Amplifiers in Tinnitus Patients.

INTRODUCTION

High tinnitus loudness can be provoked by peripheral disorders of the somatosensory and/or auditory system.

OBJECTIVES

The object of our study was to compare high tinnitus loudness patients with low tinnitus loudness patients and to find specific factors associated with high tinnitus loudness.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort analysis of 234 patients with tinnitus as main complaint who visited our clinic in a four-year period.

METHODS

Data obtained from the subjects were age, sex, the loudness of tinnitus estimated by the VAS, and the outcomes of the audiogram and the cervical spine radiograph.

RESULTS

High tinnitus loudness was associated with a higher prevalence of females, more dizziness, less self-perceived hearing loss, more cervical disc degeneration at C3 to C6, and a larger anterior spur of cervical vertebrae C3 to C6. Females had a lower prevalence of tinnitus but a higher chance on high tinnitus loudness. Gender, the size of the largest anterior spur from C3 to C6, and the ratio of hearing loss at 8 kHz and hearing loss at 2 kHz are involved in the amplification of tinnitus loudness.

CONCLUSIONS

High tinnitus loudness can be provoked by peripheral disorders of the somatosensory and/or auditory system. A steep audiometric edge between hearing at 2 kHz and hearing at 8 kHz and/or cervical spine pathology with sympathetic nervous system irritation can amplify tinnitus loudness causing high tinnitus loudness.