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Biomedical subjects

B Ostri

Publications and source records attributed to B Ostri.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

Epidemiology of hearing disorders. Some factors affecting hearing. The Copenhagen Male Study.

This epidemiological investigation reports on the results from a 10-year follow-up examination concerning hearing and factors known to cause hearing problems. In addition, an evaluation concerning the possible association between hearing impairment and factors affecting the state of health is reported. The original sample comprised 5,050 subjects, and at the present examination 3,387 (67%) males at a median age of 63 years (range 53-75) participated. An increasing prevalence of 30-40% of hearing problems was demonstrated with increasing age. A prevalence of 17% of tinnitus of more than 5 min duration was found; 3% indicated that their tinnitus was so annoying that it interfered with sleep, reading and/or concentration. The prevalence of tinnitus increased up to the age of 70, and seemed to remain constant thereafter. A significant correlation between experienced hearing problems and environmental factors causing damage to the hearing organ was found. Furthermore, a correlation between hearing problems and C3-S complement was found, but no correlations could be established between hearing problems and other blood groups. No correlation was found between cardiovascular disease and hearing problems except for minor circulatory problems, nor between hearing problems and hormonal diseases. It is concluded that the present study supports previous epidemiological investigations concerning the prevalence of hearing problems and factors affecting hearing. The association between hearing problems and C3-S complement, which to the authors' knowledge has not previously been reported, should be further evaluated. No association was found between hearing problems and other blood groups.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Health and lifestyle characteristics of professional singers and instrumentalists.

Ninety-one instrumentalists and 51 opera singers of the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark, were examined, in order to study the frequency of symptoms from the musculoskeletal system and upper airways. The response rate was 91 per cent. Estimates of odds ratios (OR) with 95 per cent confidence interval were calculated, using multiple logistic regression equations, adjusting for age and gender. The frequency of musculoskeletal complaints was the same in singers and instrumentalists. Musculoskeletal problems were however not identical. Instrumentalists had statistically significantly more symptoms from the arm region than singers, OR = 3.1 (1.02-9.5), P less than 0.05. In contrast, instrumentalists had significantly fewer complaints from hip-, knee- and foot joints than singers, OR = 0.2 (0.07-0.61), P less than 0.001. Singers had significantly more symptoms from mouth, lips or throat than instrumentalists, OR = 4.5 (1.7-11.5), P = 0.002. Both male and female instrumentalists had a higher blood pressure. This difference seemed at least in part to be explained by a higher alcohol intake among instrumentalists. We suggest these differences in life style and health characteristics are likely to be caused by professional, ie occupational, work loads.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Temporal bone findings in a family with branchio-oto-renal syndrome (BOR).

A family group with confirmed branchio-oto-renal (BOR) syndrome was investigated in this study. Computerized tomography of the temporal bones has demonstrated that the malformations of the inner ear consist of hypoplastic structural changes within the cochlea with reduced vertical diameters, and absent or hypoplastic semicircular canals and normal endolymphatic ducts. It is concluded that in the present cases, the Mondini malformation of the cochlea is not associated with the BOR syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

A longitudinal study of hearing impairment in male subjects--an 8-year follow-up.

As part of a longitudinal study, 135 male subjects with a median age of 65 years (range 57-77 years) were re-examined 3 and 8 years after the first examination. A significant deterioration in the hearing thresholds at 1 kHz to 8 kHz was demonstrated across an 8-year period covering a change in the median age from 57-65 years. The rate of change was most pronounced during the period from 60-65 years of age. The median hearing thresholds as well as the 25 and 75 percentiles are worse in the present study compared with a sex and age matched non-noise-exposed reference group (Spoor and Passchier-Vermeer, 1969 International Audiology, 8, 328 336) and a screened otologically normal reference group (ISO, 7029). When compared with an age and sex matched unscreened population (Robinson, 1988 British Journal of Audiology, 22, 5-20) the median hearing thresholds are almost identical. The prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss is 30% and the hearing ability in noise-exposed subjects is significantly poorer when compared to the total sample. In addition the hearing thresholds in the high-frequency area continue to deteriorate after retirement.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Longitudinal study of hearing.

