ABSTRACT
Purpose
Objective: To analyze auditory information processing responses in young adult subjects with tinnitus disorder.
Methods
A descriptive and quantitative study was conducted, involving 36 subjects aged between 19 and 35 years. The subjects were divided into two groups: Group 1 (20 subjects with chronic tinnitus) and Group 2 (16 subjects without tinnitus). All participants underwent medical history assessment, Visual Inspection of the External Auditory Canal, Pure-Tone Audiometry, Speech Audiometry, Acoustic Immittance Measures, and used Behavioral Central Auditory Processing Tests as an evaluation tool - Dichotic Digits Test (TDD), Frequency Pattern Test, Speech in Noise, Masking Level Difference, and Gap in Noise (GIN).
Results
Statistically significant differences were found between the groups for TDD responses in the left ear and for GIN in both ears.
Conclusion
Young adults with chronic tinnitus exhibit impairments in binaural integration and temporal resolution skills.
Keywords:
Tinnitus; Auditory processing; Hearing; Adults; Brain
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Subtitle: % = percentage; DDT RE = right ear dichotic digit test; DDT LE = left ear dichotic digit test; G1 = subjects with tinnitus; G2 = subjects without tinnitus; CI = confidence interval
Subtitle: % = percentage; SR RE = speech in noise in the right ear; SR LE = speech in noise in the left ear; G1 = subjects with tinnitus; G2 = subjects without tinnitus; CI = confidence interval
Subtitle: % = percentage; TPF = Standard Frequency Test; G1 = Subjects with tinnitus; G2 = Subjects without tinnitus; CI = Confidence Interval
Subtitle: dB = decibels; MLD = Masking Level Difference; G1 = subjects with tinnitus; G2 = subjects without tinnitus; CI = Confidence Interval
Subtitle: % = Percentage; GIN RE = Gap In Noise in the right ear; GIN LE = Gap In Noise in the left ear; G1 = subjects with tinnitus; G2 = subjects without tinnitus; CI = Confidence Interval; ms = milliseconds