Tinnitus has been bothering humanity since Ancient Babylon, plaguing everyone from Leonardo da Vinci to Charles Darwin. Today, roughly one in seven people worldwide experiences this auditory sensation. So what exactly is tinnitus, and where does this persistent sound come from? Marc Fagelson travels into the auditory system to explore the loss of silence.

Excerpt: It is often the case that veterans who experience hyperacusis have hearing loss and tinnitus; what sets the patient with PTSD apart is an increased likelihood that will rate sound tolerance problems as more severe than tinnitus and hearing loss.

Der subjektive Tinnitus ist ein Symptom unterschiedlicher Ursachen. Trotz vielversprechender Ansätze und deutlicher Fortschritte beim Verständnis der Pathophysiologie konnte sich bislang keine einheitliche Therapie durchsetzen. Es gibt ein Vielzahl von Therapieansätzen, deren klinische Wirksamkeit häufig nicht ausreichend untersucht sind. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es deshalb, eine Bilanz zur Anwendung des modifizierten antiphlogistisch-rheologischen Stennert-Schemas und des Infusionsschemas mit Procain bei der Behandlung des subjektiven Tinnitus (mit oder ohne begleitende Hörminderung) zu ziehen. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit erfolgte deshalb eine retrospektive Auswertung von 281 Patienten, die im Zeitraum vom 01.01.1997 bis 14.12.2000 an der Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde der Universität Würzburg behandelt wurden. In einem zweitem Schritt wurden das modifizierte antiphlogistisch-rheologische Infusionsschema nach Stennert und das Infusionsschema mit Procain gegenüber einem Placebo (NaCl-Infusionen) im Rahmen einer prospektiven Studie untersucht. Dabei handelte es sich um die erste prospektive, randomisierte Doppelblindstudie zum Tinnitus, die verschiedene Infusionsschemata gegenüber einer Placebomedikation untersuchte. In der prospektiven Untersuchung lagen Ergebnisse von 34 Patienten vor, die in der Zeit vom 05.08.1999 bis 20.07.2002 behandelt wurden. Im retrospektiven Kollektiv zeigte sich bei der Behandlung akuter Ohrgeräusche mit dem modifizierten Stennert-Schema bei 45 (21%) der 216 Patienten eine Vollremission und bei 58% (n=125) der Fälle verringerte sich die Tinnituslautheit. In der Procain-Therapiegruppe wurde bei 60% (n=15) der 25 Patienten im retrospektiven Untersuchungsteil eine Abnahme der Tinnituslautheit beobachtet (Vollremission bei 4%; n=1). Bei 40 Patienten der retrospektiven Untersuchung mit chronischem Tinnitus konnte mit dem modifizierten Stennert-Schema bei 50% (n=16) und mit Procaininfusionen bei 63% (n=5) der Patienten eine Verringerung der Tinnituslautheit erzielt werden. Dabei sistierte bei 6% (n=2) der Patienten aus der mod. Stennert-Therapiegruppe das Ohrgeräusch komplett. Die Patienten im retrospektiven Kollektiv mit einer Hörminderung zeigten nach der Therapie mit dem mod. Stennert-Schema eine durchschnittliche Hörerho-lung von 18,7 dB. Bei 29% (n=26) dieser Patienten erholte sich das Hörvermö-gen vollständig und 44% (n=40) hatten eine Teilerholung. In der Procain-Therapiegruppe konnte bei Patienten mit einer Hörminderung eine Besserung in 71% der Fälle (n=5) registriert werden, eine Restitutio ad Integrum wurde nicht beobachtet. Das Hörvermögen erholte sich in dieser Therapiegruppe im Durchschnitt um 20,0 dB. 42 Patienten des retrospektiven Kollektivs, die initial mit dem mod. Stennert-Schema therapiert wurden, unterzogen sich einer Anschlussbehandlung mit Procain. Bei 45% (n=19) der Patienten verringerte sich das Ohrgeräusch, ein Sistieren des Tinnitus trat dabei nicht auf. Auf das Therapieergebnis hatte die Zeitspanne zwischen Symptom- und Therapiebeginn einen hochsignifikanten Einfluss (p=0,00002). Je eher mit der Infusionstherapie begonnen wurde, desto günstiger war die Prognose. Die besten Therapieergebnisse zeigten sich bei Latenzzeiten von weniger als 24 Stunden. Lagen zwischen