Background and Aim: The etiopathogenesis of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is an ess-ential contributing factor to its morbidity, which cannot be explained entirely so far. The current study aimed to determine the oxidative stress (OS) status by comparing the total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) values in patients with pediatric prelingual profound SNHL. We also evaluated the correlation between OS parameters and audiological test results. Methods: The study included 25 participants (9 females; age range: 6‒ 34 months) diagnosed with pediatric prelingual profound SNHL and 25 healthy subjects (10 females; age range: 9‒ 28 months). Their TAS, TOS, and OSI levels were measured in the plasma of both groups. We evaluated the correlation between OS para-meters and audiological test results in the pati-ent group. Results: We found significantly higher serum TOS levels and OSI values in the patient group (mean ± SD of TOS: 16. 08 ± 1. 88 μ mol H2O2 eq/L, p < 0. 001; mean ± SD of OSI: 1. 71 ± 0. 48 arbitrary units, p < 0. 001), compared to the controls. Moreover, we found lower serum TAS levels in the patient group (mean ± SD of TAS: 0. 99 ± 0. 20 mmol Trolox eq/L), compared to the controls. There was a strong correlation between OS parameters and audiological test results of the patient group. Conclusion: We detected significantly higher TOS, OSI, and lower TAS levels in pediatric patients with SNHL, compared to the healthy subjects. The obtained data indicated that pediatric SNHL is under OS influence.

Background & Objectives: Cochlear implant is the implantation of an artificial cochlear in the inner ear with the function of the main cochlear. A large number of infants and adolescents who suffer from congenital hearing loss can hear and speak naturally in their growth stages with the aid of this device. On the one hand, medical measures and follow–, ups for cochlear implantation and related stress to the family and communication on the other hand create special conditions for these people. Researchers have mostly studied the effect and consequences of cochlear implantation on people who suffer from hearing loss. However, there are fewer studies on the psychological experiences of the aforementioned group on the issues and consequences of this implantation. Therefore, in this research, we attempted to study the lived experience of teens, who suffer from profound hearing loss, after cochlear implantation, to provide new insights and opportunities in their lives. Methods: The present study was carried out through a qualitative–, phenomenological approach. The statistical population consisted of teens that implanted cochlear under the coverage of the Welfare Organization of Tehran City, Iran, in 2019. Eleven teens were selected based on data saturation and purposive sampling method among those who had cochlear implantation in infancy or childhood, and 4 years have passed since their surgery (the inclusion criteria). Data collection was carried out through profound and open–, ended interviews. To analyze data, a 7–, step Colaizzi method (1979) was used as the following: reading important findings, empathizing with participants to understand them and extracting important statements concerning the study phenomenon, Giving specific concepts to the extracted statements, categorizing the obtained concepts and clusters, reverting to the main and comparative subjects and contents of data, describing the studied phenomenon, and final rendition of the phenomenon description to the participants to examine the reliability. Eventually, coding and extracting main and sub–, categories were done. The participants’,review strategy was used to determine the validity. Evaluation of participants’,review was carried out through speech restoration and participants’,experience in an interview, as well as giving the full texts of codes and categories to three experts. In addition, their comments and ideas were used to modify or confirm this evaluation. Full texts along with codes and categories were provided to three members to examine the transferability. Moreover, there was an attempt to record all the activities accurately in relation to the effectiveness of the process. Results: According to the qualitative content analysis, a total of 32 themes were extracted of which 10 themes were main themes: “, attention”, , “, dependency”, , “, avocation”, , “, aggression”, , “, fear”, , “, love”, , “, communication”, , “, futurism”, , “, expectation”, , and “, concept comprehension”, . Also, 28 sub–, themes were positive “, attention”, , “, inattention (attention theme)”, , “, dependency to the implanted device”, , “, dependency to people (dependency theme)”, , “, practical involvement”, , “, mental involvement (involvement theme)”, , “, boredom”, , “, anger”, , “, apathy”, , “, disinterest (aggression theme)”, , “, discomfort”, , “, anxiety (fear theme)”, , “, displeasure”, , “, euphoria (love theme)”, , “, telephone conversation”, , “, teacher communication”, , “, peer interaction”, , “, relative interaction (interaction theme)”, , “, future planning”, , “, future hope (futurism theme)”, , “, expectation of family”, , “, expectation of the educational environment”, , “, expectation of society”, , “, expectation of peers (expectation theme)”, , “, dreaming”, , “, imagination”, , “, stranger”,and “, independence (understanding theme)”, . Conclusion: The results of the interview revealed 10 main themes and 28 sub–, themes were extracted in total. Identifying the perceived experiences of the studied sample can provide better psychological and social services by their families, psychologists, social workers and paramedics.

