Acoustic differences in tinnitus between noise-induced and non-noise-induced hearing loss

Abstract

Background

Tinnitus, the perception of sound without external stimuli, varies across hearing loss types. The present study compared the acoustic characteristics of tinnitus in patients with noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and in those with hearing loss unrelated to noise exposure.

Objective

This study compared the acoustic characteristics of tinnitus in patients with noise-induced and non-noise-induced hearing loss.

Methods

A total of 403 patients with tinnitus were divided into those with noise-induced and non-noise-induced hearing loss. Patients were evaluated by pure tone audiometry (PTA), tinnitogram, transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE), distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE), and auditory brainstem evoked response (ABR) tests.

Results

Patients with NIHL exhibited significantly higher hearing thresholds across all frequencies (125–8000 Hz) (p < .05) and reported significantly higher tinnitus intensity (p < .05). Otoacoustic emission tests showed that response rates were significantly lower (p < .05), and ABR tests found that latency periods were significantly more prolonged (p < .05), in patients with NIHL.

Conclusions

Tinnitus differs acoustically between patients with NIHL and those with non-noise-induced hearing loss, with specific patterns of intensity and auditory responses. These findings emphasize the need for tailoring the management of tinnitus according to the underlying type of hearing loss.

Chinese Abstract

背景: 耳鸣(即在没有外部刺激的情况下对声音的感知)因听力损失类型而异。本研究比较了噪声引起的听力损失(NIHL)患者的耳鸣声学特征以及与噪声暴露无关的听力损失患者的耳鸣声学特征。

目的: 比较噪声性听力损失患者和非噪音听力损失患者的耳鸣声学特征。

方法: 将403例耳鸣患者分为噪声性听力损失耳鸣组和非噪声性听力损失耳鸣组。通过纯音测听 (PTA)、耳鸣图、瞬态诱发耳声发射 (TEOAE)、畸变产物耳声发射 (DPOAE) 和听觉脑干诱发反应(ABR)测试对患者进行评估。

结果: NIHL 患者在所有频率上都表现出显著较高的听力阈值(125-8000 Hz)(p<.05), 而且耳鸣强度显著较高(p<.05)。 耳声发射测试显示响应率明显较低 (p<.05), ABR 测试发现NIHL 患者的潜伏期时间显著延长 (p<.05)。

结论: NIHL 患者和非噪声诱发听力损失患者的耳鸣在声学上存在差异, 两类各具特定的强度和听觉反应模式。 这些发现强调了, 我们需要根据听力损失的潜在类型来调整耳鸣的治疗方法。

Keywords:

• Tinnitus
• hearing loss
• noise-induced
• audiometry
• pure-tone
• evoked potentials
• auditory
• brain stem

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) under grant [NRF-2018R1A6A1A03025124 and NRF-2022R1A2C1091779], as well as the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) under grant number [HV22C0233], funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea.