Central auditory processing: behavioral and electrophysiological assessment of children and adolescents diagnosed with stroke.

INTRODUCTION: Central auditory processing refers to the efficiency and effectiveness with which the central nervous system uses auditory information: it may be altered in neurological disorders and brain injuries, such as strokes. However, despite evidence of probable alterations in the pediatric population, functional abilities and post-stroke limitations are still not well documented in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the findings of the electrophysiological and behavioral evaluations of central auditory processing of children and adolescents diagnosed with stroke from a reference outpatient clinic, as well as to investigate possible associations with the variables: type and location of the stroke and age group. METHODS: The present study is characterized as comparative cross-sectional. The sample, for convenience, included individuals aged 7-18 years divided into two groups: study group, composed of individuals with a diagnosis of stroke, and control group, composed of individuals with typical development. The evaluation consisted of the following procedures: anamnesis, basic audiological evaluation, behavioral evaluation of the auditory processing disorder (dichotic digit test, dichotic consonant-vowel, synthetic sentence identification/pediatric speech intelligibility, gaps in noise, pitch pattern sequence, masking level difference), and electrophysiological evaluation (P300 and mismatch negativity). RESULTS: Nineteen children and adolescents were included in the study group. The control group was composed of 19 children and adolescents with typical development. In the comparison between the groups, a worse performance is observed for the study group in all the evaluated tests, behavioral and electrophysiological. In the behavioral evaluation of central auditory processing, there was a statistical difference for all tests, except for masking level difference and dichotic digit test, binaural separation step on the left. In the electrophysiological evaluation, there was a statistical difference in the latency of mismatch negativity and P300. No associations were found between the behavioral and electrophysiological findings and the location of the stroke and age group variables. CONCLUSION: Children and adolescents diagnosed with stroke present a worse performance in the electrophysiological and behavioral evaluations of central auditory processing when compared to a control group.

Comparison between click and ce-chirp® stimuli in neonatal hearing screening / Comparação dos estímulos clique e ce-chirp® na triagem auditiva neonatal

BACKGROUNG:OBJECTIVE: To compare the application time of the Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (A-ABR) between the click and CE-Chirp® stimuliMETHODS: Forty-six newborns were evaluated without risk indicators for hearing loss and presenting transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE). The A-ABR was performed with Interacoustics® Titan equipment in a hospital, with the click and CE-Chirp® stimuli at the same time. Descriptive statistical analyses and inferential statistics analyses (Student's t-test calculation for mean comparisons among independent samples) were used for the variables age, gender, examination time, laterality and test stimulus usedRESULTS: Of the 46 neonates in the sample, 23 were male and 23 female. The mean age of the sample was 23.1 days. The mean procedure time using the Click stimulus was 85.9 seconds for the right ear and 86.1 seconds for the left ear, whereas for the use of the CE-Chirp® stimulus the results obtained for the right and left ear were28.4 seconds and 27.9 seconds, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean times obtained through the CE-Chirp® and Click stimuli for both ears (p=0.000). There was no statistically significant difference in the comparison between the right and left ears or between females and malesCONCLUSION: It was found that the mean duration of the A-ABR procedure using the CE- Chirp® stimulus is three times lower than with the Click stimulus

INTRODUÇÃO:OBJETIVO: Comparar o tempo de aplicação do Potencial Evocado Auditivo de Tronco Encefálico Automático (PEATE-A) entre os estímulos clique e CE-Chirp®MÉTODO: Foram avaliados 46 recém-nascidos sem indicadores de risco para perda auditiva e que apresentavam emissões otoacústicas evocadas por estímulo transiente (EOAT) presentes. O PEATE-A foi realizado com o equipamento Titan da Interacoustics® em ambiente hospitalar, com os estímulos clique e CE-Chirp®na mesma ocasião. As análises estatísticas descritivas e análises estatísticas inferenciais (cálculo do teste t de Studentpara comparações de médias entre amostras independentes) foram utilizadas para as variáveis idade, gênero, tempo de exame, lateralidade e estímulo de teste utilizadoRESULTADOS: Dos 46 recém-nascidos da amostra, 23 são do sexo masculino e 23 do sexo feminino. A idade média da amostra foi de 23,1 dias. O tempo médio do procedimento usando o estímulo clique foi de 85,9 segundos para a orelha direita e 86,1 segundos para a orelha esquerda, enquanto que para o uso do estímulo CE-Chirp®foram obtidos resultados para a orelha direita e esquerda de 28,4 segundos e 27,9 segundos respectivamente. Houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os tempos médios obtidos por meio dos estímulos CE-Chirp® e Clique para ambas as orelhas (p=0,000). Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante na comparação entre as orelhas direita e esquerda ou entre o sexo feminino e masculinoCONCLUSÃO: Verificou-se que o tempo médio de realização do procedimento PEATE-A com uso do estímulo CE-Chirp® é três vezes menor do que com estímulo Clique

