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PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the peripheral and central auditory pathways in adult individuals after COVID-19 infection. METHOD: A total of 44 individuals aged between 19 and 58 years, of both genders, post-COVID-19 infection, confirmed by serological tests, with no previous hearing complaints and no risk factors for hearing loss, were assessed. All the participants underwent the following procedures: pure tone audiometry, logoaudiometry, immitanciometry, and Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP), in addition to answering a questionnaire about auditory symptoms. RESULTS: Thirteen individuals (29.5 %) had some hearing threshold impairment, mainly sensorineural hearing loss. In the BAEP, 18 individuals (40.9 %) presented longer latencies, mainly in waves III and V. According to the questionnaire answers, 3 individuals (9.1 %) reported worsened hearing and 7 (15.9 %) tinnitus that emerged after the infection. As for the use of ototoxic drugs during treatment, 7 individuals (15.9 %) reported their use, of which 5 showed abnormalities in peripheral and/or central auditory assessments. CONCLUSION: Considering the self-reported hearing complaints after COVID-19 infection and the high rate of abnormalities found in both peripheral and central audiological assessments, it is suggested that the new COVID-19 may compromise the auditory system. Due to the many variables involved in this study, the results should be considered with caution. However, it is essential that audiological evaluations are carried out on post-COVID-19 patients in order to assess the effects of the infection in the short, medium, and long term. Future longitudinal investigations are important for a better understanding of the auditory consequences of COVID-19.

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Introdução: A perda auditiva é uma deficiência comum na população mundial e contribui para dificuldade na comunicação verbal e redução da qualidade de vida, evidenciando a importância da identificação precoce, reabilitação e acompanhamento audiológico dessa deficiência para mitigar suas consequências. Durante a pandemia da COVID-19, as medidas restritivas diminuíram a capacidade de atendimento dos serviços de saúde auditiva e dificultaram a busca de auxílio para resolver problemas relacionados à adaptação aos dispositivos eletrônicos de amplificação sonora (DAES), sendo uma barreira no processo de reabilitação da perda auditiva. Objetivo: Caracterizar os usuários de DEAS e o processo inicial de reabilitação auditiva de adultos e idosos e verificar fatores associados ao retorno para a consulta de monitoramento auditivo durante o período inicial da pandemia da COVID-19.Métodos: Estudo observacional transversal com usuários adultos e idosos de um serviço ambulatorial de saúde auditiva com retorno para consulta de monitoramento auditivo agendada no período inicial da implementação das medidas restritivas da pandemia da COVID-19 no Brasil. Resultados: A maioria dos participantes conseguiu retornou para a consulta de monitoramento auditivo, sendo eles em sua maioria idosos, do sexo feminino e vacinados contra a COVID-19. Houve maior prevalência de adaptação adequada aos DAES. Não houve associação estatística entre as variáveis relacionadas à adaptação aos DAES, COVID-19 e saúde mental e o retorno à consulta de monitoramento auditivo. Conclusão: Os fatores relacionados à adaptação aos DAES, à COVID-19 ou à saúde mental não influenciaram o retorno à consulta de monitoramento auditivo na presente pesquisa. (AU)

Introduction: Hearing loss is a common disability in the world population and contributes to difficulty in verbal communication and reduced quality of life, highlighting the importance of early identification, rehabilitation and audiological monitoring of this disability to mitigate its consequences. During the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictive measures reduced the service capacity of hearing health services and made it difficult to seek help to solve problems related to adaptation to personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), being a barrier in the rehabilitation process of hearing loss. Aim: To characterize PSAPs users and the initial hearing rehabilitation process for adults and elderly people and verify the factors associated with the return to hearing monitoring consultations in the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Cross-sectional observational study with adults and elderly people: elderly users of an outpatient hearing health service who return for a scheduled hearing monitoring consultation in the initial period of the implementation of restrictive measures of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Results: Most participants were able to return to the hearing monitoring clinic, the majority of whom were elderly, female and vaccinated against COVID-19. There was a higher prevalence of adequate adaptation to the PSAPs. There was no statistical association between variables related to adaptation to PSAPs, COVID-19 and mental health and return to hearing monitoring consultation. Conclusion: Factors related to adaptation to PSAPs, COVID-19 or mental health did not influence the return to hearing monitoring consultation in the present investigation. (AU)

Introducción: La pérdida auditiva es una discapacidad común en la población mundial y contribuye a la dificultad en la comunicación verbal y a la reducción de la calidad de vida, destacando la importancia de la identificación temprana, rehabilitación y seguimiento audiológico de esta discapacidad para mitigar sus consecuencias. Durante la pandemia de COVID-19, las medidas restrictivas redujeron la capacidad de atención de los servicios de salud auditiva y dificultaron la búsqueda de ayuda para resolver problemas relacionados con la adaptación a dispositivos electrónicos de amplificación del sonido (DEAS), siendo una barrera en el proceso de rehabilitación de la pérdida auditiva. Objetivo: Caracterizar a los usuarios de DEAS y el proceso inicial de rehabilitación auditiva de adultos y ancianos y verificar los factores asociados al retorno a las consultas de monitorización auditiva en el período inicial de la pandemia COVID-19. Métodos: Estudio observacional transversal con adultos y ancianos: ancianos usuarios de un servicio ambulatorio de salud auditiva que regresan para consulta de monitorización auditiva programada en el período inicial de la implementación de medidas restrictivas de la pandemia de COVID-19 en Brasil. Resultados: La mayoría de los participantes pudieron regresar a la clínica de monitorización auditiva, la mayoría de los cuales eran ancianos, mujeres y estaban vacunados contra COVID-19. Hubo mayor prevalencia de adaptación adecuada a la DEAS. No hubo asociación estadística entre variables relacionadas con adaptación a DEAS, COVID-19 y salud mental y retorno a consulta de monitorización auditiva. Conclusión: Los factores relacionados con la adaptación a DEAS, el COVID-19 o la salud mental no influyeron en el retorno a la consulta de monitorización auditiva en la presente investigación. (AU)

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Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the peripheral and central auditory pathways in adult individuals after COVID-19 infection. Method: A total of 44 individuals aged between 19 and 58 years, of both genders, post-COVID-19 infection, confirmed by serological tests, with no previous hearing complaints and no risk factors for hearing loss, were assessed. All the participants underwent the following procedures: pure tone audiometry, logoaudiometry, immitanciometry, and Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP), in addition to answering a questionnaire about auditory symptoms. Results: Thirteen individuals (29.5 %) had some hearing threshold impairment, mainly sensorineural hearing loss. In the BAEP, 18 individuals (40.9 %) presented longer latencies, mainly in waves III and V. According to the questionnaire answers, 3 individuals (9.1 %) reported worsened hearing and 7 (15.9 %) tinnitus that emerged after the infection. As for the use of ototoxic drugs during treatment, 7 individuals (15.9 %) reported their use, of which 5 showed abnormalities in peripheral and/or central auditory assessments. Conclusion: Considering the self-reported hearing complaints after COVID-19 infection and the high rate of abnormalities found in both peripheral and central audiological assessments, it is suggested that the new COVID-19 may compromise the auditory system. Due to the many variables involved in this study, the results should be considered with caution. However, it is essential that audiological evaluations are carried out on post-COVID-19 patients in order to assess the effects of the infection in the short, medium, and long term. Future longitudinal investigations are important for a better understanding of the auditory consequences of COVID-19.

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ABSTRACT Purpose: to develop and implement an electronic medical record for managing audiological assessments of workers exposed to occupational noise at a university. Methods: a computer system - the Electronic Audiology Record Program (PPVA, in Portuguese) - was developed with Microsoft Access for a university hospital's audiology service, encompassing functional, occupational, and audiological information. After a testing period, the system was implemented in the service. Results: the PPVA is a personalized system that registers employees, audiological exams, clinical history, and risks for hearing loss induced by high sound pressure levels. It also generates reports indicating audiological monitoring frequency. Conclusion: the PPVA proved to meet the service's needs, adequately. Its implementation improved the usability, efficiency, and quality of the service user records. Hence, it is a potential health surveillance tool, indicating that this type of instrument can benefit occupational hearing loss prevention programs.

RESUMO Objetivos: desenvolver e implementar um prontuário virtual para gerenciamento das avaliações audiológicas de trabalhadores expostos ao ruído ocupacional de uma universidade. Métodos: foi desenvolvido um sistema informatizado para um serviço de audiologia de um hospital universitário de São Paulo, o Programa de Prontuários Virtuais de Audiologia (PPVA), utilizando o programa Microsoft Access, onde foram incluídas informações funcionais, ocupacionais e audiológicas. Após período de testes, o sistema foi implementado no serviço. Resultados: o PPVA é um sistema personalizado, no qual é possível realizar o cadastro de funcionários, exames audiológicos, histórico clínico e de riscos para perda auditiva induzida por níveis de pressão sonora elevados, além da geração de relatórios indicando a periodicidade para o monitoramento audiológico. Conclusão: o PPVA mostrou-se adequado para atender às demandas do serviço. Sua implementação trouxe melhorias na usabilidade, eficiência e qualidade do registro dos usuários do serviço, sendo também uma potencial ferramenta de vigilância em saúde, indicando que este tipo de ferramenta pode trazer benefícios para um programa de prevenção de perdas auditivas ocupacionais.

