ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Purpose: to identify the profile of tinnitus research in Brazil and the main procedures adopted by professionals in the field in the national territory. Methods: an observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study, in which an active search was made on digital platforms to identify researchers in Brazil who have tinnitus as a study focus. After identifying the tinnitus study groups, an online Form was sent to the researchers comprising 21 questions, so as to know the works in development. The collected responses were extracted and tabulated intoMicrosoft Excel Professional Plus2019 through the absolute and relative frequency measurements of the final sample. Results: 117 researchers were identified, of these, 21 participated in the study, being (90.5%) females, specifically from public universities (81%) in the Southeast region of Brazil (47.7%). These professionals develop clinical research (76.1%), focusing on therapies and/or treatments (38.1%), and use sound therapy (52.38%) as the main technological resource of their studies. Conclusion: the research profile is clinical, with a main focus on therapies and/or treatments for tinnitus. As for the procedures, there is a predominant application of the Visual Analogue Scale- VAS and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory- THI as evaluation protocols and sound therapy as the main technological resource of their studies.
RESUMO Objetivo: identificar o perfil das pesquisas sobre zumbido realizadas no Brasil e os principais procedimentos adotados pelos profissionais da área em território nacional. Métodos: estudo de caráter observacional, descritivo e transversal, em que foi feita uma busca ativa em plataformas digitais para identificar pesquisadores no Brasil que têm o zumbido como foco de estudo. Após a identificação dos grupos de estudo sobre zumbido, foi enviado aos pesquisadores um formulário online composto por 21 questões, com o intuito de conhecer os trabalhos em desenvolvimento. As respostas coletadas foram extraídas e tabuladas no Microsoft Excel professional plus 2019 por meio das medidas de frequência absoluta e relativa da amostra final. Resultados: foram identificados 117 pesquisadores, destes, 21 participaram do estudo, sendo (90,5%) do sexo feminino, especificamente de universidades públicas (81%) da região Sudeste do Brasil (47,7%). Esses profissionais desenvolvem pesquisas clínicas (76,1%), com foco em terapias e/ou tratamentos (38,1%) e utilizam a terapia sonora (52,38%) como recurso tecnológico principal de seus estudos. Conclusão: o perfil das pesquisas é do tipo clínico, com foco principal em terapias e/ou tratamentos para o zumbido. Quanto aos procedimentos, há o predomínio de aplicação da Escala Visual Analógica- EVA e do Tinnitus Handicap Inventory-THI como protocolos de avaliação e a terapia sonora como recurso tecnológico principal de seus estudos.
ABSTRACT
Abstract Introduction: Tinnitus is a subjective auditory symptom usually associated with a sound, even in the absence of external sound sources. Its diagnosis is complex, and some of the forms of measurement alone or in combination, include self-assessment questionnaires, such as the tinnitus handicap inventory, the visual analog scale and/or pitch and loudness matching. Objective: To analyze the correlation among three tinnitus measurement methods: tinnitus handicap inventory, visual analog scale and pitch and loudness matching. Methods: The study consisted of 148 patients complaining of chronic tinnitus. An otorhinolaryngological evaluation, anamnesis directed to tinnitus, audiometry (pure tone and speech), imitanciometry, tinnitus handicap inventory, visual analog scale, and pitch and loudness matching were performed. The study was registered in the Ethics Committee of the Institution with no. 0129/12. Results: Regarding the frequency of tinnitus handicap inventory responses, a higher occurrence of the mild degree was observed. An average of 6 points was observed on the visual analog scale. The mean loudness matching in the right ear was 20 dBNS, and in the left ear was 17 dBNS. As for the type of stimulus, the most found was continuous pure tone. The frequency of the pitch sensation was 6000 Hz in the largest number of cases. Regarding the measures of tinnitus handicap inventory and the visual analogical scale, a significant correlation was observed, and as one value increases the other also increases. Pitch and loudness matching and the visual analogical scale results are also significant. Conclusion: There was a significant correlation between the values measured by the tinnitus handicap inventory, visual analogical scale (annoyance) and loudness matching in the evaluation of tinnitus. The selection of any one of the three evaluative methods for tinnitus investigation provides different dimensions of the tinnitus and complements the others.
Resumo Introdução: O zumbido é um sintoma auditivo de natureza subjetivo, normalmente associado a um som, mesmo na ausência de fontes sonoras externas. Apresenta diagnóstico complexo. Uma das formas de mensuração é o uso, isolado ou em conjunto, de questionários de autoavaliação, como o Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, a escala visual analógica e o exame de acufenometria. Objetivo: Analisar a correlação entre os métodos de mensuração do zumbido: Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, escala visual analógica e acufenometria. Método: Participaram do estudo 148 pacientes com queixa de zumbido crônico. Realizou-se avaliação otorrinolaringológica, anamnese direcionada ao zumbido, audiometria (tonal e vocal), imitanciometria, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, escala visual analógica e acufenometria. O estudo foi registrado no comitê de ética da instituição, com nº 0129/12. Resultados: Em relação à frequência das respostas do Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, foi observada maior ocorrência do grau leve. Observou-se uma média de 6 pontos na escala visual analógica. A média da sensação de intensidade medida na acufenometria na orelha direita foi de 20 dBNS e na orelha esquerda foi de 17 dBNS. Quanto ao tipo de estímulo, o mais encontrado foi o tom puro contínuo. A sensação de frequência, no maior número de casos, foi de 6.000 Hz Entre as medidas do Tinnitus Handicap Inventory e da escala visual analógica, observou-se correlação significante. À medida que um valor aumenta o outro também aumenta. Os resultados da acufenometria e da escala visual analógica também apresentam significância. Conclusão: Houve correlação significante entre os valores medidos pelo Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, escala visual analógica (incômodo) e acufenometria (loudness) na avaliação do zumbido. A escolha de um dos três métodos avaliativos para pesquisa do zumbido fornece dimensões diferentes do zumbido e se complementam.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Tinnitus/diagnosis , Visual Analog Scale , Audiometry, Pure-Tone , Sound Localization , Tinnitus/physiopathology , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Abstract Introduction Dichotic listening refers to the ability to hear different sounds presented to each ear simultaneously. Objective The aim of the present study was to assess dichotic listening in women throughout the menstrual cycle. Methods The volunteers who met the eligibility criteria participated in a dichotic listening assessment composed of three tests: 1) staggered spondaic word test; 2) dichotic digits test; and 3) consonant-vowel test. The female participants were tested during two different phases of the menstrual cycle: the follicular (days 11 to 13) and luteal (days 23 to 26) phases. The phases were confirmed by measuring serum levels of the hormone estradiol. Results A total of 20 volunteers aged 18 to 49 years participated in the study (9 females and 11 males). In test 1, only the right ear of females showed better performance during the follicular phase (high estrogen levels), compared with the luteal phase (low estrogen levels); in test 2, there were no significant differences for any of the groups; and in test 3, both males and females showed significantly better performance in their right ear compared with their left ear. Conclusion The better performance of females during the follicular phase of the cycle may indicate that estrogen levels might have an influence on dichotic listening in women. (AU)