Electroencephalographic features of chronic subjective tinnitus: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this scoping review is to review the scope of features from previous resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) research that have the potential to be objective measures of chronic subjective tinnitus and presence.

METHODS

Using keywords related to resting-state EEG and tinnitus we retrieved studies from Ovid, PubMed, and CINAHL. Studies were included if they met the following criteria: studies utilized resting-state EEG to assess chronic subjective tinnitus symptoms or compare those with tinnitus to control subjects.

RESULTS

We identified and reviewed 81 comparison studies that used resting-state EEG. Spectral power source and electrode analysis were the most common results reported in studies that compared those with chronic subjective tinnitus to controls. Connectivity and network analysis were the third most reported analysis type.

CONCLUSIONS

Electroencephalography (EEG) has potential to be utilised as an objective measure of chronic subjective tinnitus, independent of subject reports. While no single definitive EEG marker for chronic subjective tinnitus was identified, emerging evidence from comparison studies indicates a strong impact of chronic subjective tinnitus on network measures and connectivity related features. We propose a pathway to establishing objective measures from EEG recordings. Combining spectral band power, network and connectivity as features and validating them with machine learning classification on large, diverse populations, is a proposed pathway to establish objective measures.

SIGNIFICANCE: Idiopathic chronic subjective tinnitus affects up to a 20 % of the population, particularly in advanced age, is associated with hearing loss, and lacks widely accepted treatments. Assessing tinnitus, and symptom changes are challenging due to the lack of objective measures of idiopathic chronic subjective tinnitus. This review focuses on the use of resting-state EEG research to identify candidates that may be developed for use in research and by clinicians.