A perda auditiva no idoso acarreta em dificuldade na percepção da fala. O teste comumente utilizado na logoaudiometria é a pesquisa do índice de reconhecimento de fala máximo (IR-Max) em uma única intensidade de apresentação da fala. Entretanto, o procedimento mais adequado seria a realização do teste em diversas intensidades, visto que o índice de acerto depende da intensidade da fala no momento do teste e está relacionado com o grau e configuração da perda auditiva. A imprecisão na obtenção do IR-Max poderá gerar uma hipótese diagnóstica errônea e o insucesso no processo de intervenção na perda auditiva. Objetivo: Verificar a interferência do nível de apresentação da fala, no teste de reconhecimento de fala, em idosos com perda auditiva sensorioneural com diferentes configurações audiométricas. Métodos: Participaram 64 idosos, 120 orelhas (61 do gênero feminino e 59 do gênero masculino), idade entre 60 e 88 anos, divididos em grupos: G1- composto por 23 orelhas com configuração horizontal, G2- 55 orelhas com configuração descendente, G3- 42 orelhas com configuração abrupta. Os critérios de inclusão foram: perda auditiva sensorioneural de grau leve a severo, não usuário de aparelho de amplificação sonora individual (AASI), ou com tempo de uso inferior a dois meses, e ausência de alterações cognitivas. Foram realizados os seguintes procedimentos: pesquisas do limiar de reconhecimento de fala (LRF), do índice de reconhecimento de fala (IRF) em diversas intensidades e do nível de máximo conforto (MCL) e desconforto (UCL) para a fala. Para tal, foram utilizadas listas com 11 monossílabos, para diminuir a duração do teste. A análise estatística foi composta pelo teste Análise de Variância (ANOVA) e teste de Tukey. Resultados: A configuração descendente foi a de maior ocorrência. Indivíduos com configuração horizontal apresentaram índice médio de acerto mais elevado de reconhecimento de fala. Ao considerar o total avaliado, 27,27% dos indivíduos com configuração horizontal revelaram o IR-Max no MCL, assim como 38,18% com configuração descendente e 26,19% com configuração abrupta. O IR-Max foi encontrado no UCL, em 40,90% dos indivíduos com configuração horizontal, 45,45% com configuração descendente e 28,20% com configuração abrupta. Respectivamente, o maior e o menor índice médio de acerto foram encontrados em: G1- 30 e 40 dBNS; G2- 50 e 10 dBNS; G3- 45 e 10 dBNS. Não há uma única intensidade de fala a ser utilizada em todos os tipos de configurações audiométricas, entretanto, os níveis de sensação que identificaram os maiores índices médios de acerto foram: G1- 20 a 30 dBNS, G2- 20 a 50 dBNS; G3- 45 dBNS. O MCL e o UCL-5 dB para a fala não foram eficazes para determinar o IR-Max. Conclusões: O nível de apresentação teve influência no desempenho no reconhecimento de fala para monossílabos em idosos com perda auditiva sensorioneural em todas as configurações audiométricas. A perda auditiva de grau moderado e a configuração audiométrica descendente foram mais frequentes nessa população, seguida da abrupta e horizontal. / Hearing loss in elderly causes difficulty in speech perception. The test commonly used in speech audiometry is the search for the maximum speech recognition score (PB-Max) in a single presentation intensity of speech. However, the most adequate procedure would be the test at multiple intensities considering that the correct level depends on the intensity of the speech at the moment of the test and is related to the degree and configuration of hearing loss. The imprecision in obtaining the PB-Max can produce an erroneous diagnostic hypothesis and failure in the intervention process in hearing loss. Purpose: To verify the interference of the level of speech presentation, through the speech recognition test, in elderly patients with sensorineural hearing loss with different audiometric configurations. Methods: Participants were 64 elderly, 120 ears (61 females and 59 males), ages ranging from 60 to 88, divided into three groups: G1- comprising 23 ears with flat configuration, G2- 55 ears with gradually sloping, G3- 42 ears with steeply sloping configuration. The criteria of inclusion of individuals were: sensorineural hearing loss from mild to severe degree, no hearing aid users, or period of use lower than two months, and absence of any cognitive impairment. The following procedures were performed: speech recognition threshold (SRT), word recognition scores at multiple intensities, most comfortable loudness level (MCL) and uncomfortable loudness level (UCL) using speech stimuli. For the