Summary Introduction:?Presently, it is admitted that individuals with reading and writing alterations may present delay in the development of listening skills, which may interfere in the learning process. The assessment of the listening skills can occur in a behavioral way, through central auditory processing (CAP) tests, or by electrophysiological assessment highlighting the long latency auditory evoked potentials (LLAEP). The use of the LLAEP as a means of complementary assessment of individuals with reading and writing alterations can become an important data both for further characterization of the alterations, as for the therapeutic guidance of this population. Objective:?Characterize the CAP and the LLAEP in children with reading and writing alterations. Method:?Research approved by the Institution's Ethic Commission under n? 305/10. The assessment of CAP and LLAEP was performed in 12 children aged between 8 and 12 years old (average of 10,6 years), with reading and writing alterations confirmed in specific evaluation. Results:?The most altered CAP skills were temporal ordination and figure-ground for linguistic sounds. There were found altered results in P300 and in MMN. Conclusion:?The individuals with reading and writing alterations performed below the expected on CAP tests. The MMN allowed a better characterization of the auditory function of this population. There was evidence of association between the CAP results and the alteration of the LLAEP.

Our aim was to analyze the influence of subtle cochlear damage on temporal auditory resolution in tinnitus patients. Forty-eight subjects (hearing threshold ≤25 dB HL) were assigned to one of two experimental groups: 28 without auditory complaints (mean age, 28.8 years) and 20 with tinnitus (mean age, 33.5 years). We analyzed distortion product otoacoustic emission growth functions (by threshold, slope, and estimated amplitude), extended high-frequency thresholds, and the Gaps-in-Noise test. There were differences between the groups, principally in the extended high-frequency thresholds and the Gaps-in-Noise test results. Our findings suggest that subtle peripheral hearing impairment affects temporal resolution in tinnitus, even when pure-tone thresholds as conventionally measured appear normal.

Tympanomet ry is used in evaluating middle ear functional conditions. Before six months of age its results may be misleading. High frequency studies aim to provide more valid procedures. Aim: To describe and discuss tympanometric measurements and the interpretation in normal hearing neonates at 226, 678 and 1000Hz. Method: 110 neonates that were analyzed had normal otoacoustic emissions and no risk for hearing impairment. The age range was 6 to 30 days. Curves were obtained using the GSI-33-II, at the "Divisão de Educação e Reabilitação dos Distúrbios da Comunicação", São Paulo, in 2004. Study design: Clinical prospective. Results: There was a balance between single and double peak curves at 226Hz. Most of the curves were asymmetric at 678Hz, and single-peaked at 1000Hz. quantitative measurements showed a significant gender difference in the Equivalent Ear Canal Volume at 226Hz and on the Peak Compensated Static Acoustic Admittance at 1000Hz. The English protocol showed that almost 100% of ears were normal at 678 and 1000Hz. Conclusion: 1000Hz yielded superior results for characterizing normality. The English protocol was efficient to reduce the variability of tympanometric measurements. Data from this study may be used as a guide for diagnosis using tympanometry in neonates.

Results: reference tables were calculated for the over all OAE levels and for frequency bands, according to gender and ear. The duration of the exam in the nursery was shorter than in the clinic. Conclusion: The level of the OAE was influenced by gender and ear, except for 0,7kHz. However, there were no observed differences between neonates without and with auditory risk.

The comparison among the tests evaluated between the two groups showed differences in some phonological and metalinguistic abilities. Children with an index value above 0.54 demonstrated strong tendencies towards presenting a (central) auditory processing disorder, and this measure was effective to indicate the need for evaluation in children with speech sound disorder.