Abstract Introduction The excessive noise observed in the school environment can cause damages or losses to the learning process as well as risks to the health of teachers and students, such as physical, mental and social impairments, including, among them, hearing loss. Objective To assess otoacoustic emissions in teachers and determine whether classroom noise reduces distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) amplitude and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Method Sixty-seven teachers were evaluated using otoacoustic emissions testing in two situations: after hearing rest and after the working day. Results Signal amplitude (p = 0.044 [2 kHz]; p = 0.01 [4 kHz]) and SNR for frequencies of 2 kHz (p = 0.008) and 4 kHz (p = 0.001) decreased significantly between time points. Mean classroom noise was associated with the magnitude of the difference in signal amplitude at 2 kHz (p = 0.017) and 4 kHz (p = 0.015), and SNR at 4 kHz (p = 0.023). Conclusions There was a decrease in the amplitude and in the SNR after exposure to the noise in the classroom environment. The high levels of sound pressure that teachers are exposed to on a daily basis can cause a temporary change in the outer hair cells of the Corti organ, and these changes may become permanent over time.

RESUMO Objetivo: descrever o perfil audiológico de profissionais disc jockeys atuantes em cidades do Distrito Federal. Métodos: foram realizados os exames de audiometria, timpanometria, emissões evocadas por estímulo transiente e emissões evocadas - produto de distorção, e entrevista para identificar sintomas auditivos. Foram aplicados os testes estatísticos pertinentes adotando o nível de significância menor que 0,05. Resultados: foram avaliados 21 disc jockeys com faixa etária entre 20 e 45 anos. As queixas auditivas mais citadas foram sensação de plenitude auricular (86%) e zumbido (57%). Os limiares auditivos mantiveram-se predominantemente dentro da normalidade (90%), mas houve aumento dos limiares nas frequências de 3.000 a 6.000 Hz (38%). Apenas 42% da amostra apresentaram resposta “passa” nas emissões evocadas por estímulo transiente e 81% nas emissões evocadas - produto de distorção em ambas as orelhas. Conclusão: a pesquisa identificou limiares auditivos predominantemente dentro dos padrões de normalidade, entretanto com aumento das frequências altas, que podem estar associadas à exposição ao ruído. As emissões otoacústicas apresentaram alterações tanto nas transientes quanto nas por produto de distorção.

ABSTRACT Purpose: to describe the audiological profile of professional disc jockeys acting in cities of the Brazilian Federal District. Methods: audiometry, tympanometry, transient evoked emissions, and distortion product evoked emissions exams were conducted, as well as interviews, in order to identify auditory symptoms. Appropriate statistical tests were applied, adopting a significance level lower than 0.05. Results: a total of 21 disc jockeys, aged between 20 and 45 years, were evaluated. The most cited auditory complaints were feeling of ear fullness (86%) and tinnitus (57%). Auditory thresholds remained predominantly within normal range (90%), but thresholds were increased in frequencies from 3 KHz to 6 KHz (38%). Only 42% of the sample presented a pass response in transient evoked emissions, and 81% in distortion product evoked emissions, in both ears. Conclusion: the research identified auditory thresholds predominantly within standards of normality, though with increased high frequencies, that may be associated with noise exposure. The otoacoustic emissions presented alterations both in the transient ones and in the distortion product.