Research Article - The International Tinnitus Journal (2008) Volume 14, Issue 2

Evaluating Tinnitus in Industrial Hearing Loss Prevention Programs

This study evaluated the interference of tinnitus on the quality of life for noiseexposed workers enrolled in a hearing conservation program. Noise measurements, a questionnaire, a Brazilian version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), and pure-tone audiometry were conducted with 52 participants (mean age, 29 years) who suffered from tinnitus. THI results indicated that tinnitus had the greatest influence in the functional scale (54%). Significant correlations ( p  .05) were observed between the periodicity of tinnitus and noise exposure level; degree of tinnitus and exposure to chemicals; total THI score and the scores of the catastrophic, emotional, and functional scales; score of the emotional scale and the functional scale; and results of the THI and the general state of health. An evaluation of tinnitus and its impact could benefit tinnitus sufferers in the workplace.

Author(s): Luciara Giacobe Steinmetz; Bianca Simone Zeigelboim; Adriana Bender M. Lacerda; Thaïs Catalani Morata; Jair M. Marques

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