Biomedical subjects

B Schönweiler

Publications and source records attributed to B Schönweiler.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

[Cochlear hearing loss following Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection].

BACKGROUND: A sudden unilateral hearing loss in childhood is commonly regarded as an unusual event. CASE-REPORT: In this paper, we report of a 10 year old girl suffering from a unilateral right-sided sudden hearing loss following an acute infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which is also rarely observed. Maximum hearing loss was estimated around 30 dB (0.25-6 kHz), which resolved after infusions using plasma expanders. Both transitory and distortion product otoacoustic emissions remained absent, while latencies of acoustically evoked potentials were normal. DISCUSSION: This suggests a damage of outer hair cell function as an explanation for the observed hearing loss. The coincidence of two rare events for children such as a spontaneous sudden unilateral hearing loss combined with an infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae gives rise to the hypothesis of a causal relationship that is discussed according to the literature.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1999

A retrospective study of hearing, speech and language function in children with clefts following palatoplasty and veloplasty procedures at 18-24 months of age.

Many cleft palate teams currently schedule palatoplasty and veloplasty within the child's first year of life. At Hannover Medical School, palatoplasty and veloplasty are performed at approximately 18-24 months of age. It was questioned which speech and language outcome was achieved and whether it may be influenced by: (1) type and extent of the clefts; (2) velopharyngeal inadequacy; and (3) hearing disorders. A retrospective evaluation of data collected from 1985 to 1993 was performed summarizing receptive and expressive speech and language skills of 370 children aged 4.5 years. Cleft types were unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP, 30.0%), bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP, 28.7%), cleft hard and soft palate (CP, 21.6%), cleft soft palate (cleft velum, CV, 10.8%), cleft lip and alveolus (CLA, 5.8%) and submucous clefts (SUB, 3.2%). n = 86 had constant normal hearing, and n = 284 had conductive hearing loss > 20 dB (500-4000 Hz). Severe developmental phonology errors were found in 30-50% of children with repaired cleft palate and in less than 8% of patients with CLA and SUB. Posterior compensatory misarticulation was below 15% in the groups UCLP, BCLP, CP, CV and SUB. Nasal resonance and air emission was nearly normal in CLA, but was increased in 27% to 38% of the other cleft types. Children with conductive hearing loss had significantly more and severely affected phonology, morphology, syntax, vocabulary, language comprehension, and auditory perception than normal hearing children. Findings indicated that speech and language function in CLP patients were predominantly related to the hearing status.

Articulation Disorders↗

PubMed1996

[Language development in children with cleft palate].

Children with cleft palate often suffer from hearing and speech and language problems. Detailed knowledge about the long-term outcome of various therapeutic strategies including velopharyngoplasty or speech therapy seems mandatory to design an efficient rehabilitation plan for affected children. In this follow-up study 417 children with cleft palate (excluding isolated cleft lip) were examined in an interdisciplinary approach by maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists, otolaryngologists, audiologists and speech and language pathologists. We found that 92% of the children had speech or language disorders. 80% of those children frequently had mild or severe conductive hearing loss, with or without clinical signs of otitis media with effusion. In 58 children (14%) with rhinolalia aperta not being improved by speech therapy for at least 1 year, velopharyngoplasty with a cranially based pharyngeal flap was performed. Language skills did not correlate with the type of cleft palate, but with the frequency and degree of hearing loss. Using this interdisciplinary approach for early detection and therapy of disorders related to cleft palate, only 49% of affected children had to undergo speech and language therapy. Based on the results of this follow-up study presented here we propose that otologic examination, such a thorough audiometric testing, and a detailed speech and language evaluation are important cornerstones in the rehabilitation management of children with cleft palate.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

[The language and speech skills in 417 children with cleft formations].

Children with cleft palate often suffer from hearing, speech, and language articulation disorders. In order to design an efficient rehabilitation program for children thus affected, it is mandatory to acquire knowledge of the long term results achieved by the various therapeutical strategies including velopharyngoplasty and speech therapy. In this follow-up study 417 children with cleft palate (excluding isolated cleft lip) were examined in an interdisciplinary approach by maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists, otolaryngologists, audiologists, and speech and language pathologists. The examinations determined that 93% of the children had speech or language disorders and 80% of these children suffered from mild to severe conductive hearing loss with or without clinical signs of otitis media with effusion. In 58 children (14%) with rhinolalia aperta, which had not been improved after one year of speech therapy, velopharyngoplasty with a cranial based pharyngeal flap was performed. The study showed that language skills do not correlate to the type of cleft palate, but rather to the frequency and degree of hearing loss. Using an interdisciplinary approach in early detection and the prompt clinical correction of cleft palate disorders resulted in only 49% of the affected children having to undergo speech and language therapy. In 51% of the affected children no speech therapy was necessary at all. The results presented in this study lead to the conclusion that our program for managing the rehabilitation of children with cleft palate is efficient.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

[Hearing capacity and speech production in 417 children with facial cleft abnormalities].

Children with cleft palates often suffer from chronic conductive hearing losses, delayed language acquisition and speech disorders. This study presents results of speech and language outcomes in relation to hearing function and types of palatal malformations found. 417 children with cleft palates were examined during followup evaluations that extended over several years. Disorders were studied as they affected the ears, nose and throat, audiometry and speech and language pathology. Children with isolated cleft lips were excluded. Among the total group, 8% had normal speech and language development while 92% had speech or language disorders. 80% of these latter children had hearing problems that predominantly consisted of fluctuating conductive hearing losses caused by otitis media with effusion. 5% had sensorineural hearing losses. Fifty-eight children (14%) with rhinolalia aperta were not improved by speech therapy and required velopharyngoplasties, using a cranial-based pharyngeal flap. Language skills did not depend on the type of cleft palate presents but on the frequency and amount of hearing loss found. Otomicroscopy and audiometric follow-ups with insertions of ventilation tubes were considered to be most important for language development in those children with repeated middle ear infections. Speech or language therapy was necessary in 49% of the children.

Articulation Disorders↗