title: Prevalence of tinnitus in elderly individuals with and without history of occupational noise exposure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The various metabolic and circulatory alterations that are related to noise exposure may cause the onset of several symptoms, including tinnitus.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence of tinnitus complaints in elderly individuals with and without history of occupational noise exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study was conducted in a sample population consisting of 502 individuals aged over 60 years, by anamnesis and audiological evaluation. The variables that were studied were the frequency of tinnitus and the history of occupational noise. Logistic regression was used to control for potential confusion or modifications caused by the effects of the other variables on the associations of interest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tinnitus was reported in 50% of the cases, with tinnitus reported in 40% of the elderly individuals with history of occupational noise exposure, and in 43% of controls (elderly individuals without history of occupational noise exposure). A high frequency of tinnitus was detected in the population under investigation, but there were no statistically significant associations between the presence of tinnitus and history of occupational noise exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study may have occurred due to other factors such as the age of the individuals without history of occupational noise exposure.
authors.affiliation: Master. Speech Therapy Course Coordinator - UNOPAR/North Parana State University.
authors.forename: Juliana Jandre
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: Master Student of Rehabilitation Science UNOPAR/UEL - North Parana State University/Londrina State University. Clinical Speech Therapy.
authors.forename: Caroline Luiz
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Meneses
authors.affiliation: Ph.D. in Medicine and Health Science/ UEL. Professor for Mastering Course in Rehabilitation Science at UNOPAR/UEL- North Parana State University/Londrina State University.
authors.forename: Luciana Lozza de Moraes
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Marchiori
keywords: aged; noise; occupational; tinnitus