Standard and Extend High-Frequency Audiometry in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Impacts on Tinnitus and Mental Health.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results of auditory assessment in standard (SA) and extended high-frequency (EHF) audiometry, associating the findings with sudden tinnitus and mental health of patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, cohort study. SETTING: Outpatient otology clinic in a tertiary care hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients experiencing unilateral SSNHL were evaluated with pure-tone audiometry performed at frequencies of 250 to16,000 Hz, tinnitus pitch and loudness matching tests, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Analog and Visual Scale (AVS) for bothersome tinnitus, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: Eighteen patients with unilateral SSNHL were assessed. After starting treatment, there was a significant improvement in the SA (71.1 dB to 50 dB; p < 0.001*) and EHF audiometry (64.5 dB to 54.4 dB; p < 0.001*) thresholds at 15 days, and this persisted at 30 days of follow-up. Significant improvements were seen for tinnitus in loudness, VAS, and THI and for mental health in the realms of anxiety and depression by HADS. Despite improvements in SA, persistent EHF hearing loss was accompanied by persistent tinnitus, but it was of diminished loudness. CONCLUSION: Despite improvement in pure-tone thresholds by SA, a subset of unilateral SSNHL patients did not experience hearing recovery in EHF thresholds and reported persistent tinnitus. We postulate that their diminished anxiety and better mental health may be related to both hearing improvement in standard audiometry and reduction in tinnitus loudness. This pilot prospective study investigates the utility of performing EHF audiometry to better understand outcomes in patients with SSNHL.

Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU™) posturography in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

UNLABELLED: Posturography has been used in the evaluation of patients with vestibular disorders. AIM: To evaluate balance control with the Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU™) posturography in patients with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective case-control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional controlled study was carried out in 45 patients with BPPV, and a homogeneous control group consisting of 45 healthy individuals. Patients were submitted to a balance function evaluation by means of the Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU™) posturography. RESULTS: The mean values of the ellipse area and the sway velocity in a firm surface and saccadic stimulation (p = 0.060). CONCLUSION: The Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU™) posturography enables to identify postural control abnormalities in patients with BPPV.

Posturografia do Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU TM) na vertigem posicional paroxística benigna / Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU TM) posturography in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

A posturografia tem sido utilizada na avaliação de pacientes com vestibulopatias. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o equilíbrio corporal à posturografia do Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU TM) em pacientes com vertigem posicional paroxística benigna (VPPB). Desenho de Estudo: Caso controle prospectivo. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Estudo transversal controlado em 45 pacientes com VPPB e por um grupo controle homogêneo constituído de 45 indivíduos hígidos. Os pacientes foram submetidos à avaliação otoneurológica, incluindo a posturografia do Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU TM). RESULTADOS: A média dos valores da área de elipse e da velocidade de oscilação no grupo experimental foi significantemente maior (p < 0,05) do que a do grupo controle em todas as condições avaliadas, com exceção da velocidade de oscilação em superfície firme e estimulação sacádica (p = 0,060). CONCLUSÃO: A posturografia do Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU TM) possibilita a identificação de anormalidades do controle postural em pacientes com vertigem posicional paroxística benigna.

Posturography has been used in the evaluation of patients with vestibular disorders. AIM: To evaluate balance control with the Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU TM) posturography in patients with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. Study design: Prospective case-control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional controlled study was carried out in 45 patients with BPPV, and a homogeneous control group consisting of 45 healthy individuals. Patients were submitted to a balance function evaluation by means of the Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU TM) posturography. RESULTS: The mean values of the ellipse area and the sway velocity in a firm surface and saccadic stimulation (p = 0.060). CONCLUSION: The Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU TM) posturography enables to identify postural control abnormalities in patients with BPPV.

Avaliaçäo e acompanhamento audiológico após meningite bacteriana / Audiological assessment and follow-up post bacterial meningitis

A deficiência auditiva é uma das sequelas da meningite bacteriana que ocorre com maior frequência em crianças. Este estudo descreve o perfil audiológico (periférico e central) de crianças internadas com diagnóstico de meningite bacteriana. Nas 89 crianças que compareceram ao seguimento audiológico após a alta hospitalar e foram submetidas aos testes audiológicos, os resultados evidenciaram que 85,4 por cento apresentaram acuidade auditiva normal em ambas orelhas, 10,1 por cento apresentaram deficiência auditiva neurossensorial bilateral e 4,5 por cento apresentaram deficiência auditiva neurossensorial unilateral. Nos testes que avaliaram as habilidades de processamento auditivo, os resultados mostraram que 10 por cento dessas crianças apresentaram alterações no desempenho de localização auditiva e de reconhecimento de sentenças com mensagem competitiva ipsilateral.

Evoluçäo do comportamento auditivo após meningite bacteriana: relato de caso / Auditory behaviour monitoring after bacterial meningitis: case report

A deficiência auditiva adquirida tem nas meningites bacterianas a sua principal etiologia e pouco tem-se dito a respeito da evoluçäo para melhora ou piora do comportamento auditivo após a alta hospitalar. O presente estudo descreve o caso de um menino que teve meningite por Haemophilus influenzae aos 5 meses de vida e que entre outras complicaçöes apresentou diminuiçäo da acuidade auditiva detectada na evoluçäo imediata, com melhora significativa posteriormente, confirmada por testes qualitativos e quantitativos. Discute-se a importância e a necessidade do seguimento fonoaudiológico de tais indivíduos para estabelecer orientaçäo adequada.