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Tran Y, Tang D, Lo C, Macken O, Newall J, Bierbaum M, Gopinath B. Establishing multifactorial risk factors for adult-onset hearing loss: A systematic review with topic modelling and synthesis of epidemiological evidence. Prev Med 2024; 180:107882. [PMID: 38296002 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2024.107882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This systematic review explores the multifaceted nature of risk factors contributing to adult-onset HL. The objective was to synthesise the most recent epidemiological evidence to generate pooled proportional incidences for the identified risk factors. METHODS We conducted an extensive search of electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and psychINFO) for studies providing epidemiological evidence of risk factors associated with hearing loss. Topic modelling using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) was first conducted to determine how many risk factor themes were available from the papers. Data were analysed by calculating the pooled proportional incidence using a meta-analysis of proportions. RESULTS From the 72 studies reviewed, six key risk factor themes emerged through LDA topic modelling. The review identified ototoxicity, primarily caused by cancer treatments and antibiotics, infectious diseases like COVID-19, occupational noise exposure, lifestyle factors, health conditions, biological responses, and age progression as significant risk factors for HL. The highest proportional incidence was found with cancer-related ototoxicity at 55.4% (95%CI: 39.0-70.7), followed closely by ototoxicity from infectious diseases at 50.0% (95%CI: 28.5-71.5). This high proportional incidence suggests the need to explore less destructive therapies and proactively monitor hearing function during treatments. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this review, combined with the synthesis of epidemiological evidence, enhance our understanding of hearing loss (HL) pathogenesis and highlight potential areas for intervention, thereby paving the way for more effective prevention and management of adult-onset hearing loss in our ageing global population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Tran
- Macquarie University Hearing Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Diana Tang
- Macquarie University Hearing Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Charles Lo
- Australian College of Applied Professions, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
| | - Oonagh Macken
- Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - John Newall
- Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Mia Bierbaum
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Bamini Gopinath
- Macquarie University Hearing Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia.
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Alberti G, Portelli D, Galletti C. Healthcare Professionals and Noise-Generating Tools: Challenging Assumptions about Hearing Loss Risk. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6520. [PMID: 37569060 PMCID: PMC10418966 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20156520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Hearing loss is a significant global health concern, affecting billions of people and leading to various physical, mental, and social consequences. This paper focuses on the risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among specific healthcare professionals, especially ear surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, dentists, and dental hygienists, who frequently use noisy instruments in their professions. While studies on these professionals' noise exposure levels are limited, certain conditions and factors could pose a risk to their hearing. Measures such as engineering and administrative controls, regular audiometric testing, and the use of hearing protection devices are crucial in preventing NIHL. Early detection and intervention are also vital to mitigate further damage. This paper proposes the results of a modified screening protocol, including questionnaires, audiometry, and additional diagnostic tests to identify and address potential hearing disorders. Specific healthcare professionals should remain aware of the risks, prioritize hearing protection, and undergo regular monitoring to safeguard their long-term auditory well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Alberti
- Department of Adult and Development Age Human Pathology “Gaetano Barresi”, Unit of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy;
| | - Daniele Portelli
- Department of Adult and Development Age Human Pathology “Gaetano Barresi”, Unit of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy;
- Policlinico G. Martino, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Cosimo Galletti
- Department of Integrated Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Sant Cugat del Vallès, 08017 Barcelona, Spain;
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van Kessel R, Roman-Urrestarazu A, Anderson M, Kyriopoulos I, Field S, Monti G, Reed SD, Pavlova M, Wharton G, Mossialos E. Mapping Factors That Affect the Uptake of Digital Therapeutics Within Health Systems: Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e48000. [PMID: 37490322 PMCID: PMC10410406 DOI: 10.2196/48000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Digital therapeutics are patient-facing digital health interventions that can significantly alter the health care landscape. Despite digital therapeutics being used to successfully treat a range of conditions, their uptake in health systems remains limited. Understanding the full spectrum of uptake factors is essential to identify ways in which policy makers and providers can facilitate the adoption of effective digital therapeutics within a health system, as well as the steps developers can take to assist in the deployment of products. OBJECTIVE In this review, we aimed to map the most frequently discussed factors that determine the integration of digital therapeutics into health systems and practical use of digital therapeutics by patients and professionals. METHODS A scoping review was conducted in MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Google Scholar. Relevant data were extracted and synthesized using a thematic analysis. RESULTS We identified 35,541 academic and 221 gray literature reports, with 244 (0.69%) included in the review, covering 35 countries. Overall, 85 factors that can impact the uptake of digital therapeutics were extracted and pooled into 5 categories: policy and system, patient characteristics, properties of digital therapeutics, characteristics of health professionals, and outcomes. The need for a regulatory framework for digital therapeutics was the most stated factor at the policy level. Demographic characteristics formed the most iterated patient-related factor, whereas digital literacy was considered the most important factor for health professionals. Among the properties of digital therapeutics, their interoperability across the broader health system was most emphasized. Finally, the ability to expand access to health care was the most frequently stated outcome measure. CONCLUSIONS The map of factors developed in this review offers a multistakeholder approach to recognizing the uptake factors of digital therapeutics in the health care pathway and provides an analytical tool for policy makers to assess their health system's readiness for digital therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin van Kessel
