Differences in Acufenometry and Tinnitus Annoyance among Patients with Presbycusis and Ménière’s Disease

Abstract

Objectives:

Analyze the difference in acufenometry between patients with presbycusis and Ménière’s disease and correlate the findings with the annoyance caused by tinnitus.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study included 59 patients with unilateral tinnitus treated at a tertiary hospital. Out of these patients, 38 had presbycusis and 21 had Ménière’s disease. Acufenometry was performed to determine the pitch and loudness of tinnitus in the 2 groups. The tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the annoyance caused due to tinnitus. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS and the Student t test.

Results:

The mean age of the patients with Ménière’s disease and presbycusis was 56.05 ± 8.73 years and 67.74 ± 8.73 years, respectively (P < .0001). Similar tinnitus pitch was observed in patients with Ménière’s disease and those with presbycusis (2119 ± 2000 Hz vs 3092 ± 2203 Hz; P = .09); however, the loudness varied between the groups (61.19 ± 17.2 dB vs 42.17 ± 19.8 dB; P = .001). The THI and VAS score were similar between the two groups (P = .33 vs P = .66).

Conclusions:

Although tinnitus was louder in patients with Ménière’s disease than in those with presbycusis, the tinnitus pitch and its impact on patient quality of life was similar in both groups.