title: Dichotic listening test in patients with chronic cerebellar disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to identify alterations in the auditory processing of patients with chronic cerebellar disease using a dichotic listening test with alternating dissyllables, also known as the Staggered Spondaic Word (SSW) test.
  
  
  METHODS
  A study involving a control group of 20 subjects and a study group of 18 patients with chronic cerebellar disease of both sexes aged between 9 and 56 years was performed. The SSW test was conducted in accordance with strict standard protocols along with the analysis procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings revealed a statistically significant difference in the quantitative alterations on the SSW test in the study group compared with the control group (P < .001). Results of the qualitative evaluation showed no statistically significant differences between the study and control groups for order or auditory effects. However, a statistically significant difference for presence of inversions was identified, with the worse result in the study group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study identified quantitative and qualitative changes in auditory processing for decodifying, gradual memory loss, and organization modes on the dichotic listening test with alternating dissyllables (SSW) in individuals with chronic cerebellar disease.
authors: Santa Casa de São Paulo, Faculty of Medical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil. josyaneborges@terra.com.br
authors: Josyane Borges
authors: JB
authors: da Silva Gonçalves
authors: Clemente Isnard Ribeiro
authors: CI
authors: de Almeida
authors: Patrícia Maria
authors: PM
authors: Sens
authors: Marisa Mara Neves
authors: MM
authors: de Souza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004007:Dichotic Listening Tests / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult