ANSD was seen in 1.2% of the individuals with SNHL included in this study.

Malnourished children presented changes in BAEP characterized by delayed wave latency and interpeak intervals when compared to eutrophic children, suggesting alterations in both peripheral and central auditory pathways development and maturation.

À minha mãe, Aline, pelo amor incondicional, exemplo de vida, trabalho e dedicação, que nortearam minhas escolhas e os caminhos na vida.À tia Helena e ao meu tio Fouze, referência de pai, amoroso, carinhoso e bondoso, que, por ser um farmacêutico competente e cuidador nato, influencioume, desde minha tenra infância, na escolha da profissão médica, como opção de vida.Aos meus irmãos, José Carlos, Rosemeire, Rosângela, Ricardo Alexandre e Igor Fernando, pelo carinho e união da nossa família.À minha sogra e amiga, Dayse, pelo carinho, pela atenção e ajuda com as crianças durante as inúmeras viagens e ausências na elaboração deste estudo.Aos meus sobrinhos e cunhados, pela compreensão nas minhas ausências. Talita Crema, que sempre se mostrou disposta a ajudar. AgradecimentosAos colegas pediatras e enfermeiros do Hospital Materno-infantil, na pessoa do diretor clínico, Dr. Clidenor Simões Plácido, pela colaboração na realização deste estudo.Ao amigo Dr. Itamar Dias Fernandes, pela paciência em dispor de seu valioso tempo para troca de seu vasto conhecimento e experiência em pediatria.À nutricionista Denise Portugal, pela ajuda e apoio na realização deste estudo.Aos amigos da pós-graduação pela caminhada muito agradável, afinal aprender e estudar são coisas prazerosas da vida. Introduction: protein calorie malnutrition is one of the biggest public health problems in Brazil, especially in the northeast, affecting most often preschool children and determining possible compromises not only the weight growth but also intellectual and cognitive development, which may cause irreversible deficit, depending on its intensity and duration. Considering the importance of anatomical and physiological integrity of the peripheral and central auditory system for the proper development of the fullness of auditory skills, language, and acquisition of learning, this brings out a fundamental reflection over the possible deleterious effects of malnutrition in the auditory nervous system, so that possible auditory abnormalities are identified and addressed in this population. The objective of this study was to characterize the response of the auditory brainstem evoked potentials test with click and tone burst stimuli in malnourished and eutrophic children from 0 to 60 months of age, with normal peripheral auditory function, as well as to compare them. Casuistic and Method: One hundred and eleven children from 0 to 60 months of age were examined, being 57 malnourished and 54 eutrophic. They underwent ENT evaluation, including impedanciometry and transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) being those within normal ranges. Folowing, the auditory brainstem evoked potentials with click and tone burst were registered in the intensity of 80, 60, 40 and 30 dBNA. Results: In the analysis of the results, the latencies of waves I, III and V and the interpeak III-V 80 dBNA latencies with click stimuli were significantly higher in all malnourished children, when compared to the eutrophic children, as well as I-V interpeak interval in the 0-24 months...