Risk Factors For Tinnitus Research Articles

Noise and the risk of tinnitus: A two‐sample Mendelian randomized study

AbstractObjectivesObservational studies imply that noise may increase the likelihood of developing tinnitus. However, no causal relationship has been established between the two using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, we aimed to determine the potential causal relationship between noise and various categories of tinnitus.MethodsWe extracted single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with noise and tinnitus from a large genome‐wide association study (GWAS) of European individuals. UK Biobank (UKB) provided summary data for both entities. Inverse variance weighting (IVW) was implemented as the primary method for evaluating effect estimates. Using Weighted median and MR–Egger regression, heterogeneity and pleiotropy were evaluated using sensitivity analyses.ResultsThe random‐effects IVW approach revealed a causal relationship between noise and the three onset tinnitus (odds ratio [OR] = 1.052, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.013–1.092, p = 0.008; OR = 1.248, 95% CI = 1.177–1.323, p = 0.001; OR = 1.133, 95% CI = 1.058–1.213, p = 0.001). Noise was not a risk factor for tinnitus in the past (OR = 0.999, 95% CI = 0.934–1.068, p = 0.969). Validation with various Mendelian randomization methodologies and sensitivity analyses confirmed the findings' consistency.ConclusionThis Mendelian Randomization study provides causal evidence that noise is a risk factor for the onset of tinnitus but is not a risk factor for developing tinnitus in the past.

Retrospective evaluation of the association between climate and seasonal change with idiopathic tinnitus

ABSTRACT Tinnitus, affecting 10–15% of adults, is a multifactorial disorder with a challenging etiology. It is often associated with sex, age, obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Current literature suggests that tinnitus could be associated with seasonal variability, exhibiting seasonal patterns. Although tinnitus is suggested to follow a seasonal trend conclusive evidence associating its onset to seasonality is lacking. This study aims to evaluate the impact of seasonal variability on the prevalence of tinnitus. Data was collected from MDClone platform regarding patients admitted to ‘Clalit medical services' in Israel's southern district due to the first emergence of tinnitus symptoms between the years 2005–2020. The comparison was relaying on difference in gender, age, known risk factors for tinnitus, and date of onset of tinnitus. A total of 56,315 patients were included in this cohort study. Winter is the most common season for first admissions due to tinnitus symptoms including 16,094 patients (29%). Summer (Beta = –3.037, p = 0.012) and autumn (Beta = –3.764, p < 0.001) show a negative effect on minimal mean temperature which suggest lower tinnitus incidence in a higher temperature. Humidity and maximal mean temperature did not show any statistical significance. Except for age (mean 51.73 ± 17.49), no statistical significance was found in the prevalence of risk factors related to tinnitus. In conclusion Our findings shows that tinnitus is associated with seasonality and its trends. The incidence of tinnitus is declining over the past two decades following a peak in the winter, with age being the only significant risk factor.

Vitamin D Deficiency as a Risk Factor of Tinnitus: An Epidemiological Study.

Vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor of tinnitus has not been well known. We tried to evaluate the association between the serum 25-(OH) vitamin D levels and tinnitus among the Korean population to propose the possible role of serum vitamin D in patients with tinnitus. This cross-sectional study investigated the potential risk factors of tinnitus in relation to serum 25(OH)D levels within the Korean population. It encompassed a health interview, nutrition assessment, and a health examination. Data was sourced from the KNHANES V (2010-2012), conducted by the Division of Health and Nutritional Survey under the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDCP). Participants were chosen from various sampling units categorized by geography, gender, and age group. The selection was facilitated through household registries using a stratified, multistage, clustered probability sampling approach. Data of 16 408 subjects were collected in this study. There were significant differences in gender, economic status, educational level, and sun exposure duration between the tinnitus and non-tinnitus groups. Serum 25(OH) vitamin D level between hearing loss and normal hearing was also significantly different. The logistic regression models with serum 25(OH) vitamin D quartile and tinnitus as the dependent variable, which were controlled for age, sex, smoking status, BMI, diabetes, hypertension, sun exposure, regular exercise, income, and education, eventually demonstrated that serum vitamin D deficiency and low sun exposure duration significantly increased the risk of tinnitus development. This study demonstrated a significant association between serum vitamin D levels and tinnitus, driven by large epidemiological data. The results of our study provide baseline data for further research to investigate the role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis and management of tinnitus.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Tinnitus Among University Students

