Occurrence of tinnitus and other auditory symptoms among musicians playing different instruments.

INTRODUCTION: Tinnitus is one of the most reported auditory symptoms among musicians and can negatively influence their ability to work, sometimes even more severely than hearing loss. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the occurrence of tinnitus and other auditory symptoms in musicians who play different instruments. METHODS: One hundred musicians participated by answering a questionnaire on instrument played, practice time with the instrument, occurrence of tinnitus, hearing difficulties, and intolerance to loud sounds. The symptoms were analyzed in relation to gender, musical instrument, and time of experience using statistical tests such as the Chi-squared test and Difference in Proportions test at a significance level of 0.05 as well as finding the Prevalence Ratio. RESULTS: Tinnitus was the most frequent symptom among musicians, especially among those who play amplified instruments. There was an association between tinnitus and hearing difficulty, and between instrument experience time and intolerance to loud sounds. The proportion of musicians with occasional tinnitus was high among those with less than 15 years of musical practice, and 4.53 times more prevalent in those with more than 15 years of experience. CONCLUSION: The presence of auditory symptoms, especially tinnitus, among musicians reinforces the need for implementation of hearing conservation programs for this profession.

Audição e qualidade de vida de músicos de uma orquestra sinfônica brasileira / Hearing and quality of life in musicians of a symphony orchestra

RESUMO Objetivo Analisar o impacto da exposição à música na audição e na qualidade de vida de músicos de uma orquestra sinfônica brasileira. Métodos Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo transversal, descritivo, sobre os aspectos da saúde auditiva de 30 músicos da orquestra sinfônica do Paraná, com idade entre 33 e 54 anos. Foram medidos os níveis de pressão sonora a que os músicos estão expostos durante um ensaio da orquestra e os participantes responderam a um questionário sobre a prática musical e o questionário SF-36, que investiga a qualidade de vida. Foi realizada audiometria convencional e de altas frequências. Resultados Durante o ensaio da orquestra, foram observados níveis de pressão sonora que colocam a audição dos músicos em risco. Os sintomas auditivos mais relatados foram zumbido e intolerância a sons intensos. Na audiometria convencional, mais da metade dos músicos apresentou perda auditiva neurossensorial, com piores resultados nas frequências mais altas. Na audiometria de altas frequências, também foram encontrados limiares auditivos mais elevados nas frequências mais altas. Quanto à qualidade de vida, houve correlação significativa para os músicos com perda auditiva no domínio "limitação por aspectos emocionais". Conclusão Os níveis de pressão sonora a que os músicos estão expostos são excessivos, colocando em risco a sua audição. A perda auditiva, juntamente com outros sintomas auditivos, pode interferir na qualidade de vida, uma vez que a audição é fundamental para essa categoria profissional.

ABSTRACT Purpose To analyze the impact of exposure to music in the hearing process and quality of life in musicians of a symphony orchestra. Methods This is a descriptive, cross-cut, quantitative study on the aspects of hearing health in 30 musicians of the symphony orchestra of Paraná, ages between 33 and 54 years. The sound pressure levels that musicians are exposed to were measured during the orchestra rehearsal, and participants answered a questionnaire about the musical practice as well as the SF-36 questionnaire, which investigates the quality of life. Conventional audiometry and high-frequency audiometry were applied. Results During the orchestra rehearsal, hazardous sound pressure levels to musicians' hearing health were observed. The commonest symptoms reported were tinnitus and intolerance to intense sounds. In the conventional audiometry test, more than half of the musicians featured sensorineural hearing loss, and the worst results were found in high frequencies. In the high -frequency audiometry test, higher auditory thresholds were also found in higher frequencies. As for quality of life, there was significant correlation for musicians with hearing loss in the domain "limitation due to emotional aspects". Conclusion the sound pressure levels that musicians are exposed to are excessive and represent a risk to hearing health. Hearing loss and other auditory symptoms can interfere in their quality of life, once hearing is essential to this professional category.

National Policy on Health Care Hearing: an evaluative study from covering services and diagnostic procedures.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the National Policy on Hearing Health Care (PNASA) based on the coverage of specialized services and diagnostic procedures in hearing health care in Brazil. METHODS: This is an evaluation study focused on the coverage of specialized services that offer moderate- and high-complexity diagnostic procedures by region and in Brazil as a whole. We analyzed the data for the period of 2004-2011 collected from the Unified Health System's Informatics Department database (DATASUS), under the link "Information on health" and tabulated using the software Tabwin. While collecting data from this platform, we selected "procedures for diagnostic purposes", and the selected way of organization was "diagnoses in otorhinolaryngology/audiology" of moderate and high complexity. We estimated coverage and evolution of the number of procedures according to the country's five geographic macroregions. RESULTS: We identified an increase of 113% in service coverage and of 61% in the quantity of moderate- and high-complexity hearing health diagnostic procedures throughout the country. The northern region had an increase of 78% in the number of procedures, higher than all other regions. However, a proportionally larger number of procedures were performed in the southeast. We identified a significant increase in the number of examinations of otoacoustic emissions (OAE) for hearing triage, transient-evoked OAE and distortion product, as well as of diagnostic reassessments of hearing loss in patients older than 3 years. CONCLUSION: There has been an increase in services and actions in hearing health care in Brazil since PNASA was implemented, but regional inequalities in the distribution of these services still persist.

