The results of high-frequency audiometry in tinnitus patients

Objective: To evaluate high-frequency (HF) audiometry in subjects with unilateral subjective tinnitus and normal pure tone thresholds (≤25 dB HL) at 0.25-8 kHz. Materials and methods: The study group; consisted of 20 patients with unilateral subjective tinnitus (12 women, 8 men) and normal hearing threshold levels. A control group was also selected as 20 subjects (11 women, 9 men) having normal pure tone thresholds below 25 dBHL at 0.25-8 kHz and not complaining of tinnitus. The HF audiometry testing was used. HF hearing threshold measurements were performed in a sound-treated booth using the clinic audiometer (Interacoustics AC 40, Danimarka) with Koss R80 HF headphone at 10, 12.5, 14 and 16 kHz. Results: The pure tone hearing thresholds showed difference between tinnitus ears of study group and control group at 10, 12.5, 14 and 16 kHz ( p < .05). Similarly HF hearing thresholds showed difference between tinnitus ears and non-tinnitus ears in the study group at 10, 12.5, 14 and 16 kHz ( p < .05). Conclusions: The routinely use of HF audiometry in tinnitus subjects with normal pure tone thresholds with conventional audiometry can provide useful information about the patients’ hearing status.