EFFECT OF JUVENILE SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS ON PERIPHERAL AND CENTRAL HEARING OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

• Grant number: 25/26784-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2026
• End date: December 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Maria Francisca Colella dos Santos
• Grantee: Jheniffer Queiroz Raimundo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 25/11183-6 - EFFECT OF JUVENILE SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS ON PERIPHERAL AND CENTRAL HEARING OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, AP.R

Abstract

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, multisystemic, and inflammatory autoimmune disease, resulting from the production of autoantibodies and the formation of immune complexes that attack the body's own tissues. When the onset of the disease occurs before the age of 18, it is classified as Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (jSLE). Involvement of the Central Nervous System is one of the most severe manifestations of jSLE, which can affect cognitive functions as well as structures of the auditory system. Studies in adults have shown evidence that patients with SLE are at increased risk of sensorineural hearing loss, alterations in short-latency auditory evoked potentials, and vestibular symptoms such as vertigo, tinnitus, hyperacusis, and changes in Central Auditory Processing. No studies were found involving children and adolescents with jSLE. Considering that auditory development is closely related to the development of language, cognitive, social, and learning skills, it is essential to investigate the impact of jSLE on both the peripheral and central auditory systems. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct a comprehensive and integrated audiological evaluation, involving behavioral, electroacoustic, and electrophysiological tests, as well as imaging techniques. Thus, the general objective of this research is to analyze the functioning of the peripheral and central auditory systems in children and adolescents diagnosed with Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (jSLE), through behavioral, electroacoustic, electrophysiological procedures and imaging exams, also applying machine learning techniques for data analysis. The sample of this study will consist of two experimental groups and one control group. The experimental group will include children and adolescents aged 9 to 16 years, with a confirmed diagnosis of Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (jSLE), followed at the Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic of the Clinics Hospital of UNICAMP. This group will be divided into two subgroups based on cognitive screening. Thus, Experimental Group I will include children who achieve a "pass" result in cognitive tests, while Experimental Group II will comprise children who "fail" the applied cognitive tests. The Control Group will include children and adolescents aged 9 to 16 years, without a diagnosis of jSLE, with typical development, normal hearing thresholds, normal otologic conditions, and good academic performance as assessed by the School Performance Test II. The following procedures will be applied: basic audiological assessment, behavioral, electroacoustic and electrophysiological evaluation of central auditory processing, and magnetic resonance imaging. The collected data will be entered into a custom-designed data entry program and sent for statistical analysis by a professional in the field. Additionally, this study proposes a methodological innovation through the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques, particularly Machine Learning (ML), for the analysis of clinical and audiological data.