Frequency of vestibular disorder in military firefighters from Alagoas

PURPOSES:to investigate the frequency of vestibular disorders in firefighters working in Alagoas and their complaints.METHODS:we performed otoneurologic interviews and audiological evaluation, discarding the sample subjects with abnormal results. The valid sample was underwent the maneuver Dix-Hallpike and vectoelectronystagmography. We used the Chi-square test and Fisher Exact test for statistical analysis, with significance level of 5% (p = 0.050).RESULTS:the sample consisted by 26 male (86.7%) and 4 female subjects (13.3%) with aged between 24 and 35 years. Of these, were found 43.4% results normal and 56.6% showed abnormalities in the caloric test, with a higher incidence of peripheral vestibular dysfunction followed by unilateral peripheral vestibular deficit dysfunction. There were no statistically significant differences in the presence of vestibular disorders or in the classification of these pathologies. Was perceived effective difference for dizziness between genders, with females more likely to present it. There was no statistically significant difference regarding dizziness between the age groups, with a tendency for older subjects present it more. There was no statistically significant relationship between vestibular disorder and complaints of dizziness, auditory manifestations or history of disease.CONCLUSIONS:there was a higher incidence of peripheral vestibular dysfunction followed by unilateral peripheral vestibular deficit dysfunction, without statistically significant difference between them. The examined firefighters complained of dizziness, auditory manifestations and pathological history, but without statistically significant relationship with vestibular disorders.