Mismatch Negativity in Children: Reference Values

Abstract Introduction The Mismatch Negativity (MMN) auditory evoked potential evaluation is a promising procedure to assess objectively the ability of auditory discrimination. Objective To characterize the latency and amplitude values of MMN in children with normal auditory thresholds and without auditory complaints. Methods Children between 5 and 11 years old participated in the present study. All participants underwent acoustic immittance measurements and tonal and vocal audiometry. The MMN was recorded with the MASBE ATC Plus system (Contronic, Pelotas, RS, Brazil). The electrodes were fixed in Fz (active electrode), Fpz (ground electrode) and in M2 and M1 (references electrodes). The intensity used was 80 dBHL, the frequent stimulus was 1,000 Hz and the rare stimulus was 2,000 Hz. The stimuli were presented in both ears separately. Results For the female group, the mean latencies and amplitude of MMN were 177.3 ms and 5.01 μV in the right ear (RE) and 182.4ms and 5.39 μV in the left ear (LE). In the male group, themean latencies were 194.4 ms in the RE and 183.6ms in the LE, with an amplitude of 5.11 μV in the RE and 5.83 μV in the LE. There was no statistically significant difference between ears (p = 0.867 - latency and p = 0.178 - amplitude), age (p > 0.20) and the gender of the participants (p > 0.05). Conclusion Using the described protocol, the mean latency value of MMN was 184.0 ms for RE and 182.9 ms for LE, and the amplitude was 5.05 μV and 5.56 μV for the left and right ears, respective.

Mismatch Negativity in Children: Reference Values.

Introduction The Mismatch Negativity (MMN) auditory evoked potential evaluation is a promising procedure to assess objectively the ability of auditory discrimination. Objective To characterize the latency and amplitude values of MMN in children with normal auditory thresholds and without auditory complaints. Methods Children between 5 and 11 years old participated in the present study. All participants underwent acoustic immittance measurements and tonal and vocal audiometry. The MMN was recorded with the MASBE ATC Plus system (Contronic, Pelotas, RS, Brazil). The electrodes were fixed in Fz (active electrode), Fpz (ground electrode) and in M2 and M1 (references electrodes). The intensity used was 80 dBHL, the frequent stimulus was 1,000 Hz and the rare stimulus was 2,000 Hz. The stimuli were presented in both ears separately. Results For the female group, the mean latencies and amplitude of MMN were 177.3 ms and 5.01 µV in the right ear (RE) and 182.4 ms and 5.39 µV in the left ear (LE). In the male group, the mean latencies were 194.4 ms in the RE and 183.6 ms in the LE, with an amplitude of 5.11 µV in the RE and 5.83 µV in the LE. There was no statistically significant difference between ears ( p = 0.867 - latency and p = 0.178 - amplitude), age ( p > 0.20) and the gender of the participants ( p > 0.05). Conclusion Using the described protocol, the mean latency value of MMN was 184.0 ms for RE and 182.9 ms for LE, and the amplitude was 5.05 µV and 5.56 µV for the left and right ears, respective.

Avaliação do processamento auditivo central em crianças e adolescentes acometidos por acidente vascular cerebral: revisão sistemática da literatura / Evaluation of central auditory processing in children affected by stroke: a systematic review of the literature

RESUMO Objetivos Identificar estudos que tenham abordado as avaliações do processamento auditivo central, eletrofisiológicas e/ou comportamentais, em crianças e adolescentes acometidos por acidente vascular cerebral. Estratégia de pesquisa Conduziu-se uma busca no mês de julho de 2017, usando os descritores: stroke , auditory perception, childhood, child, children e evoked potentials auditory nas bases de dados PubMed, Scopus e SciELO. Critérios de seleção Foram selecionados artigos em inglês e português, publicados até julho de 2017, sem limitação de data inicial. Os artigos deveriam apresentar abordagem metodológica que referisse achados da avaliação do processamento auditivo central, em crianças e adolescentes com diagnóstico de acidente vascular cerebral. Resultados Inicialmente, foram encontrados 15 estudos, resultando na seleção de três artigos que atendiam aos critérios de inclusão e que foram considerados relevantes para a amostra deste estudo. Devido ao fato de que nenhum dos estudos incluídos tenha utilizado os potenciais evocados auditivos de longa latência em suas avaliações audiológicas, optou-se por realizar uma segunda busca, com os descritores: stroke AND children AND evoked potentials, auditory, nas mesmas bases de dados. Com estes descritores, obteve-se 36 artigos e, destes, apenas um artigo foi selecionado, de acordo com os critérios de inclusão estabelecidos. Conclusão Foram verificados poucos estudos na literatura, que tenham avaliado o processamento auditivo central em crianças e adolescentes acometidos por acidente vascular cerebral. Não obstante, salienta-se a importância dos estudos encontrados para contribuição nos processos de diagnóstico e de monitoramento terapêutico dessa população.

ABSTRACT Purpose To identify studies that have addressed Central Auditory Processing (CAP), through electrophysiological and/or behavioral tests, in children and adolescents affected by Stroke. Research strategy A search was conducted in July 2017, using the descriptors: "stroke ", auditory perception", "childhood ", "child" and " evoked potentials, auditory" in PubMed, Scopus and SciELO databases. Selection criteria Articles written in English, Portuguese and Spanish, published until July 2017, without start date limitation. The articles should present a methodological approach that refers to the findings of central auditory processing assessment in children and adolescents diagnosed with stroke. Results First, 15 studies were found, and three of them were selected because they met the inclusion criteria and were considered relevant for the sample of the present study. As none of the included studies used LLAEP in their audiological assessments, a second search was performed with the descriptors: "stroke" AND " children" AND "evoked potentials, auditory " in the same databases. A total of 36 papers were found with these descriptors but only one paper was selected, according to the established inclusion criteria. Conclusion Few studies in the literature have assessed central auditory processing in children and adolescents with stroke. Nevertheless, the studies are important for diagnos and therap monitoring in this population.

Treinamento musical e habilidades do processamento auditivo em crianças: revisão sistemática / Music training and auditory processing skills in children: a systematic review

RESUMO Objetivo Verificar a contribuição do treinamento musical nas habilidades do processamento auditivo em crianças. Estratégia de pesquisa Realizou-se uma busca no mês de agosto de 2018, usando os descritores Music, Child, Childhood, Children, Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Auditory Perception, Auditory Processing, utilizando o operador AND. Critérios de seleção Como questão norteadora, adotou-se a seguinte pergunta: "o que existe na literatura científica sobre a contribuição do treinamento musical nas habilidades de processamento auditivo em crianças?" Após, foram selecionados somente ensaios clínicos controlados na população infantil, estudos publicados em inglês, português e espanhol. Resultados A estratégia de busca resultou na seleção de dez artigos. Os estudos evidenciaram diversas habilidades testadas e diferentes formas de avaliação. Conclusão Com base nos achados, pode-se concluir que o treinamento musical melhora e aprimora as habilidades de processamento auditivo, de forma que quanto maior o tempo de treinamento, mais essas habilidades são reforçadas. Dessa forma, o treinamento musical mostra-se um método eficaz e com potencialidade para ser utilizado em crianças, tanto no período de desenvolvimento da comunicação oral e escrita, para auxiliar a aquisição das habilidades auditivas, como após a aquisição afim de aprimorá-las.

ABSTRACT Purpose To check the contribution of music training to auditory processing skills in children. Research strategy A search was performed in October 2018, using the descriptors Music, Child, Childhood, Children, Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Auditory Perception, Auditory Processing, using the AND operator. Selection criteria The main research question was: "What has been reported in the scientific literature about the contribution of musical training to auditory processing skills in children?" We selected only controlled clinical trials with the child population, studies published in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Results The search strategy resulted in the selection of ten articles. The studies showed several skills tested and different forms of evaluation. Conclusion Based on the findings, it can be concluded that music training improves auditory processing skills, so the longer the training time, the more these skills are reinforced. Thus, music training is an effective method that can be potentially used in children, both in the development of oral and written communication - to aid in the acquisition of auditory skills - and after acquisition, in order to improve such skills.

