Audiological study of an elderly Brazilian population.
The Brazilian elderly population is growing, and already represents 8,6% of our total population. Environmental factors, lifestyle, gender and genetics impact the development of presbycusis, which reduces quality of life.


OBJECTIVE
investigate audiologic and vestibular complaints in the elderly; perform tonal audiometry and check to see if there are differences between genders.


METHODS
Cross-sectional clinical prospective study.


METHODS
320 elderly patients (160 men and 160 women) were submitted to audiologic interview and tonal audiometry. The results were statistically analyzed by the following methods: ANOVA, Mann-Whitney and Chi-Squared.


RESULTS
audiologic and vestibular complaints (hearing loss, tinnitus, ear fullness, dizziness) were similar between the genders (except for dizziness: p<0,05); tonal audiometry showed a significant difference, with hearing loss in the high frequencies among men; and among women the curves were descending and flat. These results were statistically significant (P<0,001).


CONCLUSIONS
our results lead us to conclude that, when the genders are compared, hearing loss in the elderly has similar symptoms; however, there are significant differences in tonal audiometry.
do Carmo
Luís Cláudio
LC
University of São Paulo Medical School, Brazil.
Médicis da Silveira
José Alexandre
JA
Marone
Sílvio Antônio Monteiro
SA
D'Ottaviano
Fabiana Gonçalez
FG
Zagati
Ludmila Lima
LL
Dias von Söhsten Lins
Eliane Maria
EM
D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004244:Dizziness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011304:Presbycusis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*