Cawthorne e Cooksey pode ser utilizada de modo benéfico nesta população, trazendo inclusive impacto positivo na qualidade de vidas destes indivíduos. / The dizziness is a symptom that attacks the world-wide population, being observed bigger predominance in old due to the process of functional deterioration of the hearing and vestibular systems with the aging and also due to the high sensibility of these systems to clinical problems situated in other parts of the human body, usually related to vascular and metabolic etiology. The Vestibular Rehabilitation (VR) has shown an important and effective strategy in the individuals\' treatment with disorders of the physical balance, providing an accented improvement in the quality of life. The objective of this work was evaluate prospectively the effect of the RV as form of treatment of the labyrinth disease of vascular and metabolic origin in the quality of life of geriatric patients. The study was outlined like a clinical prospective test, longitudinal, observed, with the participation of 40 old individuals of both genders, with age group between 60 and 84 years divided in 2 groups according to the medical diagnosis,dizziness of vascular or metabolic origin. The patients passed over medical examinations, anamnesis, advising, evaluation of quality of life (scale of quantification of dizziness and Brazilian Dizziness Handicap Inventory) and the VR properly stated, what was based on the protocol of Cawthorne and Cooksey. The statistics analysis from the data was done through the t-Student test, to comparisons of parallels samples, using a test of bilateral hypothesis; the coefficients of Pearson and Spearman were used in the study of correlations. It was noticed that the old bearer of labyrinth disease of metabolic or vascular origin, has average age of 70,2 years, prevalent diagnosis in the metabolic group of diabetes mellitus and in the vascular group of arterial high blood pressure. For the used scales we can notice that the aspects evaluated through the DHI (physical, emotional, functional and general) and the scale of quantification of dizziness, improved after the therapeutic intervention by the Vestibular Rehabilitation in the geriatric patients with labyrinth disease of vascular and metabolic origin. Nevertheless significant difference in the scales of the DHI and quantification of dizziness after VR was not observed between the metabolic and vascular groups. Significant correlation was still observed in this study between the scales of quantification of dizziness with the DHI before and after treatment. For the questions boarded in the DHI there was a growth in the quality of life of all the old ones in study. The total time of treatment by means of VR varies of 4-10 therapeutic sessions. So, taking into account the epidemiologist data of the aging in Brazil and knowing that great part of the old ones with vestibular affections has vascular and metabolic origin, it is concluded that the VR based on the protocols of Cawthorne and Cooksey, can be used inbeneficial way in this population, also bringing positive impact in the capacity of life of these individuals.

A tontura é um sintoma que acomete a população mundial, sendo observada maior prevalência em idosos devido ao processo de deterioração funcional dos sistemas auditivo e vestibular com o envelhecimento e também devido à alta sensibilidade destes sistemas a problemas clínicos situados em outras partes do corpo humano, comumente relacionados à etiologia vascular e metabólica. A Reabilitação Vestibular (RV) tem se mostrado uma importante e efetiva estratégia no tratamento de indivíduos com desordens do equilíbrio corporal, proporcionando uma acentuada melhora na qualidade de vida. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar prospectivamente o efeito da RV como forma de tratamento das labirintopatias de origem vascular e metabólica sobre a qualidade de vida de indivíduos idosos. O estudo foi delineado como um ensaio clínico prospectivo, longitudinal, observacional, com a participação de 40 indivíduos idosos de ambos os gêneros, com faixa etária entre 60 e 84 anos, divididos em 2 grupos conforme o diagnóstico médico, tontura de origem vascular ou metabólica. Os pacientes passaram por anamnese, aconselhamento, avaliação da qualidade de vida (escala de quantificação da tontura e Dizziness Handicap Inventory brasileiro) e a RV propriamente dita que se baseou no protocolo de Cawthorne e Cooksey. A análise estatística dos dados foi feita através do teste t-Student, para comparações de amostras pareadas, usando um teste de hipótese bilateral; os coeficientes de Pearson e de Spearman foram usados no estudo de correlações. Observou-se que o idoso portador de labirintopatia de origem metabólica ou vascular, possui idade média de 70,2 anos, diagnóstico prevalente no grupo metabólico de diabetes mellitus e no grupo vascular de hipertensão arterial sistêmica. Pelas escalas utilizadas podemos observar que os aspectos avaliados por meio do DHI (físico, emocional, funcional e geral) e escala de quantificação de tontura, melhoraram após a intervenção terapêutica pela Reabilitação Vestibular nos idosos portadores de labirintopatias de origem vascular e metabólica. Contudo não se observou diferença significativa nas escalas do DHI e quantificação da tontura pós RV entre os grupos metabólico e vascular. Observou-se ainda, neste estudo, correlação significativa entre a escala de quantificação da tontura com o DHI pré e pós-tratamento. Pelas questões abordadas no DHI houve um incremento na qualidade de vida de todos os idosos em estudo. O período de terapia mediante RV variou de quatro a dez sessões terapêuticas. Assim, levando em consideração os dados epidemiológicos do envelhecimento no Brasil e sabendo que a grande parte dos idosos com afecções otoneurológicas tem origem vascular e metabólica, conclui-se que a RV baseada nos protocolos de Cawthorne e Cooksey pode ser utilizada de modo benéfico nesta população, trazendo inclusive impacto positivo na qualidade de vidas destes indivíduos. / The dizziness is a symptom that attacks the world-wide population, being observed bigger predominance in old due to the process of functional deterioration of the hearing and vestibular systems with the aging and also due to the high sensibility of these systems to clinical problems situated in other parts of the human body, usually related to vascular and metabolic etiology. The Vestibular Rehabilitation (VR) has shown an important and effective strategy in the individuals\' treatment with disorders of the physical balance, providing an accented improvement in the quality of life. The objective of this work was evaluate prospectively the effect of the RV as form of treatment of the labyrinth disease of vascular and metabolic origin in the quality of life of geriatric patients. The study was outlined like a clinical prospective test, longitudinal, observed, with the participation of 40 old individuals of both genders, with age group between 60 and 84 years divided in 2 groups according to the medical diagnosis,dizziness of vascular or metabolic origin. The patients passed over medical examinations, anamnesis, advising, evaluation of quality of life (scale of quantification of dizziness and Brazilian Dizziness Handicap Inventory) and the VR properly stated, what was based on the protocol of Cawthorne and Cooksey. The statistics analysis from the data was done through the t-Student test, to comparisons of parallels samples, using a test of bilateral hypothesis; the coefficients of Pearson and Spearman were used in the study of correlations. It was noticed that the old bearer of labyrinth disease of metabolic or vascular origin, has average age of 70,2 years, prevalent diagnosis in the metabolic group of diabetes mellitus and in the vascular group of arterial high blood pressure. For the used scales we can notice that the aspects evaluated through the DHI (physical, emotional, functional and general) and the scale of quantification of dizziness, improved after the therapeutic intervention by the Vestibular Rehabilitation in the geriatric patients with labyrinth disease of vascular and metabolic origin. Nevertheless significant difference in the scales of the DHI and quantification of dizziness after VR was not observed between the metabolic and vascular groups. Significant correlation was still observed in this study between the scales of quantification of dizziness with the DHI before and after treatment. For the questions boarded in the DHI there was a growth in the quality of life of all the old ones in study. The total time of treatment by means of VR varies of 4-10 therapeutic sessions. So, taking into account the epidemiologist data of the aging in Brazil and knowing that great part of the old ones with vestibular affections has vascular and metabolic origin, it is concluded that the VR based on the protocols of Cawthorne and Cooksey, can be used inbeneficial way in this population, also bringing positive impact in the capacity of life of these individuals.

No description available.