Audiological findings in children in adenotonsillectomy preoperative phase

Abstract

Introduction: Hearing is one of the main senses of the sensory system, being the most important means of relation between the human being and environment. Changes in the functioning of the auditory system in its peripheral or central portion may impair the processing of auditory information, leading to impairments in the development of the child. Among the causes of auditory alterations is hypertrophy of palatine and pharyngeal tonsils, a common obstructive condition in the child population that frequently has surgical indication and is constantly associated with conductive auditory changes such as otitis media which have an important impact on the development of children's hearing. Objectives: To investigate the peripheral hearing of children with surgery indication for adenotonsillectomy in the pharyngeal and palatine tonsil removal in a single procedure mode. To analyze complaints related to central auditory processing through a questionnaire applied to parents or child's responsible. Methods: This is a quantitative, cross-sectional and descriptive study part of a bigger project called "A study on oral breathing children submitted to adenotonsillectomy". The sample will consist of 60 children from 5 to 12 years old, who will be separated into two groups: the Study Group (SG) with 30 children with surgical indication of adenotonsillectomy for removal of palatine and pharyngeal tonsils in a single procedure, and the Control Group (CG) that will count with 30 children without hearing complaints, without oral breathing complaints, without history of otitis and without history of palatine and/or pharyngeal tonsil hypertrophy. The following procedures will be applied in the SG and the CG groups: basic audiological assessment including pure tone audiometry, logoaudiometry and wire band immittanciometry. Besides, the children's responsible will answer SAB questionnaire (Scale of Auditory Behaviors) a standardized questionnaire with 12 behavior questions frequently related to children's auditory processing. Expected Results: When compared to subjects of the control group is expected that the subjects of the study group presents indicatives of conductive alteration in the audiological assessment and is expected as well that the study group presents a higher incidence of behavioral auditory complaints reported by the children’s responsible.