Rubia Soares Bruno

Habilidade de ordenação temporal e nível de especificidade nos diferentes testes tonais

Purpose: Evaluate temporal ordering ability with different tests, verify the specificity of these tests and compare the result with the level of easiness/difficulty reported by the subjects. Methods: The subjects carried out basic audiological evaluation and Dichotic Digit Test, for auditory processing screening, and they also underwent Frequency Pattern Test (FPT) and Duration Pattern Test (TPD), in the versions of Taborga-Lizarro, Musiek and Auditec®, in order to evaluate the temporal ordering ability. Afterwards, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was presented, so that the subjects could identify the difficulty of each test. Results: A total of 33 subjects were evaluated, being 29 women and four men, aged from 17 to 27 years. There were a higher number of individuals who have reached normal levels in Auditec® test and in Taborga-Lizarro test, for FPT and TPD. In the Musiek test, there were some subjects with normal results very close to the ones observed on subjects with processing disorders. In the distribution of the most difficult test, there was a statistical significance for the Musiek test. In terms of the specificity of the test, Auditec® proved to be better. However, the analysis was performed only on TPD. Conclusion: Although the subjects did not present change and auditory processing complaints, we found difference in the results of temporal ordering tests. In relation to the reported difficulty for Musiek test, we verified that there was influence of this factor on the test results. In the analysis for specificity tests, better results for the Auditec® test could be observed.

Speech-evoked Brainstem Auditory Responses and Auditory Processing Skills: A Correlation in Adults with Hearing Loss

Introduction  The auditory system consists of sensory structures and central connections. The evaluation of the auditory pathway at a central level can be performed through behavioral and electrophysiological tests, because they are complementary to each other and provide important information about comprehension. Objective  To correlate the findings of speech brainstem-evoked response audiometry with the behavioral tests Random Gap Detection Test and Masking Level Difference in adults with hearing loss. Methods  All patients were submitted to a basic audiological evaluation, to the aforementioned behavioral tests, and to an electrophysiological assessment, by means of click-evoked and speech-evoked brainstem response audiometry. Results  There were no statistically significant values among the electrophysiological test and the behavioral tests. However, there was a significant correlation between the V and A waves, as well as the D and F waves, of the speech-evoked brainstem response audiometry peaks. Such correlations are positive, indicating that the increase of a variable implies an increase in another and vice versa. Conclusion  It was possible to correlate the findings of the speech-evoked brainstem response audiometry with those of the behavioral tests Random Gap Detection and Masking Level Difference. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between them. This shows that the electrophysiological evaluation does not depend uniquely on the behavioral skills of temporal resolution and selective attention.

Potencial evocado auditivo de longa latência: diferenças na forma de contagem do estímulo raro

Purpose: identifying if there are differences in the findings of Long Latency Auditory Evoked Potencial for latency and amplitude in different ways of counting the rare stimulus, being mentally counting or marking on paper (without memorizing). Methods: this study was prospective and transversal. The sample consisted of convenience and comprised by 49 subjects, including 29 females and 20 males.The following procedures were performed: Visual inspection of the external auditory canal, pure tone audiometry, acoustic immittance measures and long latency auditory evoked potentials, which was performed twice, one after the other, with individuals paying attention to the rare stimulus, always starting counting mentally and after marking on paper. Results: there were significant differences between the ears to the P1, P2 latencies and amplitude of N1 for the method of marking on paper and the amplitude of P2 in both methods but with all values within the range normality. In addition, a statistically significant difference was also evident when comparing genders, being found larger latency values of P2 and N2 for males in both counting methods of the rare stimuli. The amplitude of P1, P2 and P3 was lower in males in different ways to count, being in P2 the only difference in the method counting mentally. When comparing the methods, there was a statistically significant difference only to the latency of P2 which was higher values for the method of marking on paper. Conclusion: there were no differences for the latencies and amplitudes of the long latency potentials in comparison of the rare stimulus score (counting mentally and marking on paper) for almost all potentials except for P2 potential regarding to amplitude and latency.

Visual Reinforcement Audiometry and Steady-State Auditory Evoked Potential in infants with and without conductive impairment

Mailing address: Rúbia Soares Bruno Rua: Duque de Caxias, 975, Apartamento 70 CEP: 97010200 Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil rubia_bee@hotmail.com ABSTRACT Purpose: to compare the findings of minimum levels of answers through air and bone conductions between the Visual Reinforcement Audiometry and the Steady-State Auditory Evoked Potential in infants from six to twelve months, with and without conductive disorder. Methods: sixty children aged six to twelve months were evaluated, 30 presenting conductive disorder, and 30 not presenting it. Children with malformation in the external auditory meatus with neurological alteration and / or genetic syndrome were excluded, as well as patients with sensorineural or mixed hearing loss. The infants were subjected to Visual Reinforcement Audiometry and Steady-State Auditory Evoked Potential evaluation through air and bone conduction on the same day. The results of both assessments were compared and correlated. Results: in the comparison through air conduction, for the group without conductive disorder of the medium ear, the minimum levels of response for 500 and 1000Hz were lower (better thresholds) for Steady-State Auditory Evoked Potential in both ears, and through bone conduction were very similar in all frequencies. Concerning the infants that present conductive disorder, the responses through air conduction were better in all frequencies evaluated when obtained via Steady-State Auditory Evoked Potential test. Through bone conduction, the results were very similar for both groups. Conclusion: it was possible to compare the findings to the minimum levels of response through air and bone conductions between the Visual Reinforcement Audiometry and the Steady-State Auditory Evoked Potential, being that the comparison for bone conduction in both groups presents an equivalence in the results, being very similar. In addition, for the air conduction, in the control group, there was proximity of responses of some frequencies, while the values for the Steady-State Auditory Evoked Potential test were better than the behavioral responses in the conductive disorder group.

