Relation of distortion product otoacoustic emission with tinnitus.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate cochlear outer hair cell function based on distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) in patients with tinnitus.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a case control study.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The subjects are patients who attended the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic in Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia over a period of 19 months from April 2005 until October 2006. All patients underwent a full ENT assessment and had tympanometry, pure tone audiometry, and DPOAE tests. The UKM Research and Ethics Committee reviewed and approved the study proposal prior to commencement of this study.

RESULTS

The study population included 49 patients. They consisted of 16 patients (32 ears) with tinnitus and reduced hearing, 13 patients (26 ears) with tinnitus and normal hearing, 7 patients (13 ears) without tinnitus with reduced hearing, and 13 patients (26 ears) without tinnitus with normal hearing. Statistical analysis showed significant differences (P = .00) of mean DPOAE levels between the four groups of patients.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that reduced outer hair cell activity, as detected by reduced DPOAE levels, may manifest as tinnitus even before there is a shift on hearing threshold. We also postulate that further reduction of cochlear outer hair cell activity, as shown by further reduced DPOAE levels, may actually terminate the source of tinnitus.