The impact of tinnitus on working memory capacity

Abstract

Objective

To determine if tinnitus was related to working memory (WM) in adults and if tinnitus handicap was related to WM in adults with tinnitus.

Design

Two groups, cross-sectional design.

Study samples

76 adults forming a tinnitus group (n = 38) and a control group (n = 38). Each group included 19 adults with normal hearing and 19 adults with hearing loss matched for age, sex and educational backgrounds. All participants completed the visual n-back test; pure tone audiometry (0.125–16 kHz); and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Tinnitus sufferers also completed the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI).

Results

For all participants, tinnitus was not related to WM scores when corrected for hearing thresholds, anxiety, and depression. The corrections for best ear high-frequency pure-tone average hearing threshold (BEHFPTA: 10, 12.5, 14 and 16 kHz) were significant. For tinnitus sufferers, THI was related to WM scores in the easiest n-back condition, and BEHFPTA was related to WM scores in the easiest and the hardest n-back condition.

Conclusion

Tinnitus was not related to WM scores. Tinnitus handicap was related to some WM scores in tinnitus sufferers. Further investigation of the possible relationship between high-frequency hearing and WM is warranted.

Keywords:

• Tinnitus
• working memory
• hearing loss
• normal hearing
• high-frequency hearing
• cognition

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Crafoordska Stiftelsen and Johan och Jakob Söderbergs stiftelse.