Central auditory processing in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients can also present neuropsychiatric disorders, such as impaired memory and attention. Central auditory processing depends on a great number of skills controlled by the central nervous system.


OBJECTIVE
To characterize the performance of SLE patients, with and without neuropsychiatric disorders (NP), in central auditory processing tests.


METHODS
A prospective controlled study of Dichotic Speech and Temporal Processing Tests was carried out at a tertiary teaching Institution. Three groups were formed with 20 individuals each, totalizing sixty women with age varying from 18 to 48 years: Group I - SLE patients without neuropsychiatric disorders; Group II - SLE patients with neuropsychiatric disorders as well; and Group III - age and gender matched healthy controls.


RESULTS
Dichotic Speech Test showed similar results for patients in Group I and for healthy controls; however, most of the patients in Group II presented impaired performance with great variability of response. SLE patients (Groups I and II) presented a significantly lower performance in Temporal Processing tests than controls.


CONCLUSIONS
SLE patients especially those with neuropsychiatric disorders presented impaired central auditory processing, which may contribute to the memory and attention impairment.
Bruner
Ana Paula
AP
Audiology Division Otolaryngology Department, Santa Casa School of Medicine of São Paulo. ana_bruner@yahoo.com.br
Sato
Emilia Inoue
EI
Pereira
Liliane Desgualdo
LD
D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies