Correlation analysis of hearing thresholds, validated questionnaires and psychoacoustic measurements in tinnitus patients

Ricardo Rodrigues Figueiredo,Marcelo A Rates,Andréia Aparecida De Azevedo,Patrícia Mello De Oliveira,Patrícia B.A De Navarro

doi:10.1590/s1808-86942010000400018

Ricardo Rodrigues Figueiredo, Marcelo A Rates + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1808-86942010000400018

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Abstract

One of the most criticized points in tinnitus clinical studies arise from the lack of consensus about measurement methods. AimTo evaluate the correlation between audiometric thresholds, pitch matching (PM), minimum masking level (MML), Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) in tinnitus patients. Study designProspective, cross-sectional. Materials and methodsSubjects were submitted to tonal audiometry, PM and MML for tinnitus. They also filled out the THI and BDI. Data was statistically compared for correlation purposes between audiometric thresholds, psycho-acoustic measures and questionnaires. ResultsThere was no statistically significant correlation between THI and MML, both in patients with BDI scores under and over 14 points. There was no statistically significant correlation between the worst hearing frequency and PM, as well as between the cut-off frequency and the PM in patients with descending hearing curves in their audiograms. ConclusionsThere is no statistically significant correlation between psycho-acoustic measures (PM and MML), audiometric thresholds, THI and BDI. Tinnitus is a very complex symptom and isolated measures by psycho-acoustic methods; tinnitus and depression questionnaires are not satisfactory.

Highlights

Tinnitus can be defined as an auditory sensation which is perceived by the patient, without any external physical source generating the sound
All the patients were submitted to tonal audiometry, immittance test, Pitch Match (PM) - a test in which the patient correlates tinnitus with a narrow band or pure tone noise, Minimum masking level (MML) - a test in which the patient is exposed to a broad band noise, which is adjusted at each 1-2 dB, until the patient reports no longer perceiving the tinnitus; and the Cut-off frequency - Fc, defined as the greatest frequency at which the auditory threshold is up to 5 dB above the best threshold, measured only on the descending audiometric curves[17]
The statistical data was obtained in order to establish possible correlations between MML and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), between THI, MML and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), among the frequencies with the worst auditory thresholds and PM; and between Fc and PM

Summary

Introduction

Tinnitus can be defined as an auditory sensation which is perceived by the patient, without any external physical source generating the sound. North American data estimates that between 15 and 20% of the population in general have tinnitus and in 20% of these individuals it has a major impact on their quality of life[1]. Results from the different tinnitus treatment strategies are rather inconsistent. One fact which makes the assessment of tinnitus patient difficult is the lack of uniformity concerning its methods of investigation. Numerous publications have been criticized because of its methodology, especially concerning the tinnitus measuring and evaluation technique[3]. In a review article from 20084, classified these methods into 4 categories: psychoacoustic tests, scales, questionnaires to assess tinnitus functional effects and questionnaires to analyze the global perceptions of the therapeutic effects

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