Suppression of Tinnitus in Chinese Patients Receiving Regular Cochlear Implant Programming.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the clinical effect of cochlear implant programming on tinnitus.


METHODS
Tinnitus patients (n = 234) were divided into 3 groups: (1) preoperative tinnitus (n = 108), (2) postoperative tinnitus occurring before implant switch-on at week 4 (n = 88), and (3) tinnitus occurring more than 1 year postoperatively (n = 44). Patients in each group were randomly allocated into a programming subgroup that received programming for 12 weeks postoperatively or after tinnitus occurrence or a control subgroup. Impedance testing and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) were performed preoperatively and at 4, 6, 8, and 12 weeks postoperatively (groups 1 and 2) or after tinnitus occurrence (group 3). Comparisons were performed using t tests and chi-square tests.


RESULTS
Impedance was significantly lower in the programming subgroup than in the control subgroup in groups 1 and 2 at 8 and 12 weeks and in group 3 at 12 weeks. The THI scores decreased in both programming and control subgroups in all groups. However, this decrease was pronounced in the programming subgroup, whereas in the control subgroup, it occurred slowly over time.


CONCLUSIONS
Cochlear implant programming decreases impedance and improves tinnitus symptoms.
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Ying
Y
Liu
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Hong
H
Wang
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Dong Xu
DX
Han
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Ming Hua
MH
Li
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Yu
Y
Wang
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China 15899262@qq.com.
Yu Li
YL
Xiao
D000328:Adult; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003638:Deafness / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D057234:Preoperative Period; D012984:Software; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
audiology; cochlear implantation; electric impedance; programming; tinnitus