Comparison of the auditory process between subjects with paranoid schizophrenia and a control group. Central auditory processing in schizophrenia

Abstract

Introduction The prevalence of schizophrenia in Mexico is between 1% and 5%, predominating in males. Seventy percent of those affected present auditory hallucinations involving some brain structures shared with Central Auditory Processing (CAP). The objective of the study was to compare the dichotic auditory responses in subjects with paranoid schizophrenia and a control group. Methods We conducted a comparative observational study in two groups with seven subjects each with and without paranoid schizophrenia, all of whom provided m of signed informed consent. The auditory study was carried out, and six tests that evaluated CAP were performed. Results Normal audiometric thresholds in both groups that were better for the control group in the left ear, significant differences in acute frequencies, responses of five dichotic tests better for left ear in both groups. With a significant difference in binaural fusion in right ear (p = 0.011), while the test with dichotic digits showed better results in the left ear, with mixed responses and without omissions for the left ear. Discussion The lower response in the left ear of dichotic digits for the cases could be due to a low reception of external stimuli or incapacity for identifying and inhibiting irrelevant stimuli, indicating deterioration of the executive functions (working memory and attention). Conclusions The results do not determine a disorder of the CAP and could be associated with a deficit of working memory, cognition, and attention on being evaluated in a larger sample.