Background & Objectives: The central vestibular pathway has a close structural and functional relationship with auditory and sensory-motor system. In the other words, vestibular system plays an important role in motor learning and development. In this case-control study, we compared hand’s fine motor function of a group of hearing impaired children and normal hearing peers.Material & Methods: Sixteen students with age ranged between 7-13 years were recruited from hearing impaired specific school in Sanandaj, Iran. Forty-one normal hearing students were selected as control group by cluster sampling method among normal schools in the city. Fine motor function of upper limb was investigated by Purdue pegboard test and compared between two groups using independent sample T-test and X2.Results: Two groups did not have any significant differences in age, sex and hand dominancy. Although, these two groups also didn’t show any significant differences in dominant, non-dominant, and both hand’s score, children with hearing loss showed a significant lower assembly score in comparison with the children with normal hearing (p=0.019).Conclusion: Children with hearing loss, probably have lower hand’s fine motor skills in comparison with the normal peers.

Introduction: Deafness is one of the most important sensory disturbances at birth. Hearing loss can affect the development of speaking and learning during life. Early diagnosis and intervention improve language outcome. The current study aimed to determine the frequency of profound congenital hearing loss in healthy newborn infants in Fars province.Methods: In a multicenter prospective study, from August 2010 to August 2011, 12573 newborns were screened for hearing loss prior to discharge from the wellborn nursery at nine teaching and private hospitals in Fars province. A three-stage hearing screening protocol using transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) screening with referral for diagnostic second TEOAE and auditory brainstem evoked response (ABER) assessment was employed. All neonates with abnormal initial TEOAE screening, followed with phone call for language outcome after one year. Newborns with hospital admission or drug administration excluded from the study.Results: The overall pass rate in the initial screening was 91.8%, thus 1019 (8.1/1000) neonates referred for diagnostic audio logical assessments. Out of 1019 infants scheduled for follow-up study, only 619 neonates returned. Using follow-up letters and phone calls, it was managed to improve the response rate for language outcome after one year. Two infants were identified with profound bilateral congenital hearing impairment. These infants were immediately referred for cochlear implantation.Conclusion: Findings of the current study showed that the frequency of profound congenital hearing loss is 0.159/1000 normal newborn infants in Fars province. The initial TEOAE has high false positive that may be due to occlusion of external ear canal by vernix in the early postnatal period.

Background and Aim: Non-linear frequency compression is a new feature in hearing instruments compresses the voices of a high-frequency region above a certain cut-off point and transfers them to the lower frequency regions in order to improve the audibility. In this study, we aimed to survey the effect of this feature on the total level of hearing skills of children with profound hearing loss at the age of 3-4 years.Methods: Twenty two 3-4-years-old children with profound hearing loss were selected with improbable simple sampling.11 of them had hearing instruments with non-linear frequency compression and 11 had traditional hearing instruments. Tavana test (Jarollahi, 2009) was used to compare the level of hearing skills in these two groups.Results: Comparison of mean scores of total level of hearing skills in two groups indicated a significant difference (p<0.001). Also, the mean scores of level in all subtests, detection (p=0.022), determination (p=0.005), recognition (p=0.039) and comprehension (p=0.010), showed significant differences.Conclusion: Using the hearing instruments with non-linear frequency compression would increase the total level of hearing skills in children with profound hearing loss at the ages of 3-4-years and also, in all skill of detection, determination, recognition and comprehension.

