OBJECTIVES: Human immunodeficiency virus-positive (HIV+) individuals can experience a decrease in antioxidants. Such deficiency can make inner ear cells and synapses more vulnerable to oxidative stress, resulting in auditory alterations, even in the presence of normal thresholds. This study aims to compare the audiological findings of HIV+ patients (with and without exposure to anti-retroviral treatment) to those of healthy individuals. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional observational study, comprising 42 normal-hearing adults divided into the Control Group (CG), without HIV; Group I (GI), HIV+, without exposure to the highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART); Group II (GII), HIV+, with exposure to HAART. All participants underwent conventional audiometry (0.25-8 kHz), high-frequency audiometry (9-20 kHz), transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs), efferent auditory pathway’s inhibitory effect assessment, brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs), and cognitive potential (P300). RESULTS: In the comparison of the hearing thresholds between the groups, there was a statistically significant difference for most of the frequencies assessed (GII presented hearing thresholds significantly poor when compared with other groups). The presence of TEOAE and the inhibitory effect was also verified in a significantly higher number of individuals in the CG than in the other groups. As for the BAEP, there was a statistically significant difference for the interpeak intervals I-V (GII showed higher values when compared with CG). For P300, there were no statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: Normal-hearing HIV+ individuals (with and without exposure to HAART) presented with poor performance in the audiological procedures, suggesting the presence of auditory alterations even in the presence of normal-hearing thresholds.

Relatamos caso de esclerose múltipla em que foi feita avaliação da audição periférica e central utilizando os potenciais evocados auditivos de curta, média e longa latência antes e depois da terapia com corticosteróides. A avaliação auditiva revelou melhor desempenho em todos os testes após o tratamento. Neste caso, os testes que avaliam a função central da audição (comportamental e eletrofisiológico) foram capazes de identificar o local da lesão (tronco encefálico), o que estava de acordo com as queixas do paciente. Os testes de fala com ruído e os potenciais evocados auditivos de curta latência são apropriados para revelar lesões de tronco encefálico.

Herein, we report a case of multiple sclerosis in which peripheral and central hearing, were evaluated through early (brainstem), middle and late auditory evoked potentials before and after corticosteroid therapy. Auditory evaluation revealed better performance on all post-treatment tests. In this case, central auditory function tests (behavioral and electrophysiological) identified the location of the impairment (brainstem), which was in agreement with the patient complaint. The speech in noise test and brainstem auditory evoked potentials are definitely appropriate in confirming brainstem lesions.

A necessidade do mascaramento na avaliação da audição por meio da ABR ainda é um assunto consideravelmente debatido (Durrant & Ferraro, 2001). OBJETIVO: O presente estudo propôs investigar a necessidade do mascaramento contralateral, empregado na orelha normal, ao realizar a ABR em indivíduos portadores de perda auditiva neurossensorial unilateral. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Clínico prospectivo. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: A amostra constituiu-se de 22 indivíduos portadores de perda auditiva neurossensorial unilateral de grau profundo, sendo 10 do sexo feminino e 12 do sexo masculino, com idades variando entre 9 e 44 anos. Todos os indivíduos foram submetidos a: audiometria tonal liminar, logoaudiometria (SRT, IPRF e SDT), medidas de imitância acústica (incluindo a pesquisa dos reflexos acústicos - modo ipsilateral e contralateral) e audiometria de tronco encefálico na ausência e na presença do mascaramento. RESULTADOS: Todos os indivíduos apresentaram perda auditiva neurossensorial unilateral de grau profundo e curvas timpanométricas do tipo A bilateralmente. Na avaliação da ABR, 100% da amostra apresentou presença da Onda V na orelha comprometida, sendo que ao introduzir o mascaramento contralateral tais respostas não foram observadas. CONCLUSÕES: O mascaramento é um procedimento necessário para a avaliação da audição por meio da ABR em indivíduos portadores de perdas auditivas unilaterais, visando a obtenção de resultados fidedignos. Na ABR, a atenuação interaural para clicks foi maior (65 dB) do que a observada na audiometria tonal liminar, sendo necessário, portanto, uma menor intensidade de mascaramento para eliminar a resposta da via auditiva contralateral.

The need of masking in auditory brainstem response (ABR) evaluation is still considerably debated issue (Durrant and Ferraro, 2001). AIM: In addition, the present study was to investigate the need of masking in ABR with unilateral hearing loss. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical prospective. MATERIA AND METHOD: The sample was constituded of 22 persons with unilateral hearing loss, being 10 female and 12 male, ranging from 9 to 44 years old. All persons were submited to the following audiological exams: pure - tone and speech audiometry, accoustic impendance tests and audiometry brainstem response in absence and presence of masking. RESULTS: In general, all persons had profound sensorineural unilateral hearing loss and bilateral type - A tympanometric curves. In ABR evaluation, it was possible to observe in 100% of the sample the presence of wave V in poor ear. As soon as the masking was introduced, these waves has not been viewed. CONCLUSION: As might be expected that masking must be used with ABR evaluation on unilateral hearing loss to obtain authentical results. In ABR, interaural attenuation to clicks (65 dB) was greater the examined in pure-tone audiometry. Thence it follows that less intensity of masking was needed to eliminate the contralateral response.

Atualmente, podemos complementar os resultados encontrados na audiometria convencional com os obtidos nos exames eletrofisiológicos, o que nos permite diagnosticar não apenas uma perda auditiva periférica, mas também diferenciar uma perda auditiva coclear da neural, ou central. Isto nos conduziu a um grupo novo de pacientes que apresentava alteração na sincronia neural com função normal das células ciliadas externas. Esta patologia é conhecida como Neuropatia Auditiva. O objetivo deste estudo é descrever as características audiológicas de um paciente com Neuropatia Auditiva atendido no Centro de Docência e Pesquisa em Fonoaudiologia da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), correlacionando os achados com os encontrados na literatura. O caso descrito é de um indivíduo de 24 anos de idade, com o diagnóstico de Neuropatia Auditiva, atendido no ano de 2001 no Centro de Docência e Pesquisa em Fonoaudiologia da FMUSP. Foram realizados anamnese, audiometria tonal e vocal, medidas de imitância acústica, Emissões Otoacústicas (EOAs) e Audiometria de Tronco Encefálico (ABR). Observamos no caso estudado a incompatibilidade de resultados entre audiometria tonal e testes de inteligibilidade de fala, com os exames objetivos, EOAs e ABR, onde observou-se perda auditiva com importante alteração nos testes de inteligibilidade de fala, EOAs presentes e ABR anormal. Estes dados sugerem função coclear normal e alteração da sincronia neural.

Nowadays, in our clinic, we can complement the conventional audiometry results with electrophysiologic exams. Not only does allow us to diagnose a peripheral hearing loss but also to differentiate cochlear, neural or central hearing loss. It led us to a new group of patients that presented changes in neural synchrony, with normal functions of the outer ear hair cells. This pathology is known as Auditory Neuropathy. Our study purpose is describe the audiologist characteristic of a patient with auditory neuropathy attended at "Centro de Docência e Pesquisa em Fonoaudiologia da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo", correlating the study data with literature. The patient described is a 24 year-old person, with auditory neuropathy diagnosis, evaluated in our center in 2001. Interview, tonal audiometry thresholds, speech recognition, timpanometry, otoacustic emissions (OAEs) and auditory brainstem responses (ABR) were applied. In this case we observed incompatible results in the tonal audiometric threshold and speech recognition tests, with objectives tests like OAEs and ABR, in which we found a hearing loss with important changes in the speech recognition test, of OAEs present and abnormal ABR. These data suggest a normal cochlear function and abnormal neural synchrony.