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Scientific Oral Presentations

Otology/Neurotology

Session: Scientific Oral Presentations 7 - Otology/Neurotology

Prevalence of Unilateral, Asymmetric, and Bilateral Tinnitus in Adults and Its Impact on Disability

Tuesday, October 1, 2024
8:48 AM – 8:54 AM EDT
Location: MBCC, 231
Disclosure(s):
Kristofer G. Andren, DO:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

John P. Marinelli, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Samuel A. Spear, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Emily J. Thielman, MS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Isaac D. Erbele, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Limited epidemiological data currently characterize laterality and severity of tinnitus by hearing thresholds among adults. The objective of the current work was to describe the prevalence of unilateral, asymmetric, and bilateral tinnitus by severity of tinnitus across hearing thresholds within the Noise Outcomes in Servicemembers Epidemiology (NOISE) study cohort.

Methods: In this cross-sectional investigation, behavioral audiometric testing, tinnitus history, and tinnitus severity were described at time of study enrollment. Tinnitus severity was assessed by the Tinnitus Functional Index. Hearing loss severity was determined according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. The WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) was used to capture functional deficits.

Results: Out of 1,180 included subjects, tinnitus prevalence was 42.8% (n = 505). Among those with tinnitus, mean age was 35.5 years (sd = 9.5) and 85.2% (430/505) were male. The majority (92.5%, 476/505) had normal hearing and the remaining (7.5%, 38/505) had mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss. Bilateral tinnitus (54.4%; n = 275) was most prevalent, followed by asymmetric (34.7%; n = 175) and unilateral (10.9%; n = 55). Severe tinnitus was reported in 20.6% (n = 104), moderate in 37.8% (n = 191), and no/mild in 41.6% (n = 210). Compared to those with normal hearing, subjects with mild-to-moderate hearing loss had a higher prevalence of tinnitus (41.4% vs. 74.5%, p = 0.004), higher TFI scores (31 vs 45.8, p < 0.001), and a higher proportion reporting severe tinnitus (18.8% vs 42.1%, p < 0.001). In normal hearing subjects, the highest TFI and WHODAS scores were associated with asymmetric tinnitus (32.6 and 20.1, respectively). In subjects with mild-to-moderate hearing loss, the highest TFI and WHODAS scores were associated with bilateral tinnitus (49 and 28.2, respectively).

Conclusions: Tinnitus is prevalent among those with normal hearing thresholds or with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Among those with normal hearing thresholds, asymmetric tinnitus is perceived as more severe and leads to greater functional deficit.

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Kristofer G. Andren, DO

    Resident Physician
    Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Brooke Army Medical Center, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Texas
    San Antonio, TX, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Co-Author(s)

  • John P. Marinelli, MD

    Fellow, Neurotology
    Mayo Clinic
    San Antonio, TX, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • Samuel A. Spear, MD

    Staff ENT/Otology & Neurotology
    ENT and Allergy Associates of Florida
    Jupiter, FL, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • ST

    Samrita Thapa, MPH

    Veterans Affairs, USA

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • Emily J. Thielman, MS

    Program Analyst
    VA RR&D National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon, USA
    Portland , OR, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • IE

    Isaac D. Erbele, MD

    Chief of Neurotology, Associate Program Director
    Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio, TX
    San Antonio, TX, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Senior Author(s)

  • Kelly M. Reavis, PhD

    Research Investigator
    Veterans Affairs
    Portland, OR, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.