Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2011 Dec;54(12):835-839. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2011.54.12.835.

Clinical Characteristics of Tinnitus in Elderly

• Kwon KN
• Moon IH
• Kim YG
• Lee BD
• Lee JD
• Lee H
• Park MK

• KMID: 2277284
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2011.54.12.835

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Tinnitus is commonly known to occur in the elderly, while presbytinnitus is not known as well. This study compared the clinical characteristics of tinnitus between the elderly and adults.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
This prospective case-control study enrolled 148 patients who had subjective tinnitus. Demographic data, otologic history, tinnitus questionnaires, the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), a visual analogue scale, and audiological examinations were evaluated.
RESULTS
The effect of tinnitus on the quality of life and the severity of tinnitus in the elderly were not different from those in adults. The elderly were more annoyed with the tinnitus than adults. The elderly had louder and longer tinnitus. Nevertheless, the elderly had a lower THI score. The effect of tinnitus on the quality of life was not correlated with tinnitus loudness, duration, or hearing threshold. In the elderly, the effect of tinnitus on the quality of life was correlated more with the emotional score of the THI than the other subscales of the THI.
CONCLUSION
Tinnitus has a great effect on the quality of life of the elderly. This is related more to psychological factors than to otological factors.

Keyword

Tinnitus; Elderly; Clinical characteristics

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Case-Control Studies
Hearing
Humans
Prospective Studies
Quality of Life
Surveys and Questionnaires
Tinnitus