Correlation Between the Pitch and Loudness of Tinnitus, Hearing Levels, and Tinnitus
Handicap Inventory Scores in Patients with Chronic Subjective Tinnitus
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between tinnitus
pitch and loudness, the frequency of hearing loss, hearing level, and the Tinnitus
Handicap Inventory (THI) scores reported by patients. Methods: In total, 139 patients
(50 men and 89 women; mean age ± SD, 60.19 ± 11.47 years) who suffered from chronic
primary tinnitus associated with sensorineural hearing loss were included in the study.
Participants underwent pure-tone audiometry and tinnitus pitch matching assessments.
Additionally, all participants completed the Hungarian version of the THI questionnaire.
Correlations were assessed using simple linear, Spearman’s, and Pearson’s correlation
tests, and a linear regression model was applied. The Mann–Whitney U test was also
used. Results: This study identified a significant correlation between the pitch of
tinnitus and the frequency of hearing loss (p = 0.000 *; rho = 0.549). There was also
a significant correlation between tinnitus noise and hearing levels (p = 0.000 *;
rho = 0.375). Age was shown to significantly affect tinnitus loudness (p = 0.016 *)
and hearing levels (p = 0.000 *) as determined by a linear regression model. Tinnitus
duration only significantly influenced tinnitus loudness (p = 0.022). There was no
significant effect of sex on tinnitus or audiometry parameters. Total THI scores were
influenced solely by tinnitus loudness (p = 0.021 *). Furthermore, sex did have an
effect on total THI scores, with women reporting higher scores (p = 0.000 *). Conclusions:
This study concluded that there is a significant correlation between the pitch and
loudness of tinnitus and hearing levels, suggesting a connection in their underlying
mechanisms. The intensity of tinnitus and hearing level are primarily affected by
ageing processes. Furthermore, the severity of self-perceived tinnitus is mainly related
to the loudness of tinnitus.
