Authors Instructions

Revista Mexicana de Comunicación, Audiología, Otoneurología y Fonatría (RCMAOF) publishes texts in Spanish or English including studies, reports, and papers in the field of audiology, otoneurology, phoniatrics, and speech pathology of scientific interest in basic, translational, clinical, or epidemiological research.

Manuscripts are evaluated using a double-blind peer review system for publication in the form of editorials, original articles, review articles, ideas and perspectives (opinion and special articles), clinical cases of interest, imaging, and letters to the editor. Editorials and reviews are by direct invitation from the Editor and at the suggestion of the Journal’s editorial board.

Only unpublished manuscripts (works not yet published in full) will be considered, which may not be submitted to any other journal or media outlet during the evaluation process (from receipt to decision).

Ownership of the manuscripts will be transferred to RMCAOF, and therefore they may not be published in other sources, either in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the Editor.

The editorial team will decide which manuscripts will be reviewed by subject matter experts; improperly or incompletely submitted manuscripts will not be accepted.
The decision of the Editorial Committee regarding publication is final and may be categorized as accepted, accepted with modifications, or not accepted.

Manuscripts must be submitted through the journal’s new electronic editorial system at the following address, where the corresponding author must first register as an author: https://publisher.revistaamaof.permanyer.com/

Once the author has a username and password, they may upload their files to the system following the provided instructions.

**To avoid duplication in the system, please refrain from creating a new submission when resubmitting modified files. You must continue using the same reference number until the editorial process is completed**


MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION

Manuscripts must be written correctly in either Spanish or English.

The text must be double-spaced, using 12-point Times New Roman font, with each of the following sections starting on a new page: title page, abstracts in Spanish and English with keywords, main text, references, tables, and figure legends.

Pages must be numbered consecutively, starting with the title page, with the number placed in the upper corner of each page.

It is recommended to consult the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors), www.icmje.org.

For more information on manuscript preparation, please visit: http://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/manuscript-preparation/preparing-for-submission.html


Cover letter, authorship, and copyright transfer

Download the template here

A cover letter must be included, signed by the corresponding author, explaining the relevance of the study. Any conflicts of interest must be disclosed, along with a statement confirming unanimous agreement among the co-authors that the corresponding author has been chosen to be responsible for communication throughout the submission and proof correction process.

Title page

Download the template here

The title page must include, without exception: a concise and informative title in Spanish and English, a short title (no more than 40 characters including spaces and letters), the full name(s) and surname(s) of each author (no degrees or positions), institutional affiliations, name and email address of the corresponding author, acknowledgments, funding, and conflict of interest disclosures.

Please also include your ORCID number. ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) is a unique and persistent identifier for researchers, enabling proper attribution and improving the visibility of academic work. You can register for free at https://orcid.org.


MANUSCRIPT


Abstracts in English and Spanish
It must not exceed 250 words and should state the purpose of the research, basic procedures (sample selection, analytical and observational methods), main findings (with specific data and statistical significance when applicable), and relevant conclusions and originality of the study.
At the end, 3 to 6 keywords should be included to facilitate indexing. Use terms from the most recent edition of the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) of Index Medicus.
Please consult the specific abstract structure depending on the article type.

Introduction
Should include background, problem statement, and study objective in a free and continuous narrative, properly supported by references.

Methods
Clearly describe the sample characteristics, methods used with appropriate references, in sufficient detail for replication. Statistical methods must be clearly indicated with proper citation. Ethical procedures for animal experiments, patients, data confidentiality, informed consent, etc., must be described and include approval from the institution’s ethics committee.

Results
Include the study’s main findings, illustrated with figures or graphs only when necessary to complement the text.

Discussion
Compare results with literature and with the objectives and hypotheses of the study.

Conclusions
Summarize the main conclusions. If preliminary, suggest further studies. Conclusions must align with the objectives and stem directly from the research process.

Acknowledgments
List acknowledgments to individuals and institutions, as well as funding sources. This section must be placed on the title page so that the main document remains anonymous.

