Frequency of Hearing Loss in Patients presenting with Tinnitus in Shalamar Hospital Lahore

Background: In ENT Practice Tinnitus is one of the most common complaints from the patients. It is defined as sound perceptions without any external stimulus. Tinnitus can seriously affect quality of life in a large proportion of patients due to functional, psychological and emotional disturbances. Significant numbers of Tinnitus patients also suffer from hearing loss, with studies showing as much as 44.6% patients presenting for the first time with tinnitus to develop some degree of hearing loss over the subsequent years. Aim: To find out the frequency and degree of hearing impairment in patients presenting with tinnitus using pure tone audiometry. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study conducted at outpatient department of ENT of Shalamar Hospital, Lahore from 5th January 2018 to 18th April 2018. All patients coming with the complaints of tinnitus were assessed for hearing loss through pure tone audiometry and examined by an ENT specialist for the condition of their tympanic membrane. Data was entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Results: A total of 110 patients (43 males and 67 females) presenting with tinnitus were evaluated. Pure tone Audiometric examination of Right ear revealed 76 patients (69%) with hearing loss, 34 patients had mild hearing loss. Moderate hearing loss was present in 29 patients while 13 patients had severe hearing loss. In left Ear 81 patients had hearing loss (73.6%) with 26 having mild degree, 34 patients with moderate degree and 21 patients as having severe degree hearing loss. The relationship of gender with tympanic membrane status came out to be statistically significant. Conclusion: The frequency of hearing loss is quite high in pts presenting with tinnitus. Among 110 patients with tinnitus 76 had hearing loss in right ear (69%) and 81(73.6%) had hearing loss in left ear.