OBJECTIVE: To describe the audiological characteristics of users' hearing aids at a tertiary referral center. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective transversal study was performed between January and December of 2012. RESULTS: About 625 patients with a mean age of 66 years (standard deviation, ± 18; range, 3-98; median, 70) were enrolled; 50.4% were male (n = 315) and 49.6% were female (n = 310). Among then, 95% (n = 593) had bilateral hearing loss, 0.8% (n = 5) had unilateral hearing loss, and 4.3% (n = 27) had normal hearing in the 500 Hz, 1 kHz, and 2 kHz frequencies, but showed hearing loss at higher frequencies; sensorineural hearing loss and hearing loss of a moderate degree were the most common. During this period, 1158 hearing aids were fitted, of which 92% (n = 1066) were for both ears and 8% for 1 ear. Regarding the type of hearing aid, 52% (n = 325) were fitted with retroauricular hearing aids, 29% (n = 181) with intra-auricular hearing aids, and 19% (n = 119) with open-fit hearing aids. CONCLUSION: Patients at our public hospital had a mean age of 60 years, moderate bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and were fitted for the first time with a retroauricular hearing aid.
