Background Coronavirus disease 2019 personal protective equipment has been reported to affect communication in healthcare settings. This study sought to identify those challenges experimentally. Method Bamford–Kowal–Bench speech discrimination in noise performance of healthcare workers was tested under simulated background noise conditions from a variety of hospital environments. Candidates were assessed for ability to interpret speech with and without personal protective equipment, with both normal speech and raised voice. Results There was a significant difference in speech discrimination scores between normal and personal protective equipment wearing subjects in operating theatre simulated background noise levels (70 dB). Conclusion Wearing personal protective equipment can impact communication in healthcare environments. Efforts should be made to remind staff about this burden and to seek alternative communication paradigms, particularly in operating theatre environments.

Background Coronavirus disease 2019(Covid-19) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been reported to effect communication in healthcare settings. We sought to identify those challenges experimentally. Method Bamford-Kowal-Bench speech discrimination in noise performance of healthcare workers was tested under simulated background noise conditions from a variety of hospital environments. Candidates were assessed for speech intelligibility with and without PPE both at normal speech and raised voice. Results There was a significant difference in speech discrimination scores between normal and PPE wearing subjects in theatre simulated background noise levels (70dB). Conclusion PPE wearing can impact communication and efforts should be made to remind staff about this burden and seek alternative communication paradigms, particularly in theatre environments.

The aim of this study was to assess the surgical feasibility of a transmodiolar approach via the middle ear cavity for an auditory nerve implantation in humans. In the first part of the study, 6 adult human temporal bones underwent a navigator-guided transmodiolar implantation via the middle ear space after a radical mastoidectomy. In the second part, 122 temporal bone CT scans were analyzed for anatomical parametersrelevant to this approach. The nerve implantation was feasible in all temporal bones in laboratory conditions, with a mean target registration error of 0.065 ± 0.0583 mm (n = 6). Evaluation of anatomical parameters on CT scans also supported the feasibility. There was a significant interindividual variation of the modiolar axis and the entry point in relation to visible anatomical landmarks, highlighting the necessity for surgical preplanning.

Virtual endoscopy through the EAC can evaluate the accessibility of the OW or RW via a transcanal route. This technique seems to be helpful in preplanning minimally invasive procedures by this approach such as cochlear implantation.