Peripheral and central auditory system assessment in children with history of otitis media

Abstract

The physiological anatomical integrity of the auditory system in their peripheral and central portions is a prerequisite for the proper development of auditory function. The central auditory system (CAS) can be harmed by various complications including specially otitis media (OM) which is very common in children once we know there is 2/3 incidence in this population. In addition, genetic factors are co related between 45-74% of the disease cases. From this anomaly emerges a possibility of auditory deprivation and/or hearing loss that causes failures in the auditory perception and speech formants as well as difficulties in learning, language and attention, being one of the possible factors caused by auditory processing disorder. The behavioral and electrophysiological assessment provides an objective investigation of CAS and the use of diverse sound stimuli allows a broader and accurate observation. Auditory training is a strategy for auditory rehabilitation. The present study, which is mostly based on auditory processing in verbal and nonverbal stimuli in the pre- and post-auditory training in children who underwent surgery for ventilation tubes placement unilateral and bilateral in the first six years of age, aims to analyze the behavioral and electrophysiological responses. Also, to study the gene of otitis media, FBXO11, in order to verify the relation between the gene studied and phenotypes expression. A total of 110 children between 8 and 16 years old will be divided in three groups: GI - 40 children who suffering from otitis media and undergoing a surgery for bilateral ventilation tubes placement; GII - 30 children who suffering from otitis media and undergoing a surgery for unilateral ventilation tubes placement; GIII - 40 children without otitis media history and normal school development. The procedures will be used to evaluate the auditory system are: behavioral assessment with verbal and nonverbal sounds and electrophysiological and electroacoustic sounds of short and long latency with verbal and nonverbal stimulus. The formal auditory training will be applied in children who suffering from otitis media. It is believed that children with a history of OM will present altered behavioral and electrophysiological test results, considering the loss of sound perception in the CAS. (AU)