Association between COPD and hearing loss with impaired speech recognition: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Studies have identified a greater risk of sensory neural hearing loss in individuals with COPD compared to healthy individuals, but it is unclear whether they are at increased risk of hearing loss with impaired speech recognition. The aim of this study was to assess whether COPD is associated with hearing loss that affects speech recognition. METHODS: This is a case-control study. We screened individuals from health facilities in the municipality of Jundiai. We enrolled a test group of individuals with COPD and an age-matched control group composed of individuals with asthma. The selected individuals attended an appointment with a chest physician, responded questionnaires and underwent tonal and speech audiometry. Adjusted binary logistic regression analysis evaluated whether COPD was associated with reduced speech recognition. RESULTS: We enrolled 36 individuals with COPD and 72 with asthma. Individuals with COPD were more likely to have a reduced speech recognition compared to asthmatic individuals [Reduced recognition of three-syllable words: adjusted OR 3.72, 95 CI (1.38 - 10.02)] [Reduced recognition of monosyllable words: adjusted OR 4.74, 95 CI (1.52 - 14.76)]. CONCLUSION: We conclude that individuals with COPD from primary and secondary healthcare facilities have at least 38% greater risk of hearing loss with reduced speech recognition compared to an age-matched control group of individuals with asthma recruited from the same facilities. We recommend that longitudinal studies evaluate whether regular screening could contribute to the prevention or early treatment of hearing loss in individuals with moderate-severe COPD.

Assessing the hearing of children exposed to zika virus with an initially normal newborn hearing screen: a longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Zika virus (ZIKV) infection can result in hearing loss in babies, consequently, audiological monitoring is necessary. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of hearing impairment in neonates and children exposed to ZIKV during the intrauterine period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of 30 children born to mothers infected with ZIKV during pregnancy (March 2016-January 2017) underwent repeated hearing assessments performed 48 h after birth. Universal Newborn Hearing Screening revealed normal results in all children at 6, 13, 24, and 36 months. Children were divided into two subgroups based on real-time polymerase chain reaction: RT-PCR(+) and RT-PCR(-). RESULTS: At 24 months, the cumulative incidence of hearing alteration was 57.1%. There was no significant difference in the detection of hearing alteration between RT-PCR(+) and (-) groups. None of the children had sensorineural hearing loss. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: None of the children had sensorineural hearing loss. Total incidence conductive type (per 1000 live births), RT-PCR ZIKV (-) 2.2, prevalence 20% and RT-PCR ZIKV 3.1, prevalence 35.7%.The incidence of hearing alteration was highest at 24 months of age (57.1%, n = 8; only conductive type).

Temporal processing and long-latency auditory evoked potential in stutterers / Processamento temporal e potencial evocado auditivo de longa latência em indivíduos gagos

Abstract Introduction: Stuttering is a speech fluency disorder, and may be associated with neuroaudiological factors linked to central auditory processing, including changes in auditory processing skills and temporal resolution. Objective: To characterize the temporal processing and long-latency auditory evoked potential in stutterers and to compare them with non-stutterers. Methods: The study included 41 right-handed subjects, aged 18-46 years, divided into two groups: stutterers (n = 20) and non-stutters (n = 21), compared according to age, education, and sex. All subjects were submitted to the duration pattern tests, random gap detection test, and long-latency auditory evoked potential. Results: Individuals who stutter showed poorer performance on Duration Pattern and Random Gap Detection tests when compared with fluent individuals. In the long-latency auditory evoked potential, there was a difference in the latency of N2 and P3 components; stutterers had higher latency values. Conclusion: Stutterers have poor performance in temporal processing and higher latency values for N2 and P3 components.

Resumo Introdução: A gagueira é um distúrbio da fluência da fala e pode estar associada a fatores neuroaudiológicos ligados ao processamento auditivo central, entre eles as alterações das habilidades auditivas de processamento e resolução temporal. Objetivo: Caracterizar o processamento temporal e o potencial evocado auditivo de longa latência em indivíduos gagos e compará-los com indivíduos sem gagueira. Método: Participaram do estudo 41 indivíduos destros, de 18 a 46 anos, distribuídos em dois grupos: 20 com gagueira e 21 sem gagueira, comparados segundo idade, escolaridade e gênero. Todos os indivíduos foram submetidos aos testes de padrão de duração, teste de identificação de intervalos aleatórios e o potencial evocado auditivo de longa latência. Resultados: Indivíduos com gagueira apresentaram pior desempenho nos testes de padrão de duração e Random Gap Detection, quando comparados com os indivíduos fluentes. No potencial evocado auditivo de longa latência, houve diferença na latência dos componentes N2 e P3, os indivíduos gagos apresentaram maiores valores de latência. Conclusão: Os indivíduos com gagueira apresentaram processamento temporal com desempenho abaixo do esperado e um maior valor de latência para os componentes N2 e P3.

