The study aimed to evaluate the level of awareness, knowledge, and current clinical practices related to auditory processing disorder (APD) among audiologists within Malaysia's Ministry of Health (MOH), and to identify barriers to effective diagnosis and management. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among MOH audiologists using a questionnaire adapted from validated APD surveys. The survey assessed professional demographics, self-rated APD knowledge, training exposure, and clinical practices related to APD screening, diagnosis, and management. A total of 117 audiologists completed the survey, yielding a response rate of 57%. Most respondents rated their knowledge and skills in APD diagnosis and management as poor. Only 15% conducted APD screening, and fewer than 5% offered diagnostic services. Key barriers included a lack of formal training, insufficient assessment tools, the absence of clinical guidelines, and limited inter-professional collaboration. While audiologists acknowledged the importance of diagnosing APD, the findings suggest limited confidence and capacity in handling APD cases in clinical practice. These findings highlight significant gaps in APD-related competency among Malaysian audiologists, underscoring the need for structured training, standardized diagnostic protocols, and interdisciplinary engagement to enhance APD service provision across the public healthcare system.
This preliminary study benchmarks audiovestibular practices among audiologists in Asia-Pacific (APAC) countries with established professional training programs, forming the first phase of a broader initiative covering 17 nations. A structured questionnaire was adapted and updated to include contemporary clinical domains such as vestibular rehabilitation, cochlear implant services, and tele-audiology. The tool underwent expert review and pilot testing, demonstrating strong psychometric properties (Cronbach's α, α = 0.91; KMO = 0.743; Bartlett's p
Inner ear malformations (IEMs) represent unique challenges in cochlear implantation, potentially influencing electrode placement during surgery and neural responsiveness. Thus, electrically evoked cortical auditory potentials (eCAEPs) were suggested to be performed as objective measures of higher-level auditory perception at the cortical level in assessing cochlear implant (CI) outcomes in this complex population. This study aims to evaluate preliminary findings of P1 latency in eCAEPs among CI recipients with several types of IEMs at different positions of electrodes, that is, apical, medial, and basal regions. A cohort of five CI recipients with IEMs was evaluated using postoperative eCAEPs recordings, and P1 latency was analyzed at different positions of electrodes. The mean age of the subjects was 14.01 ± 5.51 years, with common cavity malformations, incomplete partition type I (IP-I), incomplete partition type II (IP-II), and enlarged vestibular aqueduct. Early data suggest P1 responses were generally present in all IEM cases in this cohort, with the mean of P1 latency for the electrode at apical, medial, and basal regions of 108.2 ± 13.4, 124.0 ± 23.6, and 140.0 ± 41.5 ms, respectively. These findings may reflect differential cortical response across IEM types at multiple CI electrode locations.
The device-oriented subjective outcome (DOSO) was originally designed to evaluate hearing aid performance in terms of communication ease, satisfaction, and listening effort. It underwent review by a panel of eight experts from audiology and related disciplines. The Malay version of the DOSO scale was assessed for content validity, face validity, and reliability to confirm its cultural appropriateness and precision in evaluating hearing aid outcomes among Malaysian users. Fifteen items were revised to improve clarity based on the expert's feedback. Face validity testing was conducted with 33 experienced hearing aid users, and test-retest reliability was evaluated using seven participants. The content validity analysis revealed a high item-level Content Validity Index (CVI) ranging from 0.62 to 1.00, alongside a robust overall Scale-Level Content Validity Index/Average (S-CVI/Ave) of 0.90. Face validity scores (I-FVI: 0.67-1.00; S-FVI/Ave: 0.88) and a comprehension clarity score of 0.86 suggest that the tool was effectively understood. Cronbach's α values varied between 0.77 and 1.00, indicating good to excellent internal consistency. The validated Malay DOSO serves as a reliable tool for assessing hearing aid outcomes, thereby endorsing its use in both clinical and community contexts in Malaysia. Additional research involving a more diverse population is recommended to improve generalizability.