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Cochlear implants (CIs) have greatly improved over the last 2 decades and now are the world’s most successful sensory prostheses, that restored hearing to more than 800,000 deaf people. CIs are small electronic devices that consists of an external portion that is located behind the ear and a second portion that is surgically fixed under the skin, they replace the function of the inner hair cells in the cochlea by direct electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve. Although cochlear implantation has been used for almost 50 years, the indications for this procedure are subject to constant modifications but the main indication is the inability to achieve sufficient speech understanding. Properly implanted, fitted, and rehabilitated hearing prostheses allow to achieve open speech understanding in 70-80% of post-lingual deafness patients and very good speech development results in children. These days cochlear implantation has become the treatment of choice for people with significant hearing loss and are constantly being developed intensively.

This paper presents environmental sound classification system and performance comparison on ESC 10 dataset. The feature extraction method includes cochlea and auditory nerve models. Classification model includes classic convolutional neuron network architectures. Experiments based on different architectures of convolutional neural networks and proposed feature extraction method. The model outperforms baseline implementations and achieves results comparable to other state-of-the-art approaches.

Autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss (AiSNHL) is an uncommon auditory disorder characterized by rapidly progressive bilateral hearing loss and a positive clinical response to treatment with corticosteroids and cytostatics. The prevalence of the disease in the adult population is less than 1% among all cases of subacute and permanent sensorineural hearing loss (precise data are unknown), it is even rarer in children. AiSNHL can be primary (isolated, organ-specific) or secondary (manifestation of another systemic autoimmune disease). The pathogenesis of AiSNHL is based on the proliferation of autoaggressive T cells and the pathological production of autoantibodies to the protein structures of the inner ear, which leads to damage to various parts of the cochlea (possibly also to the retrocochlear parts of the auditory system), less frequently to the vestibular labyrinth. Pathologically, the disease is most often represented by cochlear vasculitis with degeneration of the vascular stria, damage to hair cells and spiral ganglion cells, and endolymphatic hydrops. In 50% of cases, the result of autoimmune inflammation may be fibrosis and/or ossification of the cochlea. The most characteristic symptoms of AiSNHL at any age are episodes of sudden progression of hearing loss, fluctuations of hearing thresholds, and bilateral, often asymmetric impairments. The article presents contemporary ideas of the clinical and audiological manifestations of AiSNHL, the possibilities of diagnosing and treating the disease, and highlights the current approaches to (re)habilitation. Along with literature data, two own clinical cases of an extremely rare pediatric AiSNHL are given.

Reports of congenital anomalies of the Eustachian tube are scare. These anomalies are usually associated with chromosomal abnormalities, most often in oculoauriculovertebral spectrum. We present a case of completely bony widened Eustachian tube, entering the cells of sphenoid sinus lateral recess. No wall defect between the sphenoid sinus and the tube was found, nevertheless the tube and middle ear had normal pneumatisation. The anatomy of the outer ear, otoscopy and hearing thresholds were normal on the ipsilateral side. At the same time, there were microtia, atresia of the external auditory canal, underdeveloped tympanic cavity and cochlea hypoplasia and deafness on the contralateral side, although the majority of previous published cases described ipsilateral temporal bone anomalies. The patient had no facial asymmetry and was not given a syndrome diagnosis.

The article discusses the pathogenetic and clinical features of tinnitus. It is emphasized that various causes contribute to the appearance of tinnitus, including somatic diseases, excess body weight, iatrogenies, otological diseases with an outcome in hearing loss. The anatomical and physiological features of the structure of the central part of the auditory system are considered. It is suggested that the occurrence of tinnitus is associated with the processes of maladaptive neuroplasticity caused by pathological changes in the neuronal activity of cortical structures of the CNS, and not with changes in the peripheral part of the auditory analyzer - the structures of the cochlea. The results of recent studies, including those using functional neuroimaging methods, indicate the significance of cortical connection disorders (human connectome) in patients with tinnitus. In patients with tinnitus, there are changes in regional neuronal activity and connections not only in the auditory cortex, but also in areas not directly related to the analysis of auditory afferentation. Thus, tinnitus can be considered as one of the variants of dysfunction of the human connectome, triggered primarily from the «auditory input».

The literature review is devoted to the effects arising from the effect of a cochlear implant on the vestibular system. Due to the pronounced anatomical proximity and physiological interaction of vestibular receptors with the cochlea, the installation of a cochlear implant and its electrical activity are associated with an effect on the vestibular system. The analysis of the works of foreign and domestic researchers who carried out monitoring of vestibular function in patients after cochlear implantation using modern objective methods was carried out.

To determine the electrode impedance dynamics changes in the postoperative period after cochlear implantation as well as the time of their stabilization., Material and Methods: 75 patients with a bilateral sensorineural deafness aged from 1 to 4 years (average age - 1.5 years) were included in the study. 50 patients were implanted with Nucleus cochlear implants (Cochlear - Australia) and other 25 patients - with Advanced Bionics implants (Switzerland)., Results: The impedance dynamics analysis in two groups of patients implanted with «Cochlear» and «Advanced Bionics» cochlear implants demonstrated that statistically significant decrease in impedance ( p <0.05) was observed after the beginning of electrical stimulation and the reduction of postoperative inflammatory process in the inner ear. The stabilization of the impedance levels in both groups of patients was obtained in 3-6 months after the switch-on of speech processor.

