OBJETIVOS: verificar o desempenho nas habilidades auditivas de atenção seletiva e memória auditiva de idosos protetizados e relacioná-lo com o grau e configuração de perda auditiva, o gênero e a idade. MÉTODO: foram avaliados 29 idosos de 60 a 84 anos, sendo 17 (58,62%) do gênero feminino e 12 (41,38%) do gênero masculino. As avaliações realizadas incluíram meatoscopia, audiometria tonal liminar e aplicação do teste SSW em português. RESULTADOS: a análise dos dados permitiu verificar que, neste grupo de indivíduos, a idade e o grau de perda auditiva influenciaram significantemente nos escores obtidos na avaliação do processamento auditivo, diferentemente das demais variáveis. Os idosos que apresentaram perda auditiva de grau leve com configuração horizontal obtiveram escores significantemente superiores na avaliação do processamento auditivo comparados com os portadores de perda auditiva de grau moderado com configuração horizontal ou grau moderado com configuração descendente. Idosos pertencentes a faixa etária de 60-69 obtiveram desempenho superiormente significante comparado com idosos na faixa etária de 80-89 CONCLUSÃO: concluiu-se que o grau de perda auditiva e a idade influenciam nos resultados da avaliação do processamento auditivo. O gênero e a configuração de perda auditiva não foram fatores determinantes na avaliação do processamento auditivo.

PURPOSE: to verify the performance in the auditory abilities of selective attention and hearing memory of elderly with prosthesis and relate it to the degree and the configuration of hearing loss, the gender and the age. METHOD: 29 elderly people from 60 to 84 years old were evaluated, 17 of them (58,62%) females and 12 (41,38%) males. The evaluations carried out included meatoscopy, audiometry evaluation and the use of the SSW test in Portuguese. RESULTS: the analysis of the data showed that, in this group of individuals, the age and the degree of auditory loss influenced significantly in the scores obtained in the evaluation of the auditory process, unlike the other variables. The elderly that showed light degree with horizontal configuration obtained scores significantly higher than the ones who had auditory loss in moderate degree with horizontal configuration or moderate degree with descending configuration. Elderly belonging to the age range 60 to 69 years old obtained performance significantly superior when compared with the ones in the age range of 80 to 89 years old. CONCLUSION: it was concluded that the degree of hearing loss and the age influenced the evaluation of the auditory processing. The gender and the configuration of hearing loss were not significant determining factors in the evaluation of the auditory processing.

AIM: To investigate the amount of connective tissue migrated into the extraction socket using EPTFE and latex membranes. METHODS: Seventeen rats were selected and randomly divided into 3 groups: e-PTFE membrane (n = 6), Latex membrane (n = 6) and Control (no membrane, n=5). After extraction of the maxillary right incisor, the animals of the test groups were subjected to alveolar guided bone regeneration (GBR) surgery and received an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) and a latex membrane, respectively. Thirty days after surgery, the animals were killed and histometric analysis was done to evaluate the migration of connective tissue. Data were analyzed statistically by one-way ANOVA and multiple-comparison Tukey's test at 5% significance level. RESULTS: There was statistically significant difference between groups e-PTFE and Latex (p=0.001), and between groups e-PTFE and Control (p=0.012), but no significant difference was found between groups Latex and Control (p=0.416). CONCLUSIONS: The e-PTFE membrane showed better results and appeared more adequate for GBR therapy, forming a barrier to prevent the migration of connective tissue into the extraction socket. The latex membrane, on the other hand, did not show benefits over the control group.

TEMA: processamento auditivo em idosos. OBJETIVO: estudar, através de uma revisão teórica, o processamento auditivo em idosos, as desordens que o envelhecimento auditivo causam, bem como os recursos para reduzir as defasagens nas habilidades auditivas envolvidas no processamento auditivo. CONCLUSÃO: vários são os desajustes ocasionados pela desordem do processamento auditivo em idosos. É necessária a continuidade de estudos científicos nessa área para aplicar adequadas medidas intervencionistas, a fim de garantir a reabilitação do indivíduo a tempo de minimizar os efeitos da desordem auditiva sobre o mesmo.

BACKGROUND: auditory processing in elderly. PURPOSE: to promote a theoretical approach on auditory processing in elderly people, the disorders caused by hearing aging, as well as the resources to minimize the auditory aging impairment of the hearing abilities involved in the auditory processing. CONCLUSION: the alterations caused by auditory processing disorder in elderly people are many. It is necessary to continue researching in this field in order to apply adequate interventionist measures, in order to assure the rehabilitation of the individual in time to minimize the effects of the hearing disorder.