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Purpose: To analyze the influence of the type of visual stimulus on the written production of deaf signers without complaints of writing impairments. Methods: Participants were 14 deaf subjects, of both genders, with ages between 8 and 13 years, students of third and fourth grades of Elementary School at a special school for deaf children, who were users of the Brazilian Sign Language. They were assessed by means of written productions based on two types of stimuli: a short sequence of four pictures, and a picture of an action. Each production was scored according to criteria adapted from the Communicative Competences theory (Generic, Encyclopedic and Linguistic). Results: In the analysis of the Generic Competence, no difference was found between the written productions based on the sequence of pictures or on the picture of an action. However, the picture of an action provided more narrative productions, whereas the sequence of pictures elicited more descriptive productions. Regarding the Encyclopedic and the Linguistic Competences, both visual stimuli provided similar results in written production. Both in the Linguistic and Encyclopedic Competences, the performance of the subjects was lower than expected for the level of education, demonstrating partial knowledge regarding the written Portuguese language. Nevertheless, it was observed that the sequence of pictures allowed a bit more elaborated organization of ideas and overall cohesion. Conclusion: None of the visual stimuli, whether sequence of pictures or picture of an action, provided better performance in the written production of deaf signers without complaints of writing impairments, for most of the aspects analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare language development, according to gender, gestational age and birth weight, at four, eight and 12 months of life, of infants who remained in the Neonate Intensive Care Unit, who presented at least one risk factor for hearing loss with delayed onset. Methods: Longitudinal study of infants born between August 2007 and July 2008, who, in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), showed normal results in the Automated Auditory Brainstem Evoked Potential test, and required audiological and language monitoring for presenting risk factors for hearing loss. The infants were assessed at four, eight and 12 months, using the Early Language Milestone Scale. Results: Eighty-seven infants were evaluated, and 60 (69%) of them presented, as a risk factor, the permanence at the ICU associated with pulmonary hypertension. In the Early Language Milestone Scale, nine infants showed alterations at four months, and 11 at eight months of age. At 12 months, 18 (20.6%) infants showed alterations, and five of these had showed delays in the previous evaluations. Statistical analyses demonstrated that altered results at four and eight months can predict difficulties in the infant's responsesat12 months. The infants showed transitory alterations in oral language development, which were overcome in most cases. Conclusion: The first language evaluation of children with risk factors for hearing loss should be carried during the first year of life, allowing early detection of language development issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: differential diagnosis between auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder and steeply sloping cochlear hearing loss in children with presence of cochlear microphonics for click-ABR. Procedures: this case report describes the results of the audiological evaluation for two children assisted at Centro "Audição na Criança" of Divisão de Educação e Reabilitação dos Distúrbios da Comunicação of Pontifícia Universidade Católica of São Paulo (CeAC/DERDIC/PUCSP) with presence of cochlear microphonics for click-ABR. The children are assessed by click-ABR, otoacoustic emissions and pure tone audiological evaluation, using the Visual Reinforcement Audiometry technique. Results: the test battery showed that children have sensorineural hearing loss (cochlear) with steeply sloping configuration, so that the presence of cochlear microphonics in the click-ABR was probably generated by the preservation of the cochlea in the low frequencies. Conclusion: the cases demonstrated that the absence of the otoacustic emissions, and presence of cochlear microphonics should not be interpreted as Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder, since that these conditions are similar to steeply sloping cochlear hearing loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: to study the occurrence and magnitude of the transient otoacoustic emissions suppression in pre-term infants with high risk for hearing loss. Methods: the study was carried out in 15 pre-term infants. The used equipment was ILO USB II V6 Clinical OAE Software from Ododynamics. The used stimulation was linear clicks displayed at the intensity of 60 dB pe SPL (± 5). The contralateral noise (white noise) was set at 60 dB SPL (± 5). Results: From 15 infants, only one did not show bilateral suppression. Suppression effect was shown on 93.3% of the subjects, being 71.4% for both ears and 