Psychometric Validation of a Hearing Screening Questionnaire for Preschoolers Based on Language Development Evaluation by Caregivers.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to validate three age-adjusted versions of a Hearing Screening Questionnaire for Preschoolers, in Brazilian Portuguese, based on parents' perception of their children's hearing and oral language. METHODS: Psychometric validation was conducted on three questionnaires, each comprising nine items with yes/no responses. Three items focused on hearing screening at birth, and six assessed hearing and oral language. The study included 152 parents and their children, who attended daycare centers in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The children were categorized into three age bands: 12-18 months, 19-35 months, and 36-48 months. Audiological assessments, including tympanometry, transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE), and pure-tone audiometry (when applicable), were performed on the children. In case of abnormal findings in the previous exams, auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing was conducted. Descriptive data, false alarm, and false-negative analyses were carried out. RESULTS: Considering any type of hearing loss, whether unilateral or bilateral, the questionnaires showed a false-negative rate of 41.17% (7/17 children). However, when considering only bilateral hearing loss, the questionnaire showed a false alarm rate of 31.69% (45/142) and a false-negative rate of 30.0% (3/10). When focusing exclusively on sensorineural hearing loss, the questionnaire identified two children (1.31%), with a false-negative rate of 0% but a false-positive rate of 33.33%. CONCLUSION: Language-development-oriented questionnaires allowed quick screening of potential hearing loss in preschoolers. This study found a robust hit rate with these questionnaires. Their validation signifies a promising and cost-effective tool for conducting hearing screenings in preschool children, especially in nations lacking a comprehensive school screening policy. The validated questionnaire affords an easy-to-apply, low-cost, and effective instrument for preschool hearing screening.

Pathophysiology of Postoperative Hearing Disorders after Vestibular Schwannoma Resection: Insights from Auditory Brainstem Response and Otoacoustic Emissions.

Background: In order to better understand the pathophysiology of surgically induced hearing loss after vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery, we postoperatively analyzed the hearing status in a series of patients where hearing was at least partially preserved. Methods: Hearing was assessed through tonal audiometry, speech discrimination score, maximum word recognition score (dissyllabic word lists-MaxIS), otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), and auditory brainstem response (ABR). The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tumor characterization was also noted. Results: In a series of 24 patients operated on for VS over 5 years, depending on the results of this triple hearing exploration, we could identify, after surgery, patients with either a myelin alteration or partial damage to the acoustic fibers, others with a likely partial cochlear ischemia, and some with partial cochlear nerve ischemia. One case with persisting OAEs and no preoperative ABR recovered hearing and ABR after surgery. Long follow-up (73 ± 57 months) revealed a mean hearing loss of 30 ± 20 dB with a drastic drop of MaxIS. MRI revealed only 25% of fundus invasion. Conclusion: a precise analysis of hearing function, not only with classic audiometry but also with ABR and OEAs, allows for a better understanding of hearing damage in VS surgery.

Non-invasive intracranial pressure monitoring for high-grade gliomas patients treated with radiotherapy: results of the GMaPIC trial.

Introduction: Patients with high-grade gliomas are at risk of developing increased intracranial hypertension (ICHT) in relation to the increase in volume of their tumor. ICP change cannot be measured by invasive method but can be estimated by using routine clinical signs, in combination with a standard imaging method, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A non-invasive monitoring of ICP could be of interest in high-grade glioma, in particular after radiotherapy treatment with as major side effect a cerebral oedema. Patients and Methods: This prospective clinical study aimed to compare the ICP changes (estimated by a non-invasive method based upon distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) monitoring) with volume changes observed on MRI in patients with high-grade gliomas treated with radiotherapy. DPOAE measurements were performed one month after the end of radiotherapy and then every 3 months for one year. At each visit, the patient also underwent MRI as well as an evaluation of clinical signs. Results: The variation in the estimate of intracranial pressure readout measured at each follow-up visit (in absolute value with respect to the baseline measurements) was significantly associated with the variation of T2/FLAIR volume (n=125; p<0.001) with a cut off value of change ICP readout of 40.2 degrees (e.i. an estimated change of 16 mm Hg). Discussion: The GMaPIC trial confirm the hypothesis that the ICP change estimated by DPOAEs measurement using a non-invasive medical device is correlated with the change of the tumor or edema in high grade glioma after radiotherapy. The device could thus become an easy-to-use and non-invasive intracranial pressure monitoring tool for these patients. Clinical Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, identifier (NCT02520492).

Prevalência de perda auditiva e vulnerabilidade a saúde em crianças de 25 a 36 meses: uma análise da distribuição espacial / Prevalence of hearing loss and health vulnerability in children aged 25 to 36 months: an analysis of spatial distribution

RESUMO Objetivo Analisar a associação entre perda auditiva e a vulnerabilidade à saúde em crianças na faixa etária de 25 a 36 meses. Método Estudo observacional analítico do tipo transversal realizado por meio da triagem auditiva infantil em nove creches. A triagem constou de anamnese, meatoscopia, timpanometria, emissões otoacústicas transientes e audiometria tonal limiar. Para cada exame realizado foi estabelecido o critério de "passa" e "falha". Os endereços residenciais das crianças foram georreferenciados e foi construído mapa coroplético da distribuição espacial, considerando o Índice de Vulnerabilidade à Saúde (IVS). Foi realizada análise de associação entre o IVS com as variáveis sexo, exames audiológicos e regional de domicílio por meio dos testes Qui-quadrado de Pearson, e Exato de Fisher. Resultados Foram avaliadas 95 crianças de ambos os sexos, destas, 44,7% apresentaram alteração em pelo menos um dos exames realizados, sendo encaminhadas para avaliação otorrinolaringológica e auditiva. Das alterações observadas 36,9% ocorreram na timpanometria e 7,8% nas emissões otoacústicas transientes. Dentre crianças encaminhadas para avaliação, 9,7% apresentaram diagnóstico de perda auditiva do tipo condutiva, 13,6% resultados dentro da normalidade e 21,4% não compareceram para reavaliação. Das crianças que apresentaram o diagnóstico final de perda auditiva do tipo condutiva (9,7%), 1,9% foi classificado como IVS de risco baixo e 6,8% como IVS de risco médio. Houve significância estatística entre IVS e o local de residência da criança. Conclusão Não houve associação com significância estatística entre alteração auditiva e IVS, entretanto foi possível observar que 77,7% das crianças com diagnóstico de perda auditiva residiam em setores censitários de risco médio do IVS.