National Policy on Health Care Hearing: an evaluative study from covering services and diagnostic procedures / Política Nacional de Atenção à Saúde Auditiva: um estudo avaliativo a partir da cobertura de serviços e procedimentos diagnósticos

PURPOSE: To evaluate the National Policy on Hearing Health Care (PNASA) based on the coverage of specialized services and diagnostic procedures in hearing health care in Brazil. METHODS: This is an evaluation study focused on the coverage of specialized services that offer moderate- and high-complexity diagnostic procedures by region and in Brazil as a whole. We analyzed the data for the period of 2004-2011 collected from the Unified Health System's Informatics Department database (DATASUS), under the link "Information on health" and tabulated using the software Tabwin. While collecting data from this platform, we selected "procedures for diagnostic purposes", and the selected way of organization was "diagnoses in otorhinolaryngology/audiology" of moderate and high complexity. We estimated coverage and evolution of the number of procedures according to the country's five geographic macroregions. RESULTS: We identified an increase of 113% in service coverage and of 61% in the quantity of moderate- and high-complexity hearing health diagnostic procedures throughout the country. The northern region had an increase of 78% in the number of procedures, higher than all other regions. However, a proportionally larger number of procedures were performed in the southeast. We identified a significant increase in the number of examinations of otoacoustic emissions (OAE) for hearing triage, transient-evoked OAE and distortion product, as well as of diagnostic reassessments of hearing loss in patients older than 3 years. CONCLUSION: There has been an increase in services and actions in hearing health care in Brazil since PNASA was implemented, but regional inequalities in the distribution of these services still persist. .

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a Política Nacional de Atenção à Saúde Auditiva (PNASA) a partir da cobertura de serviços especializados e procedimentos diagnósticos em saúde auditiva no Brasil. MÉTODO: Estudo avaliativo com enfoque na cobertura de serviços especializados que oferecem procedimentos diagnósticos de média e alta complexidade por Região e no Brasil. Foram analisados dados do período 2004 a 2011 levantados a partir do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde (DATASUS), no ícone "Informações em saúde" e tabulados via software Tabwin. A seleção nesta plataforma foi direcionada a "procedimentos com finalidade diagnóstica", e a forma de organização selecionada foi "diagnóstico em otorrinolaringologia/fonoaudiologia" em média e alta complexidade. Foram realizados cálculos das estimativas de cobertura e evolução do número de procedimentos segundo as cinco macrorregiões brasileiras. RESULTADOS: Identificou-se aumento de 113% na cobertura de serviços e 61% no quantitativo de procedimentos de diagnóstico em saúde auditiva de média e alta complexidade em todo o país. A região Norte apresentou 78% de aumento no número de procedimentos, superior às demais regiões. No entanto, o Sudeste realiza proporcionalmente maior quantidade de procedimentos. Identificou-se aumento expressivo dos exames de emissões otoacústicas (EOA) para triagem auditiva, de estudos de EOA transitórias e produto de distorção, como também dos exames de reavaliação diagnóstico de deficiência auditiva em pacientes maiores de três anos. CONCLUSÃO: Houve incremento dos serviços e ações em atenção à saúde auditiva no Brasil desde a implantação da ...

Processo de diagnóstico da surdez em crianças na percepção de familiares e gestores / Process diagnosis of deafness in children in the perception of familiar and managers

OBJETIVO: Analisar a percepção de familiares e gestores (educação e saúde) sobre o processo de diagnóstico da surdez em crianças de um município do Paraná. MÉTODOS: A coleta de dados deu-se a partir da técnica de grupo focal formado por dez pais e por entrevista aberta individual com gestores. A análise do material extraído foi feita por meio do estudo do conteúdo na modalidade temática. A discussão dos dados foi organizada pela análise das falas dos sujeitos. RESULTADOS: Foi possível extrair duas grandes categorias temáticas: frustração no processo de diagnóstico, acolhimento e orientação; dificuldades na relação intersetorial Saúde e Educação. CONCLUSÃO: Os desdobramentos da surdez diagnosticada tardiamente permearam os âmbitos relacionados à saúde e à educação das crianças com surdez. O diagnóstico precoce e o acolhimento adequado não ocorreu na maioria das crianças e verificou-se que a relação intersetorial (saúde e educação) é insatisfatória.

PURPOSE: To analyze the perception of family and managers (education and health) on the process of diagnosis of deafness in children in a city in Paraná. METHODS: The analysis of the material gathered in the focus groups and on the interviews was made based on the analysis of content of the thematic mode. The discussion of the data was organized based on the analysis of the subjects' testimonies. RESULTS: The thematic categories were: the early diagnosis and hearing health as a human right; and the necessity of adequate support and initial guidance; challenges in the inter-sector and inter-network relations. CONCLUSION: We have reached the conclusion that the repercussions of a late deafness diagnosis have influence in health and education aspects of the deaf children's life. Early diagnosis and adequate support did not happen with the majority of the children. An inadequate inter-sector relation between Health and Education municipal authorities was verified.