Relação entre a Queixa e a Presença de Perda Auditiva entre Idosos Relationship Between Hearing Complaint and Hearing Loss Among Older People

To check whether there is a relationship between the complaint and the presence of hearing loss in elder people. Method: Transversal study in elders from a neighborhood in the city of Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul. After the definition of the neighborhood’s geographic boundaries, all houses were visited, the older people’s addresses were ascertained and the invitations to take part in the research were provided. A questionnaire survey was applied which had a question about hearing loss complaint and air-conducted hearing thresholds were obtained and studied. Out of the 72 identified elders 50 elders agreed to participate, 35 (70%) women, and 15 (30%) men. Results: It was confirmed that only 12 (24%) elders showed a specific complaint of hearing loss, although 33 (66%) elders showed slight, moderate, severe and profound hearing losses. Conclusion: Data analysis confirmed there was no relationship between the complaint and the presence of hearing loss in the assessed group, and demonstrated the need to forward the elders for audiological evaluation even without any specific complaint.