Benefits of intervention in the Central Auditory Nervous System in individuals with Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To verify the effectiveness of acoustically controlled auditory training in individuals with Neurofibromatosis Type 1. METHODS: The sample consisted of individuals with Neurofibromatosis Type 1, randomly distributed into two groups, making up the intervention group individuals undergoing formal auditory training; and the comparison group individuals who were not submitted to the intervention. Behavioral assessment of central auditory processing and electrophysiological evaluation, composed by Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential and Long Latency-P300 Auditory Evoked Potential, were evaluated in three moments of evaluations initial evaluation, reevaluation and after four months of reevaluation and comparing the performance between the groups. RESULTS: Better performances in central auditory processing were observed after the formal auditory training in the intervention group with significant differences between the evaluations and performance maintenance four months after the end of the training. Significant differences were observed between the groups in the evaluations after the intervention. The electrophysiological evaluation shows unsystematic variation in the short latency potentials and changes in the long latency potentials with the appearance of the P3 wave after the intervention. The behavioral and electrophysiological evaluation in group that was not submitted to the intervention demonstrated that there is no improvement without the intervention, with deterioration of performance. Significant differences were observed in the behavioral and electrophysiological evaluations, in favor of the group submitted to formal auditory training. CONCLUSIONS: Formal auditory training is effective in rehabilitation in individuals with Neurofibromatosis Type 1. DESCRIPTORS/KEYWORDS Neurofibromatosis 1; Hearing Disorders; Auditory Perceptual Disorders; Acoustic Stimulation; Evoked Potentials, Auditory.