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BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease. Auditory evoked potential studies have demonstrated conduction and neural processing deficits in adults with MS, but little is known about the electrophysiological responses in children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the central auditory pathway with brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) and long-latency auditory evoked potentials (LLAEP) in children and adolescents with MS. METHODS: The study comprised 17 individuals with MS, of both sexes, aged 9 to 18 years, and 17 healthy volunteers, matched for age and sex. All individuals had normal hearing and no middle ear impairments. They were assessed with click-BAEP and LLAEP through oddball paradigm and tone-burst stimuli. RESULTS: Abnormal responses were observed in 60% of electrophysiologic assessments of individuals with MS. In BAEP, 58.82% of MS patients had abnormal responses, with longer wave V latency and therefore longer III-V and I-V interpeak latencies than healthy volunteers. In LLAEP, 52.94% of MS patients had abnormal responses. Although statistical differences were found only in P2-N2 amplitude, MS patients had longer latencies and smaller amplitudes than healthy volunteers in all components. CONCLUSION: Children and adolescents with MS had abnormal BAEP responses, with delayed neural conduction between the cochlear nucleus and the lateral lemniscus. Also, abnormal LLAEP results suggest a decrease in neural processing speed and auditory sensory discrimination response.

ANTECEDENTES: A esclerose múltipla (EM) é uma doença inflamatória desmielinizante. Estudos com potenciais evocados auditivos têm demonstrado déficits de condução e processamento neural em adultos com EM, mas pouco se sabe sobre as respostas electrofisiológicas em crianças e adolescentes. OBJETIVO: avaliar a via auditiva central por meio dos potenciais evocados auditivos de tronco encefálico (PEATE) e dos potenciais evocados auditivos de longa latência (PEALL) em crianças e adolescentes com EM. MéTODOS: Foram avaliados17 indivíduos com EM, de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 9 e 18 anos, e 17 voluntários saudáveis, pareados por sexo e idade. Todos os indivíduos tinham audição normal sem alterações de orelha média. Os indivíduos foram avaliados por meio do PEATE com estímulo clique e do PEALL com paradigma de oddball e estímulo tone-burst. RESULTADOS: Foram observadas alteração em 60% das avaliações dos indivíduos com EM. No PEATE, 58,82% dos pacientes com EM apresentaram alteração, com aumento da latência da onda V, e interpicos III-V e I-V aumentados em comparação aos voluntários saudáveis. No PEALL, 52,94% dos pacientes com EM apresentaram alteração. Embora diferenças estatísticas foram observadas apenas na amplitude P2-N2, os pacientes com EM apresentaram latências prolongadas e amplitudes menores em comparação aos voluntários saudáveis para todos os componentes. CONCLUSãO: Crianças e adolescentes com EM apresentaram alteração das respostas do PEATE, com atraso de condução neural entre o núcleo coclear e o lemnisco lateral. Além disso, os resultados alterados do PEALL sugeriram uma diminuição na velocidade de processamento neural e de discriminação sensorial da audição.

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OBJECTIVE: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the Noise Exposure Questionnaire (NEQ) and 1-Minute Noise Screen (NEQ-S) instruments to Brazilian Portuguese. METHODS: Procedures widely known in health research were used in the translation and cross-cultural adaptation process, comprising the following steps: initial translation, synthesis of translations, back-translation, expert committee, pretest, and content and layout validation. Altogether, 60 workers participated in the pretest by answering the questionnaires and then evaluating them in terms of understandability, layout, clarity, and writing. Reliability was verified with Cohen's kappa test, and the internal consistency was analyzed with Cronbach's alpha coefficient. RESULTS: The translated and adapted versions of NEQ and NEQ-S were similar in terms of general and referential meanings. However, some modifications and adaptations were made to adapt them to the Brazilian reality. The kappa test indicated moderate agreement and Cronbach's alpha coefficient, substantial internal consistency. CONCLUSION: The translation and cross-cultural adaptation were carried out according to the methodology recommended in the national and international literature, performing the necessary equivalences to maintain the face and content validity with the original instrument. The availability of NEQ and NEQ-S in Brazilian Portuguese opens new fields of research to quantify yearly noise exposure more in-depth.

OBJETIVO: Traduzir e realizar a adaptação transcultural dos instrumentos Noise Exposure Questionnaire (NEQ) e 1-Minute Noise Screen (NEQ-S) para a versão em português brasileiro. MÉTODO: O processo de tradução e adaptação transcultural seguiu procedimentos amplamente utilizados em pesquisas da área da saúde, compostos pelas seguintes etapas: tradução inicial, síntese das traduções, retrotradução, comitê de especialistas, pré-teste, e validação do conteúdo e aparência. Na etapa de pré-teste, participaram 60 trabalhadores, que responderam aos questionários e, posteriormente, os avaliaram quanto ao: entendimento, aparência, clareza e escrita. Para a verificação da confiabilidade, foi utilizado o teste kappa de Cohen e para a análise da consistência interna foi aplicado o coeficiente alfa de Cronbach. RESULTADOS: As versões traduzidas e adaptadas dos questionários NEQ e NEQ-S mostraram-se semelhantes em relação ao significado geral e referencial. Entretanto, algumas modificações e adaptações foram realizadas, para adequação à realidade brasileira. O teste kappa indicou concordância moderada e o coeficiente alfa de Cronbach, consistência interna substancial. CONCLUSÃO: A tradução e a adaptação transcultural foram realizadas de acordo com a metodologia preconizada na literatura nacional e internacional, incluindo-se as equivalências necessárias para a manutenção da validade de face e conteúdo com o instrumento original. A disponibilização dos questionários NEQ e NEQ-S na versão da língua portuguesa brasileira abre novos campos de pesquisa para aprofundamento da quantificação de exposição anual ao ruído.

