편측성 이명환자의 청각학적 특성

Abstract

Tinnitus is audiologic sensation without actual external stimulation enough to causes a certain discomfort. The aim of this study is to assess pathophysiology of tinnitus by retrospective analysis of unilateral tinnitus patients with their audiologic characteristics. We used results of audiologic tests including pure tone audiometry, tinnitogram and DPOAE from 96 unilateral tinnitus patients without subjective hearing loss. We compared these data to non-tinnitus ear individually, and analyzed according to their age and symptom duration. Pure tone audiogram results of tinnitus ears compared to non-tinnitus ears was statistically significant at 4000 and 8000Hz, and it was more prominent at age over 40s. DPOAE results were significantly low at 4000Hz level in tinnitus ears compared to non-tinnitus ears, indicating outer hair cell damage especially at base of cochlea. Loudness and duration of symptoms were larger and longer as hearing loss accompanied. With consideration of bilateral morbidity of presbycusis, these data can refer to that tinnitus itself contributes outer hair cell damage at base of cochlea independent to progress of presbycusis. Furthermore, outer hair cell damage at base of cochlea by tinnitus can affect amount of symptom and its irreversibility. Even though tinnitus patients has no subjective hearing loss , it is important to make treatment plan by sufficient audiologic evaluation.