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of tinnitus and other associated risk factors among students from the University of Jordan.&#x0D; Methods and Design: This cross-sectional study included 1,302 students (785 females and 517 males; aged 17–30 years old) attending the University of Jordan. All participants completed a tinnitus survey that included questions concerning the presence of tinnitus and its characteristics, exposure to recreational noise, and smoking habits. Tinnitus discomfort was measured using an Arabic Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.&#x0D; Results: The overall prevalence of tinnitus (continuous or intermittent) was 21.2% among participants, with females having 13.9% prevalence and males having 7.3%. Pearson’s Chi-square test revealed a significant association between tinnitus and the influence of the various risk factors (x2=102.09, df=4, p&lt;0.001). In addition, tinnitus was more likely to be associated with noise exposure (29%) and smoking (15%), and less likely to be related to seasonal allergies and gender. The results of the VAS indicated that only 5% of the students reported that their tinnitus was extremely uncomfortable.&#x0D; Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, the prevalence of tinnitus among university students who participated in this study was 21.2%. Furthermore, our results showed that exposure to recreational noise and smoking were associated with the presence of tinnitus.

Identifying Health-Related Conditions Associated with Tinnitus in Young Adults.

The present study investigated the epidemic of tinnitus in college-aged young adults. Our first objective was to identify health conditions associated with tinnitus in young adults. The second objective was to evaluate the predictive utility of some known risk factors. A cross-sectional design was used to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for tinnitus. A questionnaire was distributed, reaching out to a large college-aged population. A total of 2258 young adults aged 18-30 years were recruited from April 2021 to February 2022. A questionnaire was administered to investigate the epidemiology of tinnitus in a population of college-aged young adults. About 17.7% of young adults reported bothersome tinnitus perception lasting for ≥5 min in the last 12 months. The prevalence of chronic tinnitus (bothersome tinnitus for ≥1 year) and acute tinnitus (bothersome tinnitus for <1 year) was 10.6% and 7.1%, respectively. About 19% of the study sample reported at least one health condition. Individuals reporting head injury, hypertension, heart disease, scarlet fever, and malaria showed significantly higher odds of reporting chronic tinnitus. Meningitis and self-reported hearing loss showed significant associations with bothersome tinnitus. The prevalence of chronic tinnitus was significantly higher in males reporting high noise exposure, a positive history of reoccurring ear infections, European ethnic background, and a positive health history. Risk modeling showed that noise exposure was the most important risk factor for chronic tinnitus, followed by sex, reoccurring ear infections, and a history of any health condition. A positive history of COVID-19 and self-reported severity showed no association with tinnitus. Individuals reporting reoccurring ear infections showed a significantly higher prevalence of COVID-19. While young adults with health conditions are at a higher risk of reporting tinnitus, the predictive utility of a positive health history remains relatively low, possibly due to weak associations between health conditions and tinnitus. Noise, male sex, reoccurring ear infections, European ethnicity, and a positive health history revealed higher odds of reporting chronic tinnitus than their counterparts. These risk factors collectively explained about 16% variability in chronic tinnitus, which highlights the need for identifying other risk factors for chronic tinnitus in young adults.

Objective multidisciplinary measurements of sleep disturbance and autonomic dysfunction as risk factors for chronic subjective tinnitus

This observational study assessed sleep disturbance and autonomic dysfunction as risk factors for chronic subjective tinnitus through polysomnography (PSG) and autonomic function tests. Adult patients with chronic subjective tinnitus who visited the department of otolaryngology in our hospitals (n=40), along with controls without tinnitus (n=80), were recruited. Individuals with an average hearing threshold level (HL) exceeding 25dB HL and a known diagnosis of insomnia were excluded. Objective assessments comprised pure-tone audiometry, PSG, and autonomic function tests (e.g., the cold pressor test). Patients with prolonged sleep latency, lower sleep efficiency, and sympathetic hyperactivity had significantly higher risks of developing tinnitus. No interaction effect between poor sleep quality and sympathetic hyperactivity on tinnitus was detected. This is the first study to administer PSG and autonomic function tests to patients with chronic subjective tinnitus. Poor sleep quality and autonomic dysfunction were implicated as risk factors for tinnitus. PSG and the autonomic function tests helped identify tinnitus-related comorbidities and inform tinnitus treatment. Sleep disturbance and autonomic dysfunction did not exert an interaction effect on tinnitus. Further studies with a larger sample size and the inclusion of patients with more severe tinnitus are warranted.

Association of Occupational Stress With Tinnitus Among Career Firefighters in the United States.

This study explores the relationship between occupational stress and tinnitus among firefighters, a group often exposed to two tinnitus risk factors: high stress and noise. This cross-sectional study includes 240 firefighters in the United States. Data describing demographic characteristics, occupational stress, noise exposure, and tinnitus were collected by survey. Occupational stress was measured using the short version of the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire. Forty-three percent of participants reported experiencing tinnitus within the past month. For occupational stress, higher effort (odds ratio, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 1.49) and higher effort-reward ratio (odds ratio, 12.28; 95% confidence interval, 3.08 to 48.86) were associated with increased odds of tinnitus, after adjustment for demographic characteristics and noise exposure. Occupational stress may increase the likelihood of tinnitus for firefighters, an already at-risk group of workers. Health providers should incorporate stress assessment into tinnitus management programs.

Association of periodontitis with tinnitus: A population-based cohort study in Taiwan.

Tinnitus, ringing in the ears, is speculated to be driven by inflammation. This study examined whether periodontitis is a risk factor for tinnitus using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. Among the 79,456 patients who visited for dental concerns, 11,055 patients who were diagnosed with periodontitis and underwent periodontal treatment between 2000 and 2015 were enrolled in Group 1. After matching for sex, age, and index year, 11,055 patients with periodontitis who received no treatment were enrolled in Group 2. Similarly, 11,055 participants without periodontitis were included as controls. At the end of the follow-up, 412 and 404 participants in the two periodontitis groups and 321 participants in the control group had tinnitus. Cumulative risk for tinnitus in Group 1 or 2 was significantly greater than in the control group. More periodontitis patients than controls developed tinnitus (adjusted hazard ratios were 1.71 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49-1.97, p< .001) and 1.64 (95% CI: 1.37-1.86, p< .001) in Groups 1 and 2, respectively). The risks were not significantly different between Groups 1 and 2. Similar findings were obtained after excluding data for the first 1 or 5 years. The study findings indicate that periodontitis is associated with tinnitus.

Tinnitus, sound intolerance, and mental health: the role of long-term occupationalnoise exposure.

Whereas chronic noise exposure (CNE) is a known risk factor for tinnitus, little is known about how a history of CNE impacts tinnitus characteristics and its comorbid symptoms. Seventy-five participants with chronic tinnitus (59m/16f, 22-78years, 48 with sensory-neural hearing loss, and 27 with a normal audiogram) including 43 individuals with (Tin-CNE group) and 32 without (Tin group) a history of long-term occupational noise exposure were studied. Tinnitus characteristics were rated by a visual analog scale, and tinnitus comorbid symptoms were scored using self-assessment questionnaires. The Tin-CNE group showed reduced uncomfortable loudness level (ULL), sound tolerance, and quality of life (QoL), and increased tinnitus loudness, tinnitus handicap, anxiety, depression, insomnia severity, and tinnitus annoyance scores compared to the Tin group. Higher tinnitus loudness and a lower anxiety score were observed in participants with hearing loss relative to those without. Using a stepwise regression model also showed that tinnitus-related characteristics, hyperacusis, and tinnitus comorbid symptoms enhance one another. The findings were in support of accumulative evidence indicating the adverse auditory and non-auditory effects of CNE, including exacerbated sound intolerance and tinnitus-related psychiatric symptoms. The results also showed that tinnitus alone can affect mental health regardless of hearing loss.

