RESUMO
AIM: To evaluate the hearing of children with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) and to analyze the knowledge that parents' have on the possible auditory impacts of the disease. METHODS: A total of 263 parents/guardians were interviewed about aspects of CH and hearing. Audiological evaluation was performed on 80 participants, divided into two groups: with CH (n= 50) and without CH (n=30). Clinical and laboratory CH data were obtained from medical records, pure tone auditory thresholds and acoustic reflexes were analyzed. The auditory data was compared between groups. Student's t-test and Chi-square were used for statistical analysis at a significance level of 5% (p ≤0.05). RESULTS: The majority (78%), of the parents were unaware that CH when not treated early is a potential risk to hearing. There was no correlation between socioeconomic class and level of information about CH and hearing (p>0,05; p=0.026). There was a statistically significant difference between the auditory tone thresholds of the groups and between the levels of intensity necessary for the triggering of the acoustic reflex. The group with CH presented the worst results (p≤0.05) and absence of acoustic reflex in a normal tympanometric condition. CONCLUSIONS: Children with CH are more likely to develop damage to the auditory system involving retrocochlear structures when compared to healthy children, and that the disease may have been a risk factor for functional deficits without deteriorating hearing sensitivity. The possible impacts of CH on hearing, when not treated early, should be more publicized among the parents/guardians of this population.
RESUMO
Resumo Objetivo Investigar a frequência de sintomas otoneurológicos em crianças com hipotireoidismo congênito e relacioná-los com os aspectos clínicos. Métodos Estudo exploratório de caráter descritivo seccional. A casuística foi composta pelos pais e/ou cuidadores de 105 crianças com diagnóstico de hipotireoidismo congênito e com 5 anos ou mais de idade. A coleta de dados utilizou um questionário estruturado elaborado e testado pelos pesquisadores. As informações clínicas e laboratoriais foram obtidas dos prontuários médicos. Resultados A maioria dos indivíduos (72,4%) demonstrou sintomas relacionados à disfunção vestibulococlear, na qual a tontura/vertigem correspondeu a 56,2% dos sintomas, seguida pela hipoacusia (43,8%) e pelo zumbido (12,4%). Houve correlação estatística entre os sintomas de hipoacusia (p=0,016) e a idade para o teste de rastreio neonatal, bem como os sintomas de tontura/vertigem com a etiologia do hipotireoidismo congênito (p=0,003). Na percepção da hipoacusia (RP=0,49; IC=0,31-0,77), a exposição ao fator demonstrou associação com a probabilidade de 95%. Conclusão Os achados sugerem significativa prevalência e associação entre hipotireoidismo congênito e sintomas otoneurológicos, especialmente tontura, hipoacusia e zumbido.
Abstract Purpose To investigate the frequency of otoneurological symptoms in children with congenital hypothyroidism and correlate them to the clinical aspects. Methods Exploratory study of sectional descriptive character. The sample was composed by parents and/or caregivers of 105 children diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism and age of 5 years or more. Data collection used a structured questionnaire developed and tested by researchers. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained from medical records. Results Most subjects (72.4%) showed symptoms related to vestibulocochlear disorder, in which dizziness/vertigo corresponded to 56.2% of symptoms, followed by hearing loss (43.8%) and tinnitus (12.4%). We observed statistical correlation between hearing loss (p = 0.016) and age of neonatal screening test, as well as symptoms of dizziness/vertigo with congenital hypothyroidism (p = 0.003). For hearing loss (PR = 0.49; CI = 0.31 to 0.77), the exposure factor showed a correlation with the probability of 95%. Conclusion These findings suggest a significant prevalence and association between congenital hypothyroidism and otoneurological symptoms, especially dizziness, hearing loss and tinnitus.
