Abstract
Objective: To identify the most frequently observed characteristics among patients with hearing impairment in a Brazilian tertiary referral center, the Center of Hearing Impairment at UNIFESP.
Method: Patients assisted during the period from 2005 to 2009 with primary complaint of hearing difficulty had their charts reviewed. This study gathered 4467 patients, which underwent an ENT assessment by history taking, physical examination, audiological testing, and, when indicated, imaging examinations as well as other specialties evaluation in order to contribute to a precise diagnosis and treatment definition. A database was developed specifically for registration of patients in this study.
Results: Average age was about 47 years, with a balanced distribution regarding gender. Mean time between onset of hearing loss and the demand for medical care was approximately 12 years. Hypertension, with or without comorbidities, was most frequently observed in association with hearing loss, reported by 28% of all patients. Presbycusis was the most common etiological diagnosis, followed by unclear sensorineural hearing impairment. Fitting of hearing aids was indicated in almost 70% of all cases.
Conclusion: Results indicate that there is an excessive delay between the onset of the hearing difficulty and an access to specialized care. Age-related hearing loss deserves special attention from public and private health systems for its high incidence, and a significant number of patients who need and would benefit from hearing rehabilitation through electronic aids, especially hearing aids. The high prevalence of comorbidities, particularly hypertension, suggests that these diseases may play an important role in the manifestation and evolution of sensorineural hearing loss.
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