Functional impact of bothersome tinnitus on cognitive test performance

Abstract

Objective

Individuals with bothersome tinnitus frequently report their concentration is affected. Given that tinnitus is the leading service-connected disability compensated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, it is essential to determine whether tinnitus has a functional impact on the operational performance of Service members. Previous studies demonstrated that people with tinnitus perform more poorly on cognitive tests of selective attention and memory than those without tinnitus. This study aimed to compare performance between participants with and without tinnitus on visually based tests of selective attention (flanker task) and short-term memory (spatial letter location) that were self-administered under three auditory conditions (quiet, broadband noise and speech) using a tablet-based test protocol.

Design

Experimental

Study sample

Thirty participants with bothersome tinnitus and 30 control participants, matched for age and hearing loss.

Results

The results revealed a significantly larger flanker effect and shorter memory span in the tinnitus group compared to the control group, consistent with previous studies. Performance accuracy was comparable between the groups.

Conclusions

The results suggest bothersome tinnitus may affect cognitive efficiency more than cognitive performance. The tablet-based protocol has the potential to be implemented clinically as a functional measure of the impact of bothersome tinnitus on concentration.

Keywords:

• Tinnitus
• attention
• reaction time
• memory
• flanker effect
• cognitive performance

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the following: General Lee, Thomas Heil, and Ben Sachtler for technical assistance in developing the tablet-based protocol; Craig Formby, Daniel Shub and Stefanie Kuchinsky for comments on earlier drafts of the manuscript; and Dan Brooks and Stefanie Kuchinsky for assistance with data analysis.

Disclosure statement

This study did not have direct funding. No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Portions of this article were presented at the American Auditory Society Annual Conference, Scottsdale, AZ, March 4, 2017, the National Centre for Rehabilitative Auditory Research Biennial Conference, Portland, OR, October 5, 2017, and the Collaborative Auditory/Vestibular Research Network meeting, Dayton, OH, 25 April 2018.

The identification of specific products or scientific instrumentation are considered an integral part of the scientific endeavour and does not constitute endorsement or implied endorsement on the part of the authors, DOD, or any component agency. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of Army/Navy/Air Force, Department of Defense, or U.S. Government.