Lilian Seligman

Conforto acústico na percepção de escolares alfabetizados

PURPOSE: To verify the acoustic comfort of literate Primary School children. METHODS: Participants were 82 children ranging from 8 to 10 years of age, in their third and fourth year of four public Primary Schools in the city of Santa Maria (RS), Brazil. The sample was divided into two groups - exposed and not exposed to sound levels over 80 dB(A). Visual inspection of the external auditory canal, tonal audiometry thresholds, speech recognition tests and acoustic immittance measures were used to select the sample. A Likert scale model questionnaire was applied in order to research the level of acoustic comfort. We also performed acoustic measurements in the classrooms using a dosimeter. Statistical analysis were conducted. RESULTS: The mean acoustic level in each classroom varied from 51.9 dB(A) to 114 dB(A). From the total sample of 82 children, 20.7% were exposed to sound levels greater than 80 dB(A). Discomfort was referred by 46.3% of the total sample, hitting its highest level (51.3%) on the question of whether or not noise disturbs reading and writing processes. The attitude of comfort was predominant regarding speech intelligibility. As for reading and writing difficulties, discomfort was mostly indicated among subjects. CONCLUSION: The feeling of discomfort was predominant in both groups.

Influence of tinnitus percentage index of speech recognition in patients with normal hearing

Introduction:  The understanding of speech is one of the most important measurable aspects of human auditory function. Tinnitus affects the quality of life, impairing communication. Objective:  To investigate possible changes in the Percentage Index of Speech Recognition (SDT) in individuals with tinnitus have normal hearing and examining the relationship between tinnitus, gender and age. Methods:  A retrospective study by analyzing the records of 82 individuals of both genders, aged 21-70 years, totaling 128 ears with normal hearing. The ears were analyzed separately, and divided into control group, no complaints of tinnitus and group study, with complaints of tinnitus. The variables gender and age groups and examined the influence of tinnitus in the SDT. It was considered normal, the percentage of 100% correct and changed, and the value between 88-96%. These criteria were adopted, since the percentage below 88% correct is found in individuals with sensorineural hearing loss. Results:  There was no statistically significant difference between the variables age and tinnitus, and tinnitus SDT, only gender and tinnitus. The prevalence of tinnitus in females (56%), higher incidence of tinnitus in the age group 31-40 years (41.67%) and fewer from 41 to 50 years (18.75%) and on the SDT there was a greater percentage change in individuals with tinnitus (61.11%). Conclusion:  The buzz does not interfere with SDT and there is no relationship between tinnitus and age, only between tinnitus and gender.

Análise comparativa do desempenho em leitura e escrita de crianças expostas e não expostas a níveis elevados de pressão sonora

PURPOSE To analyze the possible relationships between high sound pressure levels in the classroom and performance in the use of lexical and phonological routes in reading and writing. METHODS This consisted on a quantitative and exploratory study. The following measures were carried out: acoustic measurement, using the dosimeter, visual inspection of the external auditory canal, tonal audiometry thresholds, speech recognition tests and acoustic immittance; instrument for evaluation of reading and writing of isolated words. The non-parametric χ² test and Fishers exact test were used for data analysis. The results of acoustic measurements in 4 schools in Santa Maria divided the sample of 87 children of third and fourth years of primary school, aged 8 to 10 years, in 2 groups. The 1st group was exposed to sound levels higher than 80 dB(A) (Study group) and the 2nd group at levels lower than 80 dB(A) (Control group). RESULTS Higher prevalence of correct answers in reading and writing of nonwords, reading irregular words and frequency effect were observed. Predominance of correct answers in the writing of irregular words was observed in the Control group. For the Study group, a higher number of type errors neologism in reading and writing were observed, especially regarding the writing of nonwords and the extension effect; fewer errors of lexicalization type and verbal paragraphy in writing were observed. CONCLUSION In assessing the reading and writing skills, children in the Study group exposed to high noise levels had poorer performance in the use of lexical and phonological routes, both in reading and in writing.

