Comparative study between school performance on first grade children and suppression of otoacoustic transient emission.
School learning can be hampered if there are defects on the central auditory process. Since those with auditory deficiency can be rehabilitated, it is fundamental that we identify them. Otoacoustic emissions test has low cost and operational ease.


METHODS
clinical and experimental.


OBJECTIVE
to study the relationship between school learning and transient otoacoustic emission suppression by contralateral stimuli.


METHODS
39 individuals, from 7 to 12 years of age were evaluated, 19 (48.7%) with good school performance and 20 (51.3%) poor performers.


RESULTS
A transient otoacoustic emission suppression failure for contralateral acoustic stimuli was more frequently found among children with poor school performance. We established a value of 1.6 dB SPL for emission reduction that characterized those children as belonging to the poor learning performance group: sensitivity 65%, specificity 72,2%, accuracy of 68.4%, positive predictive value of 72.2%.


CONCLUSIONS
The contralateral emission suppression test of the right ear can be predictive of school difficulties in individuals from six to twelve years of age.
Angeli
Miguel Luiz de Sant Ana
ML
Programa de pós-graduação em otorrinolaringologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Almeida
Clemente Isnard Ribeiro de
CI
Sens
Patrícia M
PM
D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D001308:Auditory Perceptual Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014477:Underachievement