The Impact of Dizziness on the Quality of Life of 235 Individuals who Completed Vestibular Testing in Brazil

Introduction In Vestibular Testing (VT), caloric tests allow evaluation of unilateral weakness (UW) and directional preponderance (DP), where different criteria of normality are adopted in Brazil and worldwide. The Brazilian version of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (Brazilian DHI) evaluates the impact of dizziness on the quality of life of an individual. Objectives The objective of this research is to evaluate the impact of dizziness on the quality of life of patients undergoing VT, and to relate these findings to the results obtained according to national and international criteria. Methods Cross-sectional analytic study of 235 patients referred for VT in two hospitals. The authors performed the Brazilian DHI, history, static, and dynamic balance tests, positional nystagmus, and the Dix-Hallpike maneuver, as well as vectoelectronystagmography. Subjects were divided into three groups according to UW and DP values. Descriptive statistics and comparisons between groups were performed, considering a significance level of 5% in all analyses. Results Patients groups had 20.9% men, and 79.1% women. There was no significant difference between groups for the scores obtained in the Brazilian DHI. There was, however, a statistically significant difference in the redistribution of individuals according to the UWand DP values. Conclusion There was no relationship between VT results and the impact of dizziness in the quality of life. A review of normal values for UW and DP adopted in Brazil is suggested, as well as the application of the Brazilian DHI as an additional tool to evaluate the impact of dizziness on quality of life in all patients undergoing VT.

Critérios para avaliação clínica fonoaudiológica do paciente traqueostomizado no leito hospitalar e internamento domiciliar / Criteria for clinical speech therapy evaluation of tracheostomized patient in hospital bed and home care

Objetivo : conhecer os critérios utilizados pelos fonoaudiólogos na avaliação clínica do paciente traqueostomizado no leito hospitalar e/ou internamento domiciliar, da cidade de Salvador, Bahia.  Métodos : trata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo, de abordagem quantitativa, cuja população constituiu-se de 28 fonoaudiólogos, que contribuíram respondendo a um formulário contendo 19 questões sobre o tema Critérios para Avaliação Clínica Fonoaudiológica do Paciente Traqueostomizado no Leito Hospitalar e/ou Internamento Domiciliar (home care). Resultados : no presente estudo, em relação aos critérios selecionados primariamente para a prática clínica, os resultados foram: 26 (92,9%) estabilidade clínica; 24 (85,7%) nível de consciência; 24 (85,7%) estado de alerta; 14 (50%) capacidade de proteção de vias aéreas; 9 (32,1%) estado nutricional; 9 (32,1%) tosse; e 6 (21,4%) possibilidade de receber via oral.  Conclusão : ao término do estudo realizado foi possível concluir que os critérios para avaliação fonoaudiológica no paciente traqueostomizado no leito, na cidade de Salvador, Bahia, em sua maioria, encontram-se de acordo com os critérios descritos na literatura. Contudo, existem poucos estudos que estabelecem critérios para a decanulação, portanto, ressalta-se a necessidade de validações de protocolos para uma melhor atuação do processo de decanulação desses pacientes. .

Purpose : to know the criteria used by speech therapists in the clinical evaluation of the patient in hospital bed with tracheostomy and / or home detention, the city of Salvador, Bahia. Methods : this is a cross-sectional, descriptive, quantitative approach, whose population consisted of 28 speech therapists, who contributed a response form containing 19 questions on the subject criteria for clinical evaluation of patients with tracheostomies Speech in Inpatient and Home Care Hospital Bed. Results : in this study, in relation to the criteria selected primarily for clinical practice the results were: 26 (92.9%) clinical stability, 24 (85.7%) level of consciousness, 24 (85.7%) state Alert, 14 (50%) ability to protect airway, 9 (32.1%), nutritional status, 9 (32.1%) cough and 6 (21.4%) chance of receiving oral. Conclusion : at the end of the study it was concluded that the criteria for evaluating speech in tracheostomized patient in bed in the city of Salvador, Bahia, most is according to the criteria described in the literature. However, few studies exist that establish criteria for decannulation, therefore, it emphasizes the need for validation protocols for a better performance of the process of decannulation in these patients. .