procedure above, lists of 11 monosyllabic words were presented, in order for the test duration to be reduced. Statistical analysis was made by the test Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Tukey\'s test. Results: The gradually sloping configuration was the most common. Subjects with flat configuration showed higher correct mean level in speech recognition. Considering the total ears assessed, 27.27% of subjects with flat configuration revealed the PB-max in MCL, as well as, 38.18% with gradually sloping and 26.19% with steeply sloping configuration. The PB-max was found in the UCL, in 40.90% of the subjects with a flat configuration, 45.45% with gradually sloping configuration and 28.20% with steeply sloping configuration. Respectively, the highest and the lowest correct mean indexes were found: G1- 30 and 40 dB SL; G2- 50 and 10 dB SL; G3- 45 and 10 dB SL. There is not a single speech intensity to be used in all types of audiometric configurations, however, the sensation levels that identified the correct mean levels were found: G1 - 20-30 dB SL, G2 - 20-50 dB SL; G3 - 45 dB SL. The MCL and UCL-5 dB using speech stimuli, were not effective to determine the PB-Max. Conclusion: The presentation level influenced the performance in speech recognition for monosyllables in elderly patients with sensorineural hearing loss in all audiometric configurations. Moderate hearing loss and gradually sloping configuration were more frequent in this population, followed by steeply sloping and flat configuration.

A surdez neurossensorial imunomediada (SNIM) é uma das formas reversíveis de surdez neurossensorial, justificando a necessidade de identificação de marcadores mais específicos que ajudem na sua abordagem. O Western blot com antígenos de tecidos bovinos detecta um anticorpo contra a proteína de 68kD (hsp-70) em SNIM. Entretanto, anticorpos antihsp- 70 são comumente encontrados em indivíduos sadios. O objetivo do estudo foi determinar a reatividade de soros de pacientes com doenças otológicas freqüentemente relacionadas à etiologia auto-imune contra antígeno celular de linhagem humana (HeLa) através do Western blot, comparando com outros marcadores sorológicos de auto-imunidade. Soros de 81 pacientes com surdez neurossensorial (25 surdez súbita, 35 rapidamente progressiva e 21 doença Ménière) foram testados por Western blot utilizando extrato total de célula HeLa como antígeno alvo. Os pacientes com surdez foram comparados com indivíduos com audição normal e sem queixas otológicas ou história de doença sistêmica auto-imune (n=48). Observou-se reatividade contra célula HeLa principalmente nas regiões de 42, 48 and 62kD no grupo com surdez. O padrão de reatividade foi diferente entre os diferentes subgrupos de surdez. A reatividade contra as bandas de 48 and 62kD foi observada em surdez súbita e surdez rapidamente progressiva. A proteína de 48kD proveniente da surdez rapidamente progressiva parece ser diferente daquela encontrada em surdez súbita devido a sua resistência à tripsina. Este estudo demonstrou a existência de autorreatividade contra células HeLa na surdez súbita, surdez rapidamente progressiva e doença de Ménière, sugerindo a presença de novos autoanticorpos. O seu papel é ainda desconhecido. Estudos detalhados são necessários para avaliar a real relevância clínica desta autorreatividade na patologia de orelha interna ou como marcador prognóstico ou diagnóstico / Immune-mediated sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is one of few forms of reversible SNHL, justifying the need to define more specific markers to help clinical approach. Western blot with bovine tissues detect an autoantibody against the 68kD protein (hsp70) in immune-mediated SNHL. However, antihsp70 antibodies are also common in healthy individuals. The objective of this study was to determinate the reactivity of serum from patients with otologic entities often related to autoimmune etiology against human cell line antigen (HeLa) by Western blot, comparing to other serological markers. Sera of 81 patients with SNHL (25 sudden SNHL, 35 rapidly progressive SNHL and 21 Ménière\'s disease patients) were tested by Western blot using HeLa cell total extract as target. Western blot outcome was compared with detection of other current autoimmune markers. Experimental group data were compared to normal-hearing subjects (n=48) without otologic or systemic autoimmune disease. Reactivity to HeLa cells was observed mostly at 42, 48 and 62kD region which pattern was different among different groups. Binding to 48 and 62kD HeLa cell antigen was observed in sudden SNHL and rapidly progressive SNHL. The 48kD protein from rapidly progressive SNHL seems to be different from sudden SNHL\'s according to resistance to trypsin. This study detected autoreactivity to HeLa cells in sudden SNHL, rapidly progressive SNHL and Ménière\'s disease, suggesting the presence of new autoantibodies. Their role is still unknown and further studies should evaluate their relevance on pathology in the inner ear or as diagnostic or prognostic marker

