CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2022; 26(03): e407-e413
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1726039
Original Research

The Role of Eye Color in the Emergence of Tinnitus in Silence

Onyinyechi C. Ukaegbe 
1   Communication Sciences and Disorders Department, School of Health and Human Sciences, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
2   Otorhinolaryngology Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu
,
Denise A. Tucker 
1   Communication Sciences and Disorders Department, School of Health and Human Sciences, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
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Abstract

Introduction Previous research suggests that African Americans are less likely than Caucasians to perceive tinnitus in sustained silence.

Objective To evaluate the association between non-cutaneous melanin as indicated by eye color and the emergence of temporary tinnitus during a brief period of silence.

Methods A cross-section of adults grouped according to their eye color were exposed to silence. A total of 62 adults, aged 18 to 35 years (10 males, 52 females) were required to sit in silence for 10 minutes, after which they filled out a questionnaire to report their eye color and any perception of sounds in the ears or head.

Results In total, 63% of the participants perceived tinnitus while sitting in silence, and, of these 95% perceived the tinnitus sounds within 5 minutes of sitting in silence. Though African Americans were less likely to perceive tinnitus in silence, this difference was not significant (p = 0.6). After a period of silence, 69% of the subjects with light-colored eyes and 58% of the dark-eyed subjects perceived tinnitus. This difference was not statistically significant (χ2(1) = 0.77; p = 0.38).

Conclusion When exposed to reduced auditory stimulation, 3 out of 5 normal-hearing people are likely to experience tinnitus. However, there was no relationship between eye color and the perception of tinnitus in silence. Although melanin has been shown to play a role in the protection of the ear against noise trauma and the effects of age-related hearing loss, its role in the emergence of tinnitus needs further investigation.

Keywords

tinnitus - eye color - melanin


Publication History

Received: 25 June 2020

Accepted: 24 November 2020

Article published online:
11 November 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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