Manifestações eletrofisiológicas em adultos com HIV/AIDS submetidos e não-submetidos à terapia anti-retroviral**** Electrophysiological manifestations in adults with HIV/AIDS submitted and not submitted to antiretroviral therapy

Abstract Background: auditory evoked potentials (AEP) assess the neuroelectric activity on the auditory pathway- from the auditory nerve to the cerebral cortex - in response to an acoustic stimulus or event. Studieshave demonstrated electrophysiological abnormalities in individuals with HIV/AIDS. Aim: to characterizethe hearing electrophysiological manifestations in adults with HIV/AIDS by comparing the results obtainedin the group exposed to antiretroviral therapy with those obtained in the group not exposed to suchtreatment. Method: electrophysiological evaluation of hearing (Auditory Brainstem Response - ABR,Auditory Middle Latency Reponse - AMLR and P300) was conducted in 56 individuals with HIV/AIDS: 24participants composed group I (not exposed to antiretroviral treatment) and 32 participants composedgroup II (exposed to treatment). Results: alterations in every AEP were observed in individuals with HIV/AIDS, especially in the ABR. Indeed, the group exposed to antiretroviral treatment presented morealterations. Conclusion: individuals with HIV/AIDS may present alterations on the central and peripheralauditory nervous system. The group exposed to antiretroviral therapy presents more alterations on thebrainstem auditory pathway.