Abstract
The aim of the study was to compare the extended high-frequency (EHF) hearing thresholds (10–16 kHz) in tinnitus and non-tinnitus ears, in a group of 98 patients with unilateral tinnitus and normal hearing at standard audiometric frequencies, in a 0.125–8 kHz range. It was found that a total of 65 patients (66%) had a hearing loss (a threshold shift >20 dB HL) in the EHF range and the EHF hearing loss occurred more frequently in the tinnitus ear than in the non-tinnitus ear. The data also indicate that the EHF thresholds increased with the patient’s age and were in most patients higher in the tinnitus ear than in the non-tinnitus ear.Keywords:
extended high frequency, hearing loss, tinnitusReferences
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3. Biswas R., Lugo A., Akeroyd M.A., Schlee W., Gallus S., Hall D.A. (2022), Tinnitus prevalence in Europe: a multi-country cross-sectional population study, The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, 12: 100250, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2021.100250
4. Eggermont J.J. (2003), Central tinnitus, Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 30(Suplement): 7–12, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0385-8146%2802%2900122-0
5. Eggermont J.J., Roberts L.E. (2004), The neuroscience of tinnitus, Trends in Neurosciences, 27(11): 676–682, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2004.08.010
6. Elmoazen D.M., Kozou H.S., Mohamed A.A. (2018), High frequency audiometry in tinnitus patients with normal hearing in conventional audiometry, The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology, 34: 308–315, https://doi.org/10.4103/ejo.ejo_44_18
7. Fabijanska A. et al. (2012), The relationship between distortion product otoacoustic emissions and extended high-frequency audiometry in tinnitus patients. Part 1: Normally hearing patients with unilateral tinnitus, Medical Science Monitor, 18(12): CR765–CR770, https://doi.org/10.12659/msm.883606
8. Folmer R.L. (2002), Long-term reductions in tinnitus severity, BMC Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders, 2(1): 3, https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6815-2-3
9. Haider H.F., Bojic T., Ribeiro S.F., Paço J., Hall D.A., Szczepek A.J. (2018), Pathophysiology of subjective tinnitus: triggers and maintenance, Frontiers in Neuroscience, 12: 866, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2018.00866
10. Hoare D.J., Edmondson-Jones M., Sereda M., Akeroyd M.A., Hall D. (2014), Amplification with hearing aids for patients with tinnitus and co-existing hearing loss (Review), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1: CD010151, https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010151.pub2
11. Hunter L.L. et al. (2020), Extended high frequency hearing and speech perception implications in adults and children, Hearing Research, 397: 107922, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heares.2020.107922
12. Jilek M., Šuta D., Syka J. (2014), Reference hearing thresholds in an extended frequency range as a function of age, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 136(4): 1821–1830, https://doi.org/10.1121/1.4894719
13. Joris P.X. (2009), Recruitment of neurons and loudness, Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, 10(1): 1–4, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10162-009-0156-0
14. Keppler H., Degeest S., Dhooge I. (2017), The relationship between tinnitus pitch and parameters of audiometry and distortion product otoacoustic emissions, Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 131(11): 1017–1025, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022215117001803
15. Kim D.-K., Park S.N., Kim H.M., Son H.R., Kim N.-G., Park K.-H. (2011), Prevalence and significance of high-frequency hearing loss in subjectively normal-hearing patients with tinnitus, Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology, 120(8): 523–528, https://doi.org/10.1177/000348941112000806
16. Liberman M.C., Epstein M.J., Cleveland S.S., Wang H., Maison S.F. (2016), Towards a differential diagnosis of hidden hearing loss in humans, PLOS ONE, 11(9): e0162726, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0162726
17. McCormack A. et al. (2014), The prevalence of tinnitus and the relationship with neuroticism in a middleaged UK population, Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 76(1): 56–60, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.08.018
18. Moore B.C.J., Vinay, Sandhya (2010), The relationship between tinnitus pitch and the edge frequency of the audiogram in individuals with hearing impairment and tonal tinnitus, Hearing Research, 261(1–2): 51–56, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heares.2010.01.003
19. Mujdeci B., Dere H.H. (2019), The results of high-frequency audiometry in tinnitus patients, Hearing, Balance and Communication, 17(4): 266–269, https://doi.org/10.1080/21695717.2019.1630974
20. Nicolas-Puel C., Faulconbridge R.L., Guitton M., Puel J.-L., Mondain M., Uziel A. (2002), Characteristics of tinnitus and etiology of associated hearing loss: a study of 123 patients, International Tinnitus Journal, 8(1): 37–44.
