Correlations between tinnitus and cognitive abilities

Introduction Recent Studies have discussed the association between decompensated tinnitus and cognitive impairment. In a comprehensive multidisciplinary study, we investigated various interactions between tinnitus burden, hearing loss, psychological comorbidities and cognitive performance in executive functions and in an intelligence test.

Methods A total of 140 patients with chronic tinnitus were included in the study. All subjects received audiological and psychometric (TF, THI, TFI, PSQ) diagnostics. To measure cognitive impairment for executive functioning a complex visual motor task (Trail making test, TMT) was applied. Furthermore to examinate crystalline and verbal intelligence we performed the Multiple Choise Word Test (MWT).

Results On average, patients had moderate-grade compensated tinnitus. The average hearing loss was 29.38 ± 8.2 dB on the right side and 29.08 ± 8.31 dB on the left side and correlated slightly negatively with the performance in the graphomotoric test (TMT). Decompensated tinnitus proved to be a significant covariance factor. The regression model revealed a negative impact on intellectual (MWT) and executive (TMT) functioning due to the tinnitus burden (TF, THI, TFI). In interaction with tinnitus distress, hearing loss and stress had a significant impact on cognitive functions.

Conclusion Our study confirmed an association between hearing loss, stress and cognitive impairment. In a complex model it is suggested that the decompensation of tinnitus is associated with a lower crystalline and verbal intelligence and reduced executive functioning. The extent to which accompanying psychological comorbidities play a role in this complex interaction will be further investigated in the study.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
10. Juni 2020