Analysis of Chronic Tinnitus in Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Presbycusis

Abstract

The most frequent causes of tinnitus associated with hearing loss are noise-induced hearing loss and presbycusis. The mechanism of tinnitus is not yet clear, although several hypotheses have been suggested. Therefore, we aimed to analyze characteristics of chronic tinnitus between noise-induced hearing loss and presbycusis. Materials and Methods: This paper is a retrospective chart review and outpatient clinic-based study of 248 patients with chronic tinnitus from 2015 to 2020 with noise-induced or presbycusis. Pure tone audiometry (PTA), auditory brainstem response (ABR), distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE), and tinnitograms were conducted. Results: PTA showed that hearing thresholds at all frequencies were higher in patients with noise-induced hearing loss than the presbycusis group. ABR tests showed that patients with presbycusis had longer wave I and III latencies (p < 0.05 each) than patients with noise-induced hearing loss. TEOAE tests showed lower values in patients with noise-induced hearing loss than presbycusis at 1.5, 2, 3, and 4 kHz (p < 0.05 each). DPOAE tests showed that response rates in both ears at 1.5, 2, and 3 kHz were significantly higher in patients with presbycusis than noise-induced hearing loss (p < 0.05 each). Discussion: This study showed that hearing thresholds were higher, the loudness of tinnitus was smaller, and the degree of damage to outer hair cells was lower in patients with presbycusis than with noise-induced hearing loss. Moreover, wave I and III latencies were more prolonged in patients with presbycusis despite their having lower hearing thresholds. These phenomena may reflect the effects of aging or degeneration of the central nervous system with age. Further studies are needed to evaluate the etiologies of tinnitus.

A Heterogeneous Sample of a Spanish Tinnitus Cohort

“…The mean tinnitus frequency of our cohort was 5072 Hz, similar to that of Brueggemann et al (5058 Hz) [ 12 ]. Kang et al [ 30 ] found a lower tinnitus frequency (4973 Hz) in patients with age-related hearing losses and a higher tinnitus frequency (5636 Hz) in subjects with noise-induced hearing losses. The mean tinnitus frequency was higher for the male and NH subgroups but lower for the female subgroup.…”

Noise Exposure in Palestinian Workers Without a Diagnosis of Hearing Impairment: Relations to Speech-Perception-in-Noise Difficulties, Tinnitus, and Hyperacusis

“…As discussed earlier, it is likely that some participants in the exposed group, especially those with the highest occupational noise exposure scores, had some degree of undiagnosed NIHL. NIHL, which typically manifests as elevated hearing thresholds secondary to OHC loss, is thought to be strongly associated with tinnitus ( Boger et al, 2016 ; Dias et al, 2006 ; Kang et al, 2021 ; Mrena et al, 2007 ; Yankaskas, 2013 ).…”

Bimodal stimulation for the reduction of tinnitus using vibration on the skin

“…Individuals who experience tinnitus commonly describe it as constant and irritating sounds in the ears that can make it difficult to concentrate, to understand what people are saying, and to hear external sounds (Langguth et al, 2019; Tang et al, 2019). Tinnitus can have various etiologies, many of which are closely tied to neurological insult and hearing loss; common examples include sensorineural hearing loss (Kaltenbach, 2011), noise induced hearing loss (Kaltenbach et al, 2000), presbycusis (Kang et al, 2021), ototoxicity from oral medications (Cianfrone et al, 2011), neurologic and vestibular disorders, and infectious disease (Langguth et al, 2019). Tinnitus affects 21.4 million adults (9.6%) in the United States, a third of whom experience near-constant symptoms (Bhatt et al, 2016).…”