28.6% for only one ear. The results showed that there was a significant statistical difference between the right and left ears. We could not observe significant differences when actual and gestational age were analyzed. The baby boys showed higher responses when compared to baby girls. Conclusions: most of the studied population showed OAE suppression effect. White noise was found in the contralateral ear, and reduced the response level of the transient otoacoustic emissions, demonstrating the participation of the efferent system. The responses were different considering the side of the ear, being higher on the right ear and for boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To characterize complaints, symptoms and risk factors related to hearing loss in children with hearing loss suspicion in the Health I District in Recife/Brazil. Methods: experience report on the participation of Community Health Agents-CHA, having being trained on hearing health, in order identify children with hearing complaints. Visits were made at the indicated homes and to the health center and 80 mothers were interviewed, getting up information on 117 children aged from 0 to 7 years. For the data analysis of were privileged information on: otologic and audiologic complaints, and hearing risk factors. Results: 35 children (29%) had one or more otologic and / or hearing complaints. The two main symptoms were: otologic (74.2%) and otorrhea (34.2%) earache. The most frequent hearing symptoms were: difficulty in understanding other people talk (25.7%) and decreased hearing (20%). According to risk factors, we found in 57 (48.7%) children one or more factors, which are: maternal use of alcohol (59.6%), hereditary deafness background(43.8%) and maternal use of illicit drugs (39.8%) during pregnancy. Conclusion: the earache was the main identified symptom and the difficulty for understanding was the most frequent complaint. The most important risk factors were the use of alcohol and illicit drugs, such as marijuana and crack, during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: to describe the compliance and attitudes of hearing-impaired children towards the treatment and support offered by the Hearing Health Program, a public health endeavor, and assessing patients' returns for follow-ups. Methods: participants consisted of fifty children aged from 0 to 8 years, with a diagnosis of mild to severe sensorineural hearing loss. The children received the hearing aids from the Hearing Health Program, in Vila Velha, in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. The research protocol was completed using both medical records and a socio-economical profile survey of the affected children, including the behavioral adaptation as for hearing aids. Results: the requirement of patient return for follow-ups facilitated the attendance of nearly half the population (44%); results indicate that there seems to be an association between compliance with the program and school routine. Conclusion: the aforementioned program mostly affects families with a monthly income from one to two minimum wages. Hearing loss is diagnosed between the chronological ages of two and three years in this study. The first adaptation with hearing aids at the age of six is quite late. The contact with the parents promoted by the social workers facilitates the proposed evaluation. School attendance also proved to have a positive influence on the evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cadernos de Pesquisa is the property of Fundacao Carlos Chagas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: to analyze and characterize children suspected by the family of hearing loss attended at Associação de Pais e Amigos do Deficiente Auditivo (APADA) in Teresina, PI. Methods: a descriptive study was carried out at PFHIA from September to October 2006. Form were filled out by 14 mothers and/or the responsible adult to find the following variables: identify the family member who suspected hearing loss in the child; the reason which led to the suspicion; the age of the child when hearing loss was detected by the family member; the attitude of the family after discovering the hearing loss; the age of the child when professional help was obtained and the orientation received; the time lapse from suspicion of hearing loss by the family to professional confirmation. Results: the data shows that hearing loss was suspected by the mothers in 86%. The reason for the suspicion was no reaction to sound from the child (71%). 36% of the families noticed the problem at the age of 7 to 12 months, 79% looked for medical help as their first attitude, 36% looked for a health professional before 1 year of age, 29% received the health orientation to use hearing aids and had the confirmation of hearing loss from 7 months to 1 year of age or after the age of 4. Conclusion: the diagnosis of hearing loss was late and discovered by members of the family and health professionals and was not related to newborn hearing screening programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Educacao & Sociedade is the property of Centro de Estudos de Educacao e Sociedade and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)