title: Hearing complaints and the audiological profile of the users of an academic health center in the western region of São Paulo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few population-based studies have quantified hearing levels in Brazil; additional studies on this subject are needed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to characterize hearing complaints and the audiological profile of the population served by the Clinical Audiology Service of an Academic Health Center in the western region of São Paulo, Brazil, between 2003 and 2008. An additional aim was to check whether there is a positive association between the signs/symptoms and type of hearing loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study of the records of 2,145 patients. The health history, tonal and vocal audiometry, and imitanciometry findings were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients was 20.6 years. The majority of the subjects had normal hearing thresholds, and the prevalence of hearing loss was approximately 35%. As the patient's age increased, the frequency of conductive hearing loss decreased and that of sensorineural hearing loss increased. There was a tendency toward hearing loss worsening with age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hearing complaints can predict the type of hearing loss; therefore, they should always be valued because they can be used as a form of screening and thus help to determine the diagnostic hypothesis. This could help to reduce the gap between the patient's perception of the complaints and the audiological assessment and thus improve the prognosis.
authors.affiliation: PhD. Professor in the Department of Physiotherapy, Speech-Language Pathology, & Audiology, Occupational Therapy. School of Medicine. University of São Paulo.
authors.forename: Alessandra Giannella
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Samelli
authors.affiliation: Audiologist.
authors.forename: Camila Quintiliano
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.affiliation: Speech Therapist and Audiologist. Speech Therapist in the Department of Physiotherapy, Communication Science, & Disorders, Occupational Therapy. School of Medicine. University of São Paulo.
authors.forename: Marília Barbieri
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: PhD. Professor in the Department of Physiotherapy, Speech-Language Pathology, & Audiology, Occupational Therapy. School of Medicine. University of São Paulo.
authors.forename: Carla Gentile
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Matas
keywords: Hearing; Hearing Loss; Prevalence