title: Evaluating tinnitus in industrial hearing loss prevention programs.
abstract: This study evaluated the interference of tinnitus on the quality of life for noise-exposed workers enrolled in a hearing conservation program. Noise measurements, a questionnaire, a Brazilian version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), and pure-tone audiometry were conducted with 52 participants (mean age, 29 years) who suffered from tinnitus. THI results indicated that tinnitus had the greatest influence in the functional scale (54%). Significant correlations (p < .05) were observed between the periodicity of tinnitus and noise exposure level; degree of tinnitus and exposure to chemicals; total THI score and the scores of the catastrophic, emotional, and functional scales; score of the emotional scale and the functional scale; and results of the THI and the general state of health. An evaluation of tinnitus and its impact could benefit tinnitus sufferers in the workplace.
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology and Auditory Health, Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciara Giacobe
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Steinmetz
authors.forename: Bianca Simone
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Zeigelboim
authors.forename: Adriana Bender M
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Lacerda
authors.forename: Thaïs Catalani
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Morata
authors.forename: Jair M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Marques
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001938:Brazil; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008462:Meat-Packing Industry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology