The comparison of acoustic and psychic parameters of subjective tinnitus

Abstract

We aim to assess the correlation between audiometric data, and psychotic and acoustic measures associated with subjective tinnitus (ST) and to clarify the importance of the psychological process in determining the degree of subjective annoyance and disability due to tinnitus. Fifty-four patients experiencing unilateral ST were allocated for the study. Acoustic assessment of patients including LDL (loudness discomfort levels), MML (minimum masking level) and RI (residual inhibition) was performed. Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) tests were performed for the psychological aspects of subjective annoyance. RI was positive in 23 patients with 13 frequency-matched stimuli at 8,000 Hz. Masking treatment response was successful in 16 RI-positive patients. Mean and standard deviation (SD) of THI scores were 38.77 ± 23.63. Ten patients (%18.51) with tinnitus had ≥ 17 points score, which was significant for BDI. Mean and SD were 5.01 ± 2.31 for VAS-1 scores (severity of tinnitus), 7.98 ± 2.79 for VAS-2 (frequency and duration of tinnitus), 5.77 ± 2.72 for VAS-3 (discomfort level), 3.56 ± 3.30 for VAS-4 (attention deficit) and 3.31 ± 3.31 for VAS-5 (sleep disorders). A significant correlation was found between the tinnitus duration time, age, gender and THI scores (P < 0.05). There were statistically significant correlations between VAS 1, 2, 3 scores and LDL, MML and RI (P > 0.05). RI might be largely frequency dependent and was found as an indicator for the masking treatment response. We did not notice statistically significant correlations between audiometric data and THI and BDI. There were correlations between with VAS and LDL and with MML and RI. VAS was simpler and easier for the assessment of ST. We should consider the psychological aspects of ST and assess it as a symptom separately with acoustic and psychotic tests.

Characterisitics and maskability of self-reported tinnitus in Adult Nigerians

“…Residual inhibition has been demonstrated to be related to the logarithm of the masker duration, for masker duration of 10 seconds to 10 minutes 19 . Our observed correlation between MML and residual inhibition is similar to observations of previous studies 20,21 . It is also of interest that the mean residual inhibition observed was highest for right ear tinnitus, and lowest for bilateral tinnitus.…”

Tinnitus in Elderly Individuals: Discomfort and Impact in the Quality of Life

“…19 The THI score was similar to the study mentioned previously, where part of the sample was also composed of elderly that practice physical activities, 20 but inferior to other studies that evaluated adult and elderly individuals with tinnitus. 2,21 Physical activity is beneficial to the individuals evaluated. A research highlighted that the practice of physical activities is a determining factor for a lesser negative impact of the tinnitus among the elderly, possibly because it promotes the wellbeing and diminishes the discomfort sensation.…”

“…Age increase, however, is one of the factors that determine its presence, 1 and it is more common among the individuals from 40 years old on. 2 A study reveals that there may be a relation between the presence of tinnitus and the hearing loss presented by the elderly. 3 The prevalence among elderly individuals is variably described in the consulted literature.…”

“…4,7 Some research states that the tinnitus can cause stress and emotional alterations, interfering in the quality of life and even preventing individuals from having a life considered normal. 2,7,8 Other studies, however, highlight that the impact of the tinnitus in the quality of life is highly variable. While some individuals say that the symptom does not cause any trouble in their daily activities, others say they are highly harmed.…”

Improving Tinnitus with Mechanical Treatment of the Cervical Spine and Jaw

“…A visual analog scale (VAS) is used with numerous tinnitus questionnaires (Karatas and Deniz, 2012) and has been found to correlate with results using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) (Figueiredo et al, 2009). The VAS used to rate tinnitus is scored from 0 to 10, where 0 represents no symptoms present and 10 represents an extremely loud/intense sensation of tinnitus.…”