Auditory temporal resolution and backward masking in musicians with absolute pitch.

Among the many questions regarding the ability to effortlessly name musical notes without a reference, also known as absolute pitch, the neural processes by which this phenomenon operates are still a matter of debate. Although a perceptual subprocess is currently accepted by the literature, the participation of some aspects of auditory processing still needs to be determined. We conducted two experiments to investigate the relationship between absolute pitch and two aspects of auditory temporal processing, namely temporal resolution and backward masking. In the first experiment, musicians were organized into two groups according to the presence of absolute pitch, as determined by a pitch identification test, and compared regarding their performance in the Gaps-in-Noise test, a gap detection task for assessing temporal resolution. Despite the lack of statistically significant difference between the groups, the Gaps-in-Noise test measures were significant predictors of the measures for pitch naming precision, even after controlling for possible confounding variables. In the second experiment, another two groups of musicians with and without absolute pitch were submitted to the backward masking test, with no difference between the groups and no correlation between backward masking and absolute pitch measures. The results from both experiments suggest that only part of temporal processing is involved in absolute pitch, indicating that not all aspects of auditory perception are related to the perceptual subprocess. Possible explanations for these findings include the notable overlap of brain areas involved in both temporal resolution and absolute pitch, which is not present in the case of backward masking, and the relevance of temporal resolution to analyze the temporal fine structure of sound in pitch perception.

Evidence of Validity and Normative Values of a New Auditory Backward Masking Test.

There are still no valid, clinically feasible instruments to assess backward masking (BM), an auditory temporal processing (ATP) phenomenon. The aim of this study was to develop, standardize and present evidence of validity for a behavioral test for BM assessment. Young adults were submitted to a BM test (BMT), where they were asked to identify a 1000 Hz pure tone followed by a narrowband noise with interstimulus intervals of 0 to 400 ms and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) between -20 and -30 dB. The correct response rate and target sound detection threshold were calculated, and the results compared with those of young adults with abnormal ATP tests and older adults. Diagnostic accuracy analyses were carried out. Young adults with normal ATP obtained an average correct response rate of 89 and 87% for SNR -20 and -30 dB, respectively, with average thresholds between 10 and 15 ms and no difference between the left and right ears. Results were more consistent at SNR -20 dB, and the best diagnostic accuracy was obtained for SNR -20 dB, with good specificity, but low sensitivity. Normative values were obtained for the BMT, which proved to be clinically feasible, with preliminary evidence of validity.

A Study on the Reference Values and Cutoff Criteria of Masking Level Difference for Children Aged 7-12 Years.

The Masking Level Difference (MLD) test is one of the main instruments for investigating binaural interaction. Studies with children aged 7-12 years still disagree about the influence of age on test performance and present discordant reference values. This study aimed to verify the effect of age on the performance of children aged 7-12 years in the MLD test and to establish reference values and cutoff criteria for this age group. Fifty-nine children with normal hearing were organized in three groups according to their age: 7-8 (n = 20), 9-10 (n = 20), and 11-12 (n = 19) years. The participants completed the MLD test by Auditec®. The Kruskal-Wallis statistical test was used to compare groups. Reference values were obtained by calculating mean, standard deviation, median, mode, and percentiles, while the cutoff criterion was obtained by subtracting two standard deviations from the mean. No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups regarding the MLD test measures. The mean MLD was 10.51 ± 1.84 dB and the cutoff point was set at 7 dB. Thus, reference values for the MLD test were established for children aged 7-12 years, who presented no effect of age on test performance.

Masking Level Difference: test-retest reliability assessment in normal hearing female university students. / Masking Level Difference: avaliação da confiabilidade teste-reteste em estudantes universitárias normo-ouvintes.

PURPOSE: To verify the test-retest reliability of the Masking Level Difference in normal hearing female university students. METHODS: Prospective descriptive study with 78 young female adults without hearing complaints, submitted to the compact disc version of the Masking Level Difference by Auditec of Saint Louis. The threshold was determined by the difference between signal-to-noise ratios at hearing thresholds found in the antiphasic and homophasic conditions. The test was applied by the same examiner in two moments (test and retest) with an interval of seven to 14 days between them. Inferential statistical analysis included comparison of test and retest situations using Student's t test for paired samples, calculation of the intraclass correlation coefficient and calculation of 95% confidence intervals for signal-to-noise ratios at hearing thresholds found in the antiphasic and homophasic conditions and for masking level difference. RESULTS: The average signal-to-noise ratio at hearing threshold ​​in the homophasic condition was -12.59 dB and -12.46 dB in the Test and Retest situations, respectively, and -21.54 dB and -21.08 dB in the antiphasic condition. The average value ​​in the final Masking Level Difference result was 8.95 dB in the Test and 8.74 dB in the Retest. Intraclass correlation coefficient values ​​obtained were 0.436, 0.625 and 0.577 for homophasic, antiphasic and Masking Level Difference conditions, respectively. CONCLUSION: The Masking Level Difference showed moderate test-retest reliability in normal hearing adults female university students.

