Tinnitus: A Hospital Based Prospective Study

Abstract

Introduction: Tinnitus is a common complaint of patients attending to ENT out-patient department. The main risk factor of tinnitus is hearing loss which is mainly sensorineural type. Other possible risk factors are smoking, alcohol intake, noise exposure etc. The aim of study was to find the characteristics of tinnitus, risk factors and its underlying cause in the patients presenting to ENT-HNS outpatient department.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted at author’s institute over a period of 6 months. A total of 116 patients attending ENT-HNS OPD with history of tinnitus was included in the study. A detailed history was obtained and clinical examination was done as per the standard questionnaire. All patients were subjected to pure tone audiometry (PTA).

Results: A total of 116 patients with tinnitus were included. The mean age of the patient was 46.7 years. The female to male ratio was 1.76. Most of them (54.3%) had bilateral, progressive tinnitus. The most common risk factor were alcohol intake (9.5%). The common cause of tinnitus was presbycusis (29.3%). Hearing loss was found in 73.3% of patients and sensorineural type was mostly seen.

Conclusion: Tinnitus was the common symptom seen in elderly female. It was perceived bilaterally. Alcohol intake, noise exposure and smoking were the associated risk factors. Presbycusis was the most common cause. Patient had some degree of hearing loss which was sensorineural type in most of the cases.

Keywords: Hearing loss, Presbycusis, Sensorineural, Tinnitus