Tinnitus: a cross-sectional study on the audiologic characteristics.

Area of Science:

• Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
• Audiology
• Clinical Practice

Background:

• Tinnitus is a primary complaint in Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery consultations.
• Tinnitus often presents with co-occurring symptoms like hyperacusis and hearing loss.
• Understanding the interplay between these symptoms is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the relationships between tinnitus, hearing loss, and hyperacusis.
• To investigate the correlation between tinnitus severity and the presence of hyperacusis.
• To examine age-dependent factors influencing tinnitus and audiometric findings.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 588 patients with tinnitus complaints.
• Utilized audiometry, Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ), and Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ).
• Employed correlation, logistic regression, and descriptive statistics to analyze relationships.

Main Results:

• Significant positive correlation found between Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ) and Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ) scores (r = 0.5, p < 0.001).
• Patients with both tinnitus and hyperacusis reported higher TQ scores and greater distress/loudness ratings.
• Age demonstrated an influence on audiometric configuration and tinnitus type.

Conclusions:

• Tinnitus and hyperacusis are common, often co-occurring symptoms.
• Higher Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ) scores are associated with a greater likelihood of experiencing hyperacusis.
• Tinnitus type varies with age, with younger patients more often reporting pure tone tinnitus and older patients noise-like tinnitus.