Possibility of Discriminating the Presence of Tinnitus through Repeated Tinnitograms

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The evaluation of tinnitus is becoming increasingly important in assessing the degree of disability. However, until now, there are no tools to verify the presence of tinnitus. The aim of this study was to identify the possibilities in discriminating the presence of tinnitus through tinnitus test, pitch match test and loudness balance test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Typically, 50 patients who have suffered from continuous tinnitus and 20 subjects with normal hearing ability who did not suffer from tinnitus were selected for the present investigation. All the patients underwent the tests for pitch match and loudness balance, which were replicated thrice with 1-minute intervals with a TDH 49 headphone and an oribiter model 922, GN otometrics in a soundproof room. Non-tinnitus group that didn't have tinnitus chose virtual tinnitus based on their own discretion. RESULTS: The most similar sounds mimicking tinnitus were of pure tone in both the groups. However, subjects of the tinnitus group were exposed to a greater variety of sounds than those of the non-tinnitus group. Moreover, the most common frequency of tinnitus was 4 and 8 kHz in the tinnitus group, but 1 kHz in the non-tinnitus group. The mean loudness of tinnitus was 7.28 dBSL in the tinnitus group and 13.6 dBSL in the non-tinnitus group. The loudness of tinnitus in the tinnitus group was less than that in the non-tinnitus group in a statistically significant manner (p<0.05). Loudness in each repeated tinnitus tests was identical in tinnitus group, but significantly different in non-tinnitus group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that repeated tinnitus tests for loudness matching were helpful in identifying the presence of tinnitus.