The aim was to describe the outcome of neonatal hearing screening (NHS) and audiological diagnosis in neonates in the NICU. The sample was divided into Group I: neonates who underwent NHS in one step and Group II: neonates who underwent a test and retest NHS. NHS procedure was automated auditory brainstem response. NHS was performed in 82.1% of surviving neonates. For GI, referral rate was 18.6% and false-positive was 62.2% (normal hearing in the diagnostic stage). In GII, with retest, referral rate dropped to 4.1% and false-positive to 12.5%. Sensorineural hearing loss was found in 13.2% of infants and conductive in 26.4% of cases. There was one case of auditory neuropathy spectrum (1.9%). Dropout rate in whole process was 21.7% for GI and 24.03% for GII. We concluded that it was not possible to perform universal NHS in the studied sample or, in many cases, to apply it within the first month of life. Retest reduced failure and false-positive rate and did not increase evasion, indicating that it is a recommendable step in NHS programs in the NICU. The incidence of hearing loss was 2.9%, considering sensorineural hearing loss (0.91%), conductive (1.83%) and auditory neuropathy spectrum (0.19%).

No abstract

The wideband tympanometry (WBT) assesses the middle ear function with a transient wideband stimulus in order to capture the middle ear behavior at a wide range of frequencies. Data in the literature suggest that the WBT has more sensibility to detect middle ear disorders than the traditional tympanometry. In this context, pathologies, which might be more easily identified/monitored by WBT, include otosclerosis, flaccid eardrums, ossicular chain discontinuity with semicircular canal dehiscence, and negative middle ear pressure with middle ear effusion. The chapter presents information on classical tympanometry, the multifrequency tympanometry equivalent coded as WBT, clarification of terms used in WBT measurements, and a short overview of clinical applications in infants and adults.

Purpose: to analyze pre-surgical hearing evaluation in children who suffering from secretory otitis media in their first five years of age. Also to verify the length of time tubes have remained in the eardrum and analyze the test results of auditory processing after myringotomy surgery. Methods: 79 students between eight and 12 years old were divided into two groups: 1 -40 students without otitis media history and 2 -39 students suffering from secretory otitis media in their first five years of age and who have undergone a myringotomy surgery. The individuals underwent complete audiological evaluation and assessment of Auditory Processing. Results: all patients showed conductive hearing loss in the pre-operative audiologic tests. The mean time of ventilation tubes was 11,8 months. The left ear showed significant lower performance in the dichotic digits and pitch pattern sequence tests. The students from group 2 showed lower performance whether compared to group 1 in the dichotic digits test and gaps-in-noise. Conclusion: children with a history of otitis media in the early years of life showed the conductive hearing loss responses in the pre-surgical evaluation and lower responses in dichotic test of digits and gaps-in-noise.

Ramos do Amaral. Resumo Diversos estudos sugerem que pacientes com Doença Falciforme (DF) tem um risco aumentado para desenvolver Deficiência Auditiva Neurossensorial (DANS) devido a hipóxia no órgão de Corti causada pela obstrução dos vasos por hemácias falciformes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de comparar os resultados de avaliações audiológicas de um banco de dados de sujeitos com doença falciforme com um grupo controle de sujeitos normo-ouvintes, através de métodos convencionais e complementares. Conclui-se que os sujeitos com DF apresentaram maior prevalência de DANS nos dois tipos de avaliação quando comparados ao GC. Sugere-se que a Audiometria de Altas Frequências e as Emissões Otoacústicas são métodos adequados para a detecção precoce de alterações auditivas no grupo estudado.

Diversos estudos sugerem que pacientes com doença falciforme tem um risco aumentado para desenvolver Deficiência Auditiva Neurossensorial (DANS) devido a hipóxia no órgão de Corti causada por hemácias falciformes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de caracterizar a audição de um grupo de 25 sujeitos diagnosticados com Doença Falciforme a partir de métodos convencionais e complementares da avaliação auditiva. Os dados demográficos e referentes à Doença Falciforme foram levantados a partir de análise do prontuário e os procedimentos de coleta de dados foram: Anamnese, Avaliação Audiológica Básica, Audiometria de Altas Frequências e Emissões Otoacústicas Transientes e Produto Distorção. Concluiu-se que houve uma alta prevalência de PANS na amostra. Além disso, houve maior prevalência de alterações na Audiometria de Altas Frequências e nas Emissões Otoacústicas do que na avaliação audiológica convencional, sugerindo que são métodos adequados para a detecção precoce de perdas auditivas no grupo estudado.

Objective:To analyze the literature on wideband immittance testing and to evaluate the success of these procedures in evaluating middle ear function in newborns.Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted using as keywords: wideband, tympanometry, reflectance, absorbance, immittance. Papers which did not address neonates were excluded from the review. From each article specific information was extracted referring to the following: sample size, population characteristics, equipment, stimulus type, study evaluation, and study conclusion. Conclusions:This systematic review considers that wideband immittance is a promising way for evaluating middle ear function in neonates. It is necessary to establish regulatory standards for different age groups of neonates and infants.

No abstract