Our knowledge of the progression and aetiology of hearing impairments is mainly inferred from cross-sectional studies of populations or individual case studies of relatively rare conditions. Longitudinal studies of carefully stratified samples enable scientific analysis of these two aspects of the ageing auditory system and also provide much needed incidence data on the basis of which to plan comprehensive hearing services. This preliminary paper using data from two studies over relatively short periods (between 2-4.5 years in Great Britain (GB) and up to 8 years in Denmark (DK] confirms (a) that deterioration of hearing impairment appears to be continuous and gradual for the majority (up to 97% on a 2-year assessment) with a median of about 5-6 dB/decade, and (b) that for mid-frequency average hearing levels applied to the samples of average age 55 (range 40-65) the incidence of hearing impairment is predicted accurately by interpolation of the relevant prevalence figures, and runs at about 1.8% per annum for 25+ dBHL bilateral hearing impairments. However, the actual rate of deterioration does seem to be influenced by age, those over 55 showing a high rate of up to 9 dB/decade against 3 dB/decade for those under 55. This implies that study over a much longer time is required to find a more exact form for the relationship between age and the rate of deterioration of hearing impairments.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Surgical management of labyrinthine fistulae in chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma by a one-stage closed technique.

Twenty cases of labyrinthine fistulae have been reviewed. From 1979 to 1987, 234 patients with cholesteatomatous ears were operated on by one surgeon, 20 of these had a labyrinthine fistula (incidence 8.6%). In 75% only the lateral semicircular canal was involved and in 25% the other semicircular canals and/or the cochlea were involved. The fistula test was positive in 50% of the cases. The surgical technique used in all 20 cases was a one-stage closed tympanoplasty, i.e. removal of the cholesteatoma matrix, covering of the fistula with fascia and bone, obliteration of the cavity and reconstruction of the meatal wall. 76% of the patients achieved a hearing improvement, while 1 patient had anacusis (5%). The results indicate that it is possible in one stage to remove the cholesteatoma matrix from the fistula and still be able to restore useful hearing in the majority of the patients.

Cholesteatoma↗
PubMed1989

Hearing impairment in orchestral musicians.

Symphony orchestra musicians from The Royal Danish Theatre (15 females and 80 males) aged 22 to 64 years were audiologically examined to elucidate the presence and the frequency of noise-induced hearing loss among classical musicians. Compared to a reference material (ISO 7029) the median hearing thresholds of the musicians were increased for all age groups. When using hearing sensitivity in one or both ears less than 20 dB HL as a criterion for normality, it was found the 58% of the musicians had a hearing impairment. 50% of the males and 13% of the females showed a typical audiogram with a notched curve at higher frequencies normally attributed to occupational noise exposure. Furthermore, a significantly poorer hearing on the left ear was found at higher frequencies among the violinists. It is concluded that symphonic musicians suffer from hearing impairment and that the impairment might be ascribed to symphonic music.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

On prediction of hearing disability.

The present investigation was performed in order to evaluate the pure-tone frequency and/or averages of frequencies best correlated with speech intelligibility measured by the discrimination score (DS) in quiet and in background noise, and, in addition, indicate a valid low fence of the DS when correlated to a self-assessment procedure. The material comprises 158 male subjects with a median age of 60 years, range 52-72 years, drawn from an ongoing longitudinal epidemiological investigation. By self-assessment 36% indicated hearing disability in noisy backgrounds, while 64% had no hearing problems. The pure-tone frequency that correlated best with the speech intelligibility in quiet was the 2-kHz pure-tone frequency. In background noise the best correlation was found with the 3-kHz pure-tone frequency. In the group of subjects with complaints of hearing problems, the median discrimination score in background noise was 84% (IQR 72-92), while in the group of subjects with no complaints the median discrimination score in noise was 92% (IQR 88-96). Based on the results it is concluded that DS in background noise is a valuable measure in the assessment of hearing disability, but no low fence value can be indicated on the basis of the present results.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Epidemiology of hearing impairment in male subjects: a follow-up investigation.

