Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Tinnitus with or without hearing loss: are its characteristics different?

  • Otology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study was carried out in order to analyze the clinical characteristics of tinnitus both in normal hearing subjects and in patients with hearing loss. The study considered 520 consecutive tinnitus sufferers. The following parameters were considered: age, sex, subjective disturbance caused by tinnitus, subjective judgment of tinnitus intensity, tinnitus laterality, tinnitus duration, tinnitus measurements, normal hearing or associated hearing loss. Among the patients considered, 223 have normal hearing while 297 have a hearing deficit. The hearing impairment was found to be in most cases of sensorineural type. The subjective discomfort is higher in presence of hearing loss. Subjects with hearing loss needed significantly higher masking levels. No evident differences in the residual inhibition (RI) result between the two groups were found. The present study confirms that tinnitus is most frequently associated with hearing loss. The characteristics of tinnitus in normal hearing subjects, except for the subjective judgment of tinnitus intensity, the pitch and the RI, are significantly different for those observed in subjects with hearing loss. The association of tinnitus and hearing deficit seems to increase the perceived severity of the symptom.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Axelsson A, Ringdahl A (1989) Tinnitus: a study of its prevalence and characteristics. Br J Audiol 23:53–62

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Axelsson A, Barrenas M-L (1992) Tinnitus in noise-induced hearing loss. In: Dancer AL, Henderson D, Salvi RJ, Hamnernik RP (eds) Noise-induced hearing loss. Mosby-Year Book, St Louis, pp 269–276

    Google Scholar 

  3. Aust G (2002) Tinnitus in childhood. InternTinnitus J 8:20–26

    Google Scholar 

  4. Beck LB, Campbell KC, Chandler DW, Dennis KC, Hedges AM, McBrine C, et al (2002) Hearing impairment: independent study course. Department of Veterans Affairs Employee Education System, NY, USA

  5. Blackwell DL, Collins JG, Coles R (2002) Summary health statistics for US adults: National Health Interview Survey, 1997. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 10:1–109

    Google Scholar 

  6. Cai Y, Tang J, Li X (2004) Relationship between high frequency hearing threshold and tinnitus. Lin Chuang Er Bi Yan Hou Ke Za Zhi 18(1):8–11

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Claussen CF, Kirtane MV (1985) Randomisierte Doppelblind-studie zur Wirkung von Extractum Ginko biloba bei Schwindel und Gangunsicherheit des älteren Menschen. In: presbyvertigo, presbyataxie, presbytinnitus. Springer, Berlin, pp 103–115

  8. Gerken GM, Hesse PS, Wiorkowski JJ (2001) Auditory evoked responses in control subjects and in patients with problem-tinnitus. Hear Res 157(1–2):52–64

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Goodwin PE, Johnson RM (1980) The loudness of tinnitus. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 90:353–359

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Hallam RS, Jakes SC, Chambers C, Hinchcliffe R (1985) A comparison of different methods for assessing the ‘intensity’ of tinnitus. Acta Otolaryngol 99:501–508

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Henry JA, Schechter MA, Regelein RT, Demis KC (2004) Veterans and tinnitus. In: Snow JB Jr (ed) Tinnitus: theory and management. BC Decker, Lewiston, pp 337–355

    Google Scholar 

  12. Henry JA, Dennis KC, Schechter MA (2005) General review of tinnitus: prevalence, mechanisms, effects, and management. J Speech Lang Hear Res 48:1204–1235

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Hoffman HJ, Reed GW (2004) Epidemiology of tinnitus. In: Snow JB Jr (eds) Tinnitus: theory and management. BC Decker, Lewiston, pp 16–41

    Google Scholar 

  14. Holgers KM (2003) Tinnitus in 7-year-old children. Eur J Pediatr 162:276–278

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kowalska S, Sulkowski W (2001) Tinnitus in noise-induced hearing impairment. Med Pr 52:305–313

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Mc Fadden D (1982) Tinnitus—facts, theories and treatments. National Academy Press, Washington