ABSTRACT Purpose To analyze the association between hearing loss and health vulnerability in children aged 25 to 36 months. Methods Analytical observational cross-sectional study conducted through child hearing screening in nine day-care centers. The screening consisted of anamnesis, otoscopy, tympanometry, transient otoacoustic emissions, and pure tone audiometry. For each exam performed, the 'pass' and 'fail' criteria were established. The children's residential addresses were georeferenced and a choropleth map of the spatial distribution was built, considering the Health Vulnerability Index (HVI). The analysis of the association between the HVI and the variables sex, auditory assessment, and region area of the household was performed using Pearson's Chi-square and Fisher's Exact tests. Results Ninety-five children of both sexes were evaluated, of which 44.7% presented alterations in at least one of the exams performed, being referred for otorhinolaryngological evaluation and subsequent auditory assessment. Of the observed changes, 36.9% occurred in the tympanometry and 7.8% in the transient otoacoustic emissions. Among children referred for reassessment, 9.7% were diagnosed with conductive hearing loss, 13.6% results within normal limits and 21.4% did not attend for assessment. Of the children who presented the final diagnosis of conductive hearing loss (9.7%), 1.9% were classified as low-risk HVI and 6.8% as medium-risk HVI. There was statistical significance between HVI and the child's place of residence. Conclusion The association between hearing loss and HIV was not statistically significant; however, it was possible to observe that 77.7% of the children with hearing loss resided in sectors with medium- risk HIV

Avaliação de Crianças com Indicadores de Risco para Deficiência Auditiva Atendidas em um Serviço de Referência em Triagem Auditiva Neonatal / Evaluation of Children with Risk Indicators for Hearing Loss in a Newborn Hearing Screening Reference Service / Evaluación de Niños con Indicadores de Riesgo para Deficiencia auditiva Atendidas en un Servicio de Referencia en Triagem Auditiva Neonatal

Objetivo: Avaliar a audição de crianças com indicadores de risco para deficiência auditiva que realizaram triagem auditiva neonatal e retornaram para o acompanhamento após seis meses. Métodos: Estudo longitudinal realizado no Serviço de Referência em Triagem Auditiva Neonatal de um hospital universitário com crianças com indicadores de risco para deficiência auditiva. O estudo foi realizado em duas etapas: teste e reteste (quando necessário) e acompanhamento (aos seis meses de idade corrigida). Resultado: Na triagem foram avaliadas 179 crianças. Nesta etapa houve associação entre resultado "falha" em ambas as orelhas e suspeita de síndrome e resultado "falha" e citomegalovirose. Em todas as etapas 12 crianças apresentaram alterações condutivas confirmadas pela imitanciometria, e nenhuma apresentou alteração neurossensorial. Conclusão: A alteração auditiva condutiva foi a mais presente nesta população. Não foram detectadas alterações auditivas neurossensoriais em nenhuma criança avaliada no período do estudo, portanto o monitoramento auditivo dessas crianças deve ser realizado até idades mais avançadas para se detectar eventuais perdas auditivas progressivas ou de origem tardia.

Objective: To evaluate the hearing of children with risk indicators for hearing loss who underwent newborn hearing screening and returned to follow up after six months. Methods: Longitudinal study conducted at the Newborn Hearing Screening Service of a university hospital with children with risk indicators for hearing loss. The study was performed in two stages: test and retest (when necessary) and follow-up (at six months). Results: 179 children were evaluated in the screening. In this stage there was an association between "failed" result in both ears and suspected syndrome and "failed" result and cytomegalovirus. In all the stages, 12 children presented conductive alterations confirmed by the immittanciometry and none presented sensorineural alteration. Conclusion: Conductive hearing loss was more present in this population. No sensorineural hearing loss was detected in any child evaluated during the study period; therefore the auditory monitoring of these children should be performed until later ages to detect any progressive or late-onset hearing loss.

Objetivo:Evaluar la audición de niños con indicadores de riesgo para la deficiencia auditiva que realizaron la tamizaje auditivo neonatal y regresaron para el seguimiento después de seis meses. Métodos:Estudio longitudinal realizado en el Servicio de Referencia enTriage Auditiva Neonatal de un hospital universitario con niños con indicadores de riesgo para la deficiencia auditiva. El estudio fue realizado en dos etapas: prueba y reprueba (cuandonecesario) y seguimiento (a los seis meses de edad corregida). Resultado:En la selección se evaluaron 179 niños. En esta etapa hubo asociación entre resultado "falla" en ambas orejas y sospechosa de síndrome y resultado "falla" y citomegalovirosa. En todas las etapas, 12 niños presentaron alteraciones conductivas confirmadas por la imitanciometría y ninguna presentó alteración neurosensorial. Conclusión: La alteración auditiva conductiva fuela más presente en esta población. No se detectaron alteraciones auditivas neurosensorial en ningún niño evaluado en el período del estudio, por lo que el monitoreo auditivo de estos niños debe ser realizado hasta edades más avanzadas para detectar eventuales pérdidas auditivas progresivas o de origentardío.