Symptom- und Therapiebeginn über 28 Tage, zeigten sich Behandlungsergebnisse wie bei einem chronischen Tinnitus. Alio loco vorbehandelte Patienten zeigten schlechtere Therapieergebnisse als Patienten ohne vorherige Therapie (p=0,00003). Bei Patienten mit einem Tinnitusrezidiv lag der Anteil an Vollremissionen deutlich unter dem erstmalig erkrankter Patienten. Dies war statistisch jedoch nicht signifikant. Keinen Ein-fluss auf die Prognose hatten hingegen das Alter und Geschlecht der Patienten. Im prospektiven Untersuchungsteil konnte durch die Infusionstherapie mit dem mod. Stennert-Schema bei 57% (n=8) der 34 Patienten eine Restitutio ad Integrum und bei 43% (n=6) der Fälle eine Teilremission des Tinnitus erzielt werden. In der Procain-Therapiegruppe zeigten 50% (n=4) der Patienten eine Vollremission und 25% (n=2) der Fälle eine Teilremission. In der Kontrollgruppe mit NaCl kam es nur bei 16% (n=2) der Fälle zu einer Vollremission und bei 42% (n=5) der Patienten zu einer Teilremission des Tinnitus. Auch die Veränderung des WHF-Scores konnte die besseren Ergebnisse in der mod. Stennert-Therapiegruppe (Besserung von 15,8 Gra-den) und in der Procain-Therapiegruppe (Besserung von 14,5) darlegen. In der NaCl-Therapiegruppe fand sich nur eine Besserung um 9,8 Grade. 15 Patienten der prospektiven Untersuchung hatten einen Tinnitus und gleichzeitig eine akute Hörminderung. Nach der Infusionstherapie mit dem mod. Stennert-Schema verbesserte sich das Hörvermögen im Durchschnitt um 22,0 dB. In der Procain-Therapiegruppe ergab sich eine durchschnittliche Hörverbesserung um 22,8 dB, und in der NaCl-Therapiegruppe zeigte sich eine Verbesserung des Hörvermögens um 15,4 dB. Die Infusionstherapie mit dem modifizierten antiphlogistisch-rheologischen Stennert-Schemas und dem Infusionsschemas mit Procain waren gut verträg-lich. Nebenwirkungen, die einen Abbruch der Behandlung erfordert hätten, traten nicht auf. Die hier vorgestellten Therapieergebnisse zeigen deutlich, dass das modifizierte antiphlogistisch-rheologische Infusionsschema nach Stennert eine gute Wirksamkeit bei der Behandlung von Ohrgeräuschen hat. Dabei ist diese Wirkung einem Placebo deutlich überlegen. Das Infusionsschema mit Procain stellt eine zusätzliche Therapieoption bei chronischem Tinnitus, sowie als Anschlußbehandlung nach erfolgter Behandlung mit dem modifizierten Stennert-Schema dar. / Subjective tinnitus is a symptom having various causes. In spite of promising approaches and significant progress in the understanding of pathophysiology, no therapy has been able to achieve uniform acceptance. There are many therapeutic approaches, whose clinical effectiveness often have not been sufficiently investigated. The aim of this project was therefore to draw conclusions for the use of the modified antiphlogistic-rheologic Stennert scheme and the infusion scheme using Procain for the treatment of subjective tinnitus (with or without accompanying hearing deficits). Within the scope of the present work, there has been a retrospective evaluation of 281 patients who were treated in the period from 1 January 1997 to 14 December 2000 in the ENT clinics of the University of Würzburg, Germany. In a second step, the modified antiphlogistic-rheologic infusion scheme (according to Stennert) and the infusion scheme using Procain were investigated in comparison to a placebo (NaCl infusions) in the scope of a prospective study. This was the first prospective, randomized double-blind study of tinnitus to investigate different infusion schemes versus a placebo medication. For the prospective investigation, results from 34 patients who were treated in the period from 5 August 1999 to 20 July 2002 were available. The retrospective collection showed a complete remission in 45 (21%) of the 216 patients for treatment of acute tinnitus with the modified Stennert scheme, and in 58% (n=125) of the cases the tinnitus volume was reduced. In the Procain therapy group, a reduction in the tinnitus volume was observed for 60% (n=25) of the 25 patients in the retrospectively investigated section (complete remission for 4%; n=1). For the 40 patients with chronic tinnitus in the retrospective investigation, a reduction in the tinnitus volume was achieved in 50% (n=16) with the modified Stennert scheme, and in 63% (n=5) with Procain infusions. The tinnitus ceased completely for 6% (n=2) of the patients in the modified Stennert group. The patients with hearing deficits in the retrospective collection exhibited an average of 18.7 dB in recovered hearing ability after therapy with the modified Stennert scheme. In 29% (n=26) of these patients, the hearing ability recovered completely, and 44% (n=40) had a partial recovery. In the Procain therapy group, a recovery could be observed in 71% (n=5) of the cases with patients having hearing deficits; a restitutio ad integrum (complete recovery) was not observed. The hearing ability recovered by an average of 20.0 dB in this therapy group. 42 patients in the retrospective collection who were initially treated with the modified Stennert scheme subsequently underwent a treatment with Procain. In 45% (n=19) of the patients the tinnitus decreased, a ceasing of the tinnitus did not occur. The period of time between the onset of symptoms and therapy had a highly significant influence (p=0.00002) on the results of the therapy. As much as the infusion therapy could be started earlier, so was the prognosis improved. The best therapy results occurred with latency periods less than 24 hours. If more than 28 days passed between onset of symptoms and the start of therapy, treatments exhibited results just as for a chronic tinnitus. Patients who had undergone alio loco pre-treatment exhibited worse therapy results than patients without previous treatment (p=0.00003). In patients with a tinnitus relapse, the percentage of complete remissions was significantly lower than for patients with first-time illnesses, although this was statistically insignificant. The age and gender of the patients had no influence on prognoses. In the prospective section of the investigation, a restitutio ad integrum (complete recovery) could be achieved in 57% (n=8) of the 34 patients with the infusion therapy using the modified Stennert scheme, and a partial tinnitus remission in 43% (n=6) of the cases. In the Procain therapy group, 50% (n=4) of the patients exhibited a complete remission, and 25% (n=2) of the cases showed a partial remission. In the control group with NaCl, a complete remission was exhibited in only 16% (n=2) of the cases, and 42% (n=5) of the patients showed a partial tinnitus remission. The improved results were also demonstrated by the alteration of WHF scores in the modified Stennert scheme (improvement of 15.8 degrees) and in the Procain therapy group (improvement of 14.5 degrees). In the NaCl therapy group the improvement was only 9.8 degrees. 15 patients from the prospective investigation had simultaneously tinnitus and an acute hearing deficiency. After infusion therapy with the modified Stennert scheme, the hearing ability was improved by an average of 22.0 dB. In the Procain therapy group, there was an average hearing ability improvement of 22.8 dB, and the NaCl therapy group exhibited an improvement in hearing ability of 15.4 dB. The infusion therapy with the modified antiphlogistic-rheological Stennert scheme and the infusion schemes using Procain were well tolerated. Side effects that would have required a cessation of treatment did not occur. The therapy results presented here clearly show that the modified antiphlogistic-rheological Stennert infusion scheme has good effectiveness for the treatment of tinnitus, and the effect is clearly superior that of a placebo. The infusion scheme using Procain represents an additional therapy option for chronic tinnitus, as well as for subsequent therapy after therapy using the modified Stennert scheme.

