Comparação entre ruído de banda estreita e tom puro na avaliação dos limiares auditivos em indivíduos com zumbido: estudo transversal
Comparison between narrowband noise and pure tone in the assessment of auditory thresholds in individuals with tinnitus: a cross-sectional study
José Cliverson Gomes Holanda; Abigail Gabrielli Dantas Albuquerque Chou; Deuzimar Pires de Araújo; Eliene Silva Araújo
Resumo
Palavras-chave
Abstract
Purpose: To compare hearing thresholds obtained with narrowband noise (NBN) and pure tone in individuals with and without complaints of tinnitus, considering the presence or absence of hearing loss.
Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 35 participants, selected for convenience, aged between 19 and 82 years (mean 47.5±18.4). The study group (SG) consisted of 25 individuals with tinnitus, 15 with sensorineural hearing loss and 10 without hearing loss, and the control group (CG) consisted of 10 individuals without tinnitus, five with sensorineural hearing loss and five with normal hearing thresholds. Pure tone and NBN 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.
Results: In the GE, hearing thresholds were lower with RBE than with pure tone audiometry, both in individuals without loss (12.1±4.8 versus 8.8±4.4 dBNA; p=0.001; 95% CI=0.56–1.70) and in those with hearing loss (32.3±17.4 versus 27.2±17.6 dBNA; p<0.001; 95% CI=0.54–1.41). In the CG, this difference was observed only among participants with hearing loss (41.6±23.8 versus 34.1±22.3 dBNA; p<0.001; 95% CI=0.82–2.94). Age did not influence the THI and VAS scores, but there was a strong correlation between the two measures of self-perceived tinnitus (p<0.001; r=0.796).
Conclusion: NBN yielded lower hearing thresholds at most frequencies in individuals with tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss. However, the sample size limits the generalization of the results, and further studies are needed.
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References
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Submitted date:
07/31/2025
Accepted date:
03/15/2026
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