Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 17, 2026
Author Spotlight: Advancements in Impedance Monitoring for Cochlear Implant Surgery
Published on: August 4, 2023
Tinnitus and Sleep Difficulties After Cochlear Implantation.
Robert H Pierzycki1, Mark Edmondson-Jones, Piers Dawes
11NIHR Nottingham Hearing Biomedical Research Unit, The Ropewalk, Nottingham, United Kingdom; 2Otology and Hearing Group, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; 3School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; 4Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom; and 5Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Department of Otolaryngology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Tinnitus prevalence was similar in cochlear implant users and candidates, but less distressing for users. Sleep difficulties were common in both groups and linked to tinnitus, not its persistence.
Area of Science:
- Audiology and Otolaryngology
- Neuroscience
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Tinnitus and sleep difficulties are common, often co-occurring conditions.
- Cochlear implantation is a treatment for hearing loss, but its effect on tinnitus and sleep is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate and compare the prevalence of tinnitus and sleep difficulties in UK adult cochlear implant users and potential candidates.
- To investigate the associations between tinnitus characteristics (presence, persistence, distress) and sleep difficulties in these groups.
Main Methods:
- Utilized UK Biobank data from cochlear implant users (n=194) and potential candidates (n=211).
- Collected self-report data on hearing, tinnitus, sleep difficulties, and demographics.
- Analyzed data using logistic regression, controlling for relevant covariates.
Main Results:
- Tinnitus prevalence was similar (50% vs. 52%), but less distressing (41% vs. 63%) and persistent (46% vs. 72%) in implant users compared to candidates.
- Sleep difficulties were prevalent in both groups (75% vs. 82%) and associated with tinnitus presence (p < 0.001).
- Sleep difficulties were not significantly related to tinnitus persistence or distress levels.
Conclusions:
- Tinnitus suppression during cochlear implant use may explain differences in distress and persistence, but not sleep difficulties.
- Similar sleep problem prevalence suggests cochlear implantation may not alleviate sleep issues.
- Further research is needed to understand the complex relationship between tinnitus, sleep, and cochlear implantation.
