Abstract

MARINI, Ana Lúcia Sant'Anna; HALPERN, Ricardo  and  AERTS, Denise. Sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of hearing complaints. Rev. Saúde Pública [online]. 2005, vol.39, n.6, pp. 982-984. ISSN 0034-8910.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102005000600017.

This study assessed the sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of hearing complaints in outpatients attending an university ear, nose and throat clinic. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Canoas, Southern Brazil, from 1999 to 2002. Seven-hundred and ninety-five subjects who underwent the audiometric test were analyzed. The results showed that the complaint of hearing loss presented 80.9% sensitivity, 69.6% specificity and 86.5% positive predictive value and 60.4% negative predictive value. Despite its subjective character, the audiometric test can be considered a reliable diagnostic tool and should be used due to its low cost compared to the new technologies.

Keywords : Audiometry; Hearing loss; Aged; Child; Predictive value.