Prevalência de queixas auditivas em pessoas idosas

Abstract

Introduction: Aging is a heterogeneous, natural and progressive phenomenon, which causes several changes and, over time, can determine a loss of the individual's ability to adapt to the environment where he lives. Among the auditory complaints derived from senescence, there are: hearing loss, tinnitus, difficulty in understanding speech, discomfort with loud sounds, ear fullness, ear ache and itching. Aim: To identify the prevalence of hearing complaints in elderly people. Methods: The study was descriptive, observational, cross-sectional and had a quantitative approach. An interview was carried out with the residents of a Long Stay Institution for the Elderly (LSIE) containing questions referring to socio-demographic characterization data and hearing complaints presented by these individuals. Data were tabulated according to absolute and relative frequency and presented in tables. Results: There was a profile of predominantly male participants, aged between 65 and 69 years, with comorbidities and using medication. The presence of hearing complaints was observed in 81.81% of the women, and all individuals aged 80 to 84 years reported such symptoms. In addition, participants with diabetes mellitus (100%) and systemic arterial hypertension (81.81%), as well as those who used medication, presented auditory complaints more regularly. Discomfort to loud sounds and itching were the most common symptoms. Conclusion: Discomfort with loud sounds was the most frequent complaint. Female elderly, elderly aged between 80 and 84 years and those with chronic diseases, especially diabetes, had a higher frequency of complaints.