PURPOSE: To verify the auditory performance of blind or subnormal sight individuals in tests for sound localization in five directions and lateralization, compared to individuals with normal sight and normal auditory sensibility. METHODS: Twenty-one individuals with normal auditory sensibility were selected, mean age of 30 years, both genders, grouped according to presence of blindness and/or acquired or congenital subnormal sight. Audiological evaluation tests, Sound Localization Test and Lateralization Test with verbal sound, using both ascending and descending techniques, were carried out. Results obtained on the tests by the 21 subjects with visual deficiency were compared to those of 40 adults with normal sight and hearing. RESULTS: The visually impaired group, both in ascending and descending techniques, presented statistically significant differences between sound lateralization limits for right and left ears. The higher lateralization threshold was observed on the left ear in each group. In each technique, ascending and descending, there were no statistically significant differences in the lateralization threshold per ear in each group. Comparing data from the sound lateralization test of the visually impaired per technique and ear, with data from the comparison group with normal sight, it was verified that there were statistically significant differences for both techniques and ears, except for the left ear in the ascending technique. CONCLUSION: The visually impaired evaluated showed an excellent performance in sound lateralization, much better than individuals with normal sight and hearing.
Hearing; Auditory tests; Sound localization; Blindness; Visually impaired persons
