Looking for objective correlates between tinnitus and cochlear synaptopathy

Chiara Casolani*, James Michael Harte, Bastian Epp

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingArticle in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

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Abstract

Tinnitus is the perception of a sound in the absence of acoustic stimulation. While usually connected to a hearing loss, there exists a subset of tinnitus sufferers with audiologically normal hearing, whose tinnitus was often initiated by a noise trauma. Noise-induced tinnitus might be connected to the noise exposure that leads to a permanent impairment of the hearing system without affecting sensitivity to sound. This is commonly referred to as hidden hearing loss (HHL) and might be connected to cochlear synaptopathy. The hypothesis that HHL is one of the causes underlying tinnitus is based on suppositions that both phenomena are related to deafferentation of auditory nerve fibres and related central gain adjustments. To investigate this connection, a screening procedure consisting of high frequency audiometry (HFA), tinnitus likeness spectrum and loudness, psychophysical tuning curves (PTC) and tinnitus masking curves (TMC), adaptive categorical loudness scaling, and middle-ear muscle reflex test was developed. Pilot results show that all measurements can be completed within a short time frame, due to a Bayesian procedure being adopted to measure HFA, PTC and TMC. These procedures may contribute to investigating the connection between tinnitus and HHL with a large number of outcome measures. This connection will provide important insights toward the development of better diagnoses and treatment methods.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research : Auditory Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems
Volume7
PublisherThe Danavox Jubilee Foundation
Publication date2020
Pages421-428
Publication statusPublished - 2020
EventInternational Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research: Auditory Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems - Nyborg, Denmark
Duration: 21 Aug 202023 Aug 2020
Conference number: 7
http://isaar.eu

Conference

ConferenceInternational Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research
Number7
Country/TerritoryDenmark
CityNyborg
Period21/08/202023/08/2020
Internet address
SeriesProceedings of the International Symposium on Audiological and Auditory Research
Volume7
ISSN2596-5522

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