Henryk Skarżyński

Publications of Henryk Skarżyński

• Prevention of communication disorders - screening pre-school and school-age children for problems with hearing, vision and speech: European Consensus Statement.

  Authors: Henryk Skarżyński, Anna Piotrowska

  Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research. 04/2012; 18(4):SR17-21.

  Background: Communication is an integral part of human behaviour. Communication disorders are associated mainly with impairment in hearing, vision, and/or speech, which influences the ability toBackground: Communication is an integral part of human behaviour. Communication disorders are associated mainly with impairment in hearing, vision, and/or speech, which influences the ability to receive, comprehend, produce, and express verbal, nonverbal, and graphic information. When unrecognized and unmanaged, these very often "invisible" conditions can have a significant detrimental effect on a child's development, affecting educational, social, and psychological progress. Material/Methods: A panel of experts discussed the screening of pre-school and school-age children for problems with hearing, vision, and speech during the 10th Congress of the European Federation of Audiology Societies (EFAS), held in Warsaw, Poland, on 22 June, 2011. Results: The European Consensus Statement on Hearing, Vision, and Speech Screening in Pre-School and School-Age Children was the result of the scientific discussions. It was endorsed by experts in audiology, otolaryngology, phoniatry, ophthalmology, and speech language pathology from throughout Europe. Key elements of the consensus, as described herein, are: 1) defining the role of screening programmes in the identification and treatment of communication disorders; 2) identifying the target population; 3) promoting general awareness about the consequences of communication disorders; 4) recognizing the need for a quality control system in screening programmes; 5) encouraging cooperation among European countries to provide a high level of public health services for the prevention, identification, and treatment of communication disorders. Conclusions: The European Consensus Statement on Hearing, Vision, and Speech Screening in Pre-School and School-Age Children will encourage the appropriate authorities of the various countries involved to initiate screening for communication disorders in pre-school and school-age children.

• Coping strategies in postlingually deafened adult cochlear implant users in comparison to the hearing population.

  Authors: Joanna Kobosko, Agnieszka Pankowska, Henryk Skarżyński

  Otolaryngologia polska. The Polish otolaryngology. 03/2012; 66(2):132-137.

• Immediate speech fluency improvement after application of the Digital Speech Aid in stuttering patients.

  Authors: Joanna Ratyńska, Agata Szkiełkowska, Renata Markowska, Marek Kurkowski, Marzena Mularzuk, Henryk Skarżyński

  Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research. 12/2011; 18(1):CR9-12.

  The Digital Speech Aid (DSA) is a pocket-sized device used for speech correction in stutterers. The device modifies the patient's auditory feedback with the use of Delayed Auditory Feedback (DAF) andThe Digital Speech Aid (DSA) is a pocket-sized device used for speech correction in stutterers. The device modifies the patient's auditory feedback with the use of Delayed Auditory Feedback (DAF) and Frequency-shifted Auditory Feedback (FAF). Both methods are well-known to improve speech fluency in stuttering persons. The aim of this study was to assess immediate disfluency reduction after application of the DSA. The study included 335 patients aged 6-64 years with speech disfluency. DSA fitting was performed during 3-day hospitalization. Speech disfluency was assessed during reading, in dialogue and in monologue before fitting and after selection of optimal DAF and FAF parameters. Fluency improvement was assessed statistically with Student's t test for logarithms of the odds of disfluency presence without the DSA and with the DSA. For all speaking situations, statistically significant improvement was achieved, with p<0.005. Immediate fluency improvement was observed in 82.1% of patients during reading, in 84.5% during dialogue, and in 81.2% during monologue. Values different from placebo (reliable improvement) were obtained in 66.9% of patients during reading, in 66.6% during dialogue, and in 63.9% during monologue. The results show that the DSA is an effective tool for immediate disfluency reduction in stutterers.

• A new oral otoprotective agent. Part 1: Electrophysiology data from protection against noise-induced hearing loss.

  Authors: Vincenza Cascella, Pietro Giordano, Stavros Hatzopoulos, Joseph Petruccelli, Silvano Prosser, Edi Simoni, Laura Astolfi, Anna Rita Fetoni, Henryk Skarżyński, Alessandro Martini

  Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research. 12/2011; 18(1):BR1-8.