Temporal processing and long-latency auditory evoked potential in stutterers.

INTRODUCTION: Stuttering is a speech fluency disorder, and may be associated with neuroaudiological factors linked to central auditory processing, including changes in auditory processing skills and temporal resolution. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the temporal processing and long-latency auditory evoked potential in stutterers and to compare them with non-stutterers. METHODS: The study included 41 right-handed subjects, aged 18-46 years, divided into two groups: stutterers (n=20) and non-stutters (n=21), compared according to age, education, and sex. All subjects were submitted to the duration pattern tests, random gap detection test, and long-latency auditory evoked potential. RESULTS: Individuals who stutter showed poorer performance on Duration Pattern and Random Gap Detection tests when compared with fluent individuals. In the long-latency auditory evoked potential, there was a difference in the latency of N2 and P3 components; stutterers had higher latency values. CONCLUSION: Stutterers have poor performance in temporal processing and higher latency values for N2 and P3 components.

Caracterização dos aspectos vocais de um coro infantojuvenil / Characterization of the vocal aspects of a choir of children and teenagers

OBJETIVO: caracterizar os aspectos de saúde vocal, o conhecimento dos coristas quanto aos cuidados com a própria voz, e realizar uma análise percepto auditiva da voz falada, em um coro infanto juvenil. MÉTODOS: participaram deste estudo 20 indivíduos, de ambos os gêneros, entre 10 e 18 anos, integrantes de um coro. Foram aplicados dois questionários: um voltado aos pais sobre a saúde geral, tratamento médico e hábitos alimentares de seus filhos e outro para os coristas, que abordou aspectos sobre vivência no canto, conhecimentos sobre a voz, hábitos e saúde vocal. Foi realizada uma triagem vocal individual para análise perceptoauditiva da voz falada por meio de protocolo específico. RESULTADOS: no questionário aplicado aos pais, foi observado que 40% dos coristas apresentaram algum tipo de alergia. Quanto ao questionário respondido pelos coristas, 65% não souberam dizer como a voz é produzida; 100% realizavam aquecimento vocal; 80% não possuíam cuidados com a voz; 35% apresentaram queixa vocal. Na triagem vocal, verificou-se 35% de coristas com voz rouca e soprosa e 5% áspera; o pitch predominantemente agudo (55%); a articulação e a ressonância equilibradas; o tipo respiratório predominante foi o médio (65%); o modo respiratório misto (45%); a coordenação pneumofonoarticulatória presente em 90%; o tempo máximo fonatório aumentado em 65%; e o coeficiente s/z mostrou-se adequado em 65%. CONCLUSÃO: nos aspectos de saúde vocal, foi observado um alto índice de alergia; nos cuidados com a própria voz, a maioria dos coristas não sabe como a voz é produzida; na análise perceptoauditiva,foram encontrados em um grande número de coristas, qualidade vocal roucosoprosa e tempo máximo fonatório aumentado. .

PURPOSE: to characterize the vocal health, knowledge of choristers in caring for her own voice, and perceptual analysis of the spoken voice, performed by an audiologist in a chorus children and youth. METHODS: the study included 20 individuals of both sexes, between 10 and 18 years, members of a choir, two questionnaires were applied: one facing parents on general health, medical and dietary habits, and another for the choristers facing experience in singing, knowledge of the voice and vocal health habits. Screening was performed for individual vocal perceptual analysis of the spoken voice. RESULTS: in the questionnaire back to the parents, it was observed that 40% of the choristers had some kind of allergy, whereas in the questionnaire aimed to choristers, 65% did not know how the voice is produced; carried out vocal training 100%, 80% did not care voice, 35% had vocal complaints; already screening vocal assessed that 35% expressed hoarse and breathy and rough 5%, the pitch was found predominantly acute (55%); articulation and resonance were balanced, the type was the predominant respiratory medium (65%), whereas the breathing mode mixed (45%), the coordination between breathing in 90%, the maximum phonation time increased by 65% and the coefficient s / z was adequate in 65% . CONCLUSION: the aspects of vocal health was observed a high rate of allergy, care of his own voice most choristers do not know how the voice is produced and auditory perception was found in a large number of choristers hoarse breathy vocal quality and maximum phonation time increased. .

Effects of auditory training in individuals with high-frequency hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of a formal auditory training program on the behavioral, electrophysiological and subjective aspects of auditory function in individuals with bilateral high-frequency hearing loss. METHOD: A prospective study of seven individuals aged 46 to 57 years with symmetric, moderate high-frequency hearing loss ranging from 3 to 8 kHz was conducted. Evaluations of auditory processing (sound location, verbal and non-verbal sequential memory tests, the speech-in-noise test, the staggered spondaic word test, synthetic sentence identification with competitive ipsilateral and contralateral competitive messages, random gap detection and the standard duration test), auditory brainstem response and long-latency potentials and the administration of the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit questionnaire were performed in a sound booth before and immediately after formal auditory training. RESULTS: All of the participants demonstrated abnormal pre-training long-latency characteristics (abnormal latency or absence of the P3 component) and these abnormal characteristics were maintained in six of the seven individuals at the post-training evaluation. No significant differences were found between ears in the quantitative analysis of auditory brainstem responses or long-latency potentials. However, the subjects demonstrated improvements on all behavioral tests. For the questionnaire, the difference on the background noise subscale achieved statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Auditory training in adults with high-frequency hearing loss led to improvements in figure-background hearing skills for verbal sounds, temporal ordination and resolution, and communication in noisy environments. Electrophysiological changes were also observed because, after the training, some long latency components that were absent pre-training were observed during the re-evaluation.

Effects of auditory training in individuals with high-frequency hearing loss

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of a formal auditory training program on the behavioral, electrophysiological and subjective aspects of auditory function in individuals with bilateral high-frequency hearing loss. METHOD: A prospective study of seven individuals aged 46 to 57 years with symmetric, moderate high-frequency hearing loss ranging from 3 to 8 kHz was conducted. Evaluations of auditory processing (sound location, verbal and non-verbal sequential memory tests, the speech-in-noise test, the staggered spondaic word test, synthetic sentence identification with competitive ipsilateral and contralateral competitive messages, random gap detection and the standard duration test), auditory brainstem response and long-latency potentials and the administration of the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit questionnaire were performed in a sound booth before and immediately after formal auditory training. RESULTS: All of the participants demonstrated abnormal pre-training long-latency characteristics (abnormal latency or absence of the P3 component) and these abnormal characteristics were maintained in six of the seven individuals at the post-training evaluation. No significant differences were found between ears in the quantitative analysis of auditory brainstem responses or long-latency potentials. However, the subjects demonstrated improvements on ...

Uso do gesto no transtorno autista: estudo de caso único / Using the gesture in autism: case report

OBJETIVO: analisar a quantidade e qualidade dos gestos produzidos por uma criança com Transtorno Autista. PROCEDIMENTOS: trata-se de estudo de caso. Foram utilizados critérios para análise quanto à forma, função e tipo de gestos. RESULTADOS: após seis meses de intervenção terapêutica fonoaudiológica foi observado o aumento de gestos com funcionalidade em relação ao período inicial e após um ano, ausência de movimentos aleatórios. CONCLUSÃO: verificou-se aumento na qualidade gestual do caso em questão.

PURPOSE: to analyze the quantity and quality of gestures produced by an autistic child. PROCEDURES: case report. Criteria were used for analyzing the form, function and type of gestures. RESULTS: after 6-month therapy, the analyzed subject obtained gestures with functionality above the therapy initiation state. After a year of therapy the subject has not produced more random movements. CONCLUSION: improvement was verified in gestural quality in this case report.

Impact of tinnitus on quality of life, loudness and pitch match, and high-frequency audiometry.

Our objective was to compare quality of life, high-frequency audiometry, and loudness-pitch match in individuals with tinnitus with and without hearing loss. We divided 52 individuals into two groups: one with hearing impairment (HI; n = 24) and the other with no hearing loss (NL; n = 28). All participants underwent loudness-pitch match and high-frequency audiometry and responded to the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) questionnaires. On high-frequency audiometry, older individuals required 77.15% more intensity than did young individuals. On the THI questionnaire, individuals in the NL group exhibited mild handicap, whereas those in the HI group exhibited moderate handicap. On the WHOQOL questionnaires, the HI group demonstrated greater impairment on the physical and psychological domains than did the NL group. Individuals with HI experienced greater discomfort with tinnitus. On high-frequency audiometry, individuals with tinnitus and HI exhibited higher thresholds, with complete hearing loss at some frequencies. The WHOQOL and THI questionnaires revealed that individuals with HI experienced a poorer quality of life than did those with normal hearing.