The effect of tinnitus on health-related quality of life outcomes in adult cochlear implant recipients

The objective of this study was to describe the influence of tinnitus distress on quality of life (QoL) outcomes in adult cochlear implant (CI) recipients who experience tinnitus, and to investigate the prognostic significance of tinnitus distress over time. A retrospective, longitudinal study of 210 adult (_18 years) CI recipients implanted between 2001 and 2017 was conducted. Data on hearing-related QoL, using the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) and tinnitus distress, using the Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire (TRQ) were captured preoperatively as well as at 6-months, 12-months and >24-month postoperatively. The effect of tinnitus distress on hearing-related QoL outcomes over time was determined. Furthermore, 13 potential predictive factors were identified from the retrospective dataset, including demographic, hearing loss, CI, speech perception and tinnitus related factors. Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify variables that influence hearing-related QoL outcomes over time. Lower tinnitus distress and younger age at implantation were the only two out of 13 possible predictor variables that were identified as significant predictors of better hearing-related QoL in adult CI recipients. A general trend of statistically significant (p<0.01) tinnitus relief was evident from the preoperative interval to the 6-months, 12-months and >24-months postoperative intervals, confirming significant relief in tinnitus distress up to more than two years post-implantation. Within this dataset, higher levels of tinnitus distress were associated with poorer hearing-related QoL outcomes, as confirmed by the negative correlation between tinnitus distress and hearing-related QoL. This study contributes to a better understanding of the complex influence that multifactorial variables has upon the hearing-related QoL outcomes of adult CI recipients. This enables clinicians to provide evidence-based preoperative counselling combined with postoperative rehabilitation to adult CI recipients and their families. Not only was tinnitus distress confirmed as a predictive factor for hearing-related QoL in this study, but also the association between residual tinnitus distress and hearing-related QoL. These results emphasize the importance of identification, counselling and timely monitoring of adult CI recipients who experience tinnitus.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Pretoria

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Le Roux, Talita

• UCTD
• Adult cochlear implantation
• Cochlear implant
• Quality of life
• Tinnitus
• Tinnitus distress

Statement dc:rights

• © 2020 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

A2020

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/76758