Endoscopic ear examination improves self-reported confidence in ear examination skills among undergraduate medical students compared with handheld otoscopy

Objectives: Handheld otoscopy is the standard tool used to teach ear examination in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. Previous studies have shown that the undergraduate teaching of ear examination with handheld otoscopes is inadequate, resulting in low self-reported levels of student confidence in their diagnostic skills. With the increase in popularity of endoscopic ear surgery, an increasing number of otolaryngologists are using endoscopes for office examinations of the ear due to the method's superior visualization and excellent image qualities. However, medical students usually do not receive exposure to endoscopic ear examination during their undergraduate curriculum. The aim of this study is to assess our preliminary experience with teaching endoscopic ear examination to undergraduate medical students. Methods: A two-hour-long pilot practical course on basic ear examination was administered to undergraduate medical students with little to no previous experience with ear examination. The course was designed to minimize the duration of campus attendance and patient contact during the COVID-19 pandemic. The course included theoretical didactics, exemplary digital endoscopic images and peer physical practice of ear examination with both a handheld otoscope and a 0-degree endoscope. At the end of the course, the students completed a survey questionnaire consisting of eight questions mainly relating to their subjective confidence level with ear examination using either handheld otoscopes or endoscopes and their overall preference for either examination tool. Results: Most students expressed a preference for ear examination with endoscopes over that with handheld otoscopes and reported an improved confidence level in their diagnostic ability with the former technique. The vast majority of students supported the teaching of endoscopic ear examination to future medical students. Conclusion: The findings of this pilot project report and survey study support the early exposure of novice medical learners to endoscopic ear examination, which may help improve the confidence and diagnostic skill of medical students with regard to ear examination. The findings may have implications for the undergraduate teaching of ear examination in the post-COVID-19 era.

Neural Processing of Musical and Vocal Emotions Through Cochlear Implants Simulation

Cochlear implants (CIs) partially restore the sense of hearing in the deaf. However, the ability to recognize emotions in speech and music is reduced due to the implant's electrical signal limitations and the patient's altered neural pathways. Electrophysiological correlations of these limitations are not yet well established. Here we aimed to characterize the effect of CIs on auditory emotion processing and, for the first time, directly compare vocal and musical emotion processing through a CI-simulator. We recorded 16 normal hearing participants' electroencephalographic activity while listening to vocal and musical emotional bursts in their original form and in a degraded (CI-simulated) condition. We found prolonged P50 latency and reduced N100-P200 complex amplitude in the CI-simulated condition. This points to a limitation in encoding sound signals processed through CI simulation. When comparing the processing of vocal and musical bursts, we found a delay in latency with the musical bursts compared to the vocal bursts in both conditions (original and CI-simulated). This suggests that despite the cochlear implants' limitations, the auditory cortex can distinguish between vocal and musical stimuli. In addition, it adds to the literature supporting the complexity of musical emotion. Replicating this study with actual CI users might lead to characterizing emotional processing in CI users and could ultimately help develop optimal rehabilitation programs or device processing strategies to improve CI users' quality of life.

The perception of otolaryngology-related diseases among parents of children with Down syndrome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE

To assess the perception of otolaryngology-related diseases among parents of children with Down syndrome (DS).

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey design. A questionnaire was distributed to parents of children with DS. The parents were attending an event aiming to raise awareness that was organized on World Down Syndrome Day on the 21st of March 2013, organized by Princess Al-Jawhara Center of Excellence in Research of Hereditary Disorders, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The complete dates of study were March to May 2013.

RESULTS

Questionnaires were completed and perceptions regarding 10 common otolaryngology-related diseases were obtained from 78 parents. The data shows that most of the parents were not familiar with these otolaryngology-related diseases.

CONCLUSION

Many parents were not aware of some of the otolaryngology related conditions affecting children with DS, and did not have regular follow-up. Perception was highly affected by the presence of the condition in the children. Awareness of otolaryngology-related diseases affecting children with DS should be raised.