[Impact of tinnitus on quality of life in the patients' self-assessment].

: Tinnitus may have multidirectional impact on patients and influence unfavourably their quality of life and psychology. The aim of the study was to investigate the aetiology, audiological parameters, and tinnitus characteristics and to evaluate the impact of tinnitus on patients life and emotional status by using the self-report questionnaire. A group of 157 consecutive patients referred to the Otiatry Clinic Medical University in Lodz were enrolled in the study. It was found that tinnitus negatively impact on 2/3 of patients and 1/3 of them consider it as annoying. The most frequent aetiological factor was noise exposure (40.8%). There was no correlation between tinnitus loudness and degree of hearing loss on the one hand and self-perceived handicap and annoyance of tinnitus on the other. It was stated that younger age and higher tinnitus pitch-match frequencies may influence patients' quality of life.