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Focuses on the occurrence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in the United States. Prevalence of noise exposure in the workplace; Accounts on Walsh-Healy Public Contracts Act; Mechanism responsible for NIHL; Intensity of sound causing temporary or permanent threshold shift; Methods used in NIHL assessment; Strategies employed for NIHL prevention.

The use of complementary and integrative medicine has increased . It is estimated that one-third of the population of the United States uses some form of alternative medicine. Physicians should consider integrative medicine therapies . Alternative medical therapies for the common cold and influenza include herbal supplements, dietary supplements, diet, and other adjunct therapies. However, it is important to research and study these therapies. Therefore, communication with patients and other health care providers is important. This will ensure effective and positive patient care experiences. Further randomized clinical trials are necessary to further establish the role of various alternative options., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Envoy Esteem and the Carina system are the 2 totally implantable hearing devices. The Esteem is designed for patients with bilateral moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss who have an unaided speech discrimination score of greater than and equal to 40%. The Carina system is designed for patients with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss or those with mixed hearing loss. The Esteem offers a technologically advanced method to provide improvements in hearing and is available in the United States, whereas the Carina system is currently not available in the United States., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Simulation has become a valuable tool in medical education, and several specialties accept or require simulation as a resource for resident training or assessment as well as for board certification or maintenance of certification. This study investigates current simulation resources and activities in US otolaryngology residency programs and examines interest in advancing simulation training and assessment within the specialty., Study Design: Web-based survey., Setting: US otolaryngology residency training programs., Subjects and Methods: An electronic web-based survey was disseminated to all US otolaryngology program directors to determine their respective institutional and departmental simulation resources, existing simulation activities, and interest in further simulation initiatives. Descriptive results are reported., Results: Responses were received from 43 of 104 (43%) residency programs. Simulation capabilities and resources are available in most respondents' institutions (78.6% report onsite resources; 73.8% report availability of models, manikins, and devices). Most respondents (61%) report limited simulation activity within otolaryngology. Areas of simulation are broad, addressing technical and nontechnical skills related to clinical training (94%). Simulation is infrequently used for research, credentialing, or systems improvement. The majority of respondents (83.8%) expressed interest in participating in multicenter trials of simulation initiatives., Conclusion: Most respondents from otolaryngology residency programs have incorporated some simulation into their curriculum. Interest among program directors to participate in future multicenter trials appears high. Future research efforts in this area should aim to determine optimal simulators and simulation activities for training and assessment as well as how to best incorporate simulation into otolaryngology residency training programs., (© American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation 2015.)

The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) has published a supplement to this issue featuring the new Clinical Practice Guideline: Allergic Rhinitis. To assist in implementing the guideline recommendations, this article summarizes the rationale, purpose, and key action statements. The 14 recommendations developed address the evaluation of patients with allergic rhinitis, including performing and interpretation of diagnostic testing and assessment and documentation of chronic conditions and comorbidities. It will then focus on the recommendations to guide the evaluation and treatment of patients with allergic rhinitis, to determine the most appropriate interventions to improve symptoms and quality of life for patients with allergic rhinitis., (© American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation 2014.)

This article discusses the mechanisms of aging and future areas of exploration, and addresses strategies to achieve successful aging given the current state of medical knowledge. The authors begin at the beginning, with mitochondrial function and cell growth and decline, then continue to present aspects over which humans have control over their health: nutrition, body posture, exercise, lifestyle choices, and Traditional Eastern medicine. The discussion concludes with the role of the physician in offering patient education regarding behaviors for a healthy life., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Noise is defined as an unwanted sound or a combination of sounds that has adverse effects on health. These effects can manifest in the form of physiologic damage or psychological harm through a variety of mechanisms. Chronic noise exposure can cause permanent threshold shifts and loss of hearing in specific frequency ranges. Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is thought to be one of the major causes of preventable hearing loss. Approximately 10 million adults and 5.2 million children in the US are already suffering from irreversible noise induced hearing impairment and thirty million more are exposed to dangerous levels of noise each day. The mechanisms of NIHL have yet to be fully identified, but many studies have enhanced our understanding of this process. The role of oxidative stress in NIHL has been extensively studied. There is compelling data to suggest that this damage may be mitigated through the implementation of several strategies including anti-oxidant, anti-ICAM 1 Ab, and anti JNK intervention. The psychological effects of noise are usually not well characterized and often ignored. However, their effect can be equally devastating and may include hypertension, tachycardia, increased cortisol release and increased physiologic stress. Collectively, these effects can have severe adverse consequences on daily living and globally on economic production. This article will review the physiologic and psychologic consequences of noise and its effect on quality of life.