Assessment of cochlear function in adults with hypoglycemia

• Grant number: 13/21298-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2014
• End date: December 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Marisa Frasson de Azevedo
• Grantee: Fernanda Alessandra de Melo
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Hypoglycemia is associated with a low level of blood glucose. The symptoms include cochlear and/or vestibular alterations. Among the auditory symptoms the most common are hypersensitivity to sound, tinnitus , hearing loss of varying degrees and ear fullness. Studies indicate that during hypoglycemia there is negative change in otoacoustic emissions - distortion product. Objective: This study aims to investigate cochlear function in adults with and without hypoglycemia Method: 40 adults aged 18-55 years with and without a diagnosis of hypoglycemia. Study group: 20 individuals of both sexes diagnosed with hypoglycemia. Control group: 20 patients, matched for age and sex to the study group without hypoglycemia. All will undergo audiological assessment using a clinical audiometer (Maico, Model MA 41) and immittance ( Interacoustics model AZ7). Acuphenometry will be performed in patients with tinnitus to investigate its pitch and loudness . Discomfort threshold test will be investigated in all the patients in order to determine the tolerance to sound at each frequency. The otoacoustic transient emissions and distortion product will be obtained using the ILO-V6 program (Otodynamics), attached to a notebook in a soundproof booth.