Hearing Loss as Factor That Influences the Quality of Life in Tinnitus Patients

Abstract

POSTERSteams should be created to develop surgical expertise and competence in the treatment of the disease in order to offer the best options to these patients. Otology/NeurotologyHearing Loss and Cochlear Pathology in a Type II Diabetic Mouse Model Sean Miller, MD (presenter); Flint Boettcher; Grady Phillips; Michael Anne Gratton, PhDObjective: 1) Determine whether a type II diabetic mouse model demonstrates hearing loss. 2) Examine cochlear ultrastructure of a type II diabetic mouse model for evidence of pathology. Method:The Lepr db /Lepr db (db/db) mouse has a leptin receptor point mutation which manifests as polyphagia, hyperglycemia, and obesity, mimicking type II diabetes. Db/db and wild type mice from the parent strain underwent auditory brainstem response measurements followed by cochlear ultrastructure analysis using scanning and transmission electron microscopy.Results: At 12 weeks of age, the mutant animals demonstrate a profound hearing loss from 8 to 32 kHz, which is in contrast to published data of a 10 dB shift at 8 kHz and 30 dB shift at 16 to 32 kHz for age-matched, wild type C57BL/6J counterparts. In addition, fine structure analysis reveals evidence of morphological alterations in multiple locations within the cochlea, including loss of neuron density in the spiral ganglion, stria vascularis edema, and endothelial abnormalities within strial capillaries. Agematched controls are without similar ultrastructural changes. Scanning electron microscopy reveals no evidence of hair cell loss or other identifiable abnormalities.Conclusion: This is the first demonstration of cochlear pathophysiology in a genetically derived type II diabetic mouse model. Use of the db/db mouse provides an opportunity to investigate the underlying mechanism of type II diabetes associated hearing loss. Otology/Neurotology Hearing Loss as Factor That Influences the Quality of Life in Tinnitus PatientsLetícia Petersen Schmidt Rosito, MD (presenter); Bruna Vanni; Konrado Deutsch; Vanessa de Brito BellineObjective: Tinnitus is a sensation of noise. In most cases it is accompanied by hearing loss, but it can be an independent symptom occurring in patients with normal hearing. We want to compare the impact of tinnitus on quality of life in patients with or without associated hearing loss. Method:We selected patients with chronic and disturbing tinnitus. They underwent audiometry and answered the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) in order to evaluate and quantify the impact of tinnitus. The criterion defined as the threshold of hearing loss records was less than 25 dB at all frequencies in either ear.Results: From January 2005 to January 2011, 308 patients were included. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 1) with hearing loss (n = 272), and 2) with normal hearing (n = 34). Among patients with normal hearing, the average score on the THI was 33.8, whereas among patients with hearing loss, the average was 42.33, P = .04 (t test). Conclusion:Patients with hearing loss have a mean THI significantly higher than patients with n...