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Biomedical subjects

P G Zorowka

Publications and source records attributed to P G Zorowka.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Disorders of speech development: diagnostic and treatment aspects.

Language acquisition is a complex process relying on the well-tuned interaction of a variety of factors. Its genetic base is still little explored, but perhaps plays the most important role during the early periods of this process. In addition, neurological, cognitive and emotional abilities of the child as well as verbal stimulation from the environment are crucial. Language development disorders manifest themselves as late onset, slow progression or as erroneous course of the language development. Because of the multitude of factors involved, their aetiology is frequently difficult to determine. Diagnosis of such disorders commonly requires the cooperation of several professionals, like paediatricians, otolaryngologists, psychologists, and speech pathologists. The "late bloomer" hypothesis suggests, that up to 50% of children presenting with language problems in early years, make up for them without intervention up to age four years. Nevertheless, treatment for a language problem, as soon as it appears, is generally recommended in order to minimize adverse effects on succeeding developmental steps.

Child↗
PubMed2003

[Chronic tinnitus and allergies -- are they linked?].

BACKGROUND: Some neuro-otologic disorders are suspected to have a higher prevalence of allergies than is found in the population. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of allergies in patients with chronic tinnitus. METHODS AND PATIENTS: 102 tinnitus patients were mailed a survey containing a list of allergies, and asked to quote any allergy they were afflicted with. Additionally, they had to specify whether the diagnosis has been medically confirmed or not. Findings were compared to those from an age- and gender-matched control group. RESULTS: 32 % of tinnitus subjects (CI (95 %) = 42 - 24 %), but only 21 % of controls (CI (95 %) = 29 % - 13 %) had at least one medically diagnosed allergy. Regarding all (ie., diagnosed and non-diagnosed) allergies, 49 % of tinnitus subjects (CI (95 %) : 39 -59 %) versus 46 % (CI (95 %) : 37 -57 %) of controls stated to be afflicted with at least one allergy. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the frequency of allergies in tinnitus patients is essentially equal to the allergy prevalence in the population as revealed from recent epidemiologic studies. We conclude that there is no increased risk for allergies in chronic tinnitus. The lower rate of medically diagnosed allergies in non-tinnitus subjects probably indicates that mild allergies are less frequently diagnosed in the group of otherwise healthy persons.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Impaired cortico-bulbar tract function in dysarthria due to hemispheric stroke. Functional testing using transcranial magnetic stimulation.

We investigated cortico-lingual and cortico-orofacial tract function utilizing transcranial magnetic stimulation in 18 consecutive patients with dysarthria due to hemispheric stroke. Delayed responses (conduction time > mean + 2.5 SD of that of 43 controls) or absent responses were considered abnormal. In all patients, motor-cortex stimulation of the lesion side demonstrated absent (13 patients) or delayed (five patients) responses to the tongue bilaterally (17 patients) or unilaterally (one patient). In 14 patients the contralateral orofacial responses were either absent (13 patients) or delayed (one patient). According to the electrophysiological findings, all lesions revealed by CT or MRI, were located within the pyramidal tract at the lower motor cortex (n = 4), the corona radiata (n = 7), and the genu of the internal capsule (n = 3) or its posterior limb (n = 4). We conclude that interruption of the cortico-bulbar tract fibres to muscles involved in articulation is a frequent cause of dysarthria in hemispheric stroke.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Dysarthria and lacunar stroke: pathophysiologic aspects.

We investigated the supranuclear tracts involved in speech production in 8 patients with dysarthria associated with a single lacunar stroke. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed the lesion site in 7 out of 8 patients. We tested corticobulbar tract function using transcranial magnetic stimulation and demonstrated impairment of the corticolingual projections in all the patients and in 5 patients impairment of the corticofacial projections. Sensory function in the oral cavity was impaired in 1 out of 8 patients. 99mTc hexamethyl-propylene amine oxime-single-photon emission computerized tomography (HMPAO-SPECT) imaging, performed in 5 patients, showed cerebellar diaschisis in 1, suggesting additional cerebropontocerebellar tract impairment. Dysarthria observed in the 2 patients with impaired sensation in the oral cavity or with cerebellar diaschisis did not differ from the dysarthria found in the other patients. We conclude that interruption of the corticolingual pathways to the tongue is crucial in the pathogenesis of dysarthria following extracerebellar lacunar stroke.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

One-channel and multichannel digitally programmable hearing aids in children with hearing impairment.

