The Relationship of Frequency between Tinnitus and the Maximal Hearing Loss

Abstract

Background and ObjectivesZZTinnitus is most commonly accompanied by hearing loss, so there have been several studies that tried to explain that relationship and to apply it for treatment of tinnitus. In this study, we compared tinnitogram with pure tone audiometry (PTA) in order to evaluate the relationship between the frequency of tinnitus and maximal hearing loss. Subjects and MethodZZOne hundred thirty one patients with pure tone-like tinnitus sensation were included in this study. After performing tinnitogram and PTA, we tried to show whether the frequency of tinnitus matched the frequency of the maximal hearing loss. After dividing the patients into two groups (group A: frequency of tinnitus not matching the frequency of the maximal hearing loss, group B: frequency of tinnitus matching the frequency of the maximal hearing loss), we studied the characteristics, including residual inhibition, of these two groups. ResultsZZIn the patients, there was no significant correlation between the frequency of tinnitus and the maximal hearing loss (p=0.131). In comparing the group A and B, we could not show differences in the hearing threshold, residual inhibition, visual analogue scale, and tinnitus handicap inventory score. However, the average duration of tinnitus was statistically prolonged in Group A than in Group B (p<0.05). In addition, there were statistically significant relationships between the two frequencies in the group which show less than six month of duration (p<0.05). ConclusionZZFrom this study, we could not show that a relationship existed between the frequencies of tinnitus and the maximal hearing loss. Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2010;53:340-3 Key WordsZZTinnitus·Hearing loss·Auditory cortex·Neuronal plasticity.