Tinnitus and its Relationship with Noise Induced Hearing Loss

Abstract

Background: Hearing loss is common with a high prevalence reported for noise induced hearing loss.. Cases with tinnitus also reveal high prevalence of hearing loss. With deficient legislation and hearing protection measures, developing countries face the brunt of noise. Hence literature gap prompted current study.

Objectives: To determine the correlation of tinnitus with noise induced hearing loss.

Methodology: This cross sectional study recruited N=377 factory workers with history of tinnitus and/ or hearing loss, of both genders, aged 18-50 years, using convenient sampling from Punjab Social Security Hospital Manga Mandi, Lahore from January  to April 2020. Demographic sheet, self-structured questionnaire, Otoscopy, Pure Tone Audiometry were used for data collection and analysis done using SPSS version 20.0 version.

Results: Study revealed a prevalence of Noise Induced Hearing Loss of 39(10.3%) with predominance of moderate hearing loss. Noise induced hearing loss revealed significant association with age (P=0.012), gender (P=0.000), duration and site of tinnitus (p<0.001) & number of tinnitus sounds (p=0.04). However there was no association with type of tinnitus (p=0.25).

Conclusion: Noise Induced hearing loss with a prevalence of 39(10.3%) has significant association with tinnitus