Objetivo: Verificar o desempenho de crianças diagnosticadas com deficiência auditiva, de grau leve, condutiva e sensorioneural, no Teste da Habilidade de Atenção Auditiva Sustentada (THAAS) visando constatar se este teste sofre influência da presença de uma deficiência auditiva. Modelo: Estudo do Teste da Habilidade de Atenção Auditiva Sustentada-THAAS em três grupos: grupo 1 (G1) grupo controle, formado por crianças com audição normal; grupo 2 (G2) crianças com deficiência auditiva sensorioneural bilateral de grau leve e grupo 3 (G3) composto por crianças com perda auditiva condutiva bilateral de grau leve. Local: Divisão de Saúde Auditiva ? Hospital de Reabilitação de Aanomalias Craniofaciais ?Universidade de São Paulo (HRAC/USP). Participantes: 90 crianças com idade entre 7 e 11 anos de idade, sendo 30 de cada grupo. Intervenções: Audiometria Tonal Limiar, Imitanciometria e THAAS Resultados: não houve indícios estatisticamente significativos entre sexo e idade, em todos os grupos estudados. Os grupos sensorioneural e condutivo apresentaram desempenho inferior ao grupo controle, em todas as respostas do THAAS. Conclusões: o teste THAAS sofreu influência das perdas auditivas de grau leve, condutivas e sensorioneurais na população estudada, sendo o pior comprometimento para perdas sensorioneurais. / Objective: To verify the performance of children diagnosed with a hearing loss of mild degree, conductive and sensorineural, at Sustained Auditory Attention Ability Test (SAAAT), aiming to observe if this test suffers the influence of the presence of a hearing loss. Model: A study of the Sustained Auditory Attention Ability Test ? SAAAT in three groups: group 1 (G1) control group comprising children with normal hearing, group 2 (G2) children with a bilateral sensorineural hearing loss of a mild degree and group 3 (G3), comprising children with a bilateral conductive hearing loss of a mild degree. Place: Division for Hearing Health ? Craniofacial Anomaly Rehabilitation Hospita, University of São Paulo (HRAC/USP). Participants: 7 to 11 year old children, 30 for each group. Interventions: Pure Tone Audiometry, Immitance Acoustic and SAAAT. Results: There were not any statistically significant indications between sex and age in all studied groups. Sensorineural and conductive groups showed a lower performance related to control group in all answers for SAAAT. Conclusions: SAAAT test suffered the influence of conductive and sensorineural hearing losses of light degree in studied population, the worse compromise occurring for sensorineural losses.

A surdez neurossensorial imunomediada (SNIM) é uma das formas reversíveis de surdez neurossensorial, justificando a necessidade de identificação de marcadores mais específicos que ajudem na sua abordagem. O Western blot com antígenos de tecidos bovinos detecta um anticorpo contra a proteína de 68kD (hsp-70) em SNIM. Entretanto, anticorpos antihsp- 70 são comumente encontrados em indivíduos sadios. O objetivo do estudo foi determinar a reatividade de soros de pacientes com doenças otológicas freqüentemente relacionadas à etiologia auto-imune contra antígeno celular de linhagem humana (HeLa) através do Western blot, comparando com outros marcadores sorológicos de auto-imunidade. Soros de 81 pacientes com surdez neurossensorial (25 surdez súbita, 35 rapidamente progressiva e 21 doença Ménière) foram testados por Western blot utilizando extrato total de célula HeLa como antígeno alvo. Os pacientes com surdez foram comparados com indivíduos com audição normal e sem queixas otológicas ou história de doença sistêmica auto-imune (n=48). Observou-se reatividade contra célula HeLa principalmente nas regiões de 42, 48 and 62kD no grupo com surdez. O padrão de reatividade foi diferente entre os diferentes subgrupos de surdez. A reatividade contra as bandas de 48 and 62kD foi observada em surdez súbita e surdez rapidamente progressiva. A proteína de 48kD proveniente da surdez rapidamente progressiva parece ser diferente daquela encontrada em surdez súbita devido a sua resistência à tripsina. Este estudo demonstrou a existência de autorreatividade contra células HeLa na surdez súbita, surdez rapidamente progressiva e doença de Ménière, sugerindo a presença de novos autoanticorpos. O seu papel é ainda desconhecido. Estudos detalhados são necessários para avaliar a real relevância clínica desta autorreatividade na patologia de orelha interna ou como marcador prognóstico ou diagnóstico / Immune-mediated sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is one of few forms of reversible SNHL, justifying the need to define more specific markers to help clinical approach. Western blot with bovine tissues detect an autoantibody against the 68kD protein (hsp70) in immune-mediated SNHL. However, antihsp70 antibodies are also common in healthy individuals. The objective of this study was to determinate the reactivity of serum from patients with otologic entities often related to autoimmune etiology against human cell line antigen (HeLa) by Western blot, comparing to other serological markers. Sera of 81 patients with SNHL (25 sudden SNHL, 35 rapidly progressive SNHL and 21 Ménière\'s disease patients) were tested by Western blot using HeLa cell total extract as target. Western blot outcome was compared with detection of other current autoimmune markers. Experimental group data were compared to normal-hearing subjects (n=48) without otologic or systemic autoimmune disease. Reactivity to HeLa cells was observed mostly at 42, 48 and 62kD region which pattern was different among different groups. Binding to 48 and 62kD HeLa cell antigen was observed in sudden SNHL and rapidly progressive SNHL. The 48kD protein from rapidly progressive SNHL seems to be different from sudden SNHL\'s according to resistance to trypsin. This study detected autoreactivity to HeLa cells in sudden SNHL, rapidly progressive SNHL and Ménière\'s disease, suggesting the presence of new autoantibodies. Their role is still unknown and further studies should evaluate their relevance on pathology in the inner ear or as diagnostic or prognostic marker

No description available.

Objective: The air conduction click is currently the most widespread stimulus used to estimate the pure tone audiogram as part of auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing. The click is characterized by its broad spectral content and rapid onset, which may not make it the best choice for frequency specificity. An alternative stimulus is a short duration tone burst stimuli with notched noise masking. When obtaining an ABR using standard unmasked tone bursts, the brief stimulus onset may cause spectral splatter producing response contributions from unwanted regions of the cochlea; thus reducing the frequency specificity of the ABR. Notched noise masking used in conjunction with the tone burst ABR, limits the evoked response to those frequencies within the notch, thereby reducing the likelihood of spectral splatter and increasing frequency specificity. The presence of a sloping sensory hearing impairment creates additional difficulties for achieving frequency specificity because of the likelihood that lower frequency cochlea regions, with less sensory damage, will contribute to the evoked response. It is theorized that notched noise masking will reduce the neural contributions from regions of the cochlear outside those within the notch, resulting in more frequency specific results than those achieved with a standard unmasked tone burst stimulus. The present study was designed to investigate the differences in Wave V latency between the notched noise ABR and the standard unmasked tone burst ABR as a measure of frequency specificity. Design: Twenty-five participants with normal hearing in at least one ear and 16 participants with bilateral SNHL participated in this investigation. Each participant was given an audiological evaluation, a click ABR screening to determine neural synchrony, a standard tone burst ABR and a notched noise tone burst ABR. Results: An Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) failed to reveal any significant Wave V latency differences between the ABRs obtained with unmasked tone bursts versus ABRs obtained with a notched noise tone burst. Conclusion: The results of this study do not support the use of notched noise tone bursts for improved ABR frequency specificity. This finding is contrary to previously reported results (Stapells & Picton, 1981), which indicated improved frequency specificity when obtaining a tone burst ABR in notched noise versus a standard unmasked tone burst ABR.

Older adults with sensorineural hearing loss have greater difficulty understanding speech than younger adults with equivalent hearing (Gates & Mills, 2005). This increased difficulty may be related to the influence of peripheral, central auditory processing or cognitive deficits and although this has been extensively debated the relative contribution to speech understanding is equivocal (Working Group on Speech Understanding and Aging, 1988). Furthermore, changes to the speech mechanism that occur as a result of age lead to natural degradations of signal quality. Studies involving hearing impaired listeners have not examined the influence of such naturally degraded speech signals. The purpose of this study was to determine: (1) whether older hearing impaired listeners demonstrate differences in speech understanding ability or perceived effort of listening on the basis of the age of the speaker and the predictability of the stimulus, and (2) whether any individual differences in speech understanding were related to central auditory processing ability. The participants included nineteen native speakers of New Zealand English ranging in age from 60 to 87 years (mean = 71.4 years) with age-related sensorineural hearing loss. Each participant underwent a full audiological assessment, three measures of central auditory processing (the Dichotic Digits Test, the Random Gap Detection Test and the Staggered Spondaic Words Test), and completed a computer-based listening experiment containing phrases of high and low predictability spoken by two groups: (1) young adults (18 – 30 years) and (2) older adults (70 years and above). Participants were required to repeat stimulus phrases as heard, with the researcher entering orthographic transcriptions into the custom-designed computer programme. An Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to determine if significant differences existed in percentage words correct scores as a factor of speaker group (young versus older speakers) and stimulus predictability (high predictability versus low predictability phrases), with level of presentation (dB) as a covariate. Results demonstrated that although there were no significant differences in percentage words correct with regards to speaker group as expected, lower scores were achieved for low predictability phrases. In addition, increased listener effort was required when listening to the speech from the older adult group and during the low predictability phrase condition. Positive correlations were found between word understanding scores and tests of dichotic separation, which suggests that central auditory processing deficits contribute to the speech understanding difficulties of older adults. The implications of these findings for audiological assessment and rehabilitation are explored.

INTRODUCTION: Asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss [ASNHL] is a common otological complaint. Vestibular schwannoma [VS] is a rare, benign tumor that commonly presents with ASNHL. Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] is the gold standard in diagnosing VS, but is an expensive imaging modality. Therefore, this meta-analysis evaluates the diagnostic yield of MRI scans in patients with ASNHL to rule out VS. METHODS: A systematic review was performed using a keyword search on the PubMed Database. We excluded articles based on: Non-English, case reports, wrong diagnostic test, solely pediatric subjects, inadequate/unnecessary data, repeated studies, and unclear presenting symptoms. The demographics, definition of ASNHL, and the number and results of MRIs were collected. Positive MRIs were grouped based on differences in interaural hearing loss. RESULTS: 5,783 MRIs on subjects with ASNHL were collected from fourteen studies. 296 MRI scans (5.1%) were positive for VS. 170 positive scans were grouped. In Group A (10+ dB) 11.2% had VS; in Group B (15+ dB at ≥2 frequencies or 20+ dB at 1 frequency) 6.5% had VS, Group C (20+ dB) yielded 5.1% with VS, and Group D (30+ dB) had 0.7% yield of positive VS. CONCLUSION: MRI scans to rule out VS in patients with ASNHL has an extremely low diagnostic yield when assessing subjects on the basis of ASNHL. The degree of ASNHL does not correlate with increased odds of VS diagnosis. Overall, the risk of VS diagnosis in patients with any degree of ASNHL is low.

