ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To verify the effectiveness of acoustically controlled auditory training in individuals with Neurofibromatosis Type 1. METHODS: The sample consisted of individuals with Neurofibromatosis Type 1, randomly distributed into two groups, making up the intervention group: individuals undergoing formal auditory training; and the comparison group: individuals who were not submitted to the intervention. Behavioral assessment of central auditory processing and electrophysiological evaluation, composed by Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential and Long Latency-P300 Auditory Evoked Potential, were evaluated in three moments of evaluations: initial evaluation, reevaluation and after four months of reevaluation and comparing the performance between the groups. RESULTS: Better performances in central auditory processing were observed after the formal auditory training in the intervention group with significant differences between the evaluations and performance maintenance four months after the end of the training. Significant differences were observed between the groups in the evaluations after the intervention. The electrophysiological evaluation shows unsystematic variation in the short latency potentials and changes in the long latency potentials with the appearance of the P3 wave after the intervention. The behavioral and electrophysiological evaluation in group that was not submitted to the intervention demonstrated that there is no improvement without the intervention, with deterioration of performance. Significant differences were observed in the behavioral and electrophysiological evaluations, in favor of the group submitted to formal auditory training. CONCLUSIONS: Formal auditory training is effective in rehabilitation in individuals with Neurofibromatosis Type 1. DESCRIPTORS/KEYWORDS: Neurofibromatosis 1; Hearing Disorders; Auditory Perceptual Disorders; Acoustic Stimulation; Evoked Potentials, Auditory.
Subject(s)
Neurofibromatosis 1 , Humans , Neurofibromatosis 1/complications , Neurofibromatosis 1/therapy , Evoked Potentials, Auditory/physiology , Acoustic Stimulation , Auditory Perception/physiology , Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain StemABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Purpose: to describe the audiological and otoacoustic emission findings in patients who had head and neck cancer and compare them with individuals without the disease. Methods: a comparative, cross-sectional, observational study encompassing two groups: Study: individuals with a history of head and neck cancer, submitted to chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy; Control: individuals without the disease. The sample comprised 23 individuals in each group, matched for age and gender. Procedures in which the groups were compared: meatoscopy; pure-tone threshold and high-frequency audiometry; speech audiometry; transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions. Statistical tests: Pearson's chi-square; Fisher's exact; two-proportion Z-test; Wilcoxon; Mann-Whitney; Student's t-test. Results: the comparison between the groups revealed statistically significant differences at the 3, 6, 8, 10, and 12.5 kHz frequencies in the pure-tone threshold audiometry, with better pure-tone auditory thresholds in the control group. No significant differences were observed between the groups in the otoacoustic emissions regarding the general response and frequency band. Conclusion: individuals with a history of head and neck cancer had higher pure-tone auditory thresholds than their controls, especially at the higher frequencies. This evidences the deleterious effect of ototoxicity on the peripheral auditory system of adults. The otoacoustic emissions were similar in the two groups.
RESUMO Objetivo: descrever os achados audiológicos e das emissões otoacústicas em pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço e compará-los com indivíduos sem a doença. Métodos: estudo observacional transversal comparativo realizado em dois grupos: Estudo: indivíduos com histórico de câncer de cabeça e pescoço submetidos à quimioterapia e/ou radioterapia; Controle: indivíduos sem a doença. A amostra foi composta por 23 indivíduos em cada grupo, pareados considerando idade e gênero. Procedimentos: meatoscopia; audiometria tonal liminar e de altas frequências; logoaudiometria e emissões otoacústicas evocadas transientes, comparados entre os grupos. Testes estatísticos: Qui-quadrado de Pearson; exato de Fisher; igualdade de duas proporções; Wilcoxon; Mann-Whitney e t de Student. Resultados: a comparação entre os grupos revelou diferença estatisticamente significante nas frequências de 3, 6, 8, 10 e 12,5kHz na audiometria tonal liminar, com melhores limiares auditivos tonais no grupo controle. Não foram observadas diferenças significantes entre os grupos nas emissões otoacústicas, quanto a resposta geral e banda de frequência. Conclusão: indivíduos com histórico de câncer de cabeça e pescoço apresentam limiares auditivos tonais mais elevados do que seus controles, sobretudo nas frequências altas, evidenciando o efeito deletério da ototoxicidade no sistema auditivo periférico de adultos. As emissões otoacústicas mostraram-se semelhantes nos dois grupos.
