The Long-term Prognosis of Residual Tinnitus with Idiopathic Sudden
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Abstract
Objectives:To analyze the factors affecting the long-term prognosis of
tinnitus accompanied with unilateral idiopathic sudden sensorineural
hearing loss (SSNHL). Design:A cohort study. Setting:Academic
hospital. Participants:A total of 161 patients with sudden hearing loss
accompanied by tinnitus were enrolled. All the patients had two separate
telephone follow-ups and were asked about changes in tinnitus. Main
outcome measures:The severity of tinnitus at admission and the outcome
at discharge were assessed in terms of the patients’ sex, age, level of
hearing loss, type of audiogram, and so on. Results and
Conclusions:Initial tinnitus level was remarkably associated with
tinnitus efficacy at discharge and was an independent risk factor for
the long-term prognosis of residual tinnitus after SSNHL (odds ratio
0.722, 95% confidence interval 0.550-0.949, p = 0.019), and the median
recovery time was 23.00 ± 3.80 months.