AUDITORY MONITORING PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WITH RISK INDICATORS OF HEARING IMPAIRMENT

Ano: 2013 | Volume: 17 | Número: Suplemento

Autores: Araújo MR, Lewis DR

Resumo Inglês:

INTRODUCTION: Auditory monitoring is recommended in several hearing health studies, but there is no consensus on achievement protocols. OBJECTIVE: To analyze an Auditory Monitoring Program for children with risk factors for hearing loss. METHOD: The sample comprised 127 children with risk factors and who passed the newborn hearing screening. For children 6 to 24 months, we used the Visual Reinforcement Audiometry technique. Children who failed to perform it underwent OAE assessment; in children older than 24 months of age, Ludic Tonal Audiometry was employed. Children who did not accept insert earphones for behavioral assessment were subjected to OAE assessment. Children with suspected hearing loss were reassessed, and if change was evident, they were submitted to BAEP assessment. RESULTS: The more common risk factors found were a stay in the NICU for more than 5 days (75%) and the use of ototoxic drugs (63%). Of the 127 children scheduled, 92 (72.4%) attended at least 1 monitoring. Regarding behavioral techniques, the majority (95.6%) performed VRA, and 71.6% accepted the headphones. In this study, 14 suspected cases of hearing loss were found, 3 of which were identified with conductive alterations. CONCLUSION: In the first assessment, 72.4% of children attended, with an avoidance rate of 71.7% for the second and 80.7% for the third assessment. The VRA proved feasible for use in monitoring, and was performed in 95.6% of children. The 3 cases of conductive hearing loss found (3.2%) ranged from mild to moderate in severity.