Potenciais evocados auditivos em indivíduos acima de 50 anos de idade

Contralateral Masking in the Measurement of Auditory Brainstem Responses with Air-Conducted Tone Burst Stimuli in Individuals with Unilateral Hearing Loss

BACKGROUND

 Contralateral noise masking is an important aspect of auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurements.

PURPOSE

 The primary aim of this study is to determine how contralateral white noise (WN) masking influences the amplitude and the latency of V wave generated during ABR measurements, using tone burst (TB), in adult ears with normal hearing (NH). The secondary aim of this study is to ascertain the need of contralateral masking in ABR measurements with the TB stimuli using a 3A insertion earphone, and to propose the applicability of WN masking in unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (USNHL).

RESEARCH DESIGN

 It is a cross-sectional observational and descriptive study.

STUDY SAMPLE

 Experiment 1: Thirty individuals, without any otologic, psychological, or neurological dysfunction, were selected. Experiment 2: Fifteen individuals with previous audiological diagnoses of severe and profound USNHL were considered.

INTERVENTION

 The study involves ABR TB at specific frequencies of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

 Experiment 1: The evaluation was performed at the fixed intensity of 80 dB nHL (decibel normalized hearing level) on the tested ear, followed by the application of simultaneous masking to the nontested ear, intensity ranged from 0 to 80 dB. Experiment 2: ABR threshold measurements were first performed on the ear with hearing loss (HL) at the frequencies of 1, 2, and 4 kHz. The results were subsequently confirmed using contralateral masking.

RESULTS

 Experiment 1: At any given frequency, there were no statistically significant differences in the amplitude and latency of V wave with increase in the intensities of WN masking. Experiment 2: Cross-hearing was observed at least once in all frequencies analyzed through the occurrence of V wave.

CONCLUSION

 In conclusion, the contralateral WN masking at the maximum intensity of 80 dB does not affect the amplitude and latency of V wave of the ABR TB at 1, 2, and 4 kHz. Contralateral masking for the ABR TB presented using 3A insertion earphones is necessary at 1, 2, and 4 kHz in individuals with severe or profound degrees of USNHL and at intensities of 15, 20, and 10 dB above the ABR threshold of the nontested ear.

Retrocochlear impairments in systemic sclerosis: a case report study

PURPOSE

To report three cases of patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) and retrocochlear impairments.

METHODS

This is a case report of three individuals with SSc and retrocochlear impairments assisted at a rheumatology outpatient clinic. All individuals underwent Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential (BAEP) and, when necessary, audiometry.

RESULTS

All three individuals presented sensorineural hearing loss. Although no retrocochlear impairment was identified in the basic audiologic evaluation, the BAEP results were altered.

CONCLUSION

Retrocochlear impairments were present in the individuals under study, both in the absolute latencies and interpeak interval, thereby demanding the attention of rheumatologists and speech-language pathologists to such changes during the monitoring of SSc patients. The results also show a need for epidemiological studies on the theme.

Correlation of the P300 evoked potential in depressive and cognitive aspects of aging

The P300 is a long-latency auditory evoked potential highly dependent on cognitive skills. It is believed that cognitive changes caused or not by depressive symptoms may interfere with the P300.

AIM

To investigate the influence of aging, cognitive and depression aspects of the P300 latency in elderly people.

METHODS

Clinical and experimental study with 60 elderly patients with sensorineural hearing loss of mild to moderately severe level, 20 males and 40 females, average age of 71.1. Participants were submitted to the long latency auditory evoked potential, in which the P300 latency (milliseconds) was studied. The cognitive aspects were assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-Cog). In the assessment of depressive symptoms the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) was applied.

RESULTS

We found a significant positive correlation between latency and age (p = 0.031). There were no significant differences among the P300 latency and the ADAS-Cog (p = 0.584), MMSE (p = 0.199) and GDS (p = 0.541) categories.

CONCLUSION

Aging caused an increase in the P300 latency; however, cognitive performance and the presence of depressive symptoms did not influence the P300 results in this elderly population.

Cognição e eletrofisiologia: uma revisão crítica das perspectivas nacionais

A técnica eletrofisiológica Potenciais Relacionados ao Evento (PRE) vem sendo amplamente utilizada para o estudo da atividade cerebral correspondente a processos cognitivos específicos. O presente artigo apresenta uma revisão crítica dos estudos empregando PRE desenvolvidos em universidades brasileiras, enfatizando especialmente seus objetivos principais e abordagens metodológicas. Os estudos examinados investigaram efeitos eletrofisiológicos tradicionalmente reportados na literatura em PRE, como os efeitos denominados P300, N400 e MMN, proporcionando resultados relevantes teoricamente, bem como demonstrando a utilidade do PRE para a investigação de diversos temas de pesquisa. Possibilidades referentes a abordagens metodológicas alternativas para a análise dos PREs, assim como o emprego desta técnica no estudo de diversos processos psicológicos, são examinados e discutidos.

Processamento auditivo: comparação entre potenciais evocados auditivos de média latência e testes de padrões temporais

OBJETIVO: verificar a concordância entre os resultados da avaliação do Potencial Evocado Auditivo de Média Latência e testes de padrões temporais. MÉTODOS: foram avaliados 155 sujeitos de ambos os sexos, idade entre sete e 16 anos, com audição periférica normal. Os sujeitos foram submetidos aos testes de Padrão de Frequência e Duração e Potenciais Evocados auditivos de Média Latência. RESULTADOS: os sujeitos foram distribuídos em dois grupos: normal ou alterado para o processamento auditivo. O índice de alteração foi em torno de 30%, exceto para Potencial Evocado Auditivo de Média Latência que foi pouco menor (17,4%). Os padrões de frequência e duração foram concordantes até 12 anos. A partir dos 13 anos, observou-se maior ocorrência de alteração no padrão de frequência que no padrão de duração. Os padrões de frequência e duração (orelhas direita e esquerda) e Potencial Evocado Auditivo de Média Latência não foram concordantes. Para 7 e 8 anos a combinação padrão de frequência e duração normal / Média Latência alterado tem maior ocorrência que a combinação padrão de frequência e duração alterada / Média Latência normal. Nas demais idades, ocorreu o contrário. Não houve diferença estatística entre as faixas etárias quanto à distribuição de normal e alterado no padrão de frequência (orelhas direita e esquerda), nem para o Potencial Evocado Auditivo de Média Latência, com exceção do padrão de duração para o grupo de 9 e 10 anos. CONCLUSÃO: não houve concordância entre os resultados do Potencial Evocado Auditivo de Média Latência e os testes de padrões temporais aplicados.

Brainstem evoked response audiometry in normal hearing subjects

Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA) is an objective and non-invasive method of hearing assessment which detects electrical activity from the inner ear to the inferior colliculus.

Aim

To assess the hearing pathway in normal hearing individuals and compare differences associated with gender, age and ear side (left and right). Study Design: A retrospective study.

Materials and Methods

Sixty normal hearing individuals, aged between 09 and 66 years old, were subjected to clinical ENT examination and audiologic tests.

Results

Wave latencies differed significantly between males and females, although there were no differences regarding right or left ear sides. Comparing latency averages regarding age and gender we noticed important differences. By the same token, significant differences were also seen comparing this study with the information present in the handbook of the BERA device used and results published by Fukuda, in another study.

Conclusion

Knowing the great importance of BERA, it is crucial that each service develops its own standards in order to enhance the accuracy of the electrophysiological diagnosis of the hearing pathway.