JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery

05/16/2026

Validation of a novel adaptive Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT) for demonstrates substantial psychometric reliability, including internal consistency, intrarater reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, and responsiveness to clinical change.

Adaptive SNOT scores differentiated patients by objective sinus CT findings, correlated with global health measures, and remained consistent across repeated administrations.

The tool effectively measures CRS- and allergy-related symptoms, supporting its use for patient assessment in clinical practice and research.

https://ja.ma/4uhodE0

05/16/2026

In a diagnostic study of patients with , a novel adaptive Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT) demonstrated significant association with objective imaging results, specifically Lund-Mackay computed tomography (LMCT) scores.

Unlike the standard static SNOT-22, the adaptive instrument—guided by item response theory and clinical guidelines—established concordance with radiographic findings for nasal, sleep, psychological, productivity, and allergy domains.

The adaptive SNOT also distinguished between chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic rhinitis, supporting its utility in both research and clinical care for streamlined, targeted symptom assessment.

https://ja.ma/4deU2Y7

05/16/2026

A randomized clinical trial assessed hearing aid service models and technology levels among patients with mild to moderate hearing loss. Audiologist-fitted prescription hearing aids resulted in better patient outcomes than both over-the-counter (OTC) and hybrid OTC+ service models, although all models yielded generally positive results. No significant differences were observed between high-end and low-end hearing aid technologies for patient-reported outcomes.

JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery Editor in Chief Jay F. Piccirillo, MD, selected this study as one of the best clinical trials published in JAMA Otolaryngology in 2025, highlighting its rigor, timeliness, and actionability following the federal availability of OTC hearing aids in 2022. These findings inform clinical decision-making and illustrate how rigorous research can shape clinical practice.

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05/14/2026

In patients with -associated , definitive treatment with deintensified 60‑Gy , with or without chemotherapy, was associated with low long-term locoregional recurrence and favorable survival outcomes.

https://ja.ma/43cDzgV

05/13/2026

Machine learning–generated from temporal bone enabled visualization of bony structures without radiation and was rated suitable for localization and preoperative planning in many otologic applications. https://ja.ma/4wpeVqT

05/09/2026

A male patient in his 60s with a foreign-body sensation in the throat was treated for acute epiglottitis, but supraglottic swelling persisted. What is your diagnosis? https://ja.ma/3PgqtMo

05/08/2026

Routine postdissection vagal nerve stimulation (V2) during thyroidectomy outperformed R2 stimulation alone for predicting postoperative vocal cord dysfunction, with V2 sensitivity at 100%. The results suggest that systematic V2 stimulation, per International Nerve Monitoring Study Group guidelines, better identifies nerve injury risk and supports critical intraoperative decisions—such as converting to lobectomy to avoid bilateral vocal cord palsy. Selective vagal nerve stimulation or R2 assessment alone may be inadequate for optimal patient safety. https://ja.ma/4t8gvKM

05/07/2026

In a double-blind randomized clinical trial, a mobile application delivering educational counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) elements resulted in significantly greater improvement in tinnitus-related distress and functional impairment among adults with chronic compared with a sham app.

The therapeutic effect, as measured by change in Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) score, was maintained at least 8 weeks after the 16-week intervention. No serious adverse events were observed, supporting the app’s potential as an effective and accessible digital intervention for individuals with chronic tinnitus.

https://ja.ma/3QAKH41

05/07/2026

"As Editor in Chief, I am proud to publish the randomized clinical trial by Wu et al—my pick for the best clinical trial published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery last year."

Learn more in this Editor's Note by Jay F. Piccirillo, MD: https://ja.ma/4eY3Gzj

05/05/2026

Otolaryngology surgeons showed high intraoperative ergonomic risk and acute pain, with increased risk linked to procedure difficulty, glove size, and age ≥40 years. https://ja.ma/3OIPLml

05/03/2026

This case report describes a woman in her 50s with a 4-month history of oral ulcers and a previous diagnosis of mononucleosis.

This case report describes a woman in her 50s with a 4-month history of oral ulcers and a previous diagnosis of mononucleosis.