Severity of Hearing Loss and Tinnitus Perception

Tinnitus and hearing loss are strongly connected, although the severity of hearing loss does not correlate with the severity of tinnitus perception.⁸

About 3% of those affected suffer so severely that their quality of life is significantly impaired.⁸ In a group of people with severe to profound hearing loss, according to a study from 2015, 50% reported experiencing tinnitus and 38% reported a negative impact on their quality of life.⁹ In cases where tinnitus and severe to profound hearing loss co-exist, it is of utmost importance to provide tinnitus interventions early in the rehabilitation process and to deliver them face-to-face to optimize communication, and consequently, treatment outcomes¹⁰, due to the often specific and complex listening needs of these patients.

References:

8 Cima, R.F.F., Mazurek, B., Haider, H., Kikidis, D., Lapira, A., Noreña, A., & Hoare, D.J. (2019). A multidisciplinary European guideline for tinnitus: diagnostics, assessment, and treatment. HNO, 67(1), 10–42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00106-019-0633-7

9 Carlsson, P. I., Hjaldahl, J., Magnuson, A., Ternevall, E., Edén, M., Skagerstrand, Å., & Jönsson, R. (2015). Severe to profound hearing impairment: quality of life, psychosocial consequences and audiological rehabilitation. Disability and Rehabilitation, 37(20), 1849–1856. https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2014.982833

10 Turton, L., Souza, P., Thibodeau, L., Hickson, L., Gifford, R., Bird, J., Stropahl, M., Gailey, L., Fulton, B., Scarinci, N., Ekberg, K., & Timmer, B. (2020). Guidelines for best practice in the audiological management of adults with severe and profound hearing loss. Seminars in Hearing, 41(03), 141–246. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1714744