Journal of Phonetics & Audiology
Open Access

Abstract

An Investigation of the Impact of Tinnitus Perception on the Quality of Life

Fahad Alhazmi, Tony Kay, Ian Mackenzie, Kemp Graham and Vanessa Slumping

Purpose: the aim of this study is to assess the impact of tinnitus perception on the quality of life of tinnitus sufferer’s.
Materials and methods: 34-tinnitus sufferers were recruited in this study with a wide range of hearing loss thresholds (HLT) and tinnitus severity status. Pure tone air conduction audiometry was performed to assess the hearing level of the participants in this study. Anxiety and depression were assessed in this study using the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). Tinnitus severity was assessed using tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) and tinnitus functional index (TFI).
Results: The impact of tinnitus perception on the quality of life was found higher in suffering group comparing to coping group. A significant positive correlation was found between the age of tinnitus subjects and their hearing loss thresholds (r=0.36, P=0.037). The TFI score was found significantly higher (P=0.007) in the unilateral tinnitus group compared to the bilateral tinnitus group. In TFI subscales ‘Intrusiveness’ scored the highest (58%), while Quality of Life scored the lowest 20%). A significant positive correlation was found between hearing loss and tinnitus duration (r=0.40, P=0.019). Also, the correlation between tinnitus severity and anxiety and depression was identified in this study.
Conclusion: These findings revealed that tinnitus perception has negative impacts on the quality of life. Tinnitus laterality may seem to play a factor on the tinnitus severity.