Changes in Tinnitus After Middle Ear Implant Surgery: Comparisons With the Cochlear Implant

Overview

Journal Ear Hear

Specialty Otorhinolaryngology

Date 2015 Jun 25

PMID 26107004

Citations 8

Authors

Young Joon Seo

Hyun Ji Kim

In Seok Moon

Jae Young Choi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: Tinnitus is a very common symptom in patients with hearing loss. Several studies have confirmed that hearing restoration using hearing aids or cochlear implants (CIs) has a suppressive effect on tinnitus in users. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of other hearing restoration devices, specifically the middle ear implant (MEI), on changes in tinnitus severity.

Design: From 2012 to October 2014, 11 adults with tinnitus and hearing loss underwent MEI surgery. Pure-tone audiometry, tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), and visual analog scale scores for loudness, awareness, and annoyance and psychosocial instruments were measured before, immediately after, and 6 months after surgery. Changes in hearing thresholds and THI scores were analyzed and compared with those of 16 CI recipients.

Results: In both MEI and CI groups, significant improvements in tinnitus were found after the surgery. The THI scores improved in 91% of patients in the MEI group and in 56% of those in the CI group. Visual analog scale scores and psychosocial scale scores also decreased after surgery, but there were no statistical differences between the groups.

Conclusions: The results indicate that the MEI may be as beneficial as the CI in relieving tinnitus in subjects with unilateral tinnitus accompanying hearing loss. Furthermore, this improvement may manifest as hearing restoration or habituation rather than a direct electrical nerve stimulation, which was previously considered as the main mechanism underlying tinnitus suppression by auditory implants.

Citing Articles

The Long-Term Effect of Cochlear Implantation on Tinnitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Li Y, Yang H, Niu X, Sun Y Diagnostics (Basel). 2024; 14(18).

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Tailored re-roofing technique for pulsatile tinnitus caused by sigmoid sinus dehiscence or diverticulum.

Lee J, Na G, Hur Y, Yoon J, Kwak S, Cho Y Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2024; 9(3):e1251.

PMID: 38765674 PMC: 11099881. DOI: 10.1002/lio2.1251.

Effects of auditory rehabilitation with cochlear implant on tinnitus prevalence and distress, health-related quality of life, subjective hearing and psychological comorbidities: Comparative analysis of patients with asymmetric hearing loss (AHL),....

Olze H, Ketterer M, Peus D, Haussler S, Hildebrandt L, Grabel S Front Neurol. 2023; 13:1089610.

PMID: 36712436 PMC: 9877424. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1089610.

S3 Guideline: Chronic Tinnitus : German Society for Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery e. V. (DGHNO-KHC).

Mazurek B, Hesse G, Sattel H, Kratzsch V, Lahmann C, Dobel C HNO. 2022; 70(11):795-827.

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[Effect of cochlear implantation on tinnitus and the prognosis mode analysis].

Wang Z, Huang Q, Chen B, Cheng H, Li Y, Xie M Lin Chuang Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2020; 34(11):966-971.

PMID: 33254311 PMC: 10133145. DOI: 10.13201/j.issn.2096-7993.2020.11.002.

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