Comparing Individuals through the Speech Recognition Test Applied to Regional Live Voice and Recorded Speeches from Paraná State in Five Brazilian Counties

Abstract Introduction Speech tests such as logoaudiometry measure the ability to perceive and recognize oral sounds. The Speech Recognition Index (SRI) is one of the speech tests adopted in clinical routine; it uses standardized live voice and recorded speeches. The live voice speech method can be influenced by intra and interspeaker variability, as well as by regionalism variability, whereas recorded tests show consistency in their presentation. Objective Analyzing results of the SRI test applied to live voiceand recorded speeches from Paraná State, in different Brazilian counties. Method The sample comprised 125 individuals, 25 fromeach county (Rio de Janeiro, Florianópolis, Porto Alegre, Salvador and Curitiba), from both sexes, in the age group 20 to 70 years; the SRI was applied in both techniques. Results The recorded speech method showed prevalence of hit improvement in Rio de Janeiro (40%), Salvador, Porto Alegre and Florianópolis (28%). Individuals from Salvador and Florianópolis subjected to the recorded speech method showed better results in the left ear. Individuals from Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre showed satisfactory results in both ears, whereas those from Curitiba did not show statistically significant difference between the left and the right ear. Conclusion The recorded CD application method showed prevalence of hit improvement (%) in the SRI responses in comparison to the live voice speech technique in most of the studied counties. According to the hit rate measured in the herein investigated counties, Rio de Janeiro showed the best results in the recorded speech method.

Comparing Individuals through the Speech Recognition Test Applied to Regional Live Voice and Recorded Speeches from Paraná State in Five Brazilian Counties.

Introduction Speech tests such as logoaudiometry measure the ability to perceive and recognize oral sounds. The Speech Recognition Index (SRI) is one of the speech tests adopted in clinical routine; it uses standardized live voice and recorded speeches. The live voice speech method can be influenced by intra and interspeaker variability, as well as by regionalism variability, whereas recorded tests show consistency in their presentation. Objective Analyzing results of the SRI test applied to live voice and recorded speeches from Paraná State, in different Brazilian counties. Method The sample comprised 125 individuals, 25 from each county (Rio de Janeiro, Florianópolis, Porto Alegre, Salvador and Curitiba), from both sexes, in the age group 20 to 70 years; the SRI was applied in both techniques. Results The recorded speech method showed prevalence of hit improvement in Rio de Janeiro (40%), Salvador, Porto Alegre and Florianópolis (28%). Individuals from Salvador and Florianópolis subjected to the recorded speech method showed better results in the left ear. Individuals from Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre showed satisfactory results in both ears, whereas those from Curitiba did not show statistically significant difference between the left and the right ear. Conclusion The recorded CD application method showed prevalence of hit improvement (%) in the SRI responses in comparison to the live voice speech technique in most of the studied counties. According to the hit rate measured in the herein investigated counties, Rio de Janeiro showed the best results in the recorded speech method.

Brazilian Scale of Hearing and Language Development: Normality Curve for Infants and Children from 0 to 24 Months Old with Normal Hearing.

Introduction Cochlear implants are currently the most effective technological resource to facilitate access to the hearing world for deaf people. Their use, especially when implanted early in children, reduces the impact of deafness on hearing as well as on the development of spoken language. Objective To validate the first part of the Brazilian Scale of Hearing and Language Development (EDAL-1, in the Portuguese acronym) and to establish the normal curve in infants and children aged between 0 and 24 months old with normal hearing. Method This is an experimental study of a descriptive nature, conducted with 92 infants and children with normal hearing. Every infant/child was evaluated audiologically, and the EDAL-1 was applied to their parents. The responses were categorized by applying the EDAL-1 every 3 months for each child. Results The EDAL-1 was shown to be easily applied by the researcher and easily understood by the parents. It was possible to classify the sample every 3 months and describe the results. The average of the responses found in terms of scores for each age category shows an increasing scale following the evolution of the chronological age: 3 months-34.23 points; 6 months-54.68 points; 9 months-73 points; 12 months-82.5 points; 15 months-87 points; 18 months-91 points; 21 months-92.5 points, and 24 months-95.83 points. Conclusion The normal curve for EDAL-1 was successfully established. The averages can be considered as the standard protocol for normality, serving as a reference for comparison with other populations.

