Audiological manifestations in children and adults with AIDS.

Abstract

Background: according to the literature, the incidence of hearing impairment in patients with HIV / AIDS might be caused by alterations in external, middle and / or internal ear.

Aim: to characterize and to compare the results of audiological assessment and Auditory Brainstem Response in children and adults with AIDS.

Method: audiological and electrophysiological (Auditory Brainstem Response) assessment of hearing was carried out in 51 children and 22 adults with HIV/AIDS (research groups I and II, respectively) and in 50 healthy children and 25 healthy adults (control groups I and II, respectively). Participants ranged in age between 3 and 10 years (children) and between 18 and 50 years (adults).

Results: the most frequent observed alteration for children with AIDS was related to the middle ear whereas for adults with AIDS it was related to the internal ear. Higher occurrence of abnormal results was observed for adults with AIDS as compared to children with AIDS.

Conclusion: children and adults with AIDS present alterations in audiological assessment and Auditory Brainstem Response. This suggests the involvement of peripheral and central auditory pathways. Findings of the present study emphasize the effectiveness of using electrophysiological hearing measures in order to better identify the brain injury level in patients with AIDS, besides allowing the monitoring of the development rate of the disease.