- LSE Health, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
- Department of International Health, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Andres Roman-Urrestarazu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Michael Anderson
- LSE Health, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ilias Kyriopoulos
- LSE Health, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
| | - Samantha Field
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Giovanni Monti
- LSE Health, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shelby D Reed
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Milena Pavlova
- Department of Health Services Research, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Science, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - George Wharton
- LSE Health, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elias Mossialos
- LSE Health, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Prasinos M, Basdekis I, Anisetti M, Spanoudakis G, Koutsouris D, Damiani E. A Modelling Framework for Evidence-based Public Health Policy Making. IEEE J Biomed Health Inform 2022; 26:2388-2399. [PMID: 35025752 DOI: 10.1109/jbhi.2022.3142503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
It is widely recognised that the process of public health policy making (i.e., the analysis, action plan design, execution, monitoring and evaluation of public health policies) should be evidenced based, and supported by data analytics and decision- making tools tailored to it. This is because the management of health conditions and their consequences at a public health policy making level can benefit from such type of analysis of heterogeneous data, including health care devices usage, physiological, cognitive, clinical and medication, personal, behavioural, lifestyle data, occupational and environmental data. In this paper we present a novel approach to public health policy making in a form of an ontology, and an integrated platform for realising this approach. Our solution is model-driven and makes use of big data analytics technology. More specifically, it is based on public health policy decision making (PHPDM) models that steer the public health policy decision making process by defining the data that need to be collected, the ways in which they should be analysed in order to produce the evidence useful for public health policymaking, how this evidence may support or contradict various policy interventions (actions), and the stakeholders involved in the decision-making process. The resulted web-based platform has been implemented using Hadoop, Spark and HBASE, developed in the context of a research programme on public health policy making for the management of hearing loss called EVOTION, funded by the Horizon 2020.
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Fletcher MD. Can Haptic Stimulation Enhance Music Perception in Hearing-Impaired Listeners? Front Neurosci 2021; 15:723877. [PMID: 34531717 PMCID: PMC8439542 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.723877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cochlear implants (CIs) have been remarkably successful at restoring hearing in severely-to-profoundly hearing-impaired individuals. However, users often struggle to deconstruct complex auditory scenes with multiple simultaneous sounds, which can result in reduced music enjoyment and impaired speech understanding in background noise. Hearing aid users often have similar issues, though these are typically less acute. Several recent studies have shown that haptic stimulation can enhance CI listening by giving access to sound features that are poorly transmitted through the electrical CI signal. This “electro-haptic stimulation” improves melody recognition and pitch discrimination, as well as speech-in-noise performance and sound localization. The success of this approach suggests it could also enhance auditory perception in hearing-aid users and other hearing-impaired listeners. This review focuses on the use of haptic stimulation to enhance music perception in hearing-impaired listeners. Music is prevalent throughout everyday life, being critical to media such as film and video games, and often being central to events such as weddings and funerals. It represents the biggest challenge for signal processing, as it is typically an extremely complex acoustic signal, containing multiple simultaneous harmonic and inharmonic sounds. Signal-processing approaches developed for enhancing music perception could therefore have significant utility for other key issues faced by hearing-impaired listeners, such as understanding speech in noisy environments. This review first discusses the limits of music perception in hearing-impaired listeners and the limits of the tactile system. It then discusses the evidence around integration of audio and haptic stimulation in the brain. Next, the features, suitability, and success of current haptic devices for enhancing music perception are reviewed, as well as the signal-processing approaches that could be deployed in future haptic devices. Finally, the cutting-edge technologies that could be exploited for enhancing music perception with haptics are discussed. These include the latest micro motor and driver technology, low-power wireless technology, machine learning, big data, and cloud computing. New approaches for enhancing music perception in hearing-impaired listeners could substantially improve quality of life. Furthermore, effective haptic techniques for providing complex sound information could offer a non-invasive, affordable means for enhancing listening more broadly in hearing-impaired individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Fletcher
- University of Southampton Auditory Implant Service, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.,Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
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