Tinnitus in patients with profound hearing loss and the effect of cochlear implantation.
The objectives of this study were to characterize the features of tinnitus in patients with profound sensorineural hearing loss and to evaluate the effect of cochlear implantation (CI) on their tinnitus. Medical records were reviewed for 35 patients who underwent CI, and completed tinnitus questionnaire between March 2003 and August 2011. Of them, 22 had tinnitus prior to CI (62.9 %) and the tinnitus group was older than the non-tinnitus group (47.5 ± 15.1 vs. 28.9 ± 15.2). The mean tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) score of the tinnitus group was 50.5 ± 28.7 before surgery, and the mean THI score and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for loudness, annoyance, effect on life, and awareness decreased significantly after CI, with a mean follow-up period of 10.7 months. Tinnitus was completely eliminated in ten patients (45.5 %) and THI scores decreased in all patients. In a correlation analysis of the decrease in THI scores, preoperative VAS scores for loudness, awareness, effect on life, and annoyance, as well as preoperative THI scores, were highly correlated with the degree of decrease in THI scores postoperatively. The auditory performance of patients older than 40 years did not differ from that of younger patients, but their tinnitus was more improved after CI. In conclusion, tinnitus is a common complaint in patients with cochlear implants, and is more prevalent in elderly implantees. In the present study, CI improved tinnitus in all patients, although the most severe cases had the greatest benefit.
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
Dong-Kee
DK
Kim
Seong-Cheon
SC
Bae
Kyoung-Ho
KH
Park
Beom-Cho
BC
Jun
Dong-Hee
DH
Lee
Sang Won
SW
Yeo
Shi-Nae
SN
Park
D000328:Adult; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome