Jerusa Roberta Massola de Oliveira

Processo de adaptação de aparelho de amplificação sonora individual: elaboração de um DVD para auxiliar a orientação a indivíduos idosos

PURPOSE: To study the difficulties faced by hearing impaired elderly patients related to the use of hearing aids, and to elaborate a didactic material on DVD, containing information about the use and handling of the hearing aid. METHODS: Ten elderly subjects, with ages ranging from 65 to 80 years, new users of hearing aids with mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss participated in the study. After the adjustment period, a multiple choice questionnaire was applied to assess the difficulties they faced. RESULTS: Results showed that in the adaptation process with their hearing aids, elderly subjects have more difficulty to use and handle the apparatus and, mainly, to insert and remove the earmolds. Based on these results, a didactic material containing important information about using and handling hearing aids were elaborated on DVD. CONCLUSION: After considering the difficulties presented by hearing impaired elderly patients, it is important to emphasize the need for didactic material regarding orientation and adaptation of the hearing aids, in order to improve the use of amplification.

Study on suppression of otoacoustic emissions: lateral domain

UNLABELLED A pon stimulation by contralateral, ipsilateral or bilateral noise, the medial olivocochlear efferent tract changes the amplitude of otoacoustic emissions relative to the tested ear, reducing or removing it; this resulted in a reduction/suppression effect of otoacoustic emissions. Differences in patterns of elimination/reduction of otoacoustic emissions between ears have been documented worldwide; there are, however, no Brazilian studies investigating the effect of lateral dominance. AIMS To compare the effect of the presence of deletion/reduction of otoacoustic emissions and their amplitude relative to lateral dominance in normal hearing adults. METHODS A clinical and experimental study. The sample comprised 75 individuals. The methodology was conventional - linear click intensity of 60 dB SPL; white noise was contralateral stimulation at 60 dB SPL. DESCRIPTION OF RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between right and left ear results, in terms of asymmetry of the degree of otoacoustic emissions and the presence of suppression/reduction. CONCLUSION There is no lateral dominance in the degree of otoacoustic emissions in the presence of suppression/reduction in the study population.

Percepção de fala dos deficientes auditivos usando aparelho de amplificação com algoritmo de redução de ruído

UNLABELLED Often, individuals with hearing loss have difficulties understanding speech in noisy environments. AIM It was the aim of this study to assess the performance of adult individuals with sensorineural hearing loss, associated with speech perception using digital hearing aids with a sound reduction algorithm called Speech Sensitive Processing, on and off, in the presence of noise. MATERIALS AND METHODS This case study was performed with 32 individuals with sensorineural hearing loss of mild, moderate or mild to moderate level. Our evaluation involved a speech perception test, where we investigated the recognition of sentences in noise, in order to get a signal/noise ratio, with a digital hearing aid. Result DESCRIPTION The algorithm provided a benefit for most hearing impaired individuals, in the investigation of signal/noise ratio and the results pointed to a statistically significant difference when the algorithm was on, compared to when the algorithm was off. CONCLUSION The use of a sound reduction algorithm must be considered as a clinical alternative - since we observed an efficacy in noise reduction and heightened speech perception.

Correlation between the characteristics of resonance and aging of the external ear

PURPOSE Aging causes changes in the external ear as a collapse of the external auditory canal and tympanic membrane senile. Knowing them is appropriate for the diagnosis of hearing loss and selection of hearing aids. For this reason, the study aimed to verify the influence of the anatomical changes of the external ear resonance in the auditory canal in the elderly. METHODS The sample consisted of objective measures of the external ear of elderly with collapse (group A), senile tympanic membrane (group B) and without changing the external auditory canal or tympanic membrane (group C) and adults without changing the external ear (group D). In the retrospective/clinical study were performed comparisons of measures of individuals with and without alteration of the external ear through the gain and response external ear resonant frequency and the primary peak to the right ear. RESULTS In groups A, B and C was no statistically significant difference between Real Ear Unaided Response (REUR) and Real Ear Unaided Gain (REUG), but not for the peak frequency. For groups A and B were shown significant differences in REUR and REUG. Between the C and D groups were significant statistics to the REUR and REUG, but not for the frequency of the primary peak. CONCLUSION Changes influence the external ear resonance, decreasing its amplitude. However, the frequency of the primary peak is not affected.

Estratégias de comunicação utilizada por indivíduos com neuropatia/dessincronia auditiva

PURPOSE: to investigate which communication strategies, according to Boechat (1992) classification, used by hearing impaired individuals with auditory neuropathy/dys-synchrony. METHODS: a questionnaire prepared by Boechat (1992) was applied, scoring the communication strategies. The questionnaire was used to check if the individuals with auditory neuropathy/dys-synchrony use or not communication strategies and to check their highest and lowest occurrence. RESULTS: the results show that all participants use communication strategies as a way to reduce hearing loss problems, and that all strategies are used. Cognitive-nature communication strategies are the most used, while the desisting ones are the least used by people with auditory neuropathy/dys-synchrony, users or nonusers of some hearing device. CONCLUSION: the use of communication strategies is important for all individuals with auditory neuropathy/dys-synchrony as an alternative to make easier the communication.

