Clinical associations between tinnitus and chronic pain.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to estimate the prevalence and severity of tinnitus in patients with chronic pain.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective nonrandomized study in which a survey and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) were distributed at a tertiary chronic pain clinic.


RESULTS
Seventy-two patients participated. 50 women (mean age, 53 years) and 22 men (mean age, 47.5 years); 54.2% reported having tinnitus. There was an even distribution of patients reporting the onset of tinnitus as before versus after the onset of pain. Four patients reported a direct association between tinnitus and pain. The mean THI score was 27 (of 100) (n = 35). Fifteen subjects scored less than 16, indicating no handicap, and 4 scored over 58, indicating a severe handicap.


CONCLUSIONS
The study results suggest a high incidence of tinnitus within this population. There were few strong associations between pain and tinnitus. Tinnitus does not significantly handicap the majority of these patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Tinnitus is a common symptom in the chronic pain population but is not a significant problem for these patients.
Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, PO Box 850, MC:H091, Hershey, PA 17033, USA. jisaacson@psu.edu
Jon E
JE
Isaacson
Matthew T
MT
Moyer
H Gregg
HG
Schuler
George F
GF
Blackall
D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*