O uso do ruído de banda estreita para pesquisa de limiares auditivos em indivíduos com queixa de zumbido

Abstract

Purpose: To compare pure tone and narrow-band noise as stimuli for determining auditory thresholds in individuals with tinnitus. Methods: A prospective, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted with 35 participants, aged between 19 and 82 years (mean 47.5 ± 18.4). The study group (SG) was made up of 25 individuals with tinnitus, 15 with sensorineural hearing loss and 10 without, and the control group (CG) of 10 individuals without tinnitus, five with sensorineural hearing loss and five with normal hearing thresholds. Pure tone and narrow-band noise audiometry were performed, along with the application of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and the visual analog scale (VAS) for tinnitus. The order of the tests was randomized, and the data were analyzed using the Jamovi software, with p<0.05 as the statistical value. Results: The SG participants, regardless of the presence or absence of hearing loss, had lower hearing thresholds with narrowband noise compared to pure tone. The same result was observed for individuals with hearing loss in the CG, except for the 250 Hz frequency. Age did not influence the THI and VAS scores, but there was a strong correlation between the two measures of self-perceived tinnitus. Conclusion: The hearing thresholds obtained with narrowband noise were lower than those recorded with pure tone in individuals with tinnitus and/or sensorineural hearing loss. There was no difference between the stimuli in participants without hearing loss or tinnitus