Resolução temporal e potenciais corticais em diferentes níveis de proficiência da língua inglesa

Purpose: to investigate and compare hearing abilities in normal hearing bilingual students, at different levels of English proficiency (basic, intermediate and advanced), using behavioral testing and electrophysiological testing. Methods: this study is descriptive, quantitative and transversal. The sample consisted of 60 subjects (language schools students at different English proficiency levels: 20 at advanced level (AG); 20 at intermediate level (IG); 20 at basic level (BG)) with normal hearing and no complaints about auditory processing abilities, aged 18-35 years. They were subjected to behavioral test: Random Gap Detection Test (RGDT) that assesses ability of temporal resolution; and electrophysiological test Long Latency Auditory Evoked Potential (LLAEP) with verbal stimuli (syllables /ba/ - frequent stimulus and /di/ - rare stimulus) evaluating memory, attention and auditory discrimination. Results: it was noticed a statistically significant difference between ears for: BG, to amplitude of N1 and P2, with higher values for left ear; IG to amplitude of P1, N1 and P2, with higher values for left ear; AG to latency of N1, with higher values for left ear, and amplitudes of components P2, N2 and P3, with higher values for left ear. Between groups, RGDT showed lower values of AG, and latency of N1 component, with higher values for BG. Conclusion: there were significant differences in temporal resolution ability, better for students in advanced level of English and also to the latency of evoked cortical N1 with higher values for students at a basic level.

Applicability of Evoked Auditory Brainstem Responses with Complex Stimuli in Adults with Hearing Loss

Introduction  The use of the speech-evoked auditory brainstem response (ABR) shows how the brainstem operates up to the subcortex in a more complex manner than when the click-evoked ABR is used. Objective  To study the applicability of the speech-evoked ABR in adults with hearing loss. Methods  The sample was composed of a study group of 11 subjects, with ages ranging between 18 and 59 years, and auditory thresholds within normal standards, with loss of up to 65 dB at high frequencies or up to moderately severe symmetric sensorineural hearing loss. The sample underwent a basic audiological assessment, as well as speech-evoked ABR and click-evoked ABR, in which waves I, III and V, and V, A, C, D, E, F were respectively marked. The electrophysiological assessments were performed using the SmartEP device (Intelligent Hearing Systems, Miami, FL, US). Results  For the speech-evoked ABR, the reference values were used in the identification and analysis of the study group. Those values found for the study group were: V = 8.56; A = 10.97; C = 21.33; D = 29.51; E = 37.93; F = 46.96; and O = 55.97. In the comparison between groups, the study group presented an increase in latency only in wave C. Conclusion  The speech-evoked ABR can be performed in subjects with up to moderately severe hearing loss, and the test proved to be appropriate, because, unlike the click-evoked ABR, the former does not suffer influence of peripheral hearing loss.

Auditory evoked potential P300 in adults: reference values

ABSTRACT Objective To establish reference intervals for cognitive potential P300 latency using tone burst stimuli. Methods This study involved 28 participants aged between 18 and 59 years. P300 recordings were performed using a two-channel device (Masbe, Contronic). Electrode placement was as follows: Fpz (ground electrode), Cz (active electrode), M1 and M2 (reference electrodes). Intensity corresponded to 80 dB HL and frequent and rare stimulus frequencies to 1,000Hz and 2,000Hz, respectively. Stimuli were delivered binaurally. Results Mean age of participants was 35 years. Average P300 latency was 305ms. Conclusion Maximum acceptable P300 latency values of 362.5ms (305 + 2SD 28.75) were determined for adults aged 18 to 59 years using the protocol described.

Teste melódico de processamento temporal: análise de diferentes formas de respostas

Purpose Evaluate the results of the different forms of responses in the melodic temporal ordering test in relation to frequency and duration. Methods The sample was composed of 33 subjects, for convenience, aged between 17 and 27 years old, normal hearing individuals, presenting no complaints regarding auditory processing and having no hearing impairment, syndromes or craniofacial malformation history; no physical disability (manual), as well as no neurological and speech impairment and education level greater than nine years. They were subjected to the temporal ordering test with musical tone, called melodic Duration Pattern Test (DPT) and Frequency Pattern Test (FPT), applied under three response conditions (motor, humming and motor), performed on the same date. For that, at a first moment, the induvial were asked to recognize the stimuli verbally, then characterize the stimuli in an imitative pattern and, finally, to recognize the stimuli in manual responses. Results Statistically significant differences were not observed between the three forms of responses for DPT and FPT. However, it is remarkable that there was a greater number of changes for FPT than for DPT, regardless the form of response. Furthermore, motor and verbal responses presented more changes for humming, in FPT. Conclusion The different forms of response (motor, humming and motor) for the melodic DPT and FPT did not change the results.