Phrases in noise test (PINT) Brazil: effectiveness of the test in children with hearing loss

Introduction: One of the main implications of hearing impairment is the difficulty in perceiving speech sounds, especially in noisy environments. Thus, the frequency-modulated system is considered an important educational tool for children with hearing impairment because it improves speech perception in acoustically-unfavorable environments, such as in the classroom. The assessment of speech perception in noise is included in the verification protocol of this device. Objectives: To verify the effectiveness of the phrases in noise test Brazil in children with hearing impairment using an frequency-modulated system. Methods: This was a cross-sectional cohort study. The sample included 40 children, aged 4 years to 11 years and 11 months old, divided into 4 groups: (1) 10 normal hearing children; (2) 13 children with hearing aids and frequency-modulated system; (3) 12 children using cochlear implant and fitted with the frequency-modulated system; and (4) 5 children diagnosed with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder, fitted with hearing aids and/or cochlear implant and with the frequency-modulated system. The phrases in noise test Brazil was used to evaluate speech perception in noise under the conditions with and without the frequency-modulated system. For the statistical analysis of the data, a significance level of 5% (p