Abstract
ABSTRACT Purpose: to analyze the performance of individuals with trisomy 21 (T21) in the simplified assessment of central auditory processing, identify the impaired skills, and compare it with the results of the hearing self-perception questionnaire administered to the parents. Methods: a descriptive, observational, quantitative study conducted at the Speech-Language-Hearing Teaching Clinic of a public university. The sample comprised 16 individuals with T21, aged 8 to 33 years. Simplified assessment tests of central auditory processing were conducted, namely, sounds localization and sequential memory for verbal and nonverbal sounds, diotically. Then, the Scale of Auditory Behaviors (SAB) was administered to the subjects’ parents/guardians. The descriptive statistical analysis with the chi-square test considered p<0.05. Results: in the simplified assessment, 81.3% had abnormal results in the memory tests for verbal sounds; 75%, in the memory tests for nonverbal sounds; and 37.5%, in the sound localization test. In the Scale of Auditory Behaviors, 62.5% of the answers indicated changes in the central auditory processing, demonstrating that the scale can be useful to identify such changes. However, there was no significant association between the questionnaire and the behavioral test results. Conclusion: the results point to impaired sequential memory skills for verbal and nonverbal sounds in most individuals assessed. The simplified assessment results indicate the need for assessments of central auditory processing. Hence, the simplified assessment is highly important to detect possible changes in the central auditory processing that might interfere with the communication and overall learning of individuals presented with trisomy 21.
Highlights
Trisomy 21 (T21) is marked by the presence of chromosome 21, which determines the phenotypic characteristics of the disease
The simplified assessment is highly important to detect possible changes in the central auditory processing that might interfere with the communication and overall learning of individuals presented with trisomy 21
As for the Scale of Auditory Behaviors (SAB), 37.5% of the subjects had normal results, 18.75% had from 30 to 35 points, and 43.75% scored less than 30 points (Table 2)
Summary
Trisomy 21 (T21) is marked by the presence of chromosome 21, which determines the phenotypic characteristics of the disease. People with T21 have significant health problems, including cognitive delays, heart diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, autoimmune dysfunction, hypothyroidism, leukemia, and hearing problems[2]. They have significant changes in the frontal and temporal lobes, affecting their spatial orientation, language, speech, and social interaction[3]. Another change they present with is the increased prevalence of peripheral hearing loss, especially the conductive one, due to the frequent episodes of recurrent otitis media[4] in children with T21. It can be associated with ossicular chain malformation, Eustachian tube anatomical changes, or retention of cerumen secondary to the external acoustic meatus[5,6]
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