Monthly Archives: October 2017

On 24 October 2017, in the World Hearing Center of the Institute of Physiology and Pathology in Kajetany, took place the first in CEE cochlear implant surgery with the newest thin, straight electrode HiFocus SlimJ.  Dr Piotr H. Skarzynski assisted in the operation conducted by prof. Henryk Skarzynski.

HiFocus SlimJ is a straight electrode of small diameter. Such electrode build facilitates preservation of functional hearing and inner ear structures during its insertion. Use of such electrode in combination with a minimally traumatic insertion method through the round window developed by H. Skarżyński, made it possible to extend the criteria of qualification for cochlear implant to patients with partial deafness, which means people with good, or slightly weakened hearing in low frequencies and significant hearing loss in high frequency range. Using the H. Skarżyński method, insertion of an electrode into a cochlea does not damage its normally functioning segments.

Skarżynski’s method, so called ‘Round Window Approach’, is the topic of the training course ‘Window Approach Workshop WAW’, organized in Kajetany since 10 years ago, with participation of ear surgeons from the whole world. The first in CEE cochlear implantation with the HiFocus SlimJ electrode was one of eight demonstration surgeries performed on 24 Oct. in the World Hearing Center during the WAW workshop. It has been observed by 18 workshop participants – surgeons from the Czech Republic, Italy, Belgium, United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Romania and Russia, as well as several doctors and residents from the Institute.

Ass. Prof. Dr. Piotr Henryk Skarżyński, M.D., Ph.D., Msc. presented his lecture, titled: Hearing screening of school-age children, with the inclusion of auditory processing disorder issues.

CAPD without secrets. Diagnoses and therapy of central auditory processing disorders in children and young adults conference took place on 20 October 2017 in Rzeszów. Physicians, speech therapists, psychologists and teachers were learning about nature of the issue and shared their experience, in order to provide specialized therapy to more children, that need help.

Central Hearing Disorders (CAPD) is a group of symptoms for a variety of disorders. which are caused by irregularietes of the central nervous system.  In other words: child hears (hearing tests do not show any problems), but does not listen – behaves and functions like other children with hearing loss. Such a child may be compared to someone who is in a foreign country and do not understand the local language. Such a person hears surrounding talks, but does not understand them.

Effect of such disorders are difficulties in learning, that occurs despite proper intelligence development. Quick diagnosis of alarming symptoms and sending child for a specialized tests (and if it is required, also on rehabilitation and therapy) is the key to proper help.

Cantral Auditory Processing Disorder is a problem, that affects mostly early school-age children. Hearing screening, that we conducted on the area of rural districts from all over Poland, shows that even 15% of all children may require an in-depth diagnosis and speech therapy. Fortunately there are already proper devices, which help in therapy, on the market, and leading medical facilities are ready to help those in need – says Ass. Prof. Dr. Piotr Henryk Skarżyński, M.D.

Conference participants, not only listened to the lectures about the CAPD diagnosis and therapy, but also took part in the workshops, where they could learn about practical aspects of the work with students, programming speech therapy, and how to conduct behavioral and electrophysiological tests.

The aim of this conference was to share the knowledge and experience, and to create a space, where physicians, diagnostic workers, speech therapists, teachers, psychologists and other specialists could exchange information, in order to learn about their individual needs, and to improve communication with each other – says Dorota Szuber, MD, head of Podkarpackie Centre of Hearing and Speech.

Conference was co-organised by Podkarpackie Centre of Hearing and Speech Medincus, Institute of Sensory Organs and Society of Polish Otorhinolaryngologists, Phoniatrists and Audiologists. President of the Rzeszów City has assumed honorary patronage overthis conference.

During the conference, speakers also gave interviews on the topic:„When child hears, but not listening…”.

Interview with the Ass. Prof.Dr. Piotr Henryk Skarżyński, M.D. is available in the following link: http://supernowosci24.pl/gdy-dziecko-slyszy-a-nie-slucha/.

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