RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TINNITUS SEVERITY AND AUDIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN ADULTS WITH STIFFNESS-INDUCED CONDUCTIVE HEARING LOSS

Abstract

Background: Tinnitus may occur in association with conductive hearing disorders and altered middle-ear mechanics. Acoustic reflex testing provides an additional objective measure of middle-ear and stapedius muscle function. Objective: To compare the presence of acoustic reflexes in adults with subjective tinnitus and stiffness-induced conductive hearing loss with adults having normal hearing sensitivity and no tinnitus. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study included 100 adults aged 25–70 years: 50 participants with subjective tinnitus and stiffness-induced conductive hearing loss and 50 controls with normal hearing sensitivity and no tinnitus. Participants underwent pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry, and acoustic reflex assessment. In the case group, tinnitus-related handicap was assessed using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. Categorical between-group differences in acoustic-reflex presence were assessed using Pearson's chi-square test. Results: Both groups contained 25 males and 25 females. Acoustic reflexes were present in 28/50 (56%) cases and 45/50 (90%) controls, while absent in 22/50 (44%) and 5/50 (10%), respectively. The between-group difference was statistically significant (χ² = 14.66, df = 1, p = 0.0001). In the case group, hearing-loss severity comprised 15 (30%) mild, 30 (60%) moderate, and 5 (10%) moderately severe cases. Conclusion: Adults with tinnitus and stiffness-induced conductive hearing loss showed a lower proportion of measurable acoustic reflexes than controls with normal hearing sensitivity and no tinnitus. Acoustic reflex assessment may provide useful complementary information during audiological evaluation of this clinical population.