  17. Meikle M, Walsh T (1984) Characteristics of tinnitus and related observations in over 1800 tinnitus clinic patients. J Laryngol Otol Suppl 9:17–21

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Nicolas-Puel C, Faulconbridge RL, Guitton M, Puel JL, Mondain M, Uziel A (2002) Characteristics of tinnitus and etiology of associated hearing loss: a study of 123 patients. Int Tinnitus J 8:37–44

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Nicolas-Puel C, Akbaraly T, Lloyd R, Berr C, Uziel A, Rebillard G, Puel JL (2006) Characteristics of tinnitus in a population of 555 patients: specificities of tinnitus induced by noise trauma. Int Tinnitus J 12:64–70

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Norena A, Micheyl C, Chéry-Croze S, Collet L (2002) Psychoacoustic characterization of the tinnitus spectrum: implications for the underlying mechanisms of tinnitus. Audiol Neurootol 7:358–369

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Palmer KT,Griffin MJ,Syddal HE, Davis A, Pannett B, Coggon D (2002) Occupational exposure to noise and the attributable burden of hearing difficulties in Great Britain. Occup Environ Med 59:634–639

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Perry BP, Gantz BJ (2000) Medical and surgical evaluation and management of tinnitus. In: Tyler RS (ed) Tinnitus handbook. Singular, San Diego pp 221–241

    Google Scholar 

  23. Riga M, Papadas T, Werner JA, Dalchow CV (2007) A clinical study of the efferent auditory system in patients with normal hearing who have acute tinnitus. Otol Neurotol 28:185–190

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Salamon G (1986) Work group on hearing problems in the elderly. Dan Med Bull (Suppl 3):5–8

  25. Sanchez TG, Bento RF, Miniti A, Câmara J (1997) Zumbido: características e epidemiologia. Experiência do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. Rev Bras Otorrinolaringol 63(3):229–235

    Google Scholar 

  26. Sanchez TG, Ferrari GMS (2002) O controle do zumbido por meio de prótese auditiva: sugestões para otimização do uso. Pró-Fono Revista de Atualização Científica 14:111–118

    Google Scholar 

  27. Sanchez TG, Medeiros IR, Levy CP, Ramaho J da R, Bento RF (2005) Tinnitus in normally hearing patients: clinical aspects and repercussions. Rev Bras Otorrinolaringol 71(4):427–431

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Satar B, Kapkin O, Ozkaptan Y (2003) Evaluation of cochlear function in patients with normal hearing and tinnitus: a distortion product otoacoustic emission study. Kulak Burun Bogaz Ihtis Derg 10(5):177–182

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Savastano M (2004) Characteristics of tinnitus: investigation of over 1400 patients. J Otolaryngol 33:248–253

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Savastano M (2006) Characteristics of tinnitus in childhood. Eur J Pediatr 166(8):797–801

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Shulman A. Impairment, handicap, disability and tinnitus. In: Shulman A (ed) Tinnitus diagnosis/treatment. Singular, San Diego, pp 431–447

  32. Szymiec E, Dabrowski P, Banaszewski J, Szyfter W (2002) The problem of tinnitus in patients with presyacusis. Otolarylgol Pol 56:357–360

    Google Scholar 

  33. Unterrainer J, Greimel KV, Leibetseder M, Koller T (2003) Experiencing tinnitus: which factors are important for perceived severity of the symptom? Int tinnitus J 9:130–3

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Weisz N, Hartmann T, Dohrmann K, Schlee W, Norena A (2006) High-frequency tinnitus without hearing loss does not mean absence of deafferentation. Hear res 222:108–114

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Zagolski O (2006) Management of tinnitus in patients with presbycusis. Int Tinnitus J 12:175–178

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical–Surgical Specialities, ENT Section, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128, Padova, Italy

    Marina Savastano

Authors
  1. Marina Savastano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marina Savastano.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Savastano, M. Tinnitus with or without hearing loss: are its characteristics different?. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 265, 1295–1300 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-008-0630-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-008-0630-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation