Interaction of tinnitus suppression and hearing ability after cochlear implantation

Abstract

Objectives: To study the postoperative impact of cochlear implants (CIs) on tinnitus, as well as the impact of tinnitus on speech recognition with CI switched on.

Methods: Fifty-two postlingual deafened CI recipients (21 males and 31 females) were assessed using an established Tinnitus Characteristics Questionnaire and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) before and after cochlear implantation. The tinnitus loudness was investigated when CI was switched on and off in CI recipients with persistent tinnitus. The relation between tinnitus loudness and recipients’ satisfaction of cochlear implantation was analyzed by the visual analogue scale (VAS) score.

Results: With CI ‘OFF’, 42 CI recipients experienced tinnitus postimplant ipsilaterally and 44 contralaterally. Tinnitus was totally suppressed ipsilateral to the CI with CI ‘ON’ in 42.9%, partially suppressed in 42.9%, unchanged in 11.9% and aggravated in 2.4%. Tinnitus was totally suppressed contralaterally with CI ‘ON’ in 31.8% of CI recipients, partially suppressed in 47.7%, unchanged in 20.5%. Pearson correlation analysis showed that tinnitus loudness and the results of cochlear implant patients satisfaction was negatively correlated (r = .674, p < .001).

Conclusion: The study suggests six-month CI activation can be effective for suppressing tinnitus. The tinnitus loudness may affect patients’ satisfaction with the use of CI.

Chinese abstract

目的：研究耳蜗植入（CI）对耳鸣的术后影响, 以及在CI开启时耳鸣对语音识别的影响。

方法：在耳蜗植入术前后, 使用既定的耳鸣特征问卷和耳鸣障碍库存（THI）评估了52例后舌耳蜗植入耳聋患者（21例男性和31例女性）。对接受CI植入的持续性耳鸣患者, 调查了当CI被开启和关闭时, 他们的耳鸣响度。通过视觉模拟量表（VAS）等级, 分析了耳鸣响度与耳蜗植入接受者满意度之间的关系。

结果：当CI关闭时, 42 位CI接受者在植入后经历了同侧耳鸣, 44位经历了对侧耳鸣。在CI开启时, 42.9%的患者的CI同侧耳鸣完全抑制住了, 42.9%的患者部分抑制, 11.9%没有经历变化, 2.4%耳鸣恶化。CI开启时, 31.8%CI接受者的对侧耳鸣被完全抑制, 部分抑制率为47.7%, 不变率为20.5%。 Pearson相关分析显示, 耳鸣响度和植入人工耳蜗的患者的满意度结果呈负相关（r = .674, p <0.001）。

结论：本研究提示CI激活六个月可有效抑制耳鸣。耳鸣响度可能会影响患者对使用CI的满意度。

Keywords:

• Cochlear implant
• THI questionnaire
• VAS scale
• Tinnitus characteristics
• Tinnitus suppression

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the grants from the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) [#2012CB967900, It’s Branch programs 2012CB967901, 2012CB967903]; the National Natural Science Foundation of China [NSFC #81271082, 81400472]; Beijing Nova Program 2016[Z161100004916130]; the General Financial Grant from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation [2013M542520].