title: Comparison of tinnitus and psychological aspects between the younger and older adult patients with tinnitus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the differences in various tinnitus-related features and psychological aspects between the younger and older adult patients with tinnitus.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of the adult patients who visited our tinnitus clinic in 2013 and completed full tinnitus assessment including audiometry, tinnitus matching, standardized tinnitus questionnaires, and psychometric questionnaires. The younger group included patients aged 20-45 years (n=64), and the older group, those older than 65 years (n=76). Clinical features, hearing levels, matched tinnitus pitches and loudness, self-report tinnitus severity scores, Beck depression inventory scores, and stress scores were compared between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tinnitus duration was longer in the older group (p=0.002). Mean PTAs were 16dB HL in the younger, and 38dB HL in the older groups (p<0.001). Eighty-nine percent of the younger patients had normal hearing, while 82% of the older patients had hearing loss (p<0.001). Matched tinnitus loudness was greater in the older group (64dB HL vs. 36dB HL, p<0.001). All of the self-report tinnitus, depression, and stress scores did not differ between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The older patients seemed to be more receptive to tinnitus. The majority of older tinnitus patients had concomitant hearing loss, and thus hearing rehabilitation should be considered preferentially for tinnitus management in this age group. Subjective tinnitus severity, depressive symptoms, and the stress levels were similar between the younger and older tinnitus patients. Therefore, treatment could be planned based upon the comprehensive understanding of the tinnitus characteristics and psychological aspects in each patient irrespective of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: So Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Ju
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eul Sung
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Whang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: snparkmd@catholic.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Shi Nae
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Age; BEPSI; Beck depression inventory; Hearing loss; Stress; Tinnitus handicap inventory