The article deals with the basic theories of maze and labyrinth hydrops, which are often used in clinical practice for its diagnosis according to the world literature. Tonal threshold, suprathreshold audiometry, broadband thympanometry, ultrasound tests, test for determination of lateralization of loud sounds, dehydration test, extra-timbanical electrocochleography, method of registration of evoked vestibular myogenic potentials, study of vestibular function (video pulse test, caloric sample), CT of temporal bones with gadolinium, MRI, and other methods are considered. None of these study methods gives an accurate confirmation of the presence of maze hydrops. Only taking into account the history, complaints of the patient, clinical manifestations of the disease and a comprehensive evaluation of the results of all the above methods of study can we speak with confidence about hydropse.

Aim: To study ultrastructural changes in stria's vascularis cells of inner ear and determine possible ways of correction., Material and Methods: The work was carried out on male guinea pigs. After completion of the experiment, stria vascularis of inner ear was subjected to electron microscopic examination., Results and Discussion: In the control group (receiving gentamycin sulfate in an ototoxic dose), signs of blood flow disturbance were revealed, as well as ultrastructural changes in stria's vascularis cells (expansion of intercellular space, deformation of organelles, thinning of glycocalyx, blebbing). Also, fragmented cells were found. These changes are characteristics for apoptosis. In experimental group (receiving gentamycin sulfate and melaxen), degenerative changes were less pronounced. An increase of cell's secretory activity was observed., Conclusion: Changes in stria's vascularis cells by using melaxen are less pronounced. Increase of cell's secretory activity in stria vascularis is a compensatory reaction and saves auditory function.

The aim of the study was to assess age-related changes of the transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) as well as to evaluate age-related changes of DPOAE suppression in adult subjects with normal hearing and presbycusis. Only women participated in the study: 26 young women with normal hearing (20-31 years old) were included into the first group; the second group consisted of 28 elderly (60-74 years old) with normal hearing; the third group included 28 elderly women with presbycusis (mild-to-moderate hearing loss). Age-related decrease of prevalence and amplitude of OAEs was proved to be significant; no significant differences of these data for left and right ears were revealed. Contralateral suppression of DPOAE was noted more often and was the greatest in young listeners and was presented in all frequency range, meanwhile the suppression was minimal and rarely noted in patients with presbycusis. The DPOAE amplitude enhancement in the contralateral noise condition was recorded in all groups of listeners, more often in aged patients both with normal hearing and hearing loss. These results may indicate age-related changes of medial olivocochlear complex, which take place not only in patients with hearing loss but in normal hearing subjects as well.. The findings were confirmed by the results of acoustic reflex measurements obtained in this study.

Rehabilitation of patients with sensorineural hearing loss is an urgent task of otorhinolaryngology. One of the diseases leading to a pronounced hearing loss is the cochlear form of otosclerosis. The article describes a clinical case of rehabilitation of a patient with this pathology by means of cochlear implantation. The classification of otosclerosis based on the interpretation of computer tomography of temporal bones is presented.

Aim: The objective of the present study was to improve the selected surgical stages of cochlear implantation (CIP) taking into consideration the results of the analysis of the outcomes of re-operations., Material and Methods: A total of 53 patients (4 adults and 49 children) were referred to our clinic for re-operations deemed to be required for the management the major complications following CI during the period from 2014 to 2017. Primary cochlear implantation was performed in other clinics. Re-operations were carried out at different time intervals after the primary surgical intervention under the guidance of a single experienced surgeon., Results: The technical malfunction of the inner part of the implant prevailed among the causes behind the major complications of CI. It accounted for 47% of the total number of complications and required the replacement of the device. The next most frequent form of the complications (that accounted for 15% of all the cases) was the introduction of an active electrode into the cells of hypotympanum. The remaining complications occurred only in isolated cases. The detailed analysis of all the revealed complications was undertaken with the description of their causes and variants and the surgical strategy chosen for the management of each concrete patient. The decision about the necessity of either the removal or the substitution of the implant was taken on an individual basis. The successful outcome of the surgical treatment of all the operated patients with the major complications of cochlear implantation was achieved., Conclusion: The frequency and severity of the major complications of cochlear implantation are directly dependent on the patient's anatomical features, surgeon's qualifications, the quality of the implants, and lifestyle factors (e.g. head trauma, etc.). Cochlear implantation continues to be the only method for hearing rehabilitation in the patients suffering from severe sensorineural impairment of hearing. In the cases of cochlear implantation with the prospects of delayed re-implantation, leaving the active electrode in the scala tympani of the cochlea is a necessary measure to prevent synechiae.

The normal values of short-latent auditory evoked potentials (SAEP) are shown and a classification of the possible waves IV and V configuration is suggested. Examples of the use of SAEP in the differential diagnosis of some pathological conditions of the brain stem are discussed.

Using spin-labels it was shown that electrode implantation into the cats scala media resulted in structure reconstruction of microsome membranes of auditory zones in cats brain. Membrane fluidity increased but there was no change of surface potential. The changes of microviscosity were found during the first month after the implantation. Five months later the order parameter returned to the mean valve for cats in control group without electrodes.

The effect of influenza infection on vessels in the stria vascularis of the spiral organ of 60 guinea-pigs infected intranasally or intranasally and intracordially was investigated. The vascular network was examined 1, 3, 7 or 14 days after infection. The animals that were infected intranasally were treated with dimephosphone administered for 7 days intraesophageally. The vessel diameter and blood flow, alkaline phosphatase in the vascular wall, adventitial cells and epithelial cells of the stripe were measured. It was found that the infection produced a strong effect on the vascular network of the stripe, especially 1 day after infection: the caliber of vessels diminished, formed elements accumulated in their lumen, alkaline phosphatase in the vascular wall and adventitial cells decreased. On day 3 alkaline phosphatase activity increased and vessel diameter normalized but congestive changes developed. Dimephosphone given for 7 days had a vasodilatory effect. These observations clarify certain aspects of the origin of hearing disorders accompanying influenza.