Undistorted and filtered speech tests were carried out in 140 test subjects with normal hearing acuity ranging in age from 4 to 19 years. Routine adult word lists were used in all tests. The intelligibility of undistorted speech rose markedly in the age groups from 4 to 9 years and correspondingly in the filtered speech test up to 11 years, taking the group 16-19 years as basis of reference. According to these results a speech discrimination test can be made in childhood with the same methods as in adults, if the norms are taken into account. In the filtered speech test the binaural test result and the monaural discrimination ability of the left ear were significantly better than the monaural test results for the right ear up to the age of 12-13 years.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The role of the binaural test in filtered speech audiometry.

The value of the binaural resynthesis test administered according to Matzker's principle can be estimated only when a comparable monaural test can be used as a control. The most common positive finding in the filtered speech test is asymmetrical discrimination. Both parts of the message delivered to either ear must therefore have the same intelligibility in normal material. Binaural intelligibility is highly resistant to degenerative changes in the auditory system, for example. Positive findings in the binaural test are encountered frequently in brain stem lesions with vascular or traumatic aetiology.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Penetration of azidocillin into the secretion and tissues in chronic maxillary sinusitis and tonsillitis.

The penetration of azidocillin into the sinus mucosa and secretion as well as into tonsils and adenoids was studied. Altogehter 73 patients were included and they were arranged in four groups according to age, diagnosis and drug dose. The average azidocillin concentration was satisfactory and predictable in all tissues and well over the MIC for most upper respiratory tract pathogens studied. In the maxillary antrum secretion the values were much lower and in many cases under the MIC for hemophilus. This is thought to depend upon the drug's being bound to proteins in the secretions. The clinical results were good in all cases and the contribution of the surgical operation, particularly in providing drainage for the secretion, is obvious.

Adenoids↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Computed tomography and mediastinoscopy in the assessment of resectability of lung cancer.

In order to assess the potential of computed tomography (CT) of the mediastinum and mediastinoscopy in the staging of lung cancer, 125 patients were examined. Of these, 104 underwent thoracotomy, at which there was no evidence of mediastinal tumour involvement in 79 while 25 patients had signs of tumour spread. The sensitivity and specificity of CT were 87.0 per cent and 95.8 per cent, respectively, in the detection of direct tumour extension with a mediastinal mass. When lymph node enlargement was the sole finding, CT did not provide any differentiation between benign and malignant lymphadenopathy. The mediastinal involvement was inaccessible on mediastinoscopy in 18 cases (72%). Despite the surperior sensitivity of CT it was often difficult to determine whether direct tumour infiltration of mediastinal structures had occurred. It was concluded that CT is necessary for screening the entire mediastinum and, when it reveals no evidence of mediastinal tumour spread, mediastinoscopy will yield no further information. Mediastinoscopy will help to correctly identify accessible mediastinal lymph node involvement of the superior mediastinum and to define the mediastinal tumour invasion in doubtful cases.

Aged↗