OBJETIVO: Verificar a confiabilidade teste-reteste do Masking Level Difference em estudantes universitárias normo-ouvintes. MÉTODO: Estudo prospectivo descritivo com 78 adultos jovens do gênero feminino sem queixas auditivas, submetidas à versão, em compact disc, do Masking Level Difference da Auditec of Saint Louis. O Masking Level Difference foi determinado por meio da diferença entre as relações sinal-ruído nos limiares auditivos encontrados nas condições antifásica e homofásica. O teste foi aplicado pelo mesmo examinador em dois momentos (teste e reteste) com intervalo de sete a 14 dias entre eles. A análise estatística inferencial incluiu comparação das situações teste e reteste por meio do teste t de Student para amostras pareadas, cálculo do coeficiente de correlação intraclasse e dos intervalos de confiança de 95% para as relações sinal/ruído nos limiares auditivos nas condições antifásica e homofásica e para o cálculo do Masking Level Difference. RESULTADOS: A média da relação sinal-ruído no limiar auditivo na condição homofásica foi -12,59 dB e -12,46 dB nas situações teste e reteste, respectivamente, e -21,54 dB e -21,08 dB na condição antifásica. A média do Masking Level Difference foi 8,95 dB no teste e 8,74 dB no reteste. Os coeficientes de correlação intraclasse obtidos foram 0,436, 0,625 e 0,577 para as condições homofásica, antifásica e Masking Level Difference, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: O teste Masking Level Difference mostrou grau moderado de confiabilidade teste-reteste em estudantes universitárias normo-ouvintes.

Masking Level Difference: avaliação da confiabilidade teste-reteste em estudantes universitárias normo-ouvintes / Masking Level Difference: test-retest reliability assessment in normal hearing female university students

RESUMO Objetivo Verificar a confiabilidade teste-reteste do Masking Level Difference em estudantes universitárias normo-ouvintes. Método Estudo prospectivo descritivo com 78 adultos jovens do gênero feminino sem queixas auditivas, submetidas à versão, em compact disc, do Masking Level Difference da Auditec of Saint Louis. O Masking Level Difference foi determinado por meio da diferença entre as relações sinal-ruído nos limiares auditivos encontrados nas condições antifásica e homofásica. O teste foi aplicado pelo mesmo examinador em dois momentos (teste e reteste) com intervalo de sete a 14 dias entre eles. A análise estatística inferencial incluiu comparação das situações teste e reteste por meio do teste t de Student para amostras pareadas, cálculo do coeficiente de correlação intraclasse e dos intervalos de confiança de 95% para as relações sinal/ruído nos limiares auditivos nas condições antifásica e homofásica e para o cálculo do Masking Level Difference. Resultados A média da relação sinal-ruído no limiar auditivo na condição homofásica foi -12,59 dB e -12,46 dB nas situações teste e reteste, respectivamente, e -21,54 dB e -21,08 dB na condição antifásica. A média do Masking Level Difference foi 8,95 dB no teste e 8,74 dB no reteste. Os coeficientes de correlação intraclasse obtidos foram 0,436, 0,625 e 0,577 para as condições homofásica, antifásica e Masking Level Difference, respectivamente. Conclusão O teste Masking Level Difference mostrou grau moderado de confiabilidade teste-reteste em estudantes universitárias normo-ouvintes.

ABSTRACT Purpose To verify the test-retest reliability of the Masking Level Difference in normal hearing female university students. Methods Prospective descriptive study with 78 young female adults without hearing complaints, submitted to the compact disc version of the Masking Level Difference by Auditec of Saint Louis. The threshold was determined by the difference between signal-to-noise ratios at hearing thresholds found in the antiphasic and homophasic conditions. The test was applied by the same examiner in two moments (test and retest) with an interval of seven to 14 days between them. Inferential statistical analysis included comparison of test and retest situations using Student's t test for paired samples, calculation of the intraclass correlation coefficient and calculation of 95% confidence intervals for signal-to-noise ratios at hearing thresholds found in the antiphasic and homophasic conditions and for masking level difference. Results The average signal-to-noise ratio at hearing threshold ​​in the homophasic condition was -12.59 dB and -12.46 dB in the Test and Retest situations, respectively, and -21.54 dB and -21.08 dB in the antiphasic condition. The average value ​​in the final Masking Level Difference result was 8.95 dB in the Test and 8.74 dB in the Retest. Intraclass correlation coefficient values ​​obtained were 0.436, 0.625 and 0.577 for homophasic, antiphasic and Masking Level Difference conditions, respectively. Conclusion The Masking Level Difference showed moderate test-retest reliability in normal hearing adults female university students.

Alterações auditivas em crianças expostas à toxoplasmose durante a gestação / Hearing loss in children exposed to toxoplasmosis during their gestation

RESUMO Objetivo: verificar a ocorrência e o tipo mais frequente de alteração auditiva em crianças expostas a toxoplasmose durante a gestação. Métodos: estudo retrospectivo longitudinal realizado em instituição pública de saúde de São Paulo. Análise de prontuários de crianças nascidas entre 2010 e 2015 distribuídos em dois grupos: grupo estudo, composto por 48 crianças de mães com diagnóstico de toxoplasmose durante a gestação; e grupo controle, composto por 43 crianças sem infecção congênita que foram acompanhadas por apresentar baixo peso ao nascimento. As crianças foram avaliadas de duas a quatro vezes durante os dois primeiros anos de vida, por meio de testes que avaliam a função auditiva periférica e central. Resultados: 47 crianças fizeram apenas duas avaliações e apenas 11 completaram todas as avaliações até 24 meses. No grupo controle 58,1% apresentaram audição normal, 37,2% perda condutiva, 4,7% perda coclear e ausência de alteração retrococlear, enquanto o grupo estudo apresentou 56,3% de audição normal, 20,8% de perda condutiva, 2,1% de perda coclear e 20,8% de alteração retrococlear. Conclusão: crianças expostas à toxoplasmose durante a gestação não diferiram das não expostas em relação à ocorrência de perda auditiva coclear e condutiva. Entretanto, apresentaram maior ocorrência de alteração retrococlear.

ABSTRACT Purpose: to verify the occurrence and the most frequent type of auditory disorders in children exposed to toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. Methods: a retrospective, longitudinal study carried out in a public health institution of São Paulo. Records of children born between 2010 and 2015 were analyzed and distributed into two groups: study group, composed of 48 children born to mothers with a diagnosis of toxoplasmosis during their pregnancy; and control group, composed of 43 children without congenital infection, who were accompanied due to low birth weight. The children were evaluated two to four times during their first two years of life, by means of peripheral and central auditory function assessment. Results: 47 children underwent only two evaluations and only 11 completed all the evaluations up to 24 months. In the control group, 58.1% had normal hearing, 37.2% conductive loss, 4.7% cochlear loss and absence of retrocochlear disorder. In the study group, 56.3% presented normal hearing, 20.8% conductive loss, 2.1% cochlear loss, and 20.8% retrocochlear disorder. Conclusion: children exposed to toxoplasmosis during pregnancy did not differ from non-exposed children in relation to the occurrence of conductive or cochlear hearing loss. However, they showed a higher occurrence of retrocochlear disorder.

Auditory behavior and auditory temporal resolution in children with sleep-disordered breathing.

OBJECTIVE: Intermittent hypoxia caused by obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) may lead to damage in brain areas associated to auditory processing. The aim of this study was to compare children with OSAS or primary snoring (PS) to children without sleep-disordered breathing with regard to their performance on the Gaps-in-Noise (GIN) test and the Scale of Auditory Behaviors (SAB) questionnaire. METHODS: Thirty-seven children (6-12 years old) were submitted to sleep anamnesis and in-lab night-long polysomnography. Three groups were organized according to clinical criteria: OSAS group (13 children), PS group (13 children), and control group (11 children). They were submitted to the GIN test and parents answered SAB questionnaire. The Kruskal-Wallis statistical test was used to compare the groups; p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The OSAS group performed significantly worse than PS (p = 0.011) and Control (p = 0.029) groups on gap detection percentage, while PS and Control groups showed no significant differences. The three groups showed similar gap detection thresholds. Regarding SAB questionnaire, PS group had significantly worse scores when compared to Control (p = 0.011), but not to OSAS (p = 0.101) groups. No statistical difference between OSAS and Control groups were found. CONCLUSION: Children with OSAS showed worse performance on GIN test in comparison to children with PS and children without sleep-disordered breathing. PS negatively affected auditory behavior in children. These findings suggest that sleep-disordered breathing may lead to auditory behavior impairment.