Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire-7 Poorly Predicts Eustachian Tube Dysfunction in Patients With Tinnitus

Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is a common condition associated with otologic and rhinologic symptoms. The Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire-7 (ETDQ7) is validated for assessing ETD, but it queries symptoms present in many inner ear pathologies. This study aimed to determine the correlation between tinnitus scores and total ETDQ7 scores.

Prospective observational study.

A single tertiary care medical center between July 2023 and February 2024.

Patients 18 years and above presenting with hearing loss or tinnitus.

ETDQ-7 and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaires.

Median scores and correlation between ETDQ-7 and THI.

A total of 65 patients presenting with a primary complaint of tinnitus or hearing loss were included. Median age was 61, 9% had abnormal tympanograms, and 74% had hearing loss on audiogram. The overall median ETDQ-7 score was 20 (IQR: 16.0, 28.0). ETDQ-7 was ≥14.5 in 83% of patients. Patients with ETDQ-7 scores ≥14.5 had scored higher on both the THI and the tinnitus item of the ETDQ-7 (ETDQ7-t) ( P <0.001). A positive correlation was observed between THI and both total ETDQ-7 ( rs =0.50, P <0.001, 95% CI: 0.28-0.67) and ETDQ7-t scores ( rs =0.64, P <0.001, 95% CI: 0.47-0.77).

Patients presenting with tinnitus and hearing loss can have an elevated ETDQ7 score, which incorrectly suggests a suspicion of ETD. Physicians utilizing this questionnaire to identify or quantify ETD severity should cautiously interpret results in patients presenting with any complaints of tinnitus.