Incidence and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Tinnitus According to Diagnostic Classification

Yoo, Hwa Jong; Park, Shi Nae; Kim, Dong Kee; Park, Kyoung Ho; Kim, Min Ji; Kim, Ji Eun; Kim, A Ri; Yeo, Sang Won

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Knowledge about the incidence and clinical characteristics of tinnitus can be useful for diagnostic approach and treatment plan. We analyzed the incidence and clinical characteristics of each case of tinnitus according to the classification of tinnitus.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
The study recruited 211 tinnitus patients who visited tinnitus clinic from March 2009 to August 2009. First, patients were diagnosed and classified as sensorineural tinnitus and somatosounds. Somatosounds were subdivided to vascular tinnitus, muscle origin tinnitus and patulous Eustachian tube. Patients were evaluated by history taking by means of having them fill out tinnitus questionnaires and psychoacoustic questionnaires. Audiologic findings of each type of tinnitus have also been analyzed.
RESULTS
Incidences of sensorineural tinnitus and somatosounds were 82.9% and 17.1% respectively. Among somatosounds, vascular tinnitus occupied 7.6%, muscle origin tinnitus, 4.3% and patulous Eustachian tube, 5.2%. The mean age of the patients with sensorineural tinnitus was older than somatosounds. Patients with muscle origin tinnitus had higher scores of tinnitus loudness, effect on life, tinnitus handicap inventory, stress and depression than those with other types of tinnitus. Overall compliance of the treatment was 66.7% and their tinnitus had been significantly improved after treatment.
CONCLUSION
With the knowledge of incidence, clinical characteristics and treatment approach for each tinnitus, clinicians can be more confident in providing proper diagnosis and management of patients with tinnitus. Somatosounds, which showed relatively high incidence in this study, should not be neglected but properly treated with early diagnosis.