Inner ear malformations present primarily with auditory symptoms while vestibular malformations, though clinically significant, are under-recognized .The seminar aims to explore the correlation between functional assessments—specifically audiological and vestibular evaluations—and radiological findings in patients with inner ear malformations. Particular attention is given to discrepancies that may arise between clinical and imaging data, and how these mismatches can influence therapeutic decisions. Incomplete cochlear partitions, 8th cranial nerve dysplasia and enlarged vestibular aqueduct are some examples. Third window syndromes blur the line between congenital and acquired pathology. It highlights the complex interplay between hearing and balance dysfunction in the context of inner ear anomalies.

With the global population aging, age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and its consequences on cognitive health have emerged as urgent clinical challenges for audiologists and otolaryngologists. This instructional course will examine the neurobiological links between ARHL and cognitive decline, outlining how changes in hearing can accelerate cognitive impairment and complicate diagnosis. We will review the latest clinical assessment tools for identifying cognitive issues related to hearing loss and discuss evidence-based strategies for auditory and cognitive rehabilitation. Special attention will be given to innovative uses of virtual reality (VR) in auditory training and cognitive rehabilitation, highlighting enhanced patient engagement and functional improvement. Real-world case studies will demonstrate the diagnostic and rehabilitative challenges unique to this population. Participants will learn skills to recognize and manage cognitive comorbidities in patients with ARHL and to integrate VR technologies into tailored audiological care.

Objective: The aim was to evaluate hearing aid satisfaction and patient performance in geriatric patients using hearing aids using the APHAB-TR questionnaire.

Method: Patients aged ≥ 65 years, with no reading or writing problems, using unilateral or bilateral hearing aids, using hearing aids for at least 6 weeks, and using hearing aids for at least 1 hour per day were included. The study used the Turkish version of the APHAB assessment questionnaire, defined by Cox and Alexander (1995) and widely used in the literature.

Results: A total of 81 patients, 38 females (46.9%) and 43 males (53.1%), were included in the study. Statistical significance was observed except for the discomfort (AV scale) subscale.

Conclusion: The APHAB satisfaction questionnaire was found to be a reliable instrument and can assess the benefit and satisfaction derived from hearing aids. This questionnaire can be easily administered in primary healthcare centers. This will enable the follow-up of a larger number of patients using hearing aids. Geriatric patients with low hearing aid satisfaction can be identified early and referred to reference centers, thus improving their quality of life.

Challenges and Solutions for Professional Musicians Using Hearing Aids

Compression remains one of the most critical yet debated aspects of hearing aid signal processing. While it restores audibility and dynamic range for soft sounds, inappropriate compression settings can introduce envelope distortion, reduce musical fidelity, and contribute to listening fatigue. This panel explores how compression parameters interact with perceptual and cognitive load across speech and music listening conditions.

Recent psychoacoustic and physiological evidence suggests that auditory fatigue arises not only from cognitive effort but also from the temporal and spectral inconsistencies introduced by signal processing. Building on experimental findings comparing speech and music stimuli, the panel will highlight how the brain’s adaptive mechanisms respond differently to compressed speech versus complex musical sounds.

Through a multidisciplinary lens—spanning auditory neuroscience, psychoacoustics, clinical audiology, and signal processing—the discussion will aim to bridge the gap between laboratory data and hearing aid fitting practices. The session will conclude with recommendations for evidence-based compression strategies that balance clarity, comfort, and naturalness in both communication and musical enjoyment.

Randomised Control Trial Comparing A New Algorithm to Improved Discrimination in Noise

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