{"title":"Analysis of Loudness Discomfort Level Tests in Tinnitus Patients.","authors":"Seung-Ho Shin, Sung Wan Byun, Ho Yun Lee","doi":"10.1159/000538128","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>We aimed to investigate the clinical significance of the loudness discomfort level (LDL) test in tinnitus patients and its relationship with pure-tone audiometry, tinnitogram, and questionnaires.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 320 tinnitus patients who visited a tertiary university hospital's tinnitus clinic and completed LDL tests between March 2020 and December 2022. Epidemiological data and psychoacoustic test results were collected.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The LDL showed no significant differences between frequencies for both ears. The mean LDL did not correlate with mean pure-tone average or hearing thresholds at each frequency. The hearing loss group had a higher LDL at 8 kHz compared to the normal hearing group (p < 0.01). Objective sound intolerance was found in a quarter, correlating with subjective hyperacusis, anxiety, and depression. Weak negative correlations were found between most of questionnaire's scores and LDL on the left side. Tinnitus loudness weak negatively correlated with LDL at most frequencies, except 8 kHz.</p><p><strong>Discussion/conclusion: </strong>Our findings suggest a notable association between LDL levels and emotional factors in tinnitus patients, rather than with auditory thresholds. While lateralized differences in LDL responses were observed, specifically on the left side, these preliminary results do not confirm a causal link and thus do not warrant changes to current clinical testing protocols without further research.</p>","PeriodicalId":55432,"journal":{"name":"Audiology and Neuro-Otology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Audiology and Neuro-Otology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000538128","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/3/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"AUDIOLOGY & SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: We aimed to investigate the clinical significance of the loudness discomfort level (LDL) test in tinnitus patients and its relationship with pure-tone audiometry, tinnitogram, and questionnaires.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 320 tinnitus patients who visited a tertiary university hospital's tinnitus clinic and completed LDL tests between March 2020 and December 2022. Epidemiological data and psychoacoustic test results were collected.
Results: The LDL showed no significant differences between frequencies for both ears. The mean LDL did not correlate with mean pure-tone average or hearing thresholds at each frequency. The hearing loss group had a higher LDL at 8 kHz compared to the normal hearing group (p < 0.01). Objective sound intolerance was found in a quarter, correlating with subjective hyperacusis, anxiety, and depression. Weak negative correlations were found between most of questionnaire's scores and LDL on the left side. Tinnitus loudness weak negatively correlated with LDL at most frequencies, except 8 kHz.
Discussion/conclusion: Our findings suggest a notable association between LDL levels and emotional factors in tinnitus patients, rather than with auditory thresholds. While lateralized differences in LDL responses were observed, specifically on the left side, these preliminary results do not confirm a causal link and thus do not warrant changes to current clinical testing protocols without further research.
期刊介绍:
''Audiology and Neurotology'' provides a forum for the publication of the most-advanced and rigorous scientific research related to the basic science and clinical aspects of the auditory and vestibular system and diseases of the ear. This journal seeks submission of cutting edge research opening up new and innovative fields of study that may improve our understanding and treatment of patients with disorders of the auditory and vestibular systems, their central connections and their perception in the central nervous system. In addition to original papers the journal also offers invited review articles on current topics written by leading experts in the field. The journal is of primary importance for all scientists and practitioners interested in audiology, otology and neurotology, auditory neurosciences and related disciplines.