<p><strong>Background:</strong> Alterations in human voice occur frequently and patients usually complain of hoarseness of voice. Laryngeal paralysis is an important differential diagnosis in patients complaining change of voice. Because of simplicity and ease, maximum phonation time (MPT) and S/Z ratio have become the most frequently used clinical tools to assess phonatory mechanics. Published research studying analysis of MPT and S/Z ratio in patients with vocal cord paralysis (VCP) is scanty. Hence this study was taken up to study MPT and S/Z ratios in patients with laryngeal paralysis.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>62 patients with VCP were included in our study. Complete history was taken and examination was done in all patients. VCP was confirmed by indirect laryngoscopic examination. The MPT and S/Z ratios were evaluated in a quiet room. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Version 22.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Mean MPT in males with VCP was 6.71±0.54 and in females it was 6.80±2. Mean S/Z ratio in males was 1.69±0.54, in females 1.59±0.35. The difference between laterality of VCP and MPT was statistically highly significant and the difference between laterality of VCP and S/Z ratio was also statistically highly significant. Our study shows no statistically significant difference in MPT and S/Z ratio with respect to age and gender. There was a significant negative correlation between MPT and S/Z ratio. <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Irrespective of age and gender MPT and S/Z ratio are simple and effective objective clinical tests to diagnose paralytic laryngeal pathologies. As laryngeal pathology heals on treatment MPT and S/Z ratio are expected to normalize indicating therapeutic progress.<strong></strong></p>

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Chronic otitis media (COM) is highly prevalent disease of middle ear. Common presenting complaint is ear discharge. Though pathogenesis of COM involves alteration of conductive mechanism of hearing, it has been observed that hard of hearing (HOH) is not the presenting complaint in all cases of COM. Therefore, this study is taken up to know prevalence of hard of hearing as a presenting complaint in patients with COM.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> 100 patients were taken up for study. Detailed history and examination were done. The samples were assessed based on gender, age, presenting complaints, duration between onset of ear discharge and HOH and the type of hearing loss.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Out of 100 patients with COM, HOH was presenting complaint in 60%. Ear discharge was most common complaint. In 10% HOH was the only complaint. Among 40% who did not complain of HOH, 24% gave history of HOH and 16% patients denied any history of HOH.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Though pathogenesis of COM involves alteration of conductive mechanism of hearing but yet not all patients of COM present with or give history of HOH. In COM as the disease process advances slowly, the patient appears to adapt to the loss so that thresholds of 30-40 dB HL are common with little complaint from the patient. Our present study indicated that among 100 patients, 84 patients presented with or gave history of HOH and 16 patients did not have presenting complaint or history of HOH but those 16 patients were proved to be having conductive hearing loss on examination.</p><p class="abstract"> </p>