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus is the most prevalent endocrine disease. It causes several complications, such as retinopathy and nephropathy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of diabetes mellitus on sensory-neuron auditory impairment.       Materials and Methods: We conducted this case - control study during the years of 2006-2008 with the collaboration of Mashhad Diabetes Center and the Audiometric Clinic at Ghaem Hospital. Considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 300 diabetic patients, as the case group and 300 persons as the control group entered this study. These two groups were matched by sex and age. Audiometric examinations, consisting of Pure Tone Audiometric Test, Diapason Tests and Autoscopy were administered on the participants in the present study.Results: There was a significant difference between control and case groups in sensory-neuron auditory impairment at high and low-median frequencies. Also, there was not any association between the duration of the disease and the level of sensory-neuron auditory impairment (P>0.05). In addition, the findings indicate a significant relationship between the complicated and uncomplicated groups in terms of the level of sensory-neuron auditory impairment at high frequencies. Patients with type II Diabetes Mellitus showed prominent sensory-neuron auditory impairment at high and low-median frequencies, as compared to the control group (P<0.05). There was not such association in Type I Diabetes Mellitus (P>0.05). Furthermore, there was a significant difference between two types of Diabetes Mellitus in the level of sensory-neuron auditory impairment. which was prominent in high frequencies (P<0.05). Also, this study showed that there was not any sex difference in the sensory-neuron auditory impairment (P>0.05).Conclusion: We propose the necessity of administrating regular audiometric examinations for the patients with diabetes mellitus. Early detection of sensory-neuron auditory impairment can decrease its progression due to better glycemic control.

Introduction: Hearing is one of the dominant senses of humans. In fact, human beings learn the language which is spoken in their environment and, then, develop the capability to speak. Cochlear implantation is introduced worldwide as a method for the treatment of the severe-to-profound sensoryneural hearing loss. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the effect of cochlear implantation on the improvement of the auditory performance of the children with profound hereditary as well as non-hereditary hearing loss.Methods: The present follow-up study was conducted on 95 children who had been referred to Fars Cochlear Implantation Center. The patients’ information was obtained from their pre- as well as postoperation profiles. Moreover, their auditory performance scores were measured through the Cap Test in 3 stages of 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after the implantation. Besides, the non-parametric tests of Fridman, Willcoxon, and Mann-Withney U were utilized in order to analyze the gathered data.Results: The mean and the median of the auditory performance of the children who had undergone the cochlear implantation showed a significant difference 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after the implantation. Moreover, a statistically significant relationship was observed between the independent variable of the type of hearing loss and the auditory performance score.Conclusion: In line with other studies conducted on the issue, the present study also confirmed the improvement of the auditory performance in the children who have undergone the cochlear implantation. In addition, the present study revealed that the type of hearing loss can be helpful in identifying the candidates of the cochlear implantation.

Background: The purpose of this investigation is to determine auditory neuropathy in the students with severe to profound hearing losses in Ahwaz.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 212 children of 7-11 year old with severe to profound hearing loss performed ordinary audiometric evaluations as well as ABR and OAE. The patients with normal DPOAE who had no record of acoustic reflex having normal ABR, were considered as the patients with auditory neuropathy.Results: The neuropathic complication found in 14 children was appeared in 8 ones as one-sided (57.14%) and in 6 ones (42.86%) as two-sided.68% of the patients as diagnosed had a very low Speech Discrimination Score (SDS).Conclusion: we must be very vigilant in auditory neuropathy diagnosis for the purpose to be successful in appropriate treatment of severe to profound hearing losses.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a selected motor program on visual-motor skills of children (3 to 6 years) with profound hearing loss and a cochlear implant. Participants were selected purposefully from a rehabilitation center in Tehran and divided into two groups experiment (n=10) and control (n=12) according to their scores on Gardner’ s Test of Visual-Motor Skills. Visual-motor skill pretest was taken from two control and experimental groups by the test of visual motor skills revised (TVMSR). The experiment group subjects contributed in the SPARK program for 8 weeks, three sessions per week with 45 minutes in each session. A posttest was taken of both groups after completion the course of intervention program. Analyze of Covariance test (ANCOVA) were conducted for data analysis (α = 0. 05). Results showed that there was no significant difference between groups for TVMSR score before the intervention program but, it was significant after program course. However, effect of the program on visual spatial skill (P=0. 002), visual analysis skills (P=0. 010) and visual motor integration (P=0. 002) was significant. In conclusion, appropriate training opportunities may lead to improvement on visual-motor skills in children with profound hearing loss and a cochlear implant.