Auditory Brainstem Response Results in Normal-Hearing Patients with Tinnitus

Abstract

The definition is “The perception of sound that results exclusively from activity within the central nervous system without any corresponding mechanical, vibratory activity within the cochlea, and not related to external stimulation of any kind. This study presents the findings of ABR in tinnitus patients having normal hearing sensitivity in both ears. This aim of this study was to see any abnormality in neural conduction in auditory brainstem in tinnitus patients having normal hearing. This study included 25 subjects having normal hearing with tinnitus complain in both ear. All were submitted to full audiological history taking, otological examination, basic audiological evaluation and Auditory brainstem response audiometry (ABR) which was recorded in both ears followed by calculation of the absolute latencies of wave I, III and V, as well as interpeak latencies (I-III, III-V, I-V). Some tinnitus patients showed significant prolonged absolute latencies of I, III (p=0.001) and interpeak latencies I-III, III-V and I-V in left ear (p= 0.001) and absolute latencies of I, V (p=0.001), interpeak latencies III-V was statistically significant in right ear. The prolonged absolute latencies and IPLs suggests abnormal neural firing synchronization or in transmission in the auditory pathways in normal hearing tinnitus patients.