The introduction of digital technology for programming and new signal processing in modern hearing aid systems has led to considerable progress in rehabilitation of hearing impairments. In this report, our experience with the clinical use of one-band and multiband digitally programmable hearing aids for children with sensorineural hearing impairment is described. In 65 children with various threshold configurations and degrees of hearing impairment, different programmable digital hearing aids were fitted. Various audiometric tests, fitting methods, and subjective patient responses were used in order to examine the possibilities and limits of hearing aid use. Multiband hearing devices gave the best results in clinical tests as well as with regard to subjective patient responses. This study shows the potential of this new hearing aid technology as an alternative for a variety of pediatric hearing impairments.

Child↗
PubMed1993

Otoacoustic emissions: a new method to diagnose hearing impairment in children.

Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are epiphenomena of sensitive, amplifying processes during hearing which can be detected in persons with normal inner ear function. They originate from the cochlea and are interpreted as an energy leakage of cochlear processes, perhaps resulting from active outer hair cell movements. OAEs travel from the cochlea through the middle ear to the external auditory canal where they can be detected using sensitive miniature microphones. Transient evoked (TEOAE) tests allow to otoacoustic emissions non-invasively check the integrity of the cochlea. In the neonatal period, registration of OAEs can be accomplished during natural sleep. In infants and neonates TEOAEs can be used as screening test with a screening level at 30 dB HL in paediatric audiology. They are less time consuming and elaborate than auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and they are more sensitive than behavioral tests. TEOAEs are constant over long periods of time and they are reduced or absent due to various adverse influences in the inner ear. These latter characteristics may allow monitoring of the inner ear function over time e.g. during disease and/or during ototoxic therapeutic interventions. Limitations of this new method are due to the fact that TEOAEs are absent in patients with a more than 30 dB HL hearing loss. Thus a hearing threshold cannot be determined. Diseases of the inner ear which are common in early childhood (like otitis media) reduce the transfer of TEOAEs and may wrongly indicate a cochlear hearing disorder. New methods for evaluation and interpretation of TEOAE test results are currently developed which may allow to circumvent this problem.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Evoked otoacoustic emissions and pure tone threshold audiometry in patients receiving cisplatinum therapy.

Eight children and young adults with cancer were evaluated serially using pure tone audiometry as well as registration of click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAE) 1 day prior to therapy as well as after various numbers of doses of cisplatinum. A reduction of EOAE-amplitudes following cisplatinum therapy was observed in all patients. This reduction tended to recover after the end of cisplatinum administration. Since EOAE are believed to result from cochlear bio-mechanical processes, the reduced emissions are interpreted as signs of cochlear dysfunction. We conclude, that EOAE testing may be a simple, non-invasive method that may detect early, transient functional impairment of hearing due to ototoxic agents such as cisplatinum, even in children. Further controlled trials are needed.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1992

[Psychogenic hearing disorders in childhood and adolescence].

Psychogenic hearing defects are more common than previously recognized. The disorder is characterized by typical behaviour, audiological signs and symptoms. Patients may show severe hearing losses as evaluated by pure-tone threshold audiometry but can understand usual conversation. Results of audiological examination may be conflicting and suggest a wide range of organic hearing disorders. Other characteristics are dramatic improvement of hearing following sham procedures or placebo medication. Detection of psychogenesis and etiologic factors are of utmost importance for successful therapy. Between 1988 and 1991, 21 children and adolescents (ages 5-16 years) with psychogenic hearing losses were studied. Typical signs as well as diagnostic and therapeutic tools are illustrated in renewal case histories. In-patient diagnosis and treatment are recommended, since improvement was achieved in all patients treated.

Adolescent↗