Tinnitus: Characterization of associated hearing loss and modalities of treatment

Purpose: To assess the characteristics of hearing loss with respect to tinnitus and to study the efficacy of various modalities of treatment of tinnitus. Design: Prospective study. Materials and Methods: Patients were assigned into three groups. All patients underwent a complete ENT examination, followed by pure tone audiometry, tinnitus matching, and tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) score. Patients were treated with gingko biloba, gabapentin, or tinnitus-retraining therapy (TRT) for a period of 6 weeks following which above investigations were repeated. Results: The study showed a positive correlation between tinnitus loudness matches and frequency of maximum hearing threshold (r = 0.687, P = 0.001) and a significant relation between tinnitus loudness matching and THI score (r = 0.383, P = 0.001). However, no correlations were observed between pitch match frequency and THI scores. Gingko biloba and TRT were found to be effective in the management of tinnitus (P < 0.01), but no improvement was observed with gabapentin therapy (P = 0.051). Conclusion: Tinnitus loudness matches near the threshold of frequency of maximum hearing loss, thus indicating that as threshold of hearing increases, the perception of tinnitus loudness increases. However, pitch match frequency does not affect severity of tinnitus. Gingko biloba and TRT are useful in the treatment of tinnitus.