0883 Understanding how naps may modulate tinnitus

Abstract

Introduction Tinnitus is a debilitating auditory symptom that globally impacts the quality of life of patients. Sound exposure, stress, and somatosensory stimuli (e.g. neck and jaw movements) are tinnitus modulators that have been commonly described and studied. Napping may also increase tinnitus loudness upon awakening in a minority of subjects. To our best knowledge this modulation and its potential pathophysiological mechanisms has never been systematically assessed. Methods For this observational prospective study, we studied 37 tinnitus subjects complaining of significant naps-related tinnitus modulations. All subjects performed 6 naps attempts under polysomnography over 2 days. Audiological, electrophysiological as well as jaw and neck muscles mobility and sensitivity assessments were completed before and after each nap. In addition, subjects filled a screening questionnaire and underwent a tinnitus pitch-matching procedure. Results 197 naps attempts were collected. It was confirmed that overall naps were increasing tinnitus loudness (p< 0.001). First naps of the day yielded more important tinnitus modulations than second (p< 0.05) and third naps (p< 0.01) suggesting a saturation effect. Analyses conducted so far highlight that nap sleep duration correlates with observed tinnitus modulation (p< 0.05) and that audiometric thresholds at tinnitus closest frequency do not seem to be affected by tinnitus modulation. Neither jaw mobility nor sensitivity were correlated with tinnitus modulation. Analyses to come will assess if sleep apnea, sleep bruxism, cervical mobility or sleep position may correlate with tinnitus nap modulations. Conclusion This study demonstrated that in a subgroup of tinnitus patients naps may modulate tinnitus. Nap sleep duration more than jaw muscles sensitivity seem to be correlated with these modulations. Support (if any) This study was supported by Felicia and Jean-Jacques Lopez-Loreta Foundation, Robin Guillard EIRL and Université Paris Cité VIFASOM