Audiologic findings of tinnitus patients

Background & objectives: The purpose of this study was evaluating the hearing status of tinnitus patients referred to our center. Materials & Methods: A total of 144 Patients, referred to our center by the end of December 2008 to June 2009, who have tinnitus complaints after initial examination and cleaning the ear canal in the audiology clinic were introduced and completed the questionnaire. Audiometry with polls to assess the severity and tinnitus frequency is done. Results: Based on the job criteria the patients divided in two groups of noisy job by 27.1 percent and 72.9 percent in a quiet job respectively. In the study based on precise frequency test (FT), 72 individuals (50%) with type Tone, 54 individuals (37.5%) with Narrow band noise condition and 18 (12.5%) had no resemblance. In comparison of the subjects based on severity of tinnitus only 126 individuals were correctly measured, 68 (47.2%) with intensity less than 5 dB SL, 41 (28.5%) were 5-10 dB SL and 17 (11.8%) showed more than 10 dB SL. In comparison of the audiogram as the highest values of inference are included 48 (31.5%) type of High Tone Loss, 38 patients (26.4%) type of sensory neural, 30 subjects (20.8%) or normal type and 22 subjects (15.3 percent) were of conductive type. Conclusions: we could demonstrate that not only the amount of hearing losses, but also the shape of the audiogram might be an important factor for the occurrence of tinnitus. In our sample of patients, tinnitus was connected to audiograms with a steep slope.