Maria Fernanda Capoani Garcia Mondelli

Qualidade de vida em idosos antes e após a adaptação do AASI

Presbycusis is a common disorder in the elderly, which causes hearing loss and may contribute to the development of some psychiatric disorders, leading to isolation due to communication difficulties in the social environment. OBJECTIVE: To identify through the WHOQOL (World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire), the quality of life of hearing impaired individuals before and after hearing aid fittings. METHOD: We had 30 individuals with hearing loss, all over 60 years of age - patients from a Speech Therapy Clinic. The patients answered the WHOQOL questions without the use of hearing aids; and after the effective use of a sound amplification device for a period of three months they answered it again. The WHOQOL - Bref consists of 26 questions, two general quality-of-life questions and 24 associated with four aspects: physical, psychological, environmental and social relations. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in quality of life in general, as far as leisure activities were concerned, there were no major changes regarding the frequency of negative feelings; even after the hearing aid fitting, the patients continue to have such feelings. CONCLUSION: The use of hearing aids favored the overall quality of life of the individuals evaluated.

Avaliação do handicap auditivo do adulto com deficiência auditiva unilateral

UNLABELLED Hearing impairment (HI) is characterized by unilateral hearing loss in one ear and can result in learning difficulties, language impairment and socio-emotional difficulties. To assess the perception of hearing handicap in adult subjects, patients with unilateral sensorineural HI, non-users of individual hearing aids. MATERIALS AND METHODS Prospective study with 52 adult subjects with a mean of 34.5 years of age, from both genders (26 females, 26 males) with hearing loss: sensorineural unilateral, in varying degrees, responded to a questionnaire for assessing hearing handicap, and for that we used the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA). RESULTS We scored the subscales of the emotional and social/situational aspects, and we found 73.1% of the handicap present being mild, moderate and significant, but at a higher percentage (88.5%) in females. CONCLUSIONS The use of the questionnaire proved to be an effective procedure, because the unilateral HI may, not infrequently, compromise social and emotional aspects of the adult subject and the same degree of HI who can react differently, indicating that the wide variability in the perception of the hearing handicap is associated with non-audiological aspects.

Unilateral hearing loss: benefits and satisfaction from the use of hearing aids

UNLABELLED A unilateral hearing loss is characterized by reduced hearing in one ear. The problems caused by sensory deprivation can be minimized with the use of hearing aids (HA). AIM To analyze the correlation between the prescribed grain and the insertion gain difference and with the results obtained regarding the benefit and satisfaction with the use of hearing aids in unilateral hearing impaired patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Prospective study with 15 subjects, mean age of 41.6 years, of both genders, users of hearing aids effectively. We used the International Questionnaire Results for hearing aids (International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids - IOI-HA), measured with a probe microphone. RESULTS The mean values in the analyses of the IOI-HA per item were positive and higher than four points. In relation to the objective measures, the frequencies in which we obtained the gain values which were closer to the target were: 1K Hz, 2K Hz and 500 Hz, respectively. CONCLUSION The satisfaction of individuals using hearing aid unilaterally is not completely correlated to the prescribed gain, because even if the target is not being reached in some frequencies, the individuals were pleased as to the use of their hearing aids.

Cultural adaptation of the SADL (satisfaction with amplification in daily life) questionaire for Brazilian portuguese

UNLABELLED There are some motivational processes associated with the use of an Individual Sound Amplification Device (ISAD): acceptance, benefit and satisfaction. OBJECTIVE To make a cultural adaptation of the SADL (Satisfaction with Amplification in Daily Life) questionnaire to use with the brazilian population; to assess its reproducibility and to describe its results in patients fit with an ISAD. MATERIALS AND METHODS Clinical study. Translation and cultural adaptation of the questionnaire; translation from English into Portuguese and linguistic adaptation; review of the grammatical and idiomatic equivalence; evaluation of the inter and intra-researcher assessment. There were 30 ISAD users older than 18 years of age participating in the study (mean: 66.36 years); 19 men (63%); 11 women (37%). RESULTS The participants reported greater satisfaction (mean) for questions: 1 (6.35); 3 (6.85); 5 (6.10); 6 (6.80); 8 (6.33); 9 (6.80); 11 (6.16); 12 (6.93) and 15 (6.52). Less satisfaction: question 4 (3.16); 7 (3.41) and 13 (2.83). The comparison of each question with the first and second application of the questionnaire did not present statistically significant results, thus yielding good reproducibility. There was a greater satisfaction for subscales: Positive Effect (6.50) and Services and Costs (6.26) and less satisfaction for Negative Factors (4.73). CONCLUSION It was possible to adapt the questionnaire for the brazilian population.

Perda auditiva leve: desempenho no Teste da Habilidade de Atenção Auditiva Sustentada

BACKGROUND: hearing loss during childhood is considered a risk factor for developmental delay. AIM: to verify the performance of children diagnosed with mild hearing loss, conductive and sensorineural, in the Sustained Auditory Attention Ability Test (SAAAT). The purpose of the study was to verify if the test is influenced by the presence of hearing impairment. METHOD: a clinical study of the SAAAT considering three groups: Group 1 (G1) control group composed by children with normal hearing, Group 2 (G2) composed by children with mild bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and Group 3 (G3), composed by children with mild bilateral conductive hearing loss. Participants were children with ages between 7 and 11 years; 30 children in each group. A prospective study. Interventions: Pure Tone Audiometry, Acoustic Imittance Measures and SAAAT. Result: children with sensorineural and conductive hearing loss presented a lower performance in all of the SAAT results when compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: the SAAAT was influenced by the presence of mild hearing impairment, considering that the greatest influence was observed in the presence of sensorineural hearing loss.