碩士 / 南華大學 / 自然生物科技學系自然療癒碩士班 / 106 / Background and Purpose: The causes of tinnitus are complex and difficult to determine. Common ailments caused by tinnitus such as insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, depression and helplessness create many stress and negative emotions. The current method of medical treatment of tinnitus include anti-depressants, sedatives and vitamin B, etc., while others such as sound masking or desensitization therapy are designed to gradually adapt the patient to tinnitus. Yoga pranayama uses respiration breathing techniques to improve the respiratory system, improve sleep quality, reduce anxiety and prevent bipolar disorder and stabilize the nervous system and emotions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of yoga pranayama on tinnitus, anxiety and insomnia caused by chronic tinnitus. 　　Materials and Methods: A single group, pre-test and post-test study was conducted on patients with chronic tinnitus from a hospital in southern Taiwan. A total of 12 tinnitus patients participated in this study. The study spanned over a 16-week period, which was divided into two phases. The first phase included a 60-min yoga lesson given by an instructor once a week for 12 consecutive weeks; the second phase required the patients to practice yoga with a CD audio guide at home for 4 consecutive weeks. Data were collected before the participants began their yoga lessons, as well as after completing phase 1 and phase 2. Assessment tools included STAI-S, STAI-T, the Tinnitus Functional Index, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and interviews with the participants. Data were analyzed using the Friedman test, in which the effect of intervention was mainly based on the time effect. 　　Results: A total of 11 tinnitus patients completed the experiment. The results of the Friedman test showed that as the time period increased, the scores for functional index, emotional index, severity index, and overall tinnitus distress decreased at pre-test (T1), yoga exercise (T2), and CD audio yoga exercise (T3), in which significant differences were observed between the different phases. Results from the STAI-S survey showed significant differences in positive emotion, negative emotion, and overall anxiety as the time participants spent practicing yoga exercises increased, whereas significant differences in positive emotions were only observed in the STAI-T results. Results also showed that state anxiety, trait anxiety, and tinnitus distress scores decreased as the time practicing yoga increased. These findings indicated that yoga exercises reduced anxiety and tinnitus distress. However, yoga exercises did not significantly improve sleep quality and tinnitus severity. 　　A positive correlation was found between tinnitus distress and anxiety (r = 0.862, P = 0.001). In addition, positive correlations were also observed between state anxiety, tinnitus distress, and sleep quality (r = 0.741, P = 0.009；r = 0.823, P =0.002). Results also showed that as a reduction in tinnitus distress occurred over time, both state anxiety and sleep quality also improved. This study demonstrated that yoga exercises can be used to reduce tinnitus distress and anxiety, as well as patients' overall living quality.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T18:12:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Roberta Robba Asola Fratti.pdf: 1045802 bytes, checksum: a3bb5045a43064f459393edbd811e6cf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-02-19 / Introduction: Despite technological advances currently available, the audiometric test tonal still represents the only test that evaluates the hearing in a range of frequencies. Due to cases of incompatibility of results in clinical practice is essential to conduct research using different stimuli during the tests. Objective: To compare PTA thresholds gotten with the warble and narrow band stimuli in subjects with sensorio-neural hearing loss, without and with tinnitus. Method: The audiometric thresholds by air conduction with the stimulus warble and narrow band were researched in the frequencies 250 to 8000Hz in both ears in three groups: subjects with normal hearing, with hearing loss and without tinnitus and with hearing loss and tinnitus. Results: The results demonstrated meaningful statistic differences between warble and narrow band in all of groups. In the comparative analysis, the differences had been higher, with significance statistics, in the groups with hearing loss when compared with the subjects with normal hearing, independently of the tinnitus. Conclusion: the use of different stimulus in the audiometric evaluation can represent an important strategy for attainment of trustworth thresholds, mainly in subjects with hearing losses / Introdução: Apesar dos avanços tecnológicos atualmente disponíveis, a audiometria tonal ainda representa o único teste de audição que avalia a acuidade auditiva em uma determinada faixa de freqüências. Devido aos casos de incompatibilidade dos resultados encontrados na prática clínica é fundamental a realização de pesquisas utilizando diferentes estímulos durante os testes. Objetivo: Comparar os limiares audiométricos obtidos com os estímulos warble e narrow band em sujeitos com perda auditiva sem e com a presença de zumbido. Método: Foi realizada a audiometria tonal liminar por via aérea com os estímulos warble e narrow band nas freqüências de 250 a 8000 Hz (Hertz) em ambas as orelhas em três grupos: normo-ouvintes, com perda auditiva e sem zumbido e com perda auditiva e com zumbido. Resultados: Os resultados encontrados mostraram diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre o warble e narrow band intragrupos. Na análise comparativa, as diferenças foram maiores, com significância estatística, nos grupos com perda auditiva quando comparados aos normo-ouvintes, independentemente da presença de zumbido. Conclusão: a utilização de diferentes estímulos na realização da avaliação audiométrica pode representar uma importante estratégia para obtenção de limiares fidedignos, principalmente em indivíduos com perdas auditivas

