Abstract

FERREIRA, Lidiane Maria de Brito Macedo; RAMOS JUNIOR, Alberto Novaes  and  MENDES, Eveline Pereira. Characterization of tinnitus in the elderly and its possible related disorders. Rev. Bras. Otorrinolaringol. [online]. 2009, vol.75, n.2, pp. 245-248. ISSN 0034-7299.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0034-72992009000200015.

Population aging it is a current reality in Brazil and tinnitus appears as a very prevalent symptom, having a high impact on the quality of life of elderly patients. AIM: to evaluate and to characterize tinnitus in this group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A research questionnaire randomly given to 100 elderly patients in a tertiary hospital, asking about tinnitus characteristics, its impact on the life of the patient, and personal medical history. RESULTS: 61% of the participants were female, average age average was 69.53 years. The results associated with tinnitus features were: no-pulsatile 76%, continuous 54%, bilateral 57%, recent 62% and alone 83%;32,5% had emotional disorders, 31.8% had sleep disorders, 22.5% had difficulties concentration and 13.2% had social problems; 39% classified their tinnitus in moderate; 35% had intense tinnitus and 26% considered it a mild one: as to comorbidities: relation with neurotology symptoms and hypertension; as for associations with audiometry findings: descending, sensorineural and symmetrical curves prevailed. CONCLUSIONS: Tinnitus has a relevant impact on the lives of the elderly; there was no correlation between the level of hearing loss and the level of patient dissatisfaction caused by tinnitus; and presbycusis was the most common finding in the audiometric tests.

Keywords : elderly; quality of life; tinnitus.