RESUMO Objetivo Correlacionar o desempenho de usuários de implante coclear unilateral em testes de reconhecimento de fala, no silêncio e no ruído, com as respostas ao questionário de autoavaliação Hearing Implant Sound Quality Index (HISQUI19) e correlacionar o desempenho em testes de reconhecimento de fala com o tempo de uso do dispositivo e a orelha implantada. Métodos Participaram 27 usuários de implante coclear unilateral com deficiência auditiva pós-lingual, que faziam uso do dispositivo há, pelo menos, um ano e apresentavam limiar tonal em campo livre menor que 40 dBA. Todos os participantes foram submetidos à audiometria tonal em campo livre, responderam ao questionário HISQUI19 e realizaram testes de reconhecimento de fala no silêncio e no ruído. Resultados As respostas ao questionário foram comparadas com os testes de reconhecimento de fala no silêncio e no ruído e não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa. Na comparação em relação ao tempo de uso do implante coclear, só houve diferença estatisticamente significativa para o teste de reconhecimento de fala no silêncio. Não houve correlação significativa entre o reconhecimento de fala e a orelha implantada. Conclusão independentemente do tempo de uso do dispositivo e/ou do desempenho nos testes de reconhecimento de fala, muitos participantes classificaram a qualidade sonora do implante coclear como moderada. A aplicação de testes que possibilitem mensurar a satisfação e o benefício dos usuários deve fazer parte da rotina clínica dos centros de implante.

ABSTRACT Purpose To correlate the performance of unilateral cochlear implant users in speech recognition tests, in quiet and noise, with the answers to the Hearing Implant Sound Quality Index (HISQUI19) self-assessment questionnaire; also, to correlate the performance in speech recognition tests with the time of CI use and the implanted ear. Methods A total of 27 unilateral CI users with postlingual hearing loss, who had been using the device for at least one year and had free-field pure-tone threshold lower than 40 dBA, participated in the study. All the participants were submitted to free-field pure-tone audiometry, answered the HISQUI19 questionnaire, and took speech recognition tests in quiet and noise. Results The answers to the questionnaire were compared with the speech recognition tests in quiet and noise; there was no statistically significant difference. When comparing with the time of CI use, there was a statistically significant difference only for the speech recognition test in quiet. There was no significant correlation between speech recognition and the implanted ear. Conclusion Regardless of the time of CI use and/or performance in the speech recognition tests, many participants classified the sound quality of their cochlear implant as moderate. Administering tests to measure the users’ level of satisfaction and benefit should integrate the clinical routine in implantation centers.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The objective was to identify comorbidities related to HIV-positive patients in Blumenau, State of Santa Catarina. METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive observational design study which analyzed data from 424 patients assisted by the sexually transmitted disease/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (STD/AIDS) Specialized Care Service (SCS). RESULTS: Of 424 medical records analyzed, 388 patients presented CD4+/CD8+ ratios lower than 1. The most prevalent comorbidities were smoking, depression, alcoholism, and herpes zoster infection, in males and females. CONCLUSIONS: The most relevant comorbidity in both genders was herpes zoster, an important marker of immunity in patients. The lowest mean was observed among patients with neurotoxoplasmosis.