Sex-Specific Prevalence, Demographic Characteristics, and Risk Factors of Tinnitus in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of any and chronic tinnitus among female and male individuals from varied Hispanic/Latino backgrounds and to estimate associations between risk factors for chronic tinnitus. Our analysis used cross-sectional baseline data collected from 2008 to 2011 from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). Prevalence estimates and multivariable logistic regression were conducted using survey methodology. Participants included 15,768 adults (8,229 women and 7,539 men) aged 18-76 years. The primary outcome of interest was chronic tinnitus, defined as self-reported tinnitus lasting ≥ 5 min at a time and at least once per week. We hypothesized that after adjusting for covariates, the risk factors of depressed and anxious symptoms, smoking history, hypertension, and noise exposure history would be associated with higher odds of chronic tinnitus. Unstratified prevalence for any tinnitus was 32.9%, and for chronic tinnitus, it was 12.1%. Sex-stratified results demonstrated that 2,995 female individuals (36.4%) and 2,187 male individuals (29.0%) reported any tinnitus, and of these, 1,043 female individuals (12.7%) and 870 male individuals (11.5%) reported chronic tinnitus. In the fully adjusted model, depressed and anxious symptoms as well as recreational noise exposure were associated with higher odds of chronic tinnitus in female individuals (odds ratios [ORs] = 1.06, confidence interval [CI; 1.04, 1.07]; 1.02, CI [1.01, 1.04]; and 1.40, CI [1.20, 1.62]) and in male individuals (ORs = 1.06, CI [1.03, 1.08]; 1.05, CI [1.02, 1.08]; and 1.30, CI [1.05, 1.65]). Current smoking was a risk factor for chronic tinnitus in male individuals (OR = 1.53, CI [1.16, 2.02]). Prevalence of any and chronic tinnitus in the HCHS/SOL baseline cohort is higher than that reported in previous studies, particularly among female individuals. Understanding risk factors associated with tinnitus is important for the development of culturally and linguistically appropriate public health programs that consider sex differences and promote lifestyle modifications known to lower the odds of experiencing tinnitus.

Impact of tinnitus on quality of life: a review

Tinnitus is a poorly understood disorder in medicine. Tinnitus is an auditory perception of the sound in the ear or head in the absence of the external or internal stimuli. It is a common medical symptom which can be debilitating to all age group although frequently associated with elderly individuals. Tinnitus may be associated with lower health related quality of life (HRQoL). Tinnitus is a disturbing otological symptoms and often associated with hearing loss. The risk factors for tinnitus are hearing loss, ototoxicity, head injury and depression. It poses a challenge to the quality of the life. Tinnitus is a symptom which can be associated with various diseases of the external, middle or inner ear, brain stem and cerebral cortex. Tinnitus is frequently seen clinical finding and its adversity affects the quality of life in relatively small proportions of the individuals. The quality of the life is often affected in terms of psychological or emotional effects, sleep disturbance, auditory and health effects. Tinnitus can be debilitating to the sufferers. The quality of the life is often affected in terms of psychological or emotional effects, sleep disturbance, auditory and health effects. Hearing assessment and evaluation of quality of life should be advocated in routine assessment of the tinnitus patients. The objective of this study was to discuss the impact of tinnitus on quality of life.

Tinnitus Among Patients With Anxiety Disorder: A Nationwide Longitudinal Study.

ObjectivesThe association between tinnitus and anxiety disorder remains debated. We used a retrospective cohort study to investigate the relationship between anxiety disorder and tinnitus, aiming to decipher possible risk factors for tinnitus in patients with anxiety disorder.MethodData on a total of 7,525 patients with anxiety disorder and 15,050 patients without (comparison cohort) were extracted from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005 in Taiwan. The Kaplan–Meier estimator with the log rank test and the Cox proportional-hazard regression model were used to compare the incidence of tinnitus in both groups and to identify risk factors that predicted tinnitus.ResultsAfter adjusting for related covariates, the hazard ratio for the development of tinnitus during the follow-up period was 3.54 (95% confidence interval: 3.11–4.02, P < .001) for anxiety disorder cohort relative to comparison cohort. Age ≧ 60 years, female sex, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were statistically significant predictive risk factors of tinnitus in patients with anxiety disorder.ConclusionA significant increase in the lifetime incidence of tinnitus was exhibited in patients with anxiety disorder. Elderly subjects, female sex, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were risk factors. Clinicians should be alert to the possibility of tinnitus in subjects with anxiety disorder.

Prevalence, Incidence, and Risk Factors for Tinnitus.

How many people are affected by tinnitus? Is the risk of developing tinnitus on the rise or has it been declining over time? What modifiable lifestyle factors could help to prevent tinnitus? These population-based questions can be addressed through epidemiological research. Epidemiology refers to the underlying and basic science of public health. It describes the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations and the application of this study to the control of health problems. There are two key concepts in epidemiology: (1) measures of frequency and (2) measures of effect. In this chapter, we introduce the two main measures of frequency, prevalence and incidence. We also introduce the notion of risk factors, critical for understanding measures of effect concerning the risk of developing a health condition. In both sections, we provide illustrative examples from the published literature on tinnitus. We end by offering a critical evaluation of the current status of epidemiological research on tinnitus and point to some promising future directions.

Risk factors associated with tinnitus in 2948 Dutch survivors of childhood cancer: a Dutch LATER questionnaire study.

BackgroundTinnitus is a serious late effect of childhood cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and risk factors for tinnitus in a national cohort of childhood cancer survivors (CCS).MethodsData were collected within the national Dutch Childhood Oncology Group - Long-Term Effects after Childhood Cancer (DCOG-LATER) cohort by a self-reported health questionnaire among 5327 Dutch CCS treated between 1963 and 2002. Siblings (N = 1663) were invited to complete the same questionnaire. Relevant patient characteristics and treatment factors were obtained from the Dutch LATER database. The occurrence of tinnitus in survivors was compared to siblings. To study the effect of risk factors, multivariate logistic regression models were estimated.ResultsIn total, 2948 CCS and 1055 siblings completed the tinnitus item. Tinnitus was reported in 9.5% of survivors and in 3.7% of siblings (odds ratio [OR] 3.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.9–3.1). Risk factors associated with tinnitus in CCS were total cumulative dose cisplatin ≥400 mg/m2 (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4–4.0), age at diagnosis (≥10 years: OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.6–2.8), cranial irradiation/total body irradiation (TBI; OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.5–2.5), and neuro/ear, nose, throat (ENT) surgery (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1–2.9). Fifty-one percent of CCS with tinnitus had received treatment with either cisplatin, cranial irradiation/TBI, and/or neuro/ENT surgery.ConclusionsTinnitus in CCS was present nearly 3 times more often than in siblings. Awareness in CCS previously treated with cisplatin, cranial irradiation/TBI, and/or neuro/ENT surgery is warranted. As only half of affected CCS had a history of these treatments, it seems that other factors might be associated with tinnitus occurrence in this population.

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Tinnitus and Tinnitus-Related Handicap in a College-Aged Population: Erratum.

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Tinnitus and Tinnitus-Related Handicap in a College-Aged Population: Erratum.

Tinnitus during and after childhood cancer: A systematic review.

Tinnitus can occur during and after treatment for childhood cancer. Studies on the occurrence of, and risk factors for tinnitus during and after childhood cancer treatment are scarce. The aim of this study is to get insight into the frequency and risk factors of tinnitus during and after childhood cancer therapy, based on a review of all previously reported literature. Systematic electronic literature searches that combined childhood cancer with different treatments and tinnitus terms were performed in the databases EMBASE, Medline, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Studies were included based on reporting the frequency of tinnitus during and/or after childhood cancer, with 75% of participants being under the age of 25 at time of diagnosis, diagnosed with any type of childhood malignancy and treated with any type of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. A risk of bias assessment per research question was performed. Tinnitus incidence rates were reported up to 15.9 (95% CI 11.8-21.4) during therapy and up to 5.4 (95% CI 4.3-6.9) more than 5 years after diagnosis. The relative risk of developing tinnitus as compared to siblings during and after childhood cancer therapy were reported up to 17.2 (95% CI 11.8-25.0) during therapy and up to 3.7 (95% CI 2.7-5.1) more than 5 years after diagnosis. Independent risk factors for tinnitus development included high dose cranial radiation and platinum based chemotherapy. The frequency of and risk to develop tinnitus seems to be higher in childhood cancer patients and survivors as compared to the normal population. Regular tinnitus screening before, during and after therapy with standardized questionnaires for early detection seems therefore reasonable in order to identify high-risk patients and eventually develop successful clinical preventive, supportive and management strategies.

