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Objective: To study the severity of noise-induced hearing loss and noise levels in the environment in occupationally exposed individuals at Pakistan air force base Lahore. Study Design: Prospective longitiginal study. Place and Duration of Study: Pakistan Air Force base Lahore Pakistan, from Dec 2019 to Jun 2020. Methodology: The noise levels and duration of exposure to loud noise were measured at various exposure points to define ways and means for future prevention. Results: Out of 3000 patients reporting to the ENT outpatient department for various problems, 33.3% had ear problems. Out of 1000, 750 had hearing loss with normal tympanic membranes. Among 750, 200 (26.6%) had conductive hearing loss, while 550 (73.3%) had sensorineural hearing loss. Out of 550, 70 (12.72%) were related to occupational exposure in service and 480 (87.2%) were due to various causes. Most patients reported from the security wing (40, 57.14%) being exposed to the loud noise of gunfire as a pulsed exposure, followed by patients in the telecommunication field (20, 28.57%) being exposed to persistent noise. Conclusion: Occupational exposure to loud noise in the workplace poses significant health issues, including an economic burden on an individual. NIHL related to occupational exposure to loud sounds is frequently reported worldwide. Education and prevention are two vital steps which can reduce the number of such cases significantly, thus preventing this lifelong disability, ensuring health and reducing the economic burden.

Objective: To compare the effect of using the tablet Alprazolam 0.25mg in the treatment outcome of vertigo related anxiety by beck anxiety inventory. Study Design: Comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Okara Cantt, Sep 2018 to Jun 2020. Methodology: A total of 384 patients were included in the study. They were randomly assigned to group A and B by randomized clinical trial. Group A was given tablet alprazolam 0.25 mg along with the conventional treatment of vertigo and group B was given the treatment of vertigo only and no anxiolytic was added. Their pre & post treatment (after 2 weeks) anxiety level using Beck anxiety inventory was scored. Results: There was a significant improvement in group A patient’s vertigo effects after treatment with alprazolam. Also, it was observed that group A patients responded significant improvement in anxiety score as compared to Group B patients 02 weeks post treatment. Conclusion: Antianxiety treatment should be added in all cases with the conventional treatment of vertigo to reduce the vertigo associated anxiety of the patients.

Objective: To compare the outcome of myringotomy with and without grommet insertion in the patients of otitis media with effusion in terms of improvement of hearing in a one-month follow-up. Study Design: Quasi experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Pakistan Airforce Hospital Jacobabad and Combined Military Hospital Lahore Pakistan, from Jan to Dec 2020. Methodology: A total of 28 patients aged 4-12 years diagnosed to have conductive hearing loss due to otitis media with effusion not responding to medical treatment were included. Non probability convenience sampling was done. Children aged less than 4 years and above 12 years were not included in the study. They were randomly divided into two groups of 14 patients each using lottery method. Group A underwent myringotomy alone whereas group B underwent myringotomy with grommet insertion. Patients in both groups also underwent adenoidectomy on case-to-case basis. Both groups were compared in terms of improvement in hearing post operatively in a one-month follow-up. Results: There was statistically significant reduction in air bone gap at the end of follow up period as compared to preoperative air bone gap in group B (p=0.007). In group A there was statistically significant reduction in air bone gap at one week (p=0.002) however this improvement was not maintained at 4 weeks (p=0.386). Conclusion: Myringotomy with grommet insertion had significantly more patients with improved hearing as compared to myringotomy alone after one month.