title: Survey and data analysis of patients treated in a hearing aids grant program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish a profile of the patients treated in a Hearing Aids Grant Program of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, by analyzing the variables: age, sex, type and degree of hearing loss, number of aided patients, adaptation type (unilateral or bilateral), and adapted ear.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a descriptive observational study, retrospective in a cross-sectional perspective, which included patients treated between February 2006 and July 2010, totaling 1,572 individuals;
  
  
  RESULTS
  Their ages ranged from 3 to 100 years, mostly elderly (52.8%), with no frequency difference between the sexes. The sensorineural (73.12%) and moderate (54.7%) hearing losses were the most frequent ones, except in children, in whom the degree found was more profound (45.3%). More than 99% of the patients were aided, 258 unilaterally and 1,302 bilaterally.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mostly patients presents 60 years old or more, with no frequency difference between the sexes. The sensorioneural and moderate hearing losses were the most frequent ones, except in children. More than 99% of the patients were aided and the conducts were defined based in the audiological diagnosis and patient's needs.
authors.forename: Amanda Dal Piva
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Gresele
authors.forename: Alexandre Hundertmarck
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Lessa
authors.forename: Leonardo Carvalho
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Enma Mariángel Ortiz
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Ana Valéria de Almeida
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Vaucher
authors.forename: Anaelena Bragança de
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Maristela Julio
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult