There was a difference in the latency of potentials N2 and P3 among the stimuli employed but no difference was observed for the P3 amplitude.

Introduction  The use of the speech-evoked auditory brainstem response (ABR) shows how the brainstem operates up to the subcortex in a more complex manner than when the click-evoked ABR is used. Objective  To study the applicability of the speech-evoked ABR in adults with hearing loss. Methods  The sample was composed of a study group of 11 subjects, with ages ranging between 18 and 59 years, and auditory thresholds within normal standards, with loss of up to 65 dB at high frequencies or up to moderately severe symmetric sensorineural hearing loss. The sample underwent a basic audiological assessment, as well as speech-evoked ABR and click-evoked ABR, in which waves I, III and V, and V, A, C, D, E, F were respectively marked. The electrophysiological assessments were performed using the SmartEP device (Intelligent Hearing Systems, Miami, FL, US). Results  For the speech-evoked ABR, the reference values were used in the identification and analysis of the study group. Those values found for the study group were: V = 8.56; A = 10.97; C = 21.33; D = 29.51; E = 37.93; F = 46.96; and O = 55.97. In the comparison between groups, the study group presented an increase in latency only in wave C. Conclusion  The speech-evoked ABR can be performed in subjects with up to moderately severe hearing loss, and the test proved to be appropriate, because, unlike the click-evoked ABR, the former does not suffer influence of peripheral hearing loss.

RESUMO

Introduction  Frequency-following response with speech stimulus (FFR-speech) is a subcortical potential that satisfactorily evaluates the processing of verbal information. However, there still are differences in the literature regarding its analysis and stimulation protocol. Objective  To compare two stimulation protocols for the capture of FFR-speech, to identify the percentage of occurrence of the waves among them and to compare it with the specialized literature, as well as to describe the interpeaks of its waves. Method  Considering the eligibility criteria, the sample consisted of 30 normal-hearing adults, with no complaints of speech comprehension. All of them were submitted to a basic audiological evaluation, to brainstem auditory evoked potential with click stimulus, and to FFR-speech. In the latter, 2 types of stimulation were performed, 3 series of 1,000 sweeps, and 2 series of 3,000 sweeps, for subsequent analysis of the resulting wave, in which we tried to mark the peak V followed by valleys A, C, D, E, F, and O. Results  Differences in latency and interpeaks were not found between the protocols. In general, a higher occurrence of waves in the stimulation of 2 series of 3,000 sweeps was observed, but only the A valley presented a significant difference. When the values of the waves were compared with the literature, the V and A waves showed fewer occurrences in the present study. Conclusion  The protocol of 2 series of 3,000 sweeps was better for FFR-speech in the studied equipment, considering the higher occurrence of waves, even though it is inferior to the specialized literature. Furthermore, it was possible to describe interpeak values and to observe no difference between the studied protocols

OBJETIVO: verificar de que modo se dá a aquisição lexical inicial de crianças com desenvolvimento típico, em termos de tipos e ocorrências dos itens lexicais e se a hipótese do viés nominal realmente ocorre, e em qual versão, forte ou fraca. MÉTODOS: a amostra foi composta por 20 crianças de ambos os sexos, com desenvolvimento típico de linguagem. Este estudo abrangeu a faixa etária de 1:0 a 1:11 (ano : meses) dividida em três subfaixas (1:0 - 1:3;29, 1:4 - 1:7;29, 1:8 - 1:11;29). Foram realizadas gravações da fala espontânea de cada sujeito, e após, análise lexical quanto aos tipos e ocorrências dos itens lexicais produzidos. Empregou-se a estatística Mann Whitney; Kruskal - Wallis e Wilcoxon, com nível de significância p< 0.05. RESULTADOS: não houve diferença estatística para nenhuma das variáveis em relação ao sexo, porém, há diferença entre as subfaixas etárias 1 em relação a 2 e a 3 para a maioria das variáveis, além disso, verificou-se o predomínio das palavras de conteúdo nas subfaixas etárias 2 e 3 e por fim, verificou-se o predomínio de substantivos sobre os verbos em todas as faixas etárias. CONCLUSÃO: a aquisição lexical inicial em crianças com desenvolvimento típico dá-se de forma progressiva de acordo com o aumento da faixa etária e neste período, a variável sexo não influencia na produção linguística. Além disso, a existência da hipótese do viés nominal foi confirmada em sua versão fraca, corroborando a tese que inspirou essa pesquisa.