As part of a longitudinal study 158 male subjects, with a median age of 60 years, range 52-72 years, were re-examined after a 3-year interval. No significant deterioration in their hearing sensitivity was demonstrated when measured by pure-tone or speech audiometry. The prevalence of hearing impairment is 39% based on the criterion greater than or equal to 20 dB HL averaged over 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 kHz. This is similar to the prevalence of 36% experiencing hearing problems in daily listening situations.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

On objective criteria for hearing impairment and hearing disability.

The relationship between subjective symptoms of hearing disorder and objective criteria of hearing impairment and hearing disability was examined in a group of 77 male subjects (median age 57 years, range 49-68) suffering from noise-induced permanent hearing loss. Among all subjects, 52% (40/77) reported having a general impression of subjective hearing disability. The average of pure-tone auditory thresholds at 0.5 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 kHz greater than or equal to 20 dB HL used as an objective criterion for hearing impairment and hearing disability appeared to be the more sensitive and reliable of the various criteria used. Based on the definition of hearing handicap, it is suggested that more sophisticated testing than pure-tone auditory thresholds should be taken into account when approving or disapproving hearing disability as a hearing handicap.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Epidemiology of hearing impairment in male adult subjects at 49-69 years of age.

As part of a cross-sectional prevalence study aimed towards elucidation of the relationship between physical fitness and coronary heart disease, information concerning the hearing ability and hearing disorders was included into postal questionnaires. These were distributed to 5 050 male subjects at a median age of 53 years, range 45-65 years, and employed in public and private Copenhagen companies. A random sample of subjects was drawn from the respondents and subjected to audiological examination (N = 206). The prevalence of hearing impairment, based on the criterion of an audiometric pure-tone threshold averaged over 500, 1 000, 2 000 and 4 000 Hz greater than or equal to 25 dB HL, is 35 +/- 5%, which compares fairly well with the number of 44 +/- 7% complaining of subjective hearing impairment. Only 16 +/- 5% had normal hearing sensitivity, and 38 +/- 7% had permanent, noise-induced hearing impairment. The prevalence and characteristics of hearing impairment are compared with a recent English epidemiological investigation using an identical average of pure-tone thresholds as criterion for hearing impairment. Furthermore, the present results are considered in view of different criteria for hearing impairment and their relation to subjective complaints of reduced hearing ability. Based on the anamnesis, the pure-tone audiometric data and additional tests used for topical diagnostic purposes, the prevalence of various aetiologies of hearing impairment is indicated for the male age group in question.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Audiological and temporal bone findings in myxedema.

Fifteen patients with confirmed myxedema at a median age of 48 years (range 32 to 60 years) were referred for audiological evaluation before and after treatment with levothyroxine. The median interval between the pretreatment and posttreatment investigations was 18 months (range 9 to 27 months). In addition, 13 patients at a median age of 78 years (range 64 to 95 years) were audiologically reexamined after long-standing levothyroxine treatment. The observation period upon treatment with levothyroxine was 40 months (range 32 to 46 months). No improvement in hearing sensitivity could be demonstrated either in the younger patients or in the elderly. When compared to an age- and sex-matched unscreened population, the myxedematous patients did not demonstrate any different degree of hearing loss. Histological investigation of the temporal bones from an 83-year-old woman with myxedema, however, showed no morphological changes or deposition of glycosaminoglycans, changes which are compatible with true age-related hearing loss. It is concluded that no association exists between myxedema and hearing impairment and that no morphological or structural changes due to myxedema can be demonstrated in the temporal bones.

Adult↗