High frequency audiometry in tinnitus patients with normal hearing in conventional audiometry

Abstract

Context: Hearing loss is the most important risk factor of tinnitus, but this relation is not straightforward; some patients with severe tinnitus have normal hearing, whereas many patients with hearing loss do not have tinnitus. Aims: The aim was to determine if high frequency audiometry (HFA) may reveal significant differences between normal hearing participants with and without tinnitus. Settings and design: This is a case–control study. Participants and methods: HFA was done on two groups of participants with normal hearing sensitivity. The first group was composed of 20 adults with tinnitus, whereas the control group was 15 age-matched and sex-matched participants, not suffering from tinnitus. Statistical analysis: Data were analyzed using SPSS software package version 20.0. Significance of the results was judged at the 5% level. χ2 with Fisher’s exact as a correction, Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney, and Pearson’s coefficient tests were used. Results: HFA showed no significant difference between the two studied groups. Conclusion: Tinnitus in normal hearing participants does not necessarily indicate corresponding damage in the cochlea.