Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2014; 18 - a2118
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1388752

Analysis of the Association between Hearing Thresholds and Loudness of Tinnitus in Patients with Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Letícia Sousa Flores 1, Adriane Ribeiro Teixeira 1, Bruna Macagnin Seimetz 1, Celso Dall'Igna 1, Leticia Petersen Schmidt Rosito 1, Lilian Benin 1
  • 1Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
  • 2Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre

Introduction: Individuals with noise-induced hearing loss usually present, along with hearing loss, tinnitus.

Objective: To analyze the association between hearing thresholds and loudness of tinnitus in subjects with noise-induced hearing loss.

Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive, and retrospective study. Individuals were included in the sample adult patients with unilateral or bilateral tinnitus diagnosed with noise-induced hearing loss. Otorhinolaryngologic evaluation, pure tone audiometry, and acuphenometry were performed.

Results: The study included 33 patients of both sexes, with 11 (33.3%) females and 22 (66.7%) males, aged between 42 and 76 years (mean 59.5 ± 9.4 years). Of these 5 (15.1%) had tinnitus in the right ear, 10 (30.3%) in the left ear, and 18 (54.5%) in both ears. The mean thresholds (500-4,000 Hz) were 29.7 ± 19.9 in the right ear and 23.2 ± 10.3 in the left ear. By analyzing the mean thresholds and loudness of tinnitus, it was found that there was a significant inverse association regular (rs = −0.547, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: There was a possible association between hearing thresholds and loudness of tinnitus.