Open AccessAccuracy of Tinnitus Matching Using a Web‐Based Protocol
Author(s) -
Ziai Kasra,
Djalilian Hamid R.,
McGuire John,
Brunworth Joseph D.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.232
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1097-6817
pISSN - 0194-5998
DOI - 10.1177/0194599811415823a225
Subject(s) - tinnitus , audiometer , audiology , octave (electronics) , protocol (science) , matching (statistics) , medicine , audiometry , hearing loss , acoustics , physics , alternative medicine , pathology
Objective 1) Learn whether a web‐based protocol can be used to match tonal tinnitus. 2) Compare the accuracy of a web‐based protocol with tinnitus matching using an audiometer. Method Twenty subjects had tinnitus frequency matching using an audiometer in an anechoic chamber using a standard protocol. The subjects then matched their tinnitus at a desktop computer in an examination room using a web‐based protocol with a multiple choice and a slider. Octave challenge testing was performed. Results The age ranged between 30 and 77 years (median age, 53.5 years). Median tinnitus frequency was 6000 Hz (range, 2000‐12000 Hz) using the audiometer and multiple choice self‐directed protocol. Using the slider, the median frequency was 5925 Hz (range, 1850‐16000 Hz). The patients with tinnitus frequency of over 12000 Hz experienced a higher level of satisfaction with their tinnitus match when using the computer‐based slider system. Five patients (25%) experienced octave confusion (matched to a frequency one octave below or above) when performing self‐directed multiple choice tinnitus matching. These patients accurately matched their tinnitus frequency after the octave challenge step. Conclusion A web‐based protocol for tinnitus frequency matching is as accurate as a standard protocol. Patients with very high frequency tinnitus preferred a web‐based slider. Patients may inaccurately identify their tinnitus frequency as one octave above or below. An octave challenge test is necessary for a patient‐directed tinnitus frequency matching.