Examination of the Loudness Discomfort Level in Individuals with Normal Hearingwithout Tinnitus as Compared to Patients with Tinnitus

Czech version

Authors: Ľ. Šuchová
Authors‘ workplace: Foniatrické oddelenie FN, Bratislava, primár MUDr. Š. Šimko, CSc.
Published in: Otorinolaryngol Foniatr, , 2003, No. 3, pp. 130-133.
Category:

Overview

In the year 2001 the Loudness Discomfort Level LDL was examined by a standardclinical audiometer on frequencies 250-6000Hz in 128 patients (248 ears) suffering from tinnitus,whowere treated in our tinnitus office. The results of this examination were compared with the resultsof LDL examination in 20 subjects (40 ears), with normal hearing and without tinnitus.In all subjects with normal hearing the average threshold of discomfort on frequencies 250-6000Hzhigher than 90dBwas found. In patients suffering fromtinnitus the average threshold of discomfortwas significantly lower than 90dB. According to the above mentioned facts we suppose that patientssuffering fromtinnit us have lower LDL - the Loundess Discomfort Level than normal hearingsubjects without tinnitus.We hypothesize that the hyperacusis can be either a possible genetic condition of tinnitus origin inconnection with a suitable trigger mechanism for example a long term noise exposure or it is theconsequence of tinnitus.

Key words:
Loundess Discomfort Level, Treshold of Discomfort, tinnitus hyperacusis.

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