Test-retest tinnitus characteristics in patients with noise-induced hearing loss.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to examine the test-retest value of tinnitus pitch and loudness in patients with tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).


METHODS
The study sample consisted of 30 patients of mean age 35 +/- 6.7 years with long-standing tinnitus and hearing loss due to exposure to noise during military service. Ten patients had unilateral tinnitus, and 20 had bilateral tinnitus. All presented with a typical NIHL audiogram on the affected side(s). None of the patients was receiving drug therapy.


RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference in tinnitus pitch or loudness between the 2 tests for the whole group and separately in patients with unilateral or bilateral tinnitus.


CONCLUSIONS
Subjective testing of pitch and loudness of tinnitus secondary to NIHL is accurate and reproducible, making it a valuable tool for diagnosis and follow-up. The lack of differences between patients with unilateral or bilateral tinnitus indicates that both types may be managed in a similar manner.
Nageris
Ben I
BI
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tiqwa, Israel. bennyn@clalit.org.il
Attias
Joseph
J
Raveh
Eyal
E
D000328:Adult; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D008144:Loudness Perception / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010898:Pitch Perception / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology