A Preliminary Study of Tinnitus Subgroups based on Self-reported
Presbyacusis and Noise Induced Hearing Loss
Abstract
Objective: To compare some characteristics of two subgroups of tinnitus,
noise-induced tinnitus and age-related tinnitus. Design: An online
survey from the Iowa Tinnitus Website was reviewed. The participants
were divided into two subgroups according to their reported cause of
tinnitus—noise or aging. Their answers to the questions about
loudness, qualities, worsening and reducing factors of tinnitus were
analyzed. Study sample: There were 16 patients of age-related tinnitus
and 147 of noise-induced tinnitus. Results: Two groups did not differ
significantly in loudness (U = 887.5, p > 0.05), qualities
(X2 = 1.164, p > 0.05) or reducing factors (X2 = 1.984, p
> 0.05). Ringing/whistling was the most common quality of
both age-related (37.5%) and noise-induced tinnitus (51.7%). 42.9% of
participants of noise-induced tinnitus and 31.3% of age-related
tinnitus felt that nothing made tinnitus better. The main worsening
factors for noise-induced tinnitus included being in a noisy place
(44.2%) and lack of sleep (42.9%) , which differed from the
age-related group (X2 = 6.169, p < 0.05). Conclusions: There
was a great deal of overlap between two subgroups, with some differences
in worsening factors, including noise environment and lack of sleep.
This is an important ‘red flag’ in counseling, and should be considered
by doctors when choosing therapy.