碩士 / 國立高雄師範大學 / 特殊教育學系 / 107 / Abstract This study excluded subjects who were predicted to be unsuccessful hearing aid users. To be sure the hearing aid were properly fitted, subjects went through three times of fitting and adjustment procedures. The main purposes of this study were to apply various criterion measurements to investigate whether the use of tinnitus management function in these subjects had a positive effect on releasing tinnitus as well as whether the use of hearing aids by themselves helped to relieve tinnitus for hearing-impaired tinnitus sufferers. A total of 8 subjects who met the screening criteria were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group, four in each. Seven subjects were male and the only female subject was in the experiment group. Between two groups, there were no significant differences in age, gender distribution, how tinnitus appeared, and tinnitus position. Subjects averaged 52.5 years (SD = 15.2). After subjects completed the pre-tests, they returned a week later for hearing-aids fitting. The tinnitus management function was turned on for the experiment group whereas in the control group, it was turned off. Subjects’ returned visits were scheduled at one- and three- months. Counseling regarding tinnitus was provided in each return visit. The post-test was administered after the hearing aid was worn for 3 months. The results of the study were as follows: First, wearing hearing aids did effectively relieve the tinnitus. The post-test scores of the four tinnitus scales (TFI, THI, TRQ, and VAS) were significantly lowered then the pre-test scores. The three tinnitus scales (TFI, THI, and TRQ) also revealed that 75% of subjects made clinically significant improvement. Second, the use of the tinnitus management function did not make further relieve in tinnitus bothersome. The pre- and post- score difference of the three tinnitus scales (TFI, THI, and TRQ) between the two groups revealed no significant difference. Similar percentage of persons was observed in the two groups in terms of categorical change of tinnitus measurement in TFI, THI, tinnitus troubles and tinnitus problems. Third, wearing hearing aids improved hearing benefit. Based on the research results, suggestions are proposed. First, the clinical application: (1) For tinnitus patients with hearing loss, the use of hearing aids will be an effective tool in managing tinnitus. (2) Consultation is an essential component of tinnitus management. It should be included in the treatment procedure. Second, recommendations for the future research: (1) To explore the effects of different brand hearing aids as well as different tinnitus management functions on the relief of tinnitus. (2) To investigate tinnitus relieving effect of hearing aids tinnitus sufferers with recent tinnitus on set. (3) To collect more subjects in the studies of the effect of tinnitus management function as well as tinnitus assessment scales to explore the benefits of tinnitus relieving. (4) To explore other factors that may exert effects upon tinnitus.

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2016-04-26T20:08:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ThawannMalfattiBorges_DISSERT.pdf: 27333324 bytes, checksum: 7928d876effa4fd0184f0b246ecd1c34 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-04-29T20:35:41Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ThawannMalfattiBorges_DISSERT.pdf: 27333324 bytes, checksum: 7928d876effa4fd0184f0b246ecd1c34 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-29T20:35:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ThawannMalfattiBorges_DISSERT.pdf: 27333324 bytes, checksum: 7928d876effa4fd0184f0b246ecd1c34 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-06-26 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico (CNPq) / Tinnitus is the perception of a sound in the absence of a corresponding physical stimulus. It is not clear yet what mechanisms are involved in tinnitus and how it starts and/or becomes chronic. Due to the relationship between tinnitus and somatosensory trauma/stimuli, the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN), a region known to integrate somatosensory and auditory pathways, has been identified as a potential key structure in the generation of phantom sound perception. Here, we target specific neuronal populations in the DCN to allow further investigation on how this region may contribute to the generation of tinnitus signals that spread to other auditory areas. We examined the expression of optogenetic proteins (Channelrhodopsin 2 - ChR2; and enhanced Archaerhodopsin 3.0 - eArch3.0), targeting neurons expressing Calmoduline Kinase II alpha (CaMKIIa) promoter in wild-type C57/Bl6 mice and neurons expressing nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha-2 promoter (ChRNA2) in ChRNA2- Cre transgenic C57/Bl6 mice, using local virus injection, verified by fluorescence microscopy. Unit responses were differentiated based on their electrophysiological response to sound. We then investigated if firing of neurons expressing optogenetic tools can be controlled in vivo and if the same neurons also fire action potentials in response to precisely timed sound stimulation. Both in vivo and preliminary in vitro data shows that neurons expressing ChR2 do respond to sound, and that they furthermore also can respond to light stimulation with a stable and similar waveform. Moreover, in vivo data shows that neurons expressing eArch3.0, responding to sound, will decrease their firing rate when exposed to green light. Thereby showing that optogenetic tools can be used functionally in the DCN, it is possible to further test tinnitus theories by, for example, producing an increased firing rate in the DCN, trying to mimic tinnitus; or inhibiting increased spontaneous firing rate in the DCN of animals with noise-induced or salycilate-induced tinnitus.

