Evoked-potential audiogram of the Yangtze finless porpoise Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis (L)

Evoked-potential audiograms were obtained in two (one male and one female) Yangtze finless porpoises, Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaseorientalis. Sinusoidal amplitude-modulated 20-ms tone bursts were used as probes with recording envelope-following evoked potentials. A frequency range of 8 to 152 kHz was investigated. The range of greatest sensitivity covered frequencies from 45 to 139 kHz, and the lowest thresholds of 47.2 and 48.5 dB re: 1 μ Pa were found at a frequency of 54 kHz in the two subjects, respectively. At lower frequencies, threshold increased with a rate of around 14 dB/octave, and threshold steeply increased at 152 kHz. © 2005 Acoustical Society of America.

Auditory speech-discrimination as a function of age and type of audiogram

This paper reviews a study to determine if loss of speech discrimination is related to age and patients with audiograms showing steep high-frequency losses.

Spontaneous otoacoustic emissions in a chinchilla: audiometric correlates as seen in audiogram microstructure

This paper reviews a study to evaluate the audiogram microstructure of a chinchilla with a documented spontaneous otoacoustic emission.

Vertigo in children

Vertigo in children is more common than previously thought. However, only a small fraction of affected children meet a physician. The reason for this may be the benign course of vertigo in children. Most childhood vertigo is self-limiting, and the provoking factor can often be identified. The differential diagnostic process in children with vertigo is extensive and quite challenging even for otologists and child neurologists, who are the key persons involved in treating vertiginous children. The cause of vertigo can vary from orthostatic hypotension to a brain tumor, and thus, a structured approach is essential in avoiding unnecessary examinations and achieving a diagnosis. Common forms of vertigo in children are otitis media-related dizziness, benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood, migraine-associated dizziness, and vestibular neuronitis. Orthostatic hypotension, which is not a true vertigo, is the predominant type of dizziness in children. Vertigo is often divided according to origin into peripheral and central types. An otologist is familiar with peripheral causes, while a neurologist treats central causes. Close cooperation between different specialists is essential. Sometimes consultation with a psy-chiatrist or an ophthalmologist can lead to the correct diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of vertigo in children. We prospectively collected general population-based data from three schools and one child wel-fare clinic located close to Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUCH). A simple questionnaire with mostly closed questions was given to 300 consecutive children visiting the welfare clinic. At the schools, entire classes that fit the desired age groups received the questionnaire. Of the 1050 children who received the questionnaire, 938 (473 girls, 465 boys) returned it, the response rate thus being 89% (I). In Study II, we evaluated the 24 vertiginous children (15 girls, 9 boys) with true vertigo and 12 healthy age- and gender-matched controls. A detailed medical history was obtained using a structured approach, and an otoneurologic examination, including audiogram, electronystagmography, and tympanometry, was performed at the HUCH ear, nose, and throat clinic for cooperative subjects. In Study III, we reviewed and evaluated the medical records of 119 children (63 girls, 56 boys) aged 0-17 years who had visited the ear, nose, and throat clinic with a primary complaint of vertigo in 2000-2004. We also wanted information about indications for imaging of the head in vertiginous children. To this end, we reviewed the medical records of 978 children who had undergone imaging of the head for various indications. Of these, 87 children aged 0-16 years were imaged because of vertigo. Subjects of interest were the 23 vertiginous children with an acute deviant finding in magnetic resonance images or com-puterized tomography (IV). Our results indicate that vertigo and other balance problems in children are quite common. Of the HUCH area population, 8% of the children had sometimes experienced vertigo, dizziness, or balance problems. Of these 23% had vertigo sufficiently severe to stop their activity (I). The structured data collection approach eased the evaluation of vertiginous children. More headaches and head traumas were observed in vertiginous children than in healthy controls (II). The most common diagnoses of ear, nose, and throat clinic patients within the five-year period were benign paroxysmal vertigo of child-hood, migraine-associated dizziness, vestibular neuronitis, and otitis media-related vertigo. Valuable diagnostic tools in the diagnostic process were patient history and otoneurologic examinations, includ-ing audiogram, electronystagmography, and tympanometry (III). If the vertiginous child had neurologi-cal deficits, persistent headache, or preceding head trauma, imaging of the head was indicated (IV).

Potencial das atividades desenvolvidas por docentes de música para a perda auditiva induzida por ruído

A perda auditiva por exposição ao ruído é um problema de saúde ocupacional, não reconhecido nas escolas de música. Em Portugal, a legislação relativa a ruído ocupacional não possui indicações específicas para músicos, existindo apenas um código de conduta europeu, proveniente da Diretiva 2003/10/CE que estabelece as orientações gerais relativas a como devem ser protegidos do ruído músicos e trabalhadores de setores de entretenimento. Avaliou-se o nível sonoro contínuo equivalente (LAeq), individualmente no decorrer das atividades letivas, o que permitiu determinar o nível exposição pessoal diária ao ruído (Lex,8h) de 20 docentes de música. Paralelamente, os docentes preencheram um questionário relativo a fatores intrínsecos e individuais e todos efetuaram audiogramas tonais simples. Os dados recolhidos foram estatisticamente tratados através do programa Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) versão 21. Existem atividades letivas que implicam níveis de exposição pessoal diária ao ruído superiores ao nível de ação inferior (25%), pelo que se devem adotar medidas para sensibilizar e alertar os docentes para a adoção de medidas de proteção. A atividade dos docentes expostos a níveis de exposição pessoal diária mais elevados correspondeu a aulas de grupo e a aulas individuais, com utilização de instrumentos musicais direcionais. A manifestação de sintomatologia relevante relativa a perda auditiva (audição de zumbidos, dificuldades de perceção do diálogo e dificuldade em adormecer) e a evolução da surdez profissional, não parecem estar diretamente relacionadas com os níveis de exposição pessoal diária ao ruído nem atividades com exposição ao ruído desenvolvidas nos tempos livres.

Tone burst sensitivity in normal and sensorineural hearing impaired listeners

This paper discusses a study to predict the pure tone audiogram from the results of electric response audiometry utilizing frequency-selective tone burst stimuli.

Relation of audiometric patterns to the etiology of auditory disorders in children

This paper reviews a study to investigate the relationship between audiogram patterns and auditory disorder etiology of children at CID.

Identificação de zonas mortas da cóclea por meio do teste TEN

O audiograma ou o relato do paciente não é suficiente para determinar a presença ou não de zonas mortas na cóclea (ZMC), nem identificar sua extensão. OBJETIVO: Investigar, utilizando o teste TEN, ZMC de indivíduos com perda auditiva neurossensorial (PANS). CEDALVI/ HRAC-USP-Bauru, de agosto de 2003 a fevereiro de 2004. TIPO DE ESTUDO: Estudo de coorte contemporânea com corte transversal. Casuística e Métodos: O TEN foi aplicado nos grupos G1 (5 mulheres com limiares tonais aéreos dentro do padrão de normalidade); G2 (4 mulheres e 5 homens com PANS moderada plana); G3 (19 mulheres e 24 homens com PANS com o grau variando entre leve a profundo). RESULTADOS: Para G1, o valor de TEN para eliminar o tom de teste foi, em média, próximo ao limiar absoluto para todas as freqüências. Não foi observada ZMC em nenhuma das orelhas testadas do G2. Para as 76 orelhas do G3, 6 não apresentaram indício de ZM. CONCLUSÕES: O TEN é efetivo para indicar ZMC em indivíduos com PANS descendente. Há evidência de diferença na detecção do tom puro na presença de ruído entre indivíduos com PANS em altas freqüências e com PANS plana, pois se observou diferença significativa entre o limiar mascarado e absoluto apenas para PANS descendentes e não para as planas.

Surgery for the bone-anchored hearing aid

This review covers the surgery for the bone-anchored hearing aid (Baha(®)). PREOPERATIVE WORKUP: A review of the indications and preoperative diagnostics shows that best results are generally obtained in patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss rehabilitation when surgery is not applicable or has failed and in patients that suffer from single-sided deafness. An audiogram must confirm that the bone conduction hearing is within the inclusion criteria. A computed tomography scan is performed in cases of malformation to assure sufficient bone thickness at the site of screw implantation.

Surdez súbita : a marcha diagnóstica

Trabalho Final do Curso de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 2014