Direcionalidade e redução de ruído em AASI: percepção de fala e benefício

UNLABELLED Hearing aid. AIM To compare the performance, benefit and satisfaction of users of ITE, CIC and BTE digital hearing aid with noise reduction and omnidirectional and directional microphones. METHOD 34 users of hearing aid were evaluated by means of speech perception in noise tests and APHAB and IOI self assessment questionnaires. Prospective study. RESULTS Better results were obtained by users of ITE, CIC and directional hearing aids, however, no statistical significance was found between the groups. CONCLUSION Directivity improved speech perception in noise and benefit in daily life situations.

Perfil dos pacientes atendidos em um sistema de alta complexidade

INTRODUCTION: Hearing loss (HL) may cause severe consequences for the development of speech and learning. A resource of rehabilitation of the hearing impaired is the hearing aid (AASI). Information actions to the population and health professionals and approval of a law that assures the hearing impaired access to early diagnosis and intervention follow-up are seen as necessary measures. Such aspects have been contemplated by the Health Ministry (MS) in the publication of Administrative Rules GM no. 2.073, of September 28, 2004, and 587, of October 07, 2004. The Phonoaudiological Clinic of the Phonoaudiology Course of FOB/USP is certified by Administrative Rule GM/MS no. 2073, of September, 2004. OBJECTIVE: To draw the profile of the patient serviced in a high complexity system with the goal of using the results found as a starting-point for acquisition of hearing aid, planning of auditory rehabilitation and structuring of follow-up groups for fitted patients. METHOD: Retrospective study. Reports review of 185 patients regularly registered in the period from August 2003 through August 2009. The data researched included: sex, age, social class, precedence, HL type and degree, HL etiology and type of hearing aid indicated. RESULTS: There was a prevalence of male older low class patents with neurosensorial, bilateral and moderate level hearing loss. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of moderate level bilateral neurosensorial hearing loss with a higher index of older patients with the use of digital technology at a higher proportion.

Language Disorders in Children with Unilateral Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review

Introduction Childhood is a critical period for language development and maturation of the central auditory system. Unilateral hearing loss (UHL) is considered a minimal impairment, and little is discussed regarding its impact on the development of language, communication, and school performance. Objectives A bibliographical survey of scientific articles published from 2001 to 2011 was performed to verify which language disorders can occur in children with UHL and which tests were performed to identify them. Data Synthesis Three databases were used: PubMed, Lilacs, and The Cochrane Library. As inclusion criteria, the articles should have samples of children with UHL, without other impairments, aged between 3 months and 12 years, and reference to language tests applied in this population. Out of 236 papers initially selected, only 5 met the inclusion criteria. In the articles studied, 12 tests were used for language assessment in children with UHL, out of which 9 were directed toward expressive language, and 3 toward receptive language. Children with UHL demonstrated lower scores on receptive and expressive language tests when compared with children with normal hearing. However, they obtained better scores on expressive language tests than children with bilateral hearing loss. Conclusion The findings of this survey showed that only a small number of studies used language tests in children with UHL or addressed language alterations resulting from this type of impairment. Therefore we emphasize the importance of investments in new studies on this subject to provide better explanations related to language difficulties presented by children with UHL.

Avaliação da satisfação dos usuários de aparelho de amplificação sonora individual - revisão sistemática

BACKGROUND: user satisfaction on hearing aids (HA). PURPOSE: to ascertain the level of user satisfaction with hearing aids through the application of the questionnaire Satisfaction with Amplification in Daily Life (SADL) and performing a systematic review of articles selected for the study. CONCLUSION: the SADL proved to be an adequate tool in order to identify user satisfaction with hearing aid, with easy application and returned towards the clinical use.

Adaptação aberta: avaliação da satisfação dos usuários de um centro de alta complexidade

PURPOSE: to subjectively evaluate the satisfaction degree of users as for the open fit hearing aids (OTE). METHODS: 11 subjects with neurossensorial hearing impairment, with mild to severe degree, with downward sloping, users of OTE, was applied to the self-assessment International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids - (IOI-HA - Portuguese version). RESULTS: in the seven assessed domains, it was found that the average for the daily use was 4.45, and the benefit was 4.27, And when compared to residual activity limitation it was 4.45, the satisfaction level 4.72, the residual participation restriction was 4.81, for the impact on others 4.90 and 4.18 for quality of life. It is noteworthy to stress out that the maximum score for each evaluated area was 5.0 and 1.0 as minimum. The average factor for the total score (sum of all questions) was 31.81 and the maximum 35.0. Comparing the factors, we found a statistical significance in Factor 2 over Factor 1. CONCLUSION: with this study we can demonstrate the high satisfaction degree in using HA OTE submitted by the majority of the sample collected in all analyzed domains.