[Disability due to auditory and vestibular dysfunction in a specialized care center].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the frequency and characteristics of the disability associated with hearing loss and vestibular disease in a Specialized Medical Center of the Mexican Social Security Institute.


METHODS
530 patients agreed to participate. They were assessed due to hearing loss (n = 252) and vestibular disease (n = 278), 54% and 50% of them worked. After a clinical evaluation and administration of a symptom questionnaire, they were asked about the frequency and days ofdisability to perform daily life activities related to their audiological or vestibular disease and how often they visited the physician during the last year because of their symptoms.


RESULTS
Hearing loss patients visited the physician 1-6 times/ year and 15.8% reported disability. Vestibular patients visited the physician 1-8 times/ year and reported disability more frequently (60.8%) (p < 0.01). Among those who worked, 5% of patients with hearing loss and 51% of patients with vestibular disease stopped working during 1-15 cumulative days for the first group and 1-365 cumulative days for the second group. Spearmnan's correlation coefficient between the evolution of the disease and disability days was -0.14 (p < 0.01) for hearing loss patients and -0.27 (p < 0.01 ) for vestibular disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Vestibular disease is a cause of disability. which can have financial impact on both the patient and the health care system.
Gutiérrez-Márquez
Aralia
A
Departamento de Audiología y Otoneurología del HG "GGG" CMN La Raza IMSS.
Jáuregui-Renaud
Kathrine
K
Viveros-Renteria
Leticia
L
Villanueva-Padrón
Laura Alejandra
LA
D000041:Absenteeism; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003939:Diagnostic Techniques, Otological; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology