Auditory neuropathy spectrum: the importance of adequate diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the prevalence of misdiagnosis of the hearing impaired children, in order to investigate the existence of Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder. METHODS Analytical, prospective study conducted with 15 participants (30 ears) aged 10-12 years, with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, attending a Hearing Rehabilitation Center, accompanied by a multidisciplinary team with otolaryngologist, audiologist, psychologist, teacher and social worker. The participants underwent ENT examination and audiological assessment: tympanometry, acoustic reflexes, otoacoustic emissions test and Auditory Evoked response. RESULTS From the total sample (30 ears), 8 ears (26.7%) presented absent responses in the Auditory Evoked response with the presence of cochlear microphonism. Within the selected eight ears, six (75%) showed presence of otoacoustic emissions test in isolated frequencies and two (25%) ears had otoacoustic emissions test even in the presence of the isolated frequencies. It was found that 26.7% of the ears tested presented results that are compatible with Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder. CONCLUSION The results of this study have identified characteristics related to ANSD in 26.7% of ears tested, 6 participants with age over 10 years old, showing that misdiagnosis in hearing loss patients is still very frequent.