Tinnitus as a Source of Internal Noise

1986 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 400-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Penner
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
Psychometric Function ◽  
Correct Response ◽  
Internal Noise ◽  
Average Frequency ◽  
Maximum Frequency ◽  
Minimum Frequency ◽  
Frequency Matching ◽  
Pure Tones

For 7 patients with sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, pitch and loudness matches were made to the tinnitus. These matches were followed by measurement of three psychometric functions (probability of a correct response as a function of signal level) for pure tones, one in the presumed tinnitus region (i.e., at the average frequency matching the pitch of the tinnitus), one below the minimum frequency of the matches, and one above the maximum frequency of the matches. The data reveal (a) that pitch-loudness matches are usually quite variable and (b) that the slope of the psychometric function is flattest in the presumed tinnitus region. The first result is consistent with the idea that tinnitus is an unstable signal. The second result is consistent with the notion that the unstable tinnitus acts as a source of "internal" noise.

Magnitude Estimation and the "Paradoxical" Loudness of Tinnitus

1986 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Penner
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
Mathematical Description ◽  
Magnitude Estimate ◽  
Average Frequency ◽  
Sensation Level ◽  
Frequency Matching ◽  
Loudness Function ◽  
Intensity Match ◽  
Magnitude Estimates

Ten patients with sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus matched external tones to the tinnitus pitch. These matches were followed by (a) magnitude estimates to measure the loudness function of tones at 1 kHz and at the presumed tinnitus frequency (i.e., at the average frequency matching the pitch of the tinnitus), (b) magnitude estimates of the tinnitus itself, and (c) loudness matches of external tones to the tinnitus. The slope of the loudness function at 1 kHz is substantially smaller than the slope at the presumed tinnitus frequency. Most importantly, the magnitude estimates of the tinnitus coupled with intensity matches to the tinnitus provide coordinates that typically lie near the loudness function of the external tone used in the intensity match. Because the slope of the loudness function is much greater at the tinnitus frequency than at 1 kHz, the magnitude estimate of tinnitus loudness corresponds to a lower sensation level at that frequency than at 1 kHz. This finding favors the conclusion that rapid hanges in loudness of external tones at the tinnitus frequency account for the "paradoxical" loudness of the tinnitus. The conclusion is independent of any mathematical description of the loudness function.

Azathioprine in Combination with Steroids in the Treatment of Autoimmune Inner-Ear Disease

1993 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 192-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aytac Saraçaydin ◽  
Sedat Katircioğlu ◽  
Sami Katircioğlu ◽  
M Can Karatay
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
Inner Ear ◽  
Sensorineural Deafness ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Uncommon Disease ◽  
Inner Ear Disease ◽  
Pure Tones ◽  
Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease

A total of twelve patients with a relatively uncommon form of progressive sensorineural deafness (autoimmune innerear disease) were treated orally with 1 mg/kg azathioprine, once daily, and with 30 mg prednisolone, every other day, for 4 weeks. Statistically significant increases in the ability to hear pure tones or in discrimination on audiometry took place in 10/12 patients. This condition was initially described as ‘sensorineural hearing loss', but it is now clear that the term ‘autoimmune inner-ear disease’ is more appropriate since the vestibular compartment as well as the cochlear compartment is involved. This relatively uncommon disease is one of the few forms of sensorineural deafness that can be successfully treated.

Predicting Hearing Loss from the Acoustic Reflex

1974 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Jerger ◽  
Phillip Burney ◽  
Larry Mauldin ◽  
Betsy Crump
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Young Children ◽  
White Noise ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
Pure Tones

Acoustic reflex thresholds for pure tones and white noise were used to predict severity of audiometric loss in 1043 ears with sensorineural hearing loss. Both severity and slope of loss were predicted in an additional 113 ears. Prediction was usually quite accurate. Serious errors occurred in only 4% of cases. These findings have important implications for the auditory evaluation of babies and young children.

Bilateral Idiopathic Sensorineural Hearing Loss following Dental Surgery

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (03) ◽  
pp. 180-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard H. Wilson ◽  
Charles E. Witkowski ◽  
Ashley A.S. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Bone Conduction ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing ◽  
Dental Surgery ◽  
Pure Tone Audiogram ◽  
Wisdom Teeth ◽  
Pure Tones ◽  
Air Conduction

Background: This is a case study of an 18-year-old female who suffered a bilateral idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss that was coincident with the removal of four impacted wisdom teeth. Throughout childhood the patient had normal hearing for pure tones bilaterally as measured at the pediatrician's office. One month prior to dental surgery (May) the patient volunteered to participate in an auditory experiment at which time her pure-tone audiogram was normal. Immediately following surgery (June), the patient had substantial swelling of the face and complained of some hearing loss with no other auditory/vestibular complaints. The following month (July) during the course of a routine physical examination a pure-tone audiogram revealed bilateral, air-conduction thresholds of 30–35 dB HL (500–4000 Hz) and 20 dB HL (8000 Hz). Because bone conduction was not tested, it is impossible to know whether the hearing loss was conductive, mixed, or sensorineural. The pediatrician thought that the hearing loss was conductive and would resolve as the edema subsided. A month later (August) the subject again volunteered for an auditory experiment at which time her hearing again was tested. Purpose: The purpose of this report is to detail the dental procedures involved in the extraction of the wisdom teeth, to report the results of a variety and series of post-op hearing tests, and to discuss the possible mechanisms that might be involved in the “idiopathic” bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Research Design: Case report. Results: During the August visit to the laboratory, hearing for pure tones bilaterally was 0 to 5 dB HL at 250–1000 Hz with a 40–45 dB HL notch at 2000 Hz with a return to 10 dB HL at 8000 Hz. Air conduction and bone conduction thresholds were equivalent. Word recognition in quiet was ≥92 percent correct for both ears, whereas the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) hearing loss measured with the Words-in-Noise test was high normal in the left ear with a mild SNR hearing loss in the right ear. Tympanometry and acoustic reflex thresholds were normal. Distortion product otoacoustic emissions were reduced in the 1000–3000 Hz region for both ears, which is consistent with cochlear hearing loss. The hearing loss has remained unchanged for the past 19 months. Conclusions: The possible etiologies, including insults to the cochleae by vibration trauma and through alterations in the blood supply to the cochleae, are considered.

Tone-on-Tone Masking in Subjects with Normal Hearing and with Sensorineural Hearing Loss

1981 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 506-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Y. Chung
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Hearing Threshold ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing ◽  
Normal Case ◽  
Pure Tones

Quiet and masked thresholds were obtained from 5 subjects with normal hearing and 31 subjects with sensorineural hearing loss. Maskers were pure tones varying in frequency and intensity. The hearing-impaired subjects showed an abnormal spread of masking when masking was measured in terms of masked threshold. The abnormal spread of masking seems to be related to both the hearing threshold of the masker and the quiet threshold of the test signal. The notch due to detection of combination tones found on the high-frequency slope of masked audiograms of normal subjects (obscuring the actual extent to which the signal is masked) tends to accentuate the apparent abnormal upward spread of masking in the hearing-impaired subjects. The abnormal spread in the latter case is real, but comparison with the normal case must take the notch into account.

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