Objective: The most probable place generating tinnitus in the auditory pathway is the outer hair cells (OHCs) inside the cochlea. Otoacoustic emissions are used to assess their activity. The objective of the investigation was to measure the features of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) in a group of tinnitus patients without hearing loss, estimate the diagnostic value of the parameters for the analysis of cochlear function in the patients, emphasizing those most useful in localizing tinnitus generators, and determine the hypothetical influence of hyperacusis and misophony on DPOAE parameters in tinnitus patients.
Patients And Methods: The material consisted of 44 patients with tinnitus and without hearing loss. In the control group were 33 patients without tinnitus with the same state of hearing. The tinnitus patients were divided into three subgroups: those with hyperacusis, those with misophonia, and those with neither. After collecting medical history and performing clinical examination of all the patients, tonal and impedance audiometry, ABR, and discomfort level were evaluated. Then DPOAE were measured using three procedures. First the amplitudes of two points per octave were assessed, second the "fine structure" method with 16-20 points per octave (f2/f1=1.22, L1=L2=70 dB), and the third procedure included recording the growth function in three series for input tones of f2=2002, 4004, and 6006Hz (f2/f1=1.22) and L1=L2 levels increasing by increments of 5 dB in each series.
Results And Conclusions: Hyperacusis was found in 63% and misophonia in 10% of the tinnitus patients with no hearing loss. DPOAE amplitudes in recordings with two points per octave and the fine structure method are very valuable parameters for estimating cochlear function in tinnitus patients with normal hearing. Function growth rate cannot be the only parameter in measuring DPOAE in tinnitus patients, including subjects with hyperacusis and misophonia. The markedly higher DPOAE amplitudes in the group of tinnitus patients without hearing loss suggest that tinnitus may be caused by increased motility of the OHCs induced by decreasing efferent fiber activity, and not by OHC failure. Hyperacusis significantly increases the amplitude of DPOAE in tinnitus patients with no hearing loss.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anl.2009.05.001 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Predictors of Tinnitus Symptom Relief With Hearing Aids in a European Multicenter Study.
Ear Hear
January 2025
Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Objectives: Hearing aids (HAs) are a widely accepted first-line treatment option for individuals suffering from both hearing loss and chronic tinnitus. Though HAs are highly effective at improving speech understanding, their effectiveness in ameliorating tinnitus symptoms is less clear. In recent years, several investigators have reported on attempts to predict HAs effectiveness on tinnitus symptoms using an array of variables.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFESR Essentials: diagnostic strategies in tinnitus-practice recommendations by the European Society of Head and Neck Radiology.
Eur Radiol
January 2025
Department of Radiological Sciences DSMC, University of Brescia, Radiology Unit 2, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Article Synopsis
- Tinnitus affects about 25% of older adults, with non-pulsatile tinnitus usually lacking structural causes, while pulsatile tinnitus may indicate underlying health issues that can be identified through imaging.
- A thorough clinical evaluation is essential for determining the appropriate diagnostic strategy and imaging is warranted for unilateral non-pulsatile tinnitus or any pulsatile tinnitus cases.
- Imaging methods like MRI or CT are used based on the type of tinnitus and any accompanying symptoms, with special attention needed for potential serious conditions in cases of pulsatile tinnitus.
Bilateral Expansile Perigeniculate Lesions in a Patient With Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension.
JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
January 2025
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond.
Association between tinnitus and hearing impairment among older adults with age-related hearing loss: a multi-center cross-sectional study.
Front Neurol
December 2024
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Objective: The relationship between tinnitus in the elderly with hearing loss remains elusive. This study aimed to reveal the association between tinnitus and hearing impairment among older adults with age-related hearing loss (ARHL).
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among a population of outpatients diagnosed with ARHL at four medical centers in different regions of China, from June 2020 to June 2023.
Unlabelled: The prevalence of tinnitus is increasing worldwide along with the aging population. The absence of a gold standard for diagnosis and treatment makes it difficult to assess the health status of a patient with tinnitus.The aim was to determine the prevalence of tinnitus among older adults in Almaty city and to evaluate the healthcare experience among the respondents who received treatment for tinnitus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!