Speech pathologists and audiologists with Ph.D. in Brazil: profile from 1976 to 2008.

BACKGROUND: keeping data about Ph.D.s of speech pathologists and audiologists updated allows the retrieval of what has been developed in these fields of knowledge, besides giving a dimension of the development of the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences in our country. AIM: to analyze the educational background of Brazilian speech pathologists and audiologists with Ph.D. within the period of 1976-2008. METHOD: doctorate dissertations presented by Brazilian speech pathologists and audiologists during the period of 1976 (first presentation) to the end of 2008 were selected through information provided by postgraduation offices and also by consulting data published on Plataforma Lattes (online curriculum vitae for professors and scientists). For each finding the following variables were registered: author's gender, year of presentation, educational institution and post-graduate program where the dissertation was developed (according to the areas of knowledge determined by National Council of Scientific and Technological Development) and chosen theme (Language, Hearing and Balance, Motricity and orofacial functions, Voice e Public Health). The statistical analysis involved the description of the selected parameters, a regression analysis to verify increase of Ph.D. presentations, area of development and chosen theme, and application of the chi-square test to verify possible associations. RESULTS: a total of 504 dissertations were analyzed. The results were: 97.0% of the dissertations were presented by women; State Institutions were chosen by almost half (47.62%) of the speech pathologists and audiologists to obtain their Ph.D.; the Sciences of Life programs were the most prevalent (57.54%); concerning the chosen theme, most of the dissertations were developed in the field of Language (34.52%) and Hearing and Balance (32.34%). The regression analysis indicated an increase of all of the studied variables with significance mostly related to the year of presentation, choice of the area of Applied Human and Social Sciences and Sciences of Life and themes of Language and Motricity and Orofacial functions (p < 0,001). There was also an increase related to the option for Public Institutions, mostly State Institutions(p < 0,001). CONCLUSION: there was a significant increase of speech pathologists and audiologists with Ph. D., which enables major insertion of these professionals in research activities and qualified scientific production.

Fonoaudiólogos doutores no Brasil: perfil da formação no período de 1976 a 2008 / Speech pathologists and audiologists with Ph.D. in Brazil: profile from 1976 to 2008

BACKGROUND: keeping data about Ph.D.s of speech pathologists and audiologists updated allows the retrieval of what has been developed in these fields of knowledge, besides giving a dimension of the development of the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences in our country. AIM: to analyze the educational background of Brazilian speech pathologists and audiologists with Ph.D. within the period of 1976-2008. METHOD: doctorate dissertations presented by Brazilian speech pathologists and audiologists during the period of 1976 (first presentation) to the end of 2008 were selected through information provided by postgraduation offices and also by consulting data published on Plataforma Lattes (online curriculum vitae for professors and scientists). For each finding the following variables were registered: author's gender, year of presentation, educational institution and post-graduate program where the dissertation was developed (according to the areas of knowledge determined by National Council of Scientific and Technological Development) and chosen theme (Language, Hearing and Balance, Motricity and orofacial functions, Voice e Public Health). The statistical analysis involved the description of the selected parameters, a regression analysis to verify increase of Ph.D. presentations, area of development and chosen theme, and application of the chi-square test to verify possible associations. RESULTS: a total of 504 dissertations were analyzed. The results were: 97.0 percent of the dissertations were presented by women; State Institutions were chosen by almost half (47.62 percent) of the speech pathologists and audiologists to obtain their Ph.D.; the Sciences of Life programs were the most prevalent (57.54 percent); concerning the chosen theme, most of the dissertations were developed in the field of Language (34.52 percent) and Hearing and Balance (32.34 percent). The regression analysis indicated an increase of all of the studied variables ...

