ABSTRACT
Objetivo: Descripción de las características epidemiológicas y clínicas de la hiperacusia en una unidad de acúfenos. Diseño del estudio: Descriptivo transversal. Muestra: 250 pacientes remitidos a la Unidad de Acúfenos de un Hospital Universitario, entre los meses de enero 1999 y diciembre de 2000. Medidas de evaluación: Administración de cuestionarios para la valoración de la interferencia de la hiperacusia y del acúfeno en la calidad de vida. Medición de variables epidemiológicas, audiológicas y características del acúfeno en la población con hiperacusia. Resultados: Un 63 por ciento de pacientes mostraba niveles de hiperacusia en función de valores correspondientes al umbral de intolerancia al sonido. Un 83 por ciento presentaban hipoacusia asociada. Un 54 por ciento refería la sensación de molestia en ambientes ruidosos y un 52 por ciento evitaba realizar alguna actividad cotidiana debido a esta molestia. El acúfeno en los pacientes hiperacúsicos mostraba un nivel de incapacidad del 47 por ciento según el Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). Conclusión: La alta prevalencia de hiperacusia en una unidad de acúfenos explica la probable relación fisiopatológica entre ambas entidades. Es necesario consensuar los criterios que definen esta entidad, así como la valoración de la interferencia en la calidad de vida del paciente. La mayoría de autores orientan el tratamiento a través de técnicas de reentrenamiento (TRT) (AU)
OBJECTIVES: Description of the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of hyperacusis in a tinnitus clinic unit. STUDY DESIGN: Transversal descriptive. PATIENTS: Two hundred and fifty patients referred to our Tinnitus Unit a Teaching Hospital, between January 1999 and December 2000. OUTCOME MEASURES: Questionnaires to evaluate hyperacusis and tinnitus interference in life quality. Epidemiological and audiological data as well as tinnitus characteristics in hyperacustic patients are reported. RESULTS: Sixty three percent of the patients showed hyperacusis according to sound threshold level. Hearing loss was present in 83%. Discomfort with background noise was referred in 54% of cases and 52% avoided at least one daily activity because of this discomfort. Tinnitus in hyperacusis population showed a disability level of 47% using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). CONCLUSIONS: A physiopathological relation between tinnitus and hyperacusis could be explained by the high prevalence of both symptoms in the same population. It is necessary to agree in the criteria to define hyperacusis as well as for the evaluation of its effect in quality of life. The tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is the more accepted hyperacusis treatment approach in the literature (AU)
Subject(s)
Middle Aged , Adult , Aged, 80 and over , Aged , Male , Female , Humans , Tinnitus/diagnosis , Tinnitus/epidemiology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Cross-Sectional StudiesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Description of the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of hyperacusis in a tinnitus clinic unit. STUDY DESIGN: Transversal descriptive. PATIENTS: Two hundred and fifty patients referred to our Tinnitus Unit a Teaching Hospital, between January 1999 and December 2000. OUTCOME MEASURES: Questionnaires to evaluate hyperacusis and tinnitus interference in life quality. Epidemiological and audiological data as well as tinnitus characteristics in hyperacustic patients are reported. RESULTS: Sixty three percent of the patients showed hyperacusis according to sound threshold level. Hearing loss was present in 83%. Discomfort with background noise was referred in 54% of cases and 52% avoided at least one daily activity because of this discomfort. Tinnitus in hyperacusis population showed a disability level of 47% using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). CONCLUSIONS: A physiopathological relation between tinnitus and hyperacusis could be explained by the high prevalence of both symptoms in the same population. It is necessary to agree in the criteria to define hyperacusis as well as for the evaluation of its effect in quality of life. The tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is the more accepted hyperacusis treatment approach in the literature.
Subject(s)
Tinnitus , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires , Tinnitus/diagnosis , Tinnitus/epidemiologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Tinnitus handicap evaluation through Spanish validation of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. STUDY DESIGN: Spanish validation of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. PATIENTS: Eighty patients referred to our Tinnitus Unit in University Hospital, between September and December, 1999. OUTCOME MEASURES: The Spanish version of the THI was administered after translation and retrotranslation. Internal consistency and reliability were established. RESULTS: Spanish adaptation of the THI and its subscales (functional, emotional and catastrophic) showed a high reliability and internal consistency (Cronbach's alfa: 0.90). CONCLUSIONS: Spanish adaptation of the THI is valid, reliable and can be used in a clinical setting to quantify the impact of tinnitus on patient's quality of life.
Subject(s)
Disability Evaluation , Surveys and Questionnaires , Tinnitus , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Objetivo: Evaluación del grado de incapacidad que origina el acúfeno mediante adaptación al español del Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. Diseño del estudio: Validación española del cuestionario Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). Muestra: Ochenta pacientes remitidos a la Unidad de Acúfenos de un Hospital Universitario, entre los meses de septiembre y diciembre de 1999. Medidas de evaluación: Administración de la versión española del THI tras traducción y retrotraducción, y establecimiento de su fiabilidad y consistencia interna. Resultados: La adaptación española del THI y sus subescalas (funcional, emocional, catastrófica) muestran una fiabilidad y consistencia interna elevada (alfa de Cronbach de 0,90). Conclusión: La adaptación del THI al idioma español es válida, fiable y puede ser utilizada en la evaluación clínica para cuantificar el impacto del acúfeno en la calidad de vida del paciente (AU)
OBJECTIVES: Tinnitus handicap evaluation through Spanish validation of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. STUDY DESIGN: Spanish validation of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. PATIENTS: Eighty patients referred to our Tinnitus Unit in University Hospital, between September and December, 1999. OUTCOME MEASURES: The Spanish version of the THI was administered after translation and retrotranslation. Internal consistency and reliability were established. RESULTS: Spanish adaptation of the THI and its subscales (functional, emotional and catastrophic) showed a high reliability and internal consistency (Cronbach's alfa: 0.90). CONCLUSIONS: Spanish adaptation of the THI is valid, reliable and can be used in a clinical setting to quantify the impact of tinnitus on patient's quality of life (AU)
