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Lee HY, Shin SH, Byun SW. The tinnitus handicap inventory is a better indicator of the overall status of patients with tinnitus than the numerical rating scale. Am J Otolaryngol 2024; 45:104477. [PMID: 39116723 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2024.104477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to explore the electrophysiological characteristics of patients with chronic tinnitus through electrocochleography (ECochG) findings and determine if these findings correlate with specific audiological patterns that could differentiate tinnitus patients from those without this condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective analysis of medical records from patients who visited a tinnitus clinic at a tertiary university hospital between March 2020 and December 2023 was conducted. Inclusion criteria were non-pulsatile subjective tinnitus lasting over three months, and ECochG performed at initial evaluation. Audiological assessments and ECochG results were analyzed, with the SP/AP ratio being a focal point. RESULTS Among 256 patients, an elevated SP/AP ratio was observed in 37.5 % of patients. No significant difference in ECochG outcomes was noted based on tinnitus laterality. Patients with an elevated SP/AP ratio reported more sleep disturbances, higher depression scores, attention problems, and aural fullness. These patients also exhibited lower loudness discomfort levels and low-frequency hearing losses. Significant correlations were found between elevated SP/AP ratios and DPOAE responses. CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the SP/AP ratio in ECochG as a valuable biomarker for assessing clinical and psychological aspects of tinnitus, indicating its potential utility in tailoring treatment strategies. Elevated SP/AP ratios were associated with sleep disturbances, depression, attention problems, aural fullness, hyperacusis, and low-frequency hearing loss, suggesting a complex interplay between cochlear pathology and tinnitus perception. This study underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of ECochG results in the clinical evaluation of tinnitus, potentially guiding more personalized management approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho Yun Lee
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seung-Ho Shin
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Wan Byun
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Inguscio BMS, Rossi D, Giliberto G, Vozzi A, Borghini G, Babiloni F, Greco A, Attanasio G, Cartocci G. Bridging the Gap between Psychophysiological and Audiological Factors in the Assessment of Tinnitus: An EEG Investigation in the Beta Band. Brain Sci 2024; 14:570. [PMID: 38928570 PMCID: PMC11202302 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14060570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite substantial progress in investigating its psychophysical complexity, tinnitus remains a scientific and clinical enigma. The present study, through an ecological and multidisciplinary approach, aims to identify associations between electroencephalographic (EEG) and psycho-audiological variables. METHODS EEG beta activity, often related to stress and anxiety, was acquired from 12 tinnitus patients (TIN group) and 7 controls (CONT group) during an audio cognitive task and at rest. We also investigated psychological (SCL-90-R; STAI-Y; BFI-10) and audiological (THI; TQ12-I; Hyperacusis) variables using non-parametric statistics to assess differences and relationships between and within groups. RESULTS In the TIN group, frontal beta activity positively correlated with hyperacusis, parietal activity, and trait anxiety; the latter is also associated with depression in CONT. Significant differences in paranoid ideation and openness were found between groups. CONCLUSIONS The connection between anxiety trait, beta activity in the fronto-parietal cortices and hyperacusis provides insights into brain functioning in tinnitus patients, offering quantitative descriptions for clinicians and new multidisciplinary treatment hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Maria Serena Inguscio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (B.M.S.I.); (D.R.); (G.G.); (G.B.); (F.B.)
- BrainSigns Srl, 00198 Rome, Italy;
| | - Dario Rossi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (B.M.S.I.); (D.R.); (G.G.); (G.B.); (F.B.)
- BrainSigns Srl, 00198 Rome, Italy;
| | - Giovanna Giliberto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (B.M.S.I.); (D.R.); (G.G.); (G.B.); (F.B.)
| | | | - Gianluca Borghini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (B.M.S.I.); (D.R.); (G.G.); (G.B.); (F.B.)
- BrainSigns Srl, 00198 Rome, Italy;
| | - Fabio Babiloni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (B.M.S.I.); (D.R.); (G.G.); (G.B.); (F.B.)
- BrainSigns Srl, 00198 Rome, Italy;
- Department of Computer Science, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Antonio Greco
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | | | - Giulia Cartocci
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (B.M.S.I.); (D.R.); (G.G.); (G.B.); (F.B.)
