Comparison of otoacoustic emissions in patients with tinnitus having normal hearing versus mild hearing loss

INTRODUCTION: Tinnitus is an auditory sensation whose source comes from external stimulus to the body. All studies that can help people with this disorder are very imperative. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the cochlear function in patients with tinnitus, using Distortion Products Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ears where the subjects referred to feel the tinnitus were considered for the study group while other ears without this sensation of tinnitus acted as a control group. Fifty subjects suffering from unilateral or bilateral tinnitus with normal hearing sensitivity or mild hearing loss were recruited. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Where comparing the control and study group, the highest percentage of cases of DPOAE detected was in the control group, although these differences were not statistically significant. When the analyzed frequency is the same as the tinnitus frequency, the prevalence of detected DPOAE is in tinnitus ears (50.0 %). In ears where tinnitus was not perceived (73.5 %) a p value of 0.024 (< 0.05) was found, which means that the undetected DPOAE could be influenced by tinnitus. Based on the results, tinnitus might not be caused by changes in the outer hair cells but seems to be affected by that.