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Audiology Research
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Hearing Loss: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment—Volume II
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Hearing Loss: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment—Volume II

A special issue of Audiology Research (ISSN 2039-4349). This special issue belongs to the section "Hearing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 3169

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. George K. Psillas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1st Academic ENT Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA Hospital, 546 36 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: hearing rehabilitation; middle and inner ear; ear surgery; cochlear implantation; auditory brainstem responses; facial nerve electrophysiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This collection is a continuation of our previous successful Special Issue “Hearing Loss: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment”, published in the MDPI journal Audiology Research.

Hearing loss represents one of the most wide-ranging disabilities, affecting more than 5% of the world’s population. Different types of hearing loss, including conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, may lead to serious hearing impairments in children and adults. Multiple causes may be involved in the aetiopathogenesis of hearing loss, depending on the different biologic mechanisms, including congenital and autoimmune. Diagnosis and management continue to be a challenge for hearing disorders such as chronic otitis media, otosclerosis, cholesteatoma, congenital or acquired sensorineural hearing loss, sudden sensorineural or metabolic hearing loss, and otogenic facial palsy. Electrophysiology and neuroscience approaches are needed in order to better elucidate the diagnostic dilemmas in the field of otology and neurotology. New treatment options will be discussed to improve potential methods of hearing restoration.

We especially encourage submissions concerning hearing aids, cochlear/vestibular/auditory brainstem implantation, middle ear surgery, and stapedotomy. Topics may include the following:

  • Age-related hearing loss;
  • Genes associated with hearing loss;
  • Speech perception testings;
  • Pathophysiologic patterns for hearing loss;
  • Neuroimaging for inner ear;
  • Electrophysiologic evaluation of hearing loss;
  • Surgery for hearing loss/cophosis.

Prof. Dr. George K. Psillas
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Audiology Research is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • genetics
  • speech perception
  • conductive hearing loss
  • sensorineural hearing loss
  • neuroimaging
  • electrophysiology
  • cochlear implants