Tabaco en adolescentes escolares brasileños: asociación con salud mental y contexto familiar / Tobacco use in Brazilian school adolescents: association with mental health and family context

Objetivo: Estudiar la asociación entre aspectos de la salud mental y el contexto familiar con la experimentación y el consumo de tabaco en jóvenes escolares brasileños. Método: Estudio transversal utilizando datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud Escolar de Brasil, que incluyó 109.104 escolares del noveno año de formación fundamental, turno diurno, de escuelas públicas y privadas de los 26 Estados y el Distrito Federal. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las variables, análisis bivariado y multivariado, con obtención de odds ratio (OR) e intervalo de confianza del 95% (IC95%). Resultados: El 20,9% de los escolares experimentaron el tabaco por lo menos una vez en la vida. Los adolescentes que presentaban sentimientos de soledad más frecuentemente (OR: 2,07; IC95%: 1,98-2,16), dificultad para dormir (OR: 2,37; IC95%: 2,52-2,48) y menor interacción social (OR: 1,27; IC95%: 1,26-1,32) se asociaron más frecuentemente con consumo de tabaco, con independencia del tipo de escuela, el sexo y el color de piel. Los escolares de padres o responsables poco comprensivos (OR: 2,39; IC95%: 2,29-2,49), o que no saben lo que los hijos hacen en su tiempo libre (OR: 1,52; IC95%: 1,46-1,59), se asociaron con consumo frecuente de cigarrillos. Conclusión: Se evidenció una asociación entre la salud mental y el contexto familiar con la experimentación y el uso de tabaco en adolescentes escolarizados brasileños, independientemente del tipo de escuela, sexo y color de piel. Es importante que programas destinados a prevenir y retardar la experimentación y el uso de tabaco en la adolescencia enfaticen en estos hallazgos y se planteen estrategias en ámbitos de salud mental y familiar

Objective: To study the association between aspects of mental health and the family context with tobacco experimentation and consumption among Brazilian schoolchildren. Method: A cross-sectional study using data from the National Survey of Schoolchildren's Health in Brazil conducted on 109,104 schoolchildren from the ninth year of elementary school, day scholars in public and private schools in all Brazilian state capitals and the Federal District. Descriptive analysis of variables, bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed with logistic regression estimates, adjusted for socioeconomic variables, obtaining the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI). Results: Among the participants, 52.2% were female. Twenty point nine percent of the students reported having experimented with cigarettes at least once. Adolescents who experienced more often feelings of loneliness (OR: 2.07; 95%CI: 1.98-2.16), difficulty sleeping (OR: 2.37; 95%CI: 2.52-2.48) and lower social interaction (OR: 1.27; 95%CI: 1.26-1.32), were more likely to smoke, regardless of socioeconomic status. The schoolchildren of parents or caregivers (OR: 2.39; 95%CI: 2.29-2.49) who did not know what their children did in their free time (OR: 1.52; 95%CI: 1.46-1.59) were associated with more frequent cigarette smoking. Conclusion: An association was seen between aspects of mental health and the family context with the experimentation and consumption of tobacco in adolescents enrolled in the study in Brazil. These associations are independent of school type, sex and skin colour. It is important that programmes for the prevention of tobacco use in adolescence emphasise these findings

Air and Bone Conduction Frequency-specific Auditory Brainstem Response in Children with Agenesis of the External Auditory Canal.

Introduction The tone-evoked auditory brainstem responses (tone-ABR) enable the differential diagnosis in the evaluation of children until 12 months of age, including those with external and/or middle ear malformations. The use of auditory stimuli with frequency specificity by air and bone conduction allows characterization of hearing profile. Objective The objective of our study was to compare the results obtained in tone-ABR by air and bone conduction in children until 12 months, with agenesis of the external auditory canal. Method The study was cross-sectional, observational, individual, and contemporary. We conducted the research with tone-ABR by air and bone conduction in the frequencies of 500 Hz and 2000 Hz in 32 children, 23 boys, from one to 12 months old, with agenesis of the external auditory canal. Results The tone-ABR thresholds were significantly elevated for air conduction in the frequencies of 500 Hz and 2000 Hz, while the thresholds of bone conduction had normal values in both ears. We found no statistically significant difference between genders and ears for most of the comparisons. Conclusion The thresholds obtained by bone conduction did not alter the thresholds in children with conductive hearing loss. However, the conductive hearing loss alter all thresholds by air conduction. The tone-ABR by bone conduction is an important tool for assessing cochlear integrity in children with agenesis of the external auditory canal under 12 months.

Air and Bone Conduction Frequency-specific Auditory Brainstem Response in Children with Agenesis of the External Auditory Canal

Abstract Introduction The tone-evoked auditory brainstem responses (tone-ABR) enable the differential diagnosis in the evaluation of children until 12 months of age, including those with external and/or middle ear malformations. The use of auditory stimuli with frequency specificity by air and bone conduction allows characterization of hearing profile. Objective The objective of our study was to compare the results obtained in tone-ABR by air and bone conduction in children until 12 months, with agenesis of the external auditory canal. Method The study was cross-sectional, observational, individual, and contemporary. We conducted the research with tone-ABR by air and bone conduction in the frequencies of 500 Hz and 2000 Hz in 32 children, 23 boys, from one to 12 months old, with agenesis of the external auditory canal. Results The tone-ABR thresholds were significantly elevated for air conduction in the frequencies of 500 Hz and 2000 Hz, while the thresholds of bone conduction had normal values in both ears. We found no statistically significant difference between genders and ears for most of the comparisons. Conclusion The thresholds obtained by bone conduction did not alter the thresholds in children with conductive hearing loss. However, the conductive hearing loss alter all thresholds by air conduction. The tone-ABR by bone conduction is an important tool for assessing cochlear integrity in children with agenesis of the external auditory canal under 12 months.

Aplicabilidade do Mismatch Negativity na população infantil: revisão sistemática de literatura / Applicability of Mismatch Negativity in the child population: systematic literature review

RESUMO Introdução Mismatch Negativity (MMN) é um potencial eletrofisiológico que mede a habilidade do cérebro em discriminar sons, independente da capacidade atencional e comportamental. Por ser uma medida objetiva e de fácil utilização, torna-se promissora no estudo da investigação do processamento auditivo em crianças. Objetivo Verificar a aplicabilidade do Mismatch Negativity na população infantil. Estratégia de pesquisa Conduziu-se uma busca nos meses de agosto e setembro de 2016, usando os descritores Evoked Potentials, Auditory AND Children, Event-related Potential AND Children e Electrophysiology AND Children, nas bases de dados Portal BVS (MEDLINE, IBECS e LILACS) e SciELO. Critérios de seleção Foram selecionados artigos em português, inglês e espanhol, publicados até setembro de 2016, sem limitação de data inicial, cuja abordagem do Mismatch Negativity fosse com a população infantil. Resultados A estratégia de busca resultou na seleção de 23 artigos, classificados como artigos originais. Os estudos evidenciaram diversas aplicabilidades do MMN em crianças, incluindo transtorno do espectro autista, transtornos do processamento auditivo, fissura labiopalatina, prematuridade e distúrbio específico de linguagem, sendo a maioria em dislexia. Conclusão Apesar da grande variabilidade envolvida nas medidas de realização do MMN, existe uma ampla aplicabilidade clínica desse potencial eletrofisiológico na população infantil.

ABSTRACT Introduction Mismatch Negativity (MMN) is an electrophysiological potential that evaluates the brain's capacity to discriminate sounds, regardless of attentional and behavioral capacity. Because it is an objective and user-friendly measure, it becomes promising in the study of auditory processing research in children. Purpose To verify the applicability of Mismatch Negativity (MMN) in children. Research strategy A search was conducted in August and September 2016 using the descriptors Evoked Potentials, Auditory AND Children, Event-related Potential AND Children and Electrophysiology AND Children in bibliographic collection of the electronic databases Portal BVS (Medline, IBECS and LILACS) and SciELO. Selection criteria The selection of articles was carried out in Portuguese, English and Spanish published up to September 2016 without initial date limitation and whose approach to Mismatch Negativity was with the child population. Results The search strategy resulted in the selection of 23 articles classified as original articles. The studies evidenced several applications of MMN in children, including autism spectrum disorder, auditory processing disorders, cleft lip and palate, prematurity, and language-specific disorder, being the majority of them in dyslexia. Conclusion Despite the great variability involved in the measures of MMN, there is a wide clinical applicability of this electrophysiological potential in the infant population.

Influência de fatores e hábitos pessoais na percepção do zumbido / Influence of factors and personal habits on the tinnitus perception

RESUMO Objetivo: investigar a localização e verificar a influência de fatores e hábitos na percepção do zumbido em pacientes com tal sintoma. Métodos: fizeram parte da amostra 740 indivíduos com queixa de zumbido, atendidos em ambulatório especializado de hospital universitário. Todos relataram a localização do zumbido em resposta a questionário, contendo também informações sobre fatores e hábitos causadores de melhora ou piora na percepção do zumbido. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente. Resultados: o predomínio da localização foi em ambas as orelhas. A maior parte dos fatores investigados não modifica a percepção do zumbido para os pesquisados. Dentre os fatores que puderam ser relacionados à piora da percepção estão, principalmente, o silêncio e o período da noite, seguidos pela ansiedade. Por outro lado, ruído foi o fator mais referido como causador de diminuição da percepção do zumbido. Não foi verificada influência de idade e gênero. Conclusão: mais da metade dos sujeitos apresentaram queixa de zumbido bilateral e a maior parte das situações pesquisadas não provocam mudança na percepção do zumbido na população estudada. Destaca-se, contudo, que a presença de ruído ambiental auxilia na diminuição da sensação de incômodo ao zumbido, enquanto o silêncio, período da noite e a ansiedade contribuem para acentuá-la.

ABSTRACT Purpose: to investigate the location and to verify the influence of factors and personal habits in the tinnitus perception in patients with the symptom. Methods: 740 individuals with tinnitus, from an outpatient clinic of a university hospital were investigated. All of them reported the location in response to a questionnaire, also containing information about some factors and daily habits that causes improvement or worsening of tinnitus. The data were statistically analyzed. Results: the predominant location was in both ears. Most of the investigated factors does not change the perception of tinnitus for researched subjects. The silence, the nighttime and the anxiety were the factors that might be related to worsening of tinnitus perception. Moreover, the noise was referred as a factor that causes decrease of tinnitus perception. There was no influence of age and gender. Conclusion: more than half of the subjects had bilateral tinnitus and that most situations surveyed do not cause change in the tinnitus perception to the studied people. It is noteworthy, however, that the presence of ambient noise helps to reduce the feeling of tinnitus annoyance, as well as the silence, the period of night and the anxiety contribute to accentuate it.

Efeitos da expansão rápida de maxila na audição: revisão sistemática da literatura / Effects of rapid maxillary expansion on hearing: a systematic review

RESUMO Objetivo Verificar os efeitos provocados pela expansão rápida de maxila na audição. Estratégia de pesquisa Conduziu-se uma busca no mês de janeiro de 2016, usando as palavras-chave "hearing loss", "hearing", "rapid maxillary expansion" e "palatal expansion technique" nas bases de dados MEDLINE, SciELO e Bibliografia Brasileira de Odontologia (BBO). Critérios de seleção Foram selecionados artigos em inglês, português e espanhol, publicados até janeiro de 2016, sem limitação de data inicial, cuja abordagem metodológica referisse os efeitos da expansão rápida de maxila na audição. Resultados A estratégia de busca resultou na seleção de oito artigos, classificados como ensaios clínicos. Os estudos constataram que a expansão rápida de maxila realizada em crianças e/ou adolescentes melhora os limiares de audibilidade e as medidas de imitância acústica. Conclusão A expansão rápida da maxila provocou melhora na audição, apesar da diversidade e das limitações metodológicas dos estudos analisados.

ABSTRACT Purpose Verifying the effects of rapid maxillary expansion on hearing. Research strategy The search was conducted in the bibliographic collection of the electronic databases MEDLINE, SciELO and Bibliografia Brasileira de Odontologia (BBO) in January 2016. The keywords used for the research were: "hearing loss", "hearing", "rapid maxillary expansion" and "palatal expansion technique". Selection criteria Articles in Portuguese, English and Spanish were selected, published up to January 2016, without initial date limitation. Studies related to the rapid maxillary expansion on hearing topic were included in this systematic review. Results The research strategy resulted in the selection of eight articles, which were classified as clinical trials. The studies explains that the rapid maxillary expansion performed on children and/or teenagers improves hearing thresholds and acoustic impedance measurements. Conclusion The rapid maxillary expansion caused hearing improvement, despite the methodological limitations and diversity of the analyzed studies.