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Introduction: There are reports in the literature of improved tinnitus after treatment for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), however there's the lack of standardization of these interventions. The aim was analyzed the results of conservative treatment in individuals with TMDs in terms of tinnitus. The target outcome of the studies was subjective perception of improvement in tinnitus before and after conservative treatment. Methods: A systematic review was performed, according to Cochrane's recommendations, registered on Prospero (CRD42017063832). In the universe of 1052 titles, 211 abstracts were read and 10 full articles were selected and divided into groups: group 1 - Individuals with TMD/tinnitus treated with a myorelaxant splint and group 2 - Individuals with TMD/tinnitus treated with a myorelaxant splint and associated therapies such as: physiotherapy, acupuncture among others. Results: The two groups showed promising results in terms of tinnitus improvement and remission, with a statistically significant different in group 2, which exhibited a higher percentage of improvement or remission, suggesting that the combination of a myorelaxant splint and other conservative therapies is the best approach. Conclusion: TMD treatment showed good results for improvement in tinnitus, particularly in those who complained of muscle pain. Level of evidence: II a. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This is an objective laboratory assessment of the central auditory systems of children with learning disabilities. Aim: To examine and determine the properties of the components of the Auditory Middle Latency Response in a sample of children with learning disabilities. Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional cohort study with quantitative, descriptive, and exploratory outcomes. We included 50 children aged 8-13 years of both genders with and without learning disorders. Those with disorders of known organic, environmental, or genetic causes were excluded. Results and Conclusions: The Na, Pa, and Nb waves were identified in all subjects. The ranges of the latency component values were as follows: Na = 9.8-32.3 ms, Pa = 19.0--51.4 ms, Nb = 30.0-64.3 ms (learning disorders group) and Na = 13.2-29.6 ms, Pa = 21.8-42.8 ms, Nb = 28.4-65.8 ms (healthy group). The values of the Na-Pa amplitude ranged from 0.3 to 6.8 ìV (learning disorders group) or 0.2-3.6 ìV (learning disorders group). Upon analysis, the functional characteristics of the groups were distinct: the left hemisphere Nb latency was longer in the study group than in the control group. Peculiarities of the electrophysiological measures were observed in the children with learning disorders. This study has provided information on the Auditory Middle Latency Response and can serve as a reference for other clinical and experimental studies in children with these disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the most important steps for good user performance with a cochlear implant (CI) is activation and programming, aimed at determining the dynamic range. In adults, current levels are determined by psychophysical measures. In babies, small children, or individuals with multiple disorders, this procedure requires techniques that may provide inconsistent responses because of auditory inexperience or the age of the child, making it a very difficult process that demands the collaboration of both the patient and the family. Purpose: To study the relationship between the electrically evoked stapedius reflex threshold (ESRT) and maximum comfort level for stimulating electrodes (C-level) in postoperative CI users. Research Design: Cross-sectional analytical observational case series study. Study Sample: We assessed 24 patients of both sexes, aged between 18 and 68 yr, submitted to CI surgery. Intervention: Otoscopy and immittance. Next, an implant speech processor connected to an Itautec® computer containing the manufacturer's software (custom sound Ep 3-2) was used, as well as an AT 235h probe inserted into the ear contralateral to the CI to capture the stapedius reflex, obtaining electrically evoked stapedius reflex thresholds. Data Collection and Analysis: Data from the last programming, defining C-levels for each electrode studied, were extracted from the databank of each patient. The manual decay function of the AT 235h middle ear analyzer was used to observe ESRT response in a same window for a longer response capture time. Electrodes 22, 16, 11, 6, and 1 were tested when active, with the aim of using electrodes over the entire length of the CI, and ESRT was considered present when compliance was ≥0.05 ml. Stimuli, in current units, were always initiated at 20 cu above the C-level. The analysis of variance parametric test, Tukey's honest significant difference test, the t-test, Wilcoxon nonparametric test, and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test examined whether significant relationships existed between these other factors. Results: The results demonstrate that all the electrodes selected for the study exhibited higher mean reflex threshold values than their mean C-level counterparts. However, there was no significant difference between them, for electrodes 1, 6, 11, and 16. The data provided allow the use of ESRT to define C-level values and make it possible to stipulate a correction factor ranging between 6 and 25.6 electrical units. Conclusion: The use of electrically evoked stapedius reflex thresholds can help the team in charge of programming CIs, making the process faster and safer, mainly for infants, small children, or individuals with multiple disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Forward masking occurs when noise is presented before the target signal, making the latter difficult to be perceived. It is related to temporal auditory processing and consequently to speech recognition in noisy environments, which may decline with age. Interestin forward masking has grown in the last years. Studies investigate psychoacoustic and electrophysiological recordings in different age- groups. Purpose The purposeofthestudy was to investigate the effect of forward masking on frequency following response (FFR) as a function of age. Research Design Cross-sectional analytical observational study. Study Sample We assessed 69 normal-hearing participants of both genders assigned to three groups: 40 young individuals (aged 18-25 years, mean age = 22 years 8 months), 21 middle-age individuals (aged 25-55 years, mean age = 37 years 2 months), and 8 seniors (aged <55 years, mean age = 65 years 3 months). Intervention FFRs were recorded using the /da/ syllable with and without noise. Data Collection and Analysis The /da/ syllable and speech-shaped noise were monaurally presented to the participants' right ears through ER-3a insert earphones. Electrodes were placed in M1 and M2 (-), Fz(+), and Fpz (ground). Acquisition occurred under two conditions: (1) the/da/ syllable presented without the noise and (2) the /da/ syllable presented 4 msec after the noise. Results Data show that (1 ) considering the mean values of all participants, there was a significant latency delay of all waves (PV, A, PW, PX, PY, PZ, and O) when the /da/ syllable was presented 4 msec after the masking noise as compared with the condition without noise, that is, forward masking occurred in all components of the FFR responses, and (2) for the youngest group and the middle-age group, forward masking was seen for all waves, except PX in the latter one; for the senior group, an irregular pattern was observed (presence of forward masking in PA, PY, PZ, and O). This pattern may be due to an aging effect on FFR responses even without noise presence, which makes it more difficult to identify forward masking effect in this population. Although it is well documented in the literature that forward masking increases with age, this is less evident on FFR recordings in the senior population. Conclusions An aging effect was identified in FFR responses. Forward masking was identified in FFR responses of all groups but less evident in senior population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion: Responses with greater amplitude were recorded when carrier frequencies were modulated at 37, 40, and 43 Hz. These responses can be recorded even in patients with significant sensorineural hearing loss, from the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle for a 500 Hz tone, 100% modulated at 40 Hz., Objective: To determine the best carrier and modulating frequencies to evoke steady-state myogenic responses., Methods: The present study investigated 156 ears of 78 normal-hearing young adults, with carrier frequencies of 250, 500, and 1000 Hz, modulated at 20, 37, 40, 43, 70, 77, and 80 Hz, with an intensity of 95 dBA. Furthermore, we observed responses evoked by stimulus carrier frequency of 500 Hz, modulated at 40 Hz, with an intensity of 95 dBA in a group of five subjects with severe sensorineural loss., Results: Responses were found for all stimuli studied (p < 0.01). Modulated stimuli at frequencies of 37, 40, and 43 Hz evoked better steady-state vestibular evoked myogenic potential (S-VEMP) (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found between the group of normal hearers and the group of subjects with hearing loss (p = 0.431), for the stimulus used.