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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2022; 26(01): e046-e057
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1722248
Original Research

Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAEs) In Tinnitus Patients

Hend F. Alshabory
1   Audiovestibular Medicine Unit, Otolaryngology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt
,
Takwa A. Gabr 
1   Audiovestibular Medicine Unit, Otolaryngology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt
,
Mona A. Kotait
2   Audiovestibular Medicine Unit, Otolaryngology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
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Abstract

Introduction Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of external sound stimulation. There is a general agreement that it is a direct consequence of irreversible and permanent cochlear damage.

Objectives The present work is designed to study the distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) in tinnitus patients with normal hearing in comparison with normal hearing control and to study any possible correlation between DPOAEs recording and patients' complaints.

Methods The present study included 80 subjects divided into 2 groups: Control group: consisted of 30 normal-hearing adults not complaining of tinnitus and Study group: consisted of 50 normal-hearing adults complaining of tinnitus. The methodology includes full audiological history, otoscopic examination, basic audiological evaluation, DPOAEs including both DP-gram and DPOAEs input/output functions.

Results Basic audiological evaluation showed within normal hearing sensitivity in both groups, however, with significant higher hearing thresholds in tinnitus patients at all frequency ranges. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory Questionnaire showed mean scores of 35.2 ± 16.9 in the study group. The DP-gram showed higher amplitudes in the control group when compared with tinnitus patients. The DPOAEs input-output functions at different frequencies (1, 2, 4 and 6kHz) also showed higher amplitudes at all frequencies and different input levels. The slope of the I/O function tends to be steeper in tinnitus cases.

Conclusion Patients with tinnitus might have neural dysfunction at either the level of the cochlea, as shown in reduced DPOAE levels, and changes in the normal DP-I/O function recorded in the present work.

Keywords

tinnitus - otoacoustic emissions - cochlear outer hair cells


Publication History

Received: 17 July 2020

Accepted: 08 November 2020

Article published online:
29 March 2021

© 2021. Fundação Otorrinolaringologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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