21. Omidvar S., Jafari Z., Mahmoudian S., Khabazkhoob M., Ahadi M., Yazdani N. (2016), The relationship between ultra-high frequency thresholds and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in adults with tinnitus, Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 30: 449.
22. Oppitz S.J., Silva L.C.L., Garcia M.V., Silveira A.F. (2018), High-frequency auditory thresholds in normal hearing adults, CoDAS, 30(4): e20170165, https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1782/20182017165
23. Poling G.L., Kunnel T.J., Dhar S. (2016), Comparing the accuracy and speed of manual and tracking methods of measuring hearing thresholds, Ear and Hearing, 37(5): e336–e340, https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000000317
24. Prendergast G., Hymers M., Lee A. (2020), A quick and reliable estimate of extended high-frequency hearing, International Journal of Audiology, 59(11): 823–827, https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2020.1767810
25. Prestes R., Gil D. (2009), Impact of tinnitus on quality of life, loudness and pitch match, and highfrequency audiometry, International Tinnitus Journal, 15(2): 134–138.
26. Ristovska L., Jachova Z., Filipovski R., Atanasova N. (2016), Audiometric findings in patients with subjective tinnitus, Croatian Review of Rehabilitation Research, 52(1): 42–50, https://doi.org/10.31299/hrri.52.1.4
27. Ristovska L., Jachova Z., Stojcheska V. (2019), Psychoacoustic characteristics of tinnitus in relation to audiometric profile, Archives of Acoustics, 44(3): 419–428, https://doi.org/10.24425/aoa.2019.129258
28. Roberts L.E., Husain F.T., Eggermont J.J. (2013), Role of attention in the generation and modulation of tinnitus, Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 37(8): 1754–1773, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.07.007
29. Rodríguez Valiente A., Roldán Fidalgo A., Villarreal I.M., García Berrocal J.R. (2016), Extended high-frequency audiometry (9000–20000 Hz). Usefulness in audiological diagnosis, Acta Otorrinolaringologica Espanola, 67(1): 40–44, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otorri.2015.02.002
30. Rodríguez Valiente A., Trinidad A., García Berrocal J.R., Górriz C., Ramírez Camacho R. (2014), Extended high-frequency (9–20 kHz) audiometry reference thresholds in 645 healthy subjects, International Journal of Audiology, 53(8): 531–545, https://doi.org/10.3109/14992027.2014.893375
31. Sanches S.G.G., Sanchez T.G., Carvallo R.M.M. (2010), Influence of cochlear function on auditory temporal resolution in tinnitus patients, Audiology & Neurotology, 15(5): 273–281, https://doi.org/10.1159/000272939
32. Shim H.J. et al. (2009), Hearing abilities at ultrahigh frequency in patients with tinnitus, Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology, 2(4): 169–174, https://doi.org/10.3342/ceo.2009.2.4.169
33. Silva I.M.C., Feitosa M.Â.G. (2006), High-frequency audiometry in young and older adults when conventional audiometry is normal, Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 72(5): 665–672, https://doi.org/10.1016/s1808-8694%2815%2931024-7
34. Song Z. et al. (2021), Tinnitus is associated with extended high-frequency hearing loss and hidden highfrequency damage in young patients, Otology & Neurotology, 42(3): 377–383, https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000002983
35. Steinmetz L.G., Zeigelboim B.S., Lacerda A.B., Morata T.C., Marques J.M. (2009), The characteristics of tinnitus in workers exposed to noise, Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 75(1): 7–14, https://doi.org/10.1016/s1808-8694%2815%2930825-9
36. Vielsmeier V. et al. (2015), The relevance of the high frequency audiometry in tinnitus patients with normal hearing in conventional pure-tone audiometry, BioMed Research International, 2015: 302515, https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/302515
37. Wang K., Tang D., Ma J., Sun S. (2020), Auditory neural plasticity in tinnitus mechanisms and management, Neural Plasticity, 2020: 7438461, https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/7438461
38. Weisz N., Moratti S., Meinzer M., Dohrmann K., Elbert T. (2005), Tinnitus perception and distress is related to abnormal spontaneous brain activity as measured by magnetoencephalography, PLOS Medicine, 2(6): e153, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0020153
39. Yildirim G., Berkiten G., Kuzdere M., Ugras H. (2010), High frequency audiometry in patients presenting with tinnitus, The Journal of International Advanced Otology, 6(3): 401–407.
