A cross-sectional questionnaire study of tinnitus awareness and impact in a population of adult cochlear implant users

Gomersall, Philip A.; Baguley, David; Carlyon, Robert P.

Abstract

Objectives: The primary aim was to identify the proportion of individuals within the adult cochlear implant population who are aware of tinnitus and those who report a negative impact from this perception, using a bespoke questionnaire designed to limit bias. A secondary aim was to use qualitative analysis of open-text responses to identify themes linked to tinnitus perception in this population.
Design: A cross-sectional questionnaire study of a large clinical population who received an implant from Cambridge University Hospitals, United Kingdom.
Results: Seventy-five percent of respondents reported tinnitus awareness. When impact scores for six areas of difficulty were ranked, 13% of individuals ranked tinnitus their primary concern and nearly a third ranked tinnitus in the top two positions. Tinnitus impact was not found to reduce with duration since implantation. The most common open-text responses were linked to a general improvement postimplantation and acute tinnitus alleviation specific to times when the device was in use.
Conclusions: Tinnitus is a problem for a significant proportion of individuals with a cochlear implant. Clinicians, scientists, and cochlear implant manufacturers should be aware that management of tinnitus may be a greater priority for an implantee than difficulties linked to speech perception. Where a positive effect of implantation was reported, there was greater evidence for masking of tinnitus via the implant rather than reversal of maladaptive plasticity.

Citation

Gomersall, P. A., Baguley, D., & Carlyon, R. P. (2019). A cross-sectional questionnaire study of tinnitus awareness and impact in a population of adult cochlear implant users. Ear and Hearing, 40(1), 135-142. https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000000601

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 28, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Jun 21, 2018
• Publication Date: Jan 30, 2019
• Deposit Date: Apr 4, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 21, 2018
• Journal: Ear and Hearing
• Print ISSN: 0196-0202
• Electronic ISSN: 1538-4667
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 40
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 135-142
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000000601
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/939860
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000000601
• Contract Date: Apr 4, 2018