Self-perception of tinnitus: study before and after adaptation of hearing aids

The study included individuals of both gender, with tinnitus complaint, accompanied in public hospital. The following tests and instruments were used to measure tinnitus and determine its discomfort: pitch and loudness, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), minimum masking level, residual inhibition and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). The evaluations were performed in two stages: before the adaptation of the hearing aids and after one month of use of the devices.

Results

Of the 20 participants, 60% were elderly. There was a difference in self-perception of tinnitus before and after hearing aid fitting, as measured by THI and VAS. Differences in psychoacoustic measures were also observed, with the exception of pitch, before and after amplification. In addition, there was a correlation between tinnitus time and age with final THI scores.

Conclusion

The use of hearing aids was determined to reduce the annoyance caused by tinnitus, with changes in psycho-acoustic measures and impact on quality of life.

Keywords:
Tinnitus; Hearing aids; Hearing; Hearing loss; Audiology

Variable	n=20
Age (years) – average ± SD	63.7 ± 10.5
Gender – n(%)
Female	10 (50.0)
Male	10 (50.0)
Level of education – average ± SD	6.3 ± 3.2
Tinnitus time (year) – median (P25-P75)	6.5 (5-15)
Tinnitus – n(%)
Unilateral	11 (55.0)
Bilateral	9 (45.0)
Ear – n(%)
Right	3 (15.0)
Left	8 (40.0)
Both ears	8 (40.0)
Head	1 (5.0)
Worse bilateral side – n(%)
RE	4 (44.4)
LE	3 (33.3)
Equal	2 (22.2)
Onset – n(%)
Sudden	2 (10.0)
Gradual	12 (60.0)
After exposure to noise	2 (10.0)
Other	4 (20.0)
Worsening – n(%)
In the morning	1 (5.0)
At night	2 (10.0)
Silence	6 (30.0)
Noise	1 (5.0)
Others	3 (15.0)
Stress	5 (25.0)
No worsening	2 (10.0)
Loss – n(%)
Bilateral	19 (95.0)
Unilateral	1 (5.0)

Variable	n=29
Tinnitus sensation – n(%)
Continuous	24 (82.8)
Pulsatile	2 (6.9)
Intermittent	3 (10.3)
Tinnitus type – n(%)
Whistling	9 (31.0)
Wheezing	18 (62.1)
Other	2 (6.9)
Quadritone mean– average ± SD	49.3 ± 16.0
Loss type – n(%)
Sensorineural	18 (62.1)
Mixed	11 (37.9)
Degree – n(%)
Mild (26-40)	11 (37.9)
Moderate (41-60)	10 (34.5)
Severe (61-80)	8 (27.6)
Data logging total - median (P25-P75)	159 (64.5-322.5)
Data logging average/day – median (P25-P75)	4 (2-11)

Variable	Pre	Post	p value
Variable	Median (P25-P75)	Median (P25-P75)	p value
Loudness
Total	10 (5.5-14.5)	4 (-1-10.5)	0.001^* * Statistically significant association 5% (p<0.05)
RE	10 (6.25-16)	2 (-1-14.75)	0.026*
LE	10 (5-12.5)	5 (.50-10)	0.025*
Pitch
Total	3000 (1500-8000)	3000 (-1-6000)	0.055
RE	3500 (1125-7500)	1750 (-1-5500)	0.028*
LE	3000 (1500-8000)	3000 (749-7000)	0.484
MML
Total	15 (7-21.5)	6 (-1-11)	<0.001*
RE	15.50 (6.25-20.75)	4 (-1-9.75)	0.021*
LE	15 (8-22)	6 (2-15.50)	0.003*
RI
Total	18 (3-36.5)	38 (5-no tinnitus reported)	0.010*
RE	22 (3.25-68.50)	34 (5-no tinnitus reported)	0.248
LE	6 (2.50-35.50)	38 (4.50-300.50)	0.016*
THI
Total	54 (40-72)	22 (10-30)	<0.001*
RE	49 (40-64)	21 (10-29.50)	0.002*
LE	64 (44-75)	22 (9-34)	<0.001*
VAS
Total	9 (8-10)	7 (4-8)	<0.001*
RE	9 (8-9.75)	6 (4-8)	0.003*
LE	9 (8-10)	7 (4-8)	0.001*

Variable	Data logging average/daily	p value
Variable	Spearman's correlation coefficient (r_s)	p value
Loudness
Total	-0.237	0.215
RE	0.117	0.718
LE	-0.419	0.094
Pitch
Total	-0.118	0.542
RE	0.365	0.243
LE	-0.391	0.121
MML
Total	-0.292	0.124
RE	-0.044	0.891
LE	-0.312	0.222
RI
Total	0.185	0.336
RE	0.065	0.840
LE	0.249	0.335
THI
Total	-0.442	0.016^* * Statistically significant association 5% (p<0.05)
RE	-0.439	0.153
LE	-0.465	0.060
VAS
Total	-0.082	0.671
RE	0.098	0.763
LE	-0.182	0.486

Variable	Tinnitus time	p value	Age	P value
Variable	Spearman's correlation coefficient (r_s)	p value	Spearman's correlation coefficient (r_s)	P value
THI
Pre	-0.287	0.131	-0.581	0.001*
Post	0.212	0.269	-0.265	0.165
Difference (Post-Pre)	0.384	0.040^* * Statistically significant association 5% (p<0.05)	0.426	0.021*
VAS
Pre	-0.239	0.213	-0.022	0.910
Post	0.035	0.855	-0.239	0.212
Difference (Post-Pre)	0.111	0.566	-0.364	0.052

Academia Brasileira de Audiologia Rua Itapeva, 202, conjunto 61, CEP 01332-000, Tel.: (11) 3253-8711, Fax: (11) 3253-8473 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: revista@audiologiabrasil.org.br

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[1] Conflict of interests:

No.