Audiological findings in patients treated with radiotherapy for head and neck tumors.

UNLABELLED: Radiotherapy has been widely used given its increase in the successful outcomes and cure of some cancers. AIM: To evaluate the functionality of the auditory system in patients who underwent radiotherapy treatment for head and neck tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 2007 to May 2008, otorhinolaryngological and audiological evaluation (Pure Tone Audiometry (air and bone conduction), Speech Audiometry, Tympanometry, Acoustic Reflex testing and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions) were performed in 19 patients diagnosed with head and neck neoplasia and treated with radiotherapy. Prospective case series study. RESULTS: 10.5% left ears and 26.3% right ears had bilateral hearing loss soon after radiotherapy according to ASHA criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Radiotherapy treatment for head and neck cancer has ototoxic effects. Early programs of auditory rehabilitation should be offered to these patients.

Achados audiológicos em pacientes tratados com radioterapia para tumores de cabeça e pescoço / Audiological findings in pacients treated with radiotherapy for head and neck tumors

A radioterapia é uma modalidade terapêutica muito utilizada, uma vez que o aumento de resultados satisfatórios e a cura de algumas neoplasias através deste tipo de tratamento estão sendo observados. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a funcionalidade do sistema auditivo em pacientes submetidos ao tratamento radioterápico em região de cabeça e pescoço. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Estudo realizado no período de maio de 2007 a maio de 2008. Foram realizadas avaliações otorrinolaringológicas e audiológicas como audiometria tonal limiar por via aérea e óssea, audiometria vocal, timpanometria, pesquisa do reflexo do estapédio e Emissões Otoacústicas Evocadas por Produto de Distorção em 19 pacientes com diagnóstico de neoplasia em região de cabeça e pescoço e indicação do tratamento radioterápico. Estudo de série prospectivo. RESULTADOS: 10,5 por cento orelhas esquerdas e 26,3 por cento orelhas direitas apresentaram diminuição dos limares auditivos tonais logo após o término do tratamento radioterápico, segundo os critérios da ASHA. CONCLUSÃO: O tratamento radioterápico apresentou efeitos ototóxicos quando realizado em região de cabeça e pescoço. Programas de monitoramento audiológico e reabilitação auditiva precoce devem ser oferecidos aos pacientes submetidos a esse tipo de tratamento.

Radiotherapy has been widely used given its increase in the successful outcomes and cure of some cancers. AIM: To evaluate the functionality of the auditory system in patients who underwent radiotherapy treatment for head and neck tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 2007 to May 2008, otorhinolaryngological and audiological evaluation (Pure Tone Audiometry (air and bone conduction), Speech Audiometry, Tympanometry, Acoustic Reflex testing and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions) were performed in 19 patients diagnosed with head and neck neoplasia and treated with radiotherapy. Prospective case series study. RESULTS: 10.5 percent left ears and 26.3 percent right ears had bilateral hearing loss soon after radiotherapy according to ASHA criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Radiotherapy treatment for head and neck cancer has ototoxic effects. Early programs of auditory rehabilitation should be offered to these patients.

Characterization of language and phonological working memory in patients with myoclonic astatic epileptic syndrome.

The course of myoclonic astatic epileptic syndrome (MAES) is variable and little information is available about cortical functions in the presence of the disease. The objective of the present study was to assess the phonological working memory (PWM) and the verbal language of six patients between 8 and 18 years old, on treatment for at least 5 years, and good control of seizures, diagnosed in the Service of Epilepsy of Hospital of Clinics of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo University in Brazil. The Test of Repetition of Meaningless Words was used to assess PWM. Video-recorded of language samples were collected during spontaneous and directed activities for the study of verbal language and pragmatics. A qualitative analysis showed that all patients presented deficits in the execution of the PWM test and only one patient showed poor mastery of all aspects studied. These finds contribute to strategies of treatment for language problems of patients with MAES, focusing on PWA.

Characterization of language and phonological working memory in patients with myoclonic astatic epileptic syndrome / Caracterização da linguagem e memória de trabalho em pacientes com síndrome epiléptica mioclônica astática

The course of myoclonic astatic epileptic syndrome (MAES) is variable and little information is available about cortical functions in the presence of the disease. The objective of the present study was to assess the phonological working memory (PWM) and the verbal language of six patients between 8 and 18 years old, on treatment for at least 5 years, and good control of seizures, diagnosed in the Service of Epilepsy of Hospital of Clinics of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo University in Brazil. The Test of Repetition of Meaningless Words was used to assess PWM. Video-recorded of language samples were collected during spontaneous and directed activities for the study of verbal language and pragmatics. A qualitative analysis showed that all patients presented deficits in the execution of the PWM test and only one patient showed poor mastery of all aspects studied. These finds contribute to strategies of treatment for language problems of patients with MAES, focusing on PWA.

A evolução da síndrome epiléptica mioclônica astática (SEMA) é variável e há poucas informações sobre funções corticais. Este estudo pretendeu avaliar a memória de trabalho fonológica (MTF) e a linguagem verbal de pacientes com SEMA. Foram avaliados seis pacientes entre 8 e 18 anos em tratamento há mais de 5 anos e bom controle das crises, do Serviço de Epilepsia do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo. A Prova de Repetição de Palavras Sem Significado foi utilizada para MTF, e coletaram-se amostras de linguagem, gravadas em vídeo, durante atividades espontâneas e dirigidas para estudo da linguagem verbal e pragmática. Análise qualitativa mostrou que todos apresentaram deficiência na MTF e, exceto um, mostraram domínio dos aspectos verbais estudados. Os achados contribuem para estratégias de tratamento de problemas de linguagem de pacientes com SEMA, com maior enfoque na MTF.