TEMA: manter atualizado o levantamento de doutores fonoaudiólogos brasileiros permite recuperar a memória do que foi desenvolvido na área, além de explicitar um indicador importante do amadurecimento da Fonoaudiologia no país. OBJETIVO: analisar a formação dos doutores fonoaudiólogos brasileiros, no período correspondente a 1976 - 2008. MÉTODO: as teses defendidas por fonoaudiólogos brasileiros, no período compreendido entre 1976 (primeira defesa) até final de 2008, foram selecionadas, por meio de contato com as secretarias de programas de pós-graduação e consulta à Plataforma Lattes. Para cada achado foram registradas as variáveis: sexo do autor; ano de defesa; instituição de ensino e programa de pós-graduação em que a tese foi desenvolvida, além da temática escolhida. A análise estatística compreendeu descrição dos parâmetros, análise de regressão para evidenciar o crescimento referente ao ano de defesa, área e temática escolhida e teste de qui-quadrado para verificar associação. RESULTADOS: as 504 teses localizadas, 97,0 por cento foram defendidas por mulheres; em maior número foram escolhidas as instituições estaduais (47,62 por cento) e os programas inseridos na área de Ciências da Vida (57,54 por cento); quanto à temática desenvolvida na tese, maior número correspondeu à Linguagem (34,52 por cento) e Audição e equilíbrio (32,34 por cento). A análise de regressão evidenciou o crescimento do número de teses segundo o ano, sendo que tal tendência foi também evidenciada na escolha do Programa e para as áreas de Linguagem e Motricidade e Funções Orofaciais (p < 0,001). O incremento se dá principalmente devido ao aumento das teses defendidas em instituições públicas, mais particularmente, as estaduais (p < 0,001). CONCLUSÃO: houve um crescimento significativo dos fonoaudiólogos doutores, fato que possibilita maior inserção do fonoaudiólogo em atividades de pesquisa e produção científica qualificada.

Audiology in Brazil.

The profession of audiology took root in Brazil nearly a half a century ago and has since blossomed into a flourishing, well-developed field. Currently, audiologists in Brazil work at private institutions, including private medical practices and dedicated speech and hearing clinics. They are also employed in a wide array of public institutions, including community clinics, elementary schools, colleges, and universities. In both the private sector and health clinics, audiologists perform diagnostic evaluations of auditory and vestibular disorders, select and fit hearing aids, and provide aural rehabilitation. At the public level, they assist with workers' health programs, dispense hearing aids, and aural rehabilitation. There is always room to grow, however, and the future of audiology in Brazil holds both challenges and opportunity. The following article will sketch the development of audiology training and practice in Brazil, provide a picture of how the field stands today, and summarize the unique challenges which the profession faces in this large and diverse nation.

Perfil audiológico dos pacientes da terceira idade atendidos no Núcleo de Atenção Médica Integrada da Universidade de Fortaleza / Audiologic profile of the elderley patients atended at Fortaleza university´s integrated medical attention nucleous

A audição humana é um função bastante complexa que faz parte das nossas funções sensoriais. Com a idade, os órgãos sensoriais, principalmente a visão e a audição, vão perdendo acuidade. Em decorrência do crescimento da população de idosos e sendo a perda auditiva a terceira condição crônica mais comum nessa população, tivemos o interesse de analisar o perfil audiológico dos pacientes idosos atendidos no Núcleo de Atenção Médica Integrada da Universidade de Fortaleza. Foi estudada uma população de 260 pacientes, na faixa etária de 65 a 104 anos. A coleta de dados teve como instrumento o prontuário, onde foram levantadas informações de anamnese; das medidas de imitância acústica; e da audiometria tonal limiar. Constatamos que a faixa etária de 65 a 70 anos doi a mais presente (40,77%); a queixa auditiva que prevaleceu foi o zumbido (58,08%); a maior parte dos idosos apresentaram perdas auditivas simétricas (73,85%) e bilaterais (97,31%); e, reflexos acústicos presentes (73,85%). Dessa forma, a perda auditiva caracterizou-se, em sua maioria, por um grau variado, bilateral e simétrica; e que a deficiência auditiva progride com o aumento da idade, causando problema na comunicação desses indivíduos.

El enfermo con otitis media crónica / The patient with chronic otitis media

Con el objetivo de identificar los factores del huésped que contribuyen a la búsqueda tardía de atención médica por otitis media crónica, en el Departamento de Otorrinolaringología del Hospital General, Centro Médico Nacional La Raza, se realizó una encuesta prospectiva en 120 pacientes de nueve a 69 años de edad, con un tiempo de evolución de la enfermedad de uno a 60 años. Se identificaron las características socioeconómicas, búsqueda previa de atención médica, aspecto de la enfermedad que preocupaba al paciente y las manifestaciones clínicas y audiológicas. El tiempo de evolución de la enfermedad no mostró asociación aislada con la educación, la ocupación ni el ingreso económico de los pacientes; sin embargo, estuvo asociada con poca preocupación y mínima búsqueda de atención médica. La valoración subjetiva del paciente sobre su audición no se reflejó en el estudio audiológico. Los resultados indican que la inquietud individual del paciente surgida de la orientación médica adecuada puede ser importante para disminuir la prevalencia de la otitis media crónica