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DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1746753
Tinnitus severity and subjective Hearing Handicap after unilateral Cochlear-Implantation
Introduction
Cochlear-Implantation (CI) primarily aims at improvement of speech perception and thereby quality of life for hearing impaired patients. In many cases hearing loss is accompanied by tinnitus, which might further increase the perceived handicap. This retrospective study evaluates the impact of tinnitus on adult cochlear-implant recipients.
Methods
Data of 104 unilaterally implanted adult CI-patients was analyzed. The Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE) and the Speech- Spatial- and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ 12) were used and compared with monosyllabic word recognition scores in quiet. The pure tone average of the non-implanted ear and the tinnitus severity were considered as additional independent variables with impact on the perceived quality of life.
Results
58 patients suffered from chronic tinnitus, 14 cases were decompensated according to the tinnitus questionnaire. At 65dB SPL median speech perception was 67,5%. Although most patients reported Tinnitus reduction when using the audio processor, average subjective hearing handicap was significantly higher in patients suffering from tinnitus. No significant influence of the individual speech perception or hearing threshold of the contralateral ear was found.
Discussion
In patients with decompensated tinnitus improvement of speech perception alone does not necessarily lead to an increase in quality of life. This should be considered during patient counseling prior to cochlear-implantation.
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Conflict of Interest
The author declares that there is no conflict of interest.
Publikationsverlauf
Artikel online veröffentlicht:
24. Mai 2022
© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
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