  Data from animal studies show that antioxidants can compensate against noise-induced stress and sensory hair cell death. The aim of this study was to evaluate the otoprotection efficacy of variousData from animal studies show that antioxidants can compensate against noise-induced stress and sensory hair cell death. The aim of this study was to evaluate the otoprotection efficacy of various versions of orally administered Acuval 400 against noise damage in a rat animal model. Fifty-five Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: A) noise-exposed animals; B) animals exposed to noise and treated with the Acuval; C) animals exposed to noise and treated with a combination of Coenzyme Q10 and Acuval; D) animals treated only with Acuval and Coenzyme Q10 and with no exposure to noise. All solutions were administered orally 5 times: 24 and 2 hrs prior to noise exposure, and then daily for 3 days. The auditory function was assessed by measuring auditory brainstem responses (ABR) in the range from 2 to 32 kHz at times =1, 7, 14 and 21 days after noise exposure. At low frequencies (click and 4 kHz) animals from both A and B groups showed significant threshold shifts in the majority of the tested frequencies and tested times. For the same frequencies, animals from group C presented threshold levels similar to those from group D. At frequencies ≥ 8 kHz the protective performance of the 2 Acuval groups is more clearly distinguished from the noise group A. At 32 kHz the 2 Acuval groups perform equally well in terms of otoprotection. Animals in Group D did not show any significant differences in the hearing threshold during the experiment. The data of this study suggest that a solution containing Coenzyme Q10 and Acuval 400, administered orally, protects from noise-induced hearing loss.

• Screening for pre-school and school-age hearing problems: European Consensus Statement.

  Authors: Henryk Skarżyński, Anna Piotrowska

  International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology. 11/2011; 76(1):120-1.

  To formulate consensus statement and policies on structured hearing screening programs in pre-school and school-age children in Europe. This consensus will be brought before the European Union'sTo formulate consensus statement and policies on structured hearing screening programs in pre-school and school-age children in Europe. This consensus will be brought before the European Union's Member States as a working and effective program with recommendations for adoption. A distinguished panel of experts discussed hearing screening of pre-school and school-age children during the 10th Congress of European Federation of Audiology Societies (EFAS), held in Warsaw, Poland, on June 22, 2011. The panel included experts in audiology, otolaryngology, communication disorders, speech language pathology, education and biomedical engineering. Consensus was reached on thirteen points. Key elements of the consensus, as described herein, are: (1) defining the role of pre-school and school screening programs in the identification and treatment of hearing problems; (2) identifying the target population; (3) recognizing the need for a quality control system in screening programs. The European Consensus Statement on Hearing Screening of Pre-school and School-age Children will encourage the appropriate authorities of the various countries involved to initiate hearing screening programs of pre-school and school-age children.

• [Assessment of the efficiency of the auditory training in children with dyslalia and auditory processing disorders].

  Authors: Elżbieta Włodarczyk, Agata Szkiełkowska, Henryk Skarżyński, Adam Piłka

  Otolaryngologia polska. The Polish otolaryngology. 09/2011; 65(5):339-44.

  To assess effectiveness of the auditory training in children with dyslalia and central auditory processing disorders. Material consisted of 50 children aged 7-9-years-old. Children with articulationTo assess effectiveness of the auditory training in children with dyslalia and central auditory processing disorders. Material consisted of 50 children aged 7-9-years-old. Children with articulation disorders stayed under long-term speech therapy care in the Auditory and Phoniatrics Clinic. All children were examined by a laryngologist and a phoniatrician. Assessment included tonal and impedance audiometry and speech therapists' and psychologist's consultations. Additionally, a set of electrophysiological examinations was performed - registration of N2, P2, N2, P2, P300 waves and psychoacoustic test of central auditory functions: FPT - frequency pattern test. Next children took part in the regular auditory training and attended speech therapy. Speech assessment followed treatment and therapy, again psychoacoustic tests were performed and P300 cortical potentials were recorded. After that statistical analyses were performed. Analyses revealed that application of auditory training in patients with dyslalia and other central auditory disorders is very efficient. Auditory training may be a very efficient therapy supporting speech therapy in children suffering from dyslalia coexisting with articulation and central auditory disorders and in children with educational problems of audiogenic origin.

• Comparison of round-window membrane mechanics before and after experimental stapedotomy.

  Authors: Jarosław Wysocki, Monika Kwacz, Maciej Mrówka, Henryk Skarżyński

  The Laryngoscope. 09/2011; 121(9):1958-64.

  Surgical intervention within the area of the middle ear always leads to alteration of conditions in its biomechanical system. This fact may provide an explanation for the lack of expected auditorySurgical intervention within the area of the middle ear always leads to alteration of conditions in its biomechanical system. This fact may provide an explanation for the lack of expected auditory outcome, although an apparently good anatomic outcome was obtained. In the case of stapedotomy, the majority of patients report lack of satisfactory results for frequencies above 2,000 Hz. The effect has not been experimentally investigated yet. This study, conducted in four human temporal bones, yielded a record of round-window membrane vibration amplitude and phase in the frequency function (400 Hz-10 kHz) at the sound intensity level of 90 dB administered to the external auditory canal in a physiologic condition and following implantation of a Teflon piston stapes prosthesis. The procedure of experimental stapedotomy was performed with the tympanic membrane preserved from the maximally dilated approach through the posterior tympanotomy. Stapes Teflon piston prosthesis implantation was found to cause approximately fivefold lower amplitude of round-window membrane vibrations compared to a physiologic situation for frequencies above 2 kHz in particular. After stapedotomy, with the use of a Teflon piston prosthesis, stimulation of inner ear structures diminishes, especially in higher frequencies.