Effects of Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Noise Exposure on Tinnitus Occurrence in College Students and Adolescents

Background: Recent research indicated that young adults and adolescents reported tinnitus in highernumbers than previously. Thus, it is important to fully investigate risk factors for tinnitus in adolescentsand young adults.&lt;br /&gt;Purpose: The current study examined the influence of two environmental risk factors, secondhandsmoke (SHS) exposure and noise exposure on tinnitus occurrence as self-reported by U.S. adolescentsand young adults.&lt;br /&gt;Research Design: A nonexperimental, cross-sectional design was used for this survey study.&lt;br /&gt;Study Sample: Of 265 surveys received, 43 were excluded due to ineligibility. The remaining 222 surveysconstituted the study sample. Participant respondents included 80 high school students (ages14–17) and 142 college students (ages 18–30). The sample was primarily female (n = 160).&lt;br /&gt;Data Collection and Analysis: Three (3) yes/no survey questions regarding SHS exposure, noise exposure,and tinnitus occurrence were analyzed. Statistical analyses included logistic regression, chisquarefollow-up tests, and Pearson bivariate correlation analysis.&lt;br /&gt;Results: Results revealed that 40 percent of young adults and adolescents surveyed reported that they experiencedtinnitus. Regression analysis revealed significant main effects for noise (p = 0.004), gender (p =0.017), and the interaction of SHS and noise (p = 0.001). There was no main effect of SHS exposurenor age on tinnitus occurrence. Follow-up chi-square analysis conducted to probe the gender effectrevealed that females (45.1 percent) were more likely to experience tinnitus than males (27.7 percent). Chi-squaretesting to examine the significant interaction effect revealed statistical significance (p = 0.001) for individualswith reported noise exposure but not for individuals without noise exposure. In the noise-exposedgroup, individuals who also reported SHS exposure had a lower occurrence of tinnitus (23.6 percent). In contrast,the noise-exposed individuals without SHS exposure had a higher prevalence of tinnitus (57.9 percent).An additional chi-square follow-up analysis to examine the main effect of noise revealed no significance(p = 0.199). However, there was a significant (p &lt; 0.01) negative correlation (r = –0.244) of noise exposurewith age.&lt;br /&gt;Conclusion: The current study results suggest there is a higher than expected report of tinnitus incidencein adolescents and young adults. The relationship between tinnitus occurrence and a combinedexposure to noise and secondhand smoke revealed a unique effect in adolescents and young adults.&lt;br /&gt;

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Tinnitus and Tinnitus-Related Handicap in a College-Aged Population.

Tinnitus is a common otological condition that affects almost 10% of US adults. Research suggests that college students are vulnerable to tinnitus and hearing loss as they are exposed to traumatic levels of noise on a regular basis. Tinnitus and its influence in daily living continue to be underappreciated in the college-aged population. Therefore, the objective for the present study was to analyze prevalence and associated risk factors of tinnitus and tinnitus-related handicap in a sample of college-aged students. A survey was administered to 678 students aged 18-30 years in a cross-section of randomly selected university classes. The survey was adopted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010). It inquired about demographic details, medical and audiological history, routine noise exposure, smoking, sound level tolerance, tinnitus, and tinnitus-related handicap in daily living. Tinnitus-related handicap was assessed by the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). Participants were divided into four groups: chronic tinnitus (bothersome tinnitus for >1 year), acute tinnitus (bothersome tinnitus for ≤1 year), subacute tinnitus (at least one experience of tinnitus in a lifetime), and no tinnitus (no experience of tinnitus in a lifetime). The prevalence of chronic, acute, subacute, and no tinnitus was 8.4%, 13.0%, 37.9%, and 40.7% respectively. Almost 9% of subjects with any form of tinnitus reported more than a slight tinnitus-related handicap (i.e., THI score ≥18). A multinomial regression analysis revealed that individuals with high noise exposure, high sound level tolerance score, recurring ear infections, and self-reported hearing loss had high odds of chronic tinnitus. Females showed higher prevalence of acute tinnitus than males. Individuals with European American ethnicity and smoking history showed high odds of reporting subacute tinnitus. Almost 10% of the subjects reported that they were music students. The prevalence of chronic, acute, and subacute tinnitus was 11.3%, 22.5%, and 32.4%, respectively, for musicians, which was significantly higher than that for nonmusicians. Music exposure, firearm noise exposure, and occupational noise exposure were significantly correlated with tinnitus. Temporal characteristics of tinnitus, self-reported tinnitus loudness, and sound level tolerance were identified as major predictors for the overall THI score. Despite the reluctance to complain about tinnitus, a substantial portion of college-aged individuals reported tinnitus experience and its adverse influence in daily living. It was concluded that environmental and health-related factors can trigger tinnitus perception, while self-reported psychoacoustic descriptors of tinnitus may explain perceived tinnitus-related handicap in daily living by college-aged individuals. Future research is required to explore effects of tinnitus on educational achievements, social interaction, and vocational aspects of college students.

