Evaluating tinnitus in industrial hearing loss prevention programs.
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.
Steinmetz
Luciara Giacobe
LG
Department of Audiology and Auditory Health, Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
Zeigelboim
Bianca Simone
BS
Lacerda
Adriana Bender M
AB
Morata
Thaïs Catalani
TC
Marques
Jair M
JM
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