Resumo Introdução As respostas eletrofisiológicas obtidas com o Potencial Evocado Auditivo de Tronco Encefálico complexo (Peate-c) fornecem medidas objetivas do processamento subcortical dos estímulos de fala e outros estímulos complexos. O Peate-c também vem sendo utilizado para verificar a plasticidade na via auditiva nas regiões subcorticais. Objetivo Comparar os resultados do Peate-c obtidos em crianças usuárias de Aparelho de Amplificação Sonora Individual (AASI), antes e após 9 meses da adaptação, bem como comparar os resultados destas crianças com os obtidos em crianças com audição normal. Método Foram avaliadas 14 crianças com audição normal (Grupo Controle - GC) e 18 crianças com perda auditiva neurossensorial de grau leve a moderado bilateral (Grupo Estudo - GE), na faixa etária de 7 a 12 anos. As crianças foram submetidas às Audiometrias Tonal e Vocal, Medidas de Imitância Acústica e Peate com estímulo de fala, sendo submetidas às avalições em três momentos diferentes: avaliação inicial (M0), 3 meses após avaliação inicial (M3) e 9 meses após a avaliação inicial (M9), sendo que no M0 as crianças do grupo estudo ainda não faziam uso do AASI. Resultados Na comparação entre GC e GE, observou-se que o GE apresentou menor mediana para a amplitude V-A no M0 e no M3, menor mediana para a latência do componente V no M9 e, maior mediana para a latência do componente O no M3 e no M9. Observou-se no GE, redução na latência do componente A no M9. Conclusão Crianças com perda auditiva de grau leve a moderado apresentaram déficit no processamento do estímulo de fala sendo que o principal prejuízo está relacionado à decodificação da porção transitória do espectro deste estímulo. Evidenciou-se que o uso do AASI promoveu a plasticidade neuronal do Sistema Nervoso Auditivo Central após um tempo prolongado de estimulação sensorial.

Abstract Introduction The electrophysiological responses obtained with the complex auditory brainstem response (cABR) provide objective measures of subcortical processing of speech and other complex stimuli. The cABR has also been used to verify the plasticity in the auditory pathway in the subcortical regions. Objective To compare the results of cABR obtained in children using hearing aids before and after 9 months of adaptation, as well as to compare the results of these children with those obtained in children with normal hearing. Methods Fourteen children with normal hearing (Control Group - CG) and 18 children with mild to moderate bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (Study Group - SG), aged 7-12 years, were evaluated. The children were submitted to pure tone and vocal audiometry, acoustic immittance measurements and ABR with speech stimulus, being submitted to the evaluations at three different moments: initial evaluation (M0), 3 months after the initial evaluation (M3) and 9 months after the evaluation (M9); at M0, the children assessed in the study group did not use hearing aids yet. Results When comparing the CG and the SG, it was observed that the SG had a lower median for the V-A amplitude at M0 and M3, lower median for the latency of the component V at M9 and a higher median for the latency of component O at M3 and M9. A reduction in the latency of component A at M9 was observed in the SG. Conclusion Children with mild to moderate hearing loss showed speech stimulus processing deficits and the main impairment is related to the decoding of the transient portion of this stimulus spectrum. It was demonstrated that the use of hearing aids promoted neuronal plasticity of the Central Auditory Nervous System after an extended time of sensory stimulation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare long-latency auditory evoked potentials before and after hearing aid fittings in children with sensorineural hearing loss compared with age-matched children with normal hearing. METHODS: Thirty-two subjects of both genders aged 7 to 12 years participated in this study and were divided into two groups as follows: 14 children with normal hearing were assigned to the control group (mean age 9 years and 8 months), and 18 children with mild to moderate symmetrical bilateral sensorineural hearing loss were assigned to the study group (mean age 9 years and 2 months). The children underwent tympanometry, pure tone and speech audiometry and long-latency auditory evoked potential testing with speech and tone burst stimuli. The groups were assessed at three time points. RESULTS: The study group had a lower percentage of positive responses, lower P1-N1 and P2-N2 amplitudes (speech and tone burst), and increased latencies for the P1 and P300 components following the tone burst stimuli. They also showed improvements in long-latency auditory evoked potentials (with regard to both the amplitude and presence of responses) after hearing aid use. CONCLUSIONS: Alterations in the central auditory pathways can be identified using P1-N1 and P2-N2 amplitude components, and the presence of these components increases after a short period of auditory stimulation (hearing aid use). These findings emphasize the importance of using these amplitude components to monitor the neuroplasticity of the central auditory nervous system in hearing aid users.

INTRODUÇÃO: Quanto mais precoce o diagnóstico e intervenção da deficiência auditiva, menor será o impacto para o desenvolvimento das habilidades cognitivas, auditivas e de linguagem da criança. OBJETIVO: Caracterizar a idade no diagnóstico e no início da intervenção da perda auditiva e o acompanhamento de crianças atendidas em um serviço público de saúde auditiva brasileiro - Espaço Reouvir do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. MÉTODO: Estudo retrospectivo com informações de 166 prontuários de crianças no que se refere a: gênero; etiologia, tipo, grau e lateralidade da deficiência auditiva; idade do diagnóstico e da adaptação do Aparelho de Amplificação Sonora Individual (AASI) e acompanhamento no serviço. RESULTADOS: A amostra foi composta por 56% homens e 44% mulheres. A etiologia predominante foi a de origem multifatorial. A perda auditiva do tipo neurossensorial ocorreu em 88,6% dos casos. O grau de perda auditiva moderado foi o de maior ocorrência (30,7%), simetria entre as orelhas foi encontrada em 69,9% dos casos e perda auditiva unilateral em 2,4%. A idade média no diagnóstico foi de 5,46 anos e na intervenção de 6,86 anos. Um total de 96,98% das crianças já havia completado o processo de adaptação e 78,32% permaneciam em acompanhamento. CONCLUSÃO: O Programa Reouvir - HCFMUSP ainda recebe crianças, seja para o diagnóstico e/ou para a intervenção, de maneira tardia. Entretanto, ainda assim faz-se possível à realização do acompanhamento de um número significativo de crianças usuárias de AASI, possibilitando um processo de adaptação mais efetivo.

INTRODUCTION: The earlier the diagnosis and the intervention from the hearing impairment less will be the impact for the development of cognitive abilities, hearing and of speech from the child. OBJECTIVE: Characterize the age in the diagnosis and the beginning of intervention of the hearing loss and the accompaniment of the assisted children in a public Brazillian hearing health service - Espaço Reouvir from the Clinicas Hospital from the Medical School from the University of São Paulo. METHOD: Retrospective study with information from 166 medical records from children regarding the: gender; etiology, type, degree and laterality of the hearing impairment; age in the diagnosis and adaptation of the Hearing aids (HA) and accompaniment in the service. RESULTS: The sample was composed by 56% men and 44% women. The prevailing etiology was from multifactorial origin. The hearing loss from the neurosensory type occurred in 88,6% of the cases. The degree of moderate hearing loss was the most frequent (30,7%), symmetry in both ears was found in 69,9% of the cases and unilateral hearing loss in 2,4%. The average age in the diagnosis was of 5,46 years and in the intervention was of 6,86 years. A total of 96,98% of children had already completed the process of adaptation and 78,32% still remained in the accompaniment. CONCLUSION: The program Reouvir-HCFMUSP still receives children, both for diagnosis and or intervention in a late manner. However, still is possible the realization of the accompaniment of a significant number of users of the hearing aids, enabling a process of adaptation more effective.