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PURPOSE: COVID-19 posed numerous challenges to educational programs that had to quickly adapt to remote online learning (ROL) to ensure the continuity of health professional training over the pandemic. We aimed to assess the students' and professors' perceptions of the teaching-learning process in the Physical Therapy, Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, and Occupational Therapy undergraduate programs at a Brazilian public university. METHODS: We used an electronic self-reported questionnaire with multiple-choice questions on a Likert scale ranged 1-5; higher the score, higher the level of agreement/importance/satisfaction. RESULTS: Most of undergraduate students and teachers had previous experience using information and communication technologies, and 85% stated their preference for in-person learning. Students expressed their appreciation for more active learning methodologies with clear objectives, accessible content, and visualization of abstract concepts. Regarding benefits and barriers, some similar perceptions were observed between students and teachers with ROL favoring time management, benefits in the teaching-learning process, satisfaction and motivation with the course content, and low attendance rates to general academic activities due to absent or poor access to technological resources. CONCLUSION: ROL is an alternative learning mode when the in-person classes cannot be carried out, as in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic. ROL is believed to be unfit to replace in-person learning, although it can complement the traditional classroom-based education in a hybrid model, respecting the nature of each program in the field of health that requires in-person practical training.

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Recent studies involving guinea pigs have shown that noise can damage the synapses between the inner hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons, even with normal hearing thresholds-which makes it important to investigate this kind of impairment in humans. The aim was to investigate, with multiple audiological assessments, the auditory function of normal hearing workers exposed to occupational noise. Altogether, 60 workers were assessed (30 in the noise-exposure group [NEG], who were exposed to occupational noise, and 30 in the control group [CG], who were not exposed to occupational noise); the workers were matched according to age. The following procedures were used: complete audiological assessment; speech recognition threshold in noise (SRTN); speech in noise (SN) in an acoustic field; gaps-in-noise (GIN); transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) and inhibitory effect of the efferent auditory pathway; auditory brainstem response (ABR); and long-latency auditory evoked potentials (LLAEP). No significant difference was found between the groups in SRTN. In SN, the NEG performed worse than the CG in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) 0 (p-value 0.023). In GIN, the NEG had a significantly lower percentage of correct answers (p-value 0.042). In TEOAE, the NEG had smaller amplitude values bilaterally (RE p-value 0.048; LE p-value 0.045) and a smaller inhibitory effect of the efferent pathway (p-value 0.009). In ABR, the NEG had greater latencies of wave V (p-value 0.017) and interpeak intervals III-V and I-V in the LE (respective p-values: 0.005 and 0.04). In LLAEP, the NEG had a smaller P3 amplitude bilaterally (RE p-value 0.001; LE p-value 0.002). The NEG performed worse than the CG in most of the assessments, suggesting that the auditory function in individuals exposed to occupational noise is impaired, even with normal audiometric thresholds.

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OBJECTIVE: To estimate the association between negative self-perception of hearing and depression in older adults in Southern Brazil. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted with data from the third wave of the EpiFloripa Idoso 2017/19 study, a population-based cohort of older adults (60+). A total of 1,335 older adults participated in this wave. The dependent variable was self-reported depression, and the main exposure was self-perception of hearing (negative; positive). For both the crude (bivariate) and adjusted analysis, the odds ratio (OR) was used as a measure of association and estimated by means of binary logistic regression analysis. The exposure variable was adjusted by sociodemographic and health covariates. A p value < 0.05 was adopted as statistically significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of negative self-perception of hearing and depression was 26.0% and 21.8%, respectively. In the adjusted analysis, the older adults with negative self-perception of hearing were 1.96 times more likely to report depression when compared to the ones with positive self-perception of hearing (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The association between negative self-perception of hearing and depression reflects the importance of reviewing health care actions for older adults, incorporating hearing-related issues, to ensure comprehensive care for this growing segment of the population.

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PURPOSE: The purpose of this article was to assess the effectiveness of the Dangerous Decibels (DD) program in students in the short- and medium-term follow-ups (up to 6 months), including an online game. METHOD: A randomized trial was conducted between two interventions (DD and placebo). The research included 58 participants who were divided into two groups: the study group (SG) and the control group. The following phases were developed: intervention (DD or placebo), post-3-month assessment and availability of the online game, and post-6-month assessment. A questionnaire was administered to assess their performance. Overall total scores and category scores were obtained. RESULTS: Improved overall scores were found in the SG in the immediate post-intervention (p = .004), post-3-month (p = .022), and post-6-month (p = .002) questionnaires, as well as the knowledge and behavior categories. CONCLUSIONS: The DD program effectively improved the knowledge and behavior of 10- to 12-year-old children regarding noise in the short- and medium-term follow-ups. However, no significant changes were achieved in terms of barriers only by using the program and the online game. Adding a second intervention (the online game) to the program seems to be a good option to maintain the changes achieved with the interactive class.

