INTRODUCTION: Hearing is one of the essential functions for the development of language and its deficiency may lead to several consequences. OBJECTIVE: To describe the profile of patients of the Hearing Health Program of the State of Santa Catarina attended at the College Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina. METHOD: We performed a retrospective study with the patients with hearing aid indication attended in the years 2007 and 2008. They were divided into 2 groups: children (< 18 years) and adult (> 18 years). We assessed the following: age, sex, loss type and degree, duration, co-morbidity and probable etiology. RESULTS: 304 reports were reviewed, 10.2% of the children group and 80.8% of the adult group. In the children group, the mean age was of 7.7±5,4 years, with 58.06% boys and 41.94% girls, and in the adult group the mean age was of 61±16 years, with 52.38% women and 47.62% men. The neurosensorial hearing loss was found more frequently in both groups. In the children group, the severe degree loss was more frequent, and in the adult group, the moderate and moderate to severe degrees were more frequent. The main etiologies were genetic/unknown causes in the children group and presbycusis in the adults group. CONCLUSION: In the children group, most was formed by boys with neurosensorial loss of light and severe degrees, duration > 1 year and without co-morbidities. In the adult group, most was formed by women with neurosensorial loss of moderate and moderate-severe degrees, duration > 5 year and with co-morbidities.
hearing; neurosensorial hearing loss; hearing impaired rehabilitation
