Subclinical neural hearing alterations in school children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Evidence has shown a cause-and-effect relationship between type 1 diabetes mellitus and auditory and cognitive dysfunctions. This study aimed to investigate the effect of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) on central auditory and cognitive functions in school-age children and adolescents. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 101 children and adolescents, 50 with T1DM, of both sexes, aged between 7 and 18 years. All participants were selected for a structured interview on hearing, behavioral, and cognitive health and assessment of brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) and event-related potentials (P300). RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in memory (p=0.002) and attention (p=0.021) complaints between participants with and without T1DM. In the BAEP responses, there were differences between wave III latencies in the right (p=0.017) and left (p=0.019) ears and in wave V latencies in the left ear (p=0.001) between the evaluated groups. In addition, there was an association between BAEP findings and metabolic control in the T1DM group in the left ear in waves III (p=0.006) and V (p=0.005) and in the right ear in wave V (p=0.026). No differences were observed in the latencies of P300 between the evaluated groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the existence of a subclinical finding in the central auditory pathway, offering an increased risk for retrocollear alterations, which may be a consequence of poor metabolic control.

Dysfunction of the auditory system in sickle cell anaemia: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the occurrence of both peripheral and central auditory system dysfunction in sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients and discuss the different mechanisms hypothesised to be responsible for these alterations. METHODS: An electronic search was conducted using PubMed Central® (MEDLINE), LILACS® and Scopus® databases. This systematic review was performed in accordance with the PRISMA statement. Original observational studies that utilised audiological tests for auditory system evaluations in SCA were included. RESULTS: A total of 183 records were found in the databases searched. Twenty-one of these studies met the inclusion criteria. Pooled prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was 20.5% (CI: 10.3-33%). Retrocochlear involvement was detected with the auditory brainstem response, which assesses integrity of the cochlea, 8th cranial nerve and brainstem structures. In addition, the increase in otoacoustic emission amplitudes in SCA patients indicates changes in cochlear micromechanics and precedes the expression of a detectable cochlear pathology. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of the SNHL is higher than in the general population. Dysfunction of the auditory system may be present in SCA patients, with the most probable mechanism being the presence of circulatory disturbances resulting from the chronic inflammatory state of the disease.

DYSFONCTIONNEMENT DU SYSTÈME AUDITIF DANS L'ANÉMIE FALCIFORME: REVUE SYSTÉMATIQUE ET MÉTA-ANALYSE: OBJECTIFS: Décrire l'apparition de dysfonctionnements du système auditif périphérique et central chez les patients atteints d'anémie falciforme (AF) et discuter des différents mécanismes supposés responsables de ces altérations. MÉTHODES: Une recherche électronique a été effectuée dans les bases de données PubMed Central® (MEDLINE), LILACS® et Scopus® . Cette revue systématique a été réalisée conformément au PRISMA Statement. Des études observationnelles originales utilisant des tests audiologiques pour évaluer le système auditif dans l'AF ont été incluses. RÉSULTATS: Un total de 183 enregistrements ont été trouvés dans les bases de données consultées. Vingt et une de ces études répondaient aux critères d'inclusion. La prévalence poolée de la perte auditive neurosensorielle (SNHL) était de 20,5% (IC: 10,3% à 33%). L'atteinte rétrocochléaire a été détectée avec la réponse du tronc cérébral auditif, qui évalue l'intégrité de la cochlée, du huitième nerf crânien et de la structure du tronc cérébral. De plus, l'augmentation des amplitudes des émissions otoacoustiques chez les patients atteints de l'AF indique des modifications de la micromécanique cochléaire et précède l'expression d'une pathologie cochléaire détectable. CONCLUSION: La prévalence de la SNHL est plus élevée que dans la population générale. Un dysfonctionnement du système auditif peut être présent chez les patients AF, le mécanisme le plus probable étant la présence de troubles circulatoires résultant de l'état inflammatoire chronique de la maladie.

Cochlear dysfunction evidenced by reduction of amplitude of otoacoustic responses in patients with congenital hypothyroidism.

INTRODUCTION: The investigation of amplitudes of otoacoustic emissions in congenital hypothyroidism can provide information on cochlear function with more sensibility, when compared to other methods of auditory evaluation. AIM: To investigate cochlear function through the amplitude of distortion product otoacoustic emissions in individuals with congenital hypothyroidism and to correlate with clinical aspects. METHODS: An exploratory, analytical, cross-sectional study with a convenience sample, composed of 50 individuals with congenital hypothyroidism and a group of 42 individuals without the disease, mean age of 8.4 (±3.1) years. The subjects of the research were evaluated by means of tonal and speech audiometry, immittance and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). Continuous variables were described as mean or median and standard deviation. The Spearman test evaluated the correlations between the variables. RESULTS: Otoacoustic emission amplitudes were significantly reduced in the exposed group, with congenital hypothyroidism, when compared to the group of individuals without the disease, especially in the medium frequencies. The Spearman test showed a slight correlation between the amplitude values of the otoacoustic emissions of some frequencies and the variables: disease time, diagnostic age, irregular serum free thyroxine hormone levels and thyroid stimulating hormone, especially in the condition of less treatment, whose correlation was negative. CONCLUSION: There was a correlation between the levels of signal amplitudes of otoacoustic emissions with clinical conditions and hormonal follow-up, suggesting probable subclinical auditory impairment in this population, as well as influence of some clinical aspects of congenital hypothyroidism on auditory function.

Self-reported participation restrictions in normal hearing individuals in thyroid ontogeny: Evidence of subclinical changes.

PURPOSE: To verify evidence of subclinical alterations through self-reported participation restrictions in normal hearing individuals and congenital hypothyroidism patients. METHODS: An analytical, quantitative, cross-sectional exploratory study with a 1:1 ratio, consisting of a convenience sample of 86 normal hearing individuals with (n = 42) and without (n = 44) congenital hypothyroidism diagnosis. All participants underwent tonal and speech audiometry, immitance and distortion product otoacoustic emissions. The researchers excluded people with hearing loss, genetic syndromes and metabolic diseases. The instrument used for evaluate of self-reported participation restrictions was the HHIE-adapted questionnaire, composed of 25 questions, 12 of which were social domain and 13 emotional domain. Student's t-test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis at a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: There was a significant (p < 0.001) self-reported participation restrictions in CH (61.9%), with a greater relevance for the social domain (p = 0.002). There was a greater frequency of mild/moderate (40.5%) and higher prevalence of association with clinical factors and adherence to treatment. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that self-reported participation restrictions in normal hearing individuals with congenital hypothyroidism was more significant than in the non-exposed group, suggesting evidence of subclinical auditory abnormalities in this population.