title: Evaluation of factors related to the tinnitus disturbance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The perception of tinnitus varies among individuals. The limitations caused by tinnitus are related to psychological factors, mood changes and psychiatric conditions, while other factors related to discomfort caused by tinnitus are being studied. Hearing loss is an important factor for the onset of tinnitus.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the correlation between the degree of discomfort caused by tinnitus and the hearing loss level.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of the patients treated at the Otolaryngology Service of the State University from Campinas for 15 months, using the Visual-Analogue Scale to classify the degree of discomfort by tinnitus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  107 patients were studied and there was no correlation between the degree of annoyance of tinnitus with hearing loss, age, gender, presence of dizziness, of neck pain, headache, changes of the temporomandibular joint, the use of caffeine or excessive intake of carbohydrates. The discomfort was slightly higher in patients without hearing loss and in women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dizziness, neck pain, headache and caffeine abuse are prevalent complaints in patients with tinnitus.
authors.forename: João Paulo Peral
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: Laíza Araújo Mohana
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: Guilherme Machado de
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Alexandre Caixeta
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mezzalira
authors.forename: Guita
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stoler
authors.forename: Jorge Rizzato
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Paschoal
mesh_terms: D004244:Dizziness; D006261:Headache; D034381:Hearing Loss; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000523:psychology