2. Baguley D., McFerran D., Hall D. (2013), Tinnitus, Lancet, 382(9904): 1600–1607, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736%2813%2960142-7
3. Biswas R., Lugo A., Akeroyd M.A., Schlee W., Gallus S., Hall D.A. (2022), Tinnitus prevalence in Europe: a multi-country cross-sectional population study, The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, 12: 100250, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2021.100250
4. Eggermont J.J. (2003), Central tinnitus, Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 30(Suplement): 7–12, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0385-8146%2802%2900122-0
5. Eggermont J.J., Roberts L.E. (2004), The neuroscience of tinnitus, Trends in Neurosciences, 27(11): 676–682, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2004.08.010
6. Elmoazen D.M., Kozou H.S., Mohamed A.A. (2018), High frequency audiometry in tinnitus patients with normal hearing in conventional audiometry, The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology, 34: 308–315, https://doi.org/10.4103/ejo.ejo_44_18
7. Fabijanska A. et al. (2012), The relationship between distortion product otoacoustic emissions and extended high-frequency audiometry in tinnitus patients. Part 1: Normally hearing patients with unilateral tinnitus, Medical Science Monitor, 18(12): CR765–CR770, https://doi.org/10.12659/msm.883606
8. Folmer R.L. (2002), Long-term reductions in tinnitus severity, BMC Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders, 2(1): 3, https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6815-2-3
9. Haider H.F., Bojic T., Ribeiro S.F., Paço J., Hall D.A., Szczepek A.J. (2018), Pathophysiology of subjective tinnitus: triggers and maintenance, Frontiers in Neuroscience, 12: 866, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2018.00866
10. Hoare D.J., Edmondson-Jones M., Sereda M., Akeroyd M.A., Hall D. (2014), Amplification with hearing aids for patients with tinnitus and co-existing hearing loss (Review), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1: CD010151, https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010151.pub2
11. Hunter L.L. et al. (2020), Extended high frequency hearing and speech perception implications in adults and children, Hearing Research, 397: 107922, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heares.2020.107922
12. Jilek M., Šuta D., Syka J. (2014), Reference hearing thresholds in an extended frequency range as a function of age, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 136(4): 1821–1830, https://doi.org/10.1121/1.4894719
13. Joris P.X. (2009), Recruitment of neurons and loudness, Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, 10(1): 1–4, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10162-009-0156-0
14. Keppler H., Degeest S., Dhooge I. (2017), The relationship between tinnitus pitch and parameters of audiometry and distortion product otoacoustic emissions, Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 131(11): 1017–1025, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022215117001803
15. Kim D.-K., Park S.N., Kim H.M., Son H.R., Kim N.-G., Park K.-H. (2011), Prevalence and significance of high-frequency hearing loss in subjectively normal-hearing patients with tinnitus, Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology, 120(8): 523–528, https://doi.org/10.1177/000348941112000806
16. Liberman M.C., Epstein M.J., Cleveland S.S., Wang H., Maison S.F. (2016), Towards a differential diagnosis of hidden hearing loss in humans, PLOS ONE, 11(9): e0162726, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0162726
17. McCormack A. et al. (2014), The prevalence of tinnitus and the relationship with neuroticism in a middleaged UK population, Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 76(1): 56–60, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.08.018
18. Moore B.C.J., Vinay, Sandhya (2010), The relationship between tinnitus pitch and the edge frequency of the audiogram in individuals with hearing impairment and tonal tinnitus, Hearing Research, 261(1–2): 51–56, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heares.2010.01.003
19. Mujdeci B., Dere H.H. (2019), The results of high-frequency audiometry in tinnitus patients, Hearing, Balance and Communication, 17(4): 266–269, https://doi.org/10.1080/21695717.2019.1630974
20. Nicolas-Puel C., Faulconbridge R.L., Guitton M., Puel J.-L., Mondain M., Uziel A. (2002), Characteristics of tinnitus and etiology of associated hearing loss: a study of 123 patients, International Tinnitus Journal, 8(1): 37–44.
