title: P300 in workers exposed to occupational noise.
abstract: The harm upon the central auditory pathways of workers exposed to occupational noise has been scarcely studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the central auditory pathways by testing the long latency auditory evoked potentials (P300) of individuals exposed to occupational noise and controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study enrolled 25 individuals with normal hearing thresholds. The subjects were divided into two groups: individuals exposed to occupational noise (13 subjects; case group) and individuals not exposed to occupational noise (12 subjects; control group). The P300 test was used with verbal and non-verbal stimuli.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant differences were found between ears for any of the stimuli or between groups. The groups had no statistically significant difference for verbal or non-verbal stimuli. Case group subjects had longer latencies than controls. In qualitative analysis, a greater number of altered P300 test results for verbal and non-verbal stimuli was seen in the case group, despite the absence of statistically significant differences between case and control subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals exposed to high sound pressure levels had longer P300 latencies in verbal and non-verbal stimuli when compared to controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Speech and Hearing Therapy, and Occupational Therapy, Medical School of the University of São Paulo.
authors.forename: Camila Gonçalves Polo
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Massa
authors.forename: Camila Maia
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rabelo
authors.forename: Renata Rodrigues
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: Carla Gentile
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Matas
authors.forename: Eliane
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schochat
authors.forename: Alessandra Giannella
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Samelli
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300 / Q000502:physiology*; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011930:Reaction Time; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*