Cholinergic Hypofunction in Presbycusis-Related Tinnitus With Cognitive Function Impairment: Emerging Hypotheses.

Presbycusis (age-related hearing loss) is a potential risk factor for tinnitus and cognitive deterioration, which result in poor life quality. Presbycusis-related tinnitus with cognitive impairment is a common phenotype in the elderly population. In these individuals, the central auditory system shows similar pathophysiological alterations as those observed in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), including cholinergic hypofunction, epileptiform-like network synchronization, chronic inflammation, and reduced GABAergic inhibition and neural plasticity. Observations from experimental rodent models indicate that recovery of cholinergic function can improve memory and other cognitive functions via acetylcholine-mediated GABAergic inhibition enhancement, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR)-mediated anti-inflammation, glial activation inhibition and neurovascular protection. The loss of cholinergic innervation of various brain structures may provide a common link between tinnitus seen in presbycusis-related tinnitus and age-related cognitive impairment. We hypothesize a key component of the condition is the withdrawal of cholinergic input to a subtype of GABAergic inhibitory interneuron, neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurogliaform cells. Cholinergic denervation might not only cause the degeneration of NPY neurogliaform cells, but may also result in decreased AChR activation in GABAergic inhibitory interneurons. This, in turn, would lead to reduced GABA release and inhibitory regulation of neural networks. Reduced nAChR-mediated anti-inflammation due to the loss of nicotinic innervation might lead to the transformation of glial cells and release of inflammatory mediators, lowering the buffering of extracellular potassium and glutamate metabolism. Further research will provide evidence for the recovery of cholinergic function with the use of cholinergic input enhancement alone or in combination with other rehabilitative interventions to reestablish inhibitory regulation mechanisms of involved neural networks for presbycusis-related tinnitus with cognitive impairment.

A preliminary study on the correlation between obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome and chronic tinnitus

Objective:To investigate and analyze the chronic tinnitus prevalence and its related factors in OSAHS patients.Method:We studied 115 patients who were diagnosed with OSAHS by polysomnography.All patients BMI were calculated. The amount of patients accompanying tinnitus was calculated by investigating the history of tinnitus. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyzes were used to calculate the association between gender, age, hearing loss, BMI, and the lowest SPO₂ with tinnitus. The differences in tinnitus prevalence among different age groups and gender were compared using chi-square test.Result:①The prevalence of tinnitus in 115 OSAHS patients was 38.26% (44/115). ②Between the ages of 31-80 years, the prevalence of tinnitus in every 10-year-old group was 9.09%,6.82%,11.36%,38.64%,and 29.55%,respectively.There was a significant difference between the age groups (χ²=14.55,P<0.01). The prevalence of female was 44.12%(15/34) which was higher than the male 35.80%(29/81), there was no significant difference (χ²=0.70,P>0.05). ③The results of univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that sex, BMI and lowest SPO₂ had no correlation with tinnitus in patients with OSAHS, while age and hearing loss were independent correlates of tinnitus(P<0.05).Conclusion:More than 1/3 of patients with OSAHS had chronic tinnitus, both age and hearing loss maybe the risk factors of tinnitus in patients with OSAHS, but neither BMI nor the lowest SPO₂ was clearly related to chronic tinnitus.