References
Follow the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals (ICMJE). References must be numbered consecutively in the order they first appear in the text using Arabic numerals. Cite in text, tables, and figure legends with corresponding numbers.
For works with more than six authors, list only the first six followed by “et al.”
For works with six or fewer, list all. (https://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/uniform_requirements.html)
    • Articles from journals: Welt CK, Chan JL, Bullen J, Murphy R, Smith P, DePaoli AM, et al. Recombinant human leptin in women with hypothalamic amenorrhea. N Engl J Med. 2004;351:987-97.
    • Books: Aréchiga H, Somolinos J. Contribuciones mexicanas a la medicina moderna.Fondo de Cultura Económica. México D.F., Mexico, 1994.
    • Book chapters: Pasternak RC, Braunwald E. Acute myocardial infarction. In: Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. Isselbacher KJ, Braunwald E, Wilson JD, Martin JB, Fauci AS, Kasper DL (Eds.) McGraw-Hill Inc., 12th ed., New York, USA, 1994, pp. 1066-1077.
 
Tables
Must be double-spaced, numbered consecutively in Roman numerals in the order cited in the text. Titles should appear at the top, with abbreviations and footnotes at the bottom. Tables must be included at the end of the manuscript after the reference section.

Figures or Graphs
Legends must be typed in double-spaced after the references, and  should provide enough detail to understand the figure without referring to the text. Refer to figures in order in the text.

Quality: Graphs and illustrations must be generated using high-resolution graphic software (JPG, TIFF, EPS, PowerPoint, Illustrator). All images must be original. If not, the source must be cited and permission obtained from the publisher. Figures must not repeat data in the text. Photos of objects must include a scale bar. Micrographs must indicate magnification or include a micrometer scale. No names, faces, data, or identifiable features of patients should appear in the figures. Authors are encouraged to add color illustrations to enhance the content.


ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Regarding potential conflicts of interest, the right to privacy and confidentiality of subjects, as well as human and animal rights as research subjects, the journal adheres to the “Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals: Writing and Editing for Biomedical Publication” in the most recent version published by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors on their website: http://www.icmje.org. A copy of the informed consent will be required for studies involving patients and clinical cases, as well as approval from the corresponding institution’s Bioethics Committee for clinical and experimental studies.


FUNDING

The author must mention the organizations funding their research in the Funding section of their manuscript, including grant numbers if necessary.


CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Authors must describe any financial or personal relationships with other people or organizations that could lead to a conflict of interest in relation to the article submitted for publication.

To promote transparency and research quality, authors will be asked to self-assess their adherence to relevant international guidelines, depending on the type of study:

TYPES OF ARTICLES

I. Editorial: articles written by expert authors on a specific topic; these will be written upon explicit request by the Editorial Committee.
a) Authors: maximum 3.
b) Text: maximum 1200 words (approx. 5 pages)
c) Figures and tables (total number): 3.
d) References: maximum 15.

II. Original article:it may be basic or clinical research and has the following characteristics:
a) Authors: 10.
b) Title: in Spanish and English: representative of the study’s findings. Include a short title for internal pages. (It is important to indicate whether it is a randomized or controlled study). Maximum 30 words.Short title: 40 characters.
c) Structured abstract: maximum 250 words. Must include introduction, objective, material and methods, results, and conclusions; in Spanish and English, with 3 to 6 keywords.
d) Introduction: describes the studies that support the objective of the work, which is stated at the end of the introduction (objectives, hypothesis, and rationale are not written as separate sections).
e) Methods: a key section that must explain in full detail how the research was conducted; specify type of study—observational or experimental; studied population, inclusion, exclusion and elimination criteria, and methods specific to the project. It must be reproducible and explain data management and analysis.
f) Results: in this section, according to the study design, all results must be presented (without discussion). If result tables or figures (graphs or images) are included, they must be submitted separately at the end of the document with figure legends.
g) Discussion: analysis of the results based on updated references that support the information. Conclusions are stated at the end of this section.
h) References: must follow the specifications described below (see checklist).
i) Extension: 5000 words (approx. 20 pages), including abstract and references.
j) Figures and tables (total), separate files in JPG format: 12 maximum
 
III. Review article:
a) Authors: maximum 10.
b) Title: must clearly state the topic addressed, 30 words. Short title: 40 characters.
c) Abstract: in Spanish and English, maximum of 250 without sections, with 3 to 6 keywords.
d) Introduction and, if necessary, subheadings. It may begin with the topic without divisions.
e) References: up to 75.
f) Word count: 6000 words (approx. 25 pages), including abstract and references