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Objetivo: investigar a integridade da via auditiva por meio do Potencial Evocado Auditivo de Tronco Encefálico (PEATE) em indivíduos com Doença de Parkinson (DP) por meio de uma revisão integrativa da literatura. Métodos: foram utilizadas as bases de dados Embase, Google acadêmico, Scielo, bem como o portal eletrônico completo da Biblioteca Virtual da Saúde, com os seguintes descritores: DP (Parkinson Disease ou Parkinsonian Disorders) e PEATE (Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ou Evoked Potentials, Auditory). Foram selecionados artigos nacionais e internacionais, sem limitação de ano ou idioma. Os estudos foram descritos e analisados qualitativamente e quantitativamente quanto à latência absoluta e à amplitude das ondas I, III e V, e quanto aos interpicos I-III, III-V e I-V. Resultados: após exclusão dos títulos repetidos, 420 artigos foram encontrados, sendo que 17 atenderam aos critérios de inclusão. Nos resultados do PEATE, estudos descreveram o aumento da latência de todas as ondas, principalmente das ondas III e V e, também, aumento dos interpicos I-V e III-V. Conclusão: indivíduos com DP apresentam neurodegeneração das vias auditivas centrais com diminuição na velocidade de transmissão neural do estímulo acústico.

Purpose: investigate the integrity of the auditory pathway through the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential (BAEP) in individuals with Parkinson's Disease (PD) through an integrative literature review. Methods: Embase, Academic Google, Scielo databases were used, as well as the complete electronic portal of the Virtual Health Library, with the following descriptors: PD (Parkinson Disease or Parkinsonian Disorders) and BAEP (Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem or Evoked Potentials, Auditory). National and international articles were selected, without limitation of year or language. The studies were described and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively regarding the absolute latency and amplitude of waves I, III and V, and regarding the interpeaks I-III, III-V and I-V. Results: After excluding repeated titles, 420 articles were found, however only 17 met the inclusion criteria. In the ABR results, studies described the increase in latency of all waves, especially waves III and V, and also an increase in interpeaks I-V and III-V. Conclusion: individuals with PD present neurodegeneration of the central auditory pathways with a decrease in the neural transmission speed of the acoustic stimulus.

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OBJECTIVE: to verify the frequency of congenital infections in newborns and their possible associations with the universal-neonatal-hearing-screening (UNHS) results, and evaluate a reference UNHS service in the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde-SUS), according to quality indicators. METHODS: Historical cohort study with data analysis of newborns attending prestigious hearing-health SUS services from January 2017 to December 2021, in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The quality of screening coverage was assessed based on the quality indicators proposed by the Brazilian neonatal-hearing-screening-care guidelines (Diretrizes de Atenção da Triagem Auditiva Neonatal-DATAN). Logistic-regression analysis, crude OR calculations, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel OR calculation, and chi-square test were performed to estimate the association between risk indicators for hearing loss and UNHS failure. RESULTS: In the last five years, the prestigious services performed UNHS on 34,801 newborns and met the DATAN quality indicators. Congenital syphilis was the most frequent (1.59%) congenital infection in newborns, followed by HIV (0.87%), whereas the least frequent was rubella (0.029%). CONCLUSION: Prestigious UNHS services reached ≥95% hearing screening coverage. Considering all congenital infections, the prevalence was 2.87%, with congenital syphilis the most frequent. Newborns with congenital syphilis or HIV are more likely to fail UNHS.

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OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether cognitive impairment precedes self-reported poor hearing in adults aged 50 and older over a 14-year period. DESIGN: Biennial longitudinal study. STUDY SAMPLE: The data came from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing carried out in England between 2002 and 2016, with 11,391 individuals aged 50 years and older. For this study, ELSA participants who had a positive perception of hearing at the beginning of the analysis in 2002 (n = 8,895) were eligible. The dependent variable was self-reported poor hearing, and the exposure measure was cognitive impairment. The analyses were performed using Generalised Estimation Equations and adjusted for gender, age, educational level, household wealth, smoking, alcohol consumption, depressive symptoms, ADL/IADL disability, physical activity level, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: The results showed 33% increased odds of self-reported poor hearing in individuals with cognitive impairment. In the fully adjusted model, individuals who presented cognitive impairment in the previous wave had, over time, 10% increased odds (95% CI: 1.02; 1.19) of presenting self-reported poor hearing. CONCLUSIONS: The exposure to cognitive impairment was associated with a subsequent self-reported poor hearing. These data represent important tools for improving cognitive and hearing impairment diagnosis and treatment.

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ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To estimate the association between negative self-perception of hearing and depression in older adults in Southern Brazil. METHODS This is a cross-sectional study conducted with data from the third wave of the EpiFloripa Idoso 2017/19 study, a population-based cohort of older adults (60+). A total of 1,335 older adults participated in this wave. The dependent variable was self-reported depression, and the main exposure was self-perception of hearing (negative; positive). For both the crude (bivariate) and adjusted analysis, the odds ratio (OR) was used as a measure of association and estimated by means of binary logistic regression analysis. The exposure variable was adjusted by sociodemographic and health covariates. A p value < 0.05 was adopted as statistically significant. RESULTS The prevalence of negative self-perception of hearing and depression was 26.0% and 21.8%, respectively. In the adjusted analysis, the older adults with negative self-perception of hearing were 1.96 times more likely to report depression when compared to the ones with positive self-perception of hearing (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION The association between negative self-perception of hearing and depression reflects the importance of reviewing health care actions for older adults, incorporating hearing-related issues, to ensure comprehensive care for this growing segment of the population.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Estimar a associação entre a autopercepção negativa da audição e a depressão em idosos do sul do Brasil. MÉTODOS Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado com dados da terceira onda do estudo EpiFloripa Idoso 2017/19, de coorte de base populacional de idosos (60+). Participaram desta onda 1.335 idosos. A variável dependente foi a depressão autorreferida e a exposição principal foi a autopercepção auditiva (negativa; positiva). Tanto para a análise bruta (bivariada) quanto para a ajustada, a odds ratio (OR) foi utilizada como medida de associação e estimada por meio da análise de Regressão Logística Binária. A variável de exposição foi ajustada pelas covariáveis sociodemográficas e de saúde. Adotou-se o valor de p < 0,05 como estatisticamente significativo. RESULTADOS A prevalência da autopercepção negativa da audição e depressão foi de 26,0% e 21,8%, respectivamente. Na análise ajustada, idosos com autopercepção negativa da audição apresentaram 1,96 vezes mais chance de referirem depressão quando comparados aos idosos com autopercepção positiva da audição (p = 0,002). CONCLUSÃO A associação encontrada entre a autopercepção negativa auditiva e a depressão reflete a importância de rever as ações de atenção à saúde do idoso, incorporando questões relacionadas à audição para a garantia da atenção integral a esta parcela crescente da população.

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Abstract Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease. Auditory evoked potential studies have demonstrated conduction and neural processing deficits in adults with MS, but little is known about the electrophysiological responses in children and adolescents. Objective to evaluate the central auditory pathway with brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) and long-latency auditory evoked potentials (LLAEP) in children and adolescents with MS. Methods The study comprised 17 individuals with MS, of both sexes, aged 9 to 18 years, and 17 healthy volunteers, matched for age and sex. All individuals had normal hearing and no middle ear impairments. They were assessed with click-BAEP and LLAEP through oddball paradigm and tone-burst stimuli. Results Abnormal responses were observed in 60% of electrophysiologic assessments of individuals with MS. In BAEP, 58.82% of MS patients had abnormal responses, with longer wave V latency and therefore longer III-V and I-V interpeak latencies than healthy volunteers. In LLAEP, 52.94% of MS patients had abnormal responses. Although statistical differences were found only in P2-N2 amplitude, MS patients had longer latencies and smaller amplitudes than healthy volunteers in all components. Conclusion Children and adolescents with MS had abnormal BAEP responses, with delayed neural conduction between the cochlear nucleus and the lateral lemniscus. Also, abnormal LLAEP results suggest a decrease in neural processing speed and auditory sensory discrimination response.

Resumo Antecedentes A esclerose múltipla (EM) é uma doença inflamatória desmielinizante. Estudos com potenciais evocados auditivos têm demonstrado déficits de condução e processamento neural em adultos com EM, mas pouco se sabe sobre as respostas electrofisiológicas em crianças e adolescentes. Objetivo avaliar a via auditiva central por meio dos potenciais evocados auditivos de tronco encefálico (PEATE) e dos potenciais evocados auditivos de longa latência (PEALL) em crianças e adolescentes com EM. Métodos Foram avaliados17 indivíduos com EM, de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 9 e 18 anos, e 17 voluntários saudáveis, pareados por sexo e idade. Todos os indivíduos tinham audição normal sem alterações de orelha média. Os indivíduos foram avaliados por meio do PEATE com estímulo clique e do PEALL com paradigma de oddball e estímulo tone-burst. Resultados Foram observadas alteração em 60% das avaliações dos indivíduos com EM. No PEATE, 58,82% dos pacientes com EM apresentaram alteração, com aumento da latência da onda V, e interpicos III-V e I-V aumentados em comparação aos voluntários saudáveis. No PEALL, 52,94% dos pacientes com EM apresentaram alteração. Embora diferenças estatísticas foram observadas apenas na amplitude P2-N2, os pacientes com EM apresentaram latências prolongadas e amplitudes menores em comparação aos voluntários saudáveis para todos os componentes. Conclusão Crianças e adolescentes com EM apresentaram alteração das respostas do PEATE, com atraso de condução neural entre o núcleo coclear e o lemnisco lateral. Além disso, os resultados alterados do PEALL sugeriram uma diminuição na velocidade de processamento neural e de discriminação sensorial da audição.

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RESUMO Objetivo Traduzir e realizar a adaptação transcultural dos instrumentos Noise Exposure Questionnaire (NEQ) e 1-Minute Noise Screen (NEQ-S) para a versão em português brasileiro. Método O processo de tradução e adaptação transcultural seguiu procedimentos amplamente utilizados em pesquisas da área da saúde, compostos pelas seguintes etapas: tradução inicial, síntese das traduções, retrotradução, comitê de especialistas, pré-teste, e validação do conteúdo e aparência. Na etapa de pré-teste, participaram 60 trabalhadores, que responderam aos questionários e, posteriormente, os avaliaram quanto ao: entendimento, aparência, clareza e escrita. Para a verificação da confiabilidade, foi utilizado o teste kappa de Cohen e para a análise da consistência interna foi aplicado o coeficiente alfa de Cronbach. Resultados As versões traduzidas e adaptadas dos questionários NEQ e NEQ-S mostraram-se semelhantes em relação ao significado geral e referencial. Entretanto, algumas modificações e adaptações foram realizadas, para adequação à realidade brasileira. O teste kappa indicou concordância moderada e o coeficiente alfa de Cronbach, consistência interna substancial. Conclusão A tradução e a adaptação transcultural foram realizadas de acordo com a metodologia preconizada na literatura nacional e internacional, incluindo-se as equivalências necessárias para a manutenção da validade de face e conteúdo com o instrumento original. A disponibilização dos questionários NEQ e NEQ-S na versão da língua portuguesa brasileira abre novos campos de pesquisa para aprofundamento da quantificação de exposição anual ao ruído.

ABSTRACT Objective To translate and cross-culturally adapt the Noise Exposure Questionnaire (NEQ) and 1-Minute Noise Screen (NEQ-S) instruments to Brazilian Portuguese. Methods Procedures widely known in health research were used in the translation and cross-cultural adaptation process, comprising the following steps: initial translation, synthesis of translations, back-translation, expert committee, pretest, and content and layout validation. Altogether, 60 workers participated in the pretest by answering the questionnaires and then evaluating them in terms of understandability, layout, clarity, and writing. Reliability was verified with Cohen's kappa test, and the internal consistency was analyzed with Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Results The translated and adapted versions of NEQ and NEQ-S were similar in terms of general and referential meanings. However, some modifications and adaptations were made to adapt them to the Brazilian reality. The kappa test indicated moderate agreement and Cronbach's alpha coefficient, substantial internal consistency. Conclusion The translation and cross-cultural adaptation were carried out according to the methodology recommended in the national and international literature, performing the necessary equivalences to maintain the face and content validity with the original instrument. The availability of NEQ and NEQ-S in Brazilian Portuguese opens new fields of research to quantify yearly noise exposure more in-depth.

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ABSTRACT Purpose COVID-19 posed numerous challenges to educational programs that had to quickly adapt to remote online learning (ROL) to ensure the continuity of health professional training over the pandemic. We aimed to assess the students' and professors' perceptions of the teaching-learning process in the Physical Therapy, Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, and Occupational Therapy undergraduate programs at a Brazilian public university. Methods We used an electronic self-reported questionnaire with multiple-choice questions on a Likert scale ranged 1-5; higher the score, higher the level of agreement/importance/satisfaction. Results Most of undergraduate students and teachers had previous experience using information and communication technologies, and 85% stated their preference for in-person learning. Students expressed their appreciation for more active learning methodologies with clear objectives, accessible content, and visualization of abstract concepts. Regarding benefits and barriers, some similar perceptions were observed between students and teachers with ROL favoring time management, benefits in the teaching-learning process, satisfaction and motivation with the course content, and low attendance rates to general academic activities due to absent or poor access to technological resources. Conclusion ROL is an alternative learning mode when the in-person classes cannot be carried out, as in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic. ROL is believed to be unfit to replace in-person learning, although it can complement the traditional classroom-based education in a hybrid model, respecting the nature of each program in the field of health that requires in-person practical training.

RESUMO Objetivo O COVID-19 impôs inúmeros desafios aos programas educacionais que tiveram que se adaptar rapidamente ao aprendizado remoto on-line (ARO) para garantir a continuidade da formação dos profissionais de saúde durante a pandemia. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a percepção de alunos e professores sobre o processo ensino-aprendizagem dos cursos de graduação em Fisioterapia, Fonoaudiologia e Terapia Ocupacional de uma universidade pública brasileira. Métodos Foi utilizado um questionário eletrônico autoaplicável com questões de múltipla escolha em escala Likert de 1 a 5; quanto maior a pontuação, maior o nível de concordância/importância/satisfação. Resultados A maioria dos alunos de graduação e professores tinha experiência anterior no uso de tecnologias de informação e comunicação, e 85% afirmaram preferir o ensino presencial. Os alunos expressaram preferência por metodologias de aprendizagem mais ativas, com objetivos claros, conteúdo acessível e visualização de conceitos abstratos. Em relação aos benefícios e barreiras, algumas percepções semelhantes foram observadas entre alunos e professores com ARO favorecendo a gestão do tempo, benefícios no processo ensino-aprendizagem, satisfação e motivação com o conteúdo do curso e baixa frequência às atividades acadêmicas gerais por ausência ou dificuldade de acesso aos recursos tecnológicos. Conclusão O ARO pode ser uma modalidade alternativa de aprendizado quando as aulas presenciais não podem ser realizadas, como no caso da pandemia do COVID-19. Porém, o ARO é inadequado para substituir a aprendizagem presencial, embora possa complementar a educação presencial tradicional em um modelo híbrido, respeitando a natureza de cada programa na área da saúde que exige formação prática presencial.

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BACKGROUND: Studies in noise-exposed animals have shown changes in vestibular structures. Likewise, studies in humans have been suggesting that noise can damage the vestibular system, even with normal assessment results. OBJECTIVE: To assess the vestibular system of workers exposed to noise and to compare with individuals not exposed. METHODS: Twenty normal-hearing male adults were divided in the study group (SG), exposed to occupational noise, and control group (CG). We conducted the following procedures: medical history, Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Dix-Hallpike maneuver, and electronystagmography (eye and caloric tests). RESULTS: The DHI score did not differ between groups. The Dix-Hallpike maneuver was normal for both groups. All individuals had normal responses in the eye tests. 50% of the SG had hyperreflexia in the caloric tests, with a significant difference between the groups. There was a trend towards a statistical significance in the absolute values of angular speed of the slow component in the cold-air test, which were higher in the SG. There was a significant difference between the groups in the relative values of labyrinthine preponderance, which were higher in the SG. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that 70% of the workers exposed to occupational noise had vestibular alterations identified with electronystagmography, whereas 100% of the individuals in the CG had normal results in the vestibular assessment. Moreover, only 20% of the sample in both groups had vestibular complaints, indicating the presence of subclinical vestibular changes in 50% of the individuals exposed to occupational noise.

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OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence of hearing loss among adults stratified by the occurrence of hypertension, and to investigate the association between hypertension and hearing loss. METHODS: Longitudinal observational study, part of the Estudo Longitudinal da Saúde do Adulto (ELSA-Brasil, Longitudinal Study on Adult's Health). Data from the first and second waves were analyzed, including information from audiological assessment and general health of the subjects. As outcome, we considered the presence of hearing loss (hearing thresholds above 25 dBHL at frequencies from 500 Hz to 8 kHz) and, as exposure variable, hypertension (report of medical diagnosis of hypertension; and/or use of drugs to treat hypertension; and/or pressure systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg; or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg). As covariables for adjustment were considered: sex, age, education, race / ethnicity, income, smoking, diabetes, and occupational exposure to noise. Poisson regression analysis was conducted, estimating the crude and adjusted relative risks, with 95% confidence intervals, in order to assess the factors associated with hearing loss. RESULTS: In crude analyses, the incidence of hearing loss was higher for subjects with hypertension (9.7% versus 5.4%). The crude relative risks for hearing loss was almost double (1.93; 95%CI: 1.10-3.39) for subjects with hypertension in the right ear. In the adjusted analyses, the relative risks was not significant for the hypertension variable (1.42; 95%CI: 0.75-2.67). Being 60 years or older (RR: 5.41; 95%CI: 2.79-10.50) showed a statistically significant association with hearing loss, indicating that older adults have higher relative risks for hearing loss. CONCLUSION: In the adjusted analyses controlled for multiple risk factors there was no association between hypertension and hearing loss. The dichotomous variable age (being 60 years or older), on the other hand, has shown a significant association with hearing loss.

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PURPOSE: This study evaluates the exposure of call center operators (CCOs) to occupational noise, its association with auditory and nonauditory symptoms, and the feasibility of monaural and binaural headsets. METHOD: We measured the noise exposure sound pressure levels (SPLs) with the microphone-in-real-ear technique and administered a questionnaire on auditory/nonauditory symptoms and headset preference. RESULTS: We assessed 79 CCOs with normal hearing. Overall, 98.7% of the participants reported at least one auditory symptom, and 88.6% reported at least one nonauditory symptom after using the headset. We found significant associations between the headset volume setting and the number of auditory and nonauditory symptoms and between sharp increases in sound level and tinnitus. The microphone-in-real-ear diffuse-field-related SPLs with monaural headsets (85.5 dBA) were significantly higher than those with binaural headsets (83.1 dBA). Binaural headsets were the preference of 84.8% of the subjects. The SPLs of the binaural headsets were significantly lower than those of the monaural headsets in the subjects who preferred the binaural headsets. CONCLUSIONS: CCOs with normal hearing reported auditory and nonauditory symptoms, highlighting the need for attention and further investigation. The binaural headsets were preferable, as they were associated with a lower SPL and a higher call quality. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.18361463.

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