A clinical study of otoacoustic emissions on the patients with tinnitus

Background and Objectives: Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are acoustic signals emitted from the cochlea to the middle ear and into the external ear canal where they are recorded. They are most probably generated by active mechanical contraction of the outer hair cells, spontaneously or in response to sound. Our objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of tinnitus occurring due to any middle or inner ear pathology excluding external ear pathology on otoacoustic emissions which are being done by taking proper history, clinical examination and specific investigations in patients attending department of Otorhinolaryngology, tertiary care teaching hospital/centre. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Methods: A total of hundred patients attending Ear, Nose, Throat Out Patient Department and diagnosed as tinnitus were selected after detailed history of symptoms through questionnaires,pure tone audiometry and DPOAE’s. Results were analysed on the basis of DPOAE interpretation. Data collected was analysed using appropriate tools. Results: A total of fourty nine males and fifty one females were included in the study. At the end of study, interpretation of DPOAE’s as PASS or REFER was correlated with patients having tinnitus with r= -.376 and p= .76 which wasinsignificant. Conclusion: Application of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (f2 frequency levels 6KHz, 4KHz, 3KHz & 2KHz, 65-55dB SPL and DP definition 2f1-f2) on the patients of tinnitus also showed reduction of emissions.