title: The relationship between ultra-high frequency thresholds and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in adults with tinnitus.
abstract: Background:The possible role of cochlear function in tinnitus generation is still a matter of debate. To assess the role of outer hair cell dysfunction in tinnitus and its possible relationship with ultra-high frequency (UHF) hearing sensitivity, transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) and UHF hearing thresholds were investigated in normal hearing individuals with and without tinnitus.Methods:Eighteen individuals with tinnitus and 22 without tinnitus participated in this study. TEOAE was recorded with click stimulus at 80 dBpeSPL. UHF pure tone audiometry was performed at 10, 12.5, 16, and 18 kHz.Results:TEOAE was significantly abnormal in 72.2% of the tinnitus, and 18.2% of the control groups (p=0.001). The individuals with tinnitus had significantly poorer UHF hearing sensitivity compared to the control group at 12.5 and 18 kHz (p≤0.048). There was a stronger correlation between increasing UHFs hearing threshold and decreasing SNRs of TEOAEs in the tinnitus group compared to the controls.Conclusion:Our study revealed poorer UHF hearing thresholds and more TEOAE abnormalities in normal hearing individuals with tinnitus compared to the controls. Perhaps the alterations in the basal cochlea, following a decrease in UHF hearing sensitivity, affect OAEs that are originated from more apical cochlear parts in tinnitus ears more than non-tinnitus ears.
authors.affiliation: PhD Candidate, Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. omidvar.sh@tak.iums.ac.ir ; shomidvar.audio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shaghayegh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Omidvar
authors.affiliation: PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Basic Science, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. jafari.z@iums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.affiliation: PhD, Assistant Professor, ENT and Head & Neck Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. mahmoudian.s@iums.ac.ir ; saeid.mahmoudian@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Saeid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahmoudian
authors.affiliation: PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. khabazkhoob@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khabazkhoob
authors.affiliation: PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Address: Shahnazari St, Mirdamad Blvd, Tehran, Iran. ahadi.m@iums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahadi
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Otorhinolaryngology Research Centre, AmirAlam Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. n_yazdani@tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yazdani
keywords: Otoacoustic Emissions; Tinnitus; Ultra-High Frequency Thresholds