OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the frequency of perception of tinnitus in the elderly with and without hearing aids. METHODS: We prospectively collected data using pure tone audiometry and an audiological history. RESULTS: About 491 individuals aged 60 years or more from the EELO project (study on aging and longevity) underwent audiometric assessment. Of these, 209 patients had sensorineural or mixed hearing loss. Of these, 16 used a hearing aid and were then compared with the first 16 elderly individuals with hearing loss without hearing aids in the EELO project. Only 7 hearing aid users complained of tinnitus, while 11 non-users of hearing aids did so. From the statistical analysis using BioEstat 5.3 software with chi-squared and odds ratio tests, it was found that there was no statistically significant association between the perception of tinnitus in the elderly and the use of hearing aids. CONCLUSIONS: Although there was no statistically significant association between the perception of tinnitus in the elderly and the use of hearing aids, the higher frequency of complaints about tinnitus in nonusers of hearing aids may be related to the effect of the use of hearing aids, which has been cited as a potentially important means to change the perception of tinnitus in older adults with hearing loss. Studies in larger populations are needed to clarify the subject.