- BrainSigns Srl, 00198 Rome, Italy;
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Wertz J, Rüttiger L, Bender B, Klose U, Stark RS, Dapper K, Saemisch J, Braun C, Singer W, Dalhoff E, Bader K, Wolpert SM, Knipper M, Munk MHJ. Differential cortical activation patterns: pioneering sub-classification of tinnitus with and without hyperacusis by combining audiometry, gamma oscillations, and hemodynamics. Front Neurosci 2024; 17:1232446. [PMID: 38239827 PMCID: PMC10794389 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1232446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The ongoing controversies about the neural basis of tinnitus, whether linked with central neural gain or not, may hamper efforts to develop therapies. We asked to what extent measurable audiometric characteristics of tinnitus without (T) or with co-occurrence of hyperacusis (TH) are distinguishable on the level of cortical responses. To accomplish this, electroencephalography (EEG) and concurrent functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) were measured while patients performed an attentionally demanding auditory discrimination task using stimuli within the individual tinnitus frequency (fTin) and a reference frequency (fRef). Resting-state-fMRI-based functional connectivity (rs-fMRI-bfc) in ascending auditory nuclei (AAN), the primary auditory cortex (AC-I), and four other regions relevant for directing attention or regulating distress in temporal, parietal, and prefrontal cortex was compiled and compared to EEG and concurrent fNIRS activity in the same brain areas. We observed no group differences in pure-tone audiometry (PTA) between 10 and 16 kHz. However, the PTA threshold around the tinnitus pitch was positively correlated with the self-rated tinnitus loudness and also correlated with distress in T-groups, while TH experienced their tinnitus loudness at minimal loudness levels already with maximal suffering scores. The T-group exhibited prolonged auditory brain stem (ABR) wave I latency and reduced ABR wave V amplitudes (indicating reduced neural synchrony in the brainstem), which were associated with lower rs-fMRI-bfc between AAN and the AC-I, as observed in previous studies. In T-subjects, these features were linked with elevated spontaneous and reduced evoked gamma oscillations and with reduced deoxygenated hemoglobin (deoxy-Hb) concentrations in response to stimulation with lower frequencies in temporal cortex (Brodmann area (BA) 41, 42, 22), implying less synchronous auditory responses during active auditory discrimination of reference frequencies. In contrast, in the TH-group gamma oscillations and hemodynamic responses in temporoparietal regions were reversed during active discrimination of tinnitus frequencies. Our findings suggest that T and TH differ in auditory discrimination and memory-dependent directed attention during active discrimination at either tinnitus or reference frequencies, offering a test paradigm that may allow for more precise sub-classification of tinnitus and future improved treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Wertz
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lukas Rüttiger
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Bender
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Uwe Klose
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Robert S. Stark
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Konrad Dapper
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Biology, Technical University Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Jörg Saemisch
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Wibke Singer
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ernst Dalhoff
- Section of Physiological Acoustics and Communication, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Katharina Bader
- Section of Physiological Acoustics and Communication, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stephan M. Wolpert
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marlies Knipper
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Matthias H. J. Munk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Biology, Technical University Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
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Shin SH, Byun SW, Lee HY. Initial Response to Combination Therapies for Tinnitus: Lessons Learned From a Retrospective Analysis. Otol Neurotol 2024; 45:100-106. [PMID: 37853724 DOI: 10.1097/mao.0000000000004030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the initial reduction of tinnitus effects by combining common therapies applicable in general otology clinics and establishing optimal treatment strategies. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING A tertiary university hospital. PATIENTS Patients with nonpulsatile subjective tinnitus who visited the hospital between January and December 2022. INTERVENTIONS Combination therapies consisting of at least one of the directive counseling based on the neurophysiological model, hearing aids, medication, and/or neuromodulation were performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire at both their initial visit and 1-month follow-up. RESULTS A total of 151 patients were enrolled. THI improvement of 20 points or more was observed in 31.8% of participants. One-way analysis of variance revealed that counseling had a significant reduction in THI, whereas neuromodulation, medication, and hearing aids did not. THI improvement was significantly associated with received counseling, severity of initial THI, and mean loudness discomfort level. Hearing aids and neuromodulation were not significant prognostic factors for improvement. CONCLUSION Counseling alone is the best treatment for most patients with tinnitus. There will be other patients with tinnitus that, in addition to counseling, would benefit from hearing aids, medications, and/or certain forms of neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Ho Shin