No description available.

碩士 / 靜宜大學 / 食品營養學系 / 102 / Spirulina platensis has been proven to improve salicylate-induced tinnitus, but the effect on chronic tinnitus is still unclear. This study was aimed to examine the effects of Spirulina platensis on noise-induced chronic tinnitus and related modulators. Three-month-old male C57BL/6 mice were used in this experiment. The auditory brainstem response (ABR) of each mouse was detected, and then mice were trained by active avoidance test for two weeks. After exposed to noise (120dB, 3 hours), the mice were screened and those with tinnitus symptom were enrolled to the next diet intervention stage. Tinnitus mice were divided into control and 200 mg/Kg BW Spirulina platensis groups. Body weight, food intake and behavior performance were recorded for 80 days. After sacrificed, the inflammatory factors, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), leukotriene-1β (IL-1β) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA expressions of temporal lobe, brain stem and the inner ear were examined. The regulation factors of tinnitus, including N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B (NMDA2B receptor) and matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) mRNA expressions were also analyzed. The results showed Spirulina platensis could reduce the false positive response, whereas there were no impact on the successful avoidance responses. Spirulina platensis significantly reduced the TNF-α, COX-2 mRNA expressions of the midbrain and brain stem tissues, and lowered TNF-α mRNA expression of inner ear. Spirulina platensis diet group showed higher IL-1β mRNA expression in the temporal lobe, midbrain and brainstem. In addition, Spirulina platensis effectively enhanced MMP-7 mRNA expression in temporal lobe, brain and inner ear. However, the expression of NMDA2B receptor did not differ between different groups. In summary, the supplementation of Spirulina platensis could retard the progress of noise-induced chronic tinnitus in C57BL/6 mice, which might due to up-regulate tinnitus related factor, and down-regulate the inflammatory factors.

INTRODUÇÃO: na tentativa de elucidar alguns aspectos relacionados ao zumbido, levantou-se a hipótese de alteração nas vias auditivas centrais. Diante disso, os potenciais evocados auditivos podem representar uma alternativa para detectar possíveis alterações auditivas centrais que possam estar presentes nesta população e que indiquem o provável sítio gerador desse sintoma. OBJETIVO: caracterizar os potenciais evocados auditivos de curta, média e longa latências em indivíduos com e sem queixa de zumbido e expostos a ruído ocupacional. MÉTODO: foram avaliados 60 sujeitos expostos a ruído de origem ocupacional com níveis de pressão sonora elevados (maior que 85 dBA), tanto do gênero masculino quanto feminino, na faixa etária entre 29 e 50 anos de idade, sendo 30 com queixa de zumbido (grupo pesquisa) e 30 sem queixa de zumbido (grupo controle). Foram realizados os potenciais evocados auditivos de curta, média e longa latências. RESULTADOS: na análise dos potenciais de curta latência, foi observado um aumento predominante das latências das ondas I e III, bem como, alteração de tronco encefálico baixo em 16 indivíduos do grupo pesquisa. Quanto aos potenciais de média latência, observou-se médias maiores para a latência da onda Na nas modalidades C4/A1 e C3/A2 no grupo pesquisa, evidenciando oito indivíduos com alteração. Por sua vez, para a latência da onda Pa e amplitude Na-Pa, tal aumento foi encontrado em todas as modalidades analisadas (C3/A1, C4/A1, C3/A2, C4/A2), sendo o efeito eletrodo o tipo de alteração mais frequentemente observado para a amplitude Na-Pa, e o aumento de latência para as ondas Na e Pa. Com relação aos potenciais de longa latência, constatou-se que o grupo pesquisa apresentou valores médios das latências das ondas N1, P2 e P300 e amplitude N1-P2 maiores que o grupo controle. Observou-se, também, um maior número de indivíduos alterados para o grupo pesquisa nos componentes N1(18 indivíduos) e P2 (20 indivíduos), sendo que o mesmo não pôde ser observado para o componente P300. Para esses potenciais, o aumento de latência foi tipo de alteração mais evidente. No estudo da associação entre lado da alteração nos potenciais evocados auditivos e localização do zumbido, verificou-se uma maior associação entre zumbido bilateral e alteração bilateral nos potenciais evocados auditivos de tronco encefálico e nos componentes N1, P2 e P300. CONCLUSAO: com base nos achados descritos, os resultados mostraram homogeneidade dos dois grupos quanto à faixa etária e tempo de exposição ao ruído. Apesar da inexistência de significância em algumas análises realizadas, as medidas dos potenciais de curta, média e longa latências mostraram que a maior parte dos indivíduos avaliados do grupo pesquisa apresentou alteração ao serem comparados com o grupo controle. Portanto, poder-se-ia supor a existência de uma possível disfunção no Sistema nervoso auditivo central desde o nervo auditivo até a região cortical em indivíduos com queixa de zumbido expostos a níveis de pressão sonora de origem ocupacional / INTRODUCTION: attempting to elucidate some aspects related to tinnitus, the hypothesis of alteration in the central auditory pathways was raised. Thus, auditory evoked potentials may represent an alternative to detect possible central auditory disorders that may be present in this population and that indicate the probable generator site of such symptom. AIM: to characterize short, middle and long latencies auditory evoked potentials in individuals with and without tinnitus complaint and exposed to occupational noise. METHOD: sixty subjects exposed to occupational noise with elevated sound pressure level (greater than 85 dBA), male and female, ranging in age from 29 to 50 years old took part in this study; 30 of them had tinnitus complaint (study group) and 30 did not have tinnitus complaint (control group). Short, middle and long latencies auditory evoked potentials were performed. RESULTS: analyzing the short latency potentials it was observed a predominant increase of the latency of waves I and III, as well as alteration in the lower brainstem in 16 individuals of the study group. Concerning the middle latency potentials it was observed higher averages for the latency of wave Na in the modalities C4/A1 and C3/A2 in the study group, evidencing eight individuals with altered results. Such increase was found in all modalities analyzed (C3/A1, C4/A1, C3/A2, C4/A2) for the latency of wave Pa and amplitude Na-Pa; the electrode effect was the most frequent type of alteration observed for the amplitude Na-Pa and the latency increase, for waves Na and Pa. Concerning the long latency potentials it was observed that the study group presented greater mean values of latencies of waves N1, P2 and P300, and amplitude N1-P2 than the control group. It was also observed in the study group a greater number of altered results concerning the components N1 (18 individuals) and P2 (20 individuals); the same was not observed for the component P300. For these potentials, the latency increase was the most evident type of alteration. Studying the association between the side of the altered auditory evoked potentials and the localization of the tinnitus it was verified a higher association between bilateral tinnitus and bilateral alteration in the brainstem auditory evoked potentials and in components N1, P2 and P300. CONCLUSION: based on the findings described, results showed homogeneity in both groups concerning the age and the time of noise exposure. Despite the inexistence of statistical significance in some of the analysis performed, measures of short, middle and long latencies potentials showed that most of the individuals analyzed in the study group presented alteration when compared to the control group. Therefore, the existence of a possible dysfunction in the central auditory nervous system from the auditory nerve until the cortical region in individuals with tinnitus complaint, exposed to sound pressure levels of occupational origin could be supposed