21. Omidvar S., Jafari Z., Mahmoudian S., Khabazkhoob M., Ahadi M., Yazdani N. (2016), The relationship between ultra-high frequency thresholds and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in adults with tinnitus, Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 30: 449.
22. Oppitz S.J., Silva L.C.L., Garcia M.V., Silveira A.F. (2018), High-frequency auditory thresholds in normal hearing adults, CoDAS, 30(4): e20170165, https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1782/20182017165
23. Poling G.L., Kunnel T.J., Dhar S. (2016), Comparing the accuracy and speed of manual and tracking methods of measuring hearing thresholds, Ear and Hearing, 37(5): e336–e340, https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000000317
24. Prendergast G., Hymers M., Lee A. (2020), A quick and reliable estimate of extended high-frequency hearing, International Journal of Audiology, 59(11): 823–827, https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2020.1767810
25. Prestes R., Gil D. (2009), Impact of tinnitus on quality of life, loudness and pitch match, and highfrequency audiometry, International Tinnitus Journal, 15(2): 134–138.
26. Ristovska L., Jachova Z., Filipovski R., Atanasova N. (2016), Audiometric findings in patients with subjective tinnitus, Croatian Review of Rehabilitation Research, 52(1): 42–50, https://doi.org/10.31299/hrri.52.1.4
27. Ristovska L., Jachova Z., Stojcheska V. (2019), Psychoacoustic characteristics of tinnitus in relation to audiometric profile, Archives of Acoustics, 44(3): 419–428, https://doi.org/10.24425/aoa.2019.129258
28. Roberts L.E., Husain F.T., Eggermont J.J. (2013), Role of attention in the generation and modulation of tinnitus, Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 37(8): 1754–1773, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.07.007
29. Rodríguez Valiente A., Roldán Fidalgo A., Villarreal I.M., García Berrocal J.R. (2016), Extended high-frequency audiometry (9000–20000 Hz). Usefulness in audiological diagnosis, Acta Otorrinolaringologica Espanola, 67(1): 40–44, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otorri.2015.02.002
30. Rodríguez Valiente A., Trinidad A., García Berrocal J.R., Górriz C., Ramírez Camacho R. (2014), Extended high-frequency (9–20 kHz) audiometry reference thresholds in 645 healthy subjects, International Journal of Audiology, 53(8): 531–545, https://doi.org/10.3109/14992027.2014.893375
31. Sanches S.G.G., Sanchez T.G., Carvallo R.M.M. (2010), Influence of cochlear function on auditory temporal resolution in tinnitus patients, Audiology & Neurotology, 15(5): 273–281, https://doi.org/10.1159/000272939
32. Shim H.J. et al. (2009), Hearing abilities at ultrahigh frequency in patients with tinnitus, Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology, 2(4): 169–174, https://doi.org/10.3342/ceo.2009.2.4.169
33. Silva I.M.C., Feitosa M.Â.G. (2006), High-frequency audiometry in young and older adults when conventional audiometry is normal, Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 72(5): 665–672, https://doi.org/10.1016/s1808-8694%2815%2931024-7
34. Song Z. et al. (2021), Tinnitus is associated with extended high-frequency hearing loss and hidden highfrequency damage in young patients, Otology & Neurotology, 42(3): 377–383, https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000002983
35. Steinmetz L.G., Zeigelboim B.S., Lacerda A.B., Morata T.C., Marques J.M. (2009), The characteristics of tinnitus in workers exposed to noise, Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 75(1): 7–14, https://doi.org/10.1016/s1808-8694%2815%2930825-9
36. Vielsmeier V. et al. (2015), The relevance of the high frequency audiometry in tinnitus patients with normal hearing in conventional pure-tone audiometry, BioMed Research International, 2015: 302515, https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/302515
37. Wang K., Tang D., Ma J., Sun S. (2020), Auditory neural plasticity in tinnitus mechanisms and management, Neural Plasticity, 2020: 7438461, https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/7438461
38. Weisz N., Moratti S., Meinzer M., Dohrmann K., Elbert T. (2005), Tinnitus perception and distress is related to abnormal spontaneous brain activity as measured by magnetoencephalography, PLOS Medicine, 2(6): e153, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0020153
39. Yildirim G., Berkiten G., Kuzdere M., Ugras H. (2010), High frequency audiometry in patients presenting with tinnitus, The Journal of International Advanced Otology, 6(3): 401–407.