• Production and evaluation of a Polish version of the LittlEars questionnaire for the assessment of auditory development in infants.

  Authors: Anita Obrycka, José-Luis Padilla García, Agnieszka Pankowska, Artur Lorens, Henryk Skarżyński

  International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology. 05/2009;

  OBJECTIVE: To adapt the LittlEars questionnaire into Polish and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the questionnaire. METHODS: A back-translation method was used toOBJECTIVE: To adapt the LittlEars questionnaire into Polish and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the questionnaire. METHODS: A back-translation method was used to translate the LittlEars questionnaire into Polish. The translated version was first evaluated by means of an expert-appraisal method. After having improved the Polish version of LittlEars with the results obtained from that evaluation, various psychometric analyses were conducted. Study participants included 310 parents or other caregivers of children with normal hearing whose ages ranged between 0.5 and 24.0 months. Corrected item-total correlations were calculated to evaluate the extent to which the different questions distinguish levels of auditory development of the assessed children. Cronbach's alpha coefficient-to evaluate internal consistency across items-was also calculated. To obtain estimates of validity, correlations between item/total score and age were calculated. A non-linear regression model was derived to obtain normative data for expected and minimum values of total scores from the questionnaire according to age. RESULTS: Corrected item-total correlations ranged from 0.14 to 0.84. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.95, indicating that the measurements were highly reliable. The linear correlation between total scores and age was 0.90 (p<.001). The regression analysis conducted to obtain normative data showed that 83% of the variance in the total scores can be explained by age. CONCLUSION: The results of psychometric analyses support the use of the Polish version of the LittlEars questionnaire as a sensitive and reliable tool to assess the development of auditory behavior in Polish children between 3 and 24 months of age.

• Treatment of otological features of the oculoauriculovertebral dysplasia (Goldenhar syndrome).

  Authors: Henryk Skarżyński, Marek Porowski, Robert Podskarbi-Fayette

  International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology. 03/2009;

  The oculoauriculovertebral dysplasia is a rare congenital malformation that is characterized by a hemifacial microsomia with ocular abnormalities and coexisting disorders in the spinal column andThe oculoauriculovertebral dysplasia is a rare congenital malformation that is characterized by a hemifacial microsomia with ocular abnormalities and coexisting disorders in the spinal column and other organs. Characteristic features of the disease were first described by Maurice Goldenhar in 1952. A broad spectrum of hearing impairment is a result of complex malformations of the external ear, the middle ear and in some cases-the inner ear. The degree of hearing loss can range from mild to moderate conductive type in cases of chronic otitis media with effusion and severe to profound sensorineural hearing impairment with malformations of the inner ear in various forms of cochlear hypoplasia. This study focuses on surgical methods of hearing improvement in patients with the oculoauriculovertebral dysplasia (OAVD). We present 11 patients diagnosed with OAVD who are under supervision of the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing in Warsaw. It is, to our knowledge, one of the largest groups of patients reported by a single ORL medical center. The degree of hearing impairment was thoroughly described in all patients and individual treatment was introduced. The aim of this report was to present algorithm for diagnostics and treatment of symptoms of Goldenhar syndrome (GS) based upon methodology used in modern otosurgery.

• Three-year experience in the rehabilitation of brainstem implant patients

  Authors: Henryk Skarżyński, Robert Behr, Joanna Szuchnik, Artur Lorens, Robert Zawadzki, Adam Walkowiak, Bożena Skarżyńska, Anna Piotrowska, Lech Śliwa

  International Congress Series.

  Three patients have been provided with auditory brainstem implants at the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing in the years 1998–2001. Combi 40+ implant systems were applied. This modernThree patients have been provided with auditory brainstem implants at the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing in the years 1998–2001. Combi 40+ implant systems were applied. This modern auditory prosthesis can be used in the case of bilateral total hearing losses resulting from neurofibromatosis type II. After activation of the implant system, the patients took part in a 2-year rehabilitation program, which is obligatory for adult patients and provided within the Warsaw Brainstem Implant Program [Med. Sci. Monit. 4 (1998) 40].