Chronic tinnitus: analysis of clinical contributions from different audiological evalutions

Abstract

Purpose To investigate whether there are differences in peripheral and central audiological findings between individuals with normal hearing thresholds with and without chronic tinnitus, and thereby understand which hearing tests are most important in this population. Methods The sample was composed of convenience, including individuals from 18 to 59 years old, divided into two groups: Group 1 (G1) composed of subjects without complaints of chronic tinnitus, and Group 2 (G2) composed of individuals with chronic tinnitus. The evaluation consisted of the following procedures: Anamnesis, High-frequency audiometry (HFA), Transient Otoacoustic emissions (TOAEs), Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)-click, Frequency Following Response (FFR), and Long Latency Auditory Evoked Potential (LLAEP)-speak. Results G2 showed increased values for HFA, with significant differences. For both groups, TOAEs showed a predominance of responses. In ABR there were no statistically significant differences. In FFR, G1 obtained a greater amplitude of wave V and there was a greater absence in LLAEP of P1, N2, and P300 in G2. Conclusion The HFA, the analysis of the wave V/I ratio in ABR, the FFR, and the LLAEP identified alterations in individuals with chronic tinnitus, demonstrating that such procedures are promising in the evaluation of this population.