An Analysis of the Correlation between Tinnitus Characteristics and the Annoyance Caused

Abstract

Objectives:

Ascertain if there is an association between the pitch and loudness of tinnitus and its impact on patient quality of life.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study comprising 156 patients (mean age, 57.95 ± 12.53 years) with chronic unilateral disturbing tinnitus was conducted between September 2003 and January 2014. Acufenometry was used to measure the pitch and loudness of tinnitus. We evaluated the impact of the annoyance caused by tinnitus using tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) and the visual analog scale (VAS). Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson’s correlation test.

Results:

Overall, 27.3% of the patients evaluated had presbycusis, while 12.2% had noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and 15.1% had Ménière’s disease. The correlation coefficient observed between the loudness of tinnitus and THI was R = 0.001, P = .99, between loudness and VAS was R = 0.001, P = .99, and between loudness and age of the patients was R = 0.03, P = .70. When we analyzed the tinnitus pitch and THI was found R = 0.11, P = .16, and pitch and VAS R = 0.05, P = .56. Analysis of the tinnitus pitch and the patient’s age verified the correlation observed (R = –0.16, P = .05).

Conclusions:

The findings of this study did not reveal a statistically significant correlation between tinnitus characteristics and its impact on patient quality of life. However, a weak negative relationship was observed between the tinnitus pitch and the age of the patients.