Investigation of the effect of cochlear implantation on tinnitus, and its associated factors

Abstract

Background: Many studies have focused on the suppressive effects of cochlear implants (CIs) on loudness of tinnitus.

Aims/objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of CIs and their activation on changes in loudness and tinnitus and explore other factors associated with this effect.

Material and methods: We recruited 26 CI recipients according to specific criteria. Participants asked to complete tinnitus questionnaires, while the CI was kept on and at 30 min after the CI was turned off. Tinnitus improvement after CI was tested using Wilcoxon signed rank tests, and correlation was tested using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression.

Results: After CI, tinnitus reduced from 62% to 46%. Total and partial reduction in tinnitus was seen in 76% subjects with pre-CI tinnitus. However, 6% of the subjects had tinnitus since birth, and none showed worsening tinnitus. The average THI score while the CI on was significantly lower than that CI off.

Conclusions: Post-CI tinnitus improvement was seen in 76% of those with pre-CI tinnitus; however, the low risk of new or aggravating tinnitus should be considered, and reasonable expectations for tinnitus reduction should be built into the pre-CI assessment.

Chinese abstract

背景：许多研究集中于耳蜗植入物（CIs）对耳鸣响度的抑制作用。目的：本研究旨在检查CI及其激活对响度和耳鸣变化的影响, 并探讨与此影响有关的其它因素。

材料和方法：我们根据特定标准招募了26名CI接收者。参与者要求戴有CI时及在其关闭后30分钟时填写耳鸣问卷。 使用Wilcoxon签署等级检验测试CI后耳鸣改善, 并使用Spearman等级相关系数和多元线性回归测试相关性。

结果：CI后, 耳鸣从62％减少到46％。 CI前耳鸣受试者中, 有76％的受试者耳鸣全部或部分减少。但是, 有6％的受试者自出生来就患有耳鸣, 无人显示耳鸣加重。 CI开启时的平均THI得分显著低于CI关闭时。

结论：CI前耳鸣患者中有76％的患者出现了CI后耳鸣改善, 但是, 应考虑新发或加重耳鸣的低风险, 并且在CI前评估中应合理地预期耳鸣减轻。

Keywords:

• Cochlear implantation
• tinnitus
• Tinnitus Handicap Index

Disclosure statement

There were no conflicts of interest claimed by the authors. All authors are responsible for the content of the article.