[Association between noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus].

The objective of this study was to verify an association between noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and tinnitus in workers exposed to occupational noise. Workers with a history of work noise exposure who attended two audiology outpatient clinics were interviewed and evaluated. The statistical association between NIHL and tinnitus was evaluated using an adjusted linear regression model, with tinnitus as the dependent variable and NIHL, classified into six levels, as the independent variable, with age and length of noise exposure as covariates. Data were collected from 284 workers between April and October, 2003, in Bauru, São Paulo State, Brazil. Tinnitus was observed to increase with the progression of auditory damage, controlled by age and length of noise exposure. These results suggest that investment in hearing conservation programs is needed, especially for source noise emission control and for intervention in hearing loss progression that is caused by noise exposure, in order to maintain auditory health and reduce the associated symptoms.