Phrases in Noise Test (PINT) Brazil: influence of the inter-stimulus interval on the performance of children with hearing impairment. / Phrases in Noise Test (PINT) Brasil: influência do intervalo interestímulos no desempenho de crianças com deficiência auditiva.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate, using the PINT Brasil, the influence of the interstimulus interval on the performance of children with moderate and severe hearing loss fitted with hearing aids. METHODS: Ten children with normal hearing (CG) and 20 children with hearing loss (SG) participated in the study. Both groups were assessed using the speech perception test called PINT Brasil in PAUSE and NO PAUSE situations. RESULTS: When comparing the PAUSE and NO PAUSE situations, only the SG presented a statistically significant difference, indicating that the NO PAUSE situation had the best performance. In this situation, the noise oscillations were smaller, and the noise reduction algorithm, which may cause the loss of message information, was not repeatedly activated. CONCLUSION: The interstimulus interval in the PINT Brasil influenced the performance of children with moderate and severe hearing loss fitted with hearing aids. The NO PAUSE situation presented the best results.

OBJETIVO: Investigar a influência do intervalo interestímulos no desempenho de crianças com deficiência auditiva de grau moderado e severo, adaptadas com aparelhos de amplificação sonora individuais (AASI), no teste PINT Brasil. MÉTODO: Participaram do estudo 10 crianças com audição normal (GC) e 20 crianças com deficiência auditiva (GE). O teste PINT Brasil foi aplicado nas situações SEM pausa e COM pausa para os dois grupos. RESULTADOS: Na comparação entre as situações SEM pausa e COM pausa, houve diferença significativa apenas para o GE, indicando a SEM pausa com melhor desempenho. Nesta última condição, as oscilações ruidosas foram menores e não houve o acionamento repetido do redutor de ruído, o que possibilita a perda de informações da mensagem. CONCLUSÃO: Conclui-se que o intervalo interestímulos no teste de percepção da fala PINT Brasil influenciou o desempenho das crianças com deficiência auditiva de grau moderado e severo, adaptadas com AASI. O melhor resultado foi encontrado na situação SEM PAUSA.

Phrases in noise test (PINT) Brazil: effectiveness of the test in children with hearing loss.

INTRODUCTION: One of the main implications of hearing impairment is the difficulty in perceiving speech sounds, especially in noisy environments. Thus, the frequency-modulated system is considered an important educational tool for children with hearing impairment because it improves speech perception in acoustically-unfavorable environments, such as in the classroom. The assessment of speech perception in noise is included in the verification protocol of this device. OBJECTIVES: To verify the effectiveness of the phrases in noise test Brazil in children with hearing impairment using an frequency-modulated system. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional cohort study. The sample included 40 children, aged 4 years to 11 years and 11 months old, divided into 4 groups: (1) 10 normal hearing children; (2) 13 children with hearing aids and frequency-modulated system; (3) 12 children using cochlear implant and fitted with the frequency-modulated system; and (4) 5 children diagnosed with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder, fitted with hearing aids and/or cochlear implant and with the frequency-modulated system. The phrases in noise test Brazil was used to evaluate speech perception in noise under the conditions with and without the frequency-modulated system. For the statistical analysis of the data, a significance level of 5% (p < 0.05) was adopted. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the groups when they were evaluated with the frequency-modulated system. The test was also validated through concurrent and convergent validation measures. Phrases in noise test Brazil is a viable option for monitoring auditory performance in noise in different groups of children with hearing impairmen. CONCLUSION: Phrases in noise test Brazil was effective in assessing speech perception in noise and may contribute to the improvement of the indication, fitting and follow-up protocols for the frequency-modulated system use.