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Kim EH, Shin SH, Byun SW, Lee HY. Exploring the origins of decreased sound tolerance in tinnitus patients. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1273705. [PMID: 38020634 PMCID: PMC10657806 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1273705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to confirm the characteristics of auditory function alterations in tinnitus patients with concomitant decreased sound tolerance (ST) and provide insights for developing tailored therapeutic approaches. A retrospective analysis was conducted on patient records from a tertiary university hospital's tinnitus clinic between March 2020 and June 2023. Demographic attributes and audiological profiles were reviewed. Patients were categorized into Group 1 if loudness discomfort level test outcomes were 77 dB or below, measured using an average of frequencies from 250 Hz to 8 kHz. The remaining patients were allocated to Group 2. Among the 434 tinnitus patients, 115 (26.5%) demonstrated decreased ST and were classified as Group 1. This group exhibited higher DPOAE amplitudes (p < 0.001), shortened latency, and decreased threshold of ABR wave V bilaterally (p < 0.05). No significant disparities were observed in gender, age, tinnitus handicap inventory, visual analog scale, and pure-tone audiometry results except subjective hyperacusis. Binary logistic regression analysis utilizing the forward conditional method revealed that the difference between groups was independently linked to DPOAE response at 7,277 Hz on the left side [B = 0.093, p < 0.001, EXP(B) = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.044-1.153]. Increased DPOAE amplitude and shorter and decreased ABR wave V in tinnitus patients with decreased ST might suggest a possible association with lesions in or around the superior olivary complex or higher central auditory pathway, potentially linked to the inhibition of medial olivocochlear efferents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ho Yun Lee
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Yukhnovich EA, Alter K, Sedley W. Nuances in intensity deviant asymmetric responses as a biomarker for tinnitus. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289062. [PMID: 37549154 PMCID: PMC10406247 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
We attempted to replicate a potential tinnitus biomarker in humans based on the Sensory Precision Integrative Model of Tinnitus called the Intensity Mismatch Asymmetry. A few advances on the design were also included, including tighter matching of participants for gender, and a control stimulus frequency of 1 kHz to investigate whether any differences between control and tinnitus groups are specific to the tinnitus frequency or domain-general. The expectation was that there would be asymmetry in the MMN responses between tinnitus and control groups at the tinnitus frequency, but not at the control frequency, where the tinnitus group would have larger, more negative responses to upward deviants than downward deviants, and the control group would have the opposite pattern or lack of a deviant direction effect. However, no significant group differences were found. There was a striking difference in response amplitude to control frequency stimuli compared to tinnitus frequency stimuli, which could be an intrinsic quality of responses to these frequencies or could reflect high frequency hearing loss in the sample. Additionally, the upward deviants elicited stronger MMN responses in both groups at tinnitus frequency, but not at the control frequency. Factors contributing to these discrepant results at the tinnitus frequency could include hyperacusis, attention, and wider contextual effects of other frequencies used in the experiment (i.e. the control frequency in other blocks).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina A. Yukhnovich
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Kai Alter
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics and the Languages Sciences Interdisciplinary Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - William Sedley
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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Park Y, Shin SH, Byun SW, Lee ZY, Lee HY. Audiological and psychological assessment of tinnitus patients with normal hearing. Front Neurol 2023; 13:1102294. [PMID: 36712420 PMCID: PMC9878854 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1102294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction This study was performed to assess identifiable abnormalities in tinnitus patients with normal hearing. Methods The medical records of subjective non-pulsatile tinnitus patients with normal hearing confirmed by conventional pure-tone audiometry who visited our tinnitus clinic between March 2020 and May 2022 were reviewed. The loudness discomfort level (LDL), extended high-frequency hearing loss (EHFHL), summating potential (SP)/action potential (AP) ratio, distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE), thresholds of auditory brainstem response (ABR) wave V, somatic modulation, and psychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and stress were evaluated by questionnaires. Results Decreased LDL (n = 48, 59.8%) was the most frequent finding, followed by EHFHL (n = 29, 35.4%), increased SP/AP ratio (n = 27, 32.9%), psychiatric symptoms (n = 24, 29.3%), decreased DPOAE (n = 17, 20.7%), somatic modulation (n = 8, 9.8%), and increased ABR threshold (n = 3, 3.7%); 75.6% of patients had one or more of these findings. The presence of psychiatric symptoms was independently associated with the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) score. Conclusion Tinnitus in patients with normal hearing may be accompanied by a combination of various subclinical abnormal audiological findings. However, the presence of psychiatric symptoms alone was independently associated with tinnitus distress.
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