Is tinnitus a major concern in individuals with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder? – Questionnaire based study

Objective: Our study attempted to determine if tinnitus is a major concern in individuals with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD). The study also attempted to determine if pure tone average (PTA), speech identification scores (SIS), or reported duration of hearing loss could predict the tinnitus severity and functional handicap in adults with ANSD. Methods: Tinnitus functional index (TFI) and tinnitus severity index (TSI) were administered on all the 40 participants diagnosed with ANSD. Results: The mean TFI score was 44.3, which suggested moderate degree of tinnitus related functional impairment. The mean TSI score was found to be 33.3, which suggested moderate degree of severity in individuals with ANSD. The study also showed that tinnitus causes functional impairment that leading to sleep disturbances, emotional problems, and affecting the quality of life. There was no significant correlation (P > 0.05) between PTA, SIS, reported onset of hearing loss and scores of TFI or TSI. Conclusion: Tinnitus in individuals with ANSD should also be given priority during assessment and provide appropriate tinnitus management. Keywords: Tinnitus, Functional impairment, Severity, Questionnair