The Temporal Course of the Masking of Tinnitus as a Basis for Inferring Its Origin

1981 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Penner ◽  
Steven Brauth ◽  
Linda Hood
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
Neural Activity ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing ◽  
Eighth Nerve ◽  
Band Noise ◽  
Minute Period ◽  
Temporal Course

For patients with tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss, the intensity of broad-band noise required to mask the tinnitus increases by as much as 45 dB during a 30-minute period if the patient is exposed to noise. In contrast, the intensity required to mask an external tone remains nearly constant. Some speculations which might account for this result are offered. Excess neural activity is posited to be the physiological determinant of tinnitus and to be central, generated in the brainstem postsynaptic to the, eighth nerve.

The Annoyance of Tinnitus and the Noise Required to Mask It

1983 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Penner
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Noise Level ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Total Change ◽  
Band Noise ◽  
Minute Period ◽  
Point Rating Scale ◽  
Over Time

For 11 patients with tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss, the intensity of bilateral broad-band noise required to mask the tinnitus increased by as much as 41 dB over a 30-minute period. A significant correlation was obtained between the rate of change in the noise over time and reported annoyance of the tinnitus as measured on a 5-point rating scale. The total change in the noise level and the initial noise level required to mask the tinnitus were not significantly correlated with the annoyance of the tinnitus.

Evaluation of Relationship Between Hearing Threshold and Loudness Discomfort Level in Sensorineural Hearing Loss

1979 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irving Shapiro
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Threshold ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing ◽  
Hearing Level ◽  
Profound Hearing Loss ◽  
Band Noise ◽  
Group I ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Narrow Bands

The relationship between hearing level and loudness discomfort level (LDL) for narrow-band noise was evaluated in two groups of patients with sensorineural hearing loss. Group I had thresholds ranging from 25–60 dB SPL and Group II’s thresholds ranged from 65–100 dB SPL. LDLs were determined for narrow bands of noise centered at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz. The LDLs for Group II were greater than those for Group I and the differences were statistically significant. It is speculated that one reason for others not finding differences as a function of hearing level may be the absence of severe to profound hearing loss in the test populations.

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