title: Audiometric thresholds and auditory processing in children with early malnutrition: a retrospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Malnutrition is one of the causes of changes in cell metabolism. The inner ear has few energy reserves and high metabolism. The aim of this study was to analyze whether malnutrition at an early age is related to impairment of auditory processing abilities and hearing abnormalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study conducted in a tertiary public hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  45 children participated, divided as follows: G1, children diagnosed with malnutrition in their first two years of life; G2, children without history of malnutrition but with learning difficulties; G3, children without history of malnutrition and without learning difficulties. Tympanometry, pure-tone audiometry and the Staggered Spondaic Word (SSW) test (auditory processing) were performed. Statistical inferences were made using the Kruskal-Wallis test (α = 5%) and the test of equality of proportions between two samples (α = 1.7%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the 45 children participating in this study presented hearing deficiencies. However, at six of the eight frequencies analyzed, the children in G1 presented hearing thresholds lower than those of the other groups. In the auditory processing evaluation test, it was observed that 100% of the children in G1 presented abnormal auditory processing and that G1 and G2 had similar proportions of abnormalities (P-values: G1/G2 = 0.1; G1/G3 > 0.001; G2/G3 = 0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Malnutrition at an early age caused lowering of the hearing levels, although this impairment could not be considered to be a hearing deficiency. Every child in this group presented abnormalities in auditory processing abilities.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors: Patricia Aparecida
authors: PA
authors: Zuanetti
authors: Department of Psychology, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors: Maria Fernanda
authors: MF
authors: Laus
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors: Adriana Ribeiro Tavares
authors: AR
authors: Anastasio
authors: Department of Psychology, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors: Sebastião de Sousa
authors: Sde S
authors: Almeida
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors: Marisa Tomoe Hebihara
authors: MT
authors: Fukuda
mesh_terms: D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D004007:Dichotic Listening Tests / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers