Relação entre os achados audiométricos e as queixas auditivas e extra-auditivas dos professores de uma academia de ginástica

PURPOSE: To study auditory and extra-auditory complaints of physical education teachers exposed to electronically amplified music, to describe their audiometric findings, and to investigate the importance of the variables time of profession, work-journey, and presence of audiometric notch. METHODS: Initially, the sound pressure levels of six rooms of a health club were measured (mean 101.4 dB(A)). After that, 32 teachers were evaluated through anamnesis and pure tone air conduction thresholds, and the presence of audiometric notch was investigated. RESULTS: Most teachers (87.5%) reported to have had extra-occupational exposure. The most frequent complaints were: intolerance to intense sounds (43.8%), dizziness (12.5%); irritability and nervousness (28.1%); insomnia (31.3%); headache (37.5%); tinnitus (12.5%); aural fullness (12.5%); and occasional hearing difficulties (43.8%). Regarding the audiometric findings, 9.37% of the teachers had hearing losses: 3.12% had bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and 6.25% had decreased thresholds in 3000 Hz or 4000 Hz. The frequency most stricken by the audiometric notch was 6000 Hz, and 50% of the teachers had it in at least one ear. No significant difference was found in the comparison between the variables time of profession, work-journey and complaints, and the result of audiometric notch. CONCLUSIONS: 68.75% of the subjects related extra-auditory complaints. The results showed that, even though hearing loss only affected a small percentage of the studied population (9.37%), half of the teachers already presented audiometric notch in at least one ear.