Estudo da prevalência e fatores determinantes da deficiência auditiva no município de Itajaí, SC

Abstract

The number of people with impaired hearing is increasing; knowing its magnitude is essential for public health. Objective To study the prevalence and determinants of impaired hearing in Itajaí/SC. Methods A population-based survey based on a World Health Organization protocol. Field research was carried out from July 2008 to 2011. Procedures for evaluating hearing in households: questionnaire, measurement of noise, otoscopy, pure tone audiometry at 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz, tympanometry, and acoustic reflexes: individuals above 4 years; children under 4 years: evoked otoacoustic emissions (OAE), cocleo-palpebral reflex(CPR), tympanometry, and acoustic reflexes. In the elderly population a questionnaire of perception of hearing loss was applied. Results The study sample consisted of 379 individuals – 45.38% were males and 54.62% were females. Age-range: 11.34% up to 10 years; 64.39% 10 to 60 years, 24.27% over 60 years. Evaluation of the best hearing ear showed that 74.1% of residents had normal hearing, 18.9% had mild hearing loss, 5.1% had moderate hearing loss, 1.9% had severe hearing loss. Disabling impaired hearing was detected in 26 subjects: one child (otitis media); four adults (one otitis, one noise-induced, two idiopathic); 21 elderlies (presbyacusis). Of eight children under 4 years all presented CPR, three were normal examinations, two had absent OAE bilaterally, one had absent OAE in the right ear and one in the left ear. Conclusion The prevalence of disabling impaired hearing in Itajaí was 7%; the highest prevalence was in the 50-year and above age group – the main cause was presbyacusis.

Prevalência de deficiência auditiva referida e fatores associados em uma população de idosos da cidade de Manaus: um estudo de base populacional

“…Is worth mentioning that the methodology used in the studies can influence this estimate. The prevalence rates obtained in population-based health surveys range from 25.9% to 30.4% [15][16][17][18][19] . The assessment of hearing loss through self reference is susceptible to the elderly perception for the presence of this deficit, which involves issues such as life experience, culture, education, the context in which it is inserted, in addition to the specific characteristics of presbycusis.…”

“…In Brazil, studies of Gondim et al 18 and Beria et al 19 , both population-based approach highlighted the disabling hearing loss were more observed in individuals over 50 years, being more prevalent from 70 years.…”

Perfil epidemiológico de uma população com deficiência auditiva

“…The prevalence of hearing loss in Brazil is still unestablished because only three national populationbased studies 1 have been performed describing hearing impairment through the World Health Organization protocol 2 . Two of these studies were conducted in Southern Brazil 1,3 and one in Northern Brazil 3 .…”

“…Two of these studies were conducted in Southern Brazil 1,3 and one in Northern Brazil 3 . In Canoas, RS (Southern Brazil) 3 , 26.1% of the population presented some level of hearing impairment: 19.3% presented with mild hearing loss and 6.8% presented disabling hearing loss.…”

“…In Canoas, RS (Southern Brazil) 3 , 26.1% of the population presented some level of hearing impairment: 19.3% presented with mild hearing loss and 6.8% presented disabling hearing loss. Itajaí, SC (Southern Brazil) 1 , a prevalence of 7% of disabling hearing loss was detected in the municipality. In Monte Negro, RO (Northern Brazil), hearing loss was detected in 15.5% of the population: 11.7% mild and 3.8% debilitating 4 .…”