Dans le cas de perte auditive neurosensorielle, la biomécanique cochléaire se trouve modifiée et les phénomènes actifs liés aux cellules ciliées sont altérés. Si les conséquences sur la baisse de sensibilité, les capacités de sélectivité fréquentielle ou la compréhension de la parole dans le bruit sont bien connus, la perception de la hauteur tonale peut également être modifiée suite à une perte neurosensorielle. Cette thèse se propose d’étudier la perception de la hauteur à travers quatre approches chez des sujets présentant une surdité neurosensorielle. La première étude s’intéresse à la diplacousie et a montré que ce phénomène était bien plus fréquent que ce que l’on pouvait imaginer. Les résultats ont montré que la perception était en règle générale plus aiguë sur l’oreille la plus lésée. La seconde étude propose une mesure catégorielle de la tonie. Les résultats ont montré que pour une même fréquence, les malentendants percevaient un son comme plus aigu que les normo-entendants. La troisième étude traite de la correspondance d’octave et de l’écoute de la musique. Les résultats montrent que la perte auditive est corrélée avec la perception de l’octave. La quatrième étude s’intéresse à la perception catégorielle des fricatives non-voisées. Les résultats montrent que la frontière catégorielle est décalée vers les fréquences graves ce qui semble être le reflet d’une perception plus aigue de ces phonèmes. Ces résultats d’expériences de psychoacoustique vont dans le sens des études menées sur des animaux montrant une modification de la carte tonotopique cochléaire et des fréquences caractéristiques des neurones lors d’une atteinte neurosensorielle. Ces observations pourraient conduire à une meilleure prise en charge des malentendants et à l’élaboration de nouveaux algorithmes sur les futures aides auditives / In the case of sensorineural hearing loss, the cochlear mechanism is modified and the active phenomena linked to the hair cells are altered. If the effects on decreased sensitivity, frequency selectivity, or speech in noise intelligibility are well known, the perception of pitch can also be altered following a neurosensory hearing loss. This thesis proposes to study the perception of pitch with four approaches in subjects with neurosensory hearing loss. The first study focuses on diplacusis and has shown that this phenomenon is much more frequent than one could imagine. The results showed that perception was generally higher on the worse ear. The second study proposes a categorical measure of pitch. The results showed that for the same frequency, the hearing-impaired perceived a sound higher than the normal hearing listeners. The third study is about octave matching and listening to music. The results show that hearing loss correlates with the octave matching frequency. The fourth study focuses on the categorical perception of voiceless fricatives. The results show that the categorical boundary is shifted towards the low frequencies, which seems to reflect a higher perception of these phonemes. These results of psychoacoustic experiments are consistent with the studies carried out on animals showing a modification of the cochlear tonotopic map and the characteristic frequencies of the neurons in case of a neurosensory hearing loss. These observations could lead to better care for the hearing impaired and to the development of new algorithms on future hearing aids

Objetivo: Verificar o desempenho de crianças diagnosticadas com deficiência auditiva, de grau leve, condutiva e sensorioneural, no Teste da Habilidade de Atenção Auditiva Sustentada (THAAS) visando constatar se este teste sofre influência da presença de uma deficiência auditiva. Modelo: Estudo do Teste da Habilidade de Atenção Auditiva Sustentada-THAAS em três grupos: grupo 1 (G1) grupo controle, formado por crianças com audição normal; grupo 2 (G2) crianças com deficiência auditiva sensorioneural bilateral de grau leve e grupo 3 (G3) composto por crianças com perda auditiva condutiva bilateral de grau leve. Local: Divisão de Saúde Auditiva ? Hospital de Reabilitação de Aanomalias Craniofaciais ?Universidade de São Paulo (HRAC/USP). Participantes: 90 crianças com idade entre 7 e 11 anos de idade, sendo 30 de cada grupo. Intervenções: Audiometria Tonal Limiar, Imitanciometria e THAAS Resultados: não houve indícios estatisticamente significativos entre sexo e idade, em todos os grupos estudados. Os grupos sensorioneural e condutivo apresentaram desempenho inferior ao grupo controle, em todas as respostas do THAAS. Conclusões: o teste THAAS sofreu influência das perdas auditivas de grau leve, condutivas e sensorioneurais na população estudada, sendo o pior comprometimento para perdas sensorioneurais. / Objective: To verify the performance of children diagnosed with a hearing loss of mild degree, conductive and sensorineural, at Sustained Auditory Attention Ability Test (SAAAT), aiming to observe if this test suffers the influence of the presence of a hearing loss. Model: A study of the Sustained Auditory Attention Ability Test ? SAAAT in three groups: group 1 (G1) control group comprising children with normal hearing, group 2 (G2) children with a bilateral sensorineural hearing loss of a mild degree and group 3 (G3), comprising children with a bilateral conductive hearing loss of a mild degree. Place: Division for Hearing Health ? Craniofacial Anomaly Rehabilitation Hospita, University of São Paulo (HRAC/USP). Participants: 7 to 11 year old children, 30 for each group. Interventions: Pure Tone Audiometry, Immitance Acoustic and SAAAT. Results: There were not any statistically significant indications between sex and age in all studied groups. Sensorineural and conductive groups showed a lower performance related to control group in all answers for SAAAT. Conclusions: SAAAT test suffered the influence of conductive and sensorineural hearing losses of light degree in studied population, the worse compromise occurring for sensorineural losses.