Potenciais evocados auditivos de tronco encefálico de ex-usuários de drogas

UNLABELLED Illicit drugs are known for their deleterious effects upon the central nervous system and more specifically for how they adversely affect hearing. OBJECTIVE This study aims to analyze and compare the hearing complaints and the results of brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA) of former drug user support group goers. METHODS This is a cross-sectional non-experimental descriptive quantitative study. The sample consisted of 17 subjects divided by their preferred drug of use. Ten individuals were placed in the marijuana group (G1) and seven in the crack/cocaine group (G2). The subjects were further divided based on how long they had been using drugs: 1 to 5 years, 6 to 10 years, and over 15 years. They were interviewed, and assessed by pure tone audiometry, acoustic impedance tests, and BERA. RESULTS No statistically significant differences were found between G1 and G2 or time of drug use in absolute latencies and interpeak intervals. However, only five of the 17 individuals had BERA results with adequate results for their ages. CONCLUSION Marijuana and crack/cocaine may cause diffuse disorders in the brainstem and compromise the transmission of auditory stimuli regardless of how long these substances are used for.Illicit drugs are known for their deleterious effects upon the central nervous system and more specifically for how they adversely affect hearing. Objective: This study aims to analyze and compare the hearing complaints and the results of brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA) of former drug user support group goers. Methods: This is a cross-sectional non-experimental descriptive quantitative study. The sample consisted of 17 subjects divided by their preferred drug of use. Ten individuals were placed in the marijuana group (G1) and seven in the crack/cocaine group (G2). The subjects were further divided based on how long they had been using drugs: 1 to 5 years, 6 to 10 years, and over 15 years. They were interviewed, and assessed by pure tone audiometry, acoustic impedance tests, and BERA. Results: No statistically significant differences were found between G1 and G2 or time of drug use in absolute latencies and interpeak intervals. However, only five of the 17 individuals had BERA results with adequate results for their ages. Conclusion: Marijuana and crack/cocaine may cause diffuse disorders in the brainstem and compromise the transmission of auditory stimuli regardless of how long these substances are used for.

LIMIARES AUDITIVOS TONAIS, EMISSÕES OTOACÚSTICAS E SISTEMA OLIVOCOCLEAR MEDIAL DE EX-USUÁRIOS DE DROGAS

Objetivos analisar se o uso de drogas ilicitas pode interferir nos sistemas auditivos periferico e central. Metodos a amostra foi composta por 17 individuos distribuidos conforme o tipo de droga mais consumida: 10 individuos no grupo maconha (G1) e sete no grupo crack/cocaina (G2). Os grupos foram subdivididos segundo o tempo de uso de drogas: um a cinco, seis a 10 e mais que 15 anos. Foram avaliados por meio de anamnese, audiometria tonal liminar, imitânciometria, emissoes otoacusticas transientes (EOAT) e efeito supressor das EOAT. Resultados comparando os limiares tonais do G1 e G2, observaram-se limiares elevados para o G2, com diferenca estatisticamente significante no grupo de um a cinco anos para 250, 500, 6000 e 8000Hz na orelha direita e de seis a 10 anos para 4000 e 8000Hz na orelha esquerda. Para usuarios por mais que 15 anos, observou-se limiares superiores a 25dBNA de 3000 a 8000Hz na orelha direita. Nas EOAT e efeito supressor das EOAT nao houve diferenca estatisticamente significante entre G1 e G2 e entre os tempos de uso das drogas. O G1 apresentou relacao sinal/ruido das EOAT superior ao G2. O efeito supressor das EOAT esteve presente em 79% das orelhas avaliadas. Conclusao na amostra estudada, o crack/cocaina apresentou efeito mais deleterio sobre o sistema auditivo do que a maconha. O maior tempo de uso de drogas influenciou nos resultados do G1. O uso de drogas ilicitas nao provocou alteracoes no SOCM.

EXPOSIÇÃO A NÍVEIS DE PRESSÃO SONORA EM SALA DE AULA, IMITANCIOMETRIA E TESTE SSW EM ESCOLARES DE 3º E 4º ANO DO ENSINO FUNDAMENTAL

PURPOSES: to investigate the effects of high sound pressure levels in classrooms and changes on acoustic immittance on auditory skills of children in early literacy. METHODS: quantitative and exploratory study. Acoustic measurement, using the dosimeter, visual inspection of the external auditory canal, tonal audiometry thresholds, speech recognition tests and acoustic immittance. The results of the acoustic measurements through the dosimeter in four schools in Santa Maria, RS, Brazil divided the sample of 87 children of 3 and 4 years of primary school, aged eight to ten years,into two groups - group 1 / not exposed and group 2/ exposed to levels higher than 80dB(A). The sample was also separated in 38 children without changes in acoustic immittance measurements and 49 with changes, measured in theirs listening skills for the dichotic test of alternate disyllabics - SSW. RESULTS: the G1 has presented better results in DC and EC on both immittance terms, however without evidence of statistics difference; it was showed similar performance between the groups; the G1 has showed better results in phonemic decoding, but worse results in codification and organization sub profiles. CONCLUSION: this study has demonstrated that high sound pressure levels in classrooms don´t interfere in children´s auditory skills in learning process tested using the SSW.