IV. Clinical cases of interest:(1–2 cases) or case series (more than 3 clinical cases).
a) Authors: maximum 4.
b) Title: must specify the clinical case(s) addressed.
c) Abstract: maximum 200 words, unstructured, with 3 to 6 keywords and abstract in both languages. Must briefly describe the case and its relevance.
d) Introduction: presents the disease or attributable cause.
e) Case presentation: clinical, imaging, laboratory, and other descriptions. Mention the time frame in which these cases were collected. Maximum 2 figures (they may contain subdivisions, e.g., Figure 1a, 1b, 1c). Figures or tables must be submitted in separate JPG files.
f) Discussion: recent or essential references are discussed to understand the relevance of the clinical case.
g) Extension: 3000 words (approx. 10 pages), including abstract and references.
h) References: maximum 10.

V. Images in audiology: publication of one (1) image or video, generally radiological or similar, endoscopic, or histopathological, of particular uniqueness due to the rarity of the clinical presentation of the diagnosed disease or condition.
a) Authors: maximum 3.
b) Abstract: no abstract or keywords.
c) Extension: 700 words (approx. 2 pages), including references.
d) Figures and tables: maximum 1.
e) References: maximum 5.

VI. Letter to the Editor: articles addressed to the Editor-in-Chief presenting arguments for or against articles recently published in RMCAOFor on current topics of interest in respiratory medicine.
a) Authors: maximum 3.
b) Abstract: no abstract or keywords.
c) Extension: 1200 words (approx. 4 pages) including the references.
d) Figures and tables: maximum 1.
e) References: maximum 5.


COPYRIGHT 

Submitted works must be accompanied by a letter signed by all authors, stating that the work has not been previously published, is not simultaneously submitted to another journal, that there is no conflict of interest, and that, if accepted, the authors transfer copyright to Asociación Mexicana De Comunicación, Audiología, Otoneurología Y Foniatría, A.C. The opinions expressed in the article are the responsibility of the authors.

Articles will not be accepted for review if they are not prepared in accordance with the Instructions for Authors.


EDITORIAL PROCESS

The editorial process consists of 6 stages:

    1. Manuscript receipt (timeframe varies depending on the author’s compliance with requirements): The goal is to verify that the manuscript meets the specifications of these instructions and that the submitted documentation is complete.
    2. Initial editorial review (maximum 5 business days): The goal is to confirm the relevance, timeliness, originality, and scientific contribution of the manuscript, as well as the methodological and statistical rigor of the study. At this stage, the manuscript will undergo an electronic plagiarism detection system. Based on this, a decision to reject or send the manuscript for peer review will be made.
    3. Peer review (maximum 30 business days): At least two experts in the field will evaluate the technical and methodological aspects of the research.
    4. Editorial review (maximum 7 business days): The goal is to make a decision based on the peer reviewers’ opinions. The decision may be rejected, major revisions, minor revisions, or accepted. In the case of major or minor revisions, the manuscript will be resubmitted to the initial peer reviewers for reevaluation.
    5. Final editing (6 weeks): The goal is technical and linguistic editing (and translation), galley proof layout, DOI assignment, and author corrections.
    6. Advance publication: All manuscripts will be published ahead of print on the journal’s website as soon as they complete the editing process, until they are incorporated into a final issue of the journal.


PROOFREADING (PDF) OF YOUR ACCEPTED ARTICLE

The corresponding author will receive the proofs of the article for review and correction of terminology errors or other updates related to data/figures. Since the article will already be edited according to the journal’s internal guidelines, style corrections will not be accepted. The corresponding author will receive an email with the article in PDF format, on which they can leave their comments. The author may need Adobe Reader version 9 (or higher), which is available for free download. For other system requirements, please visit the Adobe website.

Alternatively, authors may make a list of corrections and send them by email. Any significant changes at this stage will be subject to the Editor’s approval. Ensure that all changes are included in a single email, as we cannot guarantee the inclusion of subsequent corrections.

Proofreading is the responsibility of the author.

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