Análise das atitudes sociais e motivacionais dos estudantes após capacitação em saúde auditiva

Introduction Providing access to information with different means of communication is fundamental and challenging, since several communication barriers are present such as the language of the issuer, the way information is presented, the material used and the difficulty of access, availability of time, motivation and, mainly the interest. Educational programs for the prevention and promotion of hearing health are essential, providing change of attitudes and improvement in the quality of life. Purpose To verify the motivation and social attitudes of students after participating in an educational program of training in hearing health Methods The study featured 38 students from public schools, distributed as follows: School A (13 students), School B (five students), School C (11 students) and School D (nine students). They answered the Escala Likert de Atitudes Sociais em Relacao a Inclusao (Likert Social Attitudes Scale in Relation to Inclusion) (ELASI), and the Motivational Analysis Checklist, before and after an educational hearing health training program. The study design was exploratory. Results In the ELASI, there was a significant difference for all schools in the situations before and after the educational program. In the comparison among schools, only School B showed difference. These results indicate favorable attitudes of the students in relation to the training program, therefore revealing possible improvements in the behaviors towards inclusion in schools. In the Motivational Analysis Checklist, it was found that 100% of students positively evaluated the training program, considering it an “impressive course”. Conclusion The social and motivational attitudes in the educational training program, on the subject of Hearing Health, using Interactive Teleducation, were favorable, revealing trend to social inclusion.

Habilidades de manipulação do aparelho de amplificação sonora open fit por deficientes auditivos idosos

Objetivo avaliar as habilidades de manipulacao do AASI do tipo open fit em individuos deficientes auditivos idosos, por meio do instrumento denominado Practical Hearing Aid Skills Test (PHAST), traduzido como Teste de Habilidades Praticas com Aparelho Auditivo. Metodos no estudo, desenvolvido na Divisao de Saude Auditiva, participaram 18 idosos (idade entre 60 e 87 anos) deficientes auditivos, sendo 7 homens e 11 mulheres, novos usuarios AASI tipo de open fit. Para a metodologia, na primeira etapa a pesquisadora realizou a orientacao sobre o AASI aos deficientes auditivos e ao seu cuidador e, na segunda, apos aproximadamente 1 mes de uso do dispositivo, foi aplicado o instrumento PHAST, o qual contem 8 questoes na forma de tarefas praticas referentes ao manipulacao do AASI para classificar a desenvoltura do individuo. Resultados foi constatado que nas tarefas referentes a limpeza do AASI e ao uso ao telefone, os individuos revelaram maior dificuldade de executa-las expondo as menores pontuacoes, em contrapartida as tarefas referentes a remocao do AASI e a abertura do compartimento de bateria, os individuos realizaram com maior facilidade. Quanto aos resultados do desempenho dos participantes a classificacao final foi: 33,33% excelente, 22,22% boa, 27,78% satisfatorio e 16,67% pobre. Conclusao 55,55% dos idosos deficientes auditivos realizaram adequadamente as tarefas referentes a manipulacao do AASI open fit, obtendo classificacao final no instrumento PHAST excelente e boa.

Análise de material informativo em DVD na adaptação de idosos usuários de aparelho de amplificação sonora individual

Purpose To verify the effectiveness of the DVD “Knowing and Learning about my Hearing Aid” as a tool in the hearing aid (HA) adaptation process in the elderly. Methods A total of 27 individuals, divided in two groups, participated in this study: a control group, which received the audiological guidance and the technical instruction manual accompanying the adapted behind-the-ear hearing aids; and an experimental group, which received the same guidance as the control group, plus the DVD. The effectiveness of the DVD was measured through a specific tool that evaluates the skills to manipulate the HA, the Practical Hearing Aid Skills Test, using descriptive statistics analysis and the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. Results The experimental group obtained a better performance in the tasks of cleaning the hearing aid and the earmold, manipulating the volume control, handling the telecoil and correctly placing the phone in the ear. No difference was found between the performances of the control group and the experimental group in the Practical Hearing Aid Skills Test. Most of the experimental group affirmed to be very satisfied with the information stored in the DVD. Conclusion An improvement trend was observed in the experimental group regarding the understanding of the content about the HA, due to the use of the DVD, and a high level of satisfaction was observed among the participants of this group with the tool, which confirms such material is a tool possible to be used during the HA adaptation process.

Apresentação do processo de confecção da cápsula do aparelho de amplificação sonora individual intra-aural por meio de digitalização

PURPOSE: the objective of this study is to present the steps involved in making the capsule of intra-aural hearing aids through scanning. METHOD: we used the Legato otoplasty equipment in order to perform scanning and Enisiontec for sintering, both provided by the company Phonak. RESULTS: the results point out to capsule-ear hearing aid, as being fully satisfying and with all the benefits documented by the manufacturer. CONCLUSION: a new technique in order to make the capsule through the scanning process has been proven effective and with high quality and keeping the faithful imprint of the ear, in addition to significant durability.