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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13 pages, 527 KB  
Article
Tubomanometry and Symptom Outcomes in Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Associated with Chronic Nasal Disease
by Sofia Anastasiadou, Petros Karkos, Jannis Constantinidis and George Psillas
Audiol. Res. 2026, 16(3), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres16030070 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2026
Viewed by 74
Abstract
Background: Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD) presents significant diagnostic challenges, particularly in patients with chronic nasal disease, which often mimic or complicate ETD symptoms. Tubomanometry (TMM) is emerging as an objective tool for diagnosing ETD, but its application in patients with concurrent nasal [...] Read more.
Background: Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD) presents significant diagnostic challenges, particularly in patients with chronic nasal disease, which often mimic or complicate ETD symptoms. Tubomanometry (TMM) is emerging as an objective tool for diagnosing ETD, but its application in patients with concurrent nasal pathologies remains underexplored. Methods: One hundred patients with concurrent ETD and chronic nasal disease were recruited. They were categorized into three groups: chronic rhinitis (35 patients, group A), nasal septal deviation (31 patients, group B) and chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps (34 patients, group C). Treatments included nasal irrigation, septoplasty, and nasal polypectomy with functional endoscopic sinus surgery, respectively. The TMM parameters (R, C2 and C2-C1 scores) were assessed before and after interventions. The patient reported outcome measures (ETDQ-7 and NOSE scores) were also recorded and statistically correlated with TMM measures. Results: Group A showed improvements in R, C2 and C2-C1 scores and mild post-treatment reductions in ETDQ-7 and NOSE scores. Similar improvements were observed in Group B, with significant symptom reduction post-septoplasty, particularly on the side of the nasal septal deviation. Group C demonstrated the greatest improvement, with significant improvements in TMM values and substantial reductions in both ETDQ-7 and NOSE scores. The statistical results revealed correlations between the treatment of nasal pathologies and ETDQ-7 and NOSE scores. Conclusions: All TMM parameters improved in each group following the nasal intervention. This study highlights the utility of TMM in evaluating ETD in the context of chronic nasal disease and suggests that treating underlying nasal conditions can significantly alleviate ETD symptoms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hearing Loss: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment—Volume II)
12 pages, 2179 KB  
Article
Therapeutic Assessment of TrkB Agonist in a Unilateral Blast-Induced Hearing Loss Mouse Model
by Sung Kyun Kim, Han-Gyu Bae and Jun Hee Kim
Audiol. Res. 2026, 16(2), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres16020036 - 28 Feb 2026
Viewed by 551
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Blast-induced hearing loss (BIHL) is a major concern, particularly for military personnel, and is linked to impaired auditory neuron survival and synaptic plasticity. This study investigates the potential of the TrkB agonist 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) to reduce the severity of BIHL and promote [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Blast-induced hearing loss (BIHL) is a major concern, particularly for military personnel, and is linked to impaired auditory neuron survival and synaptic plasticity. This study investigates the potential of the TrkB agonist 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) to reduce the severity of BIHL and promote recovery in a mouse model. Methods: Eight-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were used. A custom-built, compressed air-driven system utilizing a modified paintball apparatus was employed to deliver controlled unilateral double blasts (~22 psi exposure pressure) to the left ear. The blasts were administered 30 min apart. Immediately following the second blast, mice received either 7,8-DHF (10 mg/kg) or vehicle (10% DMSO) via intraperitoneal injection. Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were measured in both ears at baseline (pre-blast) and at several post-exposure time points. Results: The consecutive blast exposure induced a significant elevation in ABR thresholds, indicative of hearing loss, in both the ipsilateral (exposed) and contralateral (unexposed) ears of vehicle-treated mice. Notably, mice treated with 7,8-DHF demonstrated a marked improvement in hearing recovery compared to the vehicle group. Significant reductions in ABR thresholds were observed in the ipsilateral ear at 4 weeks post-blast (p < 0.0001) and in the contralateral ear as early as 1-week post-blast (p = 0.0236). However, the recovery was partial, with ABR thresholds plateauing after 4 weeks. Conclusions: A controlled blast model demonstrates that systemic administration of the TrkB agonist 7,8-DHF exerts a protective effect, partially restoring auditory function after blast injury. This supports the therapeutic potential of targeting the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway for managing BIHL. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hearing Loss: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment—Volume II)
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17 pages, 528 KB  
Article
Self-Perceived Hearing Handicap and Audiometric Severity in Age-Related Hearing Loss: Associations with Age and Sex
by Luka Bonetti
Audiol. Res. 2026, 16(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres16010024 - 6 Feb 2026
Viewed by 876
Abstract
Background/Objective: Self-perceived hearing handicap (SPHH) reflects functional consequences of hearing loss beyond audiometric measures. Clarifying its relationship with audiometric severity and demographic factors is important for understanding age-related hearing loss (ARHL). This study examined associations between SPHH, audiometric measures, age, and sex [...] Read more.
Background/Objective: Self-perceived hearing handicap (SPHH) reflects functional consequences of hearing loss beyond audiometric measures. Clarifying its relationship with audiometric severity and demographic factors is important for understanding age-related hearing loss (ARHL). This study examined associations between SPHH, audiometric measures, age, and sex in individuals with ARHL. Methods: A total of 145 adults (50 men, 95 women) aged 60–89 years (mean 71.65 ± 7.19 years) participated. Hearing status was defined using better-ear pure-tone average thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz (BE PTA-4), with ≥20 dB HL as the cutoff and World Health Organization (WHO)-defined severity categories. SPHH was assessed using the Croatian Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly–Screening version (HHIE-S-CRO). HHIE-S-CRO total and subscale scores were examined across BE PTA-4 values and hearing loss categories. Associations were analyzed using correlation and linear regression adjusted for age and sex; group differences were tested using the Kruskal–Wallis test, and ordinal logistic regression assessed monotonic trends across ordered severity categories. Results: HHIE-S-CRO total and subscale scores increased with worsening BE PTA-4 and across hearing loss categories, with substantial overlap. Strong correlations were observed between HHIE-S-CRO scores and audiometric measures. In linear regression, BE PTA-4 was independently associated with HHIE-S-CRO total, emotional, and social/situational scores, whereas age and sex were not. Kruskal–Wallis tests showed significant differences across hearing loss categories. Ordinal logistic regression anchored to WHO severity categories demonstrated graded associations for HHIE-S-CRO total and emotional scores, while the social/situational subscale showed greater dispersion and overlap despite a statistically significant association. Conclusions: SPHH in ARHL shows a strong association with audiometric severity, with particularly robust correspondence for overall and emotional domains, underscoring the complementary role of patient-reported outcome measures alongside audiometric assessment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hearing Loss: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment—Volume II)
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30 pages, 4367 KB  
Article
Effects of StereoBiCROS on Speech Understanding in Noise and Quality of Life for Asymmetric Sensorineural Hearing Loss
by Morgan Potier, Arnaud Noreña, Fabien Seldran, Mathieu Marx and Stéphane Gallego
Audiol. Res. 2025, 15(6), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres15060176 - 16 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1230
Abstract
Background and Aim: Asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss is difficult to rehabilitate acoustically. Bilateral amplification may induce binaural interference, while CROS/BiCROS systems provide benefit only when the speech signal reaches the poorer ear. A hybrid approach combining CROS strategy with bilateral acoustic amplification, [...] Read more.
Background and Aim: Asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss is difficult to rehabilitate acoustically. Bilateral amplification may induce binaural interference, while CROS/BiCROS systems provide benefit only when the speech signal reaches the poorer ear. A hybrid approach combining CROS strategy with bilateral acoustic amplification, called Stereophonic Bilateral Contralateral Routing of Signal—StereoBiCROS—has recently emerged. Methods: A one-month home trial was conducted with hearing aids programmed in three listening modes: Stereophonic, BiCROS, and StereoBiCROS. Speech-in-noise perception was assessed in dichotic and reverse-dichotic conditions. Speech recognition thresholds were derived using logistic regression. Daily mode usage was extracted from datalogging. Pre/post subjective benefit was evaluated using the SSQ-15 and SF-12. Results: Eighteen participants (mean age 70.7 ± 8.2 years) used the devices 12.4 ± 1.6 h per day, predominantly in StereoBiCROS mode (76.9 ± 24.2%). In the dichotic condition, this mode yielded the best speech-to-noise ratio (0.96 ± 2.74 dB; p < 0.0001), outperforming unilateral rerouting (3.00 ± 2.05 dB; p = 0.001) and bilateral amplification (5.16 ± 1.31 dB; p = 0.001). In the reverse-dichotic condition, only bilateral amplification provided a non-significant improvement (3.08 ± 1.38 dB), whereas the other modes deteriorated intelligibility. SSQ-15 total and subscale scores significantly improved after one month, while SF-12 scores did not change. Conclusions: StereoBiCROS stimulation appears to be a promising acoustic alternative for improving speech intelligibility in noise and patient-reported outcomes in asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss. Further research is required to identify the most responsive audiological profiles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hearing Loss: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment—Volume II)
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