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. 2009 Mar-Apr;75(2):249-55.
doi: 10.1016/s1808-8694(15)30786-2.

Characterization of tinnitus in the elderly and its possible related disorders

Lidiane Maria de Brito Macedo Ferreira  1 , Alberto Novaes Ramos Júnior, Eveline Pereira Mendes
Affiliations

Characterization of tinnitus in the elderly and its possible related disorders

Lidiane Maria de Brito Macedo Ferreira et al. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2009 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

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.

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Figures

Chart 1
Chart 1
Percentage distribution of tinnitus patients (n=100) according to age
Chart 2
Chart 2
Age distribution of tinnitus patients (n=100) according to sex
Chart 3
Chart 3
Age distribution analysis of tinnitus patients (n=100) according to sex
Chart 4
Chart 4
Percentage distribution of how disturbed elderly patients were with tinnitus according to the visual-analog scale (n=100)
Chart 5
Chart 5
Percentage distribution of an assessment of tinnitus in elderly patients in the visual-analog scale (n=100)
Chart 6
Chart 6
Distribution of audiometric curves according to interaural symmetry in elderly patients
Chart 7
Chart 7
Distribution of audiometric curves according to the nature of hearing loss in elderly patients
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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