Pitch and Loudness from Tinnitus in Individuals with Noise-induced Hearing Loss

Abstract Introduction Tinnitus is one of the symptoms that affects individuals suffering from noise induced hearing loss. This condition can be disabling, leading the affected individual to turn away from work. Objective This literature review aims to analyze the possible association between gender and tinnitus pitch and loudness, the degree of hearing loss and the frequencies affected in subjects with noise-induced hearing loss. Methods This contemporary cohort study was conducted through a cross-sectional analysis. The study sample consisted of adults with unilateral or bilateral tinnitus, who had been diagnosed with noise-induced hearing loss. The patients under analysis underwent an otorhinolaryngological evaluation, pure tone audiometry, and acuphenometry. Results The study included 33 subjects with noise-induced hearing loss diagnoses, of which 22 (66.7%) weremen. Authors observed no statistical difference between gender and loudness/pitch tinnitus and loudness/pitch in subjects with bilateral tinnitus. Authors found an inverse relation between tinnitus loudness with intensity greater hearing threshold and the average of the thresholds and the grade of hearing loss. The tinnitus pitch showed no association with higher frequency of hearing threshold. Conclusion Data analysis shows that, among the individuals evaluated, the greater the hearing loss, the lower the loudness of tinnitus. We did not observe an association between hearing loss and tinnitus pitch.

Audição em adultos e idosos: associação com sexo, idade e cognição / Hearing in middle aged adults and elderly: association with gender, age and cognitive performance

OBJETIVO: verificar a existência de associação entre a presença e o grau de perda auditiva em adultos e idosos e o desempenho em teste de rastreio cognitivo, o sexo e a idade dos mesmos. MÉTODOS: participaram deste estudo sujeitos com idade entre 52 e 92 anos. Todos responderam a questionário sócio-demográfico, ao teste de Mini Exame do Estado Mental e à audiometria tonal liminar. RESULTADOS: dos 90 indivíduos avaliados, 22 (24,4%) eram do sexo masculino e 68 (75,6%) do sexo feminino. Constatou-se que apenas 11 orelhas direitas e 11 orelhas esquerdas apresentavam limiares auditivos normais. Constatou-se que a idade estava associada com o aumento dos limiares auditivos, evidenciando que os indivíduos mais velhos apresentam maior grau de perda auditiva (p<0,005). Não houve diferença estatística entre os limiares auditivos de homens e mulheres (p=0,1). Observou-se que 80% dos sujeitos cujo resultado do rastreio cognitivo foi normal apresentaram os limiares auditivos menos afetados. Já 60% dos indivíduos cujo resultado do rastreio cognitivo foi alterado apresentaram maior grau de perda auditiva. Pode-se constatar a relação dos achados audiológicos com os resultados do teste de rastreio cognitivo, evidenciando que os sujeitos com o resultado alterado do mini Exame do Estado mental apresentam os maiores graus de perda auditiva (p<0,001). CONCLUSÃO: verificou-se que houve associação entre a presença e grau da perda auditiva com o resultado do Mini Exame do Estado Mental. O aumento da idade mostrou-se proporcional ao aumento dos limiares auditivos. Não foi constatada associação entre gênero e audição na amostra. .

PURPOSE: to verify whether the presence and level of hearing loss in adults and elderly as well as their performance in tests are linked to their gender, age and cognitive tracking. METHODS: subjects with ages between 52 and 92 years old took part in this study. They all answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and went through Mini-Mental State Examination as well as pure-tone threshold audiometry. RESULTS: out of the 90 individuals, 22 (24,4%) were male and 68 (75,6%) were female. It was seen that only 11 right ears and 11 left ears presented normal auditory thresholds. It was possible to verify that age was indeed linked to the auditory thresholds increase, making it clear that older individuals present higher levels of hearing loss (p<0,005). There was no statistical difference between the auditory thresholds of male and female (p=0,1). It was observed that 80% of the individuals whose cognitive tracking results were normal presented least affected auditory thresholds, while 60% of those whose cognitive tracking results were altered presented a higher level of hearing loss. It is possible to identify a relation between these audiological findings and the cognitive tracking test results, proving that the individuals with the altered Mini-Mental State Examination results present higher hearing loss (p<0,001). CONCLUSION: there was an association between the presence and degree of hearing loss with the result of the Mini-Mental State Examination. Increasing age was proportional to the increase in hearing thresholds. There was no association between gender and hearing in the sample. .

Sensitivity and Specificity of Portable Hearing Screening in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Introduction: Hearing screening allows the identification of individuals with hearing loss. Aim: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of a portable hearing screening device in middle-aged and older adults using the manufacturer scoring and a scoring system proposed by the researchers. Methods: In this transversal study, participants underwent anamnesis, otoscopy, and hearing screening using portable equipment. After this, a pure tone audiometry was performed, with participants classified into two groups: with and without hearing loss. The sensitivity and specificity of the hearing screening were calculated for the right and left ears using two methods of interpretation: the original method recommended by the manufacturer (criteria 1) and the method proposed by researchers (criteria 2). Results: The sample consisted of 55 individuals, 83.6% (n = 46) of whom were women. Per criteria 1, the sensitivities were 26.3 (right ear) and 21.4% (left ear). The specificity was 100% for both ears. Using criteria 2, the sensitivity was 94.7 (right ear) and 100% (left ear). The specificity was 74.3 (right ear) and 65.9% (left ear). Conclusion: This study showed that the criteria proposed by the manufacturer presented low sensitivity in the hearing screening. The criteria proposed by the researchers to achieve a more efficient performance reached high and balanced values for sensitivity and specificity...