Integralidade do cuidado na atenção à saúde auditiva do adulto no SUS: acesso à reabilitação / Care integrality in adult hearing health service in the Unified Health System: access to rehabilitation

RESUMO Objetivo Caracterizar a indicação e analisar a percepção dos usuários quanto a queixas e benefícios do uso de próteses auditivas concedidas pelo Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Métodos Estudo transversal, quantitativo, que analisou 100 usuários de próteses auditivas no retorno inicial após adaptação, em um serviço de média e alta complexidade em saúde auditiva. Foram coletados dados dos prontuários relativos às características da perda auditiva, da seleção e adaptação da prótese auditiva, e do tempo de uso. Foi realizada entrevista para investigar a percepção de queixas e benefícios com o uso da prótese auditiva. Resultados Houve predomínio dos seguintes aspectos: a faixa etária de 66 a 90 anos; Ensino Fundamental incompleto; perda auditiva sensorioneural de graus leve e moderado; ligeira/discreta dificuldade de compreensão da fala. Foram adaptadas 184 próteses, sendo a maioria retroauricular e de Tipo A; o tempo de espera entre a indicação e a adaptação foi entre 33 e 88 dias; o principal benefício da prótese auditiva foi a melhora da compreensão/interação social, e a queixa principal referiu-se a problemas de regulagem. Conclusão A maior parte dos usuários relatou benefícios com a utilização da prótese para a compreensão de fala e a interação social, e a queixa mais referida foi a regulagem.

ABSTRACTPurpose: To characterize the referral and analyze the perception of the users regarding the complaints and benefits of the use of hearing aids granted by the Unified Health System. Methods A cross-sectional, quantitative study that analyzed 100 users of hearing aids in the initial visit after fitting, in a service of medium and high complexity in hearing health. Data were collected from the medical records and analyzed the characteristics of the hearing loss, the selection and fitting of hearing aids and the length of time using them. An interview was carried out to investigate the perception of complaints and benefits with the use of hearing aids. Results Among the users of hearing aids, the age range of 66-90 years was predominant; schooling, incomplete middle school prevailed; mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss, slight / discreet difficulty understanding speech; 184 prostheses were adapted, the majority of those were retroauricular and Type A; the waiting time between the referral and fitting was between 33-88 days, the main benefit of the hearing aid was the improvement of social understanding / interaction and the main complaint referred to problems of adjustment. Conclusion Most users reported benefits with prosthesis use for speech comprehension and social interaction; the most mentioned complaint was adjustment.

Atendimento fonoaudiológico em uma clínica-escola: percepção de usuários / Speech language pathology teaching-clinic service: users' perception

RESUMO Objetivo investigar a percepção dos usuários e/ou responsáveis a respeito dos atendimentos e da atuação fonoaudiológica de uma clínica-escola credenciada no Sistema Único de Saúde, bem como das instalações e da equipe responsável por esse serviço. Métodos pesquisa de campo quantiqualitativa, transversal, na qual os participantes e/ou familiares de uma clínica-escola de Fonoaudiologia, localizada numa cidade no Sul do Brasil, responderam a um questionário sobre os atendimentos fonoaudiológicos e os serviços realizados na clínica. Resultados a maioria dos usuários demonstrou conhecer as ações e práticas realizadas pelo fonoaudiólogo, avaliou o atendimento fonoaudiológico como ótimo e excelente e referiu que as expectativas com relação ao atendimento foram correspondidas. Além disso, grande parte dos participantes avaliou de forma positiva a clínica-escola, com relação ao atendimento das recepcionistas e as instalações físicas. Algumas sugestões para melhoria do atendimento foram aumento do tempo de terapia, maior divulgação do trabalho e palestras para usuários. Conclusão apesar da satisfação da maioria dos usuários com relação aos atendimentos fonoaudiológicos e da clínica-escola, há questões que necessitam ser consideradas, tais como o diálogo da família com o profissional fonoaudiólogo, a ampliação da escuta e o acolhimento das queixas. Tais fatores devem ser levados em conta pelos profissionais que ali trabalham, pois se entende que a avaliação dos usuários quanto aos serviços fonoaudiológicos vinculados ao SUS é fundamental para promover a melhoria do próprio sistema de saúde.

ABSTRACT Purpose to investigate users' or parents' perception about the service and care delivery of a speech-language pathology teaching clinic accredited by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), extended to its facilities and staff performance. Methods across-sectional quantitative, qualitative field survey, in which participants and/or their family members of a Speech Language teaching clinic, located in a city in Southern Brazil, answered a questionnaire about the speech and hearing services, as well as other services deliveredby the clinic. Results most users demonstrate to know the actions and practices performed by the speech-language therapists and also assessed the therapy as very good and excellent, thus meeting their expectations regarding the service. In addition, most participants assessed the teaching clinic in a positive way regarding the receptionists´ service and physical facilities. Some suggestions for improving the clinic were: extending therapy time length, better spread of the work developed there and lectures to users. Conclusion despite the satisfaction of most users with the speech-language and clinical services, there are some issues that need to be considered, such as: family dialogue with the speech-language therapist, fostering listening and considering their complaints. Those factors should be taken into account by the professionals who work there, since users'assessment of the speech-language therapy services, accredited by the SUS, is essential to promote the improvement of the health care system as a whole.

Brazilian scale of hearing and language development: normality curve for infants and children from 0 to 24 months old with normal hearing

Introduction: Cochlear implants are currently the most effective technological resource to facilitate access to the hearing world for deaf people. Their use, especially when implanted early in children, reduces the impact of deafness on hearing as well as on the development of spoken language. Objective: To validate the first part of the Brazilian Scale of Hearing and Language Development (EDAL-1, in the Portuguese acronym) and to establish the normal curve in infants and children aged between 0 and 24 months old with normal hearing. Method: This is an experimental study of a descriptive nature, conducted with 92 infants and children with normal hearing. Every infant/child was evaluated audiologically, and the EDAL-1 was applied to their parents. The responses were categorized by applying the EDAL-1 every 3 months for each child. Results: The EDAL-1 was shown to be easily applied by the researcher and easily understood by the parents. It was possible to classify the sample every 3 months and describe the results. The average of the responses found in terms of scores for each age category shows an increasing scale following the evolution of the chronological age: 3 months-34.23 points; 6 months-54.68 points; 9 months-73 points; 12 months- 82.5 points; 15 months-87 points; 18 months-91 points; 21 months-92.5 points, and 24 months-95.83 points. Conclusion: The normal curve for EDAL-1 was successfully established. The averages can be considered as the standard protocol for normality, serving as a reference for comparison with other populations (AU)

Escala de desenvolvimento auditivo e de linguagem na criança implantada / Hearing and language development scale in cochlear implanted children

RESUMO Objetivo Caracterizar o desempenho auditivo e de linguagem oral em crianças implantadas com menos de dois anos de idade auditiva, por meio da Escala de Desenvolvimento de Audição e Linguagem (EDAL-1) e comparar os resultados aos de crianças ouvintes até 2 anos de idade. Métodos Estudo experimental de caráter descritivo. Participaram 141 crianças, divididas em dois grupos: grupo controle, com 92 normo-ouvintes, e grupo experimental, com 49 crianças surdas acompanhadas audiologicamente, durante os dois primeiros anos após a implantação. As normo-ouvintes passaram por avaliação auditiva e os pais responderam ao questionário EDAL-1. As crianças implantadas passaram por avaliação otorrinolaringológica e fonoaudiológica a cada três meses e os pais responderam ao EDAL-1. Resultados Nos dois grupos foram observadas respostas ascendentes, com melhora de acordo com o aumento da idade cronológica. Os resultados obtidos no grupo experimental foram estatisticamente piores que no grupo controle, porém, com tendência de crescimento. O EDAL-1 mostrou-se de fácil aplicação e permitiu o monitoramento do desempenho das crianças implantadas. Conclusão O desempenho auditivo e de linguagem oral em crianças surdas, usuárias de implante coclear, foi caracterizado pelo EDAL-1 e mostrou-se em crescimento, conforme o aumento do tempo de estimulação auditiva, fato também observado nas crianças ouvintes. Apesar disso, os resultados das crianças ouvintes foram melhores que os das crianças surdas implantadas.

ABSTRACT Purpose To characterize Auditory and oral language performance in children under 2 years of age with Hearing and Language Development Scale (EDAL-1) and to compare the results to those of hearing children up to two years of age. Methods This is an experimental study of descriptive nature. A total of 141 children were divided into two groups: control group with 92 normal hearing, and the experimental group with 49 deaf children followed audiologically during the first two years after implantation. Normal hearing children underwent auditory assessment and parents responded to EDAL-1. The children implanted, every three months, underwent otorhinolaryngological and speech-language evaluation, and the parents answered EDAL-1. Results In both groups we observed upward responses, with improvement as chronological and auditory age increases. Results obtained in the study group are statistically worse than in the control group, but with a tendency to grow. EDAL-1 was easy to apply and allowed to monitor the performance of the implanted children. Conclusion Oral and auditory performance in deaf children with cochlear implants was characterized by EDAL-1, and it was shown to be growing as the time of auditory stimulation increased, a fact also seen in hearing children. Despite this, the results of the hearing children were better than those of the deaf children implanted.

Implante coclear e qualidade de vida: estudo com pais e familiares de crianças surdas / Cochlear implant and quality of life: a study with parents and families of deaf children / Implante coclear y calidad de vida: un estudio con padres y familias de niños sordos

Introdução: O implante coclear é uma solução auditiva concretizada no cenário brasileiro, constituindo-se uma estratégia viável de reabilitação auditiva para perdas auditivas severas e profundas. Porém, apesar dos grandes avanços tecnológicos e dos excelentes resultados obtidos e descritos na literatura, ter um filho implantado pode comprometer a qualidade de vida dos familiares envolvidos no processo. Objetivo: Comparar a qualidade de vida de um grupo de pais e familiares que possuem filhos usuários de implante coclear, antes e depois da implantação. Método: Trata-se de um estudo clínico descritivo transversal. Participaram 30 indivíduos que foram submetidos ao questionário WHOQOLBref antes da cirurgia e depois de seis meses de ativação do implante. O escore geral e os dados relativos aos quatro domínios abrangidos (físico, psicológico, meio ambiente e relações sociais) foram analisados e descritos. Resultados: Houve mudança positiva significativa para os escores dos domínios de meio ambiente e relações sociais do instrumento. Não houve diferença significativa no escore geral e nos domínios físico e psicológico. Conclusão: Foi possível comparar a qualidade de vida de um grupo de pais de crianças usuárias de IC, antes e depois do processo cirúrgico e ativação do dispositivo. A implantação gerou melhora significativa nos domínios: meio ambiente e relações sociais, evidenciando que houve melhora da qualidade de vida dos pais entrevistados.

Introduction: The cochlear implant is a hearing solution implemented in the Brazilian scenario, becoming a viable strategy for auditory rehabilitation for severe and profound hearing loss. However, despite the great technological advancements and the excellent results obtained and described in the literature, having an implanted child can compromise the quality of life of the families involved in the process. Objective: Compare the quality of life of a group of parents and families who have children users of cochlear implants, before and after implantation. Method: This is a cross-sectional clinical study. The participants were 30 individuals that were submitted to the WHOQOL- Bref questionnaire before surgery and after six months of implant activation. The overall score and the data for the four areas covered (physical, psychological, environmental and social relations) were analyzed and described. Results: There was a significant positive change to the scores of environmental and social relationships domains of the instrument. There was no significant difference in the overall score or on the physical and psychological domains. Conclusion: It was possible to compare the quality of life of a group of parents of children using CI before and after the surgical process and device activation. The implantation has generated significant improvement in the environment and social relationships areas, showing an improvement in the quality of life of the interviewed parents.

Introducción: El implante coclear es una solución auditiva concretizada en la escena brasileña, que se constituye como estrategia de rehabilitación auditiva viable para la pérdida de audición severa y profunda. Sin embargo, a pesar de los grandes avances tecnológicos y los excelentes resultados obtenidos y descritos en la literatura, tener un niño implantado puede comprometer la calidad de vida de las familias involucradas en el proceso. Objetivo: Comparar la calidad de vida de un grupo de padres y familias que tienen niños usuarios de implantes cocleares, antes y después de la implantación. Método: Se trata de un estudio clínico descriptivo transversal. Se incluyeron 30 individuos que se sometieron al cuestionario WHOQOL Bref antes de la cirugía y después de seis meses de la activación del implante. La puntuación global y los datos para los cuatro dominios cubiertos (físico, psicológico, medioambientales y relaciones sociales) fueron analizados y descritos. Resultados: Hubo un cambio positivo significativo de las puntuaciones en los dominios de las relaciones sociales y medioambientales del instrumento. No hubo diferencia significativa en la puntuación total y en los dominios físico y psicológico. Conclusión: Fue posible comparar la calidad de vida de un grupo de padres de niños que utilizan IC, antes y después del proceso quirúrgico y activación del dispositivo. La implantación ha generado una mejora significativa en los dominios medioambientales y relaciones sociales, demostrando una mejora en la calidad de vida de los padres entrevistados.

Description of tinnitus and its relation to discomfort level in a group of elderly hearing aid wearers.

INTRODUCTION: Evaluating quality of life for tinnitus patients has been an interest of several specialties that have seen the negative impact that the disorder has on people. OBJECTIVE: To assess and qualify tinnitus in a group of elderly hearing aid wearers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 53 elderly patients with tinnitus without remission after wearing hearing aids. All subjects were submitted to: a medical evaluation, an audiological evaluation, acuphenometry, an investigation of tinnitus annoyance level and quality of life. RESULTS: There were 20 men and 33 women. The mean age was 72.5 years. The sample was mostly characterized by having sensorineural hearing loss (84%), moderate to moderately severe (86%) and downward sloping (82%). With respect to the description of the tinnitus sound, the most common were a hissing sound (93%) of average pitch (84%). Regarding the subjects' perception of tinnitus, it was found that subjects had varying levels of annoyance: mild (25%), moderate (33%), severe (22%), most severe (20%). Men are more bothered by tinnitus than women. Most of the sample reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their quality of life. CONCLUSION: It was possible to evaluate and qualify tinnitus in the sample. Although tinnitus is a frequent audiological symptom